The Outpouring

Today we celebrate the day of Pentecost, the 50th day after the Sabbath of the Passover week.  Pentecost is also called the Feast of Weeks because it was celebrated seven weeks after Passover.  The power of God comes on this day and is witnessed by three signs:  The Wind, symbolic of the Holy Spirit's presence; the Fire, a symbol of His cleansing and judging power; and the Tongues, various languages spoken in all parts of the Eastern Mediterranean region from Rome to Persia.

With 120 disciples gathered together, the Spirit of the Lord is poured out.  The speaking of tongues in this fashion is typified by the Greek word glossolalia which means "speaking in other languages," most likely the native languages of those devout men from every nation under heaven.  Peter begins his first sermon to make the proclamation for salvation through repentance, remission of sins, baptism, and the gift of the Holy Spirit. The conclusion to this day is to understand true Christian discipleship, knowing and practicing the Apostles' doctrine, the fellowship of the Church, the breaking of bread, and prayer.

Do you experience the power of the Holy Spirit in your life?  If not, then one must ask the question as to what characteristics are evident in your relationship with God.  Peter is clear that repentance, remission of sins baptism in the name of the Lord Jesus, and the gift of the Holy Spirit proclaim one's assurance of salvation.  May you know the power of God in your life and walk in the Spirit as God leads you.

Ascension of Christ

Today we celebrate the ascension of Jesus to heaven where Christ is seated at the right hand of God the Father. The ascension marks the final act of the God-Man to accomplish redemption for mankind. There are several points of significance in the ascension of Christ. 

First, Jesus completes His mission as Savior of the world whereby repentant sinners may find harmony and a future in an eternal existence with God. Secondly, we are told by the angels who were present at the ascension of Christ, that Jesus will return in the same way that they saw Him ascend -- a literal and physical return of Christ to the earth. Thirdly, Jesus will now send the Holy Spirit to abide with those who call Him Lord. The ascension of Jesus has completed us as believers to full ministers of the gospel, that with power and conviction in the Holy Spirit, we become Christ's ambassadors of peace.

Do you see yourself as a strategic and privileged vessel of hope for those who are hurting and lost? The ascension of Christ assures us that we are now able to go into the world and make disciples as Jesus commanded us to do. Your loving smile, touch, and encouragement to others is now an essential personal lifestyle that will bring the presence of Christ to the lives of those whom you touch. Jesus in you, as a result of Christ in us. 

Think about how special God has made you for His very purpose. To reach the lost for Christ. Now go out and love somebody for the sake of Christ.

Love without Masks

In this final message of our series Love Suffers Long, we bring this one last thought. The apostle Paul tells us that love must be without hypocrisy.  From the time of the Renaissance, we have been enamored with theater and the arts.  The role of the actor is to play the part where one masks their real identity to play the part of another. In our current society it has become commonplace for us to mask our own identities with fake smiles and plastic personalities, so as to win over the approval of others.  We are to love with sincerity and hate what is evil. To master these virtues, our love must suffer long in situations and circumstances that do not warrant our joy and approval, especially when the behaviors of others seems unacceptable.

Do you find it difficult to love truthfully and without the mask?  Is it hard to love the unlovable, where only God is given the right to avenge our hurts and disappointments?  If so, then removing the mask of our insincerity is the first step to truly  kowing what it means to love without hypocrisy.

Loving Until It Hurts

In our series, Love Suffers Long, I have sensed an unusual pattern of behavior that has concerned pastors and church leaders for decades -- that is, how often loving someone through difficult times is necessary, but how little remedy or success may be seen in the results. The apostle Paul is a great example of someone who felt betrayed and isolated from the very church he was trying to help (the Corinthian church). Paul speaks about his difficulties in loving them, even to express the possible reason for the "thorn in his side', as Paul put it, ''the messenger of Satan". Learning to serve one another without reward or thinking it is an obligation can be difficult. Peter sensed this when Jesus tried to wash his feet at the Last Supper. He was outraged that his Lord would want to stoop to the lowest rung of the ladder for a servant.  We must learn to love enough to embrace an other's pride and arrogance, and love them through their unlovable personality. We must learn to love enough to embrace another's pride and arrogance, and love them through their unlovable personality.

Paul was not happy with how the Corinthian church had treated him and makes a powerful statement when confronting them because of the constant harassment of his persecutors and a variety of trials he faced in his life. Paul resolves the issue when he says to the church, “I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake, for when I am weak, then I am strong . . . and I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved". It seems at times the more you love someone, the more you run the risk of being hurt.

Do you struggle to serve without reward? Is it hard for you to look past one's pride and arrogance? Is it impossible for you to love enough to suffer through ill-treatment and painful sacrifice?  If so, God's remedy is in the virtue of being patient with each other. Remember, Love Suffers Long.

Left Out, but Not Left Behind

For the disciples it must have been hard for them to see the significance of the resurrection.  Here they were behind locked doors for fear of the Jews.  It wasn't until Jesus came to them on His 3rd appearance after the resurrection that He brought a message of peace.  "Peace to you," He said.  This was a common greeting that the Jews recognized.  "Shalom alechem," peace one to another.  Jesus repeats this twice.  There is no guilt given for their desertion, confusion or unbelief.  Jesus encourages them to go preach the gospel to the world.  He would encourage His disciples to believe in Him as their resurrected Lord and Savior.

Thomas was not present for this appearance of Jesus, but eight days later is demanding that he see the marks on the hands and the piercing of His side from the spear.  Here Jesus loves the unlovable and tolerates the unbelief because His mission is to win the lost.  "My Lord and my God," Thomas says, giving us the highest confession of faith in Jesus seen anywhere in the Scriptures.  "My Lord and my God," not just Messiah, Teacher, Rabbi, but Jesus the Christ, God the Son.  The confession of faith of Thomas marks the confession of faith of the Christian Church for 2,000 years.  Using the title reserved for Almighty God in the Old Testament, "Adonai," Thomas cries out a confession of faih that settles the issue of his doubt.

Did your belief in God come as a result of a doubting heart?  Do you suppose it is better to have a nominal belief system that is never challenged by doubt and unbelief?  Remember, Jesus loves us enough to never give up on us, and loves us through our doubt and skepticism.  Love suffers long.