Tongues of Fire

00:00:00 Speaker 1: But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1.8 Heavenly Father, thank you for the promise of your power through the Holy Spirit. You have called us to be your witnesses to the ends of the earth, and we are humbled by this great commission. Fill us with the Holy Spirit. empowering us to boldly proclaim the truth of Jesus Christ. Grant us courage to share your love with those around us and wisdom to live as examples of your grace. Help us to be faithful in our witness, trusting that you are with us every step. 00:00:49 Speaker 2: Of the way. 00:00:50 Speaker 1: May our lives shine brightly, drawing others to the hope and salvation found in you alone. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Thank you for praying with me today. You're listening to the Jesus Podcast. Dramatic stories inspired by the Bible. Remain here for another story from our mini-series on the birth of the church. Has this podcast inspired you? We would love it if you left a rating and review and shared with a friend. Peter sat with Matthias on the roof of the house overlooking the busy streets of Jerusalem. It was the morning of Pentecost, and there was no lack of noise to show for it. Jews from all directions had traversed into the city of David to celebrate the holy day. Fifty days after Passover, they would commemorate the giving of the law to Moses on Mount Sinai, as well as mark the start of the summer harvest. To the Jews, Pentecost was a day of remembering God's unification of his people under his commandments. 00:02:04 Speaker 2: Watching people gather for Shabbat never gets old. Gotta love our people's willingness to travel to Jerusalem for the festivals. You know, a few years back, when we were here with Jesus, you know, a few years back, when we were here with Jesus, we got caught teaching by some of the Pharisees. 00:02:24 Speaker 1: Matthias unwittingly stopped listening to Peter's story. He could only imagine Peter and the other apostles had hundreds of personal stories about their adventures with Jesus. He laid his head in his hand and stared at the sea of pilgrims with glassy eyes. Peter took notice of the disengaged Matthias. 00:02:46 Speaker 2: Well, Matthias, it's been almost a week since you were named an apostle. How does it feel? 00:02:52 Speaker 1: The young man averted his eyes from Peter's. He'd been wondering the same thing himself. In some ways, Matthias felt radically changed. With no warning, he had gone from a mere bystander to one of the renowned Twelve. But in many regards, he felt no different than he had a week ago. In his mind, all he ever was or would be was the same old Matthias. Was he supposed to feel different? And if so, how? 00:03:29 Speaker 3: Are you in pain after walking, running, or even just standing? It's not your feet. It's your shoes. This summer, switch to G-Defy shoes with patented VersoShock technology, which aligns your body, provides superior shock absorption, and trampoline-like energy return. G-Defy offers soles and styles for any activity. plus two free orthotics. Whether you're an athlete, a busy parent, or always on the go, G-Defy shoes deliver the comfort and versatility your feet crave. Say goodbye to discomfort and hello to unparalleled support this summer. Enjoy a special summer offer. Visit G-Defy.com and get $ 20 off your order of $ 100 or more with code PRAY. Experience the miracle of ultimate comfort with G-Defy shoes. Visit G-D-E-F-Y dot com today. 00:04:28 Speaker 4: Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would come. John the Baptist foretold that he would come with fire. Yet despite all these reminders and warnings, nothing could quite prepare the apostles for what would happen on Pentecost. Welcome to the Jesus Podcast. I'm Zach with Pray.com, here to guide you through another epic story about the birth of the church. If you've been enjoying this podcast and have been listening all throughout the year and haven't yet left a review or followed or shared with a friend, we would love it if you did so. Those small steps might seem insignificant to you, but to us in the podcasting space, they actually mean quite a bit. We really appreciate it. Today's story is inspired by Acts 2, 1-11, and it's one of the most dramatic and foundational passages in the New Testament. It describes the day of Pentecost, an event that marked the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the early church. This was no ordinary day. It was a divine intersection of history and prophecy, a moment that changed the course of Christianity forever. As we dive into this story, let's open our hearts to the profound implications of Pentecost, for our faith, yes, but also for where we lie in the grand story of Christ's church. 00:05:45 Speaker 2: Matthias? 00:05:47 Speaker 5: You there, buddy? 00:05:48 Speaker 1: Huh? 00:05:49 Speaker 5: Oh, yeah. 00:05:50 Speaker 6: I'm sorry. 00:05:52 Speaker 2: What was the question? 