A Church on Fire

After Easter: A Journey to Pentecost

My friends, we’ve been on a journey—one not marked by miles, but by the mighty movement of God through history.

We began with a promise—God’s covenant with Abraham. He said, “Through you, all the nations of the earth will be blessed.” That wasn’t just a nice idea. That was the heartbeat of God’s redemption. And from that promise, God moved.

He delivered His people from bondage in Egypt—not with whispers, but with wonders. He showed the world that when He moves, no Pharaoh, no army, no chain can hold Him back.

We saw a God who breathes life where there is none. That same breath, that same Spirit, is what our world is aching for today.

And when He ascended—oh, what a moment!—He didn’t leave us alone. He didn’t abandon us. No, He promised something greater was coming. “Wait,” He said. “The Holy Spirit is coming. Power from on high.”

And now… now we stand at Pentecost. Not just a date on a calendar. Not just a story from long ago. Pentecost is power. It is promise fulfilled. It is God keeping His Word. The Spirit came like a rushing wind, like tongues of fire—and the Church was born! Born not in silence, but in fire and in boldness.

And hear me now—this isn’t just history. This is reality. That same Holy Spirit who filled that upper room… is here today. Right now. He’s not just for them. He’s for you.

You don’t have to live powerless. You don’t have to live afraid. You don’t have to live stuck in the past or afraid of the future. God is still moving. The Spirit is still falling. And the Gospel is still going out.

So I ask you: Will you lean in? Will you open your heart to the Spirit of God? Will you let Pentecost be more than a memory—and make it your moment of surrender, your moment of fire? Because the waiting is over. God moves. And nothing will ever be the same.

The Bible says in Acts 2, “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly…”—oh, I love that word—“Suddenly, a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.”

Friend, when God moves, He doesn’t always tap gently on the door. Sometimes He rushes in like a storm. And on that day—on that holy day—He came with wind and fire and power from above!

The disciples weren’t preparing a marketing strategy. They weren’t forming a committee. They were praying. Waiting. Expecting. And then what did know—God showed up.

“They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.” Do you see it? This wasn’t just a general presence. This was personal. It came to rest on each of them. Every single believer received the Spirit. Every single heart was touched by the fire of heaven.

And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. These weren’t trained linguists. These weren’t scholars or professors. These were fishermen. Tax collectors. Ordinary men and women. But when the Holy Spirit comes, He makes the ordinary extraordinary. He gives voice to the voiceless. He gives power to the weak. He gives courage to the fearful. The Bible says Jews from every nation under heaven were there in Jerusalem. And when they heard that sound, they came running. They didn’t find confusion—they found clarity. They didn’t hear noise—they heard the message of God in their own language. They heard the Gospel.

And what was their response? “Utterly amazed,” Scripture says, “they asked: ‘Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans?’” In other words, “How is this possible?” It’s possible because the Spirit of God breaks every barrier—of language, of culture, of background. It’s possible because when God wants to reach people, He doesn’t ask for your permission—He sends His power. It’s possible because the Gospel isn’t just for one nation, or one time. It’s for all people, in all places, at all times.

And yet—don’t miss this—some mocked. Some heard the sound of heaven and said, “They’ve had too much wine.” They tried to explain away the miracle of God because they couldn’t comprehend it. And that’s where we are today, isn’t it?

Some still hear the message of Jesus and say, “That’s foolishness.” Some still look at the movement of the Spirit and say, “That’s emotionalism.” Some still want to box God in, tame Him, keep Him safe and quiet. But I came to tell you today: The Spirit will not be silenced. God is moving. And the question is not “Will the Spirit come?”—He already has. The question is: Will you open your heart to Him? Will you be among those who receive the fire, or those who reject it? Will you be amazed… or unmoved? You see, Pentecost forces a choice. You can’t stand in the presence of God’s power and remain neutral. The same Spirit that shook the room… wants to shake your life.

The Bible says in Acts 2:4, “All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.”

Now listen to me: this was no ordinary moment. This wasn’t noise. This wasn’t confusion. This was the sound of God launching a mission. The same men who once trembled behind locked doors… now stood in the open streets, proclaiming the mighty works of God! What happened? The Spirit came. And when the Spirit comes, He brings boldness, not fear. Power, not timidity. Clarity, not confusion.

