Sermon on Acts 2:1-21 - Pentecost
By Revd Jeremy Tyndall
PENTECOST POWER
Acts 2:1-21
1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. 5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs-- we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!" 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, "What does this mean?" 13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, "They have had too much wine." 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. 15 These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It's only nine in the morning! 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 17 "`In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. 18 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. 19 I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. 20 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. 21 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.' [NRSV]
1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. 5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-
INTRODUCTION
My how time flies…It's fifty days since Easter! Pentecost - the name for the Jewish feast that ended the harvest season of the Feast of Weeks which began around Passover - word means fiftieth. In Jesus day, it had become a busy pilgrimage occasion with great celebrations in town, which is why Jerusalem was again packed with people from all over the known world.
Just ten days earlier, Jesus had led his disciples out to Bethany, and reminded them once more of his command and his promise:
...you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses...[Acts 1:8]
Clothed with power. Did they think perhaps of how, long ago, the Holy Spirit had taken control, of Gideon (32000 to 300)? Or of Elisha taking the cloak that fell from Elijah as he was taken into heaven and using it to demonstrate God's power?
What was for sure is that the experience would be unmistakable. Jesus had used the term "be baptised" with the Spirit, suggesting a deluge, or immersing. Indeed, they had already seen a resurgence of activity of the Spirit. They would later write how Jesus had been led by the Spirit, how he had been anointed at his baptism, and that Jesus Himself had promised another counsellor, to be with them for ever - the Spirit of truth(John 14:16), sent by the Father and who would teach and remind them of all that Jesus had said to them. The Spirit would minister Christ.
And so it was that they remained together as told, waiting, watching and praying....
...all together in one place [Acts 2:1]
Important clue here... Remember how poor Thomas had missed out because he hadn't been there…
We read…
Suddenly, from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind... v.2
Wind can come with amazing force. Pneuma/pneumatic...Cyclone or tornado, but equally windsail and windmill are utterly dependent on the breeze... and so too the church.
from heaven - no mistaking that this was a divine visitation. And there was more:
Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them [Acts 2:3]
In former times, the Spirit had been poured out on particular people for a special moment, a day was to come when it would be a different matter. Without discrimination between men and women, young and old, God would pour out His Spirit upon his people and they would see visions and prophesy. And now this was to be happening in their day and , we believe, in ours.
Now we can be fearful about things of the Spirit, Anglicans don't like excess very much!! St.John helps us with the theology from this morning's Gospel reading. We can't readily say how this account fits with Acts, but for John chronology, the actual sequence of events, was less important than the connection between the resurrection and the renewal of the disciples in the embryonic Church. And the process is very Trinitarian!! Jesus said, "As the Father (the first person) has sent me (the second person) so do I send you receive the Holy Spirit (the third person)." Renewal and Mission are deeply connected.
1. THE SPIRIT COMES TO BRING US ALIVE. HE COMES TO BRING THESE BONES....TOGETHER INTO A LIVING BODY
1.1 SPIRITUALLY ALIVE AS INDIVIDUALS
St Paul addresses this idea in Romans...
...you have received the spirit of sonship. When we cry, "Abba! Father!" it is the Spirit himself bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God., earlier in Romans 8vv15&16
The Spirit comes to enliven and encourage us.
What are some of the hallmarks?
My how time flies…It's fifty days since Easter! Pentecost -
Just ten days earlier, Jesus had led his disciples out to Bethany, and reminded them once more of his command and his promise:
Clothed with power. Did they think perhaps of how, long ago, the Holy Spirit had taken control, of Gideon (32000 to 300)? Or of Elisha taking the cloak that fell from Elijah as he was taken into heaven and using it to demonstrate God's power?
What was for sure is that the experience would be unmistakable. Jesus had used the term "be baptised" with the Spirit, suggesting a deluge, or immersing. Indeed, they had already seen a resurgence of activity of the Spirit. They would later write how Jesus had been led by the Spirit, how he had been anointed at his baptism, and that Jesus Himself had promised another counsellor, to be with them for ever -
And so it was that they remained together as told, waiting, watching and praying....
Important clue here... Remember how poor Thomas had missed out because he hadn't been there…
We read…
Suddenly, from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind... v.2
Wind can come with amazing force. Pneuma/pneumatic...Cyclone or tornado, but equally windsail and windmill are utterly dependent on the breeze... and so too the church.
from heaven -
In former times, the Spirit had been poured out on particular people for a special moment, a day was to come when it would be a different matter. Without discrimination between men and women, young and old, God would pour out His Spirit upon his people and they would see visions and prophesy. And now this was to be happening in their day and , we believe, in ours.
Now we can be fearful about things of the Spirit, Anglicans don't like excess very much!! St.John helps us with the theology from this morning's Gospel reading. We can't readily say how this account fits with Acts, but for John chronology, the actual sequence of events, was less important than the connection between the resurrection and the renewal of the disciples in the embryonic Church. And the process is very Trinitarian!! Jesus said, "As the Father (the first person) has sent me (the second person) so do I send you receive the Holy Spirit (the third person)." Renewal and Mission are deeply connected.
