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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.” (Acts 2:1-21)
God got His point across in a miraculous way; that was what made Pentecost a new day. Gathered from all over the world, devout men and women of the Jewish faith were in Jerusalem for their celebration of Moses having received the Law from God. The disciples, still hanging around with fear and no real sense of purpose yet, get visited by fire; the fire of the Holy Spirit that gave them the ability to speak in languages they had not learned. They "amazed and astonished" people from all over with their ability to speak of "God's deeds of power." They were so amazing, some thought they were drunk.
How do you get your point across when it comes to the things of God? Paul tried every way he could to relate to people right where they were to get them to understand God's love. The church still believes people should come in, adopt to their ways and be like them. And we wonder why we're dying? The new church goes to people, gets to know them, and then shares the awesomeness of God's deeds of power to love, transform, and save. And that person who has been saved goes to the next person and shares with them, and they with others. And when you think about it, somebody told somebody that told somebody until you heard and you received! It may have been done the old way, but it worked then - the question is how are you talking up God? You should begin with your actions and then use words if necessary.
Someone needs to hear. And God may be wanting to use you!
PRAYER: Loving and awesome God, use me! I want to share You in new and amazing ways. Grant me the power of Your Holy Spirit to do just that. Today even. In Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
