Amen.
Open your Bibles, if you would please, to Acts chapter 2.
! Acts chapter 2.
If you're using the Pew Bibles, it's on page 909.
We're making our way through the book of Acts,
and we have spent at least the first chapter seeing
that God is working through a group of individuals,
a small group of individuals, 120,
preparing them for this great work
that we're going to begin to see start here in Acts chapter 2.
But what does it take to prepare a people for this work?
Well, first thing it takes is patience.
God is patiently preparing a people for himself.
Now, I don't know if you can take a personal self-examination,
a personal evaluation of your own heart.
Are you, would you call yourself a patient person?
Well, I know the immediate answer for myself is absolutely not.
I am not a patient person.
And by God's grace, he's been trying to develop this in me,
and it's taken a lot of time.
I'm sure that there's a lot of time to go in developing patience.
But just thinking about the importance or the significance of waiting and growing in patience,
I'm reminded of today.
It's 27 years ago and five months that our first child was born.
And when we first heard that we were pregnant,
my first response was,
What?
How can that be possible?
And I realized that God allows nine months and allows 40 weeks
because there's some learning to do,
there's some preparation that needs to happen in our heart,
that God has graciously allowed there to be time in waiting
to help create a sense of expectation
so that we go from,
How can we be having a baby?
To,
Hey,
we're having a baby.
And sometimes that happens well within that nine-month period of time.
Sometimes it takes repeated opportunities to begin to learn that.
And then as your children grow up,
you're learning patience through that process as well.
You're seeing yourself kind of reflected in the way that they respond.
Hey,
where did you get that?
Oh,
right,
you got that from me,
of course.
But seeing how their life develops
and seeing how God is fashioning them
and seeing how God is instrumentally molding them
and getting to see that have a front row seat
to the work of God in their life
that happens as God is helping us to grow in patience
and preparing us for that work,
not only in our children's life,
but that work that's happening in our own life
through that process.
We realize that patience is God's gift.
Instrumentally,
it's a God's gift to us
that God's delays are not God's rejection.
God's delays aren't God's no.
God's delays aren't God saying,
I don't care.
But it's God's way,
His appointed means of preparing us,
helping to grow us,
helping us to refine us.
This preparation process for the work that He wants to do,
He accomplishes through,
so often,
the waiting room.
This morning,
as we look at the book of Acts again,
I want to just remind ourselves
of how the Lord prepares His people.
You see,
the Lord prepares His people
through the waiting room.
And what's going to break out in Jerusalem,
beginning here in Acts chapter 2,
is this mighty work of God,
this unstoppable movement,
this church that begins to spring to life,
and the work of God,
working through His people instrumentally
to build His church.
We saw that,
that God will build His church.
The gates of hell will not prevail against it.
But how does He accomplish that?
Well, He accomplishes that through
a waiting people.
You see,
if there's ever going to be
a church that's birthed,
it needs to begin
with a person
who understands
what church means.
What it means to be a church.
What it means to anchor your heart,
your faith,
your confidence
in who God is,
and to learn instrumentally
through that process of waiting
that dependence,
dependence on Him
is the only way
that He accomplishes
His objectives.
So, the Lord will prepare His church.
And there are six ways.
The Lord prepared His church,
and we saw,
we got to see that
through the first chapter
of Acts 1.
We saw that the Lord
confirms His message.
That's His first way
of preparing the church.
You see,
if He's going to make
a people to Himself,
they have to be a people
that understand the gospel,
that understand His message,
that are anchored
and confident
in who Jesus is,
and are able
to share that message
with others.
They have to know
the gospel.
And so,
there in Acts 1, verse 3,
we see that what Jesus did,
notice,
He presented Himself
alive to them
after His suffering
by many proofs.
Jesus showed up.
After His death,
there was a resurrection.
resurrection.
There cannot be a gospel
without the resurrection.
That's what Paul says
in Romans 10, verse 9.
He says,
If you confess with your mouth
that Jesus is Lord,
and you believe in your heart
that God raised Jesus
from the dead,
you'll be saved.
Without this evidence,
in the work of Christ,
or the work of God
in raising Christ
from the dead,
there will be no gospel.
And so,
what does the Lord do?
He helps to confirm
the testimony
of the gospel
by allowing the disciples
to be able to see
the evidence
of a resurrected Savior.
What an incredible gift to us.
