Sermon Tone Analysis

Jesus told them it would happen

Remember it said that Jesus ‘opened their minds to understand the Scriptures...’ Here, we catch a glimpse of the connections Jesus was making for them between the events they were experiencing and the larger story of God across the ages.

The Law and Psalms and The Prophets were written long before the time of Jesus and the Apostles.

But they predicted events that unfolded during that time.

That’s part of why we can trust the Bible.

So this was important for the Apostles to hear.

It grounded them in history, God’s story.

But writing all of those experiences of discovery down helps us even today!

Now we see the connections between the prequel and the main event.

We are living out the sequel.

It’s still a great movie even today.

This is that

I read a book in school called This is That.

That’s as simple as you can make it.

It’s where a biblical writer is pointing to something previously written being fulfilled in another time.

Making connections from one part of the bible to another.

If you’re able to use an audio bible and listen to the bible daily, I challenge you to do the 90 day bible reading plan.

It’s about 12 pages of text per day.

20-30min of listening.

If you listen to the whole bible that fast, you will begin to recognize some connections because it won’t have been that long ago that you heard or read the related passage.

Jot down verses that you want to come back and explore after you are done with the reading plan.

It can actually be fun to get deeper into the Word like this.

If you know the bible well the big pieces become clear.

Here is where Luke makes a connection in our reading:

Peter demonstrates that he was listening when Jesus taught them.

It helped him see that what was happening in front of him was what Joel looked ahead to see.

So everything that was happening to the apostles and everything that’s happening in our time are part of the continuing drama of God overcoming the human tragedy with powerful love.

Literally and figuratively it says God is pouring out his Spirit on all flesh.

Remember in John’s Revelation Jesus says behold I am making all things new.

As the Holy Spirit fell on the Apostles and all who gathered with them, the age of the Spirit was upon us.

God makes his dwelling in us and among us.

We have help to understand and to discern what to do.

We have help remembering what we need to remember from Jesus.

We have help rising above our personal struggles and sins.

We can be filled with all the fullness of God.

We will have help communicating who Jesus is to a world that doesn’t understand.

Those who didn’t believe in Jesus tried to dismiss the Apostles and others, saying they were drunk or out of their minds.

Although there was a lot of noise with a rushing mighty wind and many voices speaking many languages, people were hearing about the great deeds of God in their own language if they listened carefully.

It was a miracle.

The Spirit was helping them to overcome communication barriers across generations and cultures.

So many from different backgrounds all together.

Yet, everyone hearing the message of Jesus.

This is essentially the birthday of the church.

The church has always had help sharing the good news.

Help from the helper, the comforter, the counselor, the Holy Spirit.

Today, many people still don’t understand.

They may say we are out of our heads or drunk.

But don’t let that take the wind out of your sails.

You know what God has done for you.

You know He is the source of light and life and love and holiness.

Let your light shine.

Some may turn away or even lash out.

Turn the other cheek and keep on shining.

Jesus said “you will have trouble in this life.

But take heart, I have overcome the world.”

The Holy Spirit came during the celebration of Pentecost, the feast of weeks in the old testament, celebrating the harvest and giving thanks that God provided.

Now we remember that day because the Holy Spirit fell and the gospel went around the world.

Flaming tongues of fire fell on fully surrendered lives and many things changed for the better that day.

Mainly many lives changed for the better.

Individuals.

Families.

Widows.

Orphans.

Grieving parents.

Excited teenagers.

Boys and Girls.

Sons and Daughters.

Man servants and maidservants.

Young men seeing visions.

Old Men dreaming dreams.

Men and Women prophesying as predicted.

This legacy falls to us and we celebrate it best with open hearts and surrendered lives.

Love your neighbor.

Love your enemy.

Forgive.

Serve.

Give.

Do it all to God’s glory because you can through the power of the holy spirit.

Let’s pray...