ListenDaily - 18 February 2009; To see and hear you have to speak!
"While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, "Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have."
Acts 10:44-47 (find these or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
This short passage is filled with information...and raises some questions.
"While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message." So then, the evidence of the Spirit here is upon those who, before speaking...heard.
"The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles." A sub-lesson from our topic, and an important one for believers at all times, anyone can receive Christ; the Spirit and His gifts are available to all.
"...the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God." So...what is the evidence of the Spirit here? The speaking in tongues? The praises to God? Or both? Are these Spiritual tongues or is this an understanding of other languages?
To me, what stands out here is the order of events.
The Gospel was given.
The Gospel was received.
The Holy Spirit was given.
There was evidence of the Spirit.
The evidence was with the new believers, witnessed by all, recognized by those who had already believed.
So then, if we were to experience something like this today, what would it look like? As those who have already believed, our role would be the giving of the Gospel and the recognition of the results. It is the responsibility of the hearers of the Word to accept, and it is God's decision how to evidence His Spirit.
The question is, are we doing our part? Are we preaching the Truth and looking for evidence of the Spirit?
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Questions:
1. What thoughts or feelings does this reading raise?
2. What is the purpose of tongues in this passage?
3. Are we, as individuals, doing our part? Are our churches?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS FROM BILLY SUNDAY:
"Trying to run a church without revivals can be done
when you can run a gasoline engine on buttermilk."
"Enthusiasm is as good a thing in
the Church as fire is in a cook stove."
"If you are strangers to prayer you are strangers to power."
"We have a God who delights in impossibilities."
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