In the very ancient church, it was understood that the day of Pentecost, was not a new beginning but rather an affirmation and continuance of what had occurred at the resurrection of our
Lord Jesus Christ
It was understood
by those taught by the Apostles and their successors that what
happened there in Jerusalem, on the Feast of First Fruits, which is Pentecost,
only demonstrated that which was already true.
That Jesus lives; and
that He is Resurrected present in the lives of His disciples.
In the early years of the Christian church Pentecost was part of the Great 50 Days of Easter, or as some church traditions call it Easter-tide, it was understood and observed as part of the resurrection season.
In the early years of the Christian church Pentecost was part of the Great 50 Days of Easter, or as some church traditions call it Easter-tide, it was understood and observed as part of the resurrection season.
Jesus Is Come
What we read in
Luke's accounts of Pentecost in Act:2:1-7- is The
Holy Spirit comes with power and then transformation occurs in the lives
of Jesus' disciples.
"And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat on each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marveled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?"
"And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat on each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marveled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?"
What we see happening there, in that upper room, which then spills out into the streets of Jerusalem, reminds us of Jesus words to His disciples, that Jesus Himself comes to them and us.
"And I will pray the
Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for
ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it sees
him not, neither knows him: but you know him; for he dwells with you, and shall
be in you.
I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a
little while, and the world sees me no more; but you see me: because I live,
you shall live also." John: 14:16-19
Pentecost dose not “begin” the work of God it
only shows us that Jesus is always at work , what began is our
participation in that work in a unique way, and those who are
active in this participation are the Church, Christians.
Jesus Is Present
The same Jesus who
called and taught the disciples, who formed them into a unique community
which was, and continues to be, in relationship with Himself , that very
same Jesus who was born in Bethlehem, who lived in Nazareth, and died
and then rose again from the dead at Jerusalem, it is
His presence in the lives of His disciples , then and now, which
changed them.
Jesus' presences took them from what their lives were to what they became; this is what we see there on the street of Jerusalem on Pentecost. That is Jesus is alive and present. That He is resurrected.
Jesus' presences took them from what their lives were to what they became; this is what we see there on the street of Jerusalem on Pentecost. That is Jesus is alive and present. That He is resurrected.
This group, which became
is filled with the transformational power of the Holy Spirit became bold
and begin proclaiming the word of God publicly before a diverse crowd.
"But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said to them, You men of Judaea, and all you that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known to you, and listen to my words:" Acts:2:14
This group now stands on up and tells the world about Jesus Christ, where only a few short weeks prior they quailed in fear and uncertainty, hiding behind locked doors.
"On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews" ,John:20:19a
Now that same Jesus is
who encouraged and comforted them and strengthen them, that Jesus who is raised
from the grave, who stood there in the midst of them and now is
and ever more will be with them, and us.
"Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord" .John:20:19b-20
Through the Holy Spirit, that transformation that Christ brought to their lives through His presence takes on a new characteristic and the Church emerges.
"Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord" .John:20:19b-20
Through the Holy Spirit, that transformation that Christ brought to their lives through His presence takes on a new characteristic and the Church emerges.
Jesus Manifested
What is this change that
occurred on Pentecost, which produced the Christian Church, and transforms
them and us?...Simply ,it is that the Holy Spirit manifests the risen
Christ among us and in us. The Spirit shows us what
is now true, that Jesus lives, that is what the church has
done all theses centuries, to shows that Jesus lives.
That the grave could not hold Him. The
transformed lives of Christians demonstrates this truth that He lives.
Jesus Unites
Jesus is bringing humanity together in Himself, undoing
the curse that we see at the scattering at the tower of Babel. We can read of
this in Genesis: 11:1-9 , that humanity came together in
carnal goals and purposes, all for humanities glorification.
At Babel humanity was coming together in presumptuousness and arrogantly attempted to reach heaven on its own terms, that is, attempting to produce what only Jesus Christ can bring about. This effort was not done in the spirit of freedom and betterment for those who toiled in the construction of the high tower but for power and control and self exhortation.
At Babel humanity was coming together in presumptuousness and arrogantly attempted to reach heaven on its own terms, that is, attempting to produce what only Jesus Christ can bring about. This effort was not done in the spirit of freedom and betterment for those who toiled in the construction of the high tower but for power and control and self exhortation.
This attempt resulted in a confounding of the languages of
humanity through the intervention of God, and a scattering of the
nations . This shows us that whenever humanity attempts to do what only
Christ can do; there is chaos and broken relationships with God and each
other.
Undoing the Curse
There on the street
of Jerusalem as the Apostle Peter lifts his voice in powerful
proclamation the message about Jesus that He lives that is He is
resurrected , we see the undoing of the curse of Babel being removed ,
and we see it manifested on the street in Jerusalem two thousand years
ago at Pentecost.