So,
the Savior shows up
to the 12th
on the night
of the resurrection.
And the Savior shows up
to the disciples
throughout this 40 days,
this 40-day window
between the Passover
and His ascension.
He meets them
at least on two
different occasions.
One on the mountainside
and one at the Sea of Galilee.
He shows up to them again
here in Jerusalem.
He's meeting with them
here in Jerusalem.
He's confirming this message.
The gospel is real.
The evidence
that God has given to us
about the trustworthiness
of the gospel
is what we need
to understand
and recognize for ourselves.
Do you believe
in a resurrected Savior?
Does your life
demonstrate
a commitment
to that truth?
Are you bearing that out?
Is it evidencing itself
in a life
that is lived
in response
to a resurrected Lord?
Not just believe it intellectually,
but it's fundamentally
changed who you are.
You believe
in a resurrected Lord
and it's changed
your life.
Second,
the Lord prepares
His church
by repeating
His purpose.
He wants the church
to understand
why
they exist,
why they belong,
what is their mission,
what is their purpose.
And so,
in verse 3,
the second part,
it says,
He appeared to them
during 40 days
and speaking
about the kingdom
of God.
That was their purpose.
The purpose has been the same
from the very beginning.
Remember,
during Jesus' ministry,
what does He do?
His ministry was characterized
as proclaiming
the kingdom of God.
That He was
the Son of David.
He was the fulfillment
of that promise.
That He had come
to be King
and Lord
over His people.
Jesus' promises
hadn't failed.
And here,
the death of Christ
and now the resurrection
of Christ
and this confirmed
message of Christ
spoken to His disciples,
confirmed
that His promises
had not failed.
His purposes
had not failed.
That God was still
going to bring
a kingdom.
He was still going
to usher in a kingdom.
But Jesus was still
going to reign
over His people.
Third,
God gives His commands.
He gives His commands.
We saw those.
We've seen them
for the last several weeks
in verses 4 and 5
of chapter 1
where Jesus tells them
while He was staying
with them,
He ordered them
not to depart
from Jerusalem
but to wait
for the promise
of the Father.
God has graciously
given us instructions.
God has graciously
given us a word
so that we can
just follow
what He's told us
to do.
You see,
most of the time
while those instructions
that God has given
to us are clear,
while those instructions
are often simple,
most of the time
the instructions
that God gives to us
are incremental.
We get them
one step at a time.
Just like the psalmist
says,
Thy word is a lamp
unto my feet
and a light
unto my path.
We don't always
know the master plan.
We might know
what the goal is.
We might know
how it starts.
But incrementally,
little by little,
we have these
incremental steps,
these instructions
that God gives to us
so that we can know
little by little,
one step at a time,
put one step
in front of the other
and we follow
the instructions
that God gives to us
and He's given to us
His gracious commands
to follow.
Fourth,
He guides their obedience.
We see that in verses
12 and 13
of chapter 1.
Notice,
they returned
to Jerusalem
and when they had entered
they went up
to the upper room.
They followed
the instructions
that they were given
and God is graciously
guiding them
in their obedience
and helping them
understand
that simple obedience
to the commands
of God
yields the results,
the product,
the life
and the fruit
that God would
seek to give to us.
Go to Jerusalem.
Wait for power.
Simple instructions
carried out
in obedience.
And the result
of that is
what is going
to happen
in Jerusalem
does not depend
upon what you bring
to the table.
It doesn't depend
on your ingenuity.
It doesn't rest
on the numbers
as it were.
It doesn't rest
on your unique giftedness
or your knowledge,
your vision
or the strategy
that you bring
to the table
but simply
on your obedience
and that's what they do.
They return
to Jerusalem.
They go
to the upper room.
They wait
for the promise
of the Spirit.
God is guiding
their obedience
and helping them
to understand
and obedient people
are the people
that God will use.
I'm reminded
of what John says
in 1 John 2.
He says,
this is how
that you know
that you know me
if you keep
my commandments.
Are we
those who know
the commands
of God?
Are we those
who settle
our hearts
in faithful,
deliberate
obedience
step by step
that's often
incremental?
We don't have
to know
what the future
holds necessarily.
We just have
to know
what the next
step is
and to commit
ourselves
in obedience
to what he said.
God delights
in using
those kinds
of people.
Fifth,
he strengthens
their dependence.
He strengthens
their dependence.
Notice verse 14.
