07 July 2010 "The Mighty Wind of God" Acts 2:1-4

"When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord^[a] in one place. ² 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." (Acts 2:1-4)

I don't know about you, but this passage of Scripture is perhaps one of the most exciting in the entirety of the Word of God- perhaps just down a notch from the Birth narrative and the Resurrection is this spectacular appearance or entrance of the presence of the Holy Spirit.

I mentioned that this entrance of the Holy Spirit was spectacular- in some ways a little bit too spectacular for some folks reading this narrative- and for good reason. Many people tend to fear that which they can neither understand nor control. The person and the work of the Holy Spirit cannot manipulated, duplicated, or contrived. And when you read this chapter from the Book of Acts, it is clear that you cannot make this stuff up!

For instance, Jesus never told His disciples exactly in what form the Holy Spirit would come when He came, only that He would come. But He began with a great noise and a mighty rushing wind. God had long been associated with wind. In the Old Testament, God revealed Himself in an emblem of breath or wind. In fact, the Hebrew Word for wind and spirit is the same. Often when God is revealing Himself or making His presence known among His people, He frequently uses sound. The sound of a howling wind gets people's attention, for it is just latent with anticipation!

 

About a month ago- very early on a Sunday morning we were all awakened by the sound of a howling wind. It sounded like a freight train, its roaring was so fierce. In fact, it was the signature sound of a tornado passing overhead. When we turned on the news we heard what confirmed our suspicions- tornadic activity was in our vicinity and had touched down over by Camden. We could not go back to sleep after that. The Holy Spirit of God creates spiritually what a tornado will create physically- although I believe without a doubt that both can be heard.

 

Charles Spurgeon once said "I would be the last to depreciate meetings in which there is nothing but holy silence, for I could wish that we had more reverence for silence and it is in stillness that the inner life is nourished. Yet the Holy Spirit does not work for the advancement of the kingdom of God by silence, alone, for faith comes by hearing. There is a sound as of a mighty rushing wind when the Word of God is sounded forth throughout whole nations by the publishing of the Gospel. If the Lord had not given men ears or tongues, silent worship would have been not only appropriate, but necessary—but inasmuch as we have ears, the Lord must have intended us to hear something."

 

What is more is that Spurgeon was quick to say that the Holy Spirit continues to operate and reveal Himself as such. You will note the effect that this wind had. The sound came on this occasion, no doubt, to call the attention of the assembly to what was about to occur—to

awaken them and to fill them with awe! There is something indescribably solemn about the rush into their midst- not just from a corner of the skies, but like a down-draft from heaven: showing us that the true Spirit, the Spirit of God, neither comes from this place nor that—neither can

His power be controlled or directed by human authority—His working is always from above, from God Himself!

 

The work of the Holy Spirit is, so to speak, the breath of God, and His power is always, in a special sense, the immediate power of God. Coming downward, therefore, this mysterious wind passed into the chamber where the disciples were assembled and filled the room. An ordinary rushing mighty wind would have been felt outside the room and would probably have destroyed the house or injured the inhabitants if it had been aimed at any one building—but this heavenly gust filled, but did not destroy the room—it blessed, but did not overthrow the waiting company! The wind came and was noticed, it was felt, but it did not totally overwhelm the people who came nor did it scare them half to death. At the same time, wind makes change. Jesus said in John 3 "The wind bloweth where it listeth." And perhaps this is why the people are most fearful of the work of the Holy Spirit the most. Change scares people. They like their comfort. They like things predictable. They don't like things out of the ordinary because it is too unsettling. But the Holy Spirit is no one to be afraid of, neither should we be afraid of the affects of Him.

 

Next time I will get into the tongues of fire, and until then, have a blessed day!