Spirit Enabled - April 17, 2007

This past week, while preparing for a message on Pentecost at 24-Seven, I came across something that I had never really seen before.  In Acts 2:4 the Bible says that “All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. (TNIV) The phrase, “Spirit enabled” really stood out to me.  After all, when we think about Pentecost (which was a celebration that occurred 50 days after Passover), we often associate with it the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.  As I began to look at the context of Chapter 1 and 2 of Acts, I began to realize that not only is the reader being told the ingredients of being a Spirit enabled person, but also what a Spirit enabled person will look like.

So how do we become Spirit enabled?  In Acts 1:4 the Bible says that, “On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” Then, after Jesus heads off to heaven before their eyes, the Bible says that as they waited in Jerusalem: “They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.” (:14)

So, how did they become Spirit Enabled? 
1. Obedient to Jesus’ command of them to go chill in Jerusalem.
2. Fervent in prayer together.

What does a Spirit enabled person or group of people look like?
Acts 2:42 “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”

While I feel like I am obedient to where Jesus is calling me to go, I recognize that I am weak on being fervent in prayer.  It is my commitment to discipline myself to be more fervent in prayer, connecting to God in prayer, both personally and collectively with others in the faith. 

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Posted by matthew gamble on April 17, 2007 at 07:57 AM
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