Acts 2:14-21
14 But Peter, taking his stand with the eleven, raised his voice and declared to them: “Men of Judea, and all you who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give heed to my words.
15 ”For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only the third hour of the day;
16 but this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel:
17 ’And it shall be in the last days,’ God says, ‘That I will pour forth of My Spirit upon all mankind; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams;
18 Even upon My bondslaves, both men and women, I will in those days pour forth of My Spirit And they shall prophesy.
19 ’And I will grant wonders in the sky above, and signs on the earth beneath, Blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke.
20 ’The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and glorious day of the Lord shall come.
21 ’And it shall be, that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’
(NAS)
As you read through this passage please notice the message is not about the Holy Spirit, but about salvation. Some may argue with me since Peter expressly quotes from Joel about the Spirit being poured out on all mankind, but the focus is not on the outpouring, but on the salvation offered to all who would call on the name of the Lord. Notice who the Spirit was being poured out on. It was “sons” and ”daughters” and ”young” and “old”. It was on “men” and “women” and as Joel said “All flesh” meaning beyond the confines of the twelve tribes. This was not what the Jews expected. They saw God’s blessing as being exclusively Jewish and male oriented. But not so for those who followed Jesus to this moment. This was the beginning of the Church and salvation being offered to all. It was a gift from the Lord that was not based on merit, age, or religious heritage, but on the cry of the heart. The prophecy focuses on “whomever” will call on the name of the Lord, regardless of age, sex or national heritage. Don’t get me wrong, the outpouring of the Spirit was important for the empowerment of the Church. But the significance of the event was not the phenomenon itself, but the availability of the Lord to “whomever would call” on His name. As the song says, “It is the cry of my heart to follow you all of the days of my life!” The answer to that cry is our “salvation!” Have a great week!
Acts 2:5-13
5 Now there were Jews living in Jerusalem, devout men, from every nation under heaven.
6 And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were bewildered, because they were each one hearing them speak in his own language.
7 And they were amazed and marveled, saying, “Why, are not all these who are speaking Galileans?
8 ”And how is it that we each hear them in our own language to which we were born?
9 ”Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,
10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya around Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,
11 Cretans and Arabs– we hear them in our own tongues speaking of the mighty deeds of God.”
12 And they all continued in amazement and great perplexity, saying to one another, “What does this mean?”
13 But others were mocking and saying, “They are full of sweet wine.”
(NAS)
The most incredible line in this text is the very last one; “others were mocking and saying “They are full of sweet wine”.” This is unbelievable given the circumstances that had just taken place. These people all showed up because they heard the Mighty Wind. They immediately came in search of an answer to this profound noise. They found some pretty incredible manifestations. 120 people were talking in 17 different languages. What is even more incredible is that they were speaking of the mighty deeds of God in languages they couldn’t possibly know and everyone within hearing distance was aware of what was taking place. Yet, there were those who chose to mock and dismiss the miraculous events, even though they saw and heard with their own eyes. Don’t be confounded by this. There is a lesson to be learned. Even though God works the miraculous for many to see, still, there will be those who refuse to believe. Don’t take it personal or try and become the Holy Spirit. If an act like this would not turn the hearts of all who were present to God, then no amount of convincing nor talking will work to sway them into the Kingdom. It was so in the beginning and it will be so in the end. Even though Adam and Eve saw and talked with the Glorious Lord each and every day of their lives, they chose to ignore the truth. Don’t stop trying to give away these truths, but understand from the text. You will always have those who have a mocking spirit and will dismiss the evidence no matter how convincing. Just keep working with those who genuinely want to know, “what can this mean?”
