Jesus has completed the work he came to do and now he is passing the baton on to his disciples and ultimately on to each one of us. This time of being filled with the spirit is critical, pivotal and totally essential for this mission to be effective! As we reflect on our lives to date what is our experience of being filled or baptized with the Holy Spirit?
The gift of tongues or speaking in other languages has always intrigued me and is a very important part of this initial outpouring.
I also find it intriguing that the believers were accused of being drunk. I used to think this was just because they were speaking in tongues but now believe there may have been other "manifestations" of being filled with the Spirit which lead people to think they were drunk.
Peter preached a powerful sermon and people responded with genuine repentance because the Spirit was at work. Not only were three thousand people transformed on that day (v41) but then EVERY day after that God was adding to their number. The fact that people were living out the teachings we have been discussing over the past 24 days (verses 42-47) is not insignificant in my view.
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An eight week journey of seeking God as we read.think.pray.live our way through the gospel of John
An Invitation
Please join us during this lead up to Christmas 2009 by doing the four things listed below. Anyone can join at any time throughout this 8 week period although obviously it would be best if you can begin with us on the first of November 2009.
Requirements:
1. Commit to seeking God EVERY DAY in Nov & Dec '09 in a way that is more radical than anything you have ever done before.
2. Read.think.pray.live your way through the Gospel of John in seven weeks (3 chapters each week) and then 1 John, 2 John, 3 John in the final week.
3. Listen to the Holy Spirit and obey whatever he says to do!!
4. Contribute your insights and experiences to this blog.
May we all continue to seek the Kingdom of God before anything else!
Requirements:
1. Commit to seeking God EVERY DAY in Nov & Dec '09 in a way that is more radical than anything you have ever done before.
2. Read.think.pray.live your way through the Gospel of John in seven weeks (3 chapters each week) and then 1 John, 2 John, 3 John in the final week.
3. Listen to the Holy Spirit and obey whatever he says to do!!
4. Contribute your insights and experiences to this blog.
May we all continue to seek the Kingdom of God before anything else!
9 comments:
They were LIVING IT OUT and so DEMONSTRATED their faith. They also, like the Mozambiques of this world ... were not tied to material possessions nor were they seeking to gain more than their basic survival needs... and so they were open and READY (in GOD's view .... not ours!)
Having seen Heidi Baker on dvd ... I can well imagine other 'manifestations' that would make one seem inebriated! So I am sure you are right Andrew.
When first reading about how EVERYONE in the room received "Tongues", I was puzzled because I have beleived that this is the least of the gifts and not everyone receives it (even when asking for it). However, upon reflection I realise two things:
1. Tongues is an outward manifestation and so for the non-beleiver a 'proof' of the supernatural component of our faith. This would have been particularly valuable back then.
2. The ability to speak out in other 'tongues' would have been vastly more important 'back in the day' in order to reach a broad cross-section of people.
Gemma, I was recently listening to an Edgar Mayer teaching on tongues in which he suggested that the gift of tongues was like a cork in a bottle containing other gifts. Perhaps tongues is the first gift given as an introduction to the workings of the Spirit; other gifts may then follow?
Interesting point Chris ..... would that not mean then that if one does not have the gift of a prayer language they can 'kiss goodbye' to having any spiritual gifts?
Still not found the time to listen to the Edgar Mayer sermons yet but will endeavour to do so this week :)
Look forward to seeing you all (and meeting some of you for the first time) tomorrow in South Perth!
Some thoughts:
The Apostles and other disciples had already gone out healing the sick etc by the power of the Holy Spirit before Pentecost.
This waiting to receive power seems very much related to firing them up supernaturally to spread the gospel.
They WERE utterly and completely different people after Pentecost. From a fearful lot when Jesus died - to a much happier lot after he rose again - to a completely emboldened bunch after Pentecost!
Look at Peter. Teaching and interpreting scripture - when a few months before he was confused by what Jesus was saying to him!