00:05:54 Speaker 6: How does it feel? I guess it's hard to say. 00:05:57 Speaker 2: Let me fill you in on a little secret, okay? 00:06:00 Speaker 1: Matthias perked up. He could use any tricks of the trade he could get his hands on. 00:06:06 Speaker 2: Three years ago, Jesus called me to follow him. Saying yes was the best decision of my life. But speaking candidly, it's also been one of the most difficult. I was always hard on myself, especially when I did things wrong. And don't tell the others I said this. But I did a lot wrong. But then I realized Jesus didn't call me because he needed my help. He called me because he wanted my heart. Just give him your heart. and he'll supply the rest. 00:06:45 Speaker 1: Matthias had heard tales about Peter's faith and failures, such as how he'd walked on water only to sink seconds later, or accurately identify Jesus as the Messiah only to be rebuked by Jesus moments later. If Peter could find strength in the Lord's calling despite his weaknesses, maybe there was hope for him too. 00:07:08 Speaker 6: Please don't take this the wrong way, but You're not anything like I would have expected. I had heard stories about the rock and how headstrong you were. But taking the time to sit here with me, I can't thank you enough for talking with me about my worries. I just want to honor the Lord Jesus. 00:07:27 Speaker 1: Peter chuckled. There was no denying that the rumors were true. He had spent far too long putting his foot in his mouth and cutting off the ears of temple guards. The two Apostles continued to watch the city. The Jews were like ants, marching along carved-out corridors between houses and shops, separate individuals all seemingly working together as a society. Behind them, the hatch to the roof opened up. Philip clambered through and dusted the straw from his tunic. Philip was glad to see Peter caring for the newly appointed Apostle. 00:08:09 Speaker 2: I'm sorry to intrude, but we're gathering downstairs for prayer. Would you two care to join us? If not, I'm sure I can make up some excuse for you. James and John are arguing over something anyways, so I don't think anyone would notice your absence, even if I didn't say anything. No, no, you're not intruding at all. We'll make our way down with you. Matthias was just giving me a pep talk. 00:08:36 Speaker 1: Peter winked at Matthias. For three years, Peter had the luxury of being directly discipled by Jesus. Now was his chance to do the same for another. Peter, Matthias, and Philip carefully made their way down into the house, where they were greeted by the rest of the apostles. 00:08:56 Speaker 2: Ah, Peter, perfect timing. 00:08:59 Speaker 6: Please tell my brother James here that it wasn't my fault when we lost that massive catch back when we were teenagers. 00:09:05 Speaker 5: I didn't say it was your fault. All I was saying was that you were the one who let go of the net too early. If you want to interpret that to mean it was your fault, maybe it's just our guilty conscience. 00:09:17 Speaker 1: Peter rolled his eyes at James and John. With all of the ambiguity these days, he found solace in knowing some things never changed. 00:09:27 Speaker 2: I don't know anything about the catch, but I do know that Philip here said we had some praying to do. Maybe you can ask the Lord whose fault it was, eh? 00:09:37 Speaker 1: The Sons of Thunder lived up to the nickname Jesus had given them. Their passionate spirits consumed every area of their lives, including arguments about their long-lost days of fishing. But now they had shrunk back like embarrassed children, being reprimanded by a parent. They sidled along the room's back wall to make room for Peter and Matthias. Everyone found their seats and steadied their minds in preparation for prayer. The sound of hundreds of footsteps and creaking carts poured in through the window. Peter found himself increasingly distracted. He pressed his eyes shut tight, causing flashes of light to dance around inside of his eyelids. On the roof, Peter had found the warmth of the sun to be refreshing, but now he found himself catching a chill. He opened his eyes to see the curtain across the window blowing inward with a heavy breeze. Peter shifted himself in his seat, but before he could steady himself, a torrent blasted through the window. and kicked the door to the house wide open. With it came a piercing howl, as violent as a hurricane. The apostles clasped their hands to their ringing ears and jumped to their feet, sending their chairs tumbling backward. The wind began to rush even harder and sent shivers down their spines. Cups and plates rattled from their shelves, falling to the floor in splintering crashes. The coarse dust scuffed against their cheeks. The apostles protected their eyes from the rogue desert storm. Fear wrapped its fingers around their hearts, squeezing ever so tighter. Peter's protective instinct caused him to look around for Matthias. Through the haze of debris, he could make out puddles of light, like flames flickering in the night. And as quickly as it had started, The wind ceased, and all was still. Peter called out to the others. 