REPOSTToday’s Spiritual Food for Thought, provided by Pastor Charles Choe who leads Tapestry Church in Los Angeles, was first posted on March 20, 2016.  Charles is a graduate of University of California, Riverside (BA) and Fuller Theological Seminary (M.Div.).

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“The Holy Spirit”

Acts 10:44-48

While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word.  45 And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. 

Over the last few days, we have been able to focus on Peter’s vision and how Peter responded to that vision. Today, we see the culmination of Peter’s vision and preaching as the Gentiles receive the gift of the Holy Spirit for the first time. With the coming of the Holy Spirit, the Gentiles found themselves “speaking in tongues and extolling God” (v. 46), completing their full inclusion into the family of God. 

Up to this time, the followers of the Way did not know or were not fully convinced that their Savior was for the whole world. In fact, they were still trying to follow the Jewish laws and even avoid contact with non-Jews. So can you imagine the astonishment to these Jewish Christians of seeing the Holy Spirit being poured out upon these Gentiles? It was almost as though their faith was made complete in seeing others receive the Holy Spirit’s fullness. 

I would like for us to consider how we often take for granted the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Perhaps so much so that we don’t even look for it or think that it’s theologically unsound to expect it. But however articulate our presentation is, if we do not see the Holy Spirit fall upon those to whom we are sharing, our gospel is incomplete. We must remind and encourage our new and young friends in the faith to seek the power of the Holy Spirit as evidence for their reception to the gospel. Let us present the full gospel of Jesus Christ! 

Prayer: Holy Spirit, thank You for Your presence and power in my life and help me live in it this day. Spirit of God, help me to treasure Christ this day! Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Numbers 31