Acts 2 v 1-47

On Sunday next we remember the day of Pentecost. This is one of the three major harvest festivals.  It is the day that the promise of the gift of the Holy Spirit was to be fulfilled. This  event described in this Chapter as coming to the believers, followed by the reaction of the Jewish people to the Spirit filled Christians.

The Apostles were gathered together with others when a mighty wind was felt, this did not come just a breeze, it was more like a storm. We are told it was accompanied what was described as, like tongues of fire. In the Old Testament, the word ‘fire’ referred to God in His burningHoliness and purity.  All present were filled with the Holy Spirit, and some began to speak in a spiritual language.

The term, speaking in tongues, has been carried in the years since, and is thought to be a necessity by charismatics.  The Apostle Paul however, in later days, would not have any of it, for he wisely stated it would cause people to stop attending worship, being upset at not being able to know what was being said.

The Apostle Peter preached a message to the crowds who had  gathered  and told them to

 hear the words of Jesus, and of the wonders performed, and who was crucified by you

 and God had raised Him up.  He called on all of Israel to know God had made Jesus

 both Lord and Christ.   When they heard this, they were cut to the heart. They asked

 what they should do. 

Peter told them to repent and be baptized, for the forgiveness of your sins every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  The promise  would be to you and your children, and all who were far off, whom the Lord God will call to Himself.

Peter continued to call on them to save themselves, and three thousand were added that day.  This was the day the Church was born.

They devoted themselves to the teaching of the Apostles, and the fellowship to the breaking of bread, and the prayers. Awe came upon every soul, and wonders and signs were being done by the Apostles.  And all who believed were together.

Notice it says ‘devoted’ themselves, this means they were committed, no half heartedness.  We too can follow the Apostles teaching, it is written down for us in the New Testament, and it is God’s way of providing for His people to be trained.  This is why we need to come to Church, to learn the Bible from the readings and sermon,  praying together for our needs and the world’s;    Praising God as we sing together . 

 They met for fellowship. The Bible uses various terms to describe God’s people.  An army, a fellowship, a body, but the most powerful is a FAMILY. In families, we are related to one another it is a strong bond based on allegiance and fidelity.  The image of the Church as a family is most relevant.  A family consists of different; ages, genders ,backgrounds.

   We share a relationship to God and to each other, based on a common spiritual life.  We are to care for one another, and when others need encouragement and support, we are to give it. 

God put us with a variety of people we may not ordinarily like, but God expects us to grow together, yet we respond just like the world responds.  We choose, and insist on mixing with those we particularly like, and so cliques are formed.

They met for what we know as Holy Communion.   Sharing the bread and wine, as we remember what God has done for us in Jesus Christ.

In verse 47 we read, ‘and the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.’

Now let us move to the present day.  In the West we are living in what has been called the post Christian age, where Church is less accepted than at any other time in history. 

The Church has always been under attack, more so when it has been effective, because society sees it as a threat to the degenerate way it wishes to live.  Now, most people see the Church as irrelevant, so we have biased judges, politicians and public officials taking the opportunity of trying to wipe it out of public life.  The Church is so full of apathy it is prepared to accept the situation.  Can anyone imagine the Islamic religion allowing its faith to be subject to so much abuse and opposition?  And this has been a Christian country for many hundreds of years. 

The Church was once the centre of the community, especially in villages where life revolved around it.  .  Now villagers only see the Church making a quintessential scene for their village, and any suggestion of closing the Church would cause protest.

Whilst I have found this most enjoyable, and caused me to meet many lovely people, I have been surprised and become despondent at the lack of response from the residents.  They have so much to be thankful for.  They live in some of the most pleasant surroundings, some quite idyllic, in lovely homes, with most modern accoutrements, and most have good jobs.  They have so much to be thankful for.  There are thousands of people who would wish for the same.  Yet it is all taken for granted.  They see no cause to be grateful for the health and strength to enjoy these things.       

Those first Christians were ordinary people just like you and me, with the same demands on their time, but their actions reflected their priorities.   Life to- day has so many more controversies, with moral implications.  Secularists are providing the answers when it should be Christians.

People fail to see the importance of the Church on the life of the nation.  For centuries it held the country together, provided standards and values to form a cohesive and stable society, with a good moral base.  If, Christianity should be taken out of public life. a spiritual vacuum would be created and something else would take its place which could be far worse and more oppressive.

I think it reasonable to say, if people want a Church for occasional services such as baptisms, weddings funerals Easter and Christmas, they should be prepared to attend.

Jesus fiercely denounces complacency, and He appeals for wholeheartedness, or true commitment.       Jesus Christ asks for wholehearted commitment, for us to have heat, fire and passion for the Lord and His will.

 As we examine ourselves today, as we prepare to receive communion, let us ask ourselves, ‘are we half hearted or wholehearted in our commitment to Christ?’  A tepid commitment is no commitment at all. Jesus said, that way the church is behaving is in a way which serves no useful purpose.  No-one is farther from the truth in Christ than the one who makes an idle profession without real faith.

There are times in all our lives when personal situations arise which call for our attention, but for some people Church will take second place in our list of priorities, something which Jesus Himself condemned.   It  is largely a case of priority, and Jesus expected to be given priority.  If we can find time for all the other things in life but not for Church, we must ask ourselves how important is our faith, God, and Jesus to us.

 Let us take inspiration from those Christians who daily face terrible persecution of their faith in Egypt, Iraq, Indonesia, Pakistan, and many other Islamic countries, having their Churches and homes burned down, assaulted and imprisoned, and even murdered, but never give in or lose faith.        

 To paraphrase a famous saying, think not what God can do for me, but what can I do for God.   

 

Praise God for His Holy Gospel, Pay God be Glorified.