5/23/2010
The Day of Pentecost
Acts 2:1-21 (NRSV)
When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.
Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs - in our own languages we hear them speaking about God's deeds of power." All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "What does this mean?" But others sneered and said, "They are filled with new wine."
But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, "Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o'clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:
'In the last days it will be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams.
Even upon my slaves, both men and women,
in those days I will pour out my Spirit;
and they shall prophesy.
And I will show portents in the heaven above
and signs on the earth below,
blood, and fire, and smoky mist.
The sun shall be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood,
before the coming of the Lord's great and glorious day.
Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.'
DEVOTION
Today is the Day of Pentecost! It is the day that the Christian Church remembers the coming of the Holy Spirit and the filled of the disciples gathered in Jerusalem.
When the Spirit comes The Church is truly birthed out into the world and into the streets. People see, hear, and experience the joy that is found in Jesus as the disciples are led by Spirit to proclaim the good news in the language of every person gathered in the city.
Spirit always insures that people can hear and understand the good news. Spirit always drives us outside of the safety of the four walls of buildings and out into our communities where we can encounter people in need of Jesus.
Spirit is always bold, radical, and fearless in declaring Christ has died, risen, and will come again.
And wherever Jesus is proclaimed, whosoever calls upon the name of the Lord, is saved!
Hallelujah! What wonderful good news!
Today I hope the wind and fire of Spirit blows into and over your life so that you will be bold in sharing Jesus with everyone you meet.
Let us pray:
Holy God, thank you for Pentecost Spirit. Thank you for the joy I have in Jesus! Thank you for my desire to share good news with others. Please fill me to overflow with your Holy Spirit so that I will be empowered and equipped to tell others that Jesus saves and he saves to the utmost! I pray this in Jesus' Name, Amen.
INVITATION
If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta
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