00:11:54 Speaker 2: Is everyone okay? 00:11:55 Speaker 6: I think so, but what was that? 00:11:59 Speaker 2: And what is that? 00:12:01 Speaker 1: As the dust settled, the rest of the apostles could see what Matthew was pointing to, that the center of the room was a collection of fires. shaped like tongues. They expanded and detracted slowly, as though they were breathing. In one smooth motion, the tongues separated and glided around the room, finding a new dwelling place atop each of their heads. Peter watched as his rose above him. As soon as it reached him, it melted away the icy chills. He felt like a warm bath of water was being poured out over him. Though the tongues sat above their heads, the warmth they experienced emanated in their hearts. The Spirit of God had made a new home in these followers of Jesus. The disciples quaked in fear, unable to find the wherewithal to move. There was no doubt in their minds. that this was precisely what Jesus had told them to wait for. Each man stood stricken with awe. They had received the promised gift of the Father. With the sensation of the Spirit stirring in their hearts, they finally understood what Jesus meant when he said it would be better that he go, even if he wasn't standing there with him. He felt closer to them than they had ever felt before. 00:13:39 Speaker 2: This must be it, the Holy Spirit, just as Jesus said. I definitely can't think of any other explanation for what just happened. I wonder if the whole city was hit by the winds. 00:13:52 Speaker 1: Eleven of the apostles hurried out of the front door to examine their surroundings. Matthias sat alone on the ground in the corner of the room, arms firmly wrapped around his knees. He couldn't understand how the others had so quickly moved on after the spectacle they'd just witnessed. Never before had Matthias seen such a wonderful and terrifying display of God's power. A few short hours ago, Matthias felt like he was ill-equipped to be an apostle. But in the aftermath of the ethereal whirlwind, he felt ready to take on the world. Matthias knew this newfound confidence was anything but his own doing. Remembering the other apostles, he shook the dust from his hair and promptly followed the others outside. Matthias stepped out into the open air, the light nearly blinding him with its white rays. His eyes adjusted and caught sight of the others. They were standing just outside the door in a circle. They were enthusiastically recounting all that had just happened. Matthias joined the group. As they talked, he noticed a throng of Jews approaching. It seemed that theirs was the only house that had endured the harsh winds. But evidently the sound had caught the curiosity of the surrounding neighborhood, leading them to investigate. Upon hearing the disciples, their faces seemed startled, if not shocked. that the disciples were talking. Matthias couldn't figure out what was so off-putting about a group of Jews talking with one another on Pentecost. There were only twelve of the thousands of men now parading around the city. He could only assume the most logical conclusion was that they were going to accuse the apostles of starting the commotion. God-fearing Jews from all different backgrounds and nations joined to inspect the scene. They wore garments from a wide array of cultures, and from the looks they wore on their faces. They were disturbed by these men from Galilee and Judea. At first, they simply listened, mouths slightly agape. An elderly man with a braided beard stepped forward. He lifted his bony hands to the apostles. 00:16:21 Speaker 2: Is everyone all right? 00:16:23 Speaker 6: In all my years, I've never seen a rogue storm sweep through like that. 00:16:28 Speaker 2: I don't understand it. 00:16:30 Speaker 1: Another Jew pressed through the mass. 00:16:32 Speaker 2: Of the people. That was no storm. That was something otherworldly. 00:16:40 Speaker 1: More and more people accumulated around the house. For all their speculations, the crowd only became more fearful. At what sort of power could cause such a disturbance? The apostles did their best to quiet the crowds, but shouts rang out from all around them. Peter did his best to ignore the noise as he thought of a plan, but his mind was overcome with the swirling voices. He felt like he could hear everything and nothing all at the same time. He shut his eyes tight and pressed his palms. 00:17:17 Speaker 5: To his ears. 00:17:18 Speaker 1: As his ears drummed with the dull hum of the crowd. Peter could only hear one voice now. It was a familiar one, quiet but perfectly clear. 00:17:32 Speaker 2: Speak to the people. My spirit will give you the words. 