Power from On High
Receiving the Gifts of the Holy Spirit
Acts 2 – The Day of Pentecost
Jesus tells the disciples after His resurrection “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you,” Acts 1:8. Jesus was taken up in the clouds to heaven.
The disciples wait in the upper room for the promised Holy Spirit to be poured out to them. It is on the day of Pentecost that the Holy Spirit comes to dwell in Christians. With the pouring out of the Holy Spirit, Christians received power from on high to accomplish God’s plan (Acts 2).
“ And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance . 5. And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. 6. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together , and were confounded , because that every man heard them speak in his own language. 7. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? 12. And they were all amazed , and were in doubt , saying one to another, What meaneth this? 13. Others mocking said , These men are full of new wine. 14. But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:15. For these are not drunken , as ye suppose , seeing it is but the third hour of the day. 16. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; 17. And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy , and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: 18. And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: 19. And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: 20.The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come : 21.And it shall come to pass , that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved . 22.Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know : 23.Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken , and by wicked hands have crucified and slain : 24.Whom God hath raised up , having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. 36.Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified , both Lord and Christ. 37.Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do ? 38.Then Peter said unto them, Repent , and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39.For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.”
Gifts of the Spirit
There are gifts of the Holy Spirit that we as Christians should seek to give us power and strength, and to walk and live according to God’s purpose.
The gifts of the Holy Spirit include:
I Corinthians 12: 4 -10
“Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues.”
To put these gifts in a list:
· wisdom
· words of knowledge
· faith
· healing
· working of miracles
· prophecy
· discerning of spirits
· tongues
· interpretation of tongues
Romans 12:6-12
“Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing in prayer”
How to receive the Gifts of the Spirit
As a Christian, the Holy Spirit has already come into your life and sealed you until the day of redemption (Eph 1:13) the moment you believed in Christ as your Savior.
But, to submit to the Holy Spirit to receive the gifts that will aid you in your daily walk and in your witness to others you should identify specific gifts you desire and need, then begin to seek these gifts from the Spirit.
Express the desires of your heart to the Lord by asking Him to baptize you with the Holy Spirit to release the Spirit to work within you. Then ask for the gifts of the Spirit you are seeking. This is accomplished in prayer to God. It is an honest and sincere seeking of the release of the Holy Spirit in your life.