I’ve been blown away by the acts of God in many ways over the years!  God is so amazing!  Seemingly unsurmountable financial problems, life-threatening diseases along with caring for aging parents sent us to our knees so many times.  However, before we could rise up from our knees, God provided.  He provided in ways unimaginable, beyond our wildest dreams.  God did what only He could do.  We have been blown away the power of His Holy Spirit working in and through us over the years and even now currently. 

When we pray, the God who is always at work in and around us, acts on our behalf and in our best interests, while growing our faith and trust in Him.  God wants to help us.  God loves each one of us deeply, in ways we can’t always wrap our minds around.  God forgives AND forgets our repented sins.  God grows and matures our faith in the middle of our challenging circumstances.  All the while, God is preparing us for an eternity with Him.  God lives in us when we believe in Jesus, His Son.  Jesus promised a Comforter, Guide, and Helper who is part of Him who will come and live in us. 

Like a strong, powerful wind, His Spirit blew into the beings who believed, His disciples.  Life was never the same for the disciples and followers. 

Life is never the same when we allow God’s Holy Spirit to be the director of our lives.

ACTS—God’s Action Through His Disciples

Acts 2:1-13, The Message

A Sound Like a Strong Wind

^1-4 When the Feast of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Without warning there was a sound like a strong wind, gale force—no one could tell where it came from. It filled the whole building. Then, like a wildfire, the Holy Spirit spread through their ranks, and they started speaking in a number of different languages as the Spirit prompted them.

^5-11 There were many Jews staying in Jerusalem just then, devout pilgrims from all over the world. When they heard the sound, they came on the run. Then when they heard, one after another, their own mother tongues being spoken, they were blown away. They couldn’t for the life of them figure out what was going on, and kept saying, “Aren’t these all Galileans? How come we’re hearing them talk in our various mother tongues?

Parthians, Medes, and Elamites;
Visitors from Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia,
    Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia,
    Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene;
Immigrants from Rome, both Jews and proselytes;
Even Cretans and Arabs!

“They’re speaking our languages, describing God’s mighty works!”

¹² Their heads were spinning; they couldn’t make head or tail of any of it. They talked back and forth, confused: “What’s going on here?”

¹³ Others joked, “They’re drunk on cheap wine.”

WHAT DO WE LEARN?

Jesus is gone physically but as promised, His Holy Spirit, comes, weaves His way into willing hearts, minds and souls and fills the believers to the full.

Why did God give them native languages to speak?  So that the world gathered for the Feast from all parts of the surrounding countryside could hear and understand God’s Story of Redemption!  God always knows what He is doing!

When we are willing to tell God’s story to those we do not know well, God promised His Holy Spirit would speak the words for us.  This is a perfect example of this miracle of telling His story to those who do not know our believer’s language. Jesus told his disciples while on earth, “… do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.” (Mark 13:11) Before ascending to heaven, Jesus taught them about His Holy Spirit Who would come to lead and help them. 

At first, unbelievers who observe God’s Acts of miraculous proportions conclude that the Spirit filled disciples are drunk on cheap wine.  However, God’s Acts will prevail.  Can’t wait to see what happens next?  Here’s a preview…

In our next passage, Peter will boldly stand up to the criticisms and tell God’s story of Redemption through Jesus Christ His Son to thousands gathered.  Peter, an impulsive fisherman who had little formal training, stands on the promise of Jesus—“it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.”  Thousands will hear, understand, believe, repent and be saved!

Lord,

Wow!  Your mighty acts are wonderful to see!  It is good to hear that what the disciples face takes them back to the teaching of Jesus, their Master, Savior and Lord.  Jesus promises are true about His Spirit living IN each of us.  May God’s Holy Spirit lead and guide us today in all we think about, decide to say or do.

In Jesus Name, For His glory, Amen.  I believe.