Good morning…
Christmas is big. The Word became a human being and, full of grace and truth, lived among us (John 1:14a, GNT).
Easter is huge. We believe that Jesus died and then came to life again (1 Thessalonians 4:14a, NLV).
Pentecost is powerful. And they were all filled [that is, diffused throughout their being] with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues (different languages), as the Spirit was giving them the ability to speak out [clearly and appropriately] (Acts 2:4 AMP). People from all over said, “We can hear them speaking about the powerful things God has done—in our own languages!” (Acts 2:11b, NTFE).
This past Sunday was Pentecost Sunday, a celebration of God’s Spirit set ablaze. “It’s a temple made out of ‘each one of them,’ explains BibleProject.com. “It’s made of people. People will meet with God not in a geographic place or constructed space but in connection with those who choose to trust and follow Jesus. God’s fire shines with power and harms nobody, and it ignites a cosmic revolution, the Church. The story tells us that God now dwells within the community of Jesus followers. This living temple is made of people who operate like Jesus, ending fear and oppression with love and peacefully teaching humanity how to love and bless one another. In this sense, Pentecost marks the beginning of a new world.”
As the Holy Spirit takes control of everyone, we begin sharing as the Spirit inspires, hearing and speaking about the powerful things God has done – in our own languages! This happened to me yesterday, as a friend generously shared inspiration from Dr. Jim Denison’s Daily Forum:
Jim inspires us to live out a very important question. “God, whose ‘language’ will I speak today?”
In our own language, we talk with God. Please quiet my own self-centered opinions and fluently speak Your compassion, Your unity, Your understanding through me. As people inspire people, the Spirit of God will continue to calm fears, end oppression, and peacefully teach humanity how to genuinely love.
Day after day the Lord added to their number everyone who was experiencing liberation (Acts 2:47b, VOICE).
…Sue…
