The Wonders of God

Acts 1:8, 2:1-12

Have you ever had someone tell you "just listen carefully for God's voice - often it is a still, small voice?"  I have - shoot, I've probably said it to others!  They are using scripture whether they know it or not:
(I Kings 19:11-12)
¹¹ The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. ¹² After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. (translated a 'still small voice in the King James version).

And often, that is the case, that God doesn't shout to get our attention.  However, in Acts, the first time the Holy Spirit appeared, His voice was anything but still and small!  Read over these verses (Acts 2:1-4):

"When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.  Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.  They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.  All of them were filled with the holy spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the spirit enabled them. "

(I bolded the LOUD parts so you wouldn't miss them!).

You can imagine how exciting/terrifying/wonderful/frightening - all at the same time - this was for the disciples.  And the God-fearing Jews who were in Jerusalem for Passover?  They were utterly amazed - "we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!"  Later in Chapter 2 we read that daily, hundreds of people came to faith, as a direct result of the Holy Spirit's work.

So.....are you open to the Holy Spirit's work in your life?  Am I?  Do we gather regularly with other believers, trusting that He will work in our lives?  Are we asking for His presence?  Come Holy Spirit - give me the grace to believe that you have work for me, for our church, to glorify you.  I, too, want to declare the wonders of God!