All these
with one accord
were devoting
themselves
to prayer
together
with the women
and Mary
the mother
of Jesus
and his brothers.
Yes,
they go back
to Jerusalem
and what do
they do
once they get there?
Well,
they unite.
They're united.
They're one accord.
They're together
and they pray.
They pray
for God's
help.
They pray
for God
to bring
his power.
They pray
for God
to direct
their hearts.
They pray
for God
to glorify
himself.
They pray
for God
to accomplish
his purposes,
his mission.
The mission,
your kingdom
come,
your will be
done on earth
as it is in heaven.
God,
we pray
that your
purposes
will stand
and we
are depending
upon you
to do your
work.
We bring
nothing to the table.
We understand
that it's going
to happen
through your power.
We depend
on you.
We are a
praying
dependent
people.
In sixth,
God's preparing
them by helping
to establish
their leaders.
Helping to
establish
their leaders.
We see that
in verses,
in verse 15.
It says,
In those days,
Peter stood up
among the brothers.
Then verse 16,
Brothers,
the scripture
must be fulfilled
which the Holy
Spirit spoke
beforehand by the
mouth of David
concerning Judas.
Peter takes
the lead.
He doesn't just
assume this role.
He doesn't just
place himself
in this spot
of leadership
haphazardly.
He has been
commissioned
by the Lord
himself
to step
into this role
and to fulfill
the role
of leadership
among this
group.
They recognize
that Judas
has kind of
been escorted
out.
He's been
dismissed,
as it were.
His betrayal
has disqualified
him from leadership
and now they
need a full
team.
So Peter
encourages
the believers
who are there
to choose
among themselves
two men.
Joseph,
Matthias,
they're going
to put those
men before
the congregation
and before
these believers
and they're
going to allow
God to affirm
and confirm
this team.
You find that
in verse 26,
they cast lots.
The lot fell
on Matthias
and he was
numbered with
the eleven
apostles.
God is
reestablishing
his leadership.
God is using
qualified leaders
to accomplish
his purposes
and that's how
God does it.
We find from
Ephesians chapter
two,
verse 20,
is that the
church is built
on the foundation
of the apostles
and prophets,
Jesus Christ
himself being
the chief
cornerstone.
This is God's
strategy.
He uses
spiritual leaders
to accomplish
his priorities.
These qualified
leaders will show
they have this
preserving faith,
this persevering
faith,
this staying
power,
this dependence
on God,
this commitment
to follow truth
and so they're
in the perfect
place to be
used by God
then to begin
this incredible,
amazing mission,
this church
building mission.
And with all
of that in place,
they were finally
ready to carry out
that mission that
God had set
before them.
They're convinced
of the gospel,
its message,
they're convinced
of God's purpose,
they're informed
of his commands,
they are demonstrating
obedience to his
instructions,
they're dependent
on the Lord
to work,
and they understand
his design
for leadership.
Do we want God
to use us
instrumentally?
Do we want to be
found faithful?
Do we want
to enjoy the same
benefits of what
the early church
experienced?
Do we want God
to accomplish
his purposes
through us?
The same strategy,
the same preparation,
the same work
needs to happen
in every single
heart?
Do we know
the gospel?
Do we embrace
Jesus Christ?
Do we know
his instructions?
Are we carrying
them out
from day to day?
Are we dependent
on the Lord
to do this work?
Are we deferring
to the leaders
that God has set
over us
and seeking
to draw them
into the process
of growing
and instruction
and learning
and following
the strategies
that God
has entrusted
to them?
You see,
the Lord
delights
in preparing
his people.
He often does
that through
the waiting room.
He often does
that through
this process
of patience
because he wants
to create
a people
for himself.
Next,
we see
in chapter 2,
verses 1 and 4,
not only does
the Lord
prepare his people,
but the Spirit
empowers
his people.
Notice this
with me.
When the day
of Pentecost
arrived,
they were all
together in one
place,
and suddenly
there came
from heaven
a sound
like a mighty
rushing wind.
It filled
the entire house
where they were
sitting,
and divided
tongues
as of fire
appeared to them
and rested
on each
one of them.
And they were
all filled
with the Holy
Spirit,
and began
to speak
in other tongues
as the Spirit
gave them
utterance.
What dominated
the last 10 days?
The days
between Jesus'
ascension
and the day
of this
Pentecost,
this day
of the indwelling?
How would you
have characterized
these individuals?
