“You send forth your spirit, and they are created; and so you renew the face of the Earth.” (Psalm 104:30)
So says the Psalmist as we talk of Pentecost; and the speaking in tongues, heard and understood by all; and the rush of a violent wind which filled the house; and the tongues of fire which rested on each of them; all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit, who began to speak in other languages, as the spirit gave them ability.
The Holy Spirit of God spoken about in the Psalm was set into writing in the days of David and Solomon. The Holy Spirit of wind and fire and mutual understanding arrived after the ascension of Jesus into Heaven. It was the comforter Jesus said he would send; and it excited and raised the fervor of the Apostles and disciples, the believers in the Gospel of Jesus Christ; and it renewed the face of the Earth with the message of God’s love for all of us. All of us.
Those who were led by the Spirit of God became the children of God. Paul told this to the new Christians in his travels to Rome, carrying the message across the face of the Earth. No longer are we slaves falling back into fear; but receiving the spirit of adoption, to be able to cry “Abba! Father!” This adoption, that we are children of God, says we are heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. God is our Father; Christ is our brother; we may also be glorified with Him.
Genesis tells the story of the tower of Babel so tall it would reach into the heavens and they would be like Gods. The pride and arrogance of these people so displeased God that he took away their common language, and scattered them about the World.
In that there was no pride, nor arrogance in the followers of Jesus and his Gospel, the Holy Spirit gave them the power to speak and be understood, to hear and understand; and so to tell those of many languages in Jerusalem the story of Jesus Christ crucifixion and resurrection. When they heard in the language of their own culture they believed, and many were baptized.
To this day that same Holy Spirit let loose by God, which filled the hearts and minds of the early believer’s circles among us, inhabits us, and dwell in us so we may live the gospel message, and offer it to others. When we are together that Spirit multiplies and increases, so we may all cry, “Abba, Father” and know we are assuredly loved by God. Amen.
The Rev. George O. Martin is an Ordained Deacon at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 17th and Adams, Great Bend. Send email to georgeom@hbcomm.net.