I have been thinking, God equips us though the Holy Spirit for whatever task he has prepared for us to do. He also arranges other things that are needed, like the sound that was the first thing to draw the crowd to hear Peter!
Is it that we are not on task that we seldom experience the powerful working of the Holy Spirit?
re the speaking in foreign languages - I think that on this occasion - it was exactly what was needed for the people that were there!
re tongues being a first gift - I have not spoken in tongues - so that has not been my experience. I have had other experiences of the Spirit acting within me - and they have been unmistakably outside of my own control. I have felt in another realm! but when asking for the gift of tongues, even when I have followed suggestions about giving utterance to whatever might be happening I have not had any experience of His acting within me.
Some choice words in Acts 2:
...together, suddenly, filled, expression, bold, urgency, awe, wonder, celebration, praise....
I read quite a bit from the book tonight and there were two things that grabbed me.
1. That Gods love would grow larger and overtake our minds/logic/natural thinking.
2. Getting into that river, not just ankle deep but until we can't stand and are swept under and away.
I still feel too locked into thinking it through and having a plan and not quite knowing how to give in and plunge.
I am totally pumped after reading all these comments. You guys are all legends and I absolutely love what each of you have had to say. If I am motivated tomorrow I might be more specific in my comments.
I'm really looking forward to the prayer meeting tomorrow night and feel like God might be wanting to give us some more insight into what it means to seek him.
In regards to tongues. Instead of viewing it as the first gift, it might be easier to think of it as a foundational gift.
It's the only spiritual gift in the bible that has a complete chapter devoted to it. And in that chapter it says that speaking in tongues edifies our spirit [man].
I don't think it is necessary to speak in tongues to move in other gifts of the Spirit (the gospels are proof of that) but I would say that speaking in tongues weakens the flesh and builds up our spirit so that we can be more sensitive to the moving of the Holy Spirit within us.
God reveals things to our spirit, not our minds, so we need to learn how to receive revelation from our spirit.
This is what I believe is beneficial about speaking in tongues. When you do it you are speaking the very mysteries/revelations of God that are specific to and for you, and as you do that it is weakening your carnal mind and bringing your spiritual mind into the forefront.
If speaking in tongues is your spirit praying then out of that same place is where you receive the revelations of God.
This has been my experience. And it's helpful to know what's going on during those tough times when praying in the spirit is difficult because of your flesh.
Also notice that in Acts 2 it says that each person in the crowd heard them (plural) speak in their own language. I think this was the most compelling thing to the crowd. It's like they were saying, "How do I hear all these people speak in my language, and you hear all of them speak in yours?" One person heard the 120 speak in their language, and another person heard the same 120 speak in their language. It was a miracle in the speaking and hearing at the same time.
The drunk thing has made me think often too. I wonder what it looked like.
Sorry for the long comment...I hope it's ok since I haven't read the Heidi Baker book. Let me know if you'd rather keep the comments within the group, I won't be offended.
Paul
Gemma: I think speaking/praying in tongues can have a variety of purposes, one of which was an outward manifestation for the non-believers on the day of Pentecost. Later in these comments Paul also mentions that when we speak in tongues this builds up our own faith.
Chris: I think Edgar Mayer's teaching in this area is excellent (I have now included a link on this page). Paul also seems to agree with what you said in his comment.
Gemma: One thing I love about God is that we can never put him in a box or narrow him down to a formula. In John 3:8 Jesus likens the Spirit to the wind (which blows wherever it pleases). We will also see throughout Acts that often people spoke in tongues when they were filled with the Spirit but it was definitely not "the formula".
Rosaleen: I fully agree that being filled with the Spirit was intricately and undeniably linked with "mission". Acts 1:8 "You will receive power...and you will be my witnesses."
Garry: Let's all "give in and plunge". For me this is largely a trust issue. Can I trust God enough to give him "full and total" control?
Paul: Thanks for your comments and input into this blog. As far as I am concerned your comments are welcome at any time. If you have a chance I reckon you should get a copy of the book though. I think you would like it :)
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