Heart Warming Encounter
Notes
Transcript
1 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
3 And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.
What was the day of Pentecost?
MacArthur Study Bible NASB (Commentary)
“Pentecost” means “fiftieth” and refers to the Feast of Weeks (Ex 34:22, 23) or Harvest (Lv 23:16), which was celebrated 50 days after Passover in May/June (Lv 23:15–22).
It was one of 3 annual feasts for which the nation was to come to Jerusalem (see note on Ex 23:14–19).
At Pentecost, an offering of firstfruits was made (Lv 23:20). The Holy Spirit came on this day as the firstfruits of the believer’s inheritance (cf. 2Co 5:5; Eph 1:11, 14).
Those gathered into the church then were also the firstfruits of the full harvest of all believers to come after. in one place. The upper room mentioned in Acts 1:13.
1 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.
Take note of what they were doing
They had not remained Idle,
They were communing with each other, seeking the Lord
They were doing everyday life with a purpose
2 And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
This is not the first time the Holy Spirit has been likened to a wind or air movement.
We can look to Genesis were God breathed his spirit into the nostrils of Adam
Ezekiel uses the image multiple times of wind or breathing life into dry bones
Jesus also told Nicodemus in John 3:8 that
“The wind blows wherever it pleases.… So it is with everyone born of the Spirit”
So there is a life given here at pentecost, they were made spiritually alive in a way no one else had known before.
3 And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them.
God has used fire and the symbol of fire through out the Bible in cases of covenant.
In Gen 15:17 God put Abraham to sleep and passed through with a flame when He set up the covenant with him.
17 It came about when the sun had set, that it was very dark, and behold, there appeared a smoking oven and a flaming torch which passed between these pieces.
This fire that fell sealed the Believers into His people, His nation, His Heirs.
And he seals us the same with His Holy Spirit today for those who surrender to Him.
But Why did the Holy Spirit fall on them? We must look back.
8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”
We were given power to make share the gospel and to disciples.
It is also the Holy Spirit that transforms us into fruit bearing people
Empowers us for His service
Comforts us
Strengthens us
Convicts us
and intercedes with/for us.
One of the biggest things is the Spirit gives us assurance of our salvation, it bares witness with our spirits.
16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God,
One of my favorite stories of this baring witness is… John Wesley’s account of being filled with the Holy Spirit on May 24, 1738, at a society meeting on Aldersgate Street in London. While listening to a reading of Martin Luther's preface to the Epistle to the Romans, Wesley recorded that he "felt my heart strangely warmed" and gained a profound personal assurance of salvation.
Take Home?
When is the last time you felt your heart strangely warmed?
If you never have, ask the Lord to fill you with His spirit today…
Today is a super special day
we have both Pentecost Sunday and our communion Sunday.
Today we are blessed to remember the Body of Christ broken for us, and His blood spilt for us—Along with His Spirit Falling on us…
