Welcome Home everyone
We left off last time in Acts chapter one, they were waiting on the gift Jesus promised. They were altogether praying, and they asked God to select for them the replacement for Judas.
If you have your Bibles today you can join me in Acts chapter 2.
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 as the Spirit enabled them. 5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?” 13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”
Acts 2:1-13
In order to help me share with you today, I have separated my thoughts into 3 sections or points. We will begin by looking at the…
Implications of Pentecost
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 as the Spirit enabled them.
Acts 2:1-4
Pentecost comes from the Greek word that means 50/50 days after the start of Passover. It is one of 3 pilgrimage festivals commanded by God/Festival of Weeks. This is a grain harvest/First Fruits festival/ offering to God. In this case it was the 50th day after the crucifixion of Jesus. They were all together in one mind/unanimous spirit and the Holy Spirit began to stir. The impartation of the Spirit was preceded by familiar elements that any Jewish person of that day would attribute to the Holy Spirit. A king is announced with trumpets and the arrival of his envoy but, the Holy Spirit makes His presence known by wind/breath (ruach) and fire.
Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, breath, from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live.’” 10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army. “Ruach”
Ezekiel 37:9-10
By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. 22 Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.
Exodus 13:21-22
The wind and fire / Holy Spirit was on them. In the Old Testament the anointing was over Israel and perhaps a few individuals for a season. But this new Covenant would be personal, and the anointing would be for all and remain on them. This wind enveloped them, and the fire ball comes and separates over them like tongues of fire. These are supernatural characteristics.
In many ways I see this as a purification process. It prepares the way for the relationship that would be inaugurated by God through His Spirit. It consecrates us as the dwelling place/the new temple of God.
John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
Luke 3:16-17
The wind of the Spirit clears the chaff /unusable part of the wheat /from the threshing floor. The fire of the Spirit burns it up. It (the chaff) is of no sustenance and it is of no use to God therefore, it must be removed and discarded. Far too often we seek the gift of the Holy Spirit, but we refuse to release the chaff in our lives. We refuse to submit to the Holy Spirit or to be purified by Him.
“Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.”
Isaiah 6:5-8
6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.”
8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”
And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”
Isaiah, would not dare to say send me Lord before he was purified and consecrated to God. We must understand the implication of Pentecost. God was preparing them then and he is preparing you now.
I’ll move on to my next point where we’ll look at …
Tongues as a Sign
Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”
Acts 2:5-11
First of all, let’s talk about the elephant in the room. You have heard it said that speaking in tongues is the initial physical evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The act of speaking in tongues has an actual name “Glossolalia”. The information that we are going to talk about regarding Pentecost and speaking in tongues is straight from the Bible and only from there. You may have been taught something from another tradition and that’s ok but, traditions are not inerrant, only the Bible is the inspired word of God. So that’s what we go by here, is the Bible. With that said, the word of God depicts 3 types of tongues.
A personal tongue. A personal tongue requires no interpretation. Its purpose is for personal prayer and worship. It presents as unintelligible.
Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. 2 For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit.
1 Corinthians 14:1-2
However, it is a spirit to spirit contact and only God understands.
Next is A Corporate Tongue. This is for the edification /teaching/encouraging of the Body of Christ. It is likened to prophesy and does require an interpretation.
I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified.
1 Corinthians 14:5-6
If it teaches and encourages then it must be clear and interpreted.
“Xenoglossia” is the form of tongues that is described in Acts 2:6-8.
When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language?
Acts 2:6-8
This is the speaking of tongues that is heard in a human language, one that the speaker has not learned.
In any of these manifestations, the utterances must be in accordance with the will of the spirit and in its authenticity, will be in order. There will not be an interruption or chaos, but in order.
Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40 But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.
