Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off–for all whom the Lord our God will call.” With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” (Acts 2:38-40)
As I sit here today listening to the rain falling steadily outside, I am reminded of how often the Scripture speaks of the Holy Spirit in terms of a refreshing flow of water. In the passage above, Peter is addressing a very large group of people from a wide variety of cultures. He tells them that if they will change their thinking to embrace the open door that God has provided through Jesus, they will all be filled with the Holy Spirit and experience the power and refreshing of His presence.
A short time later, after the Holy Spirit had worked a great miracle through Peter, he said this to the crowd that gathered:
“But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Christ would suffer. Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you–even Jesus.” (Acts 3:18-20)
What an opportunity we have! To be filled, and refilled, over and over, with the Holy Spirit. If you are in need of hope, healing, encouragement, vision, strength, or simple refreshing, I encourage you to take a moment right now and receive a fresh filling of the Holy Spirit.
