Feeding the Lambs - Pentecost
A Sound Like a Strong Wind
"When the Feast of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Without warning there was a sound like a strong wind, gale force—no one could tell where it came from. It filled the whole building. Then, like a wildfire, the Holy Spirit spread through their ranks, and they started speaking in a number of different languages as the Spirit prompted them."
Written by Luke, 1st century
Acts 2:1-4
[40th message of the New Believer Series]
In the preceding messages of this series we've discussed about God's messages to the seven churches mentioned in the Book of Revelation.
Today (because it is Pentecost Sunday), we will talk about the birth of the Christian Church which happened on that day -- Pentecost Sunday as mentioned by Luke in the Book of Acts (Chapter 2), as we read from the excerpt above.
On this day the mission of the church to go to all the nations to spread the gospel started in a supernatural way.
Wait
But prior to this, Jesus told His closest followers to wait in Jerusalem until they were clothed with power from on high.
They know Jesus had power from on high (power of God). They saw these manifested through the miracles they saw Him do during the three years they were with Him day and night.
They know of Jesus who came from above. He ascended back up and they saw it happen with their own eyes. (If not for everything unbelievable that they have already witnessed, they probably wouldn't have believed this.)
They witnessed Jesus raised their fellow disciple, Lazarus back from the dead. And then finally coming back to life Himself, conquering sin and death, and everything they all feared.
Holy Spirit - Power From on High
Let us continue reading this passage:
"There were many Jews staying in Jerusalem just then, devout pilgrims from all over the world. When they heard the sound, they came on the run. Then when they heard, one after another, their own mother tongues being spoken, they were blown away. They couldn’t for the life of them figure out what was going on, and kept saying, “Aren’t these all Galileans? How come we’re hearing them talk in our various mother tongues?
Parthians, Medes, and Elamites; Visitors from Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene; Immigrants from Rome, both Jews and proselytes; Even Cretans and Arabs!
“They’re speaking our languages, describing God’s mighty works!”
Acts 2:5-11
Fulfilled
Jesus wanted them to wait and to stay in the city of Jerusalem following His resurrection. And they did. And then "the wind" came, accompanied by a strong sound. (Wind describes the Holy Spirit).
"The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." (John 3:8)
Born From Above
Jesus told Nicodemus this, when Nicodemus, a religious leader and teacher asked Him about being born from above:
“So don’t be so surprised when I tell you that you have to be ‘born from above’—out of this world, so to speak. You know well enough how the wind blows this way and that. You hear it rustling through the trees, but you have no idea where it comes from or where it’s headed next. That’s the way it is with everyone ‘born from above’ by the wind of God, the Spirit of God.”
Birth of the Church
The closest followers of Jesus of Nazareth were all born from above (born again) that Pentecost Sunday -- the Holy Spirit taking up residence in them, making each one of them God's temple, the temple of the Spirit of God -- the church.
The Church
Now that they have, they were empowered to do the task that Jesus wanted them to do, like He did and showed them how for three years.
The work of Jesus was definitely done. The era of the Holy Spirit has began and the Christian Church was established not with laws and in stone buildings. But with God's love and in their hearts.
Equipped
After being born from above, believers are now equipped to do the work of the Lord -- spreading the good news, the gospel of salvation to the ends of the earth. And with power -- dunamis power as it was described in the Greek language, power of the Most High God, which overshadowed them.
Each believer will have supernatural power which they will need for their individual circumstance.
On that Pentecost Sunday, those first believers were able to supernaturally share the gospel in the language of those who were there to hear it. After they were able to heal the sick and even bring the dead back to life (like Dorcas and Eutychus). They became bold, courageous and said what they had to say without fear.
Preach the Word
When those who heard them speak in other languages laughed at them, said they were drunk and came up with some other explanation as to what was happening to them, Peter stood up among them and in the same manner as Christ, he preached the gospel to them boldly and with authority.
And on that Pentecost Sunday, 3,000 people got saved and they started the first church, which became know as the Jerusalem church.
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