Escaping Ordinary Week 2: Tuesday

They were completely amazed. “How can this be?” they exclaimed. “These people are all from Galilee, and yet we hear them speaking in our own native languages! Acts 2:7-8

Can you imagine if one day Chick-fil-a decided that everyone eats free from now on? No questions, no catch. That would never happen because we need Chick-Fil-A to stay in business but imagine for a moment. If true, this news would get everyone talking. Why? It is unbelievable. It is shocking and needs to be shared. That is what happens when something unbelievable or shocking happens. We tell everyone. On a far grander scale, this happened when the Holy Spirit came upon the early church. Believers were in Jerusalem, and many people had gathered from around the world to celebrate Pentecost, which marked the 50th day after the Passover celebration. Because believers from all over the world were in Jerusalem, these believers spoke many different languages. The believers began speaking in different languages so everyone observing could understand them. Everyone observing this situation was amazed, and they talked about it!

Acts 2 records people’s responses who observed the Holy Spirit’s power in believers as they spoke different languages so they could learn about Christ. “They were completely amazed,” verse 7 tells us. They said, “These people are all from Galilee, and yet we hear them speaking in our own native languages… and we all hear these people speaking in our own languages about the wonderful things God has done!” (verses 7-11). “They stood there amazed and perplexed. ‘What can this mean?’ they asked each other” (verse 12). They observed the power of the Holy Spirit, and they were amazed.

Make no mistake, friends. When the Holy Spirit moves, people notice. When the Holy Spirit uses the church in significant ways, it is impossible not to recognize the Holy Spirit’s power through the church. Whether it is the way that the Holy Spirit’s power leads us to share about Christ with others, take care of a neighbor who is hurting, or something else, people notice when the Holy Spirit moves through the church. In the same way, may we make much of Christ as we live boldly through the Holy Spirit?

Moving toward action

Write the verses in the Going Deeper section for a few minutes. As you write them, reflect on the power of the Holy Spirit. Then, pray and ask the Holy Spirit’s power to give you strength and boldness to make Christ known.

Going Deeper

Acts 2:7-13 (NLT)