Friends, I am so excited about today’s passage. Over the last few days, we have been preparing our hearts to celebrate Pentecost this coming Sunday, and today we actually read what the disciples experienced when the Holy Spirit arrived in Acts 2. We need to keep in mind that the same Spirit that boldly brought fire to settle on each of the disciples, lives within each one of us as believers. Think about that for a moment…through our salvation, the Holy Spirit burns brightly through each one of us. He convicts us, refines us, and seeks to transform our hearts so that our lives can keep growing to reflect Jesus and His love within this hurting world. It is the greatest gift that we contain…the vibrant Holy Spirit living and moving within us.
Our passage today is Acts 2:1-11, and after days of being in the upper room together in prayer, surrender, and spiritual preparation, Pentecost FINALLY happened. God’s promise was fulfilled and the Spirit-empowered Church began at that very moment in Acts 2. Imagine, it sounded like a roaring windstorm, and suddenly each disciple was speaking languages they did not know how to speak moments before the Holy Spirit settled on each one of them. This moment reminds us that the Gospel message of Jesus, the eternal One, and His unending love is for everyone. Think about it, people from every nation heard from God, through the disciples, in their own languages on Pentecost. The same Spirit that moved through them wants to move through us. Pentecost still matters, as it reminds us that God works through surrendered hearts that are willing to turn their full lives over to the work of the Holy Spirit.
The question each of us need to ask ourselves today is, “Am I allowing the Holy Spirit to lead, shape, and empower my daily life so that Jesus may be glorified and more hearts can come to truly know Him, to be loved by Him, and to grow in love with Him?”
Acts 2:1-11 (NLT)
The Holy Spirit Comes
1 On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. 2 Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. 3 Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. 4 And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.
5 At that time there were devout Jews from every nation living in Jerusalem. 6 When they heard the loud noise, everyone came running, and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers.
7 They were completely amazed. “How can this be?” they exclaimed. “These people are all from Galilee, 8 and yet we hear them speaking in our own native languages! 9 Here we are—Parthians, Medes, Elamites, people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, the province of Asia, 10 Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, and the areas of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism), Cretans, and Arabs. And we all hear these people speaking in our own languages about the wonderful things God has done!”
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit through Jesus. Holy Spirit, please continue to convict, refine, and transform each one of our hearts so that our lives may be willing vessels to reflect Jesus, His love, and His Truth. Help us to know what we need to surrender into Your hands. We want to be filled with Your wisdom so that You can guide us on where You needs us to go and share more of the Gospel message so others may know, love, and glorify Jesus. Thank You for the Pentecost message that reminds us that we contain Your burning love and Truth. We love You, and ask all of this in Your Holy Name, Jesus. Amen.