Christ Presbyterian Church is a local congregation of the Presbyterian Church in America. Visit us for morning or evening worship in Mobile, Alabama or on the web at cpcmobile.com. And now if you would turn with me to, in the New Testament, to Acts chapter two. And once you have that, please stand with me as this will be our sermon text, Acts chapter two, verses one through 21. Hear now God's word. When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as a 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. Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. And they were amazed and astonished, saying, Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear each of us in his own native language? Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians. We hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God. And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, what does this mean? But others, mocking, said, they are filled with new wine. But Peter, standing with the 11, lifted up his voice and addressed them. Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you and give ear to my words. For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel. 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. Even on my male servants and female servants, in those days I'll pour out my spirit, and they shall prophesy. And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs in 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. Amen. Let us pray. Lord God, we thank you for your word and we thank you for the great events of redemptive history whereby you've made yourself known, not only to one nation, but to all nations. Oh Lord, as we consider these things today, we pray that you would indeed open our hearts to receive your word and encourage us even as we seek to glorify you. For we pray this in Jesus' name, amen. You may be seated. Oh beloved, there is something joyful and festive about our gatherings as Christians. both in the more formal aspects of worship, such as we are doing now, as well as in the times of fellowship that we share, it is a true joy as we recount what God has done for us. This was the way also that it was in the Old Testament when God rescued the Israelites from various foes, and afterwards they would be rejoicing, singing, and festivals. There were also times on the Hebrew calendar when God called his people to celebrate together and recount their past in these various festivals. And such is one that we are considering today. We may think of Pentecost as a Christian holiday, but it is actually a very old Hebrew celebration, something that was commanded by Moses. This was one of the big three feast days along with Passover and the Feast of Tabernacles when Israelites would gather together for corporate worship. When they got into the promised land and were spread out throughout Canaan, they would nevertheless come together from wherever they lived and celebrate in one place as a nation. That same idea is here in our text except even more so because at this point Jews were exiled not only within Canaan but all over the world. And the dispersion that happened through various things in history, there were Jews who came to celebrate, who even spoke different languages and came from many different nations throughout the empire. Now Pentecost itself was a day celebrating specifically the barley harvest. and the people would offer parts of their crop to the Lord as Moses prescribed and thank him for that abundance. It was a time of celebration but also a time of spiritual gratitude as sacrifices were offered, even sacrifices for sin, and atonement was declared. So this was a reflective but also a festive celebration. As people took a break from business as usual, the fellowship with believers from other countries and celebrate God's provision for them. And this is the occasion as so many people from around the world are gathered here for the work that God is about to do. For as there are Jews from other countries, they are also speaking other languages. They may have spoken the common languages of Latin and Greek, but they had their native languages as well. And this huge diverse mixture was the backdrop where God would highlight his work and the message about Christ. A message that was, in fact, for all the nations of the world. We read here in verse one that the disciples and other believers were all in one place. Now Luke told us already in chapter one, Luke is the author here of the book of Acts, as well as the book of Luke, and so already in chapter one of this book of Acts, Luke told us that there were about 120 believers at that time who were gathered together. And they are here because earlier, before Jesus ascended, he commanded them to remain in the city until they were clothed with power from on high, which was about to happen. They would eventually be sent out to the world to fulfill the Great Commission, but until that time, they were to wait. And as it turns out, they wouldn't have to wait very long. It was about a week after Jesus ascended that the day of Pentecost arrived. Now these believers, since they were also Jews, no doubt were also celebrating Pentecost as a Hebrew festival. We know that Jesus and his disciples had celebrated the Passover in the upper room. This was one of their holidays. We also know that although they are remaining in the city, it is no longer out of fear that they are doing that. That fear that they had experienced after the crucifixion has been replaced with the joy as they have seen Jesus, as they have eaten with him, and have been taught