“A Real Christian” (Acts 2:1-13)

 

On the Day of Pentecost

[Dramatized Reding – Credit to Paula Lilley]

Whenever you hear the word “wind” blow and make noises like the wind – Whoosh! Whenever you hear the word “fire”, wave your hands! Whenever you hear the word “spirit” raise your hands into the air, and say, “Oh, yes!”

Here is the story: I was there, though I was only a little child.  I was with my mother and father.  Many of Jesus’ friends were all together in Jerusalem.  We were all waiting for something, but we didn’t know what it was that we were waiting for.  Jesus had died, and risen and he appeared to us many times before he ascended into heaven.  He had promised that we’d receive the Spirit to be with us and guide us.

     But how would this happen?  Would it be like a strong wind?  Would it be like a blazing fire?  Nobody knew.

     Well, that day, we were all gathered in a house in Jerusalem.  Suddenly, we heard a noise, like the rush of a violent wind!  It filled a whole house! Then, we saw something that looked like flames resting on each of us—it was like a raging fire!  Everyone was filled with the Spirit!

     But the most amazing thing of all was that everyone started to talk.  We talked in languages we didn’t even know as we experienced the Spirit!

     Somehow, word of our experience of the Spirit spread like wild fire fanned by the wind.  Jerusalem was full of people visiting from other countries.  They heard us, and they were amazed and surprised to hear their own languages spoken.

     “What does this mean?” everyone wanted to know.  Some people laughed, saying that the adults in our group must be drunk!

     That’s when Peter stepped forward.  “We’re not drunk!” he said.  “It’s only nine o’clock in the morning.”  He told all the people the story of Jesus.  His miracles and teachings, right up to his death and the Resurrection. “God raised Jesus from death,”  I heard him say. 

    You should have been there!  Right then and there, about 3,000 people decided to follow Jesus!  They caught the Spirit, like a wind blows a fire!  That’s why we say that the church was born that day-on Pentecost, long ago, when we experienced the joyful gift of the Spirit!

 

Reversal of Babel

So what happened on Pentecost Day? We can say, Pentecost is the reversal of Babel. You might remember the story of Babel from Genesis. God had commanded people to spread out and fill the earth. But they disobeyed. Instead, they said, “Come, let’s build a great city for ourselves with a tower that reaches into the sky. This will make us famous and keep us from being scattered all over the world.” (Gen 11:4 NLT) Sin had entered and polluted the human heart. “Sin is anything that separates us from God and from one another.” That’s what happened at Babel. That day, the people wanted to be like God. That day, they became separated from God and from each other. Confusion entered. Communication broke down. Hostility grew. The wall of hostility was erected.

 

Jesus and Pentecost

But our God is able! When the time had fully come, God sent His Son Jesus. Jesus broke down the wall of hostility – in his own body on the cross. By his blood, we have been reconciled to God, to each other, and even to ourselves. On the day of Pentecost, as promised, the Holy Spirit came to dwell within His people. The confusion was gone, Relationships was restored, and communication was made new. That day, God united Jews and Gentiles into one people. That day, with one voice, they praised God and loved each other. And the story continues. The Pentecost moment continues.

 

Aldersgate Day

Let me share a story about John Wesley—the founder of the Methodist movement. Though he was already a priest, he struggled deeply with doubt. He wanted to believe, but something inside still felt uncertain.

In 1735, he went on a mission trip to America. He hoped to convert others and strengthen his own faith. But things didn’t go as planned. The mission felt like a failure, and on the way back to England, his ship was caught in a terrible storm. The waves crashed, the wind roared, and many thought they were going to die. Wesley was terrified. But then he saw something surprising—on the deck, a small group of Moravian Christians, including women and children, were calmly singing hymns. No fear. Just peace. After the storm, Wesley asked one of them, “Weren’t you afraid?” The man replied, “Thank God, no.” Wesley said, “But what about your women and children?” And the Moravian answered, “They are not afraid to die.” That moment stayed with Wesley. He realized they had something he didn’t—a deep assurance, a Spirit-filled confidence.

Later, Wesley spoke with a Moravian leader named August Spangenberg. Spangenberg looked him in the eye and asked, “Do you know Jesus Christ?” Wesley answered, “I know He is the Savior of the world.” Then the man asked, “But do you know He has saved you?” Wesley hesitated and said, “I hope He has died to save me.” That “I hope” showed his honest doubt. He wanted to believe, but he still wasn’t sure.

Then another friend and mentor, Peter Böhler, gave him wise counsel. Wesley told him, “I don’t have the faith I preach.” And Böhler said, “Preach faith until you have it. And when you have it, then you will preach faith.” That’s beautiful advice. Keep walking toward the light until the light fills your heart.

And then came Aldersgate Day—May 24, 1738. Wesley reluctantly went to a small meeting on Aldersgate Street in London. Someone read from Martin Luther’s commentary on Romans. As Wesley listened, something happened. He later wrote in his journal, “About a quarter before nine, while he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for salvation. And an assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins, even mine.” That was his Pentecost moment. The Holy Spirit came—not with wind or fire, but with peace, love, and blessed assurance.

 

Miracle of Love

The Pentecost story continues. The other day, I had a privilege of visiting Pastor Kwan Lee and listening to his faith story. He shared his Pentecost moment, which happened five years ago, when he suffered a major heart attack. He was rushed to the hospital, and the situation was critical. As he lay on the hospital bed, he overheard two surgeons debating whether to proceed with quadruple bypass surgery. That night, in the quiet hospital room, Pastor Lee prayed like never before. As he cried out to God, he heard a gentle voice ask, "What is a Christian?" Startled, he answered, "I have been a minister all my life. I’ve preached, taught, baptized, and led people to Christ." The voice gently responded, "You taught people about Christianity. But what is a Christian?" He tried again. But the voice repeated the question: "What is a Christian?" Finally, the answer came not from his lips, but from the voice itself: "A Christian is someone who loves like Christ."

That revelation pierced his soul. Pastor Lee was raised in a very conservative tradition and held tightly to theological correctness. But that night, he saw clearly how often he had judged others rather than loved them. “I realized,” he said, “Being loving is more important than being right. Who am I to judge? Christ alone is the Judge. My part is to love like Him.” That was his Pentecost moment. Since then, he has developed a simple but powerful spiritual rhythm. Each morning, he prays, "Lord, help me not to hurt anyone today—not through my words, actions, or silence." And each night before bed, he prays, "Lord, if I’ve wronged anyone, knowingly or unknowingly, please forgive me."

 

A Real Christian

John Wesley was once asked, “What is a Methodist?” He replied, “A Methodist is one who has the love of God shed abroad in his heart by the Holy Spirit.” This echoes Romans 5:5: “God’s love has been poured out into our hearts by the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” That’s the definition of a real Christian: someone who has God’s love poured into their heart by the Spirit.

When I do life review interviews, I always ask, “How would you like to be remembered?” If I were asked, my answer would be, “He was a loving person – a loving dad, a loving husband, a loving pastor.” That is my prayer. We may not the largest church in town, but my prayer is that our church become the most loving place in town. May God give us the desire and strength to love Him and love our neighbors with all our hearts. So be it.