Re: Fuel — Inspired, galvanised, enthused
Erick du Toit
May 24, 2021
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Acts 2: 1-21 (NIVUK)
1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: ‘Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs – we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!’ 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, ‘What does this mean?’
13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, ‘They have had too much wine.’
Peter addresses the crowd
14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: ‘Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15 These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
17 ‘“In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
18 Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy.
19 I will show wonders in the heavens above
and signs on the earth below,
blood and fire and billows of smoke.
20 The sun will be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood
before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
21 And everyone who calls
on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Yesterday we celebrated Pentecost!
Whoop-whoop, happy birthday to the Church!
This celebration commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles and other disciples following the Crucifixion, Resurrection, and Ascension of Jesus Christ.
Pentecost is derived from the Greek word pentecoste, meaning 50th day, and falls on the 50th day after Easter.
This day is significant as it marks the beginning of the Christian mission to share the Good News of the Gospel to the entire world.It’s a great opportunity to be reminded of our vocation as Spirit filled followers of the Way.
Some bizarre and strange occurrences shaped the early life of the church on that day.
Tongues of fire fuelled inventiveness as individuals spoke in languages understood by a diverse group of onlookers. The writer uses words like ‘amazed’, ‘bewildered’ and ‘perplexed’ to describe the witnesses’ reaction to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
Though, amidst the chaos, it seemed that there was a sense of unity (even so for skeptical reasons!).
Did the Holy Spirit remind the masses on that day that there are more similarities than differences between humans? That disparities in language and ethnicity and culture due to societal development can and must be used to unite rather than divide?
That at the core of our beings, there is a longing not only to belong to one another but to return to the Creator, the great I Am?
During Pentecost we’re reminded to live Spirit filled.
To surrender in obedience to God’s call.
To share in ways that we don’t always understand or want to comprehend.
Have we lost this ability to be amazed and bewildered and perplexed at what the Lord is busy doing because we’ve domesticated the Spirit?
Do we give the Spirit enough room to inspire and lead us as we build his Kingdom?
And can we honestly expect God to change the church if we’re not allowing the Spirit to transform our own hearts?
PRAYER:
Holy Spirit,
Guide and Giver,
Enthuse me
Use me,
Even when I refuse thee.
Amen.
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