“When Jesus Becomes Lord”
Amazed – Perplexed – Bewildered – Astonished – Awe – are words the Bible uses to describe the reaction of the people as the disciples left the Upper Room after ten days of prayer. They saw and heard something never before witnessed. The Bible describes this event (Day of Pentecost) as the day the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity (God the Father; God the Son (Jesus); and the Holy Spirit). The Trinity is made of all three. Jesus was God who came to earth in the flesh, born as a baby just like you and me. The difference is He was conceived by the Holy Spirit (making Him perfect) and lived without sin. He died for the sins of all mankind.
Many think the Holy Spirit didn’t come into existence until the New Testament, but He existed at the time of creation. “Now the earth was formless and empty, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters” (Genesis 1:2). In the Old Testament the Holy Spirit spoke to and led people.
At Pentecost (Acts 2) the Holy Spirit didn’t just hover, He actually CAME INTO the hearts of the disciples following their ten days of prayer. One may wonder, do I need the filling of this Spirit in my life and if so, why? Prior to His ascending into Heaven, Jesus gave the Great Commission to his disciples, “Go and make disciples of all nations…” (Mark 28:19). The coming of the Holy Spirit which filled the hearts of these disciples, literally transformed their lives. This Spirit drew them closer to God and gave them a spiritual courage and power they had never experienced before. A desire grew within them that Jesus was more than their Savior – He was their Lord!
As followers of Christ, we may be ready for heaven, but God wants to fill us with His Spirit and transform our life also. What does this look like? Jesus becomes the center of everything. Pleasing Him is our priority. The presence of the Holy Spirit gives us wisdom, discernment, power, and courage to share our faith. There’s a desire to love and forgive others, to get rid of hatred and bitterness toward someone that hurt us. The Holy Spirit helps us become the person God wants us to be. He isn’t just our Savior, but the Lord of our life!
Pastor Carnes
