Author: missionspaul

Acts 2:14

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.

There are times when someone has to take a stand.
Situations call for it.
People with opinions and unexplained circumstances taking place, who will make sense of it all?
Peter stands with the 11. The Church leaders rise around him.
1. When you take a stand find the bridge. “Fellow Jews …” Don’t ostracise, but try and bring people to you. Find the connection.
2. When you take a stand understand the difficulties. “Let me explain …” Some situations need a proper explanation. Just because people have crazy ideas, for example they think you are drunk on wine doesn’t mean they do not deserve a response. Never dismiss the criticism. You can win over your critics.
3. When you take a stand, command the stage. “Listen carefully …” What you have to say cannot be missed by distraction. Don’t let other noises crowd out your noise. Let them know this is important to you.

Finally, look who took a stand? It was the denier.
You don’t have to be perfect to take your stand.
You can do it.

Acts 2:13

Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”

The only problem with being perplexed is that in the myriad of thoughts there are always negative ones.
And in a large group there are always people who see things differently. When the disciples worshipped on the mountain when receiving the great commission some also doubted.
And when the pilgrims marvelled and were amazed wanting to know more, some dismissed the church as having got drunk.

Will you and your church ever get criticised for being drunk?
NO! Say the outraged teetotallers!
What I mean is how safe are you and your church? How respectable? How dry?
I’m not suggesting that everyone should be staggering coming out of the church service! Though that might be fun.
But have we done anything that in the midst of others being amazed some would pass any comment at all?

This event would be the start of many occasions when the church were scoffed at, sneered at and even worse would come.
It is true to say that there are some churches/Christians who have no threat of any persecution whatsoever. They are not doing anything to warrant anyone being against them nor thinking they were drunk, because nothing is happening.

Today don’t be rude and thus attract offence. But don’t be dry either. Be active. Be vocal. Don’t hold back.

Acts 2:12

Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”

What amazes you?
A new birth?
The universe and solar systems?
Kindness?
What amazes the people in your world?
God in you?
What these people from all over the world experienced blew their minds.

What perplexes you?
What are the thoughts that race through your mind when you are focuses on something?
What perplexes you?
The refugee crisis?
Islam?
Healing and sickness?
What perplexes the people in your world?
God in you?

Coming to ‘Church’ that day were pilgrims to the Pentecost who got more than they bargained with. They became amazed and perplexed.

Wouldn’t it be amazing and perplexing if this Sunday people left church saying that’s how they felt on visiting?!

Acts 2:11

(both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs-we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”

This multitude of Jews and converts on pilgrimage from many parts of the world are hearing the praises of God.
The Church was not preaching it was praising.
The Church was not boasting of how good it was, it was glorifying the goodness of God.
God you are great!
God your goodness to the world is amazing!
God there is no one like you!
God you are above all!
God you are the Saviour, the Healer, the transformer of our lives!

And as this crowd came rushing into the temple courts to see what this wind actually was they were overwhelmed by hearing the exaltation of God in the language that they spoke back in their homes many distances away.

Let the world see the Church exalt Christ.
Let your world see not just your faith but your joy in God.
It’s time for some to smile.
Let your love be loud and relevant.

Acts 2:10

Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome …

So who else did God make sure would witness the move of His Spirit?

People from Phrygia – the aborigines from Turkey. They saw the Spirit and however they responded the next generations from this region became believers for we know that several bishops were present at the Councils of Nice, AD 325 and of Constantinople in AD 381.

People from Pamphylia – again modern day Turkey. They saw the Spirit and however they responded the next generation from this region became believers for we know that Paul preached in the capital Perga (Acts13:13)

People from Egypt. They saw the Spirit and however they responded the end time generation from this region though it’s history was idolatrous will become converted. Isaiah prophesies in 19:25. “Blessed is Egypt My people …”

People from Libya. They saw the Spirit and however they responded the end time generation from this region are definitely going to be at the centre of end-time activity (Daniel 11:40-45).

