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b'* Some times I fancy that Luke\'s two books in the Bible might share a common title. We might call his Gospel: "The Work of the Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ" And then, the Acts of the Apostles might be called: "The Work of the Holy Spirit in the disciples of Jesus Christ." I mean: The Holy Spirit is the living link across Luke\'s writings. * This is important for two reasons: (1) The anointing of the Spirit is truly available to every believer. (2) The work of the Holy Spirit guarantees the unity in goal and purpose of the whole Church. * At the same time, we should remember that in proclaiming the creed we affirm that we believe in the Holy Spirit, "the Lord, the giver of life." To accept and to be guided by the Spirit is not a choice among other choices. It is a must. The absence of the Spirit can only spell anarchy--because there would not be a true leader--and death--because there would not be true life. * The first generation of Christians was very much aware if these facts. We read in the Acts of the Apostles that missionaries were asking the Lord, with fervent prayers, where they should turn to, in their service to the Gospel. It is very telling a passage like the following one, from chapter 20: From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church. When they arrived, he said to them: \\u201cYou know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia. I served the Lord with great humility and with tears and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents. You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus. \\u201cAnd now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me\\u2014the task of testifying to the good news of God\\u2019s grace. \\u201cNow I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again. Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of any of you. For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God. Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. * Let\'s underline a few verses: (1) The attitude: I served the Lord with great humility and with tears and in the midst of severe testing. (2) The method: I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. (3) The contents: I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus. * Everything Paul has done comes as a fruit of the Spirit. The Spirit "compels" Paul; "warns" him; "makes" some elders overseers of the flock of God. This is why we say that the Spirit is "Lord"! He is very much alive!\\xa0The Spirit acts with power and gentleness in the hearts of believers.'