Jul 4 2012
The Beginning of Gifts
Acts 1.4-5, 12-14, 2.1-6
Andrew was still praying aloud when he heard a rushing sound in his ears. As he glanced across the room he caught Philips eye. He had heard something too. Both instantly shot their eyes over the group. Everyone was wide-eyed and the sound was now around them. Was it in the room or just their ears; they weren’t quite sure. But the air had thickened and there was a pleasant weight upon them. Peter was at the front. He had been kneeling, but as he stood to full height he looked around. There was a fire-like glow on each person, even the ladies at the back. But he could not stare long for the fire was on him too and he felt a driving passion building inside. Oh, it was strong; he wanted to shout. He took a deep breath and gave it voice. What on earth was that? He did it again. Was that language? Could the others hear? This was crazy, but it felt good. He wanted to do it again and again; but was he shouting? It seemed they all were. Yes he could see everyone was. Wow, even Mary…
Though the outpouring of the Holy Spirit was expected, what happened at Pentecost must have taken the group by surprise. More
Apr 12 2013
Essentials of the Ascension
Acts 1 and Genesis 1 have interesting similarities. Both deal with temple creation. In Genesis God creates heaven and earth to be a temple, and in Acts he creates the church to be a temple. In Genesis the building process is all about ordering and empowering. God separates dark from light, the water above from the water below, and the water below from land, and he names each so they can function. He fills the sky with lights, the water with fish, and the land with animals, and finally he creates and empowers people to rule the earth and help him name things. On the seventh day God rests. In ancient times gods rested in temples. The temple was built by worshippers and then the god was invited to rest in it. This did not mean they went to sleep, it meant their presence brought order to the temple and its surrounding community. When a god rested there was no more chaos. Genesis is telling us in the language of the day that Israel’s God built the universe as his temple and then brought his order and rule to it.
In Acts 1 God sets up the church as a temple. Again it is about ordering and empowering. More