Acts 2:1-21, Sermon given on Thursday June 6, 2019. Waiting on Pentecost

Last Thursday's sermon covered the verses traditionally preached on Pentecost, Acts 2:1-21.  I discussed in the sermon that the Greek words translated as 'a violent wind' can be translated as wind or breath, but they cannot be translated as 'Spirit'.  Thus I referred to the verses found in 1 Kings 19:11-12, the wind is NOT the Holy Spirit... nor is the Spirit in the 'flames' that lay upon the Disciples.  These are harbingers of the coming of the Spirit, but they are not the Spirit.  The Spirit is manifested in the hearts of the Disciples.

One of the things that I didn't touch upon (this time) in these verses is that the true miracle is in the 'hearing' and not the speaking.  If you've ever found yourself in an environment where many languages are being spoken at once, then you know that it's nearly impossible to understand even a language that you know well... there's just too much distraction.  The fact that all gathered could hear in their own native tongue is a miracle of hearing... and no small miracle at that!

I pray that the message of Christ is delivered to you in a manner and 'language' that speaks to you.

Be a blessing to someone today!  (tell them about Christ)

In His Glory,
Roy

Acts 2:1-21 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
The Coming of the Holy Spirit
2 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

5 Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. 6 And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. 7 Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? 9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” 12 All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.”

Peter Addresses the Crowd
14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. 15 Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. 16 No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

17 ‘In the last days it will be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,
    and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
    and your old men shall dream dreams.
18 Even upon my slaves, both men and women,
    in those days I will pour out my Spirit;
        and they shall prophesy.
19 And I will show portents in the heaven above
    and signs on the earth below,
        blood, and fire, and smoky mist.
20 The sun shall be turned to darkness
    and the moon to blood,
        before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day.

21 Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

1 Kings 19:11-12 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
Elijah Meets God at Horeb

11 He said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; 12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence.