Word of Salvation June 2018

 

The Extraordinary Day of Pentecost - by Rev. David Waldron

Text: Acts 2:1-13

Readings: Ezekiel 37:1-14; Acts 1:1-8; 2:1-13

 

Theme: The promised Holy Spirit comes upon the gathered disciples in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost, enabling them to be equipped with the gospel to convey to all the nations, thereby glorifying God and gathering the church.

Proposition: We have the same Holy Spirit to equip us for the same mission of telling people with our own mouths about the mighty works of God in Christ Jesus, thereby glorifying the Lord and being used of Christ to gather His church.

 

Introduction

In our lives we have many ‘ordinary days’. Days when we breathe, eat, move, talk, work, rest. Even these regular activities are astounding when we stop to think about the intricate complexities of God’s design of our bodies and souls.

Brothers and sisters in the Lord, at some time in your past God acted in a supernatural way which will never be repeated in your life. Can you think what that event was? {pause}

It was when you were born again. When the Holy Spirit supernaturally changed your heart – you were regenerated. Having previously been spiritually dead you became alive in Christ. God Himself, in the person of the Holy Spirit came to dwell within you.

This once in a lifetime event for each true believer in Christ is common to all God’s people, yet it is truly astounding. That the Most Holy and Almighty God would live within us to be our Helper, Comforter, Teacher, Guarantee of our inheritance in Christ, the One who works in us to transform us progressively into the image of the Son of God.

There is much confusion in many churches today regarding the coming, filling, and baptizing of the Holy Spirit. Important questions like these must be answered from God’s truth in His Word: What does it mean to be baptised with the Holy Spirit? Is every believer filled with Holy Spirit? How does the Holy Spirit come and what does he do when he comes?

We’re going to address these as we look back to the extraordinary day of Pentecost – a supernatural event never to be repeated in history.

It is recorded for us in Acts chapter 2, which we consider under three headings this morning:

1. What happened?
2. Why did it happen?
3. What does it mean?

 

1. What Happened?

Calendars are useful for tracking important dates – just look on the inside of the door of the ‘small room’ of many church members here and you’ll spot the birthdays of your host’s family and friends.

There are two important dates in the NZ national calendar:

Waitangi Day – 6^th Feb commemorating the signing of the treaty of Waitangi by representatives of the British Crown and more than 40 Maori chiefs in 1840.

Anzac Day – 25^th April - marking the anniversary of the landing of New Zealand and Australian soldiers – the Anzacs – on the Gallipoli Peninsula in 1915 where 2779 kiwis lost their lives.

The events recorded in Acts 2 took place on the day of Pentecost. This was one of 3 important dates in the Jewish national calendar where annual celebrations took place in remembrance of God’s great acts. They were:

1. The Feast of Passover – commemorating the final plague on Egypt when the Israelites were spared because of the blood of the Passover lamb on the entranceway to their dwellings – celebrated in the 1^st month of the Jewish year (Nison/Abib).
2. The Feast of Booths/Tabernacles – commemorating the period when the Israelites lived in tents in the wilderness after having been delivered by God from slavery in Egypt – celebrated in the 7^th month of the Jewish year (Tishri/Ethanim).
3. The Feast of Weeks – celebrated 7 weeks after Passover, also called the ‘feast of Harvest’, also called ‘Pentecost’ because it was celebrated on the 50^th day from the first Sunday after Passover – celebrated in the 3^rd month of the Jewish year. The name ‘Pentecost’ is taken from the Greek word for ‘fiftieth’.

The events of our text take place in Jerusalem on the first Pentecost following Christ’s death, resurrection and ascension. Luke records that ‘they were all in one place’. We don’t know exactly who was there, but it’s reasonable to assume that many/most of the 120 persons mentioned in Acts 1:15 were present together with all the apostles (including Matthias who had recently replaced Judas Iscariot).

Suddenly three extraordinary phenomena took place which had never occurred before and have never happened again since in this way.

Firstly, the place where these disciples of Jesus Christ were sitting was filled with what sounded like a great gale – a mighty rushing wind. This was not a strange atmospheric phenomenon like a localized tornado. No, this great wind was supernatural sign of the presence of the Holy Spirit.

We were reminded earlier of God’s command to Ezekiel to prophesy to the breath – to the wind - to give life to dead bones – thereby giving new life to once dead people (Eze 37:9-14).

