Last Sunday was Pentecost, and we've been thinking this week about Acts Chapter 2.

But if you've been with us on things unseen, you'll know we haven't really even scraped

the surface of the chapter itself, because we've been really

reflecting on some of the more general lessons we can learn from watching and listening to

Simon Peter. But today, let's think about that situation. Jerusalem must have been an amazing

place at Pentecost. People from all over the world, there for the feast, all kinds of colors, facial features,

languages, accents.

And then around nine o'clock in the morning, something happens.

People hear a strange sound, maybe tornado-like even.

And the next thing is that this group of Jesus' disciples are speaking to them in all their own

different languages.

No wonder they were asking the question, what on earth does this mean?

And once again, the spokesman of the little disciple band, Simon Peter, stands up and

preaches a sermon. It even has a text from the second chapter of Joel.

These events, he says, are exactly what Joel was talking about when he said that in the last days the Spirit of God would be poured out on all flesh,

and sons and daughters would prophesy.

So he says, you need to realize this means that the last days have begun.

Don't you love it when somebody asks you, do you think we're living in the last days?

Because if you know your Bible, you say, yes, we're definitely living in the last days, because if you know your Bible, you say, yes, we're definitely living

in the last days. But people who ask that question are usually thinking, there's global warming,

there's conflict all over the world, there's some dictator who might be the Antichrist, maybe

the end is near. Will there be a great tribulation? When will Jesus return?

...