Something Big is About to Happen
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When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
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So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “Whatever could this mean?”
But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God,
That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;
Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
Your young men shall see visions,
Your old men shall dream dreams.
And it shall come to pass
That whoever calls on the name of the Lord
Shall be saved.’
:14-
And it shall come to pass
That whoever calls on the name of the Lord
Shall be saved.’
Something Big is About to Happen
Introduction
The year was 1908 and there was a different kind of energy in the air, as the people were gathered for the London Olympic Games. Present were athletes, spectators, news reporters, academics, skeptics and hopefuls - all waiting to see John Baxter Taylor, Jr. compete.
John Baxter Taylor, Jr - was born in Washington D.C. to former slaves, and the family settled in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia - where he attended school and became the fastest quarter miler in the country.
Taylor graduated from the University of Pennsylvania’s school of veterinary medicine in 1908. As one could imagine the scene in 1908 - where you have the son of former slaves competing amongst athletes from around the world - it was tense to say the least. Yet, there they were all kinds of people, there for different reasons, from different places together in one place, waiting for something to happen.
Then, it happens the men’s medley relay - Taylor comes in the third leg for 400 meters and the team won not just this race but the later one to follow making - John Baxter Taylor, Jr. the first African American to win the Olympic Gold Medal.
They were gathered, people from different places, there for different reasons but together and something big happened - the first African American Gold Medalist . . .
It was truly an amazing day
This lesson in real African American history provides us an illustration of what happens when people from different places, there for different reasons come together. Big things really do happen.
When God’s people are able to get over ourselves Big Things Happen
When we are able to love beyond us big things happen
Expound
As we come to our text we arrive at the Day of Pentecost - when the days of waiting were finally over. The disciples were gathered together amongst people from different places, there for different reasons.
The Holy Spirit came upon them in a very different way - a new way and with it came supernatural signs causing them to do some very different things.
Luke is the only to record this experience. Luke records what is a fulfillment of prophecy, which let’s us know that this this experience wasn’t fluke rather an intersections of divine timing and human availability.
When we are available and open to divine timing - Big Things Happen.
Acts: An Introduction and Commentary e. The Pouring out of the Spirit (2:1–13)
Pentecost is the New Testament name for the Feast of Weeks, when the wheat harvest was celebrated by a one-day festival during which special sacrifices were offered
It was the 50th day from the second day of unleavened bread, celebrated by one large meal or a series of meals in celebration of something to come or as a reminder of a past event.
The people were gathered together
They were there in celebration
Were gathered in expectation
When we as God’s people come together and allow God to have His way - Big Things Happen
Expound
As we avail ourselves to the Heart and Voice of God there are a few things we discover as the Lord revels to us that Something Big is About to Happen
1. We Must Be in the Right Place at the Right Time
1. We Must Be in the Right Place at the Right Time
When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
A. Respect for God’s Timing
A. Respect for God’s Timing
The disciples have been waiting for for this day to come.
Paul records in that he would wait until the day of Pentecost
There were many preparing, working and waiting for this day to come
We have to be patiently open to God’s divine timing
B. We’re Better Together
B. We’re Better Together
Text says they were all on one accord in one place
In the Greek “on one accord” means together. In other words they were together in one place.
The disciples/Apostles - the early Christians - scholars argue that it was probably 120 of them were gathered ready for God to move.
When we out aside selfish ways and agendas, it makes way for God to do some great things
We have to stop letting dumb things get in the way of The Lord’s divine move
Richard Baxter says, and I quote,
300 Quotations for Preachers Unite in Necessary Truths
I would recommend to all my brethren, as the most necessary thing to the Church’s peace, that you unite in necessary truths, and tolerate tolerable failings; and bear with one another in things that may be borne with; and do not make a larger creed and more necessaries than God has done
I would recommend. . . that you unite in necessary truths, and tolerate tolerable failings; and bear with one another in things that may be borne with.
- Richard Baxter
In other words baxter is saying that we need to be able to get over ourselves and function in unity realizing that none of us are perfect. . . Like Paul reminds us in Philippians - we’re not there yet but, were trying to press toward the mark.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. argued
“We must learn to live together as brothers or we will perish together as fools.”
-Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
When we allow issues like racism, sexism, oppression inequality, judgement and church-rejection to exist we get in the way of the wonderful things The Lord wants to do
We are all made by the Hand of God, and we come together it pleases God invites Him in.
C. When we sit The Lord Stands
C. When we sit The Lord Stands
Text says they were sitting when suddenly a sound came from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind . . . and it filled the house where they were sitting.
They were sitting and in position when God began to move. There is power in being in position.
