Power Received

Acts 2:1-13

This past week, my wife and I traveled to Colorado. Jenefer had to work, and I was able to take a brief sabbatical in Estes Park. To be quite honest, I was not sure what to expect from this sabbatical. I just knew that I needed time to be with my Lord and time with my Father. The first day that I was there, it rained and snowed, so the hiking was short-lived. I drove out of Fort Collins west on Colorado Highway 14 for about an hour. One thing to consider about getting into the mountains is the loss of cell phone service. This is what I needed. To unplug and just listen. I stopped and went about a mile and a half up the mountain in the rain, trying to hear God. I did not; instead, I received a soaking from rain and snow.

The second day was a beautiful one, with temperatures at 40 degrees, a sunny sky, and very few clouds. I decided to hike to Gem Lake on Lumpy Ridge Mountain. It is roughly 2 miles up and 1600 feet in elevation. Lumpy Ridge entrance sits at 7800 feet. It took about fifty minutes to hike up to the lake. On the way up, I kept talking to our Father and asking Him, ‘Is this the place to sit?' He kept saying no. Once at the lake, I sat and admired the scenery that He created for me to see. I took a power nap at lunch and read His word. I went another mile on the other side and felt the Holy Spirit telling me to sit between two rocks where a fir was growing. As I sat there, I began to talk and listen. His Promise to talk to me was kept. He began to share with me things that I will share with all of you over the next month.

When I came down from the mountain, I was beet-red. Like Moses, when he came down from Mt. Sinai. I thought about Acts two and how they must have felt when the Holy Spirit rushed in and filled them with Himself. He kept His promise. Luke shares three implications when His Promise is Received.

First, people will be amazed and astonished by your transformation. Second, you will be able to share the mighty works of God with them. Lastly, you will leave them perplexed.

Amazed and Astonished:

I enjoy reading articles about fascinating facts that most people are unaware of. Did you know that Bananas are radioactive due to their high potassium content? Did you know that all porcupines float in water because of their hollow quills? Did you know that the human stomach can dissolve razor blades? Did you know that a snail can have over 25,000 teeth, and some are stranger than any material made by humans? Did you know that platypuses sweat milk? Did you know that ketchup was once sold as medicine? I have now provided you with some useless information that may or may not have hindered your ability to think for the rest of the day. You're welcome.

Allow me to give you some useful information. Amazed and astonished are not the same thing. Amazed often suggests a positive feeling of wonder or being impressed, while astonished emphasizes a greater degree of surprise, often to the point of something being difficult to believe. In Greek, “amazed” comes from “existemi” (έξίστημι), which means to cause someone to be so astounded as to be practically overwhelmed. Astonished in Greek “thaumazo” (θαυμἀζω) to wonder or marvel at some event or object.

This is what happened to those who heard and then saw the transformation of these men from Galilee. A stark contrast between Peter, who denied Christ Mark 16:17, and Peter, who will speak boldly for Christ. That is what happens when the Holy Spirit fills believers. Listen to what they said about Paul after his conversion (Acts 9:21).

Mark 16:17 NASB95

“These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues;

Acts 9:21 NASB95

All those hearing him continued to be amazed, and were saying, “Is this not he who in Jerusalem destroyed those who called on this name, and who had come here for the purpose of bringing them bound before the chief priests?”

When I came off that mountain the first day, I knew I was in the presence of the Holy Spirit. All I could think about was going back to be with Him.

Might Works:

In a village long ago, a group of missionaries went out to share the stories of Jesus. They encountered locals who spoke different dialects. Instead of being discouraged, they embraced the challenge, learning phrases in those languages. On the day of the festival, they recounted the miracles of Jesus, and villagers were captivated. It wasn’t just the message that mattered; it was the effort to speak to them in their own tongues, illustrating that God’s mighty works can be shared through cultural appreciation and love. What an inspiration to spread His word today!

On this day, the Church commenced its designated mission: to proclaim to all individuals the mighty works of God through Jesus Christ and the hope He imparts to humanity. The term 'church' in Greek is “ekklesia,” which translates to ‘called-out ones.’ The Church is regarded as the bride of Christ, the branches of the Vine, the flock of the Good Shepherd, the kingdom of God’s dear Son, and God’s household, comprising His adopted children. It is a spiritual temple, with Jesus Christ as the cornerstone, and—most notably—the body of Christ.

I was reminded of His mighty works atop those mountains. His beauty encircled me from every side. He understood that during this week, prior to the foundation of the world, He and I would share some solitary moments amidst His creation. When they emerged from that Upper Room, they were so infused with the Holy Spirit that it overflowed, spilling onto all those in their vicinity. This will leave people perplexed!

Perplexed:

I can only imagine the confusion experienced by the Jews upon hearing these men speaking in their native language. It is also reasonable to presume that the disciples were similarly perplexed. One moment, they were conversing in Greek, and the next in a foreign language. Imagine, for instance, John questioning, 'What in the world are you saying?' and John pondering, 'Wait, what am I saying?' This situation raises numerous questions for me. Did they become bilingual as a result of this event? I am jealous. I spent years learning Greek and Hebrew, and I could learn another language in a matter of seconds. Rosetta Stone, eat your heart out, you have nothing on the Holy Spirit, language course. I would love to be the marketing manager for that product. But we are.

Our lives should be so profoundly transformed that those around us are perplexed by the change from who we were to who we have become. The term for perplex is “diaporeo,” which signifies being thoroughly perplexed, unsure of how to proceed, or experiencing great confusion. When our lives are genuinely transformed by the Holy Spirit and the power received, individuals should be faced with a choice: to flee from us due to their uncertainty, or to remain and listen, desiring what we possess.

When I went up the mountain on Thursday, I went to the northwestern side of Lumpy Ridge and hiked to Bridal Veil Waterfall. It is a three-and-a-half-mile one-way hike with an elevation change of 1100 feet. On the way, I was confused about why I was on this trail. I wanted to do the Bear Lake trail. You can say I was perplexed. As I began the trek, I started to feel like I was Samuel hiking up the mountain to meet with God. I could hear Him talking to me all the way up the mountain. I will say this hike was harder, especially the last half mile. There is essentially no trail, as you are walking on the side of a mountain to reach the waterfall.

Upon reaching the fall, I was profoundly perplexed, awestruck, and overwhelmed. The beauty, serenity, and tranquility I experienced are beyond my ability to adequately describe. I sincerely understand the sentiment expressed by these Jews: “What does this mean?”

I still do not have all the answers from this trip. It will take some time to unpack what transpired. But I can say that something is different since I went up there. I had my Upper Room experience and feel like I understand just a little bit more what it means to have received the Power.