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The Pilgrim Path (1-8-2021)

The Pilgrim Path---Acts 2: 1 – 13

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together on 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 of 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.”

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

---The LORD told His followers to wait in Jerusalem for the coming of the Promised Holy Spirit---They obeyed.

---The Spirit came upon them as divided tongues of fire---“resting” upon them---No doubt that the Third Person of the Holy Trinity was doing a special work amid His Church!

---The Day of Pentecost would “draw” Jews for all over the Mediterranean hub to Jerusalem: what a perfect time for them to “hear” that Jesus of Nazareth is in fact the Christ of God!

---The Spirit of God enabled these Galileans to speak of the mighty works of God in “other” languages---“we hear them telling us” (verse 11)---a powerful testimony to the Holy Spirit’s work and purpose: to shine the light upon Jesus! The Holy Spirit’s “filling” within the Book of Acts has everything to do with the enablement to declare with boldness, love, and power---the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ the LORD. What a scene this was. No wonder the people said, “These people---have they been drinking?” NO---they were full of the Spirit of God---to declare the great truth of God---concerning Jesus---in all the languages gathered! The power of Pentecost!

From James Montgomery Boice: When the Holy Spirit comes in power, what we are to have is not some particularly intense experience. We do not have to speak in tongues so that in a miraculous way everybody will hear our words in his or her language. Rather, we need to have a widespread speaking about Jesus. Everyone will hear as the gospel spreads through the testimony of those who are obeying the Great Commission. That is what you and I are called upon to do. That is the task to which the LORD Jesus Christ sends us…the Holy Spirit is so intense and so meaningful that they cannot keep the message of the Spirit to themselves. So, they speak of Jesus, and, as a result, here and there little fires spring up. And pretty soon there is a great raging fire of revival that spreads across the world. I do not think we have a raging fire in our time, though there are some places in the world where it may be beginning. But there is a fire. The Holy Spirit is working. We need to be part of that working and see the flames spread.

From Charles Haddon Spurgeon: Rich were the blessings of this day if all of us were filled with the Holy Ghost. The consequences of this sacred filling of the soul it would be impossible to overestimate. Life, comfort, light, purity, power, peace; and many other precious blessings are inseparable from the Spirit’s benign presence…As a fire, he both purges us from dross, and sets our consecrated nature on a blaze…As the wind, He brings the breath of life to men; blowing where He listeth He performs the quickening operations by which the spiritual creation is animated and sustained. Would to God, that we might feel His presence this day and every day.

HYMN

So send I you---to bear my cross with patience,

And then one day with joy to lay it down,

To hear my voice, “Well done, my faithful servant---

Come, share my throne, my kingdom, and my crown!”

“As the Father sent me, so send I you.”

Margaret Clarkson, 1954, 1963

PRAYER

LORD---May we be entirely yours! And may we make it our business, even on the very last day and hour of our lives, to glorify you with our bodies and with our spirits, which are yours.

LORD, we await your salvation. And in the meantime, we will follow your commands. Filled with life so exalted a hope, we will purify ourselves, even as you are pure. Amen!

Philip Doddridge

Grace and Peace in Jesus, the Only Redeemer of broken and wretched souls, Pastor

Dear Souls, from now on---I will only be posting on Monday---Wednesday---and Friday. Thank You for allowing me this opportunity (in a few months I may get back to the daily task---right now---I am pushed by other obligations). God Bless You All.