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The disciples had a challenging message to begin with – Jesus is the Messiah, He is Lord and He is God. He was born, crucified, buried, rose from death and had ascended to heaven. They had witnessed how He was despised, rejected and condemned by powerful leaders who gave Him a mock trial and death by Roman crucifixion. Now the disciples had to preach about Him and give this message of eternal life in Jesus to their fellow Jews and to others in the whole world (Matt. 28:19, 20). Jesus entrusted this challenge to the most unlikely people – His disciples who had recently all run away when He was arrested.
Peter was hot-headed and brash, always quick to declare his eagerness without counting the cost (Matt. 14:28; 26:30-35). James and John were nicknamed “Sons of Thunder” (Mk. 13:7). There was Doubting Thomas and Matthew a tax-collector. Philip and Andrew were sceptics (Jn. 6:6-10). Some of them were just lowly fishermen. However, God the Holy Spirit transformed their lives. Empowered by His Presence in their lives, the disciples were no longer the same mere men. Jesus had promised them, “The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing” (Jn. 14:63). Thus, when they spoke before thousands on the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit brought conviction of sin, righteousness and judgement to the audience. They expounded the Scriptures and they performed miracles. They changed their attitudes of racial discrimination against the Gentiles. The divine Power and Presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives changed the disciples, using them for the glory of God the Father!
The Holy Spirit is Helper, Counsellor, Advocate, Teacher, Guide and Comforter. This same Holy Spirit can transform our lives today and move us for God’s glory. It is only by our desire for the Holy Spirit to fill us that we will encounter Him in all the roles that He has been sent to be in our lives. Do we feel inadequate to witness – to reach out in compassion and kindness, to share about His grace and love? Do we feel crushed? Do we think that our failures are the reasons why God cannot use us? Rest assured – He can change us inside out and give us His power to be what He wants us to be.
“’Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty” (Zech. 4:6).
