‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’”

Acts 2:14-21

God was most certainly moving. The things that had produced such reactions were God bringing to fruition promises made long ago. Peter cites the prophet Joel, in what we know to be Joel 2:28-32, as the prophetic pronouncement of what was unfolding before their eyes. The apostles were not inebriated, delusional or putting on a show for a massive Jerusalem crowd. They were receiving Spirit power that would enable them to communicate the message of the resurrected Christ for all to hear.

I find it intriguing that Peter didn’t cite the promises Jesus had made to them personally as evidence for what they beheld. He didn’t say, “Jesus, the guy we were following whom you crucified, he told us one night before he died that we would receive the Spirit. Believe it or not, when he was resurrected, he told us again to wait here in Jerusalem and something special would happen.” This, more than likely, would not have worked. He had to go back further. He had to go back further to help them see that God intended for a new covenant to be enacted. The events that produced such amazement and consternation were purposeful. God was up to something. He’d promised it long ago. It was time to see it for what it was.

The irony is that so much was missed. Jesus spent three years preaching, healing, and working all sorts of miracles. He’d held the attention of thousands at a time, fed them, and shed insight into his identity. But only a fraction of the countless thousands Jesus ministered to stuck around. Why?

I think I know why. Change. We don’t like it. We are resistant to it. How could the God who doesn’t change (Malachi 3:6), change the system to something new?  I’ve often wondered how many rejected Jesus because he offered something “new” and “different,” citing Jeremiah’s “walk in the old paths” admonition (6:16) as the proof text. Of course, it was the same prophet who’d suggested a “new covenant” was coming (31:31-34). Apparently, that didn’t matter. Nevertheless, it is revealing to say the least.

God was ushering in something “new,” whether they liked it or not. If not careful, though, they would miss out. And many did.

God left no question that he was up to something. What he was up to would change the world! A church would be created as part of the unfolding mission of God (cf. Ephesians 3:9-11). His eternal purposes and his great wisdom would be recognized through ecclesia.

]]> http://douglasryoung.net/2010/03/10/promise-fulfilled-acts-214-21/feed/ 0 http://douglasryoung.net/2010/03/03/spirit-from-on-high-acts-21-4/ http://douglasryoung.net/2010/03/03/spirit-from-on-high-acts-21-4/#comments Wed, 03 Mar 2010 16:03:03 +0000 http://douglasryoung.net/?p=844

When the day of Pentecost arrived, the were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound of a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Acts 2:1-4, ESV

It is not always easy to know when God is up to something in our lives. Oftentimes, it takes hindsight to be able to put things together. But when put together, the movement of God around us is unmistakable. God finds ways to leave no doubt.

On the first Pentecost following the resurrection of Jesus Christ, God moved mightily. The apostles and other disciples are where they needed to be. Some of Jesus’ final words before his ascension were to wait in Jerusalem for the promised Spirit (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:8). There they waited.

How would the Spirit come? He wouldn’t come quietly. He would come as his nature would warrant, as Pneuma, a mighty breath or wind. It was no small wind though. It was “mighty” and fast moving, kind of like the winds of Eastern New Mexico or West Texas. You feel it and cannot ignore it.

The apostles began to speak in languages and dialects not their own (cf. Acts 2:7-8). Obviously, this wasn’t because they had access to Rosetta Stone. Jews from all over the world had converged at Jerusalem for the Feast of Harvests. The gospel would go forth so that no matter the dialect it would be heard.

It was the right time for the right people to proclaim the living message of Jesus Christ. They would do it through the Spirit. And through it he would infuse life to those willing to surrender.

You and I have been together a long time in a most intimate and valuable relationship. Now you have grown old. Your hearing and strength are failing. Your resistance to cold is diminishing. You cannot climb and run as you once did. In a word, you are running down. In a short time you will cease to breath and your heart will stop beating. When you can go no further, you will be returned to the substance of which you were made, and I shall continue on in that life where you are not needed. A Power greater than us both started us on this journey together.

Now I recognize that you are aware of the fact that your journey is nearing its end, while my journey has scarcely begun. I know this to be true, for while you are feeble, I have never been more alive. Our separation, therefore, cannot be one of sadness, but will be one of joy. You are weary and want to stop. I am longing to alight from this slowing vehicle and go on without you. Death will mean that your desire to stop is granted, and my longing is satisfied.