ACTS of the Apostles

Thursday, April 21

ACTS of the Apostles: Learning How to be Daring and Dynamic

Read Acts 2:14-41

Focus Verses: Acts 2:37-38

Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

After being baptized in the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, Peter and the other 11 disciples (remember, Matthias took Judas’s place) felt such an urgency from God that they immediately left the room and went out into the crowded streets to share what they had experienced. Jews from all over the region were there in Jerusalem that day and God gave the disciples the amazing ability to speak specific languages, so that each visitor could hear the good news in his or her native language. Isn’t God just so good? He knows that it is so frustrating to communicate, much less connect, when there is a language barrier and He made a way…like He always does. (I’m having flashbacks to my trip to Paris…if only I could have spoken French.)

Now as the passage states, when the local Jews heard the disciples speaking words that sounded like gibberish, they assumed that Peter and the others were drunk. Peter got up in front of them and clarified the situation. And, since most of the people there were Jews, he connected the death and resurrection of Jesus with the Old Testament teachings that they all knew so well. He spoke their language…literally and figuratively! He reminded them of how this very thing that they were seeing happening right before their eyes had been prophesized.

By the time Peter had finished, many of the people listening were convicted and perhaps even horrified that it was Jews who had crucified God’s own Son, the Messiah. Peter told them to repent, accept Jesus and be baptized. About 3000 people accepted Jesus that day and were baptized. God flooded them with the gift of the Holy Spirit, and when they went home to their countries, they carried God’s powerful and bold Spirit with them.

Sisters, there is no denying that once we are flooded with the Holy Spirit, we are not the same anymore. We start to view people through the eyes and heart of God. When God prompts us to say something to someone, we shouldn’t hesitate. Let’s be daring! The words that we share may be the only “Truth” that that person may hear for a while.

Heavenly Father, Thank you for giving us Your Holy Spirit to be our companion, teacher and guide. Every morning, remind us to give our whole selves over to You so that Your Holy Spirit can overflow from us. Let Your Presence, Power, Wisdom and Love spill over from us to those You place in our path. Give us the right words at the right time to help bring them to You. Thank you for giving us new boldness to share the truth of the gospel just as you did for the disciples after Pentecost. In Jesus’ name and for the Father’s glory. Amen