聖靈降臨
使徒行傳二章1至12節
1五旬節到了，門徒都聚集在一處。
2忽然，從天上有響聲下來，好像一陣大風吹過，充滿了他們所坐的屋子，
3又有舌頭如火燄顯現出來，分開落在他們各人頭上。
4他們就都被聖靈充滿，按著聖靈所賜的口才說起別國的話來。
5那時，有虔誠的猶太人從天下各國來，住在耶路撒冷。
6這聲音一響，眾人都來聚集，各人聽見門徒用眾人的鄉談說話，就甚納悶；
7都驚訝希奇說：看哪，這說話的不都是加利利人麼？
8我們各人，怎麼聽見他們說我們生來所用的鄉談呢？
9我們帕提亞人、瑪代人、以攔人，和住在美索不達米亞、猶太、加帕多家、本都、亞西亞、
10弗呂家、旁非利亞、埃及的人，並靠近古利奈的利比亞一帶地方的人，從羅馬來的客旅中，或是猶太人，或是進猶太教的人，
11克里特和亞拉伯人，都聽見他們用我們的鄉談，講說神的大作為。
12眾人就都驚訝猜疑，彼此說：這是甚麼意思呢？
信息分享
那天早上，他們一如往常地一起禱告；但突然之間，一陣奇怪的響聲在他們耳邊響起--原來聖靈真是照基督的應許降臨了！
對門徒來說，這是一個奇怪的經歷；而且，從許多方面來看，這樣的經歷也是空前絕後的。在教會歷史中，縱然也曾因為聖靈獨特地降臨在某個群體中間，而出現過不少次大復興，但類似這段經文所記載的經歷卻是絕無僅有的。我們今天也不能要求神在我們身上做同樣的工作，因為聖靈如今已住在每位信徒的心中。
群眾先聽見一陣大風吹過的響聲，接著又聽見門徒用不同的方言來說話，他們都感到十分好奇，想知道有甚麼事情發生。彼得抓緊機會向群眾解說，結果，他講了一篇動人的講章，而且，第40 節還告訴我們，他更作了很多見證。
帶來甚麼結果呢？結果就是：在個多月前曾經要把基督釘十架的群眾，此刻醒覺到自己犯下彌天大罪。究竟是誰指出他們的罪？說話的人當然是彼得；然而，卻是聖靈的大能叫人知罪。你記得基督曾經怎樣論及聖靈的工作嗎？「他[聖靈]既來了，就要叫世人為罪…自己責備自己…是因他們不信我」(約十六8-9)。聖靈正是在這天來到世人中間，叫人知道自己有罪。
我們向別人傳福音的時候，是否感到自己的言語空泛、軟弱無力？是否因為我們沒有祈求聖靈親自在人的心中工作？我們是否以為自已可取代聖靈的工作？其實，只有聖靈可以真正向人的內心說話，使人醒覺自己的罪和認識耶穌基督；因此，我們傳福音的時候，務必要祈求和仰賴聖靈的工作。
反思：
當我們禱告的時候，神便會藉著聖靈進行祂的工作。
THE DAY THE HOLY SPIRIT CAME
Acts 2: 1 -12
1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
5 And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven.
6 And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language.
7 Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans?
8 And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born?
9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,
10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,
11 Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.”
12 So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “Whatever could this mean?”
Message
They had met together for prayer that morning as they usually did. Then suddenly a strange sound was heard. It was the Holy Spirit coming to them as Christ had promised.
It was a strange experience for the disciples. In many ways it has never been repeated although in some mighty revivals during the history of the church, the Spirit of God has come upon a group of people in a special way and the results have been remarkable. That is not something we should demand God to do for us now. The Holy Spirit is here and lives today in every believer.
The crowds who heard the noise of the wind and heard the disciples speaking in different languages wanted to know what was happening. Peter took the opportunity to explain, and in doing so, he preached a wonderful sermon. But v. 40 tells us that he said many other things too on that wonderful day.
What were the results? Those who six or seven weeks before had put Christ to death, now felt the terrible guilt of what they had done. Who had spoken to them? Peter of course, but behind Peter’s words was the marvellous power of the Holy Spirit. Do you remember what Christ had said about the Holy Spirit? ‘When he is come, he will convict the world of sin, because they did not believe in me.’ That was what happened that day. The Holy Spirit convicted men and women of their sin.
Do our words seem empty and powerless at times? Is it because we are not asking the Holy Spirit to do his work? Are we trying to do his work for him? He is the only one who can really speak to hearts about sin and about Christ. Why not make sure we ask him and we allow him to do the work he came to do?
A THOUGHT:
God works by his Spirit when we pray.