Acts 2: 1-4
“When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
Four simple verses….BUT, with life changing value, AND eternally spiritual meaning!
The Holy Spirit (The Spirit of Christ; The Holy Ghost; God; the Presence of God; the Spirit of God) it doesn’t matter the name you place on it, what matters is you encounter it, live in it, live it, and it lives in you–ALL PROVIDED BY/THROUGH THESE 4 SIMPLE VERSES.
The Festival of Pentecost was a celebration of the 50th day after the Passover. The “Passing Over” of the homes of the first born that had been obedient and anointed the top of the door ways with the blood of the sacrifice lamb while they were enslaved in Egypt was something always on the minds of the Hebrews. The commemoration of the Passover on the 50th day after was also important capstone to the Last Supper Jesus spent with His disciples. “This is my Body which is broken for you” and “This is my blood which is shed for you” were shared in the last intimate moments with the Savior before his illegal trial, torture, and ultimately death by crucifixion. “50” (the number for jubilee) was always going to mean something–but the those at the Last Supper, at the Ascension of Jesus into Heaven, and the 120 who were obedient at the urging from Acts Chapter one–“Go and wait” and the “Holy Spirit shall come upon you.”
THE DAY OF PENTECOST ARRIVED. There is always an excitement in “arrival.” Whether you are arriving at your destination, or someone is “arriving” to you (as the destination). The ARRIVAL of the presence of the Lord is always spectacular, not from the noisy, obnoxious, or the glamourous and theatrical, but from the INTERNALLY POWERFUL POINT THAT GOD ARRIVES ON THE SCENE.
THEY WERE ALL TOGETHER. (Homou) They were listening and attentive, not talking and distracted. The arrival of God is in the listening, not in the talking–the arrival of God is in the attentive and focused, not in the distracted.
IN ONE PLACE. (Auto) “Sameness” They agreed on what they agreed on. “Agreement” gives God His “platform to land” versus “disagreement” which has no room for God’s presence because the essence of disagreement is selfishness: My way; My rights; My opinion; My freedom; My space.
AND SUDDENLY. (Aphno) Unexpectant. Why not? Why don’t we expect God to show up? Are we too dependent on ourselves? On others? What would happen if we had a greater expectation of God and a far less expectation on/of people? Answer: EVERYTHING WOULD CHANGE! If you expect more from God and less of others, the total essence of disappointment and even (self-loathing) would disappear out of your life, your home, your world, and then….OUR WORLD.
THERE CAME FROM HEAVEN. (Ouranou) What was happening was both eternally prophesied, internally dwelling, and spiritually based.
A SOUND LIKE A MIGHTY RUSHING WIND. (Pnoes) Wind is always the Biblical symbol for change. EVERYTHING IS ABOUT TO CHANGE FOREVER.
AND IT FILLED THE HOUSE. (Epleron Oikou) The experience “leveled up” hearts, “leveled up” homes, “leveled up” families.
WHERE THEY WERE SITTING. (Kathemeno) God came to them, they didn’t come to God. All that was necessary was to turn the heart (“right side up”) to be (“filled up”).
AND DIVIDED TONGUES OF FIRE APPEARED TO THEM. (Catharazo Puree) A purging, cleansing fire, that cauterized wounds, healed scars, mended brokeness.
AND RESTED ON EACH ONE OF THEM. (Ekathisen) Settled down into them into a deep and abiding (and exciting) prospect of a journey.
AND THEY WERE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT. (Eplesthesan Hagios Pneuma) Filled with God
AND BEGAN TO SPEAK IN OTHER TONGUES AS THE SPIRIT GAVE THEM UTTERANCE. (Glossias, Lalien, Ediddou) Basically a “QUICKENING.” A life’s journey with moments of QUICKENING. QUICKENING IS LIFE EVENTS, IN LIFE UNDERSTANDING, AND IN THE COMMUNICATION OF LIFE.
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