Scripture: Acts 2:14
Stream or download The promise of My Father, Pt3
We come to the final study on this topic. Ten days have passed since they had received the command: “And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high,” Luke 24:49.
We have considered a number of matters regarding that wonderful time of prayer.
Yet, it was just like any other genuine prayer meeting! I hope our times together here are just like that prayer meeting long ago.
It is not the character of the prayer meeting or the people attending it that brings down God’s power. That lies in the hands of the sovereign God Who answers according to His will and purpose.
The glorious blessing of Pentecost is not due in the least to the character of those engaged in the prayer meeting.
We must surely take heart from this truth!
Consider verses 1-4 of Acts 2.
1. Note the unity displayed. This was of God. He had united them during the 10 days of preparation. Note how it continued to mark the gatherings of the disciples. 1:14, 2:46, 4:24, 5:12, 8:6.
2. Note the spirit of expectancy. They were sitting! Attention is marked by a ‘sitting up’! All school children know that! Here was a calm and confident waiting for the answer.
3. I am sure that they were aware of the symbolism of the Pentecost. It was a time marking the giving of the Law of God on Mt Sinai. It was also marked by the offering of the fruits of the harvest, Exodus 34:22, Deuteronomy 16:10-12.
4. The manner of the Spirit’s coming indicated something of the consequences that would follow. “And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting,” verse 2. This was Sinai-like phenomena!! A. It occurred just after dawn. (Day was fully come, verse 1). B. It was sudden. Cit was a Heavenly sound. D. It was disturbing, a ‘rushing mighty (Greek word from which we get ‘energy’) wind’.
5. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Note the word ALL. Not just the apostles but all there. The fulness of the Holy Ghost is you all, young and old, all Christians here tonight.
They spoke God’s Word in the proper languages of the visitors present in Jerusalem for the feast.
Nothing can enable us to preach the “whole counsel of God” like the infilling of the Holy Ghost.
May that be our experience and that of the Evangelist, Rev Morrow, here in Kilskeery in these weeks of mission and on into the future.