WINE OR NINE?
Opening Prayer
My King, I worship You. There is no one like You!
Read Acts 2:14–21
Peter Addresses the Crowd
14 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. 15 These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
17 “‘In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
18 Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy.
19 I will show wonders in the heavens above
and signs on the earth below,
blood and fire and billows of smoke.
20 The sun will be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood
before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
21 And everyone who calls
on the name of the Lord will be saved.’[a]
Footnotes
- Acts 2:21 Joel 2:28-32
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
What does God have planned for you? Perhaps something greater than you imagine?I wonder if any of the disciples did a double-take at seeing Peter – ‘Wait, what? Peter?!’ – addressing this massive crowd so confidently and cogently.
How could the guy who only days before so timidly denied Jesus – three times for good measure (Luke 22:54–62) – now be preaching the Gospel? Only by the Spirit of God. Look at Peter and see the change. What might God do in you?
The prophecy from the Book of Joel (17–21) is full of drama and portent as well as an outpouring for all – no one is left out; everyone gets to be fully involved in the life of the Spirit (17, 18). I’m struck by something else in this passage: the holy rowdiness and disruption caused by the overflow of the Spirit and of life (17). The disciples were so voluble and raucous that some observers thought they were drunk (15). God was doing a unique and particular thing at this time, but two key questions remain in my mind: how buttoned-down and ordered are our lives, our meetings, our churches compared to this extravagant and abundant outpouring? How would we respond if God came to us in such a way?
Apply
For many believers, ‘revival’ speaks of God saving many people, and of the life and power of the Spirit being poured out. It starts with repentance and surrender. Let’s start there today too.
Closing prayer
God, revive Your church. May people in all of society hear the Gospel and choose to follow Your Son, Jesus.
Book and Author Intros
Extras
Click here to sign up to receive the EXTRAs via email each quarter.
© 2024 Scripture Union U.S.A. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited.
Discovery is published in the USA under license from Scripture Union England and Wales, Trinity House, Opal Court, Opal Drive, Fox Milne, Milton Keynes, MK15 0DF.