Acts 2:1-12

Let us consider three important Christian celebrations.

The first is Christmas when we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Has Christmas happened in your heart? If it has really taken place in your heart you can never be the same mere man again. Furthermore if you love Him you will keep His commandments.

Then we also celebrate Easter, where Jesus laid down His life and rose again on the third day. What does Easter mean to you? Has it radically changed your life?
If you've experienced the Lord Jesus dying and laying down His life you cannot be the same again.

The next great celebration is Pentecost. What does it mean in the Old Testament? It had a dual meaning.
Firstly on the day of Pentecost they would bring their firstfruits into the temple to offer on the altar.
This feast was accompanied with great joy and celebration. No one was to appear before God empty-handed.
Secondly on this day they celebrated the day that Moses came down from the mountain with the two tablets of stone with the ten commandments written on them.

So at Pentecost we are reminded of God's working on mount Sinai. God chose this day to pour out His Spirit on them. God worked a glorious work far greater than that of mount Sinai. It was like a mighty wind when God came down. But there was no wind. It was just the sound of a mighty wind. Had it been a literal wind people would not venture outside, but they came from all over Jerusalem to see what the noise was about.

The Spirit did not descend on the whole of the city but only where God's children were.

Now when the people saw the tongues of fire on the heads of the disciples they marvelled that it did not burn them. It was like Moses and the burning bush.
But the fire alone would not have helped them. The Spirit of God took up residence in them.

Ez 36:26, "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh."

That's what happens when the Holy Spirit comes down. There will not be any necessity for anyone to tell the other do this or that and "know the Lord", for God the Holy Spirit will dwell in His people and guide them. He doesn't need to write these laws on stone anymore for it is written in the heart.

Great was this day of Pentecost when God made His abode within His people. Are the commandments of God written within you? Does God speak to you and work within you. Is the law of God inscribed on your heart or is it still on the tablets of stone only?

Note also that Pentecost happened in God's appointed time, sovereignly as He wanted to work. He can do the same in your life with the fire and power of God in your heart.
You cannot expect that God should work in precisely the same way with every human being. Ask God to fill you with His Spirit and to work and do it just in the way that He wishes to, so that through you the Gospel can be proclaimed.

But if you still have the old leaven, sin, hidden in your life then you are just playing around. Unless you've dealt with wickedness in your heart you will not be filled with the Spirit of God. Other spirits might fill you but not the Holy Spirit.

Lastly note that the disciples were all together in one place; they were one of heart and soul, in one accord. Are you one with your brothers and sisters in Christ of whatever nation they may be?

DSS Choir sang because the engaged couple are both teachers at their school