The Holy Spirit's Presence

Acts 2:1-4

During the time of Moses, God established a festival to celebrate the grain
harvest. The first day of the feast became known as the Day of Pentecost (
Leviticus 23:15-21).
After Jesus ascended to heaven, God revealed a new spiritual meaning for
Pentecost. On that day the promised Holy Spirit arrived, and the church of
Jesus
Christ was born!

While the disciples and others had been Jesus' followers before this, there
had been no "body of Christ" to which they could belong. On Pentecost all
that
changed. God's Spirit baptized believers into the Lord Jesus, making them
one with Him (
1 Corinthians 12:13-14).
Now they had a brand-new relationship with the Lord: from that point on, the
Holy Spirit lived Christ's life through them, and they abided in Jesus
through
His Spirit.

What a difference the Spirit's indwelling presence made in their lives. No
longer were they fearful men who ran away; nor were they people looking out
for
their own interests. Now they were transformed into a cohesive group who
"were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to
fellowship,
to the breaking of bread and to prayer. And all those who had believed were
together and had all things in common" (
Acts 2:42, 44).

Our own personal "day of Pentecost" occurs at salvation, when we are indwelt
by the Holy Spirit and baptized into the worldwide body of Christ. The
Spirit's
presence is permanently given to everyone who believes, for He is the
guarantee of our salvation. What difference is the Spirit of God making in
your life?


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