Game changer, he is. no. 50, Acts
- Christine DiGiacomo
- 15 hours ago
- 5 min read
What's the point?
When I read a passage of Scripture,
I endeavor to determine the main point--
including what I learn about God,
what He might have me apply to myself
and readers near and far.
As we turn the page in Luke's rendering of the spread of the gospel in Acts 18 and 19, it would be easy to miss that Paul is embarking on his third and final missionary journey. Reading this passage multiple times, I decided to put pen to paper and diagram it, much as I taught my English grammar classes to do years ago. The things to notice: people - old and new, there are several places, and plans a'plenty. The passage: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2018.23-19.7&version=ESV
Luke outlines Paul's movements and actions, and those of a new player as well, Apollos, and references two different 'baptisms'. What are we to make of all of this?
First, let's go back and remember that when Jesus was standing on the Mt. of Olives, about to ascend into Heaven He said, "you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”1
Jesus had promised before he went to the cross, And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.2
As Jesus said, so it happened. Ten days after He ascended into Heaven, the Holy Spirit came.3 From that day forward, believers were filled with the Holy Spirit-he dwells with you and will be in you. And indeed the gospel had gone out of Jerusalem and Judea, and continued into Europe...
On this third journey of his, the apostle Paul returned to Ephesus, where "he found some disciples. And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John's baptism.” And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.” On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying.4
Stop. Paul asked them if they had received the Holy Spirit... how does one know if they have the Holy Spirit? Here in Acts 19, there was immediate outward evidence as they 'spoke in tongues and prophesied'... in Acts 4, Luke wrote "they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness."5 So the Holy Spirit in us changes us.
What about you, what about me? How do we know if we have the Holy Spirit? This is a critical question of the utmost importance!
The Holy Spirit is the most misunderstood Person
of the Trinity, and the most under-represented as well.
Writing to Titus, Paul said, “When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior.”6 Paul talks about new birth and new life coming to us via the Holy Spirit, and that the Spirit is poured out on us, which indicates an outpouring, a covering. Let’s dig for more about this mysterious person of the Godhead.
The Holy Spirit comes and takes up residence within us when we place our faith in Jesus as the leader of our lives, acknowledging our desire and need for him, and repent of our sins. We do not have the Holy Spirit in our lives without relationship with Jesus Christ; that’s where it all starts. But then, think of it—the Holy Spirit enters your being and makes it his home. Amazing!
The Holy Spirit is a person, he is God, and he is all about relationship with us-> Again, ‘He dwells with us and will be in us.’7 ‘The Spirit is not just a flighty, whimsical spirit who comes and goes like the wind. He is an eternal being.’8
While he is one third of the Trinity, he has his own mind, and distinct personality. He prays for us-> “The Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”9
That’s right—the Holy Spirit goes before the Father
on your behalf; he pleads your case. The Holy Spirit prays for us.
The Holy Spirit similarly interprets God to us;10 for instance, as we seek God’s guidance, it is the Holy Spirit’s function to impress on us the path to take. He leads, guides, convicts, comforts, and draws people to the heart of God. I love the Holy Spirit.
His works are ineffable in majesty, and innumerable in quantity.
How can we even ponder what extends beyond the ages?
What did he do before creation began?
How great are the graces he showered on creation!
What power will he wield in the age to come?
He existed; He pre-existed; He co-existed with the Father and the Son before the ages.
Even if you can imagine anything beyond the ages, you will discover that the Spirit is even further beyond.” St. Basil the Great, circa 355 A.D.
The Holy Spirit is vast and limitless. He sees all things, knows all things, and is all-powerful. In fact, he empowers us to do the things God calls us to do as well.
Do you want to see the power of the Holy Spirit come alive in your life? Ask God to fill you anew with the Holy Spirit, to come and do a new thing in your life… and then, ask him to use you. Be open, and listen; he will lead you to do something you could never accomplish in your own strength. You will experience the great joy in having the Holy Spirit empower you as only He can.
Invite God to take you deeper.
You will never regret it.
It is a game changer.
Christine
1 - Acts 1.8
2 - John 14.16-17
3 - Acts 2.4
4 - Acts 19.1-6
5 - Acts 4.31
6 - Titus 3.4-6
7 - John 14.17
8 - Francis Chan, Forgotten God
9 - Romans 8.27
10-1 Corinthians 2.13
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