Do you remember what happened 288 years ago today? That was the day that John Wesley went to a Bible study and then wrote in his journal: “In the evening I went very unwillingly to a society in Aldersgate Street, where one was reading Luther’s Preface to the Epistle to the Romans. About a quarter before nine, while he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for salvation, and an assurance was given me that he had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.”

He did not put it this way, but Wesley might have said: “The Holy Spirit is still alive and well!”

The Pentecost account in Acts 2:1-13 tells of that kind of experience for people of many, many different backgrounds (Look at Acts 2:9-11—Mercy! Where is my map when I need it!) The Holy Spirit came like a violent wind, like a blast of fire, and like a gentle touch. The Spirit found a way to reach each of them.  

When I read that each heard what was being said in his or her own language (Acts 2:11), I am reminded that each of us has a different way of being reached by God’s Word. For one, it might be great scholarship. For another, it might be an emotional kick. For someone else, it could be family ties. For another, it might be relationships. For some, it could be exposure to miracles. For another, it is simply “out of the blue.” There is no one way of being reached by the power of God’s Word. No wonder the folks there were “amazed and perplexed” (Acts 2:12).

Have you ever had anyone doubt the truth of your religious experience? At Pentecost, some bystanders looked on and figured that these strange-behaving people were simply drunk (Acts 2:13). Today, someone may look at me and say, “I’ve seen how he behaves; I’ve seen how he ignores the needy; I’ve seen how he spends his money.” Then, they might say, “He is simply filled with religious talk. There is no evidence of a changed life.” The reality of Pentecost is measured by the changed life.

What Someone Else Has Said: In John Wesley’s Teachings, Volume 2 (Zondervan), Thomas C. Oden writes: “Make no mistake. The filling of the faithful with the Spirit was not to manifest extraordinary gifts. It was simply for bestowing the mind of Christ upon all so as to elicit the ordinary fruits of the Spirit to all.”

Prayer: As you prepare this lesson, let your prayer begin this way: “Come, Holy Spirit. Bring the gifts You would offer to me that I might show forth Your mercy, Your grace, Your generosity, Your abiding presence…”