Acts 2:1-4
1 And when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.
2 And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent, rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
3 And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.
(NAS)
Jesus told them to wait in Jerusalem until they received the Holy Spirit. So there they were, all gathered together in one place waiting. I am sure they didn’t know what they were waiting for. I am sure they had questions about how they would know and how they could be sure. But there was no mistaking what had just happened. This was a public manifestation of what started out like the sound of a tornado. Everyone heard the roar and experienced something they had never seen or experienced before. What appeared to be flames bursting upward appeared on each of their heads, clearly visible to all the others. It seemed to move around the room until all were effected. Then, they all began to speak out spontaneously in other languages that it appears they had never spoken before, nor did they have knowledge of those languages. It was a once in a lifetime experience. There could be no mistaking this for anything other than what Jesus had promised would come. Be careful reading less into this than happened, but also be careful of reading more into it. The Holy Spirit had been promised by Jesus in the Gospel of John chapters 14, 15, and 16. He told His disciples it would come in His absence and would direct them, teach them, give them words to speak when being confronted, comfort them, convict them of their sin and lead them to truth among other things. This was the moment that promise was fulfilled. There would be other manifistation, but not like this one. You can’t bottle it or reproduce it! It was a single divine moment where God made it very plain and clear that the promised Spirit had come. What I want you to realize is that it came inspite of the 120. It was not about their desire or their pursuit. It was about God’s promise to the believers and a gift given for their benefit in Jesus absence. Peter would later remind us it was for all who would confess Jesus as Lord, repent of their sin and indentify themselves with those who were living for Him. Let this be a reminder to you and me. We do not have to go this alone. The Spirit has been given and is readily available to all who embrace the cross and turn from their sin. He is present with you and will direct you just as He did the early Church. Accept the promise and look to Him daily to direct your paths and lead you into all truth.
Acts 1:15-26
15 And at this time Peter stood up in the midst of the brethren (a gathering of about one hundred and twenty persons was there together), and said,
16 ”Brethren, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit foretold by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus.
17 ”For he was counted among us, and received his portion in this ministry.”
18 (Now this man acquired a field with the price of his wickedness; and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out.
19 And it became known to all who were living in Jerusalem; so that in their own language that field was called Hakeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)
20 ”For it is written in the book of Psalms, ‘Let his homestead be made desolate, and let no man dwell in it’; and, ‘His office let another man take.’
21 ”It is therefore necessary that of the men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us–
22 beginning with the baptism of John, until the day that He was taken up from us– one of these should become a witness with us of His resurrection.”
23 And they put forward two men, Joseph called Barsabbas (who was also called Justus), and Matthias.
24 And they prayed, and said, “Thou, Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men, show which one of these two Thou hast chosen
25 to occupy this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.”
26 And they drew lots for them, and the lot fell to Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
(NAS)
Luke makes a big deal about the replacement for Judas. Why? Some have suggested that the Apostles made a mistake at this point and perhaps Peter was being his impeteous self and getting ahead of the game. After all, wasn’t Paul the real choice of God. The answer is no! Paul wasn’t God’s choice for a replacement. That is exactly why Luke includes this story. Matthias was the one chosen through lots to be that replacement. Even though we never hear of him again, it is obvious from the text that the reality of Judas sin had to be faced. A statement had to be made. Peter stood up and rightly identified the prophecies regarding Judas and that another would fill his office. It was clear from the previous passage that all 120 in the upper room had been in a state of prayer, seeking God’s direction and waiting patiently for the day of Pentecost. It is obvious to me that this was a move that needed to be made to show completeness and restoration in the body, with out which, there would have been no Pentecost. It is also clear that the replacement had to be a person who had been with the Lord from the beginning and until the end. Paul did not have those credentials and therefore did not meet the requirements. What we learn from this is that God does not always do what seems obvious and clear to us. If he were to pick based on merit (God never does) He most definetly would have picked Paul. The truth is God has a reason and we are called to trust. None of the disciples ever questioned the choice. Neither should we. This is what we learn from this: Pray before you make hard decisions and trust God to direct those decisions. That’s what the 120 were doing and that’s why they were good with the decision. Trust God to lead you, and He will!
Acts 1:12-14
12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away.
13 And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying; that is, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James.
14 These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.
(NAS)
Jesus was physically gone. So the disciples, the brothers of Jesus, the women (probably those who followed Jesus ministry including Mary and Martha) went back to Jerusalem to the upper room. They were committed to the task that Jesus gave them to do, but no one really knew where to begin. Jesus dramatic exit was still on their minds as they pondered His last words. “Don’t leave Jerusalem! Go and wait for what the Father has promised, the Holy Spirit.” And so they found themselves gathered in the place of the last supper and the scriptures tell us they were of one mind and were constantly in prayer. They were not talking about what needed to be done or forming committees to determine the five year plan for getting the message out. It is very clear from the language Luke used that they were in a constant state of prayer. The word Luke used was “devoted”. They didn’t have a clue what was going to happen or how this gift would come. So they just hung out and prayed! So what’s the moral of the text? When your not sure which way Jesus is leading or what the next step is in your life, try doing what the disciples did. Just pray! It’s a great beginning to what God will do in your life next. Have a good weekend and I’ll see you on Sunday!
