14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. 15 For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16 But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:
17 “‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on 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 even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.19 And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; 20 the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. 21 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’
Acts 2:14-21 ESV
Peter stood and preached to the crowd as a representative of the whole group of apostles. There was a remarkable change in Peter. He had courage and boldness that was a complete contrast to his denials of Jesus before being filled with the Holy Spirit. What a great promise and gift we received from God – that
“everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved, and that He will pour out His spirit on all flesh”!
Just take a moment to ponder and appreciate that God’s Spirit is poured out, without reservations, in you today.
When the Holy Spirit came, He changed the disciples by giving them the ability to speak of tongues. He changed Peter by giving him the courage to stand up and speak for the Lord. He also changed people by guiding them to the plan and will of God to and through His word. This remarkable sermon given by Peter was not prepared the night before. It was spontaneously given with inspiration from the Holy Spirit. What Peter did was direct people back to the scripture. He referenced Joel 2:28-32 (what we read today), Psalm 16:8-11, and Psalm 110:1.
When the Holy Spirit is at work, He never fails to bring us back to the word of God. He is the Spirit of Truth, and he will guide us into all the truth. (John 16:13). When someone is truly led by the Holy Spirit, he/she will also follow His words.
God’s Spirit is also in us today. He goes wherever we go. But who should really be the one leading? I am small, and my mind is not big enough to contain and comprehend His plan and will. Yet He chose to live in my heart and stay in my life. May the Lord give me an open heart that is big enough to receive Him, understand His words, and allow Him to mold me and change me. He leads, I follow.
Dear God, thank you for giving us Your powerful Spirit. It is amazing how you chose to live in me! When your Spirit came, He dwells in me and never leaves me. Help me to follow the lead of the Holy Spirit and allow you to take control in my life. Holy Spirit, please lead me to the truth of God. Amen!
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