Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

 ¹⁵  But when they had ordered them to leave the Council, they began to confer with one another,

 ¹⁶  saying, “What shall we do with these men?  For the fact that a noteworthy miracle has taken place through them is apparent to all who live in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.

 ¹⁷  “But so that it will not spread any further among the people, let us warn them to speak no longer to any man in this name.”

 ¹⁸  And when they had summoned them, they commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.

 ¹⁹  But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge;

 ²⁰  for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

 ²¹  When they had threatened them further, they let them go (finding no basis on which to punish them) on account of the people, because they were all glorifying God for what had happened;

 ²²  for the man was more than forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed.”  Acts 4:13-22.

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There are those preachers and teachers who preach and teach in a certain way which draws attention to their own education and skill and their own piety and righteousness.  Some are outright flashy.  Some may pretend to be humble and self-effacing, but they love the laughs, and they intend to present themselves as cute and clever.  But, these preachers and teachers all love the personal attention, and they all seek their own glory. 

On the other hand, there are those preachers and teachers who preach and teach in a certain way which draws attention to God and His works and His lovingkindness, His justice, and His righteousness.  The listener almost doesn’t admire or notice or remember much about the personal attributes of the preacher or teacher.  The listener only sees Jesus.  These preachers and teachers seek God’s glory.        

First of all, Jesus set the example for His disciples and also for us today.  “But when it was now the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and began to teach.  The Jews then were astonished, saying, “How has this man become learned, having never been educated?”  So Jesus answered them and said, “My teaching is not Mine, but His who sent Me.  “If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself.  “He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory;  but He who is seeking the glory of the One who sent Him, He is true, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.”  John 7:14-18.

Second, in today’s Scripture, we read about the apostles who were truly humble.  They did not hide their own lack of education and training.  They did not puff themselves up.  We remember the words of Peter.  “But when Peter saw this, he replied to the people, “Men of Israel, why are you amazed at this, or why do you gaze at us, as if by our own power or piety we had made him walk?”  Acts 3:12.  Rather, the apostles merely pointed to the healed man and gave credit to God.  And the result was stated in verse 21:  “… they were all glorifying God for what had happened.”  

Third, we read about Paul who focused on “Jesus Christ, and Him crucified”.  “And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God.  For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.  I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.”  1 Corinthians 2:1-5.

 ³  And they laid hands on them and put them in jail until the next day, for it was already evening.

 ⁴  But many of those who had heard the message believed;  and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.

 ⁵  On the next day, their rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem;

 ⁶  and Annas the high priest was there, and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of high-priestly descent.

 ⁷  When they had placed them in the center, they began to inquire, “By what power, or in what name, have you done this?”

 ⁸  Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people,

 ⁹  if we are on trial today for a benefit done to a sick man, as to how this man has been made well,

 ¹⁰  let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead–by this name this man stands here before you in good health.

 ¹¹  “He is the STONE WHICH WAS REJECTED by you, THE BUILDERS, but WHICH BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone.

 ¹²  “And there is salvation in no one else;  for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”  Acts 4:1-12. 

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“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life;  no one comes to the Father but through Me.”  John 14:6. 

“And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.  He who has the Son has the life;  he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.  1 John 5:11-12.

“He who believes in the Son has eternal life;  but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”  John 3:36.

Here is what The Belgic Confession states in part:

Article 22:  Of Faith in Jesus Christ.

We believe that, to attain the true knowledge of this great mystery, the Holy Ghost kindleth in our hearts an upright faith, which embraces Jesus Christ, with all his merits, appropriates him, and seeks nothing more besides him.  For it must needs follow, either that all things, which are requisite to our salvation, are not in Jesus Christ, or if all things are in him, that then those who possess Jesus Christ through faith, have complete salvation in him.  Therefore, for any to assert, that Christ is not sufficient, but that something more is required besides him, would be too gross a blasphemy:  for hence it would follow, that Christ was but half a Savior.  Therefore we justly say with Paul, that we are justified by faith alone, or by faith without works. However, to speak more clearly, we do not mean, that faith itself justifies us, for it is only an instrument with which we embrace Christ our Righteousness.  But Jesus Christ, imputing to us all his merits and so many holy works which he has done for us, and in our stead, is our Righteousness.  And faith is an instrument that keeps us in communion with him in all his benefits, which, when become ours, are more than sufficient to acquit us of our sins.