00:17:36 Speaker 1: Peter opened his eyes. From the looks of the other apostles' faces, he was the only one who had heard their rabbi. Peter stepped back from the crowds. and raised his voice above the noise. 00:17:50 Speaker 2: Men of Israel, if you would please calm down. We'll explain this to everyone. 00:17:56 Speaker 1: The crowd continued to murmur and press forward. Peter prepared to speak again, this time with the full force of his lungs. 00:18:06 Speaker 2: Brothers, be still. You are right to say that what you have seen is not of this world. But do not be afraid. The Spirit of God has moved in this place. 00:18:18 Speaker 1: The crowd fell silent at the command. The waves of shoving stilled to slow sways of awe as men from all nations realized that they could hear the fishermen from Galilee call out in their own tongues. 00:18:36 Speaker 2: Did he just speak Egyptian? I assure you that was Parthian. I believe you're both mistaken. That was perfect Greek. 00:18:48 Speaker 1: The crowd was in shock. Everyone had understood Peter in their own tongue, but none could agree with what language he had spoken in. The crowd was caught in bemusement, both at Peter's words and his command of all their languages. 00:19:07 Speaker 7: So what does this mean? What wonder of God has befallen us here on this day? 00:19:13 Speaker 1: A scoff could be heard to the side of the crowd. A harsh voice spat at the disciples with disdain. 00:19:21 Speaker 7: Wonder of God, it seems like you all started your celebration a little early today. You're nothing more than a group of drunkards making up fairy tales. I've traveled up and down these lands, and I can tell you with absolute certainty that no Galilean would ever be educated enough to speak in more than two languages, let alone a dozen. 00:19:46 Speaker 1: A few of the surrounding bystanders grunted in agreement. Feeling the sting of disrespect, James made a move to lunge at the man who had insulted them. He didn't care that someone would mock him, but to deface a radical work of God by calling it a drunken stupor was more than the fiery disciple could handle. But before he could make his move, he was quickly pulled back by John and Andrew. Philip and Nathaniel stepped in front of him, allowing him a moment to come to his senses. 00:20:20 Speaker 7: See? They can't even control themselves. 00:20:24 Speaker 1: Matthias stood behind the other eleven apostles. His eyes darted from left to right. He knew that the others were likely much more used to these types of interactions. But as for himself... Every second felt like hours as his insides knotted together with fear. Almost instinctively, he looked to Peter for any inkling of what they should do next. He watched as Peter stood tall. His chest was puffed out and his head tilted slightly forward. He stared fixedly at the crowd as he calculated their next move. Peter tried to think what Jesus would have done in a situation like this. 00:21:10 Speaker 2: Argue? 00:21:11 Speaker 4: Flee? 00:21:12 Speaker 1: Perform a miracle? How was he supposed to know what to do? He looked over at Matthias, who was staring back at him, clearly looking for answers. Peter thought back to what he had said to the new apostle on the rooftop that morning. 00:21:31 Speaker 2: He called me because he wanted my heart. Just give him your heart. and he'll supply the rest. 00:21:38 Speaker 1: Jesus wanted Peter's heart, just like he wanted the hearts of the men who stood before them now. They weren't his enemies. They were lost sheep in desperate need of a shepherd. Jesus had Peter's heart, and in return, he had supplied Peter with everything he needed, the spirit of the living God. Peter knew exactly what he needed to do. It was time for him to feed Jesus' sheep. 00:22:15 Speaker 4: When the day of Pentecost had fully come, the disciples were gathered together in one place. The scene is set for an extraordinary event, the arrival of the Holy Spirit. Pentecost, traditionally a Jewish feast celebrating the first fruits of the wheat harvest and the giving of the law, now becomes the day of first fruits for the Holy Spirit. It's as though God is saying just as the wheat harvest was a sign of abundance to come, so too the outpouring of the Holy Spirit is a sign of the new covenant and the harvest of people, souls that are going to be coming to God. It was Jesus who said the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Well, the Spirit is coming to empower the laborers for the grand harvest. It's this beautiful thing that the Holy Spirit's coming on the day of Pentecost. This celebration that's celebrating the harvest is now the one that's ushering in the coming of the Holy Spirit who is going to help with the grand harvest of these souls. Imagine in the scene, a sound of rushing mighty wind filling an entire house and dividing tongues of fire appearing on each disciple. This supernatural occurrence wasn't just for show, and it's not just a fairy tale either. It signified a profound shift from the old covenant to the new. While the law was