Sometimes The Spirit Is Not So Gentle

⁴⁸You are witnesses of these things. ⁴⁹And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised;(Lk 24)

This last Sunday, May 31, we celebrated the birthday of the church — Pentecost.

The day the God’s Original Wireless Designed was set loose in the Disciples.  

And they dared to speak.

Peter, the realistic one, the one who denied Jesus, one of the ones who hide behind locked doors in fear of the Jews.

Now stands brave and bold in front those he once hid from, and fearlessly speaks. 

Witnesses, unafraid, to what he knows as truth.

14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them: ‘Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. ¹⁵Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. ¹⁶No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: 

22 ‘You that are Israelites, listen to what I have to say: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with deeds of power, wonders, and signs that God did through him among you, as you yourselves know— ²³this man, handed over to you according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of those outside the law. ²⁴But God raised him up, having freed him from death, because it was impossible for him to be held in its power.(Act 2)

He is speaking to all those who have gathered to witnessed the Spirit’s mighty power.   “All” nationalities, yes even the Jewish leaders.

And he begins to take his responsibly — his privilege — of accepting Jesus commission to go and witness to all the world.

Reading about this extraordinary event, I encourage you to go back to before and after Jesus was arrested and crucified.  When this same man denied he even knew Jesus.

Think about when Jesus came among the disciple, as they hovered in fear that first Easter night, when Jesus breathed on them and said; “receive the Holy Spirit.” (Jn 20)

And their reaction was to go fishing.

That same Peter, after a violent wind and tongues of fire invaded his skin.  Was transformed from fear to courage and spoke.

Sometimes God needs to be a bit more forceful with we strong minded people.

If the Holy Spirit can connect with a strong minds such as Peter’s.  Imagine what it can do for you and me.