by him once again. He has prepared them for this moment, and Luke tells us at the end of his gospel that after Jesus ascended, they were continually in the temple praising God. So it is no doubt with joy that they celebrate this feast together, and Luke records for us what happens next. starting in verse two. He says, suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. So this sound was like a strong wind that is being driven along. It's not just a nice wind like a breeze, but a forceful, even a violent wind that is being driven around and it fills the house. Now this is before the time of appliances and things that make noise as we currently experience them in our houses. So this would be an amazing thing for many reasons for them sitting in this house to hear this kind of roar going through. But next we read in verse three that there is something that is seen. There are tongues like fire that are divided and come to rest on each one. Like flames from a lamp or a campfire flickering and then dividing. And it says in verse four that they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Even though this wind sounds violent, what this filling is calling people to do is not to behave in a violent way, but to speak specifically in other tongues or languages. Now this sound was loud, as we've just heard, and there are 120 people speaking, no doubt excitedly, in multiple other languages, and this sound attracts everybody around them. In verse six it says, at this sound the multitude came together and they were bewildered because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. So these are not made up languages. These are languages within the known world and languages that the people in this immediate vicinity can understand. And when they see this group of 120 speaking, they know who these people are and where they come from. These are Galileans. They may already know them. No doubt the disciples were excitedly already sharing their faith, even as they were praising God in the temple. And they may have already conversed with him at some length about the risen Christ and the message of the gospel. And yet now here they are speaking the native languages of all sorts of people, as we see in verse seven, this list. It says that the people are astounded and marvel at this. And then they go through the list and we can see how large this crowd must have been. I mean, think of all the nations that are listed here. Parthians, Medes, and Elamites, people from Mesopotamia, Pontus, Asia, Egypt, Cyrene, Rome, Cretans and Arabians. I mean, just all through the Roman world and the known world at that time, people were coming here. And so this is a large crowd of people who are witnessing this. But what are they saying? They're speaking in old languages, they're speaking excitedly, they're speaking in the languages of many different nations, but what are they saying? What is the content of it? Well, the people who hear them say that they are declaring the great things of God. No doubt they are speaking of the things that pertain to the gospel, since this empowerment was meant to begin the fulfillment of the Great Commission. They were proclaiming the redemptive acts of God, and especially the most recent ones, like the resurrection and the ascension. Whatever specifically they were saying was heavenly, and indicated not just a babble of excitement or confusion, but a clear message that was heavenly in origin. And the response of the crowd hearing this is to be amazed and perplexed. The Greek word for amaze can also mean losing one's mind or being driven out of one's senses. It's not merely being impressed, but being utterly beside oneself. These folks are seeing something that has no earthly explanation. And they say to one another, what does this mean? There has to be some explanation, some way to interpret all that is going on. And they know it has something to do with God. Well, most of them do anyway. As is usually the case when the gospel is proclaimed, even when it is accompanied by miracles, there are detractors. There were people who thought that even Jesus was demon-possessed when he had performed his miracles. And there are some here who are mocking, who say they have had too much wine. Obviously this was a festival, and just as there was wine at Passover, there would have been wine here as well. But this objection doesn't make much sense even from a worldly point of view. And Peter addresses it and explains to the perplexed crowd what is in fact going on. He stands with the other apostles and calls for their attention. And he answers first the objection in verse 15. He says it's only nine in the morning. If you know people who like to party, even party animals don't usually start their parties at nine in the morning. Usually in the afternoon after work, you know. But Peter instead tells them what this is all about. And he quotes from the prophet Joel. Joel had predicted what would happen in the last days. That God would pour out His Spirit on all flesh. He spoke this to the Israelites as something that would happen in the future. In fact, in the last days. Now this may surprise us because when we read about the Old Testament, and when we read different things within the Old Testament, we see that God was indeed active in the life of Israel at that time. They had prophets, and there were miracles, and there was revelation being written and spoken. God performed many signs through Moses and others, confirming that he was in their midst. Nevertheless, despite those signs that God showed to the Israelites, not