Selwyn now considers the emblem of ‘wind’ as an attribute of the Holy Spirit.
As Selwyn mentions, in Acts 2:2, we read; ‘Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven …’ .
On Pentecost there was a lot of activity, which Selwyn summarises very well: “There was the power of utterance: ‘they began to speak in other tongues.’ There was the power of vision: ‘your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.’ There was the power of conviction: ‘the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message.’ There was the power of continuance: ‘they continued stedfastly in the apostles doctrine.’ There was the power of love:Â they ‘had everything in common.’ There was the power of unity: ‘they were all together.’ There was the power of contentment: they ‘ate together with glad and sincere hearts.’ And, finally there was the power of addition: ‘the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.’ All these events are recorded in Acts, Chaper 2 – and, well worth another read if you have not glanced at this chapter for awhile.
One point that came to mind when I was reading about the different abilities given to us on Pentecost was that we were given the ability to speak with one voice to others about Jesus; and, even if our audience is not from our culture they will still understand the message, if they have an accepting heart. In a sense, it’s a reversal of the confusion God bought on us when we attempted to build the Tower of Babel and reach the heavens without God’s help. That is, to live independently outside of a realtionship with God.
Genesis 11: 6-9; “The Lord said, ‘If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan (outside of what God has planned for us) will be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.’ So the Lord scattered them from there all over the earth, and they stopped building the city. That is why it is called Babel because there the Lord confused the language of the whole world …”. The exact opposite is the case when we all work together as directed by the Holy Spirit, as evident at the first Pentecost - we then all share the same plan which God has in mind for us – and, our hearts and spirits speak the same language – how great is that?
As Selwyn mentions in his conclusion – Pentecost came after ten days of prayer – the apostles were obedient to Jesus’ direction: “wait in Jerusalem until you are clothed with power from heaven.” While they were waiting – they were praying – it’s the same for us – while we are waiting for God to act in a particular situation, we should spend most of our time in prayer. Do you agree?
Power! Power! Power!
Selwyn now considers the emblem of ‘wind’ as an attribute of the Holy Spirit.
As Selwyn mentions, in Acts 2:2, we read; ‘Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven …’ .
On Pentecost there was a lot of activity, which Selwyn summarises very well: “There was the power of utterance: ‘they began to speak in other tongues.’ There was the power of vision: ‘your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.’ There was the power of conviction: ‘the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message.’ There was the power of continuance: ‘they continued stedfastly in the apostles doctrine.’ There was the power of love:Â they ‘had everything in common.’ There was the power of unity: ‘they were all together.’ There was the power of contentment: they ‘ate together with glad and sincere hearts.’ And, finally there was the power of addition: ‘the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.’ All these events are recorded in Acts, Chaper 2 – and, well worth another read if you have not glanced at this chapter for awhile.
One point that came to mind when I was reading about the different abilities given to us on Pentecost was that we were given the ability to speak with one voice to others about Jesus; and, even if our audience is not from our culture they will still understand the message, if they have an accepting heart. In a sense, it’s a reversal of the confusion God bought on us when we attempted to build the Tower of Babel and reach the heavens without God’s help. That is, to live independently outside of a realtionship with God.
Genesis 11: 6-9; “The Lord said, ‘If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan (outside of what God has planned for us) will be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.’ So the Lord scattered them from there all over the earth, and they stopped building the city. That is why it is called Babel because there the Lord confused the language of the whole world …”. The exact opposite is the case when we all work together as directed by the Holy Spirit, as evident at the first Pentecost - we then all share the same plan which God has in mind for us – and, our hearts and spirits speak the same language – how great is that?
As Selwyn mentions in his conclusion – Pentecost came after ten days of prayer – the apostles were obedient to Jesus’ direction: “wait in Jerusalem until you are clothed with power from heaven.” While they were waiting – they were praying – it’s the same for us – while we are waiting for God to act in a particular situation, we should spend most of our time in prayer. Do you agree?
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