Experience Matters
Acts 2:1-13
2 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”
13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”
This Sunday’s service can be viewed on our Facebook page @ Sunday, August 13, 2023
Experience matters. When we experience an event, it becomes personal, it is no longer just an abstract fact, or just data to us. I have recently been learning more about the different types of memory. Did you know for instance, that: "Autobiographical memory is related to personal experiences. It’s made up of the memories that tell the story of your life. Consequently, it’s the foundation of your biography because it acts as the organizer of your experiences." And, this contributes to:
*The relationship with the self. These memories contain information that helps shape and define who you are.
*Narrative structure- When you recall personal experiences, you do it by telling a story (about yourself, whatever happened, or another person) The experience(s) become a narrative during the recollection process (Ruiz-Vargas, 2004, p. 10).
*Mental images: Autobiographical memories include visual images. They also include other sensory modalities including hearing and smell.
*The emotional component. Emotions often make memories stronger and more intense.” https://exploringyourmind.com/autobiographical-memory/
When we experience something or someone, we are changed, and our memories of that event shape who we are, and the outcome of our lives.
This coming Sunday, we will be continuing the story of Acts (the Acts of the Holy Spirit, as the Holy Spirit worked in the Acts of the Apostles). As we will read and learn together this Sunday, the early followers of Jesus’ experience with the Holy Spirit changed their lives permanently. It was the fulfillment of what Jesus had promised when He spoke final instructions before His death and resurrection. He told them, as we read in the Gospel of John 16:7-15,
“7 But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 about sin, because people do not believe in me; 10 about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11 and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.
12 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”
All of this made sense after the fact to the early followers of Jesus!
I am continuing to pray for us all: that we will receive the Holy Spirit, and allow the Holy Spirit to guide us into relationship with Jesus, fill our minds with God’s truth, reveal God’s truth through His Word, continue to convict us of sin, and deepen our love for Jesus and each other.
I look forward to seeing you all on Sunday!
In Christ,
Pastor Kari