every Israelite himself had the Spirit. It was only certain people. Israel, unlike the church, was a community bound together by their natural descent from Jacob. Though they weren't covenant with God, what made you an Israelite was your natural tie to Jacob. Whether you married into the family or were born in Israel, that is what tied the people together. Certain people within the nation were anointed, but most were not, not by the Holy Spirit. Nevertheless, it was the hope of the prophets that someday, everybody, all of God's people would be, and that it would be at last a spiritual community. In the book of Numbers, if you would turn back there with me to chapter 11, we see an example of this hope that the prophets back then had. Book of Numbers, right before the book of Deuteronomy, And if you turn to chapter 11 of Numbers. In verse 16, it says, then the Lord said to Moses, gather for me 70 men of the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and officers over them, and bring them to the tent of meeting and let them take their stand there with you. And I will come down and talk with you there. And I will take some of the spirit that is on you and put it on them. and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, so that you may not bear it yourself alone. And then skipping down to verse 24, it says, so Moses went out and told the people the words of the Lord, and he gathered 70 men of the elders of the people and placed them around the tent. Then the Lord came down in the cloud and spoke to him and took some of the spirit that was on him and put it on the 70 elders. And as soon as the spirit rested on them, they prophesied, but they did not continue doing it. Now two men remained in the camp, one named Eldad and the other named Medad, and the spirit rested on them. They were among those registered, but they had not gone out to the tent, and so they prophesied in the camp. And a young man ran and told Moses, Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp. And Joshua, the son of Nun, the assistant of Moses from his youth, said, my Lord, Moses, stop them. But Moses said to him, are you jealous for my sake? would that all the Lord's people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit on them. God's plan, even as he revealed later to Joel, was that Moses' wish would indeed come true. The church would no longer be an earthly community of only natural connections, but it would be a people bound together by something heavenly. Even though the church would remain on earth, it would experience the substance of heaven itself nevertheless. Now the verb in the Hebrew that Joel used for pour out means to pour out richly. It's not a sprinkle or a dribble, but it's a generous amount. Each member would be united together by this spirit and they would have different gifts. There would be a unity amidst the human diversity of the church. and its members would be fitted by the Spirit for the building up of the whole body of Christ. This growth would not come from a government program or a UN task force, but it would come from heaven itself. Such a rich gift is accompanied here with dramatic signs. God is letting everyone in the vicinity know that this significant step is happening. And in the midst of people from all over the known world, in the brightness of the day, without hiding anything, Noises, the sights of flames, and prophecies that are clearly miraculous are borne about by those with a spirit. And it is a testimony to the message of the cross and the empty tomb. But as Peter goes through this prophecy of Joel, as he's reciting it here, we see something more. We see mention of wonders indeed, but some of these are signs of judgment that Peter quotes. For example, in verse 19, it says, I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and vapor of smoke. This reminds us of some of the plagues of Egypt, when the Nile had turned to blood and hail, which was on fire, rained down from heaven. These were not happy signs, but definitely negative. So what does Joel mean in mentioning these things in the middle of a prophecy about God blessing his people and giving them his spirit? Well, one clue we get is from the beginning of this quotation. Peter says, in the last days. When scripture talks about the last days, it promises both blessing and curse, both salvation and judgment. We ourselves as Christians look forward to the day when Christ will return. That will be a day of great rejoicing for us. For example, John the Apostle in his last book, the book of Revelation, near the end quotes Jesus as saying, I'm coming soon. And John says, amen, come Lord Jesus. We as Christians desire the return of the Lord and the renewal of the heavens and the earth and for our new bodies and for things to be set right in the world. And we look at that as a happy day. But beloved scripture also refers to this as judgment day. For those who are not in Christ, whose sins are not washed away, they do not have a share in the blessings of God. And therefore, when Christ comes, it will be for them a day of terror. And what Peter is quoting here is the reality that both of these kinds of signs are part of the last days, and that we are now in the last days. The presence of the blessing of the Spirit means that we have entered the time of the end. And that means that judgment is also in sight. There is, after all, nothing else for Christ to do to accomplish salvation. He has already died on the cross. He has risen again. He has ascended to the Father. And he has even sent his Spirit. And now what we see happening