五旬节发生的大事
使徒行传二章1至8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?
信息分享
来到犹太人的五旬节那天,门徒如常地在楼房上祷告,然后便前往圣殿祈祷。
也许,当他们正在交谈中问道:「圣灵会在今天这个特别的日子降临吗?」话音未落,圣灵便立即降临。根据经文的记载,我们只知道圣灵是骤然而至,超乎寻常,令人震惊。
在那一刻,门徒只能透过三个神迹来知道圣灵已经降临。首先,是好像有一阵大风吹过。基督早已用「风」来形容圣灵(约三章)。圣灵像风一样,是按着自己的意思自由运行;同时,也像风一样满有能力和可以吹进任何一个地方。
接着,又显出一些像火的东西。再没有其他经文用「火」来形容圣灵,惟独施洗约翰曾经指出,基督将会用「火」给人施洗。
火有燃烧和炼净的作用。同样地,人必须经过圣灵的炼净,才能成为合用的器皿。
最后,是门徒能够说出别国的方言。它象征了教会将来承担的普世宣教工作,要将福音传给各族各民。
但最重要的,是他们被圣灵充满。这种圣灵内住的经验,是旧约大部份圣徒未曾经历过的。被圣灵充满是甚么意思呢?就是让圣灵掌管我们的生命,以致别人能够在我们的生命中得见基督。惟有当圣灵住在我们里面,祂才能在我们生命中和借着我们去完成祂的工作。
祷告:
主啊,求你差圣灵来充满我,并掌管我的生命。
WHAT HAPPENED ON PENTECOST DAY?
Acts 2:1-8
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?
Message
Can you picture the disciples as they gathered on the Day of Pentecost-a Jewish holiday? It appears from Acts 2:2 that they were still in the upper room but also they met in the Temple each day for prayer.
They may have said to each other 'Will the Holy Spirit come on this special day?' and then suddenly he came. There is much that we do not know but his coming was sudden, supernatural and surprising in its effects.
We are told of three miraculous evidences. First there was the sound of strong wind. This was one of Christ's own symbols for the Spirit (John 3). The wind speaks of the unlimited freedom of the Spirit, the force of the Spirit and the fullness of the Spirit. What can fill anything like a strong wind can?
Then there appeared something like fire. This does not seem to have ever been repeated on any other occasion yet one of the first statements of John the Baptist was that Christ would 'baptise' with fire.
Fire burns. Fire cleanses. Here is the cleansing work of the Holy Spirit whereby human vessels are made fit for service.
Then there was the ability to speak in another tongue. This was a symbol of the worldwide ministry the church would have in days to come into all the world to every person.
Most important of all they were filled with the Spirit of God. Here was an abiding experience which had been denied to most of the Old Testament saints. What does it mean to be filled? It is to be controlled by the Spirit of God so that Christ is seen in our lives. Then he is able to do his work in us and through us.
A PRAYER:
Lord fill me, control me by your Spirit today.

