Hearing God

Hearing God - Acts 2

I wanted to preach something spicy and god asked me what was on my heart.

This past Sunday was pentecost Sunday. This is the week on the Christian calendar that remembers what happened on the day of pentecost.

Now pentecost wasn’t originally a Christian thing, in fact neither was Easter.

Easter is the Jewish passover. Passover was going back to Moses. - explain the story.

Now pentecost was 50 days after and called the feast of weeks, the word pentecost is just a translation go the greek word 50th as it was the 50th day from Passover. Now it was a week of weeks after Passover plus one day.

Now both passover the feast of weeks (easter and pentecost) require all Jewish men to head to Jerusalem for the festival. This is one of the mean reasons God uses these dates as the date of Jesus death, and of his display of power on Pentecost.

Lets read acts 2 together.

2 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. 7 And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, 11 both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” 12 And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ac 2:1–13.

SO the day of pentecost came and everyone is gathered in this room. As they are praying is says Suddenly there was a sound. Then touges of fire are poured out, then that receive the gift of speaking in out languages, then they pour out onto the street and the jewish people from all around the world can hear them speaking in their native languages. It also says at the end that the Christians are experiencing God presence in a way that makes them seam drunk on wine.

But it begins with a sound (Acts 2:2)

They hear first and then they see the miracles

Its not just this moment but all through out scripture

In the beginning God spoke and then creation happened

Elijah hears the sound of abundant rain and then the rain begins to poor

Ezekiel hears the bones rattle then the army came back to life

The lame man at the gate beautiful hears that his legs will be restored and then he stands up to walk.

In your life and in my life we first hear the gospel and then the miracle of our salvation takes place.

Romans 10:13-17 it says this

13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Hearing builds faith, and faith activates miracles.

God desires relationship with us, he is speaking to us and if we can turn our attention toward shim and listen to his voice we will begin to activate

The gifts of the spirit of which 9 are listed over half are listening gifts.

words of knowledge

words of wisdom

prophesy

interpretation of tongues

gift of discernment

Practice hearing Gods voice.