There's so much unity happening. There's people from all sorts of different places. The way that their cultures are being shaped by their languages are so different. Their mannerisms are different. But they're being unified with this space. These people that are God-fearing, but they're somehow coming to this place and they're starting to hear the gospel being preached in their own language, but by a distinct people.
[00:15:54]
The symbol of the fire, I believe, is so important for the day of Pentecost. In ancient Israel, fire was a common symbol, a common theme throughout the narrative for the Israelites. But also, it was a sign, it was something that they could refer back to. It sometimes was present when there was a covenant being made.
[00:16:43]
The establishment of a new covenant with Jesus Christ and by the power of the Holy Spirit. That this fire is coming down and resting not upon a mountain, not between two animals that were split in order for a covenant to be made, but upon and resting upon each and every single disciple. Almost like when the dove rested upon Jesus. The symbol of the Holy Spirit that's saying that the power, the gift, the boldness, the ability to do ministry in the name of God is resting upon each individual.
[00:17:43]
It's a part of our story as Christians that tell us something very important, that God will initiate the enabling of people to speak boldly on God's behalf.
[00:18:57]
There's a continuing thread in that where at Pentecost we are given this enabling of speech to speak to people who are held captive, oppressed, need healing, and to be able to have the power to be able to speak to them when we had not had that ability before.
[00:20:09]
This gift of the Holy Spirit, I think, is so powerful because it's an assurance that, yes, we are going to feel like we can't do it all by ourselves. And there are going to be obstacles. There are going to be mountains that are too hard to climb. But with this gift, we will be able to.
[00:20:31]
The pillar of fire that led the Israelites through the wilderness was to help light the way, but it was also to show them that the presence of God will always be with them. They could tangibly see the presence of God that was with them, to protect them, but also to guide them, and to show them where they're going as well.
[00:20:51]
So for Christians, when we feel as though we might be lost, which is very common for any human being, we as Christians look back to Pentecost and know that there was a symbol of fire that showed that the presence of God was with us and would go before us, protecting us, guiding us, and lighting the way.
[00:22:17]
This day of Pentecost marked the new covenant, the beginning of this new covenant that we have with Jesus Christ. That this covenant is not for us to make animal sacrifices at a temple every year, that we have to atone for our sins, and we have to have this entire kind of religion that would be binding us by law, but it would be setting us free to be able to do what Jesus was doing, casting out evil spirits, healing, bringing peace to people, bringing community to people who have been marginalized and isolated.
[00:23:35]
The symbol of the fire in Pentecost is so powerful. It's not just about enabling people to speak in different languages, it's the enabling of these disciples who felt as though they did not know what they were supposed to do anymore. They were a little confused about what was going to happen next. They were told to wait in Jerusalem and wait for the gift of the Holy Spirit, and when that gift came, then they started going to all corners of the world.
[00:24:59]
They saw an enabling of these individuals to have faith that they couldn't have without the power of God. There was this agreement, this mutual understanding that when they saw one another, they could tell who was full of the Spirit and full of faith. They were able to notice it because they saw it in themselves, this marked change that happened in them.
[00:25:57]
It might not be that dramatic where people are being able to cast out demons or heal people or anything like that, but it might be that they started seeing a likeness of Jesus, a likeness in Jesus in speech, in posture, in mannerisms, in the way that they treated one another.
[00:26:24]
I believe that the day of Pentecost is so important for us to remember because it shows us that the gift that the disciples received that day still is present here in our world today. It's hard for us to sometimes see because we're busy with our day. But sometimes a person, whether we know it or not, gives us a very divine and compassionate touch, a noticing, a recognition.
[00:30:27]
Just the way that they show some compassion helps lift the weight. And we know that we're not alone.
[00:31:10]
I believe that we must have faith as Christians to think we can be like Christ. I think that it is such an important part of our faith that we can be like Jesus in this world. This hope that we might be used, that God has also chosen us to be sent, because I believe that when the disciples met to pray in the upper room as Pentecost was happening, I don't think that they all looked at each other and said, oh, you're going to be one that speaks on God's behalf.
[00:32:19]
Rather than for Moses, where he was battling with God and wrestling with his inadequacy, when the Spirit came, the disciples were ready. They received it. They received and adopted that Spirit into themselves. They integrated with that Spirit. And I believe that this work of integrating with the Spirit is a difficult task.
[00:33:20]
Being ready to receive this gift, where God is going to be taking us to places that we can't even imagine, where it might be dangerous even. It might be risky. It might be difficult. It might be incredibly stressful. It might come with a lot of traumas. It might come with a thorn in our side. But the gift is there.
[00:33:44]
This assurance and confidence that this covenant is made. that we have this covenant with Jesus. That our mistakes are covered. We are liberated from guilt and shame. We are enabled to do works that even Jesus said to the disciples, greater works than I.
[00:34:32]
Pentecost is a special day to remind ourselves that the power of the Holy Spirit is with us. And God is ready for us to go and do great and wondrous things. God is ready to do wondrous things internally for us as well, but also to send us into this universe where people need that touch. People need that eye contact. People need to be known, to be heard, to be seen.
[00:34:56]
We are capable of doing amazing things in the name of Jesus because the Spirit is with you. So I hope and pray that we are ready and that we say yes to God as God sends us. With fire lighting our way, with fire resting upon us, assuring us that we have the power of a covenant of forgiveness and liberation of freedom and this presence of God that lights the way and guides us and informs us.
[00:37:57]