1 Corinthians 14:39-40
We must understand a few things about the Holy Spirit and His work. Everything has a purpose. Here in our text the outpouring of the Spirit was for a special purpose. First, it was to initiate a new relationship between the Holy Spirit and the believer. Pentecost demonstrated the new model of redemption that characterized the intimacy with Christ through His Holy Spirit that focused on the aspects of personal redemption and makes way for a larger corporate redemption. Pentecost signaled a new power for ministry so that the preached word of God could come forth with boldness and conviction. And we would, just like Jesus said, be His witnesses to a lost and dying world. His purpose was to call out to the many nations of Jews who already believed in the God of Israel. That would launch the church age and begin to spread the Gospel of Jesus the Messiah.
I’ll move to my final point where we’ll see the …
The Spirit of Rejection
Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?” 13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”
Acts 2:12-13
Just as one man seeks to hear from the Holy Spirit and understand, others still will reject His teaching and mock repentance. This is in accordance to Israel’s general rejection of Christ. Remember the devil comes to steal, kill, and destroy. Just like with Adam and Eve, God’s word was made known and they lived in obedience for a time, until the serpent began to cast doubt on the instruction of the Holy Spirit.
I’ll close with this. Everyone who has asked Jesus Christ to be their Lord and savior has the Holy Spirit with them, that is a guarantee. He lives in your heart and you have become the temple of the Holy Spirit. But each of us are at different places in our walk with Jesus and when His timing is in place and you are ready to receive it, you too will experience this gift. It belongs to Him and he will give it when it serves His purpose. To confer power for ministry/ not everyone is called to the ministry. To reveal or illuminate His truth in your spirit. And to fortify the intimacy of your divine relationship.
Will you join me as we seek an authentic relationship united in Christ and each other? Rejecting division, embracing God’s reality in Jesus, and encouraging one another. It’s just between you and God. Here’s the thing, If we love God and abide in Christ we will find ourselves more and more loving each other. You will we more and you will love better. We will experience God in spirit and in truth and we will share that amongst each other. Share all the ways God has shown you mercy and grace. Will you allow the Holy Spirit to stir faith in someone through your testimony? Would you join me as the Holy Spirit moves on us to be unified in the spirit of Christ? These are the kingdom values. This is truly the work of God. The intentional actions of the body of Christ. Remember the devil seeks only to kill steal and destroy. Steal your freedom, kill your joy, and destroy your destiny for hope and love. But God has a plan! He’s stealing from your neighbor, your family, and your loved ones today.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16
Jesus, He’s the Son of the living God, and we can receive from Him today His Righteousness, His purpose and His calling. Will you call on him today? Your salvation/forgiveness is just one prayer away. Will you trust in his ability to do what He said He would do? Will you believe today? Many of you need a fresh touch from God today.
Is there some form of unbelief or a fracture of trust as it relates to God in your life today? God wants to redeem and restore those areas of your life? He wants to restore Joy and hope for you today. You’re hearing this now and the Holy Spirit has brought someone or something to mind. He wants to speak life into this today. He wants to bring healing in this area today. There are areas of deep regret when it comes to your relationship with God and you have rejected Christ as your savior …It’s not too late.
It’s not too late to humble yourself before him today, hold out your arms and open your hands to receive from him today. Will you say yes to Jesus, today? Will you bow your heads with me? Some of you already know the Lord, but maybe he’s put something on your heart that you need to deal with, you need to ask his forgiveness today. If that’s you will you just acknowledge that to him today. This is just you and God here.
Now someone here may not have that relationship with Jesus and today you’ve felt him tugging at your heart, you’ve been hurt, and you’re guarded, I know. Jesus is here and wants set things right in your life. If you’ll say Pastor, I want Jesus to be my Lord and savior. Remember, it’s just you and God here. Will you pray with me today, We’ll pray here as a family and you can repeat after me?
Jesus, I know that I’m a sinner. I ask you today for your forgiveness. I believe that you died for my sins and on that 3rd day, you rose from the dead. I ask you to come into my heart today. I trust and follow you as my Lord and savior. Guide me and help me to do your will. In Jesus’ name Amen.
“‘“The Lord bless you
Numbers 6:24-26
and keep you;
25 the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
26 the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace.”’