Guidance of the Holy Spirit

Have you ever noticed the effect of the Holy Spirit on the Disciples. He is not just with you but in you and see the difference it made on that day of Pentecost to Peter.

Peter had denied Jesus 3 times in the hours after Jesus arrest – why? Because he was afraid of being arrested, tried, judged and sentenced as Jesus was being. After Jesus death, the disciples were in hiding, because they were afraid. Even after they knew Jesus was resurrected and alive again they still were fearful of the authorities.

But after Pentecost when the Holy Spirit fell on them and entered into them they all went out into the streets boldly speaking the truth. . . . . Peter preached a sermon that brought 3,000 new believers into what was to become the Church. What happened to his fear?

A teacher like Jesus, a Rabbi, would normally pick from the best Torah students in the best schools to be his followers. But Jesus picked those who had failed, ordinary men working in the family business.

Jesus had given them a taste of the Holy Spirit before, they had been sent out on mission trips into the villages of Israel, where they had been able to do miracles of healing, cast our demons and speak to the villagers about Jesus, but like new Christians it was like they were on battery power, then at Pentecost they were plugged into the mains completely filled up with the power of the Holy Spirit and his full presence.

Ordinary men, Peter, Andrew, James and John were fishermen, Matthew was a hated and despised tax collector, yet through the power of the Holy Spirit these men were changed and following the Holy Spirit, and they went out and changed the world.

I have an acquaintance who called it "spidey-senses" (he was a spiderman fan) Christians have something like them, if you listen to the Holy Spirit and obey, it will warn you when in danger and tell you when you death is imminent to give you a chance to prepare. Just as it did Paul, when his life was in danger the Spirit saved him, until it was his time, then it warned him.. . . that his actions would lead to his death....but told him to do it anyway, it was time. I would rather live my life by His schedule than mine! What about you?