Pentecost!

Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Acts 2:11b “we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.”

How many languages can you speak? Most people in America can only speak one language, English. Some may be able to manage 2 or 3, but beyond that there aren’t many people that can speak multiple languages. I’ve always envied people who were multilingual. For a while, I was able to manage German pretty well. Then, I switched to biblical Greek and Hebrew. Now, well, I’m pretty competent with English.

            There is something about communicating in foreign languages that is intriguing and perhaps a bit romantic, regardless of which foreign language. But here in this amazing event of Pentecost, the languages are anything but romantic. In fact, they are nothings short of astounding. The background- It’s 50 days after Passover, thus Pentecost. It’s a festival for the Jewish nation. For the followers of the Way, they are not called Christians yet, it is a strange, foot in both worlds, feeling. They are Jewish by birth but followers of Jesus by rebirth. They’ve come to celebrate the feast of Pentecost and then, the Holy Spirit literally rocks their world.

            It’s also interesting to note that not too long ago, they were hiding behind closed doors because they were afraid of the Jews. Now, they were standing in the open in Jerusalem. Amazing what God can do. The Holy Spirit comes in with the sound of a rushing wind and he takes up residence on the heads of the disciples in the form of something like a tongue of flame. It’s the best you can do when describing the Holy Spirit. Sounds like::: Looks like::: Not sure, but what you can describe is what he does! Because what happens next is nothing short of amazing.

            The Holy Spirit fills them up and they begin to speak, to proclaim the Gospel, to talk about God and Jesus. But they do it in languages that they themselves didn’t know they could speak. All manner of languages from all manner of places. From the far west of Egypt to the islands of the Mediterranean to the far east and north, people had come from all over and were now hearing of Jesus in their own words. Some thought the men were drunk, some wanted to know more, but everyone was amazed. The Holy Spirit would not be held back, he would not let the men and their own apprehensions get in the way. The story of Jesus needed to be told to all the world, right there, right now and it was indeed.

            The story of Jesus still needs to be told. All the time. Let me put it this way: We still need to tell the story of Jesus! Oh Pastor Joe, you still need to tell the story of Jesus, that’s why you’re here. You’re right. I do. But I’m not the only one here who can or does tell the story of Jesus. To be honest, none of us is really worthy to tell the story of Jesus. And the devil wants to remind you of that. You’re a sinful, miserable mess. How in the world can you presume to tell people about Jesus when your life isn’t perfect? The devil wants the story of Jesus to remain quiet, or silent. But the story of Jesus isn’t about you and me. It’s about Him. It’s about what he’s done for you and me, the miserable messes that we are. He has forgiven us, remember we talked about that last week. He has saved us from ourselves and he sends His Holy Spirit to be our counselor and guide and comfort.

            It’s the same Holy Spirit that he sent to the disciples. That same loud, wind rushing, flaming head spirit comes to me and you. Don’t look now, but your head’s on fire. You’ve been given the gift of the Holy Spirit to speak the words of the Gospel. Me, the sinful, cracked pot that I am, has been forgiven and blessed by the Holy Spirit to share the Gospel. And I get to do it in all sorts of languages. No, I’m not about to start speaking in tongues, though that might be kind of interesting. I speak in many different languages in other ways.

            Can you share the love of Jesus and the Gospel with infants and toddlers and wobblers and preschoolers? Then you can speak their language.

            Can you share the love of Jesus and the Gospel with kids in elementary school or middle school or high school or college? Then you can speak that language.

            Can you share the love of Jesus and the Gospel with adults, both young and not so young? Then you can speak that language.

            What languages can you speak? Can you speak the language of an engineer or scientist, a teacher or a doctor? Can you speak the language of a missionary, in the villages or around the world?

            Speaking in tongues is not always about foreign languages, though the language of a 2 year old could certainly be described that way. It is the power of the Holy Spirit to share the Gospel, words of forgiveness, words of law and gospel, words of hope, the words of Jesus with many different people.

            So how many languages can you speak? My guess is more than you realize. May the Holy Spirit open your lips so that your mouth can declare the praise of God. Amen!