Here is what The Canons of Dordt states in part:

Article 4.  The wrath of God abideth upon those who believe not this gospel.  But such as receive it, and embrace Jesus the Savior by a true and living faith, are by him delivered from the wrath of God, and from destruction, and have the gift of eternal life conferred upon them.

Here is what The Heidelberg Catechism states in part:

Question 29.  Why is the Son of God called Jesus, that is a Savior?

Answer.  Because he saveth us, and delivereth us from our sins; and likewise, because we ought not to seek, neither can find salvation in any other.

Here is what The Westminister Larger Catechism states in part:

Question 60:  Can they who have never heard the gospel, and so know not Jesus Christ, nor believe in him, be saved by their living according to the light of nature?

Answer:  They who, having never heard the gospel, know not Jesus Christ, and believe not in him, cannot be saved, be they never so diligent to frame their lives according to the light of nature, or the laws of that religion which they profess;  neither is there salvation in any other, but in Christ alone, who is the Savior only of his body the church.

 ¹³  “The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus, the one whom you delivered and disowned in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release Him.

 ¹⁴  “But you disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked for a murderer to be granted to you,

 ¹⁵  but put to death the Prince of life, the one whom God raised from the dead, a fact to which we are witnesses.

 ¹⁶  “And on the basis of faith in His name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know;  and the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all.”  Acts 3:11-16.

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Even before I write these words, I was convicted about my lack of compassion for a wide range of people from the people of Japan to two neighbors to even one of my sons.  I tend to think that they caused their own problems.  I do not have power nor piety to decently live my own life with my own problems.  I don’t have faith to deal with my own bad attitudes. 

I get on my knees to pray.  But, even that is not enough.  I lie down prostrate with my face in the carpet, praying for help.

I get up and rush to the words “and the faith which comes through Him“, and I cling to them.  I don’t have faith in my own faith.  I must receive the faith “which comes through Him”.

I try to remember other verses.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;  not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.”  Ephesians 2:8-9. 

2 Peter 1:1
“Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ:”

“For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit;  to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,”  1 Corinthians 12:8-9. 

1 Corinthians 4:7
“For who regards you as superior?  What do you have that you did not receive?  And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?”

“John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from heaven.”  John 3:27. 

“For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think;  but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.”  Romans 12:3.

In conclusion, our hope and our salvation is not based on our own power, our own piety, or even just our own faith.  My own personal problems and attitudes remind me of my desperate need for a “faith which comes from Him”.  I look to Jesus Christ and fix my eyes on Him and what He accomplished as stated in the following The Canons of Dordt.       

Article 8.  For this was the sovereign counsel, and most gracious will and purpose of God the Father, that the quickening and saving efficacy of the most precious death of his Son should extend to all the elect, for bestowing upon them alone the gift of justifying faith, thereby to bring them infallibly to salvation: that is, it was the will of God, that Christ by the blood of the cross, whereby he confirmed the new covenant, should effectually redeem out of every people, tribe, nation, and language, all those, and those only, who were from eternity chosen to salvation, and given to him by the Father; that he should confer upon them faith, which together with all the other saving gifts of the Holy Spirit, he purchased for them by his death; should purge them from all sin, both original and actual, whether committed before or after believing; and having faithfully preserved them even to the end, should at last bring them free from every spot and blemish to the enjoyment of glory in his own presence forever.

With a leap I stand upright and begin to walk, walking and leaping and praising God.

 ⁴²  They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

 ⁴³  Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe;  and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles.

 ⁴⁴  And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common;

 ⁴⁵  and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need.

 ⁴⁶  Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart,

 ⁴⁷  praising God and having favor with all the people.  And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.”  Acts 2:40-47.

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Yesterday, our devotion was on the promise of the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Today, our devotion is on the work of the Holy Spirit.  In today’s Scripture, it is thrilling to see so many action verbs ending in “ing” which I have put in bold italic.

What did we expect? 

The Holy Spirit does His work:  exhorting, convicting people of their sin, applying God’s Word so people receive it, baptizing, causing devotion, teaching, breaking bread in fellowship, praying, causing feelings of  awe and the fear of the LORD, showing signs and wonders, selling, sharing, unifying, praising God, having favor with the people, and saving. 

“…  I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth;  for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD.”  Jeremiah 9:24. 

