Obedient People have Special Experiences
Acts 1:4; 2:1-8
Introduction
Did you know that God has wonderful plans for people who are obedient to Him? Look at Isaiah 1:19, “If you consent and obey, You will eat the best of the land,” and Jer. 29:11-13, “For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me, and I will listen to you.” In order to enjoy His plans, we must be obedient to His will.
The text for today focuses on the people of the Early Church. Acts 1:4; 2:1-8, “Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, “Which,” He said, “you heard of from Me.”
“When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance. Now there were Jews living in Jerusalem, devout men form every nation under heaven. And when this sound occurred, the crowd came together, and were bewildered because each one of them was hearing them speak in his own language. They were amazed and astonished, saying, “Why, are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we each hear them in our own language to which we were born?”
Their option was to obey and wait or to get busy trying to do it on their own. 120 believers obeyed and waited. I often wonder what happened to those who left rather than obey the Lord’s command to wait.
Today we are going to look at the special experience that came to those who obeyed and waited as Jesus had instructed them.
I. It was an Emotional Time unlike any Anyone had ever Experienced
a. The Holy Spirit swept over them that day in an overwhelming appearance.
i. Look at verses 2:2-4, 12, and 15-21 with me again.
“And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.”
“And they all continued in amazement and great perplexity, saying to one another, “What does this mean?”
For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only the third hour of the day; but this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel; And it shall be in the last days, God says, that I will pour forth of My spirit on all mankind; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; even on my bond slaves, both men and women, I will in those days pour forth of My Spirit and they shall prophesy. And I will grand wonders in the sky above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke. Then Sun will be turned into darkness and the moon into blood, before the great and glorious day of the Lord shall come. And it shall be that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
ii. The question I have hear, is, “Is it good to experience such emotion?”
iii. We accept emotional experiences in every other area of our lives, so why not the spiritual side.
1. We allow our emotions to sway our decision making everyday.
a. What are we going to eat or drink?
b. Who are we going to spend time with?
c. Where are we going today?
2. So why don’t we allow those same emotions to guide us when the Holy Spirit is stirring us?
b. Obedient Christians have a warm feeling toward God, an emotional connection.
i. They are open and responsive to His movement in and around their lives.
ii. Disobedient people on the other hand though, are afraid that they give away their true selves.
1. They can’t be prideful and self centered, if they are doing what God wants them to do and allowing God to call the shots.
iii. But here is a thought for you, “Could our world just be waiting for obedient people who are willing to turn God loose in their lives?”
1. These early church believers were obedient and ready, when the Spirit moved they responded, they grabbed hold, and went.
2. It was because of that obedient response that all the on looking unbelievers were moved to listen and receive the gospel message, in the coming days.
II. It was a Mystical Experience (vv. 5-8)
a. Some things cannot be explained or understood, they can only be experienced.
i. In verse 6 we read how those present understood in their own languages the words of the disciples.
1. They did understand how all the sudden these believers were able to speak to them in their own native language, but they were hearing it loud and clear.
2. I don’t understand how a fax machine works, but I know that it does.
ii. Obedient people enjoy the workings of God in their lives.
b. Wherever God moves, some mystery is involved.
i. In Job 5:9 we read, “He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed.”
ii. The Israelites did not understand the destruction of Jericho.
1. All they knew was that God told them to walk around Jericho 7 times and then shout and blow their horns.
2. And when they did the walls came tumbling down.
3. The thing is, they were obedient, and they followed God’s marching orders.
c. Obedient people have unforgettable experiences.
III. It was Melting Moment (Acts 2:1-11)
a. These obedient people were blended together in a very special way.
i. They were from every nation the Bible tells us.
ii. But they had a common bond, Jesus Christ.
b. Obedient people are so focused on their relationship with God that they easily relate to others.
i. They experienced wonderful fellowship (vv. 42-47)
“They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.”
ii. Obedient people love one another.
IV. A Movement was Born
a. These obedient people started a movement that has affected the entire world.
i. It was the birth of the Church.
ii. They grew dramatically
b. The movement that began that day was powerful
i. In verses 43, 46-47, we read that the world took notice of them.
ii. God’s blessings are in proportion to our obedience
iii. As modern day believers become obedient, we too, will experience special times with God.
Closing
Let me remind you here thought, that obedience does not always lead us down a comfortable path though. God has promised us though, that obedient people have special experiences about which others only dream. God is looking for some people who will allow Him to have His way in their lives. Will you be one of those people?
