THE HOLY SPIRIT

Acts 2:1-21

Today is celebrated around the Christian world as Pentecost Sunday. This is an event that I believe all of us know about. It refers to the descent of the Holy Spirit, and as we read, He fell on each of the disciples and some strange things happened. Not only us as christians who read this, but as we heard from the scripture all the people at Jerusalem at that time were confounded by what they saw and heard. It was a magnificent occasion. A miraculous occasion. An occasion that brought the fulfilment of prophesies, well-known from their prophets and leaders. An occasion that had everyone spellbound from the miracles they had seen. Let us try to understand what happened, how those who witnessed the event thought and said, and what we as christians today must take away from this marvellous event.

First of all we are told that the eleven, meaning the remaining eleven disciples, were gathered in one place in Jerusalem. There should have been twelve but Judas had hung himself., leaving only eleven. They were all together. The author is careful to tell us that they were all with one accord in one place. This is not a chance event. This is not by accident. After Jesus’ death the disciples were afraid that a similar thing may happen to them, but they were meeting regularly in smaller numbers, at different places. I believe some suggested by two’s or slightly more, mostly for fear that a similar thing may happen to them. They were cautious. We know from several stories that Jesus had been meeting with them at various places. He met the two on the Emmaeus Road, He met them in the Upper Room when He asked Thomas to put his finger in His side, because he had doubted that Jesus was alive. And I’m sure we remember Thomas’ famous words: “My Lord and my God.” One of my favourite Easter stories is when Jesus had boil fish with them for breakfast just after His resurrection. On this particular day they were all together in one place. I’m going to suggest that the Holy Spirit brought them all together. Perfect arrangement and perfect timing.

It so happened that Jerusalem was full of people from all over the known world. It was Pentecost, a special day on the Jewish calendar, perhaps the most special day on the Jewish calendar, and we read that” they were all with one accord in one place.” Whether that was by design or by coincidence doesn’t matter. The fact is that they were all together in one place. And it is also noteworthy that they were of ‘one accord.’ It is difficult to get twelve, or so, men together and find them of one accord. No disagreement, no arguments. We also read there were in Jerusalem “Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven.” It was the Feast of Pentecost and Jews from all over the known world made a special effort to be in Jerusalem for the event. I assume it was something like how 24th May used to be in the old days. South Caicos people made a special effort to come home to celebrate the event. To see the Benevolent’s march and to have a party. When we read this story we are left without doubt that Jerusalem was packed with returning visitors.

It was during this important festival, when the biggest crowd possible would be there, that this strange, live-changing event took place. The story tells us that they were all with one accord in one place, and suddenly there was a sound from heaven, as a “rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.” We are told that there appeared to them divided tongues as of fire, and one sat upon each of them, and they were filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

This was no usual event by any stretch of imagination. There had never been an event like this before. No one had ever had an experience like this before. The disciples were speaking in a language, the bible said they were speaking in tongues that were understood by everyone there, even though they were from all over the world and spoke in different languages. The crowd was confounded because each of them heard everything just as if they were speaking in their native language. No one was left out. No one could say that they did not know what the disciples were saying. That was the mystery to them.

I want to bring two very important matters to our attention. The first is that Jerusalem happened to be filled with Jews from all over the world. And as I mentioned earlier, they spoke different languages but all were able to interpret what the disciples were saying, just as if they spoke their language. Let me point out that the Holy Spirit can do anything. There is no impossibility with the Holy Spirit. God wanted them to hear what was being said and language was not a barrier. They each heard the message. As one of them remarked: “Are these not Gallaleans? How come we all can hear them plainly as they speak the wonderful words of God.” If God has a message for any of us we will hear it no matter what the circumstance is; no matter what the language is. No matter who the preacher is. God will make a way for you to hear and understand. Everyone in that great multitude heard the wonderful message of God. That is miraculous, and we still have a miracle working God.

The other point that came out of this part of the story is that very important people, were there present. They each had different reasons for being there. All of them were influencial persons from their various countries. Each of them were impacted by this event. They each learned something important about God that day. They each were influenced by what they saw and heard, and could go back home and take the message with them, and be a missionary for God. We can’t lose sight of the fact that everything about this event was perfect. It was perfect because God was in it.

CRITICS

Something else came out in this passage. The majority of the people were amazed and praised God for what they saw and heard. I quote them: “We hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.” That is what the majority thought and said, but you know that there are critics everywhere. Even in the house of God there are those who will be influenced by the devil and will see things in a contrary way. With all the rejoicing and amazement going on, and the majority of people expressing a delight for the things they had seen and heard, some made a comment: “They are full of new wine.” Everywhere we will find people like that. No matter how good and amazing and profound something is, they will have a negative response. We have to always be on our guard for people like that. Never allow them to move us away from the real and spirit-filled things. Our resolve and determination to do things for God should never be stifled by doubters and detractors, and contrarians. If God is for us who can be against us. That should be our motto all the time.

THE NEED FOR PLANNING:

The lesson that we as christians have to learn from this is that planning for an important event is very important. Success will depend on that. The timing here is perfect. We can say that God arranged Pentecost to take place at the right place and at the right time. I’m suggesting that as Christians we need to take a page from God’s book. Plan our events, no matter what it is, to derive maximum benefit. Whether it be a missionary service, some special service, a sale or whatever it may be that we want to have, we need to plan it so that we derive optimum results. We want everything to be perfect. It means we must plan carefully, taking all aspects into careful consideration. In that way we cannot fail. Everything about Pentecost was perfect. Further down in this passage, at the end of Peter’s sermon, we are told that three thousand souls were saved. Good planning brings good results. As Christians we ought to remember that.

PETER DELIVERS HIS FIRST SERMON: He reminds them of the Word of the Lord spoken by their prophets: “Whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.” As we read Peter’s sermon we have no need to wonder where those words were coming from. It is plain that Peter was filled with the Holy Sp[rit, and that every word he uttered was from the Holy Spirit. It makes a big difference, because the Holy Spirit not only guides us but He prepares the hearts of those who are listening, so that they will receive it in the right way. And this sermon shows it in every way.

Peter in his opening statement addressed the critics. He made it clear that these men were not drunk, as they had suggested. It was just nine in the morning, much too early for people to get drunk, so take that out of your minds. That is absurd, utter nonsense. They were, instead filled with the Holy Spirit.

What they were witnessing had been prophesied by the prophet Joel ages ago. They were witnessing a fulfilment of that prophesy. They were witnessing an act of the Holy Spirit. Peter who had denied his Master during His trial was now taking up the batton and convincing everyone that Jesus was the Christ. He was the One who would save them from their sins. He was the One who would redeem them. He was the One who would bring restoration and healing in all its magnificient ways. It was time to see that emnity and strife and division was not a way to live. God wants a united people, who serve Him and worship Him, in Spirit and in truth.

Peter that morning argued that Jesus is the Messiah and Lord. He is the One sent to redeem Israel and all mankind. Brothers and sisters as we celebrate Pentecost this morning, remembering that God provided the Holy Spirit to continue to be with us, and to guide and protect us, let us renew our relationship with God. Strengthen our resolve to be faithful and true to Him in all we do. Putting our trust in Him that His Holy Spirit will be with us to provide all the strength and boldness that we need. With that we can be assured that nothing will hold us down. Nothing will keep us back, because we serve a God who has overcome death and hell.

I pray that everyone of us will be emboldened to serve Him faithfully to the end.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit AMEN.