Heaven Has Its Own Sound

TITLE: HEAVEN HAS ITS OWN SOUND

SCRIPTURE: ACTS 2:1-4

What an exciting event found in the opening pages of Luke’s account in this power packed Book of Acts. Place yourself in the narrative if you can.

• It is a dramatic scene

• The Apostles are gathered together in one place

• The Apostles were together

• When we come together, especially as leaders, we can accomplish much in the kingdom of God

• If we put down our Personal Agenda’s

• If we remove ourselves from the Equation

• Learn how to come together where Jesus is the only focus

• That is the key to ensuring the Lord will show up

After Jesus ascended, the disciples returned from Mount Olivet to Jerusalem and went to the Upper Room where some of them were staying.

• These disciples, along with others, were continually devoting themselves to prayer

• They were in an upper room praying with one accord

I can imagine Peter – James - John and the rest sitting there on what we now term the Day of Pentecost pondering Jesus' Death - Resurrection - Ascension, but still happy and self-satisfied to be continuing in the old ways of Judaism, not wanting to move too fast. Then, in the midst of their comfort, comes a mighty Wind - a Violent Wind, they did not feel this tremendous Wind but only heard the sound.

• The Sound of the Holy Spirit

• This Holy Spirit shakes them up in ways they never could have imagined

• And the Holy Spirit does this immediately

• There is no Waiting

• There is no Tarrying

AND SUDDENLY FROM HEAVEN THERE IS A SOUND “LIKE THE RUSH OF A MIGHTY WIND.”

• It does not start as a Whisper

• Or as a Gentle Breeze

• It is not Gradual

• Scripture says “Suddenly”

The Hebrew word for Spirit is ‘RUAH’ - translates to wind or breath. In Pentecost the Ruah of God exploded into reality, filling the room with the sound of a hurricane. It is possible the Apostles, upon hearing the sound of this most powerful wind, immediately associated this with the Spirit, but—ready or not—there must have been a certain amount of terror.

So, Luke does not say there was a wind, but that there was a noise that sounded like a violent or mighty rushing wind. Can I tell you this morning that – Heaven Has Its Own Sound.

• A violent or mighty wind creates a huge sound

• Luke uses a Simile to describe what happened

• A "noise like a violent rushing wind" filled the house

The wind, as a figure of speech, can have several meanings.

• We could say that the wind represents the Spirit Himself

• However, we might say also that the wind represents the presence of God

• The sound of the wind rushing signaled that God was present

In addition, the wind can be a symbol of the Spirit's power.

• There was a sound of a powerful wind

• Putting all this together, the sound of the rushing violent wind reminds us of the Spirit manifesting Himself in Power

The noise was real. It was like a mighty wind. Sometimes God manifests Himself in unusual ways.

• He makes Himself known to us in unmistakable ways

• Very often this will be in a time of worship

• We as believers sense the presence of God among us and feel that we are standing on Holy Ground

This text of Pentecost is there for a reason.

• God wants us to know that He is with us

• That His presence in our lives is not a small portion

• It is His fullness

• His awe-inspiring, world-shattering fullness

• His presence is not a Little Light In Us

• I know we like to sing – This Little Light of Mine, I’m Going to Let It Shine

• That’s what is wrong with our Service to the Lord Today

• We have reduced the Holy Spirit – the Presence of God to a little, minute thing

• Heaven Has Its Own Sound

• It is not a little Sound but an over-powering sound that illuminates brightly in us

• And takes control of every area of our lives

The challenge for the Modern Christian is this --

• Do I believe this same, terrifying, powerful Spirit still resides in the Church?

• Do I believe this Spirit resides in me?

• Will I allow the Spirit Lordship in my life so that I can encounter and experience awe?

• Will I invite God to be dangerous and uncontrollable in my life?

The Holy Spirit is God.

• He cannot pretend to be anything else

• Unless we will give the Lord permission to be who He is, Lord of our lives