Don’t miss this: They didn’t just speak—they spoke in languages they had never learned! And the people—God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven—heard the Gospel in their own tongue. Friend, that wasn’t coincidence. That was divine design. They asked in wonder, “Aren’t these men Galileans? How is it that each of us hears them in our own language?” It was a miracle of communication. A miracle of inclusion. God was saying: “This Gospel is for everybody.”

From Parthians to Pamphylians, from Egyptians to Arabs, the message rang out—not in one voice, not in one culture, but in a chorus that crossed every line this world tries to draw. Why? Because the cross of Jesus Christ is not tribal. It’s not national. It’s not limited by race or region. At Pentecost, God shattered the language barrier to show us: There is no outsider in the Kingdom of God.

And what was born that day wasn’t just a movement. It wasn’t a ministry. It was the Church—the body of Christ. Not a country club. Not a cultural group. But a Spirit-filled, global family, called out by grace and sent out in power! And friend, let me tell you—that same Spirit is still working today. You may come from a different background. You may speak a different language. You may feel like an outsider. But when the Spirit of God falls, there are no outsiders. There is room at the cross for you.

So I ask you: Will you open your heart to the Spirit who speaks your language? Will you receive the invitation to be part of something eternal—something global—something holy? Because Pentecost didn’t end in Acts 2. It began. And it’s still happening—right here, right now.

The people gathered in Jerusalem said, “We hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” (Acts 2:11). Friend, that was no accident. That was Pentecost. That was God speaking in every language to show us: this Gospel is not American, not Jewish, not Roman—it’s for the world.

Back in Genesis 11, with the tower of Babel mankind—drunk on pride—tried to build their own path to heaven. And what did God do? He confused their speech. He scattered the people. Division entered the world through rebellion. But now, here in Acts 2, we see God reversing that curse. Not with a building project—but with the Holy Spirit. Not to scatter people—but to gather them. Not through confusion—but through clarity. What sin had fractured, God’s Spirit was now uniting.

This wasn’t just the birth of a church. It was the birth of a global Church. A holy family not marked by skin color or speech, but by the blood of the Lamb and the fire of the Spirit. You see, those men and women started in a small upper room. They were praying. Waiting. Hoping. But when the Spirit came, their prayers became proclamations. Their small gathering became a global movement. And it hasn’t stopped since.

And listen—this wasn’t a surprise. It was the fulfillment of prophecy. The prophet Joel said it long ago: “I will pour out My Spirit on all people.” (Joel 2:28). And John, in the book of Revelation, saw the end of the story: A great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb… crying out: “Salvation belongs to our God!” (Revelation 7:9–10)

That’s where history is headed. That’s where the Church is going. That’s what Pentecost began. So let me ask you: Are you ready to embrace a Gospel that reaches beyond your comfort zone? Are you willing to love those who don’t look like you, sound like you, vote like you, or come from where you come from?

Because the Church of Jesus Christ is not a club—it’s a calling. It’s not about our traditions—it’s about His truth. And His truth is for everybody. The same Spirit that fell on Pentecost is falling today—still calling, still convicting, still uniting people from every corner of the earth.

So I ask you today: Will you join that Spirit-filled mission? Will you see your neighbor—not as a stranger—but as someone Jesus died for? Will you speak with boldness, love with courage, and reach across every line this world has drawn? Because friend—the Church wasn’t born to play it safe. The Church was born in fire. The Church was born for the nations. And the Church was born for this moment.

My friend, you’ve heard the message. You’ve felt the tug at your heart. That’s not emotion. That’s not persuasion. That’s the Holy Spirit of God speaking directly to you. Today is Pentecost—the day the Spirit fell in power… but maybe more than that, it’s the day God is calling you to fall into His arms.

The same Spirit that gave the disciples boldness… is offering you new life. The same Spirit that united nations in one voice… is calling you out of isolation, out of fear, out of sin… and into the family of God. You may feel unworthy. You may say, “Chris, you don’t know my past.” You’re right—I don’t. But God does.

And He still sent His Son to die for you. He still poured out His Spirit to reach you. And He’s still offering you a seat at His table—right now. “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” That’s what the Bible says. And that “everyone” includes you. So I’m going to ask you to do something bold. Right where you are—don’t wait, don’t hesitate—say yes to Jesus. Say, “Lord, I believe. I surrender. Fill me with Your Spirit. Forgive my sins. Make me new.”

God sees you. He hears you. He knows your name. You come. Come to Jesus. Come home to the One who already made a way. And I promise you—you will never be the same again.