The Fuelling

As we close the end of this week of surprises for some and reminders for others, may I make this confession publicly? During this week, I have been giving unprecedented honour, glory, thanks and praise to the Holy Ghost for who He was back then and who He still is today. I know that I’m not the only one in this unavoidably compelling state of worship and reverence. 

All that we are receiving today, is the truth of how God’s promise to His children has reached to us also. We are looking, as previously promised, at the statement made by those who witnessed the fuelling of the Holy Spirit, in ordinary men and women. Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine. Acts 2: 13.

The reference to new wine is most interesting, arresting and humbling, all at the same time. Let’s return to what we have noted earlier about the Feast of Pentecost being the Feast of Shavuot, the Feast of Harvest to the Jews. One of the striking facts is that when God instituted this pilgrimage feast day, He was specific to let His people know two imperative facts. Celebrate the Feast of Harvest with the firstfruits of the crops you sow in your field. Exodus 23: 16. Additional, there is this specification. The first of the firstfruits of thy land thou shalt bring into the house of the LORD thy God. Exodus 23: 19a. 

The first of the firstfruits which would be brought by the pilgrims to Jerusalem, would surely and definitely include wine. This would not just be wine, but new wine, from the first of the firstfruits of God’s blessings to them. God was, still is, and forever will be the supplier of harvest to the people. New wine, will have been accessible, especially at this time of celebration, and as it is with everything else, there will always be some who will overdo and abuse things.

Check the very institution of the Lord’s Supper, which Jesus Himself instituted at the Feast of the Passover, and how it was so abused by believers that Paul had to be extremely harsh in response to what was happening. Just listen to his response to such abuse by believers. So then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, for when you are eating, some of you go ahead with your private suppers. And as a result, one person remains hungry and another gets drunk. Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God by humiliating those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? Certainly not in this matter! 1 Corinthians 11: 20 – 22.

All that we are coming to understand is this. Those people who mockingly accused the disciples of Jesus, who were under the influence of The New Wine of The Spirit, of being drunk, were again giving sound evidence to the Working of God in His inimitable way. Think about it. This is the time of much new wine, and it certainly is not at all farfetched, given human nature, for people to become intoxicated on new wine. These mockers, in their ignorance about the New Wine of the Holy Spirit, the Firstfruits, if you like of the Holy Spirit, do not even know that what they are saying, is honouring the faithfulness of God in fulfilling and filling His Promise, to His ready and receiving people.

Let’s return to Prophet Joel as he faithfully and joyfully gives God’s response to His people. Remember, the people have been without a real harvest. God was angry with them and withdrew much from them, as He disciplined them. Having received the Lord’s discipline, they came to their senses and repented before God. In answer to their prayers of repentance, The LORD replied to them: I am sending you grain, new wine and olive oil, enough to satisfy you fully; never again will I make you an object of scorn to the nations. Joel 2: 19. This reference tells us that new wine is a promise of God to His uplifted children.

On the day of Pentecost, the New Wine of the Spirit flowed and all the disciples, all one hundred and twenty of them, fuelled by the Holy Spirit, manifested His power in the speaking of other tongues. Peter and all the filled disciples, into whom the Ascended Jesus has just poured His New Wine of the Spirit, hear what these mockers are saying, that they are full of new wine.  We are told that he, Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and spoke to the crowd of people who were witnesses to the fuelling of the Holy Spirit. Yes! Fuelled by the Fire of the Holy Spirit, Peter was speaking, not any longer in another tongue, but in his own language, with a new tongue, a new voice, a new power, so that people had to listen.

He boldly called, Ye men of Judea, and all ye that dwell in Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. Acts 2: 14b – 15.

They cannot be drunk with new wine, for it’s only the third hour of the day. There is much more we need to receive, as we are being filled with knowledge, understanding and joyous anticipation for more.

We continue into the coming week.