June 3
Bible Reading: Acts 2:1-13
Acts 2:1-2, “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.”
Few things are as precious and beautiful in this world as the birth of a newborn child. Following months of anticipation, family members and friends rejoice in receiving the news of the baby’s entrance into the world, and rightly so, for life is a gift from God. Nearly two thousand years ago, the church was born, and we’ve good reason to celebrate that!
God birthed the church in dramatic fashion. It was in fulfillment of Jesus’ promises, for He had previously told His disciples of His plan to build His church (Matthew 16:18). He had also repeatedly spoken of the coming of the Holy Spirit (John 14:16, 25; 15:26; 16:7, 13; Acts 1:4, 8). It was through the miraculous working of the Spirit that the church was born.
It was not by accident that hundreds of thousands of Jews and proselytes, “from every nation under heaven” (Acts 2:5), were there on that day. They had come from afar, from many nations, to celebrate Shavuot, a festival that happens exactly seven weeks after Passover (“Pentecost” is a Greek word meaning “fiftieth”). The multinational audience would soon take the news of what happened to faraway places.
What happened on that day? The Spirit came and filled the Apostles so that they could speak in other tongues, such that those hearing could hear in their own language. According to Acts 2:6-7, the crowd was “bewildered” and “amazed and astonished.” The Apostles did not speak in gibberish, but in known languages, and they did not speak of mundane matters, but of “the mighty works of God” (Acts 2:11). “And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, ‘What does this mean?’ But others mocking said, ‘They are all filled with new wine’ (Acts 2:12-13)?”
Thus, the Spirit worked to set the stage for Peter’s first sermon, in which Peter would boldly proclaim the truth regarding Christ. Three thousand souls responded unto salvation, and thus the church was born. And God has been working ever since to add to their number (Acts 2:47), just like He did with you. That was also a work of the Spirit when He convicted you of your sins and opened your eyes to the glory of Jesus! It was likewise a cause for great joy when you were “born of the Spirit with live above into God’s family divine.” And made to be a dwelling place of Him (1 Corinthians 6:19)!
“When the great promise of the Spirit was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost, it was fulfilled not in reference to the apostles only.” —Charles Hodge
HEAVEN CAME DOWN
O what a wonderful, wonderful day.
Day I will never forget;
After I’d wandered in darkness away,
Jesus my Savior I met.
O what a tender compassionate friend,
He met the need of my heart
Shadows dispelling, with joy i am telling
He made all the darkness depart.
Chorus:
Heaven came down and glory filled my soul.
When at the cross my Savior made me whole.
My sins were washed away
And my night was turned to day.
Born of the spirit from life of above
Into God’s fam’ly divine,
Justified fully through calvary’s love,
O what a standing is mine!
And the transaction so quickly was made
When as a sinner i came,
Took of the offer of grace he did proffer-
He saved me, o praise his dear name! [Chorus]
Now, I’ve a hope that will surely endure
After the passing of time;
I have a future in heaven for sure,
There in those mansions sublime.
And it’s because of that wonderful day
When at the cross i believed
Riches eternal and blessings supernal
From his precious hand I received. [Chorus]
LookingtoJesus 