The Hebrew word for breath, wind and spirit is the same (Ruah).

Remember also the words of Jesus to Nicodemus:

“The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit". (John 3:8)

The Greek word for wind is the same as that for spirit (pneu/ma) – from which we derive the English term pneumatic (as in inflated tyres). Wind itself – the movement of air molecules– cannot be seen by our eyes, but it’s effects are most certainly visible. So it is with the life-creating, life-transforming, work of God the Holy Spirit. He is invisible, yet the effects of his power on people is clearly observed by those with eyes to see.

Secondly, what appeared to the disciples to be tongues of fire rested on each one of them.

They were not harmed, not burned in any way, just as the burning bush which Moses saw was not consumed by fire (Ex 3:2-5). Fire here is also symbolic both of the holiness of God (Psalm 97:3; Mal 3:2) and of His presence. Both here with the disciples at Pentecost and back then with Moses, fire signifies the holy presence of God in a visible way.

Thirdly, the disciples began to speak inspired words, given to them by the Holy Spirit in languages which they had not learned. God Himself was speaking through their mouths in a multitude of different human tongues. This was an extraordinary Day of Pentecost!

From Luke’s description in the book of Acts, we don’t know exactly what happened next.

It may be that they had been together in a room and then they came to the temple, or they may have already been in the temple courts. Whilst these details are not important, what is significant is that the sound of these disciples speaking many different languages (rather than the sound of the rushing wind) attracted the attention of many Jews who had come to Jerusalem from far and near to celebrate the Feast of Pentecost.

The term ‘devout men’ in v5 refers to Jews or proselytes (non-Jews who had converted to Judaism). It is not used of God-fearing gentiles (like Cornelius, the centurion whom Luke writes about in Acts 10:2. You might ask why these Jews and converts to Judaism were living so far away from Jerusalem. They were the descendants of Jews who had been dispersed over the centuries by the armies of the Assyrians, Babylonians, and later the Greeks under Alexander the Great. They had been forced to relocate in Egypt, Asia Minor and Italy.

They had grown up learning the languages of their places of residence which Luke lists in v9-11.

Both Aramaic and Greek were common languages in the Roman Empire at that time. Visitors to Jerusalem from the east would have likely known Aramaic, those to the west Greek.

Now here was a group of Galilean Jews communicating God’s inspired Word in the native languages of the scattered Jewish covenant community world-wide…. not in Aramaic or Greek. These were not learned, well-travelled men.

In the 1999 movie ‘the Matrix’ the fictitious characters are able to upload new skills by copying information into their brains. Imagine if you could learn a foreign language that way, thereby saving thousands of hours of diligent study and practice. Such technology didn’t exist 2,000 years ago and it does not exist today!

To instantly learn a new language is impossible for human beings. Unless God acts supernaturally - as He did on that extraordinary day of Pentecost. God acts in this world which He has made both by regular ‘ordinary’ and at certain special times in history by ‘extraordinary means’ and when He does, He always works to fulfil His purposes…which raises the question about this special Day of Pentecost:

2. Why did it happen?

Here are some things that can take place in our lives: pass an exam, become sick, get married, loose our job, become a mum or dad, suffer an injury, become a grandparent, grieve over the loss of a husband or wife, a business, a friend. There are many events in our lives (pleasant and unpleasant) for which we can give little or no answer to the question: why did it happen? This is often true of our suffering, as Job discovered. We can always confidently say that ‘we know that for those who love God all things work together for good’ (Rom 8:28).

However, when it comes to God’s work in history, He provides us with many answers to the question: why did it happen? Let’s look at some reasons why the extraordinary events we’ve just heard about took place.

 

Firstly, God prophesied in OT times that this would take place, as the Apostle Peter highlights when he quotes from the prophet Joel in his Pentecost sermon: "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy” (Joel 2:28a).

Taken in isolation, this prophecy could imply that the Holy Spirit, the divine third person of the Trinity, did not dwell in people in OT times. However, this is not the case as many other Scriptures demonstrate. Men like Moses, David and Elijah were led by the Spirit. Samson and Saul received the Spirit of God at times (Jud 16:20; 1 Sam 10:10-13). The prophets were moved by the Spirit (2 Pet 1:21) who revealed to them the coming of the promised Messiah.

