Sunday, May 11, 2008

Pentacost



This is one of those stories I have told on many occasions, but have never actually blogged. So here it goes.....





5Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? 8Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? 9Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs-we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!" 12Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, "What does this mean?" (Acts 2: 5-12)





When we went to Cuba this past summer, I didn't speak any Spanish beyond that of Dora the Explorer



you know, roja, azul, estrella, vamanos, that kind of thing. I'd had 4 years of German and 1 quarter of French where I spoke French with a German accent. *sigh*

I have had no use for either of those languages.

Anyway, one night in Cuba there was a praise concert and Kevin and I sang. As we were getting ready to sing our first song, Matteo, who was playing piano, began speaking Spanish to the Cuban congregation. There were a few other English speakers there from our mission team, but just a handful. IN SPANISH, Matt began to explain that he would be singing in Spanish, and Kevin and I would be singing in English.

I was staring at Kevin throughout this, because I, who spoke NO Spanish, understood every word that Matt was saying. Kevin turned to look at me and I immediately KNEW that he also understood what Matt was saying.

Later we spoke to other English speaking members of our team who also understood what Matt was saying in Spanish. It was such an Acts 2 moment. A speaking in tongues. Not the type of tongues listed in spiritual gifts, but the type described here:

6When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? 8Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? (Acts 2: 6-8)

A real Holy Spirit moment! You see, miracles do happen today and God does continue to speak to and through His people today. The Holy Spirit is alive and at work! Praise God!!!

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!!

2 comments:

Dawn said...

Steve said the same thing happened to him while in Costa Rica a year ago, it is AMAZING how God works isn't it?!!!!!

Kristen said...

I got chills reading this, awesome!