The Bible is a unified story that leads us to Jesus. It starts with a soft promise in Genesis—a hint that grows louder through time, building a chorus of hope that reaches its peak with Jesus. This story moves forward in Acts as Jesus leaves his disciples with a mission. They wait in Jerusalem, ready for something beyond their abilities. God is about to pour out His Spirit, not to control, but to empower them for a mission that will span the globe.
Empowered for a New Mission
When Jesus told his followers to wait, it wasn’t about hesitation but anticipation. He knew they needed the Spirit to accomplish what lay ahead. This moment echoes an ancient promise from the prophet Joel, who spoke of a time when God would pour out His Spirit on all people. Not just a few, but everyone who believed. As Acts 2 unfolds, that promise comes to life with a mighty wind and tongues of fire, symbols of God’s empowering presence. They’re being equipped, not forced, to carry out God’s purpose in ways they couldn’t do alone.
This brings to mind another scene from Exodus 19, when God descended on Mount Sinai, marked by fire and thunder. God gave Israel the Law there, setting them apart as His people. In Acts, God marks a new community by the Spirit. It’s the birth of the church—a community called to take God’s message to the ends of the earth, just as God had promised Abraham that all families would be blessed through him.
Pentecost and the Reversal of Babel
The miracle at Pentecost also reminds us of the Tower of Babel. In Genesis 11, humanity’s pride scattered them, dividing them by language. Pentecost turns that story on its head. As the Spirit enables the disciples to speak in different languages, people from various nations hear God’s message in their own tongue. Where language once divided, now it unites. The Spirit doesn’t control but invites, connecting people across every barrier.
In John 17, Jesus prayed that His followers would be one as He and the Father are one. Pentecost fulfills that prayer, forming a diverse, Spirit-filled family that transcends cultures and languages. This is the church—a community united by God’s Spirit, called to be witnesses of God’s love to every corner of the world.
Stepping into the Mission Today
This mission means recognizing that the Spirit empowers us, not to control, but to guide and equip. Jesus had told His disciples that the Helper would come (John 16:7), and with that Helper, they could step into what God had prepared. That same Spirit is with us today, ready to guide us as we share the good news in our own lives.
Being a witness doesn’t mean knowing everything or having every answer. It’s about sharing what we’ve experienced of God’s grace. Jesus called His followers the light of the world—a mission that extends beyond any person or place. We’re invited to join in, to be part of this unstoppable mission, reaching out in love wherever we are.
The church isn’t just a building or an event. It’s a global, Spirit-empowered family that connects us across every boundary. Pentecost was just the beginning of a story we’re part of today. The Spirit invites us, unites us, and sends us out. It’s a mission that has continued from Acts until now, as we each take our place in God’s redemptive story.
~PW 🌮🛶
Phillip W. Martin 
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