March 16, 2017

RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT

Acts 2:38

Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Encouraging Words

After Jesus ascended into heaven, the apostles gathered together and debated on what to do next. Soon after, the Holy Spirit descended upon these first followers of Christ in the event that we now celebrate as the Pentecost. The anointing of the Holy Spirit became the launching point of the Church and has continued ever since. In this passage we see Peter responding to the crowd in Jerusalem, the very same crowd that had crucified Jesus, who was so moved by Peter's discourse that they wanted to know what to do to be saved. Peter had become an avid and articulate champion for Christ because He had been anointed by the Holy Spirit. This is the same Holy Spirit that anoints us today when we give our lives to Christ by repenting of our sins, being baptized into Him and anointed with the Holy oil. This is the same Holy Spirit that can lead us to do what Peter and the rest of the apostles did in our lives. Glory be to God!