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control;  against such things there is no law.”  Galatians 5:22-23. 

In summary, “…  This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”  John 6:29.

 ³⁹  “For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.”  Acts 2:37-39. 

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What is this promise in Acts 2:39?

Is this promise forgiveness of sins?  Is this promise salvation?  Is this promise that our elect children are included in salvation? 

As glorious as these actions are, and although these actions are included and caused by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, we need to remember the context of this Scripture.  Where Scripture is more specific, we should be more specific.

When I looked back at the Scripture from the beginning of the Books of Acts, I saw seven references to “the promise” as being the gift of the Holy Spirit.  I will quote them from the beginning.

“Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, “Which,” He said, “you heard of from Me;”  Acts 1:4.

“for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”  Acts 1:5.

“but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you;  and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”  Acts 1:8. 

“And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.”  Acts 2:4. 

“¹⁷  ‘AND IT SHALL BE IN THE LAST DAYS,’ God says,
         ‘THAT I WILL POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT ON ALL MANKIND;
         AND YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY,
         AND YOUR YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE VISIONS,
         AND YOUR OLD MEN SHALL DREAM DREAMS;
    ¹⁸  EVEN ON MY BONDSLAVES, BOTH MEN AND WOMEN,
         I WILL IN THOSE DAYS POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT
         And they shall prophesy.”  Acts 2:17-18. 

“Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear.”  Acts 2:33.

“Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins;  and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”  Acts 2:38.

So, what is the benefit of being specific in understanding this promise?

When we are so specific in understanding this promise as the gift of the Holy Spirit, we then better understand the actions that follow as being consequences of the gift of the Holy Spirit, rather than being man-caused actions.  When we are so specific in understanding this promise as the gift of the Holy Spirit, then we trust the Holy Spirit more and are more inclined to “walk by the Spirit”.  

For one example, when we read the following verse of Acts 2:42, (“They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”), we view these actions as caused by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. 

As another example, when we read about repentance in Acts 2:38, we view this action as caused by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.  We better understand repentance as caused by “Irresistible Grace” (the “I” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism) rather than caused by some free-will action of man. 

In summary, the Book of Galatians focuses on the need to “walk by the Spirit” rather than walk by the Law.  “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.  For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh;  for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.  But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.”  Galatians 5:16-18.

Let us review the very strong language of Galatians 3:1-14. 

“¹  You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified?

 ²  This is the only thing I want to find out from you:  did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?

 ³  Are you so foolish?  Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?

 ⁴  Did you suffer so many things in vain–if indeed it was in vain?

 ⁵  So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?

 ⁶  Even so Abraham BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.

 ⁷  Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham.

 ⁸  The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “ALL THE NATIONS WILL BE BLESSED IN YOU.”

 ⁹  So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer.

 ¹⁰  For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, TO PERFORM THEM.”

 ¹¹  Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident;  for, “THE RIGHTEOUS MAN SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.”

 ¹²  However, the Law is not of faith;  on the contrary, “HE WHO PRACTICES THEM SHALL LIVE BY THEM.”

 ¹³  Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us–for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE”–

 ¹⁴  in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”  Galatians 3:1-14.

 ³⁶  “Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ–this Jesus whom you crucified.”  Acts 2:33-36. 

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Verse 35 of today’s Scripture graphically describes the dominion of Christ.  It is quite a contrast to the paintings that we see of a long-haired weak hippy.  I am not saying that we should imagine Christ as butch-cut conservative on steroids.  Rather, I am saying that this contrast serves as an important reminder that we form our image of Christ from Scripture, and not from images such as paintings and statues or based just on our own desires and imaginations.

Verses 34 and 35 are a quote from Psalm Chapter 110.  It fills out the description of the total sovereignty and absolute power and shattering action of Christ’s dominion. 

“¹  The LORD says to my Lord:
         “Sit at My right hand
         Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”
    ²  The LORD will stretch forth Your strong scepter from Zion, saying,
         “Rule in the midst of Your enemies.”
    ³  Your people will volunteer freely in the day of Your power;
         In holy array, from the womb of the dawn,
         Your youth are to You as the dew.
    ⁴  The LORD has sworn and will not change His mind,
         “You are a priest forever
         According to the order of Melchizedek.”
    ⁵  The Lord is at Your right hand;
         He will shatter kings in the day of His wrath.
    ⁶  He will judge among the nations,
         He will fill them with corpses,
         He will shatter the chief men over a broad country.
    ⁷  He will drink from the brook by the wayside;
         Therefore He will lift up His head.”  Psalm Chapter 110.

