Good Morning ,
We just returned from Boston. I had gone back for my yearly checkup. I got a clean bill of health. Thank you Jesus. We left here Sunday afternoon, after worship, getting to Jamaica Plain in time to tuck Micah into bed. We were able to spend some time with Janice, Jeremy, Micah, and Simeon. The Lord blessed our time together. Micah is a big girl, and she talks like a young lady. She told me that her favorite song is "You are Amazing God" (except that she calls it the "Jesus Song". I asked who sings that song. She replied, "Mr. Tomlin". I will include the song in this devotion today.
Last Sunday was Pentecost Sunday, along with Mother's day. The Lord blessed us in worship of Him. We read the account of the Pentecost event in Acts 2. The disciples were all together in one accord in the upper room in Jerusalem. Suddenly, there was a mighty and awesome move of the Lord. I call it a divine disturbance. "Suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and filled the house where they were sitting , and there appeared unto them,cloven tongues like as of fire and sat upon each of them, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak in other tongues. as the Spirit gave them utterance."
There was an audible sign and there was also visible sign. The Holy Sprit broke upon the disciples; they were filled and propelled. They were made bold and courageous. They came into the temple court and began to declare the mighty deeds of the Lord. Their tongues were let loose. We see the Holy Spirit manifested in the disciples, causing them to praise the Lord and proclaim the message about Jesus and His mighty deeds with boldness and courage. We read that there were people from all over the world gathered in Jerusalem to celebrate Passover. Each heard the mighty deeds proclaimed in his own language. People from different ethnic groups, speaking diverse and different languages understood the good news in their own languages.
We see in this text the confusion of the Tower of Babel, found in Genesis 11 reversed. The Lord kept His promise. He sent the Holy Spirit in His appointed time. All those gathered there in the Temple precinct, that heard the Good News, were amazed and perplexed. They began to ask question, "What is this?" Peter, standing with the eleven, preached his first sermon. Peter was both filled and anointed. His message was anointed. The hearing of the people was anointed also.
Prior to His ascension up into Heaven, Jesus had told the disciples to go to Jerusalem and wait for the Holy Spirit to come. For those ten days they spent their time in prayer. Can you imagine spending ten straight days doing nothing but praying? Some of those who gathered together had been with Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, who could not remain awake a few hours to watch, wait, and pray with Jesus. Jesus has to continually awaken them. Yet, this group was uniquely assembled in prayer. They wanted so much to be at one with Jesus, that they were willing to spend the time in continuous prayer. We find that this group was unique in that Scripture says they were all assembled in one place. Can you imagine what it would be like to come to church one Sunday and discover that every church member was present? This says something powerful about this group. These words go beyond just faithful church attendance. They demonstrate that these people needed each other; they needed the love and support that the other believers could give. The text goes on to say that not only were they gathered in one place, they were gathered in unity. Just think of the lack of unity outside of that room. Most of the people in town were there for religious reasons, yet they hardly agreed about anything. The Sadducees were fighting with the Pharisees over resurrection. The religious lawyers were fighting over the intent of the law and on and on we could go. Outside that room people were in disagreement about everything. There was a lack of harmony. Yet, the Bible emphasizes the fact that this small group was gathered in unity. What was the basis of their harmony? What enabled them to lay aside their differences, (they were different in many ways) and become one? We can identify at least five characteristics that contributed to their harmony. 1. They loved Jesus 2. They loved each other 3. They had a desire to share the story of Jesus 4. They were willing to give every thing they had for the gospel, including their lives 5. They longed to see Jesus again. Outside that small upper room, life went on as usual. Inside, however, something beautiful took place. Unknown to the rest of the world an event was about to occur that would change the course of history. As these believers were gathered in one place, in one accord, praying, the Bible says that there was suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind from heaven filled the whole house where they were sitting. When the Holy Spirit came upon them, they received a power that could come only from God. Peter is a perfect example of what can happen to a person yields his life to the Holy Spirit. Previously, it was Peter who was always loosing his temper. It was Peter who once cut off the ear of a man. It was Peter who swore up and down that he would never deny Jesus, yet in a moment of fear he denied Jesus three times. But when the Holy Spirit came upon Peter, this person who was once afraid and followed Jesus at a distance, took the lead and went out of the small room with courage and boldly preached Jesus, dead, buried, resurrected and coming again. His life was changed forever because of the power of the Holy Spirit.
Rick Kirchoff says, “When God sends forth the Spirit amazing things happen: barriers are broken, communities are formed, opposites are reconciled, unity is established, disease is cured, addiction is broken, cities are renewed, races are reconciled, hope is established, people are blessed, and church happens. Today the Spirit of God is present and we’re gonna’ have church. So be ready, get ready. . . God is up to something. . . discouraged folks cheer up, dishonest folks ‘fess up, sour folks sweeten up, closed folk, open up, gossipers shut up, conflicted folks make up, sleeping folks wake up, lukewarm folk, fire up, dry bones shake up, and pew potatoes stand up! But most of all, Christ the Savior of all the world is lifted up.” We sometimes forget that Peter was not alone on the day of Pentecost. The Holy Spirit is not just for the leader. He is for all believers. On the day of Pentecost, 119 other disciples lives were changed. They gained strength and began to witness, many of them in other languages. Notice that the effects of the Holy Spirit went beyond the 120. In Acts 2:37 we read that those who heard Peter preach "were cut to the heart." The old KJV reads that they were "pricked in their heart." Has your heart ever been pricked? Has it been cut to the quick? The Holy Spirit laid it on the heart of many that day that they needed a Savior; they needed Jesus in their heart. Have we ever been cut to the core of our being with the recognition that we need a savior, that we can’t make it alone?
In Jesus,
Brown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VE0yUobk6TM&feature=related
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