Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Pentecost is the season of the Church year that lasts the longest. It kicks off on Pentecost Sunday (May 24th) as we reflect on the missional witness of the Apostles inspired by the Holy Spirit, Who rested upon them in the form of tongues of fire. It was a miraculous event recorded for us in the Book of Acts. Yet the common thing that the apostles did was speak in many different languages all praising God for the life, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. People from all over the Roman Empire were gathering in Jerusalem to celebrate the Festival of Booths. And here they hear Jesus’ disciples clearly from their accents and clothing from the northern region around Nazareth, proclaiming the Gospel in the language of the people from across the vast Roman Empire.
It was remarkable that these fishermen and tax collectors were given the gift of language for the mission of proclaiming the gospel in languages that all the people gathered in Jerusalem could hear and understand in the language they grew up speaking in their own homes.
Simon Peter assures the crowds that this was the work of God’s Spirit being poured out just as the Prophet Joel had prophesied about. Acts 2:21 21 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ This miraculous work of the Holy Spirit inspired 3,000 men in Jerusalem to repent and believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They were baptized and the church grew in number and stature in Jerusalem.
Those believers were born again of water and the Spirit through the faithful preaching of God’s Word by Simon Peter. In the third chapter of John’s Gospel, Jesus describes the importance of being born again. 5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. (John 3:5-6)
Water baptism is the sacrament that Jesus was describing to Nicodemus in knowing how a person is born again. It is God’s Word spoken over water that makes it a valid baptism. It is not the type of baptism; how much or little water was used. Just as we cannot save ourselves, any step on the road of our conversion is the sole work of God’s Spirit in our hearts and minds. Left to our own devices we would be lost forever. But the Holy Spirit was promised by Christ so that His Church would be called, gathered and enlightened by the Gospel. So that all Christians wouldn’t have to rest on their choice or their good works, but the completed work of Christ Jesus alone.
We rejoice in the faith that we share is the work of the Holy Spirit, calling gathering the members of Christ’s body the Church. God will continue His harvesting work until that Glorious Day when the resurrected Lord Jesus will return and bring with Him the restoration of all creation in the new heavens and new earth described in Revelation chapter 21.
What began 2000 years ago with some ragged looking disciples speaking in strange languages, continues to happen today throughout the world wherever Christ’s Gospel message is proclaimed clearly and His sacraments are freely given. God is not through with us yet and that is a very good thing. To God be the glory Alone! (Soli Deo Gloria!)
In His Grip,
Pastor Ryan Honeycutt