This sets the stage for a theological term - theophany. A theophany is
Dictionary of Bible Themes 1454 theophany
A temporary visible manifestation of the presence and glory of God. This may be in natural phenomena such as cloud or fire, in human form or in prophetic visionary experience.
Luke records that the sounds filled the entire house where they were sitting. When God shows up, He takes over everything in His path
So, when God shows up we see where
2. Availability makes room for Supernatural Ability
2. Availability makes room for Supernatural Ability
Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
A. God shows up in unique ways to do exceptional things
A. God shows up in unique ways to do exceptional things
The Spirit appeared, manifested as of fire and that fire sat upon each of the apostles. It was like fire resting on their persons. It was truly a unique experience.
Can you see it? Can you imagine it?
Can you imagine how that may have felt?
Maybe it felt like fire shot up in their bones
Maybe it was a consuming fire
Maybe it felt like that time you felt the presence of God for the first time . . .
However, it felt the blessing is The Holy Sprit showed up!
EXPOUND | I don’t know about you, but sometimes I don’t care how it feels, or how He does it just as long as He shows up!
B. God will do the unexpected for the unlikely
B. God will do the unexpected for the unlikely
The fire that sat upon them brought tongues upon each of them
God allowed each of the apostles to experience His power regardless of personhood. Each of the disciples had their imperfections:
Peter cut a mans ear off
Some of them slept during prayer
They ran in fear after the crucifixion
But still God granted them, allowed them to have this experience . . .
EXPOUND | Aren’t you glad God allowed you to experience His power in spite of your imperfections???!!!
C. God gives specific gifts for specific tasks
C. God gives specific gifts for specific tasks
As they were all filled with the Holy Spirit they began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Let me pause here for a brief teaching moment. We must carefully understand this verse in context and see what is really happening. Many have taken this verse out of context and misinterpreted it. To clearly understand what it happing here we must look at the language . . . text says they began to speak in other tongues
There are two types of tongues: there is what’s called glossalalia - what we commonly know as “speaking in tongues.” That can be our prayer language that’s between you and God.
Then there is glossa which refers to a specific language. Verse 6 says
And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language.
In this context The Lord provided each apostle the gift to speak in the native language of those they were witnessing to. Here this tongue is more likely glossa - God gave gifts of language to each of them
God will give you just what you need, to do what He has called you to do | Expound
Lastly,
3. There’s Purpose in His Power
3. There’s Purpose in His Power
But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God,
That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;
Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
Your young men shall see visions,
Your old men shall dream dreams.
And it shall come to pass
That whoever calls on the name of the Lord
Shall be saved.’
Acts
A. Truth Clears Confusion
A. Truth Clears Confusion
In verse 14, when Peter gets up to preach he has to correct the people.
He has to clarify that the people aren’t drunk as a matter of fact he says, hey its only the third hour of they day - Based in the Jewish calendar it was about 9 am
So Peter is is clarifying confusion . . .
Remember, I told you there were people gathered together from different places and for different reasons
Some folks were there - the Holy Spirit was present and they still missed it!
Isn’t it interesting how people who missed it have to find some way to rationalize what God did in your life?? | EXPOUND
Big people catch God - Little people Gossip
B. There’s Power in the Prophetic
B. There’s Power in the Prophetic
Peter has to remind the people of words from the prophet Joel and how The Lord has always promised to pour out of Himself
We have to be conscious of what The Word has said so we can expect and embrace what it will do
Now, here they, the apostles felt like this was the end time.
Peter calls the roll and makes them remember what God has promised
Every now and then we need a reminder to keep us focused on his promise | EXPOUND
More than that we see where
Also, we see where the prophetic gives power to all, verse 17 says:
‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God,
That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;
Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
Your young men shall see visions,
Your old men shall dream dreams.
I wish we could put this thing to rest, but until we do, I’m going to keep shouting it. There is no sexism in God!!!!
The Word says sons and daughters, boys and girls - men don’t have a monopoly on God.
Ladies trust your gifts, use your gifts - If God gave it use
Not only that, its time for our young men to stand up and live out their vision
Milleneials make your move
The Power of God is here for us to Make a Move because something big is about to happen!
C. It’s time to Celebrate what’s to Come
C. It’s time to Celebrate what’s to Come
And it shall come to pass
That whoever calls on the name of the Lord
Shall be saved.’
When we’re in the right place
When we’re available
When His Power is Present
It means something big is about to happen
Here we are gathered together . . . | EXPOUND
Text says it shall come to pass
There are some big things shall come to pass
Shall | definite to come about, without contingency
Saved | rescued, healed, delivered