Empowered to Speak
Opening Prayer
Ask God to fill you with his Spirit and to energize your faith as you revisit the events of the Day of Pentecost.
Read Acts 2:1-13
[1] When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. [2] Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. [3] They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. [4] All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. [5] Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. [6] When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. [7] Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? [8] Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? [9] Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, [10] Phrygia 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!” [12] Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?” [13] Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.” Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Are you willing to wait on the Lord to fill you with his power?I regularly witness a miracle in our toddlers’ group as, almost overnight, a string of sounds from a child’s mouth takes on shape and meaning. This is almost always greeted with delight.Likewise, early on the Day of Pentecost, the miracle of hearing a mother tongue among a babble of languages is greeted with joy–but also confusion. The followers of Jesus are overwhelmed by what they see and hear, as the Holy Spirit comes upon them in a new way, evidenced by this outpouring of languages (8-11). This is known as xenolalia (speaking in foreign languages) and is not the glossolalia (speaking in tongues) that was to become controversial in the Corinthian church. Notice the impact on the God-fearing Jews in Jerusalem. What they hear focuses them upon God (11) so that many want to understand (12), although the cynics also have their say (13)! This event catapulted the church into the new era of spreading the Gospel. The same Spirit still empowers and equips followers of Christ to bring glory to God in mission, enabling others to understand and find Christ for themselves.
Apply
Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you today, so you can communicate with someone who has not yet understood about Jesus.
Closing prayer
Holy Spirit, Counselor, Comforter, and Friend, fill me with fire and set me ablaze with love for You and the world.
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