Well,
they were
a waiting people.
They were
a praying people.
They were
a unified people.
They were
a people
who were
devoting
themselves
to the
Scripture,
and so
when the
Spirit comes,
we see
the benefits
of their
togetherness.
We see
the benefits
of their
faith in
the Lord
Jesus.
Here in
chapter 2,
verse 1,
we see
for the
fourth time
now,
the disciples
who are
intentionally
gathering
together
to see
what God
will do.
We saw
that in
chapter 1,
verse 6.
Speaking of
the disciples,
they had
come
together.
In chapter 1,
verse 14,
they were
all together
in one accord.
In chapter 1,
verse 15,
Peter stands
among the
brothers who
are together.
And now,
again,
for a fourth
time,
chapter 2,
verse 1,
they are all
together
in one place.
In all of this,
they set an
example for the
church today.
the importance
of togetherness,
the importance
of unity,
the importance
of a united,
consolidated
purpose,
following after
the Lord.
If we're ever
going to enjoy
and experience
the power
of God,
we need to be a
people who are
together and a
people who are
characterized
by waiting.
They were waiting.
Waiting for the
power of God
to show up.
I wonder,
when was the
last time
that you ever
waited for God
instead of
worked around
God?
When was the
last time that
actually your
first reflex
was to pray
and not to
press forward?
Now,
I'm speaking to
you,
I'm speaking to
myself as much
as I'm speaking
to you because
that is our
reflex, right?
Our reflex is
not to wait.
It's not to
pray.
It's not to
depend.
Our reflex is
to get things
done, to make
things happen.
Our reflex is
to move forward.
When we feel
like God is
silent, when we
feel we haven't
heard from
Him, we want
to make sure
that we carry
out His work
and so we get
ahead of God
instead of
wait for God.
We do our
own thing
instead of
waiting for God
to do His
thing.
I wonder
if much of
our problem
begins there.
The importance
of waiting,
the importance
of resting,
the importance
of depending.
Instead of
waiting for God,
we often work
around Him.
At least we
think we are.
And so this
body of
believers is
experiencing now
the benefits of
the waiting,
depending process.
process.
And so we
find the grace
of God that
now comes on
them here in
chapter 2,
verse 1.
You see,
Jesus had come
boldly and He
had come bodily
to them, to the
disciples in Acts
chapter 1.
What a grace it
was for Jesus to
show up in a
very physical,
very visible way
over 40 days.
And here the
Spirit, Spirit
is invisible.
He is Spirit.
We can't see
Him.
But even in
this, the grace
of God in
bringing His
Spirit in a way
that was
recognizable, that
was perceptible.
Notice the
sounds.
Notice the
sight, the
gracious gift of
God in giving
to Himself in
this way.
Verse 2.
Suddenly, there
came from heaven
a sound like a
mighty rushing
wind.
It filled the
entire house
where they were
sitting.
In divided tongues
as a fire
appeared to them
and rested on
each one of
them.
This word
suddenly happened
in a way that
they weren't
expecting.
They had
anticipated His
coming, but they
didn't know the
moment.
It came on them
suddenly.
And I love how
John Piper puts
this.
He says,
speaking of the
Spirit, He keeps
His own hours.
You see, the
Spirit doesn't
always follow our
own prescribed
plans.
As Jesus will
say of the
Holy Spirit in
John chapter 3,
He blows
wherever He
wishes.
And while we
have access to
His power, and
those of us who
live in this age
are indwelt by
the Spirit, He
doesn't come and
go like He did
in the Old
Testament.
We have the
Holy Spirit, but
He doesn't often
operate or work in
the way that we
desire, we
expect.
And here in
Acts chapter 2,
this whole new
movement that's
taking place where
He comes
suddenly.
He comes
unexpectedly, but
He comes very
obviously.
Notice this
sound.
The sound.
It was like a
mighty rushing
wind.
It was audible.
They could hear
it.
It was discernible.
In the Greek, this
word for pneuma is
the word for wind
or breath.
It's also the word
for spirit.
It carries this
double meaning.
So the mighty
rushing wind and
then the presence of
the Holy Spirit that
was available.
There's also this
double meaning of
this sight.
What they saw.
They saw divided
tongues as of
fire.
It appeared to
them and rested on
each one of them.
Again, kind of this
double meaning where
tongues can either
mean the physical
organ of the tongue.
