| Peter - How did it all start? Can you explain to me | | | | little uneasy, as various nationalities recognised the |
| what happened on that day? I assume you still | | | | languages coming from our mouths as we praised |
| remember the details of that amazing morning | | | | God. |
| when the Church of Jesus Christ was birthed and | | | | These onlookers began to ask, 'What does this |
| launched. | | | | mean?' God had drawn very close and perhaps |
| Let me tell you accurately, what we experienced. | | | | uncomfortably real - giving rise to surprising |
| One hundred and twenty of us were gathered in | | | | reactions. |
| The Temple seven weeks after Jesus had been | | | | Some mocked and laughed and made fun of us, |
| raised from the dead. He had told us to wait in | | | | accusing us of being drunk! |
| Jerusalem. We were not sure what for, and we | | | | Yes, I suppose there are always those who |
| certainly did not know how long. Thousands were | | | | attempt to explain it all away and try and laugh it |
| present that particular morning. It was the | | | | off. |
| harvest festival - Shavuot - with visitors from | | | | That was when I stood up and started explaining |
| many nations. | | | | to the observers what God was doing. The |
| There was a sound like the blowing of a violent | | | | others leaders stood with me, and alongside me, |
| wind, and as we looked around we saw what I | | | | for which I was most grateful. |
| can only describe as tongues of fire resting on | | | | Having praised God and prayed in this new |
| the head of each disciple of Jesus. Yes, there was | | | | tongue, I reverted to my natural speech, raised |
| the sound of this wind, and the sight of flames, | | | | my voice so that all could hear clearly, and |
| and it was Jesus' way of anointing each of us | | | | reassured those around me that no-one was |
| with the power of the Holy Spirit. Wind, fire and | | | | drunk, but this is what Jesus Christ had said He |
| Holy Spirit - what a morning! | | | | would do to fulfill the prophetic scriptures. |
| We were all filled with the Holy Spirit - so full, that | | | | It was for this we were waiting. Now, you know, |
| we began to overflow at the mouth and we | | | | later on, similar things happened in Samaria and in |
| started to praise God in languages we had never | | | | Caesarea, and wherever our dear brother Paul |
| learned. When I look back on what happened it is | | | | served too. When there was a bit of a mess in |
| quite rational and logical. If you are really angry, | | | | Corinth as this was misused and abused, dear Paul |
| where do you overflow? If you are in love, | | | | wrote to these believers correcting them, but |
| where do you overflow? If you are filled with | | | | also saying that He prayed in tongues more than |
| Almighty God, where do you overflow? At the | | | | any of those disciples who happened to be |
| same place - from the mouth and that is what | | | | abusing this manifestation of the Holy Spirit. But |
| each of did that morning. | | | | remember this - if it had not been for the misuse |
| This had nothing whatsoever to do with some | | | | and abuse we would never had Paul's wonderful |
| psychological trick, as cynics have suggested. This | | | | teaching and instruction! Good can emerge from |
| was God fulfilling His Promise and keeping His | | | | what was pretty bad! |
| Word. | | | | Yes, we were the first. Somebody had to be first |
| None of us moved, but the people around us did, | | | | and the wonderful thing is that it has lasted. |
| as they came to have a closer look at what was | | | | Now don't ask me if this is necessary. Jesus said |
| happening. They were bewildered, confused and a | | | | it was essential. |