6. New Testament Walkers and Talkers

1.. Acts

Thinking

Complementary to the Gospels, the book of Acts describes a second milestone in the special gift of walking and talking with God - the gift of the Holy Spirit. Now every person who confesses the name of Jesus and knows him as Lord can enter into a walking and talking relationship with God both as Father and Son. We also need to remember the words of Jesus when he said that he was in the Father and the Father was in him (John 10: 38, and John 14: 10-11).

In Old Testament days, the gift of the Spirit seems to have been for a few selected leaders and priests. Today, "there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" (1 Timothy 2: 5). This has come about because he has given us his spirit - the Holy Spirit.

Praying

Lord God, I come to you as Father and Son and Spirit, to marvel about this precious gift. From time to time I struggle about the concept of Trinity. Today, I just accept that you each speak as one, in truth and love, and I love you very much.

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Thinking

At the feast of Pentecost, the very first signs of the presence of the Spirit were "tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability." (Acts 2:3-4). While this refers particularly to ecstatic utterance and prophecy, the medium was language. This gift of prophecy is still given today. Even more common is the gift of conversational prayer - the ability to hear God's voice and respond in intimacy.

The ability to hear God's word and then proclaim it may also be given with authority. This is seen especially in the great sermons of Peter at Pentecost (Acts 2: 14-36), at Solomon's Court (Acts 3: 12-26), and before the Sanhedrin (Acts 4: 8-12). Further examples are the words of Stephen (Acts 7: 2-53), and of Paul (Acts 13: 16-41, 17: 22-31, 22: 1-21, 24: 10-21, 26: 2-29 and 28: 25-29). This gift of proclaiming God's word is frequently given today, and one through which the church and the wide family of man have been greatly blessed. Each of us must thank God for the many times that we have been lifted closer to him by this ministry.

Copyright Howard Smith 2002. All Rights reserved.

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