A MIGHTY ENTRANCE 135
The Holy Spirit is an active person. He never stops
working. He'll even send an angel to you if that is what you
have need of. What happens on earth is the Spirit's doing.
He's the representative of the Father and the Son.
At the house of Cornelius, Peter preached the death,
burial, and resurrection of Christ. And "While Peter was
still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all
those who heard the word" (Acts 10:44). The believers who
had come with him, "were astonished... because the gift
of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.
For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify
God" (vv. 45-46). Never forget that the Word comes first.
The message of Christ takes preeminence. The gospel is the
foundation for everything God the Holy Spirit was sent to
do.
The Spirit is concerned about your life—even your
future. He wants to guide you, protect you, even warn you
of what lies ahead. You ask, "Can the Holy Spirit prophesy
about things to come?" Look at what happened when
Barnabas went to the great city of Antioch. Over half a
million people lived there at the time. For an entire year
Barnabas and Saul taught great numbers of people in that
growing megachurch.
And in these days prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch.Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and showed by the (^)
Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all
the world, which also happened in the days of ClaudiusCaesar. Then the disciples, each according to his ability, (^)
determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea.(Acts 11:27-29)
That's how close the Holy Spirit was to their daily lives.
He revealed a coming drought and thus allowed them to be
prepared when the famine actually came. The Spirit is a
person, and He's deeply concerned about people. He knows
what is happening in your life and has great concern for