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CloseRyan Sim - May 13, 2014
Tuesday - Study It - Pioneer Spirit
The book of Acts was written by Luke, a medical doctor who took an interest in the teachings of Jesus through his mentor, Peter. He’s examined the evidence for Jesus’ life in his earlier letter, the Gospel of Luke, and this time he’s looking at what happened to those who decided to continue following Jesus. Jesus has given his followers a huge mission – we learned this last week – to share his good news with the entire world. To the ends of the earth! He gave this mission to twelve central disciples and a hundred or so people who may have gathered around them in this story. It would be hugely daunting, with no modern communications, travel options. They were in uncharted territory, and needed a guide. Jesus promised them the Holy Spirit, and said to wait for him to arrive. Here’s what happened on the day of Pentecost, a Jewish festival. When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.” (Acts 2:1-13 ESV) How could they know if this was truly the Holy Spirit, their guide for this mission they’d been assigned? They experienced three phenomena that only God could produce. Wind It sounded like wind, but wasn’t. It was the Holy Spirit. Not a bad attempt at a physical description of God’s Spirit – we know we can feel the wind, see its effects, but also that we can’t ever pinpoint or control its source. It’s out of our control, and in the case of a sailboat, we have to admit this if we ever want to get anywhere, by adapting ourselves to the reality of the wind’s direction and strength. Flames It looked like fire, wasn’t. This phenomenon didn’t burn them or produce heat. It just appeared and rested on them. They were on fire! Tongues These people sounded like they were speaking languages they knew, but they weren’t. They were speaking other people’s languages. Tomorrow we’ll see the meaning of all this, particularly the languages or tongues. Why all these odd signs of the Spirit? John the Baptist said Spirit would come with wind and fire. God has used these signs before – in Exodus God appeared as a pillar of fire to guide his people. But why now? Question: What do you think God is trying to teach these disciples through wind, fire and speech? What’s he showing them about the Holy Spirit?
Related Topics: Ascension, Early Church, Jesus, Pioneer | More Messages from Ryan Sim | Download Audio
From Series: "Pioneer Story"
We read through the Book of Acts as a Pioneer Story for the church.
More Messages From Ryan Sim...
Thursday - Act On It - Disappointment | April 10, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Disappointment | April 9, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Disappointment | April 8, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Disappointment | April 7, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Reset Death | April 4, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Reset Death | April 3, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Reset Death | April 2, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Reset Death | April 1, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Reset Death | March 31, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Reset: Society | March 28, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Reset Society | March 27, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Reset Society | March 26, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Reset Society | March 25, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Reset Society | March 24, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Reset: Nature | March 21, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Reset: Nature | March 20, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Reset Nature | March 19, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Reset Nature | March 18, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Reset Nature | March 17, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Reset: Compassion | March 14, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Reset Compassion | March 13, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Reset Compassion | March 12, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Reset Compassion | March 11, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Reset Compassion | March 10, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Reset Family | March 6, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Reset Family | March 5, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Reset Family | March 4, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Reset Family | March 3, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Reset Sex and Marriage | February 28, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Sex and Marriage | February 27, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Reset Sex and Marriage | February 26, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Reset Sex and Marriage | February 25, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Reset Sex and Marriage | February 24, 2014 | Sex Is | Watch | Listen | |
Friday - Reflect - Reset Body and Food | February 21, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Reset Body and Food | February 20, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Reset Body and Food | February 19, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Reset Body and Food | February 18, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Reset Body and Food | February 17, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Reset: Work | February 14, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Reset Work | February 13, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Reset Work | February 12, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Reset Work | February 11, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Reset Work | February 10, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Reset: Money | February 7, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Reset Family | February 7, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Reset: Money | February 6, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Reset: Money | February 5, 2014 | O'Leary | Watch | Listen | |
Tuesday - Study It - Reset: Money | February 4, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Reset: Money | February 3, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Reset Time | January 31, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Reset Time | January 30, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Reset Time | January 29, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Reset Time | January 28, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Reset Time | January 27, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Reset: Goals | January 24, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Reset: Goals | January 23, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Reset: Goals | January 22, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Reset: Goals | January 21, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Reset: Goals | January 20, 2014 | TED Talk | Watch | Listen | |
Friday - Reflect - Reset | January 17, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Reset | January 16, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Reset | January 15, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Reset | January 14, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Reset | January 13, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Best of 2013 | January 10, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Best of 2013 | January 9, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Best of 2013 | January 8, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Best of 2013 | January 7, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - Best of 2013 | January 6, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - The Night that Changed The Wise | January 3, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - The Night That Changed the Wise | January 2, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - The Night That Changed the Wise | January 1, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - The Night That Changed the Wise | December 31, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - The Night That Changed the Wise | December 30, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - The Night that Changed You | December 27, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - The Night That Changed You | December 26, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - The Night That Changed You | December 25, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - The Night That Changed You | December 24, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - The Night That Changed You | December 23, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Study It - The Night That Changed the Poor | December 20, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - The Night That Changed the Poor | December 19, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - The Night That Changed the Poor | December 18, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - The Night That Changed the Poor | December 17, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - The Night That Changed the Poor | December 16, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - The Night That Changed the Powerful | December 13, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - The Night That Changed the Powerful | December 12, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - The Night That Changed the Powerful | December 11, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - The Night That Changed the Powerful | December 10, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - The Night That Changed the Powerful | December 9, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - The Night that Changed the Religious | December 6, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - The Night That Changed The Religious | December 5, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - The Night That Changed The Religious | December 4, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - The Night That Changed The Religious | December 3, 2013 | TED Talk | Watch | Listen | |
Monday - A New Idea - The Night That Changed The Religious | December 2, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Generosity in Resources | November 29, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Generosity in Resources | November 28, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Generosity in Resources | November 27, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Generosity - in Resources | November 26, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Generosity - in Resources | November 25, 2013 | Extra | Watch | Listen | |
Friday - Reflect - Grace in Lifestyle | November 22, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Grace - in Lifestyle | November 21, 2013 | 10 Comms | Watch | Listen | |
Wednesday - Change It - Grace - in Lifestyle | November 20, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Grace - in Lifestyle | November 19, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Grace - in Lifestyle | November 18, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - God in Worship | November 15, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - God in Worship | November 14, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - God in Worship | November 13, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - God in Worship | November 12, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - God in Worship | November 11, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Groups in Community | November 8, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Groups - in Community | November 7, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Groups - in Community | November 6, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Groups - in Community | November 5, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Groups - in Community | November 4, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Growth in Discipleship | November 1, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Growth - in Discipleship | October 31, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Growth - in Discipleship | October 30, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Growth - in Discipleship | October 29, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Growth - in Discipleship | October 28, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Becoming Like Family | October 25, 2013 | Watch | Listen |