#DailyDevotion Jesus Fulfills His Promised

Act 2:1-12  When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place.  (2)  And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.  (3)  And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them.  (4)  And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.  (5)  Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven.  (6)  And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language.  (7)  And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans?  (8)  And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language?  (9)  Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,  (10)  Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome,  (11)  both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.”  (12)  And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?”

So here we have fulfillment of Jesus’ word and the scriptures, Joh 14:26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” Jer 31:33 “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” Pro 1:23 “If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you.” Isa 44:3 “For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.”

The Lord had promised the Holy Spirit. The placing of the Law upon the heart is the renewal and regeneration of the Holy Spirit. Rom 8:3-4 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh,  (4)  in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” Now the promised Holy Spirit has been poured out on all flesh. The Holy Spirit is working in the world through the Word, i.e. the Gospel of Jesus Christ to bring repentance, faith in Jesus and the forgiveness of sins.

This particular instance of the initial pouring out of the Holy Spirit has been prophesied Isa 11:10-12 “In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples—of him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall be glorious.  (11)  In that day the Lord will extend his hand yet a second time to recover the remnant that remains of his people, from Assyria, from Egypt, from Pathros, from Cush, from Elam, from Shinar, from Hamath, and from the coastlands of the sea.  (12)  He will raise a signal for the nations and will assemble the banished of Israel, and gather the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.” Jesus and his cross is the signal and banner to the nations. He is gathering Israel, Judah and the nations to Jesus who is our resting place. Now with the outpouring of the Spirit, the nations and Israel inquire of God. Through the root and shoot of Jesse, Jesus of Nazareth, enlightens our hearts and minds with the Holy Spirit, so we may recognize our sinfulness and sins, confess them, repent of them and trust in the all salvific work of Jesus Christ and his cross.

Heavenly Father, you bring all things to pass that you have promised in your son Jesus Christ. Continually give us your Holy Spirit, that we may be born from above, have a new heart and new spirit within us, that through faith in Christ we may fear, love and trust in you above all things. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.