The Spirit Reveals

​Acts 1:4-5 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
 
HERE are two more convincing proofs that Jesus is alive (See previous lesson.). He ate with his disciples and he commanded them to wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.
   The gift is the Holy Spirit. “You will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” is the fulfillment of a promise Jesus spoke in John 14:26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. He tells the disciples again that this is more than John the Baptist’s baptism with water. Jesus wants his disciples to know this is an anointing of God’s power onto these mortal men. When it happens their lives will change.
    What will the Spirit do? First Jesus had told them, “The Holy Spirit will teach you all things.” The disciples at this point still did not understand Jesus’ ministry. They needed to know how Jesus’ teachings and lifestyle revealed the kingdom of God. The gospels record many times Jesus rebuked his disciples for their lack of understanding. But soon, wisdom and understanding will be their guide. The disciples will become more as Jesus, who is described in Isaiah 11:2 The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him - the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD. The Holy Spirit brings wisdom, understanding, counsel and power to Jesus’ disciples.
   Jesus said the Holy Spirit’s second task is to “remind you of everything I have said to you.” The disciples must become true gospel messengers. As they teach and testify of Jesus, they cannot waiver into their own ideas and assumptions. Each word and action must be faithful to all Jeus said and did.
   These two promises are essential to the Christian faith. We must believe the Bible is without error. The church cannot be unified under Jesus if we edit the Bible to our own preferences. The Spirit gave God’s wisdom and understanding to many authors, so they could write a central account of God’s salvation for all mankind. The Spirit teaches us God’s very purposeful redemptive process. It begins with his response to the fall through the law and the prophets, then continues with Jesus and the apostles. It is a history written under God’s authority through the Spirit’s revelation baptizing each author with special wisdom to know God’s Word for humanity.
   Remember God’s revelation is his gift to you. When you call Jesus, “Lord and Savior.” be eternally grateful the Father has sent the Spirit to give you his wisdom and understanding, so you can fully know who Jesus is.