throughout the world is the application of that redemption that was already accomplished. The church is spreading abroad as people believe, but the works of Christ that earned salvation are thoroughly completed. We no longer live in the age of type and shadow, but are in the age of fulfillment. And when Christ comes again, it will be without delay. It will be as dramatic and as swift as when this rushing wind came to this house. And that is why part of this exhortation that Peter gives concerns calling upon the Lord for salvation, as we see in verse 21. There is no reason to talk about salvation unless there is something from which you need to be saved. And as these signs have been displayed before the crowd, Peter tells them and us that now is the time to call upon the Lord. We know that God is holy, but every human on earth today is a sinner. Therefore, no one can, in their flesh, measure up to the holiness of God. But the great hope is that this God who holds the power of judgment is the very one who sent his Son to pay the curse that our sins deserve and to be judged in our place. It is stated in a simple verse in John 3, 16. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life. Christ lived under the law. Every day and year of his life, he was perfectly loving and holy. And then he bore the wrath of God for our sins on the cross so that our sins would be washed away. And now, beloved, the last day, that judgment day, is not a day of judgment for us. It is a day of hope, of eternal rest, of glory, and of rejoicing, even more than these people rejoiced here at Pentecost. And that gift is freely offered to you today. Believe in the name of the Lord and you will be saved. Now for those of us who are already believing in Christ, we need to constantly be meditating upon these things in order to conform our thinking to our new reality. When I was speaking earlier about the unity of the Holy Spirit that he would give to the church, you may have been wondering Well, if the Spirit has united us as one body and is working in us, why are there so many divisions in the church today? Why isn't there a perfect harmony right now in the church? And the answer, sadly, is the same today as it was during the time of the apostles. If you read the letters of the apostles, you see that they often deal with the same issues of schism and immaturity that we deal with today. One of the churches, in fact, that had the gifts of the Spirit in abundance was the church in Corinth. They were prophesying, speaking in tongues, doing all kinds of things. But what they also had in abundance was schisms. Some said, I follow Paul. Some said, I follow Apollos. Some said, I follow Christ. They were not mature. And in fact, Paul said that they were like babies in the faith who could only handle milk. They were not even ready for meat yet. And what Paul did, though, in response to that was to remind them of the spiritual realities that they already possessed. That is why he said in 1 Corinthians 12, verse 13, that in one spirit we were all baptized into one body. Jews or Greeks, slaves or free, and all were made to drink of one spirit. The fact that Christians sometimes act like the world doesn't mean that they don't have spiritual realities. What it means is that in those cases we are not living or thinking according to the heavenly realities, but we are living according to the patterns of the world. It's like being healed but still walking around on crushes. And that is why the apostles spend a lot of time in their letters reminding the churches again and again about their faith. This is what Christ has done for you, and this is who you are now. You are a new creation. The culture that we live in today and the world will not remind us of these things. In fact, the world will try to distract us from them. And therefore, it is important for us to regularly meditate upon these things from the word. What has Christ done for us? Even simple verses like John 3 16 can remind us again of our true foundation and help us not to get caught up in the thinking of this world. And so I would recommend for your daily devotions that you meditate specifically on gospel passages. Read and also reflect upon verses that specifically tell us what God has done for us in Christ. Isaiah 53 is another great chapter. John 10, Ephesians 2, 8. This is the door through which we enter the faith. And it is still the reason that we are in the church today. The heavenly realities that these verses speak about have already been given to us. We already have the Spirit. And therefore, we have a unity with each other already, as well as new life within our souls. Let us, therefore, seek not to be distracted from these realities, as if we were still in the flesh. And as we begin to live according to this new reality, it will lead to more peace in the church, and in our homes, and in our individual lives. and will be a testimony to the nations around us as well as they see our life. And, last but not least, it will also lead to more joy as we commune together as Christians. Amen. Let us pray. O Lord God, we do thank you for your acts of salvation and redemption. We thank you for the joy that it can give to us. Lord, we thank you for taking us, who were your enemies at one time, who were a part of the world and setting us aside, washing us and renewing us, forgiving us of our sins and causing us to be your people. We pray that you would indeed help us to think of ourselves in the way that you think of us and to not walk in the ways of the world. We pray this in Jesus' name, amen.