Fellow Israelites, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay. God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it (the resurrection). Exalted to the right hand of God, he (Jesus) has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. (Acts 2:29-33)
Peter used this first sermon to remind the Jews who their Messiah is. He continued with the Davidic covenant in 2 Samuel 7 in which God promised David that He would one day place one of David’s descendants on His throne; that was Jesus, our Messiah. Jesus went to the realm of the dead but wasn’t abandoned there. He loved those in Hades and preached the Gospel to them and took many with Him when God resurrected Him. Peter reminded the Jews that only fifty days ago, God resurrected Jesus, and they witnessed that. When Jesus was exalted to the right hand of God, he received the Holy Spirit and poured it on those Peter was speaking with as proof he had ascended to God. He told them beforehand He would do so.
In a way, we are also witnesses to Jesus’ resurrection. John 16:5-7 says, “I (Jesus) am going to Him who sent me (God)…But very truly I tell you…unless I go away, the Advocate (Holy Spirit) will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.” When we believed and Jesus baptized us with His Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit convicted and changed us. That couldn’t have happened, according to Jesus’ promise, unless He resurrected to the Father.
Receiving the Holy Spirit is a life-changing gift from God. When we use His power, we must ask for refills to continue our supernatural ministries.
Dearest Heavenly Father, thank you for pouring out the promised Holy Spirit on me. I have the same power David did when he slew Goliath, prophesied, conquered Jerusalem, united Israel, and wrote Psalms; the same power Peter did as he preached this impeccable first sermon of the church, and the same power early believers had as they spoke in tongues. Give me spiritual gifts and power through the Holy Spirit to make my dreams a reality. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.