Day 75 | Tuesday, 2 June 2020

Day 75  |  Tuesday, 2 June 2020

 I thought I would pick up on the rest of chapter 2 of Acts and the coming of the Holy Spirit.  Peter becomes the spokesperson, the leader of the disciples.  He talks about David and unlike David how Jesus’ resurrection culminated in his place at the right hand of God, the favored position of authority.  He told the crowd that they needed to change their hearts and lives and then to be baptized.  Repentance refers to a change of both mind and action.  Baptism was the initiatory rite into the Christian community.  Verses 42-42 then discuss the activities of the community of believers.  This is the birth of the church.  It is good to be a part of a community of believers.  How the church has changed from its first beginnings.

Acts 2:29-47
29 “Brothers and sisters, I can speak confidently about the patriarch David. He died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this very day. 30 Because he was a prophet, he knew that God promised him with a solemn pledge to seat one of his descendants on his throne. 31 Having seen this beforehand, David spoke about the resurrection of Christ, that he wasn’t abandoned to the grave, nor did his body experience decay. 32 This Jesus God raised up. We are all witnesses to that fact. 33 He was exalted to God’s right side and received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit. He poured out this Spirit, and you are seeing and hearing the results of his having done so. 34 David didn’t ascend into heaven. Yet he says, The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right side,
35     until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.’
36 “Therefore, let all Israel know beyond question that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”
37 When the crowd heard this, they were deeply troubled. They said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”
38 Peter replied, “Change your hearts and lives. Each of you must be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 This promise is for you, your children, and for all who are far away—as many as the Lord our God invites.” 40 With many other words he testified to them and encouraged them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” 41 Those who accepted Peter’s message were baptized. God brought about three thousand people into the community on that day.

Community of believers
42 The believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the community, to their shared meals, and to their prayers. 43 A sense of awe came over everyone. God performed many wonders and signs through the apostles. 44 All the believers were united and shared everything. 45 They would sell pieces of property and possessions and distribute the proceeds to everyone who needed them. 46 Every day, they met together in the temple and ate in their homes. They shared food with gladness and simplicity. 47 They praised God and demonstrated God’s goodness to everyone.

​The Lord added daily to the community those who were being saved.

“O God, the Holy Spirit, come to us, and among us; come as the wind, and cleanse us; come as the fire, and burn; come as the dew, and refresh; convict, convert, and consecrate many hearts and lives to our great good and to thy greater glory; and this we ask for in Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen” (Eric Milner-White, England, 20th cent.)  Lord hear our prayers.

Today: Pray for the Holy Spirit to help heal our nation.