People from Rome. They saw the Spirit and however they responded the end time generation from this region have always been prophesied of in the way that it will be an end-time empire in a chain of empires who bring oppression to God’s people.

These people all saw the move of the Spirit and subsequent generations were effected positively or not.
How has the move of God’s Spirit as you have witnessed it effected your next generation?
What will come after you? What legacy will you leave?
It would appear that any move of the Spirit that you witness or partake in is not solely for you but that others are definitely in the mind of God, even to the end of the age.

Acts 2:9

Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia …

What a great verse!

The Parthians were a people who endured the most in the near east. It covered all of modern Iran, Iraq and Armenia, parts of Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan.

The Medes were again from modern day Iran. Their most famous astrologer-priests were the Magus (or Magi) and everyone knows the story of the wise men from the east.

The Elamites is in today’s southwestern Iranian province of Khuzestan. They possessed their own language which has proved largely indecipherable.

The people from Mesopotamia is modern day Iraq, Syria and Kuwait. There was a high degree of written language produced.

Those from Judea were of lower social status.

The Cappadocians were from central Turkey. There are still numerous 100 metre deep rock-face churches to be seen.

Pontus, the god of the sea, which could indicate the people were idol worshippers.

Asians are mentioned in the Revelation. In chapter 1: 4 John,
To the seven churches in the province of Asia:
Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne.

The so what?
God had brought together into His city people from nations who today have low Christian populations. They came and they witnessed the Spirit. He can do it again.

God had brought a mixture of people together. Those not educated and looked down upon and those whose written language was not very well known at all. The Spirit came on both. He can do it again.

Acts 2:8

Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language?
What a wonderful question!
Here are some more:
How is it that the Church is speaking so clearly to us?
How is it that the Church is connecting with us?
How is it that the Church are choosing to live amongst us?
How is it that the Church are recognising who we really are?
How is it that the Church are defending us?
How is it that the Church recognise our challenges?
How is it that the Church is making our lives better?
How is it that the Church are giving not wanting?
How is it that the Church looks desirable?
How is it that we want to belong to this Church?
How?
The Spirit.

Acts 2:7

Utterly amazed, they asked: “Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans?

Because Jesus spent nearly all his time in Galilee, his followers were mainly Galileans. They were often seen as second class citizens. They spoke Aramaic and Greek. They did not speak the languages of the Jewish world. Yet that is what they were doing!

The Jews were utterly amazed that they were capable of doing something they could not naturally do.

It still happens today.
How come you are able to be so joyful in your circumstance?
Why do you give to others when you have so little?
How can you have such faith?
The answer is always the power of the Spirit.

Today keep in step with the Spirit and let your world be utterly amazed.

Acts 2:6

When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language.

This verse shows us that through the ability of the Spirit the church began to praise God in unlearned languages that could be understood by man. It’s not the ‘tongues’ that many would use today which is not understandable but a heavenly prayer language.

Many have testified of having this Pentecost experience on hearing their own language from someone who has never learnt it but simply thought they were speaking in tongues. It does happen today and I am amazed when I hear of it.

The majority world spoke Greek due to the expansion of Alexander the Great’s kingdom. However they also had their own local language.
Their bewilderment was over the fact that they heard the praises to God not in Greek but their own language.
Today I think of my missionaries in Nigeria who are involved in the much needed work of Bible translation. The joy of anyone hearing the good news in their own understandable language is a brilliant experience to witness.

The Church needs:
1. To have an attractive sound that is heard.
2. To cause those outside the Church to be amazed.
3. To be able to communicate in a language that is understood.

Is this possible?
With the Holy Spirit it is.

Acts 2:5

Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven.

It just so happened? No it was orchestrated by God that on the day of Pentecost when the estimated population of Jerusalem rose approximately 1 million people that He poured out His Spirit.
What an amazing thought that God would wait for a coming together of people from around the world so that He could move amongst them.

And as we see the thousands of refugees coming together into our nation surely we should sit up with expectation that God is going to do something!