Once the Holy Spirit came, just as Jesus had previously promised, everything concerning our Lord’s followers was different.
I shall use Peter as the “example” for such a bold statement.
Peter who often spoke rashly, after Pentecost, became rather eloquent! As if Someone (the Holy Spirit) outside himself had taken control of his once stammering tongue! Acts 2:14 records for us … “But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words …” (Of course, post-Pentecost the Holy Spirit has actually come to live within Peter!)
Yes, I am saying that the Holy Spirit can affect our words, voices, tongues!
Also, Peter in that great Pentecostal Sermon seems to have been given unusual insight into Scripture. He quotes and properly applies the Prophet Joel, King David, and some of the Psalmists as well! The once called “ignorant” fisherman … is now a skilled expositor!
Yes, the Holy Spirit is the real “Teacher” of Scripture! “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things.” John 14:26
Something else. Peter’s once non-existence grasp of prophecy has now become precise and quite understandable! He comprehends that Jesus is coming again some day. And that God is going to put all enemies under the Feet of our dear Lord. Jesus as Victor! “For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, until I make thy foes thy footstool.” Acts 2:34-35
And in the future, fully so in the Millennium I suspect. Quoting the prophet Joel, Peter relates … “And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: and on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: and I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: the sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come …” Acts 2:17-20
And this new Holy Ghost filled Peter can exalt Jesus as never before. He has become a skilled defender of the Faith! Especially of the Fact of our Lord’s Resurrection! “This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.” Acts 2:32 (All the preaching in the Book of Acts is Jesus-saturated! Focusing sharply on the Resurrection of Christ!)
And power? I mean the sheer Power of the Holy Spirit? Look at the harvest of souls … “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” Acts 2:41-42 (That morning there were 120 Christians in Jerusalem. That night there were 3,120 of them! Powerful growth!)
And no telling what else. There is no limit to the Holy Spirit’s effectiveness with the sincere saints of God! “And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.” Acts 2:40
Verbal accuracy, Bible insight, prophetic acumen, doctrinal boldness, Peter is truly a changed man!
And what the Holy Spirit did for Peter long ago … He is still doing today in the hearts of dedicated Believers in our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ!
Are YOU yielded to Him?
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
.