Are You Hearing (Acts 2:1-8)
Gary McManus, 05/28/2023Part of the Holy Spirit series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
Pentecost Sunday, May 28, 2023
The miracle at Pentecost (NOT 1 Corinthians 12:10)
was (by the Holy Spirit) the declaration of the Galilean Apostles to the crowds in the crowd’s own languages. It has always been an opportunity at DCC for the congregation (in person and on-line) to hear the Word of God in its original languages: Hebrew (Old Testament) and (koine) Greek (New Testament) Why do that?
1. It IS the miracle of Pentecost experience.
2. English was not represented that day in Jerusalem
--this should make us humble
--this should make us grateful
Remember that men died that we might have the
Bible in English (and it was English speaking authorities that killed English Bible supporters).
Jesus told us that the Spirit blows where IT wills. (John 3:8) Give thanks for the grace given you and me in the reading and the hearing of God’s Word in our own language.
Hear now. . .the Word of God. . .parts of Joel 2 (quoted in Acts 2) in Hebrew and parts of Acts 2 in (koine) Greek.
The disciples (and Jesus!) spoke Aramaic, a dialect of Hebrew. The disciples were not learned people and probably spoke no other language. There was a saying of disrespect for people from Nazareth in Galilee (John 1:46). At Pentecost, these men were speaking other people’s languages NOT with a Galilean accent but speaking these other languages and was immediately recognized and understood by the foreigners standing right there. . .THAT IS a miracle.
--Have we not all had experiences of English with a heavy foreign accent?
SO,we understand the real key to this miracle. . .
the hearers are hearing. . .the “wonders of God in our OWN tongues.” (Acts 2:10)
Hearers hearing! That is one reason we pray for the
Holy Spirit to help us when we come to the sermon.
(Pastor doesn’t care WHEN we hear, but that we hear.) Also, head knowledge (brain), heart knowledge (Holy Spirit).
Understand that being heard is only the first problem, being understood is the bigger problem.
Music can speak to the heart. Rock and roll is heard
around the world. Many churches have a piano and/or organ. All Americans used to want a piano in their homes. Are WE, the followers of Jesus, communicating today in a way that can be understood?
One denomination apparently is—the Pentecostals.
Pentecostalism has always been about FELT faith.
The Christian Churches emphasized the understanding of faith (1800 AD). The Pentecostals started 120 years ago in America because churches had become emotion-less.
Financial advice twenty years ago: don’t buy things,
buy experiences. . .go places and do things/experiences.
Now, in America, you can have immersive experiences.
--Disney-world in Florida
-- Video games are immersive.
--Three dimensional headgear that places you inside the game itself. And play with others around the world!
Correct. It isn’t everyone’s cup of tea/coffee.
So, should we all become Pentecostal? No. (But remember Acts 2:10)
DCC has a foothold on communicating—www.dalevillechristian.
We reach people all over the world.
We are looking for the next Lead Pastor to continue to meet people on line AND in person at DCC.
How? By and with the Holy Spirit!
The Holy Spirit comes to people in a place (Acts 1:4, Acts 1:8) Friends continue as Peter explained to the crowds that day (Acts 2:33). Continue to pray for the Holy Spirit to make known the mighty acts of God. Amen.
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