The priests of ancient Israel stood as a sign prefiguring the role that God would ordain all his people to under the New Covenant. We are, as Peter says, “a royal priesthood” (1 Peter 1:9). Old Testament priests were anointed with oil symbolising the anointing of the Holy Spirit. So, the Holy Spirit that the believers received on the day of Pentecost was an anointing, an ordination and empowerment for ministry. It was as Jesus said: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses…to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). In other words, the Holy Spirit anointed them to exercise a mediatorial role in fulfilment of the Abrahamic promise: “And all peoples on earth will be blessed through you” (Genesis 12:3). This mediatorial role is also denoted in the prophecy of Joel which Peter quoted on the day of Pentecost. Now the role of prophet and priest that was borne by a remarkable few in Old Testament times, was entrusted to all God’s people: “‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people…Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy” (Acts 2:17-18. Cf. Joel 2:28-29). The Holy Spirit is a gift given to you to become a gift given from you. Don’t ‘dam-up’ the Holy Spirit by keeping him to yourself. Open your heart and your mouth, testify to Jesus, and let truth like a river flow from you into the hearts of others.
Ask God to use you to bless others today.
Read Exodus 29:1-9 and Joel 2:28-32.
