Day 49 | The Next Step

June 8th, 2019

Acts 2: 1-21
The Ruach Fills the Disciples
1 When the day of Shavuot had come, they were all together in one place.
2 Suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
3 And tongues like fire spreading out appeared to them and settled on each one of them.
4 They were all filled with the Ruach ha-Kodesh and began to speak in other tongues as the Ruach enabled them to speak out.
5 Now Jewish people were staying in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation under heaven.
6 And when this sound came, the crowd gathered. They were bewildered, because each was hearing them speaking in his own language.
7 And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “All these who are speaking—aren’t they Galileans?
8 How is it that we each hear our own birth language?
9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites and those living in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,
10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and parts of Libya toward Cyrene, and visitors from Rome
11 (both Jewish people and proselytes), Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring in our own tongues the mighty deeds of God!”
12 And they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to each other, “What does this mean?”
13 Others, poking fun, were saying, “They are full of sweet new wine!”
Peter Speaks to the Shavuot Crowd
14 But Peter, standing with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed them: “Fellow Judeans and all who are staying in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and pay attention to my words.
15 These men are not drunk, as you suppose—for it’s only the third hour of the day!
16 But this is what was spoken about through the prophet Joel:
17 ‘And it shall be in the last days,’ says God, ‘that I will pour out My Ruach on all flesh. Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.
18 Even on My slaves, male and female, I will pour out My Ruach in those days, and they shall prophesy.
19 And I will give wonders in the sky above and signs on the earth beneath— blood, and fire, and smoky vapor.
20 The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the great and glorious Day of Adonai comes.
21 And it shall be that everyone who calls on the name of Adonai shall be saved.’

REFLECT

By the time the event of Acts 2 had occurred, many things had changed in the lives of the disciples. Yeshua had been executed, resurrected, and had ascended into heaven. The disciples had lost their leader, and were waiting for instructions on what to do next. Instead of allowing depression or confusion to enter into their minds, they banded together. They prayed and waited patiently for what was coming next. It’s certain that they didn't expect the way that God had showed up, but after it was over, there was no doubt that this was what they were waiting for… The next step had come, and it would change not only their lives but countless others from that moment on. As we reflect on what this means, it’s important to realize that God wants to work the same way through us. He wants to send His Spirit in a new and powerful way so that lives will be changed, hearts healed, and souls coming to know Him. The possibilities are endless.