Nougat 21

For many of us, the spiritual Pentecost is about the dispensation of the spiritual gift of tongues. But have we noticed other spiritual gifts at the forefront of that new dispensation? Consider Today’s Holy Nougat

‭Acts 1:15-16 NIV‬

[15] In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty)

[16] and said, “Brothers and sisters, the Scripture had to be fulfilled in which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus.

Scripture Fulfilment

You got it in a word siblings. Prophecy was coming to life right there with that first fruit harvest. We hear it from Peter’s own mouth. The scriptures were being fulfilled through those ~120 believers in Jesus, those people of the Way.

Although Jesus had told them this would happen, I don’t know that the 120 expected it. And definitely not in the way God’s Spirit was manifested.

Peter quoted Joel’s prophetic vision, indicating that it was coming to pass in their midst. What wasn’t stated, however, was that Jesus’ promises had also been fulfilled.

In John 14:15-17, Jesus comforted the disciples, saying, If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.

We know that as promised, Jesus left this earth one final time after the Resurrection. One main instruction He gave to the disciples was that they should stay in the city until the promised power became theirs. This was none other than God’s Spirit (see Luke 24:49), visibly present at Pentecost.

On that first Pentecost outpouring, we may recall that the evidence was visible as flames hovering over each person gathered in the room (see Acts 2). Now, the external evidence was accompanied by internal action, God’s Spirit dwelling in them, gifting them with the ability to speak God’s Truth in multiple languages.

God’s Spirit was tangible among them and audibly within those 120 disciples, just like Jesus said. While we are not sure if new prophesies were being uttered by the disciples as they spoke, we know that that manifestation came later. That day therefore, scripture (and Jesus’ prophecy) was fulfilled in their midst.

What does that mean for you and me in the broader scheme of things?

A. It means that God keeps God’s promises. So when Jesus, Who is one with God, assured the disciples, ‘Truly I am always with you’, we can take that promise as ours. It has and will come to pass.

B. It means that God’s Spirit may also dwell within our lives. We are living in the ‘latter days’ of Joel 2. God’s Spirit is ready to be poured out among and within all who believe in Jesus.

C. It means that we also have access to the very same spiritual gifts that the disciples manifested. We are also welcome to use spiritual gifts, to prophesy, dream dreams, and see visions.

So what are we waiting for to live out the audible, visible manifestation of this new dispensation? When will the world see and hear and feel the power of God moving with, in, and through us?

Hmmn. Might Scripture be fulfilled through you and me today? Selah.

—

May all we seek be found in Christ