1 When the day of Pentecost had arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like that of a violent rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were staying. 3 And tongues, like flames of fire that were divided, appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 Then they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different languages, as the Spirit gave them ability for speech.
The apostles and others, about 120 in total, gather daily in the upper room for prayer, Bible Study, to wait the coming Spirit, promised by Jesus. It has been 10 days since Jesus ascended to heaven. The waiting must have been difficult for them, but they waited. From chapter one and verse one of chapter two, we know several things about those who were gathered.
3.. They were all together.
4. They were being obedient to do the last thing Jesus told them to do. They did not get ahead of the Spirit. The Spirit came at just the right time, the fulfillment of time.
When the Spirit came into the room, He made His presence known. There were two signs of his coming.
First, the sound of a mighty rushing wind. The HCSB text calls it a violent, rushing wind. That is the sound we might associate with a hurricane in Houston, or a tornado in West Texas. It is thunderous, loud, threatening, strong. Wind has often been associated with the presence of God and specifically with the Spirit of God. Even from the first mention of God breathing into man and giving him life in the garden, wind has been associated with God. The vision of Ezekiel of the valley of dry bones had the spirit of God breathing life into those dead bones. Jesus, in his conversation with Nicodemus, said, "The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." (John 3:8) The Spirit came into the room like a mighty wind.
He also came with fire. They saw fire separate and come to rest on each of them, in a shape like a tongue. Fire has also been associated with God. We may immediately think of God's judgment, but most prominent is the experience of Moses who met God in the burning bush that was on fire but not consumed. (There is a lesson in that for us.) It was that fire that became the representation to Moses of his own personal experience with God. Now, for the apostles and those gathered in that room, the wind of Adam, Ezekiel, and Nicodemus and the fire of Moses has been made known to them as the presence of the Holy Spirit. He has made his presence known to them in a great way.
In the same way, when the Spirit comes on you, He will make his presence known. That is not to say that He will come with the sound of a rushing wind, but He may. That is not to say that He will display fire above your head, though He might. It is to say for sure, that when He comes to you He will be sure that others know that He is there. The Spirit will make His presence known for two reasons.
1. So that you may be changed into His likeness and give God praise. Without the Spirit of God on your life you will not be able to become the man, woman, husband, wife, child that God has called you to be. His Spirit makes His presence known in your life to change you into His person.
2. So that those who are lost may see the work of God for the work of God and give Him praise. God will not share His glory. He will make His presence known in you so that when others see you change into a person of God they will know why, how and who.
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