Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States - Lutheran Semonary God Pause - Moved by the Promise for Monday, 2 June 2014 - Read Acts 2:1-21

Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States - Lutheran Semonary God Pause - Moved by the Promise for Monday, 2 June 2014 - Read Acts 2:1 Now when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 Suddenly there came from the sky a sound like the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 Tongues like fire appeared and were distributed to them, and one sat on each of them. 4 They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak. 5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under the sky. 6 When this sound was heard, the multitude came together, and were bewildered, because everyone heard them speaking in his own language. 7 They were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Behold, aren’t all these who speak Galileans? 8 How do we hear, everyone in our own native language? 9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, 10 Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, the parts of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabians: we hear them speaking in our languages the mighty works of God!” 12 They were all amazed, and were perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 Others, mocking, said, “They are filled with new wine.”
14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and spoke out to them, “You men of Judea, and all you who dwell at Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to my words. 15 For these aren’t drunken, as you suppose, seeing it is only the third hour of the day.[a] 16 But this is what has been spoken through the prophet Joel:
17 ‘It will be in the last days, says God,
    that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh.
Your sons and your daughters will prophesy.
    Your young men will see visions.
    Your old men will dream dreams.
18 Yes, and on my servants and on my handmaidens in those days,
    I will pour out my Spirit, and they will prophesy.
19 I will show wonders in the sky above,
    and signs on the earth beneath;
    blood, and fire, and billows of smoke.
20 The sun will be turned into darkness,
    and the moon into blood,
    before the great and glorious day of the Lord comes.
21     It will be that whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.’[b]
Footnotes:
a. Acts 2:15 about 9:00 AM
b. Acts 2:21 Joel 2:28-32(World English Bible)
It was the Eve of Pentecost, 2005. I was in Wittenberg, Germany, preparing to lead worship at the Town Church. I felt unworthy—excited—to proclaim the Good News where Luther had stood. About 100 people gathered for English worship. Twenty-two students and two professors from Indiana Wesleyan University entered; I hastened to greet them. The Holy Spirit must have sparked an idea. Impulsively, I asked if any of the students would read Scripture. Three hands shot up. A young woman requested to read the text from Acts 2. Two men chose the psalm and epistle lessons. All read flawlessly, joyfully. I barely remember my sermon, but I cannot forget their faces beaming as they stood at the lectern and shared the Word for Pentecost. Afterward, the group raced forward to thank me for the privilege. They later sent a note that Pentecost worship was the highlight of their European tour! The Holy Spirit gave the spark, impulse, and invitation, and we were witnesses to God at work.
O God, Holy Spirit, you give us the privilege of recalling and proclaiming your saving and sanctifying acts in humble clay vessels. Continue to spark our faith and give witness to the Spirit. Amen.
Carol A Solovitz
Pastor, Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, Lakeland, Fla. 
Acts 2:1 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.
2 And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.
3 Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them.
4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.
5 Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem.
6 And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each.
7 Amazed and astonished, they asked, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans?
8 And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language?
9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,
10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,
11 Cretans and Arabs--in our own languages we hear them speaking about God's deeds of power."
12 All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "What does this mean?"
13 But others sneered and said, "They are filled with new wine."
14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, "Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say.
15 Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o'clock in the morning.
16 No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:
17 "In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.
18 Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy.
19 And I will show portents in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist.
20 The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the coming of the Lord's great and glorious day.

21 Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.'
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