Operation Pentecost

Title: Pentecost – Whatever does this mean?

Text: Acts 2

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’s sermon…

Remember… this week ? June 6, 1944 – “D-Day” (allied invasion in Normandy - N. France)

“Operation Pluto”. – means… “pipeline under water transportation of oil ”

The challenge was how to supply fuel across the English channel to support the allied troops.

From January 1945 to May 8,1945 almost 1 million imperial gallons (4.5 million litres) were pumped daily.

In total, over 172 million imperial gallons of petrol were pumped to the Allied forces in Europe by VE day, (Victory in Europe—May 8, 1945)

“Operation Pluto” is considered one of history's greatest feats of military engineering. The pipelines are also the forerunners of all flexible pipes used in the development of offshore oil fields.

Today is anniversary of “Operation Pentecost”!

Read passage – Acts 2:1-2

In verse 12 --- the question is asked “what does this mean?”

1. The Pentecost Back-Story…

In the OT, Pentecost marked the time when God gave the 10 commandments to Israel.

This formative event in Israel’s relationship with God occurred 50 days after the escape from slavery in Egypt -when the blood of a lamb was spread on the doorframes of houses.

Passover meant during the judgment of God on Egypt, he would Pass-over Israel and open the door for their escape – after 430 years of slavery.

50 days later, Israel arrives at Mt Sinai and Moses receives the 10 Words… written on stone.

The “new Pentecost” – is also 50 days after the “new Passover” … when Jesus the Passover lamb was crucified –

The new Pentecost is about the giving of the Spirit – instead of the law… it's now an internal experience not an external one. It's not intended to be burdensome but quite the opposite - empowering. And furthermore, it's not only for Israel now…but all the world.

It's not only for select leaders but for all God’s people. It is marked by an invitation to both men and women – young and old… barriers that we still have difficulty seeing past.

And, it signals the beginning of the “last days” – and therefore has eschatological significance – that is, it looks forward to the second coming of Christ. It indicates the scope of the mission of God into the whole world – by all God’s people, now Spirit empowered! It is a new day of kingdom expansion …bursting Israel’s borders with a global reach and impact.

Language once confused at Babel (Babylon) is now going to be empowered to proclaim the gospel – not {in essence} via “unintelligible tongues” but via Spirit empowered speech/language – i.e. gospel proclamation….

The tongues (or languages) of Pentecost serve as a sign of the Spirits’ arrival – as in the OT when the Spirit came on individuals, they prophesied/preached … and is indicative of the global application of the gospel message – everyone is included by hearing the gospel in their own language … and “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved…”

Other signs of the Spirit on Pentecost include wind and fire…

In that upper room the blowing of the strong wind reminds us of Jesus words to Nicodemus…

“the wind blows where it wills and you do not know where it comes from or where it goes- so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit. (John 3:8)…

wind is seen as “the breath of God”…

and…God is reminding us of creation when be breathed into mankind and we became “living beings” …