Friday's Follow-up Verses
Acts 2:1-21
The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost
1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues[a] as the Spirit enabled them.
5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,[b] 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”
13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”
Peter Addresses the Crowd
14 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. 15 These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
17 “‘In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
18 Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy.
19 I will show wonders in the heavens above
and signs on the earth below,
blood and fire and billows of smoke.
20 The sun will be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood
before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
21 And everyone who calls
on the name of the Lord will be saved.’[c]
Footnotes:
[a] Acts 2:4 Or languages; also in verse 11
[b] Acts 2:9 That is, the Roman province by that name
[c] Acts 2:21 Joel 2:28-32
Pondering Point
This Bible passage, where the Holy Spirit enables the disciples to speak in other known languages, causes me to ponder:
What is it that you – and what is it that I – can do ONLY because of the Holy Spirit's power in our lives?
If everything we do can be done in our own strength, what do we need the Holy Spirit for?
He doesn't just help us to believe, He helps us to love and serve and bear fruit, to stand strong in battle and resist the enemy, to connect with others in Christ and to witness and testify. All this we do out of His power. If not, our faith is just another form of human religion, powerless to save us or other hearers. Let’s live under His power and guidance.
Prayer
Holy Spirit, come do your work among us; otherwise we will not be able to do any work that is to God's glory. In Jesus’ name I ask it. Amen.
Micro-Group Moment:
Participating in Weekly Groups
The church is the body of Christ, intended to be a unit – loving and serving one another (and the world on Christ’s behalf). Public worship is the larger body experiencing God together – His Word, His Spirit, His grace, His gifts, His meal – His very presence. Your presence (and absence) make a difference.
The Small Group is a tighter-knit cross section of any given part of Christ’s body, much more adept at knowing each other’s situations and caring for each other’s needs. It serves as a great springboard for fulfilling the “one another” commands of Scripture. Here worship excels in the midst of relationship. It still starts with God ministering to us – a form of “divine service”. Through His people, God uses His Word, His Spirit, His grace, His gifts – His very presence here too – and it is quite powerful. You can’t do the “one another” commands without being in relationship with others.
That takes us to the micro- group relationships of our lives, groups of 2-4 people that make up some of the tightest-knit bonds we ever experience at any given time in life. Here God often heals and helps, encourages and inspires, challenges and chastens – if we will but let Him do so. Some of these last a lifetime, other for a season. Both are godly and grace-filled. Early on, it helps to have some guiding steps to get started (which Hope is happy to provide). But once matured, these relationships rarely need any guidance other than the Holy Spirit Himself. Let’s finish with this biblical reminder of the call to relationship in our godly lifestyle:
Hebrews 10:24-25
Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love
and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in
the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the
more as you see the Day approaching.
Discipleship Prayer
Holy Spirit, help us to consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, to not giving up meeting together, to encourage one another until You bring us home. Bless my fellow disciples in our weekly groups, in the other discipleship groups at Hope and beyond. Bless our worship services with Your divine service and our godly responses both on weekends and weekdays. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.