"Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive men's sins, they are forgiven them." –John 20:22-23
Come, Holy Spirit! Happy Pentecost! Happy birthday to the Church! Alleluia!
Before receiving the Holy
Spirit, we must repent of sin (Acts 2:38). After receiving the Spirit, we are to proclaim to the nations repentance and the forgiveness of sins (Lk 24:47). After Jesus gave the Holy Spirit to the leaders of the Church, He commanded: "If you forgive men's sins, they are forgiven them; if you hold them bound, they are held bound" (Jn 20:22-23). In summary, before receiving the Spirit, we must begin to remove the planks of sin from our lives (Mt 7:5). After receiving the Spirit, we must then remove
the specks of sin from others' eyes (Mt 7:5).
When we first repent ourselves and then try to remove others' sins by warning them (see Ez 3:18; 33:8) and praying for them (1 Jn 5:16), we realize even more our need for greater repentance. This greater repentance opens us to receive the Holy Spirit in greater ways. Then we again join with the Spirit in convicting the world of sin (Jn 16:8) and helping others
even more to accept God's grace and be freed from sin. As we see others convicted of sin, we become convicted ourselves. We repent more and receive the Spirit more deeply. Thus we have a cycle which results in ever greater life in the Spirit. By obeying Matthew 7:5, we can have a continuing, ever-increasing Pentecost. Come, Holy Spirit!
PRAYER: Father, thank You for the privilege of repenting
and leading others to do the same. Come, Holy Spirit!
PROMISE: "Tongues as of fire appeared, which parted and came to rest on each of them. All were filled with the Holy Spirit." –Acts 2:3-4
PRAISE: Praise You, Lord, for sending the Spirit to instruct us in all things (Jn 14:26). Alleluia!