However, in the OT the presence of the Holy Spirit was not a permanent indwelling, but a temporary quickening which prepared a man for office and enabled him to perform mighty works for God. We also see this pattern of people temporarily receiving the Holy Spirit in the New Testament. e.g. He came upon John the Baptist, both his parents and the aged Simeon (Luke 1:15-17, 41, 67; 2:25). He was also given to the Apostles (John 20:22) as Jesus sent them out to minister.

 

In contrast, Joel prophesied a permanent indwelling of the Spirit who would be poured out, not on some, but on all God’s people. This extraordinary day of Pentecost was the fulfilment, not only of Joel’s OT prophesy, but also…

Secondly, of the words of Christ. In the upper room before He went to his death at Calvary, Jesus said to his disciples:

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you”. (John 14:26)

After his resurrection from the dead, Christ said:

“John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now”. (Acts 1:5)

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth”. (Acts 1:8)

This last verse is not only a key to the book of the Acts of the Apostles – which is perhaps more accurately described as the ‘Acts of the Holy Spirit’, but also gives us a third explanation of why these extraordinary events happened on that day of Pentecost.

Thirdly, to equip those gathered disciples to bear witness to the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ, starting in Jerusalem and then working outwards to all the nations of the world.

We see this Holy Spirit-empowered witnessing and disciple-making unfolding in the book of Acts.

Writer Luke records some further extraordinary outpourings of the Holy Spirit:

To the Samaritans via the laying on of hands by Peter and John (Acts 8:17).

To the Gentiles (non-Jews) as Peter preached the gospel, He fell on all who heard the word (Acts 10:44).

To the followers of John’s baptism (about 12 men) who had not been instructed about the coming of the Holy Spirit and who received the Holy Spirit when Paul laid his hands on them (Acts 19:6).

When, you may ask, do others who were not present on these special occasions permanently receive the indwelling Holy Spirit? The answer most certainly YES! (Mismatch between question and answer – ‘yes’ is not an answer to ‘when’) Just as the Holy Spirit brought life to the first man Adam at the original creation (Gen 2.7), so likewise He brings spiritual life to all who believe in Christ Jesus as their Lord and Saviour by supernaturally regenerating them from the inside. As Jesus explained to Nicodemus about being born-again (John 3:8). As Paul wrote to the Corinthians ‘the Spirit gives life’ (2 Cor 3:6).

Everyone who belongs to Christ has the indwelling Holy Spirit (Rom 8:9). Every born-again Christian believer was been baptised by the Holy Spirit when He regenerated them from spiritual death to life by placing the believer in a living union with Christ. This is the regular, astounding ongoing work of the Holy Spirit.

We’ve reviewed 3 reasons why the extraordinary events of this day of Pentecost occurred:

1. It was a fulfilment of the OT prophecy of Joel.
2. It was a fulfilment of the promises of Christ.
3. It gave the power of the Holy Spirit to those who believed on Christ to bear witness to the gospel of salvation throughout the world.

Now we can ask our final question: what does this mean?

3. What does this mean?

At this stage in history in 21^st century, there are over 7,000 languages spoken on this earth, although only 23 are the first language for more than half the world’s population. Whilst studying linguistics and different languages is certainly interesting, it is necessary because of the curse of Babel.

In our congregation we have over 20 different languages spoken. Imagine how you would react if I started speaking fluently in your first language? OK, I can manage English quite well, but beyond that! You might well respond as the gathered crowd did on that extraordinary day of Pentecost, as Luke records they were: “Bewildered(v6), amazed and astonished (v7), amazed and perplexed (v12)”.

They were searching for an explanation and they asked the right question: What does this mean? (v12)

We know from the accurate history of the Bible that there was once a time when all the people on this planet spoke the same language (Gen 11:1). On the plain of Shinar they decided to build a tower. They were seeking significance in themselves, not in God their Maker. They did not want to go out and ‘fill the earth’ (Gen 9:1) but rather huddle together in their own collective strength. So, they started to build a city and a high tower…

So God acted, he confused their language (the meaning of the word Babel) so that they could not understand one another’s speech (Gen 11:7). The Lord dispersed them over the earth…they were isolated from one another…

On that day of Pentecost, we see a reversal of the curse of the confusion of language at Babel. Not that everyone who has received the permanent indwelling of the Holy Spirit can speak in ‘tongues’ – human languages which they have not previously learnt, but that we are now united as people from many different language groups and nations into a single community of faith.

