In His Name Devotionals
FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT
In His Name Devotionals
FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT
“And when they had prayed the place where they were assembled together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness” (Acts 4:31 NKJ)
Our title has reference to Peter and John and must be kept in context. A man had just been healed miraculously by the power of the Holy Spirit. This was that extraordinary power that was necessary for it enabled them to speak in languages they had not learned and do those wonders. This power would not continue or it would no longer be extraordinary. We are encouraged to seek the more excellent way (1 Corinthians 12:31-13:13).
We are reminded that Balaam prophesied as well as Isaiah. Judas worked miracles as well as Peter and John. Jesus has to disown many who prophesied and worked wonders in His name (Matthew 7:22). What then is this better way, these “best gifts” Paul said we should covet?
These he explained are “faith, hope, and love” (1 Corinthians 13:13). Remember the greatest of them is love. We, then, need to seek to be filled with the Spirit as teachers, motivators, and comforters. This is the influence we should seek in the Holy Spirit.
Peter and John needed this influence because of the new dangers, new difficulties, new challenges they would face. We like those apostles of long ago, need this new strength to face the challenge of every new day. We need the courage, faith, peace and joy that will reflect the Spirit of God in us. Only in this way can we demonstrate “being filled with the Spirit,” as the Bible would instruct us.
