If you’re reading in your bulletins you will notice that we are in the middle of a series on Esther, and I was fully planning on preaching on the book of Esther this morning. Yet in my own devotions and prayers surrounding the day of Pentecost I was convicted that on this vital day in the life of the church that it deserves in fact it requires more than a passing glance.

I was also convicted of simply pulling out one small verse and preaching on it and so we’re going to read all of chapter 2 in the book of Acts. It’s an extensive passage, but I want to read it all and invite you to do the same.

First, some back ground - the day of Pentecost was a day that took place 7 weeks or 50 days after the celebration of Passover. It comes from two separate passages, one in the Old Testament, or Hebrew Bible and one from the New Testament.

Let’s look at the Old Testament for reference first:

Leviticus 23:15–16 ESV

“You shall count seven full weeks from the day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering. You shall count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath. Then you shall present a grain offering of new grain to the Lord.

You can read more about this in Lev 23:15-21, Deuteronomy 16:9-10, and 2 Chronicles 8:13. It was during this feast of weeks that Israelite farmers would begin their journey towards Jerusalem to present their first-fruit offerings. So this is the day of sacrifice that is being observed in our New Testament passage when we get to the second chapter of Acts.

The Lexham Bible Dictionary Pentecost in Acts

On the Pentecost immediately following Christ’s resurrection, God pours out (ἐκχέω, ekcheō) the Holy Spirit upon the Jerusalem church, thus enabling them to perform extraordinary deeds such as healings, speaking in tongues, prophesying, and inspired preaching. Fulfillment of Jesus’ promise of the baptism in the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:5, 8) occurs on Pentecost while the disciples are gathered in a house (Kee, Good News, 30). The Holy Spirit rushes into the house as a strong wind, and tongues of fire appear over each of the disciples. Fire is a conventional literary feature of theophanies (e.g., Exod 3:2; 2 Thess 1:8; 4 Ezra 13:10).

So with that as our background. Listen to this reading from God’s Word - from the book of Acts, chapter 2.

Acts 2 ESV

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.” But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: “ ‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. For David says concerning him, “ ‘I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken; therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope. For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’ “Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, “ ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.” ’ Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

When The Spirit Moves

Let’s just take a moment and let that sink in.

As my professor Julie Gorman used to encourage us, put yourself in the scene.

Acts 2:1–3 ESV

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them.

And there in Jerusalem were devout Jews that lived there, as well as devout men from every nation under heaven and hearing this sound they came together, and were bewildered because they all heard the ones speaking in their own language. I often thought this would have helped in my Hebrew and Greek classes back in seminary.

As it is anytime people don’t understand some began mocking them assuming them to be drunk, and who is it that stands up?

It’s Peter - It’s Peter, the one who professed Jesus to be the Christ one moment and was told, “get behind me Satan” the next. Peter is the one who was invited to walk on water, but took his eyes off of Jesus and was deemed “ye of little faith.” Peter, who when Jesus was washing the disciples feet perhaps saw his life so full of sin he asked Jesus to wash all of him. Peter who professed his undying devotion to Jesus at the passover meal only to be told he would deny his Lord three times by morning when the cock crowed. Peter who fell asleep three times while keeping he was supposed to be praying with and for Jesus in his last hours. Peter who had to listen to those dreaded roosters every morning reminding him of his denials. Peter who on the shore of Galilee saw the Lord making fish and jumped into the water to be with Him. Peter whom the resurrected Jesus asked, “Do you love me.” Not once, not twice, but three times.

Peter, a fisherman, now turned preacher and fisher of men. And three thousand were added to their number that day!

What is his message?

Acts 2:38–39 ESV

And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”

If anyone understood what it was to be “far off” it was Peter. If anyone ever though he had it all figured out and didn’t, it was Peter. If anyone ever stuck his foot in his mouth, or spoke without thinking, or jumped in where he probably shouldn’t of…it was Peter.

And it was Peter who God chose to use mightily in the life of the church. It was Peter of whom Jesus said, “Upon this rock I will build my church.”

Folks, I don’t typically do this in my messages, but I believe we have some like Peter here today. Some who feel their culmination of sin might be too much for God, that their unworthy or unable to follow Christ. The truth is it is not based upon an individuals ability, knowledge, strength, or skill. God is the one who works in us.

Ministry, to quote another former professor, John Dettoni, is done to, with, by, for, and through us. God is at work in us. God is at work here at Mission Woods.

I know this isn’t your typical presbyterian sermon - but Jesus wasn’t a presbyterian either.

May I pray for you, let’s pray!

When The Spirit Moves