October 14th, 2024
by Pastor Luke
by Pastor Luke
There's more to the day of Pentecost than meets the eye.
It's the re-gathering of a dispersed people.
Greater revelation around the topic is found in Genesis 11.
Genesis 11:1-9 says: "Now the whole earth had one language and the same words. And as people migrated from the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. And they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly.” And they had brick for stone, and bitumen for mortar. Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.” And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of man had built. And the Lord said, “Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another's speech.” So the Lord dispersed them from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city. Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth. And from there the Lord dispersed them over the face of all the earth."
Consider the merciful judgment God applied to the people of the Earth in Genesis 11. God saved them from themselves and from their capacity for self-implosion. God confused their language so that a bad situation wouldn't get worse. It was a measure of mercy, and a measure of judgment. Anytime we try and "make a name for ourselves" you know it's gotten bad. But God's plan worked. The people abandoned the building project, that would have "made a name for themselves" - but at a cost: they couldn't understand each other anymore. How often is this the norm for Christians today?
Juxtapose the story of the Tower of Babel with the day of Pentecost that we studied yesterday at our Sunday Gathering. At the Day of Pentecost, the Spirit filled and enabled the disciples to speak in the known languages of the surrounding regions, causing them to understand each-other. The event was evidence to everyone that the prophecy made in Joel, and the promise of the Father Jesus referred to in the Gospels, had been fulfilled.
At Babel, God confused them to prevent disaster, but came at a cost.
At Pentecost, God enabled them to understand each-other, because of the cost Christ had already paid.
Too often we live a "Tower of Babel" faith, focused on our goals instead of being focused on God. No wonder we don't understand each other... When it's our agenda that is paramount, confusion is the outcome.
Instead, Acts 2 invites us to live a "Pentecost" faith, focused on God's presence, enabling us to understand each other.
Listening to each other and seeking to understand each other is one of the most "Christian" things we can do. The Holy Spirit's manifest presence always gives the fruits of the Spirit.
So this week, here are three thoughts for you too meditate on:
1. Focus on God, not your goals.
2. Seek to understand your brothers and sisters in the Lord.
3. Seek to make God's name great, not yours.
It's the re-gathering of a dispersed people.
Greater revelation around the topic is found in Genesis 11.
Genesis 11:1-9 says: "Now the whole earth had one language and the same words. And as people migrated from the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. And they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly.” And they had brick for stone, and bitumen for mortar. Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.” And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of man had built. And the Lord said, “Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another's speech.” So the Lord dispersed them from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city. Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth. And from there the Lord dispersed them over the face of all the earth."
Consider the merciful judgment God applied to the people of the Earth in Genesis 11. God saved them from themselves and from their capacity for self-implosion. God confused their language so that a bad situation wouldn't get worse. It was a measure of mercy, and a measure of judgment. Anytime we try and "make a name for ourselves" you know it's gotten bad. But God's plan worked. The people abandoned the building project, that would have "made a name for themselves" - but at a cost: they couldn't understand each other anymore. How often is this the norm for Christians today?
Juxtapose the story of the Tower of Babel with the day of Pentecost that we studied yesterday at our Sunday Gathering. At the Day of Pentecost, the Spirit filled and enabled the disciples to speak in the known languages of the surrounding regions, causing them to understand each-other. The event was evidence to everyone that the prophecy made in Joel, and the promise of the Father Jesus referred to in the Gospels, had been fulfilled.
At Babel, God confused them to prevent disaster, but came at a cost.
At Pentecost, God enabled them to understand each-other, because of the cost Christ had already paid.
Too often we live a "Tower of Babel" faith, focused on our goals instead of being focused on God. No wonder we don't understand each other... When it's our agenda that is paramount, confusion is the outcome.
Instead, Acts 2 invites us to live a "Pentecost" faith, focused on God's presence, enabling us to understand each other.
Listening to each other and seeking to understand each other is one of the most "Christian" things we can do. The Holy Spirit's manifest presence always gives the fruits of the Spirit.
So this week, here are three thoughts for you too meditate on:
1. Focus on God, not your goals.
2. Seek to understand your brothers and sisters in the Lord.
3. Seek to make God's name great, not yours.
2 Comments
Thank you for this, Luke. I really resonated with the part that says “At Babel, God, confused and at Pentecost God enabled”! I pray that God will confuse and enable me, at His will, for my good and for His glory! I am enjoying these blog posts!
Agreed! What a humbling thought - that God would confuse me when it’s the best thing for me, and that God would enable me at just the right time. Powerful!