“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13
To become filled with the Holy Spirit, is to receive the Lord’s joy. In Acts 2, the immersion, the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples in the upper room was reflected by an overflowing joy from them. How do I know they had joy? There are two reasons, 1) a fruit of the Holy Spirit is joy (Gal. 5:22) and 2) the wind of the Holy Spirit is an out pouring of who God is, all power, and yes, the source of joy. God's joy brought on a loud noise as the disciples went into the street, as they let the Holy Spirit’s words of praise flow, without reservation, very loudly from their lips.
But, there were some on that crowded street who made fun of them. Saying they were drunk on wine (Acts 2:14-17). Anyone who is empty of God’s Spirit, His joy, can not fathom the blessing of God’s joy, of being literally filled with joy, filled with the Holy Spirit.
The disciples had a choice, to allow the Holy Spirit’s fruit to be harvested, or remain depressed by Christ’s absence in body and hide what the Holy Spirit wanted to express through them. They chose to pick fruit of the Spirit, not for self consumption, but to pour out as a love offering, as a expression of love and peace, and an expression of joy! An expression of hope to the empty hearted. May you receive joy.
Great grace and joy to you,
Read: Acts 1:4-5, 8; 2:1-14, 38-41
No comments:
Post a Comment