The Language of the Heart - Pentecost A B and C Acts 2:1-21

<p><span style="font-size: 10pt;">This is a re-post of a sermon preached in 2018 and recorded in 2019.</span></p> <p>When the Spirit is poured out in the Acts reading, the disciples begin to speak in other languages. The Jewish people gathered from all around the world for the Festival, probably spoke common Greek and they all would have known a little Hebrew, but their day to day language would have been the one from their local area. They would have spoken this in their homes. When they thought about and spoke to those they loved that would be their language. The miracle of the Spirit on that first Pentecost and even today is that God through the Spirit speaks the language of the heart. When the Spirit was first poured out until this very day we hear and have revealed to us the wonderful works of God in our heart language!</p> <p><img src= "https://assets.libsyn.com/secure/show/27045/Acts_2.7-8.png" alt= "Acts 2:7-8" width="300" height="169" /></p> <p>Imagine for a moment that you are a fifth generation Australian, but you live and work in China, you speak fluent Chinese, but at home with your family you speak English with an Australian accent. You attend a local Chinese church. All of a sudden one Sunday after church you hear a preacher on a street corner and he’s not Chinese, He’s speaking about Jesus and God’s love in English with a clear Australian accent. What would it mean to hear your faith expressed in the language of your heart, the language of your birth.</p> <p>God is with us and speaks to us in a way which grips us and transforms us. Gripped by that love, like Peter and the disciples we too should share the wonderful works of God in the power of the Spirit.</p> <p> </p> <p><em>Lord, we are so grateful that you speak the language of the heart and give us the words we need for ourselves and for others in times of need and times of celebration. In Jesus Name. Amen.</em></p> <p><span style="font-size: 8pt;">Image derived from Logos “Visual Copy” – “Logos Free” or “made by” Andrew Gillies. May be subject