Acts 2:1-13
v. 1 - Pentecost
Pentecost = ‘fiftieth’
Exodus 34:22
Exactly seven weeks after the festival of Firstfruits is the celebration of Shavu’ot (“Weeks”), one of the three pilgrimage holidays where Jews would come to the Temple in Jerusalem to offer sacrifice of their firstfruits at the altar. Since Shavu’ot occurs on the 50th day, the Greek translators of the Torah called this day “Pentecost.”
Is it a coincidence that the Holy Spirit would come and empower Christ’s people to be ‘witnesses’ to the world on the same day that the people of Israel celebrated the first fruits of the harvest?
John 4:35,36
Matthew 9:37,38
What was it that the 120 were praying for ‘in one accord’ (1:14)? (The Principle of Spiritual Agreement)
v. 2 – First Sign of the Spirit: AUDIBLE ‘Suddenly a sound…’
Wind as analogy of the Holy Spirit – John 3:8
This sound was loud enough that it drew the attention of the people in Jerusalem and caused them to gather in the Temple courtyard. See v. 6
v. 3 – Second Sign of the Spirit: VISUAL ‘there appeared…’
Luke 3:16
Fire as symbol of the Holy Spirit
1 Kings 18:38
Exodus 3:2
Isaiah 6:6,7
v. 4 – Third Sign of the Spirit: ORAL ‘they began to speak…’
The Christians spoke in at least 15 different languages that they didn’t learn! (v. 9-11)
Is this the ‘greater work’ that Jesus spoke of in John 14:12?
v. 5-8, 13 – The Amazed Unbelievers
These were Jews who lived throughout the Roman empire, gathered in Jerusalem for the Feast of Weeks. They were ‘Hellenized’ and molded by the Greek culture. There heart language would have been the tongue of their native countries. So, for God to speak to them, in their own language, was an amazingly powerful tool to reach them for Christ.
Pentecost was the largest gathering of the year for the Jews, and there could have been between 100,000 and 200,000 Hellenistic Jews in the city when the Holy Spirit came.
v. 12, 13 – Receptivity and Resistance
In any setting where the Gospel is proclaimed some will receive and some will resist. Isn’t it amazing that in the face of God’s miraculous power – people can turn away and reject it!?
Speaking in Tongues
Has never been more prominent than it is today!
Key Dates:
• Dec. 31, 1900 – Prayer meeting in Topeka, Kansas
• Spring, 1906 – Azusa Street Meetings, Los Angeles (see www.azusastreet100.net - April 25-29, 2006)
During first half of 20th Century, ‘Pentecostals’ were labeled as a cult group amongst so-called mainstream denominations.
Today – some 700,000,000 people world-wide are Spirit-filled believers who either practice tongues, or support them.
The Gift of Tongues
• Speaking in tongues is prayer with or in the Spirit. (Eph. 6:18)
• It is our spirit speaking to God, inspired by the Holy Spirit.
• It takes place when a Christian believer speaks to God, but instead of speaking in a language that he knows with his intellect he just speaks, in childlike faith, and trusts God to provide the form of the words.
• The regenerated human spirit now is joined to the Holy Spirit is praying directly
• to the Father, in Christ, without having to accept the limitations of the intellect. (1 Corinthians 14:14-15)
• As the new life in the Spirit is expressed, or exercised, the spiritual life is built up or edified. (1 Corinthians 14:4, Jude 20)
Two KINDS of Tongues
1. The Gift of Tongues - Words that come from God to a group of people, accompanied by the gift of INTERPRETATION of Tongues.
2. Prayer Language – Speaking to God in a language given by the Holy Spirit.
• 1 Corinthians 14:14-15
• 1 Corinthians 14:5
• 1 Corinthians 14:18
• Ephesians 6:18
A simple, childlike act of faith.
All you need is the indwelling Holy Spirit (are you a Christian?), and the willingness to trust Him to guide your voice as you speak.
Praying in tongues creates a path for the Holy Spirit to move out from your spirit and baptize (overwhelm) your…
• SOUL (psychological nature – intellect, will and emotions)
• BODY (physical nature)
This enables God to have greater influence over your whole being.
You are literally helping yourself grow spiritually. (1 Cor. 14:4)
Praying in tongues allows the Holy Spirit to gain a much stronger hold and leadership over your life as your surrender your speech to Him.
Evangelism Barrier Breaking Milestones
• Breaking the barriers between Hebrew Jews (those living in Israel) and Hellenistic Jews in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2)
o Acts 2:4
• Breaking the barriers between Jews and Samaritans through Philip in Samaria (Acts 8:5-25)
o Acts 8:17
• Breaking the barriers between Jews and Gentiles through Peter in the house of Cornelius (Acts 10)
o Acts 10:44,46
In each case the Holy Spirit came in power, indicating that the gospel would be spread only through the combination of supernatural intervention and human obedience to God.
