Daily Devotions
Hebrews
"Gifts of the Holy Spirit..."
Text: Hebrews 2:4d
SURELY MORE THAN ENOUGH PROOF
The Person and the Message of Jesus were powerfully authenticated by God. The generation of Jesus was greatly blessed because they personally heard and saw the signs, wonders and miracles He performed.
God went further to give the Holy Spirit to the disciples of Jesus so that they too could preach with great power and conviction of the gospel of salvation. The following text packs in so much power. With the outpouring of the Spirit of God we also see:-
“Gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?”
Hebrews 2:4d
THE BOOK OF ACTS OF THE APOSTLES
This is an important book that details the activities of the apostles of Jesus. They too were especially empowered by God to carry on with the work Jesus had assigned His apostles.
1. Gifts of the Holy Spirit
Pentecost marks the day when the Spirit of God descended on the apostles and a small band of disciples who formed the first Church (Acts 1-2). When the Spirit of God fell upon them the disciples found that:
a) They had the power to speak in foreign languages not learned in the usual way (Cf. Acts 2:1-11).
b) They also had the power to heal (Cf. Acts 3:1-17)
The following text describes the fact that the apostles were doing many things similar to what they saw Jesus doing.
“And through the hands of the apostles many
signs and wonders were done among the people.”
Acts 5:12
2. According to His will
Many came to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Thousands sought baptism and they were added to the Church (Cf. Acts 2:41)! A fledgling church had now become a powerful community of saints. However not all could heal. And not all could speak in foreign tongues. The Person who decided who would have which gift was God Himself. All things were done “according to His will”.
THE FOCUS WAS TO BEAR WITNESS
The disciples of Jesus never lost focus of the work that their Master had given to them. He had commanded them to bear witness (Cf. Acts 1:8). The following text suggests that the disciples were absolutely faithful to their task.
“And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is
The Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.”
Acts 5:32