Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Foreign pastor Chuck Allen here. And welcome to another weekday podcast. Today, let's step into the story of Acts, chapter 2, verses 14 through 21, through the New living translation. It's Pentecost. The air is totally electric. The city is buzzing. And suddenly, something happens that nobody saw coming. Now, as always, here's the scene. A crowd is gathered. There's confusion, amazement, even a little mockery. Some people are saying, these folks must be drunk. But then Peter steps forward. The same Peter who just weeks before was hiding in fear, now stands up, bold and unafraid. He raises his voice and hears what he says. Listen carefully, all of you fellow Jews and residents of Jerusalem. These people are not drunk, as some of you are assuming. 9 o' clock in the morning is much too early for that. No. What you see was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel. In the last days, God says, I will pour out my spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams.
[00:01:11] In those days, I will pour out my spirit even on my servants, men and women alike. And they will prophesy. And I will cause wonders in the heavens above and. And signs on the earth below. Blood and fire and clouds of smoke. The sun will become dark and the moon will turn blood red before that great and glorious day of the Lord arrives. But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
[00:01:40] Let that sit for a second. This is not just a speech. It's an announcement. It is Peter saying, everything has changed. The rules of all of life. Change has changed. It's different now. People, just check this out. The Spirit is not just for the elite, not just for the priests, not just for the insiders. I mean, the Spirit's for all people, sons and daughters, young and old, men and women. The boundaries are breaking, the barriers are coming down. And. And there's this wild, beautiful promise. Visions, dreams and prophecy. God is speaking in so many new ways through new voices. The future is breaking into the presence here, the ordinary being filled with the extraordinary.
[00:02:26] But there's tension, too.
[00:02:28] Peter quotes Joel, this Old Testament prophet, about blood and fire, darkness and the day of the Lord. It's a reminder that transformation often comes through disruption, that when God moves, it shakes things up, it unsettles. It wakes us from our comfort, our routines and our assumptions.
[00:02:45] And then this line.
[00:02:47] Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
[00:02:51] Not just those who have it all together, not just those who know the right words or keep the right rules.
[00:02:57] Everyone.
[00:02:58] The invitation's wide open.
[00:03:01] So what does that mean for me and you? Well, wow. It means the world. It means the spirit is still being poured out, still moving in unexpected places through unexpected people.
[00:03:12] It means God's dreams are bigger than our divisions. His vision is wider than our categories. It means the invitation to call on the name of the Lord is still open right here, right now.
[00:03:25] So where are you in this story?
[00:03:27] Are you in the crowd? Are you confused? Are you, Peter, stepping forward with some trembling courage? Are you longing for a vision, a dream, or a word from God? Wherever you are, hear this.
[00:03:40] God's spirit is for you.
[00:03:43] God's promise is for you.
[00:03:45] The future is breaking in even now. And God is 100% for you.
[00:03:52] Friends, today, just kind of soak that in and walk in great grace, walk in great peace and chase after this one that offers you everything new because everyone it calls up in his name will be saved. God bless you, friend. This is Chuck Allen, and I'm so grateful you joined me on today's weekday podcast.
[00:04:17] Sam.
