Acts 2: 2-9
And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5 And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. 6 And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. 7 Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born?
A couple things about this passage – I believe that this is literally every person heard the Gospel message in their own language but I believe it can be taken another way
- we need to share the love of Christ in a way that everyone can understand it (hear it in their own language)
- we need to not be afraid to cross-cultural, economic, racial barriers and the Lord will show us how to reach them “Are not all these who speak Galileans?”
The result of people hearing the good news in a way they could understand it, by men and women moving in the power of the Holy Spirit, who was not afraid to be uncomfortable speaking to people of different cultures, races, economic strata
5000 people came to the knowledge of Christ
Do we need this today? Jesus said “yes” it should be who we are!
Allow me to explain what I mean….this is why I know we need to move in the gifts in our schools, neighborhood, places we work, shop, and live
Matthew 5: 13-16
You are like salt for everyone on earth. But if salt no longer tastes like salt, how can it make food salty? All it is good for is to be thrown out and walked on.14 You are like light for the whole world. A city built on top of a hill cannot be hidden, 15 and no one would light a lamp and put it under a clay pot. A lamp is placed on a lampstand, where it can give light to everyone in the house. 16 Make your light shine, so that others will see the good that you do and will praise your Father in heaven.
Jesus is saying that we are salt, light, and a city on a hill!
We are “a city on a hill”
What does it mean to be a “city on a hill” the best word to describe it is conspicuous. You can be seen at all angles all of the time.
The minute you proclaim that you are a Christian people begin watching you, they begin analyzing your life…they want to know
– is this real?
– is this religious?
– are you playing a game?
Jesus is saying all of us collectively become “a city on the hill”
Jesus also said we are the light
– There is no substitute for light, nothing can take its place. As Christians no one can take our place or do our jobs, there is no substitute for us
– Light is the only answer to darkness. When light comes there is no problem with darkness.
He called us salt
We are to give flavor to an otherwise bland world – take an egg for eggsample J totally bland but sprinkle on a little salt and it has flavor
We are to make the world flavorful but for whom? God! We need to think of ourselves as little salt granules spread throughout the earth spreading love, grace, prayers, and worship in a way that make the earth acceptable to God in a way that the earth would not be without us (as it will experience after the rapture)
Salt also prevents rotting or another word for that is corruption! In the time Jesus walked the earth there was no refrigeration. To preserve meat, it was salted to prevent it from rotting or holding back the forces of corruption. It is our responsibility to hold back the forces of corruption—moral corruption, social corruption, political corruption—until God’s purposes of mercy and grace have been worked out for this world of ours.
Not everyone is looking for hope, love, life, joy or freedom. Believe it or not, some are content in their misery, selfishness, and corruption. Still, many more have no concept that they can have joy, life, and freedom until they see that someone else has it.
As a “Spirit-filled” believer just simply being who we are, allowing the light, salt, the Spirit of the living God live through us (our identity is in Him) we are like the 120 from the upper room that day we begin to share the love of Christ in a way everyone can understand it.
We are no longer intimidated by social position, cultural, racial, or educational differences, but the power of the Gospel will naturally supernaturally flow through you. We have the tools in our toolbox!
As a Spirit-filled believer, you have at least three key tools that make being salt, light, and a city on the hill possible… I am assuming that you are doing things on a daily basis like reading your Bible and praying.
Remember
The gifts of the Spirit “What’s next part 2-4” 1 Corinthians 12 and 14
Moving in them in very practical ways at first (if you missed any of the teachings you can always go on the app or www.christiancenter.us to hear the whole story)
Prophetic – begin encouraging people
Healing – you will begin to have a heart for the sick and broken
Discerning of spirits – you begin to see people in the bondage, brokenness, hurting and are able to show them Jesus in a way that sets them free
Love – others and yourself “What’s next part 1” and “Love yourself”
– God values everyone, so should we
– be generous with your time, talent, and treasure
– Eliminate all forms of prejudice
– Always treat others as people Jesus died for
– Act like Jesus in word and deed
– You are the object of God’s great love Jeremiah 31:3, John 3:16
The rest of the fruit of the Spirit –
I have taught numerous times on the fruit of the Spirit but just as a reminder
Galatians 5:22,23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, meekness, kindness, faithfulness, 23 self-control; against such things, there is no law.
Luke 6:43,44
A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. 44 A tree is identified by its fruit. Figs are never gathered from thornbushes, and grapes are not picked from bramble bushes.
John 15:5
“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.
We will naturally supernaturally also flow in the fruit of the Spirit, we have to if we are tied into the vine, that is Jesus.
As a Spirit-filled believer it is against our very nature to not have the fruit of the Spirit flowing in us…remember last week 2 Corinthians 5:17
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
We become like the 120 who shared that day that 5000 came to Christ by living every day as salt, light and a city on the hill through flowing in the gifts, knowing we are loved and loving others. The fruit of the Spirit is a natural outgrowth of who we are
This causes us very naturally to be agents of change…we naturally change the world…we must change the world…if we love then we will change the world
Please take this challenge today…step out of your comfort zone and be the agents of change God has called you to be