5/18/13- Pentecost Eve

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. ² Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.³ They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. ⁴ All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues^[a] as the Spirit enabled them. (Acts 2:1-4)

Thoughts:  There were 120 people together in a house (churches were not legal then).  So it was crowded. Tradition says it was the same upper room in which they had the Last Supper and the regular gathering place of the apostles outside of the Temple (which would have been John Mark's mother's house 12:12).  Pentecost was a crowded festival (fifty days after the 2nd day of Passover).  But the words used here emphasize unity- "all"- "together"- "one."  Unity is a pre requisite to the Spirit's moving.  Unity in prayer is important too.  Today is Global day of Prayer.  It is a day in which Christians of different persuasions, tongues, ethnicities come together to pray.
    Pentecost was a dual celebration.  It was a celebration of the giving of the Law and a harvest celebration of spring crops.  The Law was given by the  Holy Spirit who inspired its writing.  But when we try to keep the Law without the Spirit it becomes dry, crusty, hard, and broken.  But when we are inspired by the Spirit to love God then we want to keep His Law (John 14:26).  At Pentecost the people were convicted of their sin by the Spirit (Acts 2:37), and were told to repent and be baptized (2:38).  Repentance (metanoeo)- is a desire to get right with God and His will.  It literally means to turn around and get on the straight path.  Repentance and conviction are inspired by the Spirit.  When this happens the Law becomes a guide to keep us out of heartache, trouble, and keep us atuned to God's will.
    The harvest of souls began at Pentecost when the church went from 120 to 3,000 (Acts 2:41).  The Holy Spirit convicts people of their need for God- waking them up to Him- removing the blindness and deafness to God.  We need the Holy Spirit to come and convict us of our sin.  Reasoning with unbelievers does not work- but when the Spirit comes- no argument against God can stand.
    So we need to be in prayer together- repenting of our sins and calling for God's mercy on the Global Day of Prayer tomorrow (5/19/13). 

Prayer: Lord, help us to be together in you.  Help us to be convicted and convinced by your Spirit to follow in your ways.  Help us, O Lord, to reap a harvest- bearing fruit for you.  

(Joseph Ignaz Mildorfer- Hungarian National Museum Budapest 1782)

(Reading at the traditional site of the Upper Room- recognized by Helen mother of Constantine and crusaders).