"These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning!" This is what was spoken by the prophet Joel as quoted by Peter in Acts 2:15. Then he continued to say...
Acts 2:17
In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.
This is the message, spoken by the Apostle Peter accused of being drunk, while the wonderful, extraordinary chaos erupted in the city of Jerusalem by God fulfilling His promise. Joel had warned the people that a time was coming, he called it the Day of the Lord, when God’s favor would fall once again on the people of Israel and salvation would come to Judah and Israel. It would come with judgement and he urged the Jews to repent and turn to Yahweh. For those who turned to God, blessings would be poured out and even the land would be fertile. This was all part of God’s incredible plan of redemption and real restoration of the man He created in His image. Not only are we forgiven but we are restored to the original position of dominion.
Over two thousand years ago God poured out His Spirit and those that received turned the world upside down. (Acts 17:6) A transforming, life changing work began in them that would leave people around them baffled, afraid, angry and jealous but also be in praise to God hungry for truth; hungry to receive what had been promised. How important for us to recognize that God’s work is not done nor does the Holy Spirit come without mess. The orthodox Jews were ready to murder Peter. This “drunkenness” was not always well received. We only have to look at Stephen as the example - he was stoned to death. When the Holy Spirit moves it is often with unexpected and unprecedented power. God setting the most extraordinary plan in motion, a plan recognized by some, rejected by others. It was at the 9th hour that our Lord Jesus died and gave up His Spirit. (Mathew 27:45-46) His final word’s “It is Finished.” This was divine finality….God had accomplished all that He has spoken of and promised through His Son Jesus. It was done….nothing more could be added, it was finished. After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!”
John 19:28-30
Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.
Satan was defeated and a door opened for man to go through to receive forgiveness, reconciliation and new life. The New Life we spoke of last month that speaks of a dunamis that changes things and causes a reaction. It is the same power that raised Jesus from the dead bringing new life to dead bones. It speaks of rebirth, renewal, rejuvenation, resuscitation, revival and more. Bringing life where there is no life, light into darkness…..the force of this Gospel knows no limits, for it is God who works in it to accomplish His divine purpose. I cannot help but get excited when I realize that my often pretty feeble attempts to spread this message are undergirded by a power that not only convicts but teaches, explains and amplifies Jesus. May we never ever grow tired of sharing this Gospel, for it is a truth that is full of life and power, and it is God’s perfect plan……it was His initiative.
Romans 1:16
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
How blessed we are as believers! This is the same power that works in us to produce both the fruit of the Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit. Nine of each. I have no doubt that we can all list them and know where they are found in the scriptures, but - do we ask for them or do we expect them just to become part of us? I am finding the Lord prompting me to ask for them, to seriously desire them and hunger after them, I am talking about both fruit and gifts. The fruit of the Spirit evidenced in love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. And the gifts, often termed as charismatic gifts, are: word of knowledge, word of wisdom, increased faith, the gifts of healing, the gift of miracles, prophecy, the discernment of spirits, kinds of tongues, interpretation of tongues. All of this reveals something of Jesus, offers something to those around us and builds up the body of Christ.
My Joy can be infectious and when I keep my word and am faithful, I build relationships. My words of knowledge can be helpful, allowing someone to know that God is in this and build their faith. Healing people and setting them free from pain and brokenness, and of course the list goes on of the benefits of all the fruit and gifts that the Holy Spirit can produce in us, and that is why the Lord has poured out His Spirit. He has poured it out, at times it has seemed without measure as individuals are so ignited that nothing can hold them back. The Lord will give us all, as much as we ask for…..a teaspoon full, a cup full or rivers of living water to bubble up from within. Perhaps we are afraid or don’t feel worthy, maybe greedy and or don’t expect God to give us much. I believe that those are the lies of satan who desperately wants you and I to remain powerless. Its bad enough for him that we are born again but that we should have power…..oh satan does not want that! Satan will do his utmost to tie you up in knots and nullify the power of God in your life. He will give you religion and rules, he will make you feel inferior, inadequate and really no use to God. A lie!
I have just watched the video produced from the New Wine Conference and my spirit jumped. A beautiful message was shared to equip and strengthen men and women, followed by ministry to set free and activate the power of God in lives, followed by wonderful testimonies of healing. A demonstration of this Gospel we hold so dear and a springboard for many to launch themselves out into their calling. Empowered and sent out into the world to take truth backed by dunamis. Dunamis speaks of an inherent force, an ability to do, while another word for power used in the Bible is Exousia and speaks of the power that comes through delegated authority. Jesus has given us both to use to do His work and to fulfill His commission. Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority (Exousia) to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. (Mathew 10:1)
Acts 3:12
Peter replied, “men of Israel, why are you amazed at this, or why are you staring at us, as though by our own power (dunamis) or godliness we had made him walk?”
You and I, as we have received the empowering Holy Spirit in our lives, have been blessed with both Exousia and Dunamis to go as the Lord commands and directs us. We don’t need to look to another to say go, we look to Jesus for He has already said go. I know you will have picked up a strong theme in my writing and that is for us all to recognize the gift that we have received, one not to be kept to ourselves or hidden under a bush, but to be shared, given freely and used for the glory of God. View the body of Christ as an army, each person a soldier with a task. Each task is different but to the efficient working of that army each person is essential and can be part of enabling God’s work to progress and impact the world, step by step. If your mind finds this analogy more exciting, see the body of Christ as an orchestra and Jesus the conductor. Each instrument designed to bring a sound to the symphony that creates a beautiful harmonious sound. The tiny triangle and the great big trombone. Ask the Lord for more!
Ask God to allow the gifts to flow through and out of you as He grows and develops the fruit that you may be His hands, His feet and His mouthpiece. No vessel is without it’s place, the more we yield and submit to Him, the more useful we are in His service. For "It is Finished!" The Lord has completed the work He was called to do. Now it is for the Church to do all and more. How is that possible? Jesus was in Jerusalem and His ministry reached the surrounding areas; He showed us how. Today we are dispersed all over the world and by the power of the Holy Spirit in us we are told to go and do the “all and more.”
John 14:12-14
Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. This is God’s glorious plan for man.
GOD BLESS YOU!