Today is MAY 29 The first day after PENTECOST Sunday.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
Take a moment and quiet yourself. Take a deep breath. Welcome God’s presence. And say, “Come Holy Spirit.”
This week, our reflections will center on Pentecost, and will consider how God’s love for the all the nations is demonstrated throughout scripture. Pentecost is a word that simply means ‘50’, and is celebrated on the 50th day after Easter.
Today’s reading is from Acts, chapter 2
"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?”
Pentecost is often referred to as the reversal of the curse of Babel. We’ll reflect on the Babel text tomorrow, but if you don’t recall, Babel is the story of the scattering of God’s people when God divided languages among them, so that they could no longer communicate with one another. That was a moment of separation and judgement. Now, in Acts 2, we read that all the nations were brought together, able to understand and communicate through a miraculous gift from God. This is a moment of unity and blessing.... a moment of blessing for all nations. GK Chesteron wrote in his book Orthodoxy that Christianity is centrifugal – it breaks out. Scholars say that Pentecost broke out and enabled the rapid spread of Christianity. Within a few decades important congregations had been established in all major cities of the Roman Empire. Consider how this moment in church history speaks to God’s heart for all the nations.
Set yourself into this story. You are with the disciples waiting, praying, and uncertain of the future. You hear and feel a violent wind, and see tongues of fire. You begin to feel an interior urgency to share your gospel witness. Where moments ago, you felt unsure and unsteady, you now feel full of faith and confidence. Listen again, and imagine what it felt like to feel both empowered and sent.
"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?”
The Holy Spirit came into the world on a mission – to empower the spread of the Gospel to the nations, and to empower the life of the Gospel to bear fruit in the nations. There are many Christians who, right now, are living in a nation that is not their own... serving a people that is not their own... out of a Gospel love for the nations. as we come to a close, pray for those working among the nations now. Pray that the power of Pentecost to fill them, protect them, and urge them onward in their work of mercy, justice, care, and evangelism.
Music Credit:
Fall Afresh - Vineyard Worship/Samuel Lane (YouTube)
