"Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear."
{Acts 2:33} (NIV)
When I read the first two chapters of Acts, I am fascinated by the account of the coming of the Holy Spirit, and the powerful beginning of the CHURCH. The Greek word we translate into church is not used until Acts 5:11, but there is no question that what we see described in Acts 2 is the beginning of the CHURCH our Lord told Peter about.
Peter describes the signs that accompanied Jesus as accreditation by God, then describes how God had planned His sacrificial death, and His triumphant resurrection. These are marvelous and important truths about the life and ministry of the Anointed Servant. The last truth that Peter shared is the story of the beginning of the CHURCH. This Messiah - this Anointed Servant of God - ascended to heaven and was seated at the right hand of God Almighty. From this position of unparalleled power He sent the Holy Spirit to inhabit the believers who were gathered waiting as He had instructed them. This event was the beginning of the CHURCH age.
What is the CHURCH? An assembly of people, who believe and confess that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and who have been baptized by the Holy Spirit.
Oh friend, is the Holy Spirit present within you? Then rejoice friend, for we are truly blessed!
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