圣灵降临
使徒行传二章1至12节
1五旬节到了,门徒都聚集在一处。
2忽然,从天上有响声下来,好像一阵大风吹过,充满了他们所坐的屋子,
3又有舌头如火燄显现出来,分开落在他们各人头上。
4他们就都被圣灵充满,按着圣灵所赐的口才说起别国的话来。
5那时,有虔诚的犹太人从天下各国来,住在耶路撒冷。
6这声音一响,众人都来聚集,各人听见门徒用众人的乡谈说话,就甚纳闷;
7都惊讶希奇说:看哪,这说话的不都是加利利人么?
8我们各人,怎么听见他们说我们生来所用的乡谈呢?
9我们帕提亚人、玛代人、以拦人,和住在美索不达米亚、犹太、加帕多家、本都、亚西亚、
10弗吕家、旁非利亚、埃及的人,并靠近古利奈的利比亚一带地方的人,从罗马来的客旅中,或是犹太人,或是进犹太教的人,
11克里特和亚拉伯人,都听见他们用我们的乡谈,讲说神的大作为。
12众人就都惊讶猜疑,彼此说:这是甚么意思呢?
信息分享
那天早上,他们一如往常地一起祷告;但突然之间,一阵奇怪的响声在他们耳边响起--原来圣灵真是照基督的应许降临了!
对门徒来说,这是一个奇怪的经历;而且,从许多方面来看,这样的经历也是空前绝后的。在教会历史中,纵然也曾因为圣灵独特地降临在某个群体中间,而出现过不少次大复兴,但类似这段经文所记载的经历却是绝无仅有的。我们今天也不能要求神在我们身上做同样的工作,因为圣灵如今已住在每位信徒的心中。
群众先听见一阵大风吹过的响声,接着又听见门徒用不同的方言来说话,他们都感到十分好奇,想知道有甚么事情发生。彼得抓紧机会向群众解说,结果,他讲了一篇动人的讲章,而且,第40 节还告诉我们,他更作了很多见证。
带来甚么结果呢?结果就是:在个多月前曾经要把基督钉十架的群众,此刻醒觉到自己犯下弥天大罪。究竟是谁指出他们的罪?说话的人当然是彼得;然而,却是圣灵的大能叫人知罪。你记得基督曾经怎样论及圣灵的工作吗?「他[圣灵]既来了,就要叫世人为罪…自己责备自己…是因他们不信我」(约十六8-9)。圣灵正是在这天来到世人中间,叫人知道自己有罪。
我们向别人传福音的时候,是否感到自己的言语空泛、软弱无力?是否因为我们没有祈求圣灵亲自在人的心中工作?我们是否以为自已可取代圣灵的工作?其实,只有圣灵可以真正向人的内心说话,使人醒觉自己的罪和认识耶稣基督;因此,我们传福音的时候,务必要祈求和仰赖圣灵的工作。
反思:
当我们祷告的时候,神便会借着圣灵进行祂的工作。
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.