given on Mount Sinai, now the spirit of grace is given to every believer symbolized by fire, a cleansing, purifying presence. The disciples were all in one place, in one accord, united in their anticipation of the promise Jesus had given them. Their unity was not just about physical proximity, but this shared spiritual experience. You know, that's a part of what the Holy Spirit does to us. The Holy Spirit unifies people. If you've ever been blessed enough to go on a mission trip overseas, or you've traveled to a different country and visited churches, you'll know that there's this shared camaraderie, even though the cultures may differ. If you're a believer in Bangladesh, you have far more in common with a believer in the United States or in the Philippines than you do with the stranger next door that doesn't believe in the Lord. You see, the Holy Spirit binds us together. And it's important to note that that these disciples waiting and praying together created an environment ripe for the Holy Spirit's arrival. You see, unity precedes amazing acts of the Spirit. Unity prepares us to receive God's gifts and work effectively for his mission. When the Holy Spirit filled the disciples, they began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. This was not a random babbling, but a miraculous ability to speak in languages previously unknown to them. When we think about the gifts of tongues today, it can kind of be a divisive topic to talk about. Oftentimes when we imagine the gift of tongues, we imagine traveling evangelical preachers, people babbling in a language that seems foreign and odd. But our first encounter with the gift of tongues is actually in being able to speak in different languages to proclaim the gospel of Jesus. The gift of tongues in any sort of utterance is always meant to further the gospel of Jesus. Paul the Apostle even said that the gift of tongues without any sort of interpretation is actually fruitless. Paul even said that he would much rather we prophesy because even then we can edify one another in there. This brings us back to the theme of unity. You see, the Holy Spirit had come to unify these people of different languages to hear the one singular gospel. The diversity of languages spoken was significant. It represented these many nations gathered in Jerusalem for Pentecost, yes, but it also represented the unifying of all these different nations under God. Do you remember the promise of Abraham way back when in Genesis? God said that every single nation would be blessed by Abraham's seed. Well, Abraham's seed came. The seed was Jesus Christ. The gospel of Jesus is meant to bless every single nation, not just one specific people group, but many people of many different tongues. Each listener heard the wonders of God in their own language, breaking down the barriers of communication and illustrating the unifying power of the Holy Spirit. You see, the reaction of the crowd was one of amazement and perplexity, and not everyone really received it well. people were dismissing the disciples as drunkenness. And what I love about Peter's response is that he doesn't reply, no, we're not drunk. We would never get drunk. We're holy men of God. He replies with, no, we're not drunk. It's only noon. I find that kind of funny. This dichotomy also represents something very deep within us. The Holy Spirit's work can challenge our preconceptions and push us out of our comfort zones, calling us to see beyond the surface level. See, what people perceive to be odd behavior and drunkenness was actually the Holy Spirit working powerfully. What other people might see as foolish might actually be God's profound work. Think about Joshua marching around a wall seven times and then shouting at a wall. It doesn't really seem like the behavior of a conquering nation. However, what seemed like foolishness to the city of Jericho was actually profound power with the people of God. Acts 2, 1-11 is more than a historical account. It is a living testament to the transformative power of the Holy Spirit. The day of Pentecost reveals that God's Spirit unites us, equips us, and empowers us for His purposes. It reminds us that the Spirit is not bound by our expectations or our limitations, but rather moves in ways that bring glory to God and advance His kingdom. As we reflect on this passage, let's seek to be of one accord, waiting on God's timing, and open to the unexpected ways His Spirit might move in our lives. Let us embrace the unity that the Spirit brings, and let us also be agents of transformative power in a world that desperately needs the touch of God. The world doesn't need more normies walking around trying to be as average as possible. It needs people empowered by the Holy Spirit, willing to be absurd at times, and press in to the purposes of God. May we, like the early disciples, be filled with the Holy Spirit, ready to declare the wonders of God to every nation, every tribe, and every tongue.