1. THE SPIRIT COMES TO BRING US ALIVE. HE COMES TO BRING THESE BONES....TOGETHER INTO A LIVING BODY
1.1 SPIRITUALLY ALIVE AS INDIVIDUALS
St Paul addresses this idea in Romans...
...you have received the spirit of sonship. When we cry, "Abba! Father!" it is the Spirit himself bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God., earlier in Romans 8vv15&16
The Spirit comes to enliven and encourage us.
What are some of the hallmarks?
o A new sense of worship and praise
o A thirst for the Scriptures
o A new depth in prayer
(they complete a circle for through these we can become open to God's gift)
o and a new heart for the Lord.
2.2 ALIVE AS A CHURCH
In the OT, it was Ezekiel who by divine command prophesied to the wind and called it to blow upon the dead bodies in the valley of his vision. It is a supernatural empowering - mysterious and dynamic. It must and will make a difference…
French underground sent a message "God reigns". Misunderstood and recorded as "God Resigns" to which the Brits then made the reply..."Regret decision. British policy remains the same"
It has been said that if the Holy Spirit left the church, 90% of what the church does would continue to happen without anyone noticing the difference. There is an assumption that lingers in the church today that the manifestations of the Spirit were something purely restricted to the apostolic age, to bible times. However, a study of church history, including indeed a study of the Wesleys, a look at the missionary field, or an examination of the Pentecostal and charismatic movements show this to be a false assumption. After all, we are in the same boat as the disciples after the Ascension, with God's work to do.
3. TO CATAPULT US INTO MISSION
Promise: But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses...[Acts 1:8]
Fulfilment:
We hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God [Acts 2:11]
Speaking in other tongues:
Sign - of Gospel for all nations
- that God will give us what to say
Here is mission kick-started. The Spirit comes. Peter preaches, 3000 are converted. Place of preaching - of ministering God's word to understand God's activity. Our worship will overflow and make sense of our mission.
All through Acts we read of the Spirit taking the initiative, organising the spread of the Gospel, galvanising the apostles into action.
The sign of the talking in tongues was as a symbol of the removing of the curse of Babel, that the Gospel is for all nations. The world is very much a village today. How we need a message for the world.
Reactions typical: All were amazed and perplexed...But others sneered
CONCLUSION
We all need to grow in our understanding and experience of the Holy Spirit. We need to do our bible study and theology. We also need to go beyond just cerebral understanding. You can understand that water brings life - you can write a thesis on it - or you can stand under a shower of cool water on a hot day - cleaning, refreshing, bringing us life. It's this sort of anointing that we can receive from God.
We are the living stones, God dwells amongst the body of believers in a special way for the sake of the world.
Whatever we do together in the coming years, it needs be born, inspired and equipped by the Spirit. The church should be the company of God's people enthused and enfused with the Spirit of the Living God. Ministry, service, witness, (Christian Aid Week - what an opportunity - we believe in life before death!) evangelism will just pour out of us....
In the OT, it was Ezekiel who by divine command prophesied to the wind and called it to blow upon the dead bodies in the valley of his vision. It is a supernatural empowering -
French underground sent a message "God reigns". Misunderstood and recorded as "God Resigns" to which the Brits then made the reply..."Regret decision. British policy remains the same"
It has been said that if the Holy Spirit left the church, 90% of what the church does would continue to happen without anyone noticing the difference. There is an assumption that lingers in the church today that the manifestations of the Spirit were something purely restricted to the apostolic age, to bible times. However, a study of church history, including indeed a study of the Wesleys, a look at the missionary field, or an examination of the Pentecostal and charismatic movements show this to be a false assumption. After all, we are in the same boat as the disciples after the Ascension, with God's work to do.
Promise: But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses...[Acts 1:8]
Fulfilment:
We hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God [Acts 2:11]
Speaking in other tongues:
Sign -
-
Here is mission kick-
All through Acts we read of the Spirit taking the initiative, organising the spread of the Gospel, galvanising the apostles into action.
The sign of the talking in tongues was as a symbol of the removing of the curse of Babel, that the Gospel is for all nations. The world is very much a village today. How we need a message for the world.
Reactions typical:
CONCLUSION
We all need to grow in our understanding and experience of the Holy Spirit. We need to do our bible study and theology. We also need to go beyond just cerebral understanding. You can understand that water brings life -
We are the living stones, God dwells amongst the body of believers in a special way for the sake of the world.
Whatever we do together in the coming years, it needs be born, inspired and equipped by the Spirit. The church should be the company of God's people enthused and enfused with the Spirit of the Living God. Ministry, service, witness, (Christian Aid Week -
Rev Jeremy Tyndall © 2008