Yet, even in this chapter of awesome fear-generating language of the Kingship of Christ, there is the hope that Christ is also our Priest in verse 4. 

The language of verses 5 and 6 reminds us of Psalm 2:7-9.

“⁷  “I will surely tell of the decree of the LORD:
         He said to Me, ‘You are My Son,
         Today I have begotten You.
    ⁸  ‘Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance,
         And the very ends of the earth as Your possession.
    ⁹  ‘You shall break them with a rod of iron,
         You shall shatter them like earthenware.'”  Psalm 2:7-9.

What should be our response?

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” Proverbs 9:10

“Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?”  Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins;  and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  “For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.”  Acts 2:37-39.

 ²⁴  “But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power.

 ²⁵  “For David says of Him,
         ‘I SAW THE LORD ALWAYS IN MY PRESENCE;
         FOR HE IS AT MY RIGHT HAND, SO THAT I WILL NOT BE SHAKEN.
    ²⁶  ‘THEREFORE MY HEART WAS GLAD AND MY TONGUE EXULTED;
         MOREOVER MY FLESH ALSO WILL LIVE IN HOPE;
    ²⁷  BECAUSE YOU WILL NOT ABANDON MY SOUL TO HADES,
         NOR ALLOW YOUR HOLY ONE TO UNDERGO DECAY.
    ²⁸  ‘YOU HAVE MADE KNOWN TO ME THE WAYS OF LIFE;
         YOU WILL MAKE ME FULL OF GLADNESS WITH YOUR PRESENCE.’  

²⁹  “Brethren, I may confidently say to you regarding the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.

 ³⁰  “And so, because he was a prophet and knew that GOD HAD SWORN TO HIM WITH AN OATH TO SEAT one OF HIS DESCENDANTS ON HIS THRONE,

 ³¹  he looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that HE WAS NEITHER ABANDONED TO HADES, NOR DID His flesh SUFFER DECAY.

 ³²  “This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses.”  Acts 2:22-32. 

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The Resurrection of Christ:  Prophesied.  In today’s Scripture, we read the prophecy of David which comes from Psalm 16:8-11. 

“⁸  I have set the LORD continually before me;
         Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
    ⁹  Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices;
         My flesh also will dwell securely.
    ¹⁰  For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol;
         Nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay.
    ¹¹  You will make known to me the path of life;
         In Your presence is fullness of joy;
         In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.”  Psalm 16:8-11.  

Not only are we thrilled to read this prophecy of Jesus as we ponder this pointing to Christ and His resurrection, we are thrilled to renew our commitment, even this Sunday morning as we prepare to go to church to also “set the LORD continually before me”.  Neither David nor Jesus are alone in receiving these wonderful promises:  “You will make known to me the path of life;  In Your presence is fullness of joy;  In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.”

The Resurrection of Christ:  Attested.

“Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst”.  The purpose of Jesus’ miracles was not only to show some spectacular signs and wonders or to provide some food or healing.  These miracles attested to the fact that Jesus was unique, the One and Only Christ, the One and Only Messiah, the One and Only Anointed of God, the One and Only Son of God.  We can fully trust Jesus as our LORD and Savior.  

The Resurrection of Christ:  Witnessed.

“This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses.”  We remember the importance of the apostles being witnesses from the prior chapter of Acts 1.  Acts 1:3 states:  “To these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God.”  Acts 1:21-22 states:  “Therefore it is necessary that of the men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us– beginning with the baptism of John until the day that He was taken up from us–one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.”

 ¹³  But others were mocking and saying, “They are full of sweet wine.” 

