Fruit, Gifts and Power The concept of God as Spirit makes sense. God the Father is Spirit, not flesh and blood. The New Testament is clear that God the Son became a human in Jesus. The Christmas message, God become Man, is inconceivable to me. Yet, that is what God the Son did. The third Person of the Trinity is the Holy Spirit. Of the three parts of the godhead, the Holy Spirit is the least understood for most of us. Jesus was led and empowered by the Holy Spirit. To follow Jesus, we must have His Spirit in us (else we attempt it on our own strength). Jesus tried to explain to His disciples that the Holy Spirit would be given to them after He left. It would be to their advantage that He go away so they would not be dependent upon His physical presence. By giving the Spirit to them, He could live within all disciples simultaneously. The Holy Spirit was given on the “Day of Pentecost” (Acts 2). The Day of Pentecost was the birth of the Church. All Christians have received the Holy Spirit (otherwise, you are not a Christian). There are at least three effects of the Holy Spirit on us. First, the Spirit is for individual believers (Galatians 5:22-23). Second, the Spirit imparts gifts for the church (1 Corinthians 12:4-11). Third, the Spirit empowers us for witness (Acts 1:8). Witness, empowerment and mission are the main topics of the Book of Acts. Our readings this week focus on Jesus’ teaching and the first two chapters in the Book of Acts.

- Pastor Tom Harrison