Wonderful Things God Has Done
The Birth of the Church and the Power of Revival
SCRIPTURE:
Acts 2:11 NLT - “…And we all hear these people speaking in our own languages about the wonderful things God has done!"
OBSERVATION:
Acts chapter 2 begins with the fulfillment of the Feast of Pentecost.
Acts 2:11 NLT - “…And we all hear these people speaking in our own languages about the wonderful things God has done!"
OBSERVATION:
Acts chapter 2 begins with the fulfillment of the Feast of Pentecost.
This was a Jewish feast held 50 days after Passover. It celebrated the firstfruits of the wheat harvest… In the Jewish rituals of that time, the first sheaf reaped from the barley harvest was presented to God at Passover. But at Pentecost, the firstfruits of the wheat harvest were presented to God; therefore, Pentecost is called the day of the firstfruits (Numbers 28:26)… On the Old Testament Day of Pentecost, Israel received the Law; on the New Testament Day of Pentecost, the Church received the Spirit of Grace in fullness. – David Guzik.
It was the best attended of the great feasts because traveling conditions were at their best. There was never a more cosmopolitan gathering in Jerusalem than this one. – R. Kent Hughes.
It was the best attended of the great feasts because traveling conditions were at their best. There was never a more cosmopolitan gathering in Jerusalem than this one. – R. Kent Hughes.
Leviticus 23:15–22 gives the original instructions for celebrating Pentecost. It says that two loaves of leavened bread were to be waved before the Lord by the priest as part of the celebration.
Were there not two loaves? Not only shall Israel be saved, but the multitude of the Gentiles shall be turned unto the Lord Jesus Christ. – Charles Spurgeon.
With the sound of a rushing, roaring, mighty storm, the house where all those who believed in Jesus were gathered was filled. Then what appeared to be tongues of fire came and settled on them—everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit. Each began to speak in other languages, glorifying God.
This was indeed the first manifestation of the Holy Spirit upon the Church. The gift of tongues was used to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ.
We must, in our zeal and passion, be careful not to treat the gift of tongues as a sign of salvation, for those who received the baptism of the Holy Spirit were already believers. This “sign” was a means by which God used the disciples and all who were with them to preach the Good News to those in the city.
Acts 2:6-8 NLT - When they heard the loud noise, everyone came running, and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers. They were completely amazed. "How can this be?" they exclaimed. "These people are all from Galilee, and yet we hear them speaking in our own native languages!
Though many that day were skeptical, even saying that these men were drunk, this was a fulfillment of what the Prophet Joel had spoken:
Acts 2:17, 21 NLT - “'In the last days,' God says, 'I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. ... …everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.'”
So began the birth of the Church—God-breathed and Spirit-filled, bearing the message of the Good News: everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved!
APPLICATION:
How do we see this again—a new awakening? It starts with revival—not of the lost, but of the Church.
The word revival derives from the root revive, meaning to bring something dead or dying to life. It would seem that the Church today is either dead or on its deathbed. What can bring it back to life?
Acts 2:2 NLT - Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting.
The Holy Spirit—the breath of life—is needed once again so that what is dead may be revived, the Good News will be preached, and everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Revival is not for the lost; it’s for the Church. If the Church is revived, the fruit will be the salvation of the lost, because the Church will be speaking in a language all can hear about the wonderful things God has done.
Let our prayer be that of the song by the late Keith Green, fulfilled in our lives today.
PRAYER:
Rushing wind, blow through this temple, blowing out the dust within. Come and breathe Your breath upon me—I’ve been born again.
Pour out Your Spirit once again, and begin with me. Revive me, fill me, and use me to speak of the wonderful things You have done!
This was indeed the first manifestation of the Holy Spirit upon the Church. The gift of tongues was used to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ.
We must, in our zeal and passion, be careful not to treat the gift of tongues as a sign of salvation, for those who received the baptism of the Holy Spirit were already believers. This “sign” was a means by which God used the disciples and all who were with them to preach the Good News to those in the city.
Acts 2:6-8 NLT - When they heard the loud noise, everyone came running, and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers. They were completely amazed. "How can this be?" they exclaimed. "These people are all from Galilee, and yet we hear them speaking in our own native languages!
Though many that day were skeptical, even saying that these men were drunk, this was a fulfillment of what the Prophet Joel had spoken:
Acts 2:17, 21 NLT - “'In the last days,' God says, 'I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. ... …everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.'”
So began the birth of the Church—God-breathed and Spirit-filled, bearing the message of the Good News: everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved!
APPLICATION:
How do we see this again—a new awakening? It starts with revival—not of the lost, but of the Church.
The word revival derives from the root revive, meaning to bring something dead or dying to life. It would seem that the Church today is either dead or on its deathbed. What can bring it back to life?
Acts 2:2 NLT - Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting.
The Holy Spirit—the breath of life—is needed once again so that what is dead may be revived, the Good News will be preached, and everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Revival is not for the lost; it’s for the Church. If the Church is revived, the fruit will be the salvation of the lost, because the Church will be speaking in a language all can hear about the wonderful things God has done.
Let our prayer be that of the song by the late Keith Green, fulfilled in our lives today.
PRAYER:
Rushing wind, blow through this temple, blowing out the dust within. Come and breathe Your breath upon me—I’ve been born again.
Pour out Your Spirit once again, and begin with me. Revive me, fill me, and use me to speak of the wonderful things You have done!
Revival begins with me—when I’m filled, renewed, and speaking of the wonderful things God has done.
Posted in 06 - Acts
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