Today's reading:
Acts 1:1-5
" And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the Promise of the Father, which saith He, ye have heard of me" (v.4)
A promise scripturally is, among many definitions, to be a gift graciously bestowed, not a pledge secured by negotiations. Also, the full meaning of promise is a declaration that one will do or refrain from doing something specified; reason to expect something or claim the performance of a specified act.
Due to the love of God for his creatures, He had inspired writers of the Scriptures to list his many promises to man. There are so many Promises in the Bible that you could line them up and confess at least one per day, throughout the year. They are found both in the Old and New Testaments. In our today's reading, however, we are talking about a specific promise, which Jesus in verse 4, termed "the Promise of the Father". Interestingly enough, Jesus specifically said his disciples had heard of it before then. The scripture He referred to is Luke 24:49 which says “And behold, I send the Promise of my Father upon you....". The question is, what is this specific promise of the Father? The Promise of the Father is the “Holy Spirit", the third in the Trinity (God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit). He is also referred to as the Comforter (John 14:26), the Spirit of Truth (John 15:26, John 14:17), the Baptizer (Acts 1:5). As Power giver, in Acts 1:8, Jesus assured the disciples that they shall receive power, after the Holy Spirit came upon them and also in Like 24:49, He said they would be endued with power from on high.
The next question is, what is the "Essence" of the Promise of the Father, the Holy Spirit? The essence is for him to function in various aspects of the lives of believers. Gladly in our dispensation, as one accepts Jesus as Lord and Saviour, being born again, Jesus himself sends the Holy Spirit to seal and dwell in him/her (2Cor 1:22). And The Holy Spirit will be with him/her forever, except if sent out /away or quenched (1Thes. 5:19).
The Holy Spirit carries out the following functions in the believers’ lives:
Dwells with us and shall be in us (John 14:17)
He bears witness with our spirits that we are children of God (Rom 8:15)
He has been given to us in our hearts as a guarantee (2Cor.1:22)
Comforts us during mourning and persecutions (John 14:26)
Teaches us all things (John 14:26)
He leads/guides us into all truths (John 16:13)
Brings all things to our remembrance, whatever Jesus had said, and He is saying to us (John 14:26)
Endues us with power to witness for Jesus (Acts 1:8)
He testifies for Jesus to us (John 15:26)
He convicts us of sins (John 16:8), reproves the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgement.
He speaks to us (Acts 10:19; 11:12)
He helps us to keep the good things committed to us (2Tim.1:14)
He tells us things to come (prophesies) (John 16:13c), and whatever He shall hear, that shall He speak.
He is a revealer (Luke 2:26)
He glorifies Jesus, taking of what is Jesus’ and declaring it to us (John 16:14)
He emboldens us, especially to witness (1 Tim 1:7-8; Acts 4:13)
He is our helper (John 14:26), our supplier (Phil. 1:19)
He shall abide with us forever (John 14:16)
He has joy and gives it to us (1 Thes.1:6)
He allows us to rejoice in him (Luke10:21)
He causes us to rest (Is. 63:14)
He sanctifies us (Rom. 15:16)
He intercedes for us with groanings (Rom.8:26), and according to the will of God (Rom. 8:27)
He helps us in our weaknesses (Rom. 8:26)
He quickens/gives lives to our mortal bodies (Rom. 8:11)
He helps us to put to death the deeds of the flesh/body, so that we can live (Rom. 8:13)
He leads us; therefore, we are sons (children) of God (Rom. 8:14)
i) In this present dispensation, we should be thankful to the Trinity, and particularly to the Holy Spirit, who is in and with us here on earth, because we can do all things through them.
ii) The Essence of the Holy Spirit, the Promise of the Father, should be very paramount in each of the believer’s life.
CHRISTIE KUPOLUYI
Prayer:
Father, I sincerely appreciate Your Promises for my life, in Jesus’ name.
Lord Jesus, thank you for making the provision of the Holy Spirit, to help us through our journey in life.
Father help me and my family to completely surrender to the leading of Your Holy Spirit, in Jesus’ name.
Father empower Your Church to fulfil her mission here on earth, in Jesus’ name.
Father by the power of Your Holy Spirit move our nation forward according to your plan, in Jesus’ name.
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