Acts 2:1-21
"Transforming the Earth with the Power of Heaven"
The Bible begins with the Spirit or Wind of God.
We are told in Genesis Chapter 1 that "When God began to create the heavens and the earth--the earth was without shape or form, it was dark over the deep sea, and God's wind swept over the waters--God said, 'Let there be light.' And so light appeared."
(Pause)
In our Scripture Passage for this morning, the "family of believers"--there were about 120 of them--were waiting in Jerusalem as Jesus had instructed them.
He had told them: "wait for what the Father has promised...John baptized with water, but in only a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit...
...and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
And so they waited.
And we are told that as they waited they were "united in...prayer..."
And what is prayer, except for opening ourselves to God's Spirit, so that God's will can be done in and through our lives?
At the church I served in Virginia, on the first Saturday of every month, we would have a prayer vigil in the sanctuary from about 9 in the morning until maybe 4 or 5 p.m.
People would sign up before hand for half-hour shifts, and a wonderful member of our church named George would stay at the church during the entire vigil--for safety reasons--just to make sure no one was in the church by themselves at any one time.
I would often take the pictorial directory into the sanctuary with me and pray for every member of the church.
It was a transforming experience and I believe with all my heart that the monthly prayer vigil had a lot to do with the degree of spiritual vitality and growth that Parkview United Methodist Church experienced.
Back in Luke Chapter 11:9-13 Jesus says: "Ask and you will receive. Seek and you will find.
Knock and the door will be opened to you.
Everyone who asks, receives.
Whoever seeks, finds.
To everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.
Which father among you would give a snake to your child if the child asked for a fish?
If a child asked for an egg, what father would give the child a scorpion?
If you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?"
And so the followers of Jesus waited together and prayed.
And we ought to feel a strong identification with them because everyone who names the name of Jesus, who worship Him, who study His Word, are called to be people of worship and prayer.
Why?
Well, it's in worship and prayer that we, who are still on earth find ourselves sharing the life of heaven, which is where Jesus is.
In Acts, the constant references to prayer indicate that this is how these very ordinary, often muddled, deeply human beings, the apostles and others with them, found that their story was being bound up with the story of what Jesus was continuing to do and to teach.
The story of the Christian Church really takes place in two dimensions, doesn't it?
We live on earth, but it is through prayer and worship that we, too, can know, enjoy and be energized by the life of heaven, right here on earth!!!
It's clear from the Words of Jesus Himself that God longs to give the Holy Spirit to people, and that all we have to do is ask.
And so that is what the believers were doing between Jesus' ascension and Pentecost.
And, a few days later, sure enough: "When Pentecost Day arrived, they were all together in one place.
Suddenly a sound from heaven like the howling of a fierce wind filled the entire house where they were sitting."
And coming "from heaven" they "saw what seemed to be individual flames of fire alighting on each of them.
They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit enabled them to speak."
Heaven came to earth and transformed them; empowered them and took up residence within them.
It was the beginning or the birthday of the Church, and a scene to behold.
Apparently, thousands of folks gathered when they heard this sound from heaven.
And they were "mystified" because they all heard what the believers were saying in their own native languages.
And they said, "Look aren't all the people who are speaking Galileans, every one of them?
How then can each of us hear them speaking in our native language?"
Galileans were looked down upon by these "pious Jews" as being backward and uneducated.
And yet they were speaking in every language under the sun.
Remember, Jesus' first followers weren't exactly from high society.
They were fishermen, whores, lepers, thieves, freaks, homeless people and weirdoes.
So naturally, everyone in the crowd was "surprised and bewildered."
Some folks with somewhat open minds asked one another: "What does this mean?"
Those who could never believe that sinners such as these could really be "declaring the mighty works of God"...
..."jeered at them, saying, 'they're full of new wine' or 'they're drunk.'"
Today they might say, "They're tripping" or "They're on Crack"--"let's get away from them."
So, some in the crowd are jeering, some are open...
...but all are "pious Jews," and there are thousands of them.
And who would have predicted the person to stand up and give the first Christian sermon in the history of the world?
It was Peter who, on the night of Jesus' arrest had promised not to betray Him, but was so scared of the folks in charge that he wouldn't even admit to a young slave girl that he even knew Jesus at all.
It was Peter who had been left weeping in the courtyard--a disciple of Jesus who had betrayed his Lord.
Yet, here, in front of a half enquiring, half hostile crowd, Peter is the very first person to lift up his voice and proclaim openly the Gospel of Jesus Christ--even the name of Jesus Christ that only a few weeks before he couldn't even bring himself to speak.
"Peter stood...He raised his voice and declared, 'Judeans and everyone living in Jerusalem!
Know this!
Listen carefully to my words!
These people aren't drunk as you suspect..."
And he goes on to proclaim, with words that could have gotten him killed: "You, with the help of wicked men, had Jesus killed by nailing him to a cross.
God raised him up!
God freed him from death's dreadful grip, since it was impossible for death to hang on to him...
...He was exalted to God's right side and received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit.
He poured out this Spirit, and you are seeing and hearing the results of his having done so...
...Therefore, let all Israel know beyond question that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."
Well, many of the people were astounded.
The power of the Holy Spirit and the witness of the Gospel's power was so strong.
And we are told that "they were deeply troubled.
They said to Peter and the other apostles, 'Brothers, what should we do?'
Peter replied, 'Change your hearts and lives.
Each of you must be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.
Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit...'"
And we are told that "Those who accepted Peter's message were baptized.
God brought about three thousand people into the community on that day."
In Genesis 2:7 we are told that God breathed life into dust and created a human being.
And in Acts Chapter 2 God has breathed life into a once very scared disciple and created a new man who now has the gift of boldness and bold speech!!!
In Genesis Chapter 1 we are told that "When God began to create the heavens and the earth--the earth was without shape or form, it was dark over the deep sea, and God's wind swept over the waters--God said, 'Let there be light.'
And so light appeared."
In Matthew Chapter 5 Jesus says to you and me: "You are the light of the world...let your light shine..."
In John Chapter 3, Jesus says: "I assure you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, it's not possible to enter God's kingdom.
Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Don't be surprised that I [say] to you, 'You must be born again.'
God's Spirit blows wherever it wishes.
You hear its sound, but you don't know where it comes from or where it is going.
It's the same with everyone who is born of the Spirit."
On the day of Pentecost, the believers were all together in one place.
"Suddenly a sound from heaven like the howling of a fierce wind filled the entire house where they were sitting."
Heaven came to the earth and entered flawed human beings.
People like you and me.
People who were praying.
People who believed in Jesus.
People who were asking God for the gift of the Holy Spirit.
And the Church of Jesus Christ was born.
And the world has never been the same since.
The Book of Acts continues to this day.
It is the Acts of God, the Acts of Jesus, of the Holy Spirit taking place through people...
...ordinary people, who are being changed, transformed, born anew and recreated by God.
God is transforming the earth with the Power that has come down from heaven.
Does this power live in you?
Are you part of God's new Creation?
