Acts 2:1-13
New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)
2 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.”
As I
read this today the first verse stood out to me, “they were all together in one
place”. It seems like today we tend to
go about doing things on our own, seldom are we in one place. We do good to meet together once or twice a
week the rest of the time we are going about our busy lives taking care of our
own families and our own needs. Powerful
things happen though when we are all together!
Jesus had told them that this time would come and now it is here and
they have quite the responsibility placed upon them to deliver the Good News of
Jesus Christ and to allow the Holy Spirit to work through them.
I also
found it amazing that Jesus had told them to go into all nations and preach the
Gospel yet they didn’t have to even travel outside of the town of Jerusalem
because God had provided an opportunity for all those nations to be right there
at that specific time. There are so many
ways today that we can spread the Gospel of Jesus to all nations. Some may learn the language and go while
others may support both in prayer and financially those going to the
nations. I have found that I could be a
missionary in our own home while hosting a child from another country in our
home. I have also found that writing this
blog has opened doors to minister in other countries. I don’t speak the language like the apostles
did but today God has provided us with other means in which things can be
translated into the language of other nations.
He has also gifted some people to pick up on other languages and they
have learned to speak fluently and can spread the Gospel by going to the
countries.
The
point for us today is this; we need to share the Gospel. What will the result be? They will both listen and receive Him or they
will laugh at us and reject Him. It does
not matter what other people think, what matters is that we share with others. He we allow the Holy Spirit to do His work in
us as He sees fit and we need to be willing to use whatever gifts He bestows
upon us to share the Gospel with others.
As you
seek Him may the Holy Spirit reveal to you His presence in your life and may
you use the gifts He bestows upon you to reach others for Christ.
Seeking
Him with all my heart,
Sheila
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