5/19/13- Pentecost a Different Kind of Spirit

⁵ And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.

⁶ Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.

⁷ And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?

⁸ And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?

⁹ Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,

¹⁰ Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,

¹¹ Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.

¹² And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?

¹³ Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.

¹⁴ But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:

¹⁵ For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.

¹⁶ But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;

¹⁷ And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of 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 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:

¹⁹ And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:

²⁰ The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and notable day of the Lord come:

²¹ And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Thoughts: From a secular point of view how might one describe Pentecost?  Maybe someone might say, it was a spiritual experience for you, but I don't want any of it.  Maybe the people seemed confused- even "drunk?"  Ironically Paul contrasts being filled with alcohol spirits with the Holy Spirit when he said, "be not drunk on wine but be filled with the Spirit."  (Eph. 5:18).  Whatever happened, it was something unusual so that 3,000 people were added to their number that day.  That they understood the gospel clearly- in their own language or not- is important.  From the outside looking in spiritual experiences are best labeled "crazy" so that we might keep our distance.  But to the three thousand who formed the next nucleus of the church it was the most enriching, awe-inspiring, wonderful experience ever!  There are no adequate secular words to describe the mystical, mysterious, mystifying spiritual experience with the living God.  

Prayer: Lord, let me not be afraid to listen to your Spirit and to respond to you knocking upon my heart's door.  

 Gloucester- Pentecost

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).