Pentecost Sunday 19 May 2013 Acts 2:1-17, John 14:8-17, Bruce

1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. ³ After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. ⁴ On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. ⁵ For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

⁸ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

⁹ After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

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 their own language being spoken. ⁷ Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? ⁸ Then how is it that each of us hears them in our 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 people 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 heavens 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.’

This can seem to be a difficult Sunday.  We are talking about the coming of the Holy Spirit.  This seems like a strange concept, slightly unreal, distant from ordinary life.  The account of a sound like a mighty rushing wind and what looked like tongues of flame seems far removed from our experience of God and his church?  How do we make sense of it?

First, note that Jesus promised this to us his disciples.  Just as he told his disciples in advance about his death and resurrection, but they struggled to understand what he was saying, so he told them in advance that he would send his Spirit.  They needed to be “open for all that he had for them”, and so do we.  Jesus promised that they would be baptized … a word that means plunged, immersed, soaked.  They were to be drenched in his Spirit.

Second, they were to receive power.  This is very practical, and literally down to earth.  Jesus went into the heavens, taking something of earth with him.  He then sent down his Spirit, another advocate or helper, or comforter, - just like him.  The Spirit no longer lives with us but he actually lives in us.  Heaven has come down to earth, so that earth can be changed to be like heaven.  Without him we can do nothing.  In fact anything that we do try to do will be worse than useless and probably end being harmful to the kingdom.  As we open ourselves to “be open to follow him wherever he lead us”, so we see people and situations changed here on earth as they are in heaven.

Third, the Holy Spirit brings unity among God’s people.  They were all together in one place, waiting.  That is why united prayer meetings can seem so much more powerful than individuals on their own.  God’s power is at work in a special way when his people take time to wait together, pray together, adjust their ideas and priorities in the light of being with others.  Note that Peter stood up “with the eleven”; there is no place for ego or prima donnas.  Jesus is in charge and as we co-operate with his Spirit, so we together experience his love and see growth and transformation.  Even when we do not agree, this is an opportunity to grow in maturity and character as we become more like Jesus by the work of his Spirit. 

Fourth, be prepared to be misunderstood.  Earth is sometimes so far from being like heaven that people do not always recognise God’s work for being what it is.  Philip and the other disciples did not always “get it”.  They knew that Jesus was special, but they struggled with the concept that if they saw Jesus, they were looking at the father.  God is at work amongst and in us.  Our circle of families, friends, colleagues and neighbours may at times see something of this and be drawn to it.  They may also be frankly baffled by it, and even a little hostile (some thought that the disciples were drunk).  Jesus said that the world cannot accept the Holy Spirit, because it neither sees him nor knows him.  But we know him.

Fifth, look out for God at work.  Each of the hearers understood in their own language.  They would all have spoken Greek, but no matter where they came from, they were hearing these Galileans speak their home language.  Be on the lookout for God to meet members of your circle of family, friends, colleagues and neighbours.  He will not do the same thing to all of them.  Different things will happen, at different times, in ways that we do not always expect.  God knows and loves each of them as a precious, unique individual.  He loves you too.  The coming of his Holy Spirit to immerse us will give us the desire to pray for them and show them his love, the sensitivity to know how to respond to them on each occasion, and the ability to reach out to them.

Sixth, the coming of the Holy Spirit will open up the bible to us in a new way.  As he inspired the writers to produce the words in the scriptures, so he will inspire us to read them and draw new strength and inspiration from them.  He will give us his help to understand, alongside our God-given minds and thought, and as we read his word, his Spirit will use it to transform us from within.

Seventh, they were all impacted, and all found themselves included in this new movement of God here on earth.  The promise is to you.  Jesus died and rose again for you.  He sent his Spirit to live in you.  Through you, he can reach out to the street or road where you live, the place where you work or shop or meet others.  Jesus promises that if we believe in him, we will continue the works that he did during his earthly ministry, and that we will do even more.

Lord, help us to be open for all that you have for us …