Pentecost and being filled with the Spirit.

Acts 2:1-4. ¹When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. ²And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. ³And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. ⁴And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Ten days earlier, just before ascending into heaven, Jesus had told the disciples to go back to Jerusalem and wait for the Holy Spirit. Then, on the day of Pentecost, it happened. The Spirit came down in wind and fire and rested on each of them. And all Heaven broke loose.

It was the beginning of a new age, a new covenant, a new people for God. The church’s birthday!

Jesus had promised that this day would come. That HE would come to them.

John 14:18. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

He promised that both the Son and the Father would make their home in us.

John 14:23. If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

And that this would happen as we receive the Helper.

John 14:16-17. ¹⁶And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, ¹⁷even the Spirit of truth.

And the result would be peace.

John 14:27. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.

And love.

John 15:9. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.

And joy.

John 15:11. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

And the truth that is Jesus Christ.

John 16:13. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

All of this, the character of Christ, the truth of Christ, the indwelling life of Christ, came to us and into us on Pentecost. Everything that Christ accomplished FOR us will now be accomplished THROUGH us. All that he commanded of us will now be possible for us. All that his life offers to us is now found in us.

This is why Christ died. Why he endured the cross. Why he rose again. Why he was exalted to the throne of Heaven and seated next to the Father. It has all led up to this day. The day of the outpouring of Christ’s life into the world through the Spirit. The Spirit in us is how God will dwell with his people and be their God. It is how the whole world will know of Christ and his love. It is how Jesus will be exalted. It is how the gospel will be spread.

To live is Christ is made possible by the unending flow of Christ’s indwelling love, joy, and peace. The love, joy, and peace that surround our hearts when we trust that Jesus Christ has done it all in our place. The love, joy, and peace that propel our hearts forward into a decaying, broken, and sorrow filled world. And the love, joy, and peace that will tear down every wall of separation in the world when we allow him to fill the house with his presence.

You: In what ways have you been experiencing Christ’s love, joy, and peace?

You in Christ: In Christ you have his love, joy, and peace by the Spirit. How does knowing this truth help you to move forward in experiencing these character traits of Jesus?

Christ in you: Where in your daily life do you need to hear Jesus saying to you “My peace I give to you,” or, “Abide in my love,” or, “let your joy be full”?

Prayer: Father, because I am filled with all of your fullness, I have the love, joy, and peace of Christ in me. Knowing this is the key to experiencing it too. Help me to live within your love, joy, and peace, just as they live in me. Amen.