People need to hear the Word of God

Posted: Thursday, May 16, 2013 6:00 pm

The Messenger, May 16, 2013
By members of Obion County Ministerial Association
Christians around the world will remember and celebrate Day of Pentecost this Sunday. People will hear the passage from the second chapter of the Acts of the Apostles, when the Spirit of God, with a rush of violent wind, came and filled the disciples of Jesus Christ. Divided tongues like fire rested on the disciples. The disciples then spoke of God’s many deeds of power, especially those of their resurrected Lord.
The amazing miracle of this event was the gathered people in Jerusalem from many different lands heard the deeds of power not in the common language everyone used to get through the day, but the language of their native land, the language of their own kind, their own family.
The Day of the Pentecost is seen by many as the birthday of the Church. Pentecost can also be seen the expansion of God’s promise to all people. The people in Jerusalem that day came from lands far and near. The people in Jerusalem heard God’s word each in their own language.
God’s word is for everyone. God’s word speaks to each of us, no matter where we are from, no matter who we are, no matter what language we speak.
The rush of wind at Pentecost reminds us of the wind associated with the wind of the Spirit in creation. Like the wind of creation, the wind from the Day of the Pentecost spreads across the land and sea. The breath that is in each of us spreads the word of God, spreads the mighty acts of God in the world. The spirit within us spreads the word of God, the love of God to each person we meet, to each person, each neighbor we are to love.
Of course, there are always skeptics as there were on the Day of the Pentecost. Some in Jerusalem that day thought Jesus’ disciples were drinking too early for the celebration of Israel receiving the 10 Commandments on Mt. Sinai. We have skeptics of God’s word today. We also so have many that have not heard of God’s powerful deeds. Many people have not heard the Word of God.
Many people have not heard the Word of God because we have not told them about God. We need to proclaim the powerful deeds of God found in the scriptures. We need to proclaim the powerful deeds of God found in our lives. We all need to hear the Good News of God, the Good News of God in Jesus Christ.
We all need help from the Spirit, though. The Holy Spirit enabled the disciples to speak so that each could hear their own language. The Holy Spirit will enable us to be understood by different people no matter where they are from, no matter who they are, no matter what language they speak.
People who need the word of God speak so many languages. They speak sports, they speak movies, they speak video games. They speak books, hunting and restaurants. They speak drugs, crime and prison. They speak poor and rich; yellow, white, black, brown and red; and female and male. They even speak politics.
By the blessing and grace of God, we can speak all those languages, as well.
People need to hear the Word of God. Everyone needs to hear that God loves them. Everyone needs hear God wants our love and for each of us to love each other. Everyone needs to hear, each in their own language.
Rev. Chuck McMillen
Bishop’s Vicar
St. James Episcopal Church