Pentecost = ‘fiftieth’
Exodus 34:22
Exactly seven weeks after the festival of Firstfruits is the celebration of Shavu’ot (“Weeks”), one of the three pilgrimage holidays where Jews would come to the Temple in Jerusalem to offer sacrifice of their firstfruits at the altar. Since Shavu’ot occurs on the 50th day, the Greek translators of the Torah called this day “Pentecost.”
Is it a coincidence that the Holy Spirit would come and empower Christ’s people to be ‘witnesses’ to the world on the same day that the people of Israel celebrated the first fruits of the harvest?
John 4:35,36
Matthew 9:37,38
What was it that the 120 were praying for ‘in one accord’ (1:14)? (The Principle of Spiritual Agreement)
v. 2 – First Sign of the Spirit: AUDIBLE ‘Suddenly a sound…’
Wind as analogy of the Holy Spirit – John 3:8
This sound was loud enough that it drew the attention of the people in Jerusalem and caused them to gather in the Temple courtyard. See v. 6
v. 3 – Second Sign of the Spirit: VISUAL ‘there appeared…’
Luke 3:16
Fire as symbol of the Holy Spirit
1 Kings 18:38
Exodus 3:2
Isaiah 6:6,7
v. 4 – Third Sign of the Spirit: ORAL ‘they began to speak…’
The Christians spoke in at least 15 different languages that they didn’t learn! (v. 9-11)
Is this the ‘greater work’ that Jesus spoke of in John 14:12?
v. 5-8, 13 – The Amazed Unbelievers
These were Jews who lived throughout the Roman empire, gathered in Jerusalem for the Feast of Weeks. They were ‘Hellenized’ and molded by the Greek culture. There heart language would have been the tongue of their native countries. So, for God to speak to them, in their own language, was an amazingly powerful tool to reach them for Christ.
Pentecost was the largest gathering of the year for the Jews, and there could have been between 100,000 and 200,000 Hellenistic Jews in the city when the Holy Spirit came.
v. 12, 13 – Receptivity and Resistance
In any setting where the Gospel is proclaimed some will receive and some will resist. Isn’t it amazing that in the face of God’s miraculous power – people can turn away and reject it!?
Speaking in Tongues
Has never been more prominent than it is today!
Key Dates:
• Dec. 31, 1900 – Prayer meeting in Topeka, Kansas
• Spring, 1906 – Azusa Street Meetings, Los Angeles (see www.azusastreet100.net - April 25-29, 2006)
During first half of 20th Century, ‘Pentecostals’ were labeled as a cult group amongst so-called mainstream denominations.
Today – some 700,000,000 people world-wide are Spirit-filled believers who either practice tongues, or support them.
The Gift of Tongues
• Speaking in tongues is prayer with or in the Spirit. (Eph. 6:18)
• It is our spirit speaking to God, inspired by the Holy Spirit.
• It takes place when a Christian believer speaks to God, but instead of speaking in a language that he knows with his intellect he just speaks, in childlike faith, and trusts God to provide the form of the words.
• The regenerated human spirit now is joined to the Holy Spirit is praying directly
• to the Father, in Christ, without having to accept the limitations of the intellect. (1 Corinthians 14:14-15)
• As the new life in the Spirit is expressed, or exercised, the spiritual life is built up or edified. (1 Corinthians 14:4, Jude 20)
Two KINDS of Tongues
1. The Gift of Tongues - Words that come from God to a group of people, accompanied by the gift of INTERPRETATION of Tongues.
2. Prayer Language – Speaking to God in a language given by the Holy Spirit.
• 1 Corinthians 14:14-15
• 1 Corinthians 14:5
• 1 Corinthians 14:18
• Ephesians 6:18
A simple, childlike act of faith.
All you need is the indwelling Holy Spirit (are you a Christian?), and the willingness to trust Him to guide your voice as you speak.
Praying in tongues creates a path for the Holy Spirit to move out from your spirit and baptize (overwhelm) your…
• SOUL (psychological nature – intellect, will and emotions)
• BODY (physical nature)
This enables God to have greater influence over your whole being.
You are literally helping yourself grow spiritually. (1 Cor. 14:4)
Praying in tongues allows the Holy Spirit to gain a much stronger hold and leadership over your life as your surrender your speech to Him.
Evangelism Barrier Breaking Milestones
• Breaking the barriers between Hebrew Jews (those living in Israel) and Hellenistic Jews in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2)
o Acts 2:4
• Breaking the barriers between Jews and Samaritans through Philip in Samaria (Acts 8:5-25)
o Acts 8:17
• Breaking the barriers between Jews and Gentiles through Peter in the house of Cornelius (Acts 10)
o Acts 10:44,46
In each case the Holy Spirit came in power, indicating that the gospel would be spread only through the combination of supernatural intervention and human obedience to God.
posted by Doug Love at 9:18 AM
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