It can also mean
languages.
It can mean what's
spoken.
This double meaning
helping the people
who were there to
understand what this
gift was about to
accomplish.
This flaming tongue
that rested on each
one was going to be a
representation of this
Holy Spirit empowering
that was going to help
them speak in
multiple tongues,
in multiple languages.
This will be the only
time we find through
all of the scriptures
where the Spirit comes
this way.
Comes in a flaming
tongue of fire.
It was unique.
It was special.
It was set apart.
Why?
Because God wants to
help his people
understand that
something new is
happening.
Yes, the Spirit will
come in power.
We see his coming in
power in Acts chapter
4 verse 31.
And when they had
prayed, the place
which they were
gathered together was
shaken and they were
filled with the Spirit
and continued to speak
the word of God with
boldness.
He will come in power
again in Acts chapter
16 where you know
Paul and Silas are there
and they're singing.
They've been imprisoned
and they're singing.
And the Spirit comes.
The prison is shaken.
The shackles are released
and the prison doors
open.
The power of God is
discernible there as
well.
But he won't come in
this way, described in
coming this way, ever
again.
We won't see tongues of
fire in this unique sense.
But this gift, notice,
this gift comes on
everyone.
Verse 3.
Divided tongues of fire
appeared to them and
rested on each one of
them.
And it says they were
all filled with the
Spirit.
Not just the leaders
but the entire
congregation enjoys the
benefit.
All the believers who
were gathered enjoy the
benefits of the
indwelling Holy Spirit.
And I believe that
this is not what they
necessarily expected.
I think this shattered
their categories.
This shattered their
expectations.
Because remember what
God had promised the
disciples, the apostles,
in the upper room.
Luke 24, 39.
I am sending the
promise of my Father
upon you.
But stay in Jerusalem
until you are clothed
with power from on
high.
Spoken to thee, the
twelve.
And then in Acts
chapter 1, verse 4 and
5.
Wait for the promise of
the Father.
You will be baptized with
the Holy Spirit.
The original expectation
is that the Spirit would
come on the apostles.
They knew that God was
going to build his
church.
They knew that the
mission was going to
result in the ends of
the world, understanding
and hearing the gospel.
But I think that when
the Spirit comes on each
one of them, it shattered
every expectation.
God's grace poured out.
Now, of course, of course
there was this Old
Testament expectation of
what the new covenant
would look like.
From Ezekiel chapter 36,
I will give my Holy Spirit,
put my Holy Spirit upon
you.
But in the Old Testament,
the Spirit came in a way
that was utterly different
than what we see here in
Acts chapter 2.
In at least three ways.
First, in the Old Testament,
the Old Covenant, the
Spirit's coming was
temporary, not permanent.
That's why David would say,
take not your Holy Spirit
from me.
Right?
And that's why the Holy
Spirit would come on King
Saul and would allow him
to prophesy.
But towards the end of
his life, there's no
Spirit on his life in
ministry anymore.
His reign.
Second, the Spirit's coming
in the Old Testament was
selective.
Spirit would come on
certain individuals to
equip them for certain
tasks.
Like Bezalel, remember?
He is the one who was
tasked by Moses to build
the tabernacle and to
build the furniture that
was in the tabernacle.
And that special gifting
of the Holy Spirit was
placed on him so that he
could carry out that work.
He could do the task.
Third, it was a ministry
of the Spirit that came
on a person and not
something that indwelt a
person as we find here in
Acts chapter 2 verse 1.
Repeatedly we find
throughout the Old
Testament.
The judges, for example,
who the Spirit would come
on.
Otniel in Judges chapter
3 verse 10.
The Spirit of the Lord was
upon him.
Then Gideon, Judges
chapter 6 verse 34.
The Spirit of the Lord
clothed Gideon.
And then some of the
kings.
Azariah in 2 Chronicles
chapter 15 verse 1.
The Spirit of God came
upon Azariah.
And then Zechariah, 2
Chronicles 24 20.
The Spirit of God clothed
Zechariah.
It was a unique, special
kind of work that the
Spirit did for certain
individuals for a
specific amount of time
and for a specific
purpose.
But now, this unique
work of the Spirit would
mark every true believer.
It would mark them as a
new covenant person.
A new covenant believer.
Remember, as we find in
Ezekiel 36, I will put my
Spirit within you and
cause you to walk in my
statutes and to carefully
obey my rules.
