Draw Near – 365 Guides to Greater Intimacy with GodSample

POWER OF A PERSONALITY Acts is a book about a Person: the Holy Spirit. In the Pentateuch, we saw the glory of God the Father in the creation, in law, and in order. The Gospels set forth the message of Christ the Son and describe His redemptive work. Acts displays the glory and work of the Holy Spirit in relationship to God, Christ, and the church. Throughout the Bible, we are told about God's Holy Spirit, but only in Acts do we begin to see Him as a distinct Person of the Godhead. God's Word tells us that the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to work out the plan of redemption in men's lives by convincing them of sin, drawing them to Christ, and regenerating them when they repent. He also is to perform a work of cleansing, comforting, teaching, and guiding. In Acts, we see the Holy Spirit's work in all these ways. While the book is called the "Acts of the Apostles," it more properly could be named "The Acts of the Holy Spirit through the Apostles." Because we are afraid of excesses, we often shy away from the Holy Spirit today. How tragic this is! In these last days, God's Spirit is at work preparing Christ's church for His harvest, convincing the world of sin. The young church relied heavily on the power of the Spirit and they had great power, resulting in many conversions. If we, too, were filled with His Spirit, we could see the same worldwide revival in our day. The Holy Spirit is still at work, and He is seeking those who will be filled.