When the believers were filled with the Spirit on the day of Pentecost they were enabled, by a miracle, to praise God in different languages. The Jewish onlookers from different countries understood the disciples in their own languages and asked: What does this mean? It was a good question. This miracle was a sign to the people heralding the beginning of a new age. It meant that God was reversing the curse of Babel (Genesis 11) when he fragmented and scattered the people of the earth to limit their potential for rebellion. At that time God said: “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them” (Genesis 11:6). What God is doing here through the sign of the tongues is signalling his desire to bring people back together again so that the potential of human community might be released again. The true potential of humanity and every human individual is only ever realised as we combine our individual abilities into something bigger than ourselves. The sign of Pentecost declared that God was taking his people out of their nationalistic and individualistic enclaves. When God comes into our lives he wants to burst out and he wants to burst us out of our limitations to connect with each other on a higher plane for a higher purpose. Are you ready for this? The Holy Spirit wants to liberate you from situations that you may not want to be liberated from. Are you willing to expand your vision, your experience, your relationships and your influence? The Holy Spirit wants to expand you.
Reflect on what inhibitions God wants to burst you out of. Pray for this.
Read Acts 2:1-12 and Genesis 11:1-9
