Reflection on Acts 2:1-21

Scripture
When the last days come, I will give my Spirit to everyone. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will have visions and your old men will have dreams.

Observation
The Day of Pentecost is a powerful day- it is the day when the Holy Spirit transforms a bunch of uncertain followers into bold ministers of the gospel. He is still doing that work today.

There are three signs of the presence of the Spirit on Pentecost:

1. Wind- the power (dunamis) of God. The power to heal, to raise people from the dead, preach and in all ways to act as Jesus did. Wind represents the gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:8-11).

2. Fire- cleansing, purifying, burning up of the stuff in our life that has little value. This allows us to take on the character of Jesus, represented by the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).

3. Tongues- the beautiful personal prayer language which speaks of intimacy with God. The Spirit is not an external force or power but the presence of God in our spirits,


Application
Many people try to live without the Holy Spirit active in their lives.

Maybe that sort of “power encounter” with God is too scary. Perhaps three is a need to be in control- but our lives work better when God is in control. Maybe it's a fear of being seen as “weird”- but to the world christians are weird anyway.

We need to surrender daily to the fiery, windy, “tonguesy” Holy Spirit. Let God take control of our lives and let Him direct the way we live, speak and act.

Prayer
Come Holy Spirit! Pour the full power of Pentecost into my spirit mow. Let me live every day in the transforming, empowering baptism of the Holy Spirit. Amen.