In Jesus; humanity can be united, can have a unity that surpasses race, nationality, social backgrounds and language, we this is represent by the varies tongues’ of those who have come from around the Roman-Greece world, and they had converged on Jerusalem, for worship , but encounter the living risen Jesus there in the lives of His followers through the Holy Spirit manifested in power. In languages from afar, they hear this message about Jesus that transforms them and brings them together as nothing else can.
"And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." Acts:2:4
"And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language And they were all amazed and marveled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God." (5-11)
The Gospel about Jesus should bring us together unified in common purpose to proclaim what God has done for us all through His Son Jesus Christ and He should be seen in the life of the Church. Jesus unites us, that is , God has healed the breach between us and Himself and one-another all through Jesus and by the Holy Spirit's indwelling.
When the Gospel regarding Jesus Christ was preached there on the streets of Jerusalem there were three thousand who accepted the message of God's love and grace
"Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day." Acts:2:41
This Three Thousand is in contrast to the Three Thousand who died at the giving of the Law centuries earlier on that Feast of First Fruits, which is Pentecost.
"Then he said to them, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Each man strap a sword to his side. Go back and forth through the camp from one end to the other, each killing his brother and friend and neighbor.’ ” The Levites did as Moses commanded, and that day about three thousand of the people died. Then Moses said, “You have been set apart to the Lord today, for you were against your own sons and brothers, and he has blessed you this day.”Exodus:32:27-29
When we are focused on Jesus above all else, above doctrine, theology, tradition, liturgy, costume or preference , then we have can have true unity, anything other than Jesus, may bring us together for a moment, but will ultimately will pull us apart. This unity demonstrates to the world around that Jesus lives and is among the Christian Church.
In Jesus; humanity can be united, can have a unity that surpasses race, nationality, social backgrounds and language, we this is represent by the varies tongues’ of those who have come from around the Roman-Greece world, and they had converged on Jerusalem, for worship , but encounter the living risen Jesus there in the lives of His followers through the Holy Spirit manifested in power. In languages from afar, they hear this message about Jesus that transforms them and brings them together as nothing else can.
"And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." Acts:2:4
"And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language And they were all amazed and marveled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God." (5-11)
The Gospel about Jesus should bring us together unified in common purpose to proclaim what God has done for us all through His Son Jesus Christ and He should be seen in the life of the Church. Jesus unites us, that is , God has healed the breach between us and Himself and one-another all through Jesus and by the Holy Spirit's indwelling.
When the Gospel regarding Jesus Christ was preached there on the streets of Jerusalem there were three thousand who accepted the message of God's love and grace
"Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day." Acts:2:41
This Three Thousand is in contrast to the Three Thousand who died at the giving of the Law centuries earlier on that Feast of First Fruits, which is Pentecost.
"Then he said to them, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Each man strap a sword to his side. Go back and forth through the camp from one end to the other, each killing his brother and friend and neighbor.’ ” The Levites did as Moses commanded, and that day about three thousand of the people died. Then Moses said, “You have been set apart to the Lord today, for you were against your own sons and brothers, and he has blessed you this day.”Exodus:32:27-29
When we are focused on Jesus above all else, above doctrine, theology, tradition, liturgy, costume or preference , then we have can have true unity, anything other than Jesus, may bring us together for a moment, but will ultimately will pull us apart. This unity demonstrates to the world around that Jesus lives and is among the Christian Church.
The Church should be the
unified community of believes called together regularly who demonstrates the
truth of the presence of the living Jesus who is raised from the dead is
continuing His work in the life of the Christian Church and that He has
brought us together.
When our focus is
on Jesus Christ above all things then we demonstrate to any and all that
Jesus lives and has changed our lives for all time and eternity.
Pentecost is far from being the figuration of something new, it is in truth better understood as a powerful declaration of the truth that we witness on that Resurrection morning, which is Jesus Lives! Amen
Pentecost is far from being the figuration of something new, it is in truth better understood as a powerful declaration of the truth that we witness on that Resurrection morning, which is Jesus Lives! Amen
Rev. Todd Crouch, Pastor
The
Fountain of Life Church a Congregation of Grace Communion
2101 Old National Pike.
2101 Old National Pike.
Washington,
Pennsylvania. www.gcfountainoflife.org
The Fountain of Life is heard on the RKP Radio Network 1710 and 1670 AM in Washington and North Franklin ,and 1790 AM in the Arden Fair Grounds area of Washington Pennsylvania, and on 1710 AM in Bentleyville and Monongahela, Pennsylvania. And online around the world at www.rkpradio.com
You can follow the Fountain of Life on Face Book - Click on our Face Book link under our Helpful Links
No comments:
Post a Comment