Acts 2:1-21

THE FEAST OF PENTECOST In the book of Acts Luke chronicles how the Word of the Lord grew. The birthday of that growth process was the Day of Pentecost. Pentecost was an annual festival of the Jews which followed the Feast of Firstfruits by a week of weeks (seven weeks or 49 days). It was also known as the Feast of Weeks andcouldbelikenedtoaThanksgivingfestival."Pentecost" isaGreekderiva- tion meaning fifty because it was the fiftieth day after the Firstfruits Feast. It was a time of rejoicing among God's people. It was time to come to the temple to offer up sacrifices of thanksgiving. Thus, there were Jews from the Diaspora, Hellenistic Jews, as well as proselytes who had gathered from the civilized world at the temple.

From Joel to Jesus the promise was repeated, "You will receive power when the Holy Ghost is come upon you" (Ac 1:8). What happened on that first Chris- tian Pentecost was the fulfillment of divine promise that the Spirit's power would become manifest in the apostles. The Lord's men were together in one place, no doubt in or near one of the porticoes of the temple. (This open area would offer sufficient room for the great multitude who heard the wonderful news of Christ). There was pneuma, a wind powerful and strong, although the skies were clear and calm. As God in past ages made His presence known in fire (Moses and the burning bush and Elijah and the chariot of the Lord), so there was fire here. It divided and danced over the disciples and they spoke in tongues they did not normally use or know. People gathered to witness the phenomenon. Here were simple country folk from Galilee suddenly speaking in foreign tongus understood by those assembled from the many ancient lands around Israel. The contention of charismatics that the apostles were using a "spirit language" by virtue of a "Baptism in the Holy Spirit" is not borne out by the word dialektos, which implies an understandable language. There can be no doubt that it was the divine power of God's Holy Spirit which was manifested on that first Pentecost. In that outpouring there is the dynamic power which causes the Gospel to take root and bear abundant fruit. The preacher would do well to dissect the events of Pentecost and the manifestation of the Spirit, for in our day the work of the Holy Spirit is perhaps the most misunderstood aspect of God's dealings with His people.

Intmductio~Once while watching youngsters compete in the "Special Olym- pics;' Iwasmovedbythetremendousspiritwhichthesespecialchildrenexerted in their competition. That strange, indefinable thing that compels retarded children to compete in athletics is "spirit." There is spirit in athletic contests. There is a spirit of patriotism that can grip a country. Also there can be a spirit of enthusiasm that permeates a church on the move for Christ.

Christians, too, talk of the Spirit. It is not some vague nebulous feeling, force, or power; rather it is the Holy Spirit. It is the Third Person of the Holy Trinity whom we all need to become and remain Christians and who was manifested in a most unusual way on the first Pentecost. That is the Spirit of which we speak today when we say: "That's the Spirit" I. That's the Spirit who comes to us in God's own way. He came to the apostles in God's own time. He came to them with God's own sign. C. HedoesnotcometousinallthesamewaysasHedidofold,but we have the assurance that He comes through the Word and Sacraments. II. That's the Spirit who proclaims God's love in Christ. The apostles did not retreat to themselves, but they began to speak about Christ. They spoke in languages which many people of thatworldspokeand understood. The Spirit lays upon the church the responsibility of proclaiming the good news of Jesus to all, far and near.

III. That's the Spirit who helps us become living proof of God's love. A. Some mocked this Spirit's outpouring as intoxication. (People can mock the Spirit but to their own damnation.)

B. Those who believe fulfill God's promises of old through the prophets. There were those who believed Peter and the others and who by the Spirit became living proof of God's love. C. When the Spirit moves us to believe, we also become living proof of God's love in Christ. Conclusion: Young Jim was in little league. He was playing his favorite posi- tion in a play-off game A ball came whistling at him at second base and almost in self-defensehe held his glove in front of his face The ball struck and a rally by the opponent was cut off. The coach yelled from the bench, "That's the spirit, Jiml' The Spirit who was manifested at Pentecost came in God's own way. He came to proclaim Jesus as Savior and Lord, and He came to make us living proof of His life-saving work.