Paving the Way...many days from now

Good Morning.  It's going to be a fantastic day.  Why?  Because I'm going to make it fantastic, with my attitude.  Sometimes that's all it takes, the right attitude.  So, let's dive into the next verse of Acts chapter 1.  "for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now." (v 5)
Luke starts this verse by telling Theophilus about John.  He's referring to John the Baptist.  John lived in the wilderness of Judea.  He was called by God to prepare the way for Jesus.  He was a very simple person, even eating locusts and honey.  He began baptizing the Jewish people in the Jordan River for the forgiveness of sin.  He chastised the Pharisees and Sadducees when they came to be baptized.  He criticized them for being legalistic and hypocritical.  They had an Oral Law, created by man, handed down through the generations that wasn't from God, but held people to it.  He even went as far as to tell them that being descendants of Abraham was not going to be good enough. 
John also ended up baptizing the one Person for whom he was paving the way, Jesus.  As Jesus walked towards him to be baptized, John immediately said he wasn't worthy, that he should be baptized by Jesus.  Jesus told John to do it anyway, to fulfill God's plan.  Once Jesus was baptized, the heavens opened and the Spirit of God descended onto Him.  God spoke saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." (Matt 3:17).  In both the Gospel of Mark and Luke, it is recorded slightly differently, "You are My beloved Son, in You I am well pleased" (Mark 1:11, Luke 3:22)

A side note about John from many years prior to this encounter is located in Luke.  John's parents, Zacharias and Elizabeth, were advanced in age and Elizabeth was barren...they had no children.  Zacharias was a priest and was chosen by lot (chance) to enter into the temple to burn incense.  While in the temple the angel, Gabriel, appeared to him and made a proclamation, "...your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John...and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother's womb" (Luke 1:5-15).  During Elizabeth's 6th month of pregnancy, Gabriel is also sent from God to tell Mary about her Son, while still a virgin (Luke 1:26-38).  Mary then visits Elizabeth.  When she greets Elizabeth, John leaped in her womb and Elizabeth becomes filled with the Holy Spirit as well, and begins prophesying.  Elizabeth gave birth to John, and then his father, Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit and began prophesying (Luke 1:39-79).  God truly paved the way for His Son through this family.  John, from conception to death, was God's pathway to Jesus.  He was eventually beheaded (Mark 6:14-29).
"but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit"  God would send His Holy Spirit directly to the disciples.  He didn't use the baptism we know and use today.  This was the beginning of the Christian Church, a time God would need to prove His word through signs and wonders.  The disciples were going to need all the Help they could get.  When the Spirit came upon them, He also gave them the gift of tongues.  All this means is that they could speak all the different languages needed to reach each person there for Pentecost, and beyond.  There is so much more to this, but let's wait til we get to these passages, Acts 2:1-4, and really dig into them. 
"not many days from now"   Jesus was crucified during Passover.  He was with them after His resurrection for 40 days.  "Not many days from now" is referring to Pentecost, which was 50 days after Passover.  Pentecost was also referred to as the Feast of Weeks (Deut 16).  During this time many Jewish people would be in Jerusalem, for this was one of three times God called His people together. 
Now this is a great reminder that we, too, are paving the way for something:  the Second coming of Christ.  We need to be paving the way for that as well.  I don't feel I do that well enough myself.  I must work on this.  There really is a narrow road that leads to a narrow gate through which only a few will get to go.  Are we working to pave the way for this second coming?  Are we leading others down that narrow path?  Are WE walking that narrow path, or have we strayed onto the wide path?  It is a question we must as ourselves constantly.  I know I need to work on this diligently.  Let's do that.  Hugs!!  Have a great day!

We all need Help

Hello fellow partaker in life!  I hope you're having a wonderful day full of joy and hope.  I am continuing in Acts chapter 1.  We move on to verse 4 (Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, “Which,” He said, “you heard of from Me). 
So far we learned that Luke is reminding Theophilus that he wrote the Gospel of Luke.  We learned that Jesus presented Himself to the disciples and to over 500 others AFTER His resurrection.  He presented Himself for a total of 40 days and spoke of the Kingdom of God during this time. 
Now we are learning that Jesus told His disciples to remain in Jerusalem to await a promise from the Father, a promise Jesus has already told them about.  Sounds intriguing, right?  Let's get in to it.

In Luke 24:49, Luke talked about this very topic as well.  In John 14:16-17, however, it gives us a hint as to what this promise is.  "I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of Truth."  In John 14:26 is actually tells us Who that Helper is, the Holy Spirit.  So the disciples needed a "Helper" for what they were about to do.  What's exciting is the Helper is from the Father.  This must be immensely important!
Back to John 14.  This gospel is, obviously, written by John, one of the disciples.  In it, he tells us what Jesus told them BEFORE He was killed.  Jesus described to them in detail Who the Holy Spirit is.  Let's discuss.

• Someone who will be with us forever (vs 16).  Isn't that encouraging?  Seriously, think about this.  Who, on this earth, will ever be with us forever?  Not one single person.  No one will live forever on this earth to be there for us, help us, encourage us, teach us, or even love us.  We will all die eventually.  We can count on no one for this.  It's amazing to me that God thought of this way before we were born. 
• The world cannot receive Him because they don't know or see Him (vs 17).  This one is immensely important to all of us.  To get this Helper...forever...we need to get right with God, and live right for Him.  More on this topic as we delve deeper into Acts.
• If we love Him and keep His word, He abides with us (vs 23).  We cannot just believe that Jesus is there.  We have to love and obey what the Bible says.  No getting around this one, folks.  The Bible is very clear.  
• He will teach us all things (vs 26).  
• Jesus had to die for the Helper to be able to come to us (John 16:7).  Jesus' death fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies.  During His final moment of life, Jesus said, "It is finished!"  Jesus was the final...and most perfect...sacrifice for our sins.  He freely, and in love, took all the sins of the earth upon Himself, and made atonement for them.  This should make us truly appreciate this gift.
• The Holy Spirit will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment (John 16:8).  The Spirit will convict us, and we need to pay very close attention to this so we don't grieve the Holy Spirit (Eph 4:30, 1 Thess 5:19).
• Will guide us into all the Truth (John 16:13).  I love truth.  Knowing the truth truly has made life so much easier.  
• Will glorify God (John 16:14).

I gather you all here today, as well, in hopes that one person reading this will opt to listen to their conscience and come to the knowledge of Christ ultimately getting right with God.  It is an amazing life.  It truly is.  I want that for you.  If you are already right with God, YAY!!  You know what I'm talking about then.  Let's, together, strive through that narrow gate, walk on that narrow path, and see our Heavenly Father one day.  Until next time...toodles!!  <3