Scripture Reading: Acts 2:1-13
Nobody likes to get picked on. Nobody likes to be the person that others laugh at and rumors are shared about. How does it feel when something untrue is spreading about you at work or at school?
The people in our passage today were experiencing one of the most exciting spiritual moments in all of history. So of course you would expect opposition. Verse, 13 - Some, however, made fun of them and said, "they have had too much wine." So many people did not know what was happening when the Holy Spirit came on the day of Pentecost. They were amazed (v.12) that they could understand what these local people were saying even though they were from a different country and spoke a different language! It was a miracle. It was the fulfilment of a promise Jesus made (Acts 1:4-5).
This passage in Acts is not the only place being filled with the Spirit is set opposed to being drunk with wine. Paul uses this difference in Ephesians 5:18 - Don't be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit.
So, from the perspective of people that do not understand what is going on, it looks like the power of the Holy Spirit can appear on the outside as being the result of drinking too much alcohol. Maybe this comes from the idea that these common men all of the sudden had the courage and the confidence to get in front of a crowd and speak like they didn't care who was listening. This was not liquid courage, but spiritual courage!
May we have the courage to live empowered by the Holy Spirit and have faith, even when we are not understood and being made fun of. People will wonder why we love why we love, live like we live, forgive like we forgive, pray like we pray. They might make fun of you for going to church, reading your Bible at work, or always wanting to do the right thing. But don't let their intimidation get you down or hold you back. Be filled with the Spirit and allow Him to lead you to speak in such a way that they might better understand what is going on. Be filled with the Holy Spirit today!
