Sometimes, a little turbulence is a good thing. We need to be unsettled, startled, shaken. The first Christians learned as much on Pentecost. This singular event in the life of the Church—the “birthday of the Church”—doesn’t arrive quietly. “Noise like a strong driving wind” announces that the Holy Spirit has arrived. You want winds of change? Brace yourself. The world, in effect, is being blown off course.
Pentecost reminds us that God’s work in the world can sometimes leave us unsettled and mystified. It can take us out of our comfort zones. But every now and then, we need that. We need something (or Someone) to jolt us out of the world we know and take us someplace new. The people gathered in the Upper Room learned soon enough that “driving wind” might take you where you never expected. It might even shift the tides of history.
*** Pentacost (50) is 50 days after Easter on the Christian calendar! *** Shavuot (7 weeks) is 50 days after Passover on the Jewish calendar! *** Acts 2:5, "Godly Jews from every country in the world were staying in Jerusalem!" ******* Why were all these godly Jews here in Jerusalem at this time? Acts 2:9-11a, "We are Parthians, Medes and Elamites. We live in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia. We are from Pontus, Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia. Others of us are from Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene. Still others are visitors from Rome. Some of the visitors are Jews. Others have accepted the Jewish faith. Also, Cretans and Arabs are here!" *** They came to celebrate the second most important feast on the Jewish calendar! 2 Chronicles 8:12-13, "Solomon had built the Lord’s altar. It stood in front of the temple porch. On that altar Solomon sacrificed burnt offerings to the Lord. Each day he sacrificed what the Law of Moses required. He sacrificed the required offerings every Sabbath day. He also sacrificed them at each New Moon feast and during the three yearly feasts. Those three were the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Pesach/Passover), the Feast of Weeks (Shavout/Pentecost) and the Feast of Booths (Sukkoth)." *** Passover foreshadowed Easter with Jesus being the perfect unblemished sacrificial Lamb! Shavuot foreshadowed Pentacost with the coming of the indwelling Holy Spirit! ******* 1 Corinthians 12:3b, "And without the help of the Holy Spirit no one can say, “Jesus is Lord.” 1 Corinthains 2:13, "The person without the Spirit doesn’t accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. These things are foolish to them. They can’t understand them. In fact, such things can’t be understood without the Spirit’s help!" Matthew 3:11, "I (John the Baptist) baptize you with water, calling you to turn away from your sins. But after me, someone (Jesus) is coming Who is more powerful than I am. I’m not worthy to carry His sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire!" (This Holy Spirit baptism is mentioned in ALL four Gospels. Also see Mark 1:8, Luke 3:16 and John 1:33)
Amen!
Deacon Greg, your word today, that I have read and digested, carries a profound message for me. “The world, in effect, is being blown off course.” That “driving wind” of world events often leaves us shaken to our very core and even asking, where is God in all this?” It is also true that God himself is often in that “wind”. “It might even shift the tides of history.” And thru all the unsettled events that occur in the world, we need to remember that our Heavenly Father, who loves us profoundly, is still on His throne.
Lord please hear our prayers and bring your light to all those experiencing natural disasters, Haiti, the Middle East, Ukraine, Russia, Darfur, the Sudan, and all those suffering around the world - also for their strength, courage and resilience to continue walking in faith. Send them your light. Father in Heaven, have mercy on us and on the whole world! You sent Your Son, the Prince of Peace, for the salvation of the world. We pray that the Peace of Christ will reign in Haiti, the Middle East, Ukraine, Russia, Darfur and Sudan. Please protect and send aid to those in need and all who are at-risk. We pray for peace and rebuilding– we who are working towards it and for all those who are suffering or in danger from conflicts. We pray for an end to violence and war – we pray for wisdom for all leaders who have a hand in this. Lord God please help those in most need of thy mercy. Amen.
Welcome back, Jane.
Amen. May the Holy Spirit of God be with us always. Have a Blessed Day Living Faith Family.
Blessed Pentecost everyone
Happy and blessed Pentecost Sunday to all the Living Faith Family.
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Amen.