The Arrival

 DEVOTION

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

THE ARRIVAL

Acts 2:1-4

2:1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

NIV

The Day of Pentecost, fifty days after the feast of the first fruits which from our understanding was the Passover meal during the time of the crucifixion of Jesus. Again, depending on how we count the days, after his resurrection he spent forty days showing himself to many people, then after his ascension, it was either those nine or ten days the one hundred and twenty were all together and they cast lots after prayer, selecting Mattias to replace Judas. Now the fiftieth day arrives and here comes the promise. The Spirit Arrives and he does so in style with a sound from heaven. The best that Luke can describe it is as it sounded like a mighty rushing of wind that filled the whole house. It is interesting that most of us see the effects of the wind outside as we stand in the stillness of our home, looking out a window. But here the wind came into the house, filled it, which must have been almost terrifying, but at the same time miraculous. Then as this wind was swirling around a fire came with it and was again lapping around like flames usually do, separating into various points, and this fire separated, and as it is described a small portion of the fire sat upon each person’s head. Their hair was not set on fire, the flame or lips, or tongues of fire simply rested on them. However, the Spirit, who is one of the three of the Godhead, who is omnipresent came upon or entered to dwell within each one of them. The result was each one of them began to speak a language they had not learned, or knew, at least that is the best way to explain it. Therefore, the people of today who are called Pentecostals believe in the doctrine of Glossolalia or speaking in tongues. There is a great divide among modern Christians over this doctrine, some accepting and some rejecting it. The division is centered around whether this was just for the disciples at that time or that it is for the church throughout all the ages. The problem with wanting it to only be for those of that time and then it stopped is that then we have to examine every act within the Bible and determine if it stopped and when it did and what is still in effect for us. Could that mean salvation was just for them then and not for us now? If we believe one thing is for all people in all times, then we should believe all things are for all people in all times and that would mean we believe that once we have been baptized in or by the Spirit, all his gifts and fruit are to be manifested in us. This would include all His gifts, not just a few, so speaking in tongues should be one of the gifts of the Spirit which is evident in the church today. We simply have to accept His arrival in our lives.