When the Unction of the Holy Spirit Meets Preparation
Rev. Tse Amable | January 23 2025 | Acts 2:14-36
KEY VERSE: “Then Peter stood up with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, LET ME EXPLAIN THIS TO YOU; LISTEN CAREFULLY TO WHAT I SAY.” Acts 2:14 (NIV)
MESSAGE:
The powerful message delivered by Apostle Peter on the Day of Pentecost is a classic example of what happens when the Holy Spirit sees a prepared, ready and available vessel and uses him or her for the glory of God and the Kingdom of Heaven. We know that Apostle Peter delivered a spontaneous message that was not written down on that occasion. In a sense, what happened on that day was a fulfilment of one of the promises Jesus Christ made to his disciples. In Luke 12:11-12, the Lord said: “When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL TEACH YOU AT THAT TIME WHAT YOU SHOULD SAY.”
However, we cannot conclude that the sermon the Apostle Peter preached had no prior preparation. These were Jews who had gone through the rabbinical schools of their day. Jehovah commanded through Moses that children be taught the laws and commandments of God by their parents at home (see Deuteronomy 6:6-9). Besides, these disciples had sat at the feet of the Greatest Teacher who ever walked on earth, Jesus of Nazareth. The testimony recorded in Acts 4:13 says that when the Council of Jewish religious leaders “saw the courage of Peter and John and realised that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished, and THEY TOOK NOTE THAT THESE MEN HAD BEEN WITH JESUS.” Therefore, when the Apostle Peter stood up on the Day of Pentecost and began to speak, he drew from his deep knowledge of the scriptures..
A preacher once said, “IF YOU SOW INSPIRATION, YOU WILL REAP PERSPIRATION.” Suppose you fail to sufficiently prepare your message through Bible study and prayer but choose to depend on receiving an instantaneous message from the Holy Spirit. In that case, you will sweat profusely in the pulpit. The advice of the Apostle Paul to Timothy, which states, “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15), is still very relevant to anyone who mounts the pulpit to preach and teach the word of God.
FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE:
What premium do you place on good preparation before you mount the pulpit to preach? Are you a good student of the word of God? How much scripture have you memorised to fall on in time of need?
PRAYER:
Father, I pray that you will help me to make every effort to be diligent and to present myself as approved by you as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. Amen!
THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!!
The 365 DAILY BIBLE READING Day 23: Genesis 31 — Jacob Flees from Laban
DAILY word study: LISTEN
The word "listen" in Acts 2:14 originates from the Greek term "akouō" (ἀκούω), meaning "to hear" or "to give ear to." It implies more than mere auditory reception—it conveys understanding and action based on what is heard.
In Peter’s address, "listen" emphasizes the crowd’s need to engage deeply with his words, not just passively hear them. It calls for attentiveness and responsiveness to the message of the gospel, which was delivered with Holy Spirit empowerment. Theologically, "listening" to God's Word involves faith and obedience, allowing it to transform hearts and minds. Jesus often emphasized, “He who has ears, let him hear,” urging people to discern and act on divine truths.
Reflection:
Are you actively listening to God’s voice through His Word and Spirit? How can you move beyond hearing to living out His truth in your daily walk?
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