 ¹⁵  “For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only the third hour of the day;

 ¹⁶  but this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel:
    ¹⁷  ‘AND IT SHALL BE IN THE LAST DAYS,’ God says,
         ‘THAT I WILL POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT ON ALL MANKIND;
         AND YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY,
         AND YOUR YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE VISIONS,
         AND YOUR OLD MEN SHALL DREAM DREAMS;
    ¹⁸  EVEN ON MY BONDSLAVES, BOTH MEN AND WOMEN,
         I WILL IN THOSE DAYS POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT
         And they shall prophesy.
    ¹⁹  ‘AND I WILL GRANT WONDERS IN THE SKY ABOVE
         AND SIGNS ON THE EARTH BELOW,
         BLOOD, AND FIRE, AND VAPOR OF SMOKE.
    ²⁰  ‘THE SUN WILL BE TURNED INTO DARKNESS
         AND THE MOON INTO BLOOD,
         BEFORE THE GREAT AND GLORIOUS DAY OF THE LORD SHALL COME.
    ²¹  ‘AND IT SHALL BE THAT EVERYONE WHO CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.’ ”  Acts 2:12-21.

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In above-stated verses 17 through 21, Peter quotes most of Joel 2:28-32.  Here is the full verse of Joel 2:32:  “And it will come about that whoever calls on the name of the LORD Will be delivered;  For on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem There will be those who escape, As the LORD has said, Even among the survivors whom the LORD calls.”  I think that this Joel 2:32 verse is important, as well as the whole book of Joel, which prophesies about these “last days” for several reasons.  The Book of Joel reminds us that salvation is based on election “whom the LORD calls”, and the Book of Joel reminds us that in these last days God is not only exercising His lovingkindness, God is also exercising His justice. 

There is a broad pouring out of the Holy Spirit when we consider that Scripture only mentions a few receiving the Holy Spirit in the beginning of the New Testament (not including the Old Testament) from John the Baptist and Jesus to the twelve disciples to the 120 at Pentecost to the 3,000 and more at this initial pouring evidenced by Acts 2:41 to many more later.  This is certainly an exponential pouring out of the Spirit both in terms of numbers of people and in terms of different types of people (Jews and Gentiles and all nations).  In that sense, the Spirit was poured out on all mankind.

But, I do think that we need to be careful to understand that not everyone receives the Holy Spirit and that God still hates the wicked and intends on fully punishing them to fulfill His justice.  We get that sense when we read the Book of Joel. 

In conclusion, this Scripture for today should not make us careless into thinking that God loves everyone and that it is within our control to call upon the name of the LORD and be saved whenever we want.  We should not neglect the fear of the LORD and repentance.  Rather, we should adopt the following attitude of fear of the LORD and repentance along with this hope of the pouring out of Holy Spirit which is in the same chapter of Joel 2 which Peter quotes in the Scripture for today. 

“¹¹  The LORD utters His voice before His army;
         Surely His camp is very great,
         For strong is he who carries out His word
         The day of the LORD is indeed great and very awesome,
         And who can endure it?
    ¹²  “Yet even now,” declares the LORD,
         “Return to Me with all your heart,
         And with fasting, weeping and mourning;
    ¹³  And rend your heart and not your garments ”
         Now return to the LORD your God,
         For He is gracious and compassionate,
         Slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness
         And relenting of evil.”  Joel 2:11-13.

 ³  And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them.

 ⁴  And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.

 ⁵  Now there were Jews living in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation under heaven.

 ⁶  And when this sound occurred, the crowd came together, and were bewildered because each one of them was hearing them speak in his own language.

 ⁷  They were amazed and astonished, saying, “Why, are not all these who are speaking Galileans?

 ⁸  “And how is it that we each hear them in our own language to which we were born?

 ⁹  “Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,

 ¹⁰  Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya around Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,

 ¹¹  Cretans and Arabs–we hear them in our own tongues speaking of the mighty deeds of God.”  Acts 2:1-11. 

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“¹  Praise the LORD!
         Praise God in His sanctuary;
         Praise Him in His mighty expanse.
    ²  Praise Him for His mighty deeds;
         Praise Him according to His excellent greatness.
    ³  Praise Him with trumpet sound;
         Praise Him with harp and lyre.
    ⁴  Praise Him with timbrel and dancing;
         Praise Him with stringed instruments and pipe.
    ⁵  Praise Him with loud cymbals;
         Praise Him with resounding cymbals.
    ⁶  Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.
         Praise the LORD!”  Psalm Chapter 159.

As interesting as it may be to marvel at the signs and wonder, let us not forget to speak of the mighty deeds of God and praise Him! 

“But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth;  for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak;  and He will disclose to you what is to come.  “He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you.”  John 16:13-14. 

The Holy Spirit guides us into all the truth, discloses to us the mighty deeds of God, and empowers us to glorify God and praise God and boldly speak about these mighty deeds of God.