“Suddenly a
sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole
house where they were sitting.
They saw what
seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All
of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as
the Spirit enabled them.
Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews
from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a
crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language
being spoken. Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking
Galileans? Then
how is it that each of us hears them in our native language?”
“…(both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans
and Arabs—we
hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”
Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another,
“What does this mean?”
Some, however,
made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”
Peter Addresses
the Crowd
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. These
people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in
the morning!”
Acts 2: 2-8; 11-15
On the day of
Pentecost, not only were there 120 in the upper room but scripture tells us
that Jerusalem was filled with “…God fearing Jews from every nation…”
When God poured
out His Spirit (as promised by Jesus) on the 120, curious statements are made
by some in the crowd that had gathered to see what was going on.
They admitted to
hearing the 120 “…declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”
and
they were declared to be “…God fearing Jews…” yet some still
were able
(with a straight
face no less) to accuse them of being drunk.
Imagine being
able to speak clearly, fluently and intelligently in a tongue unknown to you
and being accused of drunkenness.
I can’t help but
chuckle when I think of how similar that logic is to those who support a Big
Bang theory for the universe or evolution and then admit that you and I are
indeed “…fearfully and wonderfully made.”
Such is the
extent some will go to explain what they cannot understand!
You see, the
Spirit of God came on those 120 with great power to be His witnesses.
But it didn’t
fit the picture even some “God fearing Jews” had of how God should “behave”.
Some were old wineskins
who wanted nothing to do with the new wine.
Are you a “God
fearing Christian?”
Have you ever been guilty of pointing a condemning
finger at something and declaring
“That can’t be
God!”
Maybe you were
right that time, but…
before you point a finger, making that
declaration again ask God if He is pouring out new wine that you need to receive
rather than reject!
Suppose
it is God?
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