And Suddenly

Daily Reading: Acts 2

Scripture Focus: When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. (Acts 2: 1-3)

Devotional Thought: What an action packed chapter in God’s Word! It was a day of fulfillment of prophecies of the prophet Joel, Jesus and John the Baptist. These verses in Acts chapter 2, are the only biblical reference to the actual events of Pentecost.

It was not a sprinkling. It was a major outpouring of the Spirit, a significant event in the life of the church. It was here the disciples witnessed the birth of the New Testament church in the coming of the Holy Spirit to indwell all believers. The Day of Pentecost also saw the first converts to the Christian church. When Simon Peter delivered his sermon proclaiming that Christ had risen, some three thousand people became converted. (v. 41)

What does it all mean for us today – the coming of the Holy Spirit, the sounds of mighty rushing wind, the forked tongues of fire, the powerful preaching of Peter, speaking in other languages? It means the Spirit of God has come and is here with us today. That same Pentecostal power is ours. The Comforter has come and is here to guide us into all truth. The Holy Spirit continues the ministry of Jesus. It’s a ministry of salvation, hope, renewal and refreshment. Jesus is in heaven, but his ministry empowered by the Spirit continues.

Pastor Dale Noel

Prayer: Father in heaven, thank you for sending your Spirit to dwell among us and for filling us with power to do your work. May our lives display the fruit of the Spirit as we follow you. Amen

Psalm of the Day: 1 God shall arise, his enemies shall be scattered; and those who hate him shall flee before him! 2 As smoke is driven away, so you shall drive them away; as wax melts before fire, so the wicked shall perish before God! 3 But the righteous shall be glad; they shall exult before God; they shall be jubilant with joy! 4 Sing to God, sing praises to his name; lift up a song to him who rides through the deserts; his name is the LORD; exult before him! 5 Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation. 6 God settles the solitary in a home; he leads out the prisoners to prosperity, but the rebellious dwell in a parched land. 7 O God, when you went out before your people, when you marched through the wilderness, Selah 8 the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain, before God, the One of Sinai, before God, the God of Israel. 9 Rain in abundance, O God, you shed abroad; you restored your inheritance as it languished; 10 your flock found a dwelling in it; in your goodness, O God, you provided for the needy. (Psalms 68:1-10)