“…And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:4
Dear Ones:
It is very possible to forget, or neglect, the great truth concerning “…so GREAT salvation,” which the Lord Jesus has won for all men. What is the extent of that salvation, and how much of it is to be operating in our hearts and lives, as a testimony to the world of the existence of God, and His saving strength? On the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit was “…poured out upon all flesh,” it is important to remember that all of the disciples, both men and women, were filled with the Spirit. It was upon those gathered in unity, and in prayer, that the Spirit came. The outpouring of the Spirit was more than an influence of God upon the believers. Jesus had said that the disciples would receive “power,” after that the Holy Spirit had come. This power exhibited on that day was the great revelation of the Spirit’s coming, and Christ’s resurrection power. It will be by that power that the testimony of God, first in declaring the “wonderful works of God,” would go forth to the people of Jerusalem, to such an extent, and in such a demonstration of power and of the Spirit, that over three thousand souls would be saved. That fire of God would begin to burn that day in Jerusalem, and would spread throughout the then known world. The power reflected in the “wind” of Pentecost, would take the message of the Gospel to the ends of the earth, and the whole of history would be changed. The outpouring of the Spirit upon all flesh was the declared commitment of God to every man, woman, and child, that God had come to save all men everywhere, IF they would receive, believe, and obey. It would take some time to grasp the enormity of the outpouring, for that would require knowledge of God’s promise, and His will. It would also require faith, a faith given by God to any and all who would “…call upon the name of the Lord.” Potentially, from a human standpoint, all men everywhere had become the recipients of the Spirit. Actually, and in their experience, this would only be realized by the conversion of the lost, and the faith in God to receive the blessing. What then is the will of God with regard to Spirit of God being outpoured? How much of Him does God will that we have, and know, revealing His presence and power?
It was Joash, a king of Israel, who came to Elisha the prophet just before he died. Elisha, by the Lord’s word, gave to Joash a promise of complete victory over the Syrians, his enemies. However, by a clear demonstration of his limited faith, he did not believe God for the fullness of the victory, winning only some of his battles, not all. Joash’s limited faith limited the reception of the fullness of the blessing received.
In the new testament, Jesus confronted a blind man who wanted to receive his sight. The Lord spit on his eyes, also putting his hands upon him. He then asked him what he saw. The man answered that he saw “men as trees, walking.” In other words he did not see clearly. Why? His limited faith in the power of God, for whatever reason, limited his capacity to receive from God His full blessing. Jesus then put His hands again on his eyes, the man’s faith was complete, and God healed him. He saw clearly. Limited faith limits the reception of God’s blessings. How then do we see the issue of the fullness of the Spirit, His empowering, testifying of His greatness and power in our lives and words?
Paul commanded the believers in Ephesus to “…be filled with the Spirit.” (6:10) Christ died on Calvary that we should be filled with the Spirit, filled with His blessed LIFE of power and love. It there will be the fullness and the realization of God’s purposes for our lives on this earth, while we have opportunity, then the Spirit’s fullness is essential.
Dear Father, Open our eyes to see clearly what Thy fullness means. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad