Pentecost

Feed the Fire

Dec 5 2013

Feed the Fire

 “Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell … no human being can tame the tongue” (James 3:5-8).
At Pentecost the church experienced a different fire; it came from heaven and rested upon believers causing their tongues to praise God in various languages by the power of the Holy Spirit. James is right, human beings can’t tame the tongue, but God can. He sanctifies this small part of the body with holy fire so that it can steer the life of the believer in a godly direction. In the scripture above James has told a positive story through a negative picture – and what a wonderful job he did! More

Essentials of the Ascension

Apr 12 2013

Essentials of the Ascension

Acts 1 and Genesis 1 have interesting similarities. Both deal with temple creation. In Genesis God creates heaven and earth to be a temple, and in Acts he creates the church to be a temple. In Genesis the building process is all about ordering and empowering. God separates dark from light, the water above from the water below, and the water below from land, and he names each so they can function. He fills the sky with lights, the water with fish, and the land with animals, and finally he creates and empowers people to rule the earth and help him name things. On the seventh day God rests. In ancient times gods rested in temples. The temple was built by worshippers and then the god was invited to rest in it. This did not mean they went to sleep, it meant their presence brought order to the temple and its surrounding community. When a god rested there was no more chaos. Genesis is telling us in the language of the day that Israel’s God built the universe as his temple and then brought his order and rule to it.
In Acts 1 God sets up the church as a temple. Again it is about ordering and empowering. More

The Beginning of Gifts

Jul 4 2012

The Beginning of Gifts

Acts 1.4-5, 12-14, 2.1-6

Andrew was still praying aloud when he heard a rushing sound in his ears. As he glanced across the room he caught Philips eye. He had heard something too. Both instantly shot their eyes over the group. Everyone was wide-eyed and the sound was now around them. Was it in the room or just their ears; they weren’t quite sure. But the air had thickened and there was a pleasant weight upon them. Peter was at the front. He had been kneeling, but as he stood to full height he looked around. There was a fire-like glow on each person, even the ladies at the back. But he could not stare long for the fire was on him too and he felt a driving passion building inside. Oh, it was strong; he wanted to shout. He took a deep breath and gave it voice. What on earth was that? He did it again. Was that language? Could the others hear? This was crazy, but it felt good. He wanted to do it again and again; but was he shouting? It seemed they all were. Yes he could see everyone was. Wow, even Mary…
Though the outpouring of the Holy Spirit was expected, what happened at Pentecost must have taken the group by surprise. More

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