SCRIP-BITS

 Acts 1:5.   For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
 
And the rains fell, driven in big sheets of water by a ferocious wind, blowing wither and why, only the Lord knew! Yes Friends, that’s what happened in my area today. When I wrote yesterday’s Bit, the rain had petered out to a mere drizzle, but later on in the day it just poured down like crazy, accompanied by an angry wind that wanted to blow away everything in its path. So be careful what you wish or pray for, because it might come with such force or in such abundance that you can’t handle it. That brings to mind the time in the wilderness when the Israelites were tired of eating manna, morning, noon and night, and hungered for meat and food like back in Egypt. So they cried out to Moses, who in turn cried out to God. This ungratefulness so angered the Lord that He decided, yuh want meat, well take meat, and caused an enormous amount of quail to fall around the camp. He provided so much meat that they shouldn’t only eat it for a few days, ‘But even a whole month, until it come out at your nostrils, and it be loathsome unto you…’ (Num.11:20) Shades of what some of our parents did when we wanted something too much. (smile) Thankfully though, it seems the wind and rain have gone back to wherever they came from and all God’s creations are happy that He blessed us with heavenly water. Just hope that there wasn’t too much wind or water damage. Anyway, it’s time for our Bit: ‘For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.’ Please bear with the ole fella Friends, for another day or two, cause it’s ever so important that we know as much as possible about the workings of the Holy Spirit, since it’s the prime mover and shaker in the lives of true believers. Without knowing what it is and how it works, you’ll be lost as a child of God. And today we’ll look at probably the second most important action of the Spirit in the early days of the church. In Acts 10, we read about Cornelius the centurion, a God-fearing man, having a dream to send for Peter in Joppa. At Joppa, Peter also had a dream telling him to go to Cornelius. (Acts 10:1-23) A day later, they got together in Caesarea, explaining to each other their dreams and reservations, and Peter went to Cornelius’ house, where he found many other God-fearing people. And though it was unlawful for a Jew to associate with Gentiles, Peter realized and said to Cornelius: ‘but God hath showed me that I should not call any man common or unclean. Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying (objection), as soon as I was sent for…’ (Acts 10:28-29) He was referring to the stuff God had showed him in the dream. Then Peter preached to the Gentiles, opening with these astute remarks, no doubt engendered by the power of the Spirit within him: ”Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons (is impartial): But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.’ (Acts 10:34-35) Then as Peter continued, an amazing thing happened: ‘While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision (the Jews) which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak in tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed (asked) they him to tarry (stay) certain days.’ (Acts 10:44-48) Ah Friends, the mysterious and amazing movements of our God! The promise of Jesus to bring all his sheep together, both Jews and Gentiles was begun right there in granting the power of the Holy Spirit unto the Gentiles too. But as always, when we step out to do God’s will, there’s backlash from supposed authorities. Sometime later, when Peter was back in Jerusalem, the other apostles chastised him for associating with Gentiles, saying, ‘Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them. But Peter rehearsed (explained) the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by (in) order to them’ (Acts 11:3-4) He explained the dream to them, and the messengers that came for him. ‘And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man’s house. and he showed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter; Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved. And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God? When they heard these things, they held their peace (became silent), and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.’ (Acts 11:12-18) There my Friends, that’s how we Gentiles, non Jewish people received the Holy Spirit, and from then on became entitled to receive it, once we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ! How great and generous is our God eh? Impartial and caring to all and sundry. May we adopt that attitude, sharing the Word and all that we have with His children, regardless of race, colour, creed or class. That’s what Jesus died to promote! Much LOVE!…the Spirit which indwells a believer…can only do as much, or as little…as the believer allows Him to do…