Luke the physician wrote how Peter spoke to the multitude gathered outside the house where the upper room was located. Peter said, “Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, you have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain. Whom God has raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. For David spoke concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved. Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope. Because you will not leave my soul in hell, neither will you suffer your Holy One to see corruption. You have made known to me the ways of life; you shall make me full of joy with your countenance. Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulcher is with us unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne. He seeing this before spoke of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. This Jesus has God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses”, and in chapter two and verse thirty-three of the book of Acts Luke shared how Peter told the multitude how the people in the upper room, “received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost” where we read:
Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he has shed forth this, which you now see and hear.
The verse begins, “Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, ...” Luke began with the words, “ therefore being by the right hand” which means “then, wherefore, consequently and on this account existing upon the place of honor and authority” “of God exalted” or “raised to dignity, opulence and prosperity belonging to the Heavenly Father God” “and having received” which means “and taking hold of, claiming and procuring” “of the Father” or “from the Heavenly Father God” “the promise of the Holy Ghost” which means “the announcement, pledge and blessing of the sacred, pure, morally blameless and ceremonially and religiously consecrated third person of the triune God, the Holy Spirit, who is coequal and co-eternal with the Father and the Son”. Luke shared how “Peter” said because Jesus was raised up by God the Heavenly Father and given the “pledge” from Him that the “Holy Spirit” would come, the following occurred.
The verse continues, “... he has shed forth this, which you now see and hear.” Luke added the words, “he has shed forth this” or “he, God the Heavenly Father, poured out, bestowed and distributed largely the manifestation of His Spirit”, “which you now see and hear” which means “that you, the multitude, at this present time observe, notice, behold and are endowed with the faculty for hearing, perceiving and discerning”. Luke shared how Peter said God the Heavenly Father “poured out” His promised “Holy Spirit”, and the people in the crowd saw evidence of this.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Peter” shared the progression of the fulfillment of Jesus' promise to “send” His Holy Spirit upon mankind. When Jesus returned to Heaven, He took His seat at the right hand of authority of His Father God, and from this position He poured out His “Spirit” upon the people in the upper room. The “Holy Spirit” of God was sent to mankind to convince them that Jesus is the Messiah, and everyone who yields their life to Him will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life with God. Let all who read these words understand the timing and purpose of the outpouring of God's Spirit, and submit themselves to Jesus as their “Savior and Lord”.
Next time Luke shares how Peter tells the multitude how King David said, “the LORD said unto my Lord, sit you on my right hand”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
No comments:
Post a Comment