GOD’S EQUIPMENT FOR VIBRANT LIVING Exodus 19:16-19 Acts 2:1-4 Exodus 19:16-19 Acts 2:1-4

16 On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled. 17 Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.

18 Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the L ORD descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, the whole mountain trembled violently, 19 and the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder. Then Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him. --Ex 19:16-19

When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance and said to Moses, "Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die." –Ex 20:18-19

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 languages as the Spirit enabled them. -- Ac 2:1-4

And God said, "I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain." EXODUS 3:12

It happened 50 days after The Passover, and what an experience! It is indelibly stamped on the national memory of the Israelis to this day. Something happened so terrifying that, When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance and said to Moses, "Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die." –Ex 20:18-19

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE MT SINAI EVENT God met His people or rather they met their God.

At the burning bush experience God said, "I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain." – Ex 3:12 This God is no figment of someone’s imagination – He is real & Awesome!

Three evidences are given: A mighty sound - On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Ex 19:16 A mighty sight - Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the LORD descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, the whole mountain trembled violently, – Ex 19:18 Mighty words – Then Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him. – Ex 19:19

God spoke the Law – ten words to live by. Secrets to vitality. These words do NOT have the power to motivate action. They only instruct in right action once a decision is made to act. One can be motivated out of fear, or duty or love. God’s choice is to motivate out of love.

God designed & instituted worship the tabernacle & sacrificial system. The broken relationship can only be mended through atonement. But a provision is made by which justice is maintained and mercy is made available. God gave them an “angel” to go before them. "See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared. Pay attention to him and listen to what he says. Do not rebel against him; he will not forgive your rebellion, since my Name is in him. – Ex 23:20

There is nothing like a real encounter with the Living God. Wonderful but terrifying With this experience they were equipped… –To live well, –To be God’s treasured possession –To bless the nations.

50 days after the crucifixion of Jesus, something happened in Jerusalem.

A GREATER EVENT ANTICIPATED God was working with His people He doesn’t ever force His will upon us But He will equip us to live well

Through the prophet Ezekiel, God had predicted another event. "'For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. You will live in the land I gave your forefathers; you will be my people, and I will be your God. – Ez 36:26

It wasn’t that God tried something that didn’t work and now was trying a new thing. The Exodus events were an illustration of the whole plan of Redemption. –The fulfillment would involve the atoning work of Jesus Christ. –The reality of what God wanted to do would involve giving us resurrection life and restoring His Spirit in us. To assure us that it was His doing, He would make it all happen on Pentecost.

GOD COMPLETED HIS PROMISE AT PENTECOST Fulfilling what the Feast anticipated On another mountain of God - Jerusalem

It was fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost Gathered at the place of God’s name - When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. An awesome sound – Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. An awesome sight - They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. An awesome experience – All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit Awesome words - and began to speak in other tongues [languages] as the Spirit enabled them.

You and I can get in on God’s best It is still God’s desire to… 1.Deliver His people from bondage. 2.Bring His people to Himself. 3.Instruct them on to how to live well. 4.Pour out His Spirit. 5.Motivate them to trust Him out of Love.