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MUST-SEE-MOMENTS

In middle school we finally began going from classroom-to-classroom, 40-ish minutes at a time.

Students had 5 minutes in between class to make the trek to gym, go to their locker use the restroom, etc.

Most of the time these 5 minutes were spent with just your group of friends gathering in the hallways and being hooligans.

Occassionally, though someone from the group would run into the circle out of breath and with a wild story to tell.

The story was often times full of excitement, consistent with the world we lived in, but also dancing on the edge of "I-gotta-see-this-for-myself."

Something similar is happening in Acts 2:12.

ACTS 2:12

The disciples are speaking in multiple languages about the wonders of God to a group of God-fearing folks from all over the known world. As this is happening the text says:

12 "Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, 'What does this mean?'"

You can imagine the scene:

  • Everyone is gathered together in between events at this big festival
  • The disciples begin sharing the story of God with is people (ie - the wonders of God)
  • The disciples tone is filled with excitement and enthusiasm, because the story they are telling no doubt contains Jesus as being the culmination of God at work
  • The story is so consistent and also dancing on that razor's edge of "Really?!"

...that the people respond with being amazed.

It's worth noting in this moment, that the people are not amazed because:

  • A magic trick is happening
  • A new religion is being introduced
  • A complete break with Judaism is happening

They are amazed because:

  • The disciples are thoroughly Jewis and are sharing
  • Something that is wildly consistent with the Jewish scriptures and also
  • Something that has an unexpected twist (the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus)

This kind of razor's edge moment creates amazement.

CONSISTENTLY AMAZED

As we lean into the season of Pentecost, it's worth remembering that the amazement the Holy Spirit gives us is not due to hype or because we are receiving a new revelation of the Holy Spirit that is a break from historic Judaism/Christianity (these are called cults).

The amazement the Holy Spirit gives us is retelling, rehearing, reliving of the ancient story in such a way that we hear it, see it, live it with fresh ears, fresh eyes, and fresh hearts.

It's a new things in us, not a new thing in the story.

So be encouraged this Pentecost season.

When the Holy Spirit falls, he isn't necessarily doing a brand new thing.

He is simply bringing back to life in us gifts has been dormant or never fully sprouted in the first place.

The Holy Spirit makes old and dormant things in us new and alive.

This is the incredible thing about Pentecost.