Acts 1:9-11
9 And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.
10 And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was departing, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them;
11 and they also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.”
(NAS)
I remember the day the space shuttle exploded and began to fall to earth in pieces. I just stood staring at the TV in a daze. The same thing happened to me when the planes crashed into the twin towers at the World Trade Centers in New York City. We watched for hours as they ran the tapes over and over again and we kept saying to ourselves, “this isn’t happening”. There are those moments in life when things happen that grab our attention and all we can do is look on in shock. That’s what happened to the disciples the day Jesus ascended into heaven. It says in the text, “they were gazing intently into the sky.” It had to be amazing as well as a shock to their psyche. They didn’t even notice the two guys in white, angels, who were now standing beside them. The message was loud and clear. Yes, He’s gone! Now it’s time to go! There is a job to be done and when that job is finished He will return in this very same way. You and I may or may not be here when that happens. But as Jesus warned the disciples earlier, it’s not our job to be concerned about that day. We’ve been given a task as His people and we need to be all about that! Armed with the Good News and empowered by the Spirit we move ahead to that day when He will return. Remember who you are today and what it is we really live our lives for. God Bless!
Acts 1:6-8
6 And so when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?”
7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority;
8 but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”
(NAS)
Don’t make Jesus return the focus of your faith. The disciples wanted that question answered when they all got together. It was a natural question for them since they had mixed what Jesus taught them with what they had learned all their lives about the coming Messiah. They truly thought He was going to establish His Kingdom on earth and so they were asking when that would happen. Jesus takes the focus off of the end and puts it right where it should be for all of us. The present! He did not simply die to rescue us from our sins, but to enlist us in a mission to bring His message and life to the world. That is what the baptism of the Spirit is all about. It is meant to be the source of power in our lives that enables us to do what God has called us to do until He chooses to return. We are to be His witnesses and to take the message of His life, death and resurrection to the rest of the world. Our job is not to star gaze and wonder of His return. It is to be effective witnesses to the truth of who He is and what He accomplished. The Baptism of the Spirit is not about giftedness. It is about empowerment to be who God has called us to be and do what God has called us to do! No excuses! We have been given what we need to be faithful to the task we have been called to by Jesus. You can be effective because He has promised to give us that ability through the gift of His Spirit. So do it!
Acts 1:4-5
4 And gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, “Which,” He said, “you heard of from Me;
5 for John baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
(NAS)
As we noted in the first three verses of Acts, Jesus rose from the dead and so the story continues. But it will be different now that Jesus is about to ascend into heaven. I am sure the Apostles were wondering to themselves, “what are we going to do when He is gone? How are we going to keep the message alive when He is no longer with us?” Jesus would give them the answer. It starts with a reminder. “Remember when I told you about the Spirit whom the Father would send in my absence (John 14, 15, 16)?” That is what Jesus meant when He told them to stay in Jerusalem and wait for what the Father promised, “Which,” he said, “you heard of from me.” I bring this up because what Jesus taught them before is pertinent to understanding what He meant in this situation. Remember, context is important. Jesus wants them to remember other times when He taught them about the Spirit. Those teachings are pertinent to what is going to happen to the disciples in the days and months ahead and until the end of their lives. How they will go on; How they will carry on the message; How they will make it when Jesus is gone is answered by Jesus. “You shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” We cannot do it on our own or in our own energy. Just as Jesus did what we could not do for ourselves in the cross, He now does for us in His absence through His Holy Spirit. It is the answer to how we then shall live. Jesus told them to wait until this happened. They had to wait because it was necessary if they were to continue to carry the message and ministry of Jesus into the world. The answer in no different for us than it was for the Apostles. If you are wondering how you will be what Jesus wants you to be, or how you will accomplish what Jesus wants you to accomplish, the answer is the same. The promise is the same. We need His Holy Spirit!
