128 GOOD MORNING, HOLY SPIRIT
of the flesh and the opening of the age of the Spirit. In
Genesis, where for 120 years, Noah was building the ark,
the age of the flesh ended. God said, "My Spirit shall not
strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days
shall be one hundred and twenty years" (Gen. 6:3).
It is precisely for this purpose that the Lord gathered
120 at Pentecost So that God the Holy Spirit could be
released among the nations. It marked the beginning of the
age of the Spirit.
Observers couldn't understand what was happening!
Some made fun of them and said, "They are full of new
wine" (Acts 2:13). But Peter "standing up with the eleven,
raised his voice and said to them, 'Men of Judea and all
who dwell in Jerusalem let this be known to you, and heed
my words. For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it
is only the third hour of the day. But, this is what was
spoken by the prophet Joel" (vv. 14-16).
The 120 were so filled with the Spirit that they could
not stand under their own power. The Spirit was so mighty
that He took control over the actions of the believers. He
was at work changing their speech, their emotions, and
their behavior. What Jerusalem witnessed was not
drunkenness, but the incredible joy that comes when the
Spirit takes control. I've been accused of a few things
myself.
What a transformation in timid Peter. It brought out the
"preacher" in him as he "raised his voice" and spoke with
boldness to the growing crowd. But who do you think gave
him the words? The captivating message was that of the
Holy Ghost. "For our gospel did not come to you in word
only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit" (1 Thess.
1:5). That's right. The gospel is preached by the Holy Spirit.
Remember, the Word says, the Spirit "working with them."
He's the one who does the work.