Under The Influence

Under The Influence

Let The Wind Blow!

Acts 2:1When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tonguesA as the Spirit enabled them.

You need to know that God is moving!

Tonight, we’re going to get drunk! Let’s delve into the Holy Spirit a little further, and see if we don’t get a little tipsy!

I wish that we all would end up drunk under the influence of the Holy Spirit, and allow the Fire to fall in this place!

Let’s go to Acts Chapter 2, verse 5, where the Holy Spirit blew out of the walls that the 120 were gathered, and others began to wonder about what was going on:

Acts 2:5-11 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? 8Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? 9Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10Phrygia 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!"

It can, and does happen that the Holy Spirit moves in a way to affect the non-believer, or those on the fence of believing or not.

(Tell story of young man in Melbourne. Home language of the Venezuela)

I’ve heard many stories of folks speaking in tongues and another person near them of another country that would understand them in their native tongue, saying “this person was speaking fluent ______ or whatever language.”

And one further than that is that I’ve heard instances of God speaking through that person directly the things that were on the other’s heart, and that person, bewildered, sought God for understanding, and found forgiveness for their sin, and accepted Jesus Christ as their personal savior.

Don’t hold back on your prayer language! Your soul needs to communicate with the Father, and others, (non-believers) need to know that God is Real!

DON’T EVER GO INTO A BATTLE WITHOUT A WEAPON!

They (the God-Fearing Jews) began to ask questions.

Acts 2:12-13 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, "What does this mean?"

13Some, however, made fun of them and said, "They have had too much wine.B"

If we could just allow the Holy Spirit to fill us all in such a way as we all would be drunk in the Spirit. What a party!

I’m sure it seemed as though they were drunk, speaking in other languages, probably acting up like dancing, shouting, laughing, running, all sorts of strange things to them who were watching.

Let me tell you something. If we would quit worrying about what people thought we looked like or sounded like when the Holy Spirit is on us, then there would be more free services in the Spirit, more folks filled with the Holy Spirit, and so many sinners standing in the windows, or coming to church just to see what’s going on that it would blow your mind, so let them talk!

LET’S GIVE THEM SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT!

If they’re gonna talk, let them tell of what God is doing!

Are we putting on a show? I’ve heard some say that they won’t release their worship fully because of what others think about them. Hogwash.

They’re just bothered because they won’t release themselves into full freedom in the Spirit.

Peter’s response to the accusation of drunkenness: Hertz rentals (not exactly)

· You notice that he didn’t exactly say that they weren’t drunken, he said they weren’t drunken as you suppose.

· They weren’t drunk on wine.

· They weren’t drunk like you are thinking they are drunk.

· Oh, they’re drunk alright, but not how you think they are drunk!

Acts 2:14-21 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: "Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning!

2:15 only nine in the morning! On a festival day such as Pentecost, the Jew would not break his fast until at least 10:00 A.M. So it was extremely unlikely that a group of men would be drunk at such an early hour.