Now, this ministry would be
a permanent mark of God's
people.
He would indwell them for
the ministry that he had
called them to carry out.
As we find in Ephesians
chapter 1 verses 13 and 14,
it says this,
In Him, you also trusted
when you heard the word of
truth, the gospel of your
salvation, and you
believed in Him.
You were sealed with the
promised Holy Spirit who is
the guarantee of our
inheritance until we acquire
possession of it to the
praise of His glory.
If you are a child of God,
if you are a person who has
placed your faith in Jesus
Christ, if you have
acknowledged that He is the
only way of salvation, if
you are now looking forward
to being with Him one day
and you have bowed your
life to His Lordship, you
are one then who enjoys and
experiences this indwelling
presence of the Spirit and
you will have it eternally.
What a tremendous, what a
tremendous advantage and
privilege we have as God's
people that distinguishes
us from Old Testament
saints.
But the Apostle Paul sees
this as something that is a
deficiency in the church.
Something that they have, but
not something that they enjoy.
He prays for the church on
at least two different
occasions.
In Colossians chapter 1,
verse 9, he says this,
And so, from the day we
heard, we have not ceased to
pray for you, asking that you
may be filled with the
knowledge of His will in all
spiritual wisdom and
understanding, being
strengthened with all power
according to His glorious
might, for all endurance and
patience with joy.
This is the reality for every
believer who has placed their
faith in Jesus Christ.
You enjoy the benefits of the
indwelling Holy Spirit.
But the Apostle Paul, in
seeing the church of
Colossae, and seeing the
church throughout this known
world, recognizes the power
that is there, but is praying
that the church will come to
terms with this power and put
it to work.
How many times have we said,
I just can't do that.
I'm just not qualified.
I'm just not capable.
I don't have the power to
obey God's rules.
I feel so stunted.
I feel so inadequate.
I feel so ineffective.
I cannot do what God is
calling me to do.
And that's what the Apostle
Paul is praying about here.
Oh Lord, please help this
church who has all of the
power of your Spirit
resident in their life,
help them to understand that
while they may be insufficient,
inadequate, and ineffective
on their own, they can carry
out the purpose that you have
called them to, and they can
do it because of your power,
not because of theirs.
In Ephesians chapter 1, verses
15 and 16, the Apostle Paul
prays for the church there.
He says,
If you're a follower of Jesus,
if you have placed your faith
in Jesus Christ, you have
this kind of power.
My guess is that no one in
this room would ever say,
Jesus Christ just can't pull
that off.
And yet, everyone in this
room, if you've been indwelt
by the Spirit, have the power
of Jesus in your life.
How dare we ever say,
the Spirit cannot pull this off.
I wonder if it's because we
treat the Holy Spirit like a
backup generator instead of
treating the Lord Jesus like
the power source.
The source of power, the source
of help, the source of support,
the one who wants to draw glory
and praise to himself and not
to you.
And so, when we come face to face
with our inadequacy, we say,
Jesus is able, God is able
through his Spirit to pull
this off, to show his power.
I'm trusting him.
That's why I love the statement
that Phillips Brooks says.
He says,
Pray not for an easy life.
Pray to be stronger men.
Pray not for tasks equal to
your power.
Pray for power equal to the task.
And every single one of us have
the power of the Holy Spirit
working through.
And all things are possible
with God.
He can equip you for the work
that he's called you to do.
Okay?
And maybe that's the guiding
statement here.
Is that we need to understand
that the purposes that God
has called us to are very clear
in his word.
And as we are faithful
to carry out those instructions,
we can trust that God will work
out those purposes.
Finally, the Lord prepares his people.
The Spirit empowers his people.
And finally, the gospel marks
God's people.
The gospel marks God's people.
Notice in verse 5, it says,
Now, they were dwelling in Jerusalem,
excuse me,
they were dwelling in Jerusalem,
Jews, devout men from every nation
under heaven,
and at the sound of the multitude
came together,
and they were bewildered
because each one was hearing
them speak in his own language.
And they were amazed
and astonished, saying,
Are not all these
who are speaking Galileans?
How is it that we hear each one,
each of us,
in his own native language?
Parthians and Medes,
Elamites and residents
of Mesopotamia,
Judea and Cappadocia,
Pontus and Asia,
Phrygia and Pamphylia,
Egypt and parts of Libya,
belonging to Cyrene,
and visitors from Rome,
both Jews and proselytes,
Cretans and Arabians,
we hear them telling
in our own tongues
the mighty works of God.
