“Receive the Holy Spirit”

It today’s text (John 20:1-23) the resurrected Christ restores hope to His hopeless disciples then commissions them to a special mission. Jesus never gives us an assignment without equipping us to succeed. Jesus breathes on His disciples and imparts the Holy Spirit causing them to be born again. Soon in the book of Acts where we will be next Jesus sends power from on high to empower His disciples for their mission.

The Apostles received the Holy Spirit and were born again

“So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” John 20:21-22

How are we born again today?

“In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.” Ephesians 1:13-14

The disciples will then receive power to be witnesses of Christ in the world

“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8

We too can be empowered!

“And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.” Acts 19:6

“And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,” Ephesians 5:18-20

Pastor Mike