Pentecost: Come Rest On Us

Lights in the Sky and Tongues of Fire

Cosmic Wonders

April 8th 2024- Solar Eclipse, complete eclipse caused people to travel great distances to see it in its fullness.

May 14, 2024 Solar Storm rated 5 out of a 5 point scale of intensity caused the Northern Lights to be seen as far south as Tennessee.

Humanity has always been fascinated by the cosmic. We look to the sky in wonder and bear witness to God’s great creation pouring out over us. The normal becomes fascinating.

Pentecost (Shavout, Festival of Weeks: 7 weeks or a week of weeks). One of three pilgrimage festivals detailed in Exodus as a celebration for the giving of the Law. Is a harvest time festival where the males offer the first fruits of the harvest.

The Disciples, maintaining obedience to Jesus’s directive remained in Jerusalem. Why? Because Jesus ascended into heaven and promised he would send the Paraclete, the Holy Spirit to them—the comforter— or cum forte (Spirit of Power)

As they are gathered together in the Upper Room, likely the same room they have utilized since their arrival in Jerusalem on the faithful Palm Sunday, suddenly God shows up. The activity of God was almost indescribable. Why do you ask? The number of simile and metaphors utilized to describe what was happening. Tongues-

Gk. glṓssai hōseí pyrós. (Tongues as of fire) L. W. Hurtado, “Tongues as of Fire,” ed. Geoffrey W. Bromiley, The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Revised (Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1979–1988), 871.

3. These tongues rested over each of the disciples. Glossai, meaning languages (not to be confused with glossolalia).

Fire and wind are the elements of theophany in the Bible. Theophany is the physical manifestation of God’s presence. Burning bush, Pillar of Fire, Lightning and thunder, and wind in the valley.

Tongues RESTED over the believers.

“Pentecost is a celebration of God… a celebration of God’s power… a celebration of God’s desire to empower us and to dwell within us.”

Mark Hart

The Power of God pours out in abundance. What once was in just small portions on specific persons has been unleashed. God endows with power those who are preparing for His presence. Like the air we breathe, the Holy Spirit surrounds us, fills us, and sustains us giving us energy to live and thrive!

Ordinary, unremarkable chapel service.

University Chaplain Greg Haselhoff recalls Wednesday, February 8, 2023. That chapel service was one of three held each week at this small Christian liberal arts institution in Wilmore Kentucky. President Kevin Brown has described the service that day as “ordinary and unremarkable” Even the morning speaker Zach Meerkrebs described his message as ill prepared because of just returning from a trip. He told his wife “Just laid a stinker, I’ll be home soon”

On Feb. 8th 2023 at Hughs Auditorium: The message was ill prepared.

What is it that takes place when we read about the massive outpourings of the Holy Spirit, not only in this event but throughout history?

They gather for the ordinary.

The Asbury Chaplain, the speaker said there was nothing special about this service.

At Grace Church here on Sunday April 14th we closed the 9 AM service with the Benediction after what we thought was certainly a failed altar call to look up and see over half of the room in front of us.

John the Baptist was just doing his thing when Jesus appeared in front of him. How many baptisms did he perform that day? What made this so special?

The disciples were gathered in the Upper Room after witnessing a resurrected Jesus, singing hymns and worshipping, normal Sabbath Day activity.

They have hearts seeking.

With open hearts in the seeking after God

Worshipful spirits they entered into the presence of God.

The Spirit rested on them.

The Spirit lingered at the Chapel Service for the next 14 days.

The Spirit rested on Jesus in baptism.

The Spirit rested on the disciples. “Tongues of fire rested on each of them”

Numbers 11:16-24

Joel 2:28-32

A Limited outpouring gives way to ABUNDANT OUTPOURING!

From living to thriving

Radical Calling

Radical obedience

A Limited outpouring gives way to ABUNDANT OUTPOURING!

Becoming love in action, not through our agency but receiving Divine grace.

Radical humility

Psalm 51:17 “The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.”

radical hunger

Matthew 5:6 ““Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”

radically open- letting go of the skeptic.

John 6:29 “Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.””

Sometimes it looks like: glossolalia, deliverance, peace, just manifest experience of the divine.

The work of the Holy Spirit is to testify to the things of Jesus.

i. The Spirit drove out of their hiding place into the streets.

The “So what?”

Because the message and power of God within us cannot stay with us. It must be shared.

Jesus gives us both the vision “Go and make disciples of all nations” and power. He has provided all that we need to complete the work until he comes in final victory.

Philippians 1:6 “I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ.”