There's a lot of confusion today
as to what is the gift of tongues?
What is this gift?
Who has this gift?
What does it look like?
And how does it play out?
Well, here we find
in chapter 2, verse 1,
some very clear definitions
of what this gift accomplishes.
Not ecstatic languages
that can't be understood,
but specific, precise languages.
Now, while the word tongue
can be understood generally,
and it's somewhat ambiguous,
what does a tongue mean?
What does a tongue do?
The word language or dialect
that we find here
is very specific.
It's very precise.
And here we find
there are at least 16 different groups
and probably as many as 18
different specific languages
that are identified
and are used
and are finding their way
in this city of Jerusalem.
And what is the goal?
What is the final purpose?
We find it here in verse 11.
We hear them telling
in our own tongues
the mighty works of God.
That's what God has called us to.
Speaking and proclaiming
the mighty works of God.
Sometimes the gospel
is just that easy.
And notice again
this wind that caused
these people to gather
and the grace of God
in allowing them
who weren't yet believers
to experience
and to see
the same kinds of things
that the believers
in the upper room
were experiencing.
This wind,
this rush of wind.
And because of it,
they were amazed.
They were astonished.
Luke heaps up words
to describe
the crowd's perplexity.
They were blown away.
They didn't know
what in the world
was happening
because each one
was hearing them speak
in his own language
and this gift of tongues
that is this spoken,
distinct languages
with the intention
of proclaiming
the mighty works of God.
When the Spirit comes in power,
He fills you up
with the greatness of God
and a desire to speak
those great words
about Him.
Those who are filled
with the Spirit
will speak about
the wonderful works of God
because they will be
speaking the words
of the Spirit
who came to make
Jesus known.
If someone listened
to your speech this week,
how would they categorize
your speech?
Would they place it
in the category of
this is a person
who speaks about God
in a way that makes
Him look glorious?
Or would they say,
well this is a person
who is marked out
as being an absolute
complainer,
an absolute bellyache,
critical about everyone
around them,
always anxious,
always fearful,
always wondering
who is going to,
when that next shoe
is going to drop?
Or are we people
who are faithfully
proclaiming those
mighty works of God
wherever we go?
I love how the Apostle
Peter puts it
in 1 Peter 2,
verses 9 and 10.
He says,
you are a chosen generation.
You are a royal priesthood.
You are a holy nation.
You are God's own
special people.
Why?
So that you would
proclaim the praises
of Him
who called you
out of darkness
into His marvelous light.
what kind of
wonderful works of God
has He been doing
in your life?
How do we focus
on God's grace
in our life,
God's forgiveness
in our life,
God's power
in our life,
God's provision
in our life,
God's help
in sustaining us
in this life,
all the mighty works
of God
that He does
time and time
and time again.
I'm reminded of
Psalm 103
and I'm just beginning
to memorize this
so bear with me.
It begins this way.
It says,
oh bless the Lord
oh my soul
and all that is within me
bless His holy name.
Bless the Lord
oh my soul
and all that is within me
and forget not
all His benefits.
Who redeems your life
from the pit.
Who forgives
all your iniquities.
who crowns you
with love
and kindness.
Who satisfies you
with good things
that your youth
is renewed
like the eagles.
All the benefits,
all the joys
that those who know
the Lord
get to experience.
Is that
the confession
of our life?
Bless the Lord
oh my soul
in all that is within me
bless
His holy name.
May we be
those kinds of people
and may
that confession
of the mighty works
of God
have the same kind
of result
that we're going to see
as we continue
to work our way
through Acts chapter 2.
The work of God
working in hearts
because of the confession
of faithful
believers in Jesus.
Let's pray.
Lord thank you
for your gift
of grace
in calling us
to yourself
in making
a people
that are prepared
for you.
Help us
to be those
who are
not just
indwelt
by the Spirit
but those
who are living
each day
with spiritual
power
carrying out
the work
that you've
called us to
in the little
things
in the big
things
and ultimately
Lord
that we would
give confession
to our glorious
God
that we would
proclaim
the praises
of him
who called
us out of
darkness
into his
marvelous light.
May you be
glorified.
May you be
pleased
with our
conversations
this week
in Jesus name.
Amen.
God bless you.
Have a great week.
God bless you.