Visitation of the Holy Spirit

14 February, 2011

Read Acts 2:1-4

The visitation of the Holy Spirit upon a band of frightened, puzzled and fearful disciples totally transformed them. They would go on to become stirrers and shapers of history.

The Holy Spirit was described as a “sound like the blowing of a violent wind” from heaven and “what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated”. It was a phenomenon not of this world and difficult to describe. The manifestation of the Spirit’s enabling was that the disciples broke out in tongues or different languages in verse 4.

Christians have all longed for the Holy Spirit’s filling and many have been confused by it. Some believe that the Spirit comes in a quiet peaceful way and are sceptical about the display of emotions such as crying and tongues. Yes, the Spirit comes in that way too. Bezalel of the tribe of Judah was filled with the Spirit of God and worked quietly with his hands (Exodus 31:2-4). Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit when he preached with logic and clarity (Acts 4:8). The filling of the Holy Spirit need not be loud and spectacular.

There are also records of others being filled with the Spirit and something visible and almost outrageous happened; such as in Acts 2 here. There are Christians who claim that the filling of the Holy Spirit must be evidenced in the speaking of tongues and outward signs. There is even a denomination called “Pentecostalism”.

All Christians must know that the Holy Spirit has His own way and how He comes and manifests the filling is of His prerogative. The Holy Spirit decides. He could do it in outward signs and wonders or in quiet boldness and confidence. Either way He is not containable, beyond our comprehension and cannot be manipulated or locked in.

There are two things that are clear though. First, God wants to give us His Holy Spirit and we can ask for His filling. We must and should ask because God never goes back on His promise.

Luke 11:13
If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Secondly, the sure sign of the Spirit’s filling is that of a transformed, courageous bold life lived out in obedience to God. It will be a fruitful life that bears the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22.23) and effective witness to the gospel’s truth (Acts 1:8).