This extraordinary event does not mean that we are to seek the baptism of the Holy Spirit as some post-conversion experience which is evidenced by speaking in languages which have not been previously studied. However, we are commanded to be filled with the Holy Spirit, the main evidence of which is the fruit of the Spirit – godly character (Gal 5:16-23; Col 1:9-12).

Therefore, the degree to which we are filled with the Holy Spirit is very much the degree to which we have the character of Christ. All believers in Christ have the Holy Spirit, the degree to which we are filled with the Holy Spirit varies. God exhorts us in His Word to ‘be filled with the Spirit’ (Eph 5:18). To be filled with the Spirit is to be filled with Christ and His Word (John 14.16; 26; 16:12-15; 17:17).

The Apostle Peter’s explanation of the meaning of this extraordinary event on the day of Pentecost is given in his sermon as recorded in Acts 2:14-41 – I suggest you take some time later today to read this. You’ll notice that Peter refers to the prophesy in Joel which we coverer earlier. He then presents the person and work of Jesus Christ, the Holy One of God who died, was buried, rose again and is now exalted at the right hand of God. He then applies the work of Christ to His hearers – identifying them as co-murderers of ‘this Jesus whom you crucified’.

As a result, they were ‘cut to the heart’ asking ‘what shall we do’. To which Peter replied:

“Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit”. (Acts 2:38)

Have you repented? Are your sins forgiven? Have you received the gift of the Holy Spirit? Which is the same as to say have you been baptized with the Holy Spirit?

Like the wind, we cannot see the Spirit, but we can see the effects of His work in our lives.

1. Can you say I have experienced the Spirit working obedience in my life -  subduing sin and inclining me to acts of love?
2. I find the Spirit producing in me a heart of praise which worships God and my Lord Jesus Christ.
3. I am moved by the Spirit to greater courage which helps me overcome my fears and anxieties and enables me to take risks for the cause of Christ.
4. I have an increasing desire to speak of the mighty works of God in every language I know.

What then was the meaning of the extraordinary day of Pentecost for the crowd who witnessed the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, who heard Peter preach and who were baptised – about three thousand souls? They were equipped as the church of the Lord Jesus Christ with the power of the Holy Spirit to tell in their own native language of the ‘mighty works of God’.

So what happened next? Those who had travelled to Jerusalem for the feast of Pentecost returned to their homes, taking the gospel with them. You could say in a way that they ‘filled the earth’ as the builders of the tower of Babel refused to do until God dispersed them…

Remember that these ‘devout men from every nation under heaven’ were Jews and proselytes – converts to Judaism. How do you think they were received by their Jewish communities back home’? We can safely say, based on the way in which the gospel was both received by some and rejected by others, in the book of Acts that they would have received a mixed reaction to their proclamation of the gospel.

They would have left the collective security of the thousands of Christian believers in Jerusalem to go out into their own communities of family and friends, work colleagues and acquaintances with the gospel.

From that extraordinary day of Pentecost, the way that God gathered His people changed radically from the model of OT Israel. The nation of Israel was to draw people to the covenant community as gentiles saw them proclaim and live in light of the mighty acts of God…a few came, like Rahab, Ruth and others. Now the NT church model is different:

God’s people go out as missionaries – we could say ‘home missionaries’ – empowered by the Holy Spirit – speaking inspired words in their language to the people around them where they live.

What does the Day of Pentecost mean for us? That we are to disperse – to go out in the power of the Holy Spirit. Equipped, strengthened for service, by the Word of Christ which the Spirit impresses on our hearts. Like soldiers going out from a field hospital close to the front line, our wounds dressed, our bodies and minds rested, filled with the Holy Spirit.

We should expect a mixed reception when we convey the gospel in the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit…when we tell in our own language of the mighty works of God in Christ Jesus. People may not think we are drunk! – ‘filled with new wine’ (2:13). But some will likely not receive the message of the gospel, yet God is pleased to bring faith through hearing His Word and to use Spirit-filled people like you and I as the instruments through whom He baptizes others in the Spirit.

Brothers and Sisters in Christ, there is nothing ‘ordinary’ about your life! You have been baptised with the Holy Spirit. He came into you when you were born again. He now works in you to sanctify you, to transform you so that your character becomes more like Christ.

So be filled with the Spirit. Let us look carefully then how we live, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.  Let us address one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all our hearts, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. (Eph 5:15-21)

AMEN