Pentecost
The book of Acts 1: 4
On one occasion, while he [Jesus] was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
NOW: Read The book of Acts, Chapter 2.
UNDERSTAND:
“The term Pentecost comes from the Greek Πεντηκοστή (Pentēkostē) meaning “
Have you ever made a promise to someone? It may have started like: “Now listen to me because I am promising you that I will; ________________ ___________________! That is exactly what Jesus did as it is told in the book of Acts, chapter 1, verses 4-5.
Their beloved Jesus was leaving them, returning to the Father. But Jesus foretold of a precious new order. John baptized with water … In a few days YOU will be baptized with the Holy Spirit!
No one understood what he meant because Jesus often foreshadowed events or told of things to come. He had told the Apostles and others to tarry or to wait. It has been said that 120 or more gathered in the large upper room to “WAIT.” In some cultures waiting was not hard but once busses, trains and airplanes and class schedules became a part of the norm things changed. Pocket watches ordered us to watch and keep with the program. We learned:
1. School starts at 8:00 a.m.
2. The train leaves at 10:30 a.m.
3. The doctors appointment is at 2:30p.m.
Some cultures are strict and others others consider these times to be “about that time!”
Husbands in the waiting rooms are non existent now. They are usually in the same room as where the mother-to-be gives birth. But waiting still goes on.
Have you ever been in a group of people crying out to God. They pray fervently with many vocalizing at the same time. We saw this renewed on December 07, 1941 or November 22, 1963 and again on September 11, 2001. Churches filled and people prayed, wept and cried out publicly on these days for comfort and understanding. People prayed for our country. Praying can go on for hours and hours. Some who are not use to a vocal, praying church get very uncomfortable in such a setting. Yet others long to hear people praying/ calling on God at the same time. It all depends on what we are comfortable with and have been raised around.
One hundred and twenty people have different needs. Some need a drink of water, women may be calling on God while trying to tend to children. Some scurry out to find a restroom (tree or whatever in that day). Perhaps forgiveness was needed, power was requested, holy dancing went on as hands were raised or others sat quietly with no demonstration being made. We are God’s people created in so many ways!
Waiting is not easy! Perhaps one man told his wife it was way past time to go home from that ‘Upper Room!!!’
Can you imagine being told to enter a room and WAIT! WAIT and WAIT!!! Something powerful was coming…. Wait! A new BAPTISM is coming. An unknown BAPTISM.
Then the Sound of a Storm, Mighty Rushing Wind….. Tongues of FIRE passed through the crowd, resting on those present. A gift of languages was given, languages of other lands of other people. They did NOT have to go to language school. No cultural adaptation classes. They were praising God in so many different voices. God had come (again) in a new way for a new purpose. God made EVERYONE in that room ready to GO to other places for one reason. To share the life and death of Jesus Christ.
If you have ever traveled you may have thought, ‘I wish I could communicate with the local people.’ You smile and you look at them, but nothing comes out of your mouth that communicates. We soon learned after arriving in Brazil that saying it LOUDER does not help the receiver understand it better. We watched this take place over and over with mission teams. We warned the mission workers that a common hand gestures, in the States, might be offensive in Brazil. We saw working conditions change quickly when someone was trying to award a Brazilian with gratitude but instead it exploded in ill feelings because the hand gesture flashed was very offensive in their Latin based culture.
We do not realize that mispronouncing a word improperly gives a totally different meaning to the word. But most of the time the locals still want you to try, even though they may laugh at your tongue twisted attempt.
God descended on that group not with a quiet prayer language but with a BOLD change. WHY??
The Great Commission was at hand. A NEW DAY HAD ARRIVED. Praise the Lord!
Jesus had taught as recorded in Matthew 28:
18 “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
This was Pentecost…. the calling, the sending, the teaching. You will never realize how many missionaries pray for the Gift of Language!! But like Shirley and me it was books, speak, books, speak …. study, cry, sing and little by little it came.
COMMUNICATION finally comes. Preaching, teaching, loving, learning, ordaining, releasing and loving!
NOW, GO MAKE DISCIPLES! Go everywhere God leads you…… GO!
Dr. Ron Marks will close in prayer:
“Dear Heavenly Father:
We thank you for this celebration of Pentecost, such a very special time in our Christian calendar. It is always important for us to share God’s Word with others and celebrate His constant presence within us. Today is even more critical as our country becomes even more torn apart with civil disobedience on top of the continuing impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Help us to continue to shine Your light, to be Your witnesses for Your good that you offer to us always, even during these very difficult times. Help us to be a beacon of light to your fallen world, and may you bless all our elected leaders at the local, state, and national levels during this time. May you also continue to bless Covenant Church as we reach out to others. Fill us with the power of the Holy Spirit. Make us to be spiritually strong but also so gentle that we can hold a new born baby and rejoice in your continued presence.”
Amen
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