Giving honor…
Prayer…
Acts 2:2 reads - “And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting”.
The theme of our message tonight is: A Spiritual Tsunami.
The second chapter of Acts is where our Lord begins His Spiritual Tsunami. According to the Oxford Companion to the Bible: “…what happens at Pentecost is a promise of what will happen among all the nations when the gospel will be preached to the Gentiles”. The transition of the power of God to the people of God is strictly for the purpose of God’s kingdom. But; what of the physical tsunami?
According to a Penn State Website:
“The word “tsunami” comes from the Japanese tsu (which means -harbor) and nami (which means - wave). So in effect a tsunami is a harbor-wave. Tsunamis are often incorrectly called tidal waves, but tides have nothing to do with them (though the damage may be worse if a tsunami hits at high tide). A tsunami is a wave train, or series of waves, formed in a body of water by an impulsive disturbance that vertically displaces the water column.
…the best thing to do if a Tsunami strikes is to head to high ground.
As a student of the American culture, I have always been impressed by the incredible giving nature of those I have come in contact with.
As we know, on December 26, 2004, an earthquake measuring 9.0 on the ‘Richter scale of ground motion’, triggered a tsunami in the Indian Ocean that slammed into the coastlines of at least 13 countries, killing more than 150,000 people.
As catastrophic as that incident was, the worst part of that event is still on going as the families of the victims come to grip with the loss of their loved ones.
Soon after the tsunami hit, Americans, as well as most others around the world, began an incredible giving campaign that goes on even as we speak.
As encouraging as this humanistic outpouring is, the benefits of giving must go further as we react to the Spiritual Tsunami that our Lord Jesus Christ blessed us with when he released the power of the Holy Ghost!
As a citizen of Fiji, I grew up with instruction concerning the inevitable coming of hurricanes, tidal waves, and tsunami’s.
My Grandmother Leba told me “to grab on to a tree and don’t let go!” By holding onto the tree trunk I would get the benefit of the strength that the tree has via its roots and the advantage of floatation if by chance the roots fail to hold under the onslaught of the water.
On many occasions when the heavy rains would come; I would remember the instruction of my Grandmother Leba. However; I knew that as accurate as my Grandmother Leba was, the wisdom that she shared with me would be of no effect if I did not know where the closest tree was.
Likewise; the power of the Spiritual Tsunami that our Lord has given us is as close as we need it to be. It is our Lord Jesus Christ that makes us His children. We are never alone because we have the Holy Ghost to hold on to.
As we know and read in the scripture all power belongs to God. God’s power can only be contained by Him. He is the one that we must seek when things seem to be getting out of control. Mark 4:39 reads– “And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm”.
Jesus only, and he alone, has the power to bring such amazing physical forces to rest.
Jesus only, and he alone, is the one that has blessed the world with the benefits of his spirit: the Holy Ghost.
Acts 2:3-4 reads - “And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance”.
Now that is awesome power; that is the stunning benefit of promise; that is our Spiritual Tsunami.
Whether or not we understand how, the tsunami that was initiated under the ocean began at a single point. As it moved out from that point no man could stop it.
This physical tsunami could only be calmed by God. Although there was an incredible amount of devastation; unless God stopped it; the tsunami of December 26, 2004 would have continued and the devastation would be insurmountable.
However; we know that Jesus did stop the tsunami. He calmed the sea that Mark spoke of and He quieted this most recent ocean wave that was creating havoc in Africa and Asia.
But, He has not dispelled the ripple effect of his Spiritual Tsunami.
The ocean wave tsunami created chaos; the Spiritual Tsunami blessed us with riches untold. Colossians 1:27 reads – “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory”.
So now as we go forth, with the spirit of God within us, we are part of the Spiritual Tsunami of Jesus. The Lord has taken hold of us, with His Holy Ghost, and joined us with others in His power. No other force is as powerful or effective as this spirit that dwells within us. Lets you and I go forth and do a great work for our Lord. I leave you with this:
Ephesians 3:16 reads- “That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man”.
The Spiritual Tsunami that our Lord began thousands of years ago is within us; let us go forth and help to disrupt the sin of this world!
