Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. 1 Corinthians 2:12
In Acts chapter three we find the remarkable account of the first recorded miracle after the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Day of Pentecost. Peter and John passed a man on their way to the temple to pray. This man, being a lame beggar, asked them for money. Notice how Peter responded in Acts 3:6, Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” Peter said, “What I have I give you.”
It’s been said that “you can’t give what you don’t have.” It could also be said, “that you can’t give what you don’t know you have, even if you have it.” Peter was obviously aware that he possessed something and that he had it in such a tangible way that it could be given to someone else. In 1 Corinthians 2:12 we see that it takes the Holy Spirit to reveal to us the “things that have been freely given.” The word “things” here is from the Greek word charizomai which is the verb form of charisma, the New Testament word for grace.
Think about this for a moment. Peter had walked with Jesus for three and a half years. He had seen more miracles than could possibly be recorded, and on at least two occasions he was sent out by Jesus Himself and performed miracles along with the other disciples. He had even seen the resurrected Christ and confessed Him as Lord, but in-spite of all of this Peter did not know what he fully possessed as a believer in Jesus Christ until after the day of Pentecost, when he was filled with the Holy Spirit.
We see in John 21:3 that even after Peter had encountered the resurrected Christ, and Jesus had breathed on them and said “Receive ye the Holy Spirit” that this experience in and of itself did not transform Peter. It was not until the Day of Pentecost, when he was filled and baptized in the Holy Spirit, that he became a true witness.
Jesus said in Acts 1:8, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Just like Peter, it takes the Holy Spirit in our lives to help us understand what we have in Christ and to empower us to give it to others. Let us ask the Holy Spirit today to fill us afresh and anew so that we can walk in the charisma of God and freely give this grace to others.
Today’s Thought: The daily infilling of the Holy Spirit is the key to understanding all that we have in Christ and He helps us in giving it to others.