Pentecost United

Of course, here we are on the day of Pentecost. And as we consider this fantastic celebration that we have of God's Holy Days, this is a unique Holy Day. The word Pentecost means what? Well, sometimes we think it means count 50, because we count 50 days from that Sabbath or from that Sunday during the days of Unleavened Bread when the wave sheet would have taken place. We count 50 days to get to this day.

But Pentecost literally just means 50th, because this is the 50th day. We count seven weeks, so sometimes Pentecost is also known as the Feast of Weeks. We count seven weeks, and then the next day, which is today, we be together, and we worship, and we honor God. Sometimes it's called the Feast of the Harvest. Why in the world would we call this a harvest feast? Isn't that just a Feast of Tabernacles? Well, this is the first harvest, the initial harvest. What we would call in the northern hemisphere the Spring Harvest, and that's where in Palestine they would harvest barley, and they would harvest wheat at this time of the year.

So this is the early harvest, the first harvest, the harvest sometimes known as the Harvest of First Roots. So that's one of the cool things about this Feast of Pentecost. It has, I think it's got the most names for any Feast of God's Holy Days, the Feast of Pentecost as well, which Pentecost is the name we find in the New Testament. And it's marking that ending of the barley, the wheat harvest at this time. And so we recognize that representation of a harvest, physically with wheat and barley, is representing a great spiritual harvest that's taking place as well.

And that's what's happening with us. We're the first ones that God has called, and so we're like that early harvest. There are too many of us. We're a smaller harvest. Later on, there'll be a big harvest. So the Feast of Tabernacles represents this huge harvest in the fall, where we have fruit and we have corn and we have all kinds of things that are being harvested at that time.

But here we are representing that initial harvest that God is working harvesting barley or wheat. He's harvesting people. He's harvesting people. And so we have this beautiful representation on the Feast of Pentecost representing that initial harvest, that harvest of first fruits, that harvest that we have this opportunity to be a part of. Of course, when we think of these different connections, biblically, to Pentecost, you can't help but go all the way back to the Old Testament when at Mount Sinai, God ran out His law.

And that most likely took place on this very day, on the day of Pentecost. We fast forward to the New Testament, and God poured out His Spirit on this very same day. God gave us His Holy Spirit. And of course, when we recognize that very fact, we already heard about the number of miracles that took place on this day. Miraculously, God gave His law. Miraculously, God also poured out His Spirit where people spoke in various languages.

And also, there was a miracle in the hearing that people heard in their own languages. God also showed miraculous signs of the sound of something that was like a hurricane, like a wind storm that took place on that Pentecost of the New Testament. There was also something that looked like fire that took place on that first Pentecost that began the New Testament Church. Now, can we duplicate those things today? Now, I don't see any fire dancing around on anyone's head today. I hear the air conditioner's going, but that's not much of a wind storm that's actually taking place or anything like that.

When we think about something that we could duplicate, we can't duplicate the thunder and the lightning that we're at Mount Sinai. We can't do that. We can't go into the upper room. God's Spirit's already been poured out. We can't duplicate the miracles of that day. But is there anything we can duplicate? In fact, is there anything that we are expected to duplicate from that feast of Pentecost in days gone by? You guessed it. There absolutely is something that we must duplicate. In fact, if you want to turn to the beginning of the book of Acts, we read part of this just a little bit earlier.

But let's notice a couple of other things that are connected to an important aspect of Pentecost, that by the power of God's Spirit, we must duplicate.

In fact, as we think about it, how is it possible to have God move among us today? How is it possible to demonstrate His power, to demonstrate the glory of God? How is it possible for us to become more Christlike, to put on the character of Jesus Christ? Well, when we read all the way back at the beginning of Acts, Acts 1, we notice in verse 14 something that was important that was actually taking place here as God's people, as the disciples were coming together at the beginning of the book of Acts, and as they were anticipating the Feast of Pentecost, what was their attitude? What was their mindset? Well, in verse 14, Acts chapter 1, it says, all the disciples, these all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication. In fact, when we fast forward to verse 1 of chapter 2, we see that same aspect emphasized. It says in chapter 2, when the day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. Now, this isn't talking about a Honda, that they were all jammed into one little vehicle and accord, right? In fact, somebody told me another one today that, did you know that Jesus owned an accord, but he didn't like to talk about it? Because he said that, I don't speak of my own accord.

Now, that's bad, isn't it? All right, when we're talking about this kind of an accord, we're not talking about a vehicle. We're talking about being of one mind, the same mindset. And this word literally means that, to be together out of the same mindset. And here they are, in that same way of thinking. They had God's way of thinking on their minds. And what did it break?

They were united. There was this unity that was there among God's people. And with the power of God's people and the spirit that he poured out, you could say that was the delineating factor that offset them from the world. The fact that by the power of God's spirit, these people who were from all over the place, remember as they were keeping the feast in Jerusalem, it was a pilgrimage feast. And people would come from all over. Why was it necessary for them to speak in different languages? Because there were so many different people there from all over. And they came to Jerusalem, to the temple, to worship God, and to praise Him. And so this miracle of languages was critical. So that all could hear in their own language, in their own tongue, in their own dialect. And so the gospel could be preached to all. And so this miracle of hearing and speaking was one that was evident on the feast of Pentecost. And in fact, one that contributed to something that you could say, this marks the spot. This marked the beginning of the church. And almost like putting a big axe, axe marks the spot. We've heard that before, right? That's where the treasure is, where the axe is. And this is where God's treasure is. It marked the beginning of the church. It marked the pouring out of God's Spirit. And it marked the beginning of the New Testament church, where God would then share His Spirit with those that He would call, not just individuals here and there as He worked through the Old Testament. But now, He would pour it out on all that He would call. And so you could say, axe marks the spot. And it was the sign of a special kind of unity. In fact, I heard an odd little story about axe marking the spot. It was about two fellows that didn't have a whole lot on the ball. Perhaps you've heard about these guys. They were fishing one day. They weren't catching too many fish. So they decided, hey, you know what I'd do? We ought to go over to that little marina over there and rent a boat. We could get out there where the fish are really biting. And so they rented this little boat. They got it and they paddled out. And sure enough, they were catching fish like crazy. And so as they're catching all these fish, they thought, how are we going to remember this spot? Because this is an amazing spot. They're all the fish right here. So one of the guys said, I got it. Reaching in his tackle box, he pulled out a marker and he put a big axe right on the bottom of the boat. He said, look, we'll remember exactly where this spot is. This friend looked at him. He said, you idiot! How stupid can you be? We might not rent the same boat next time.

Okay, I told you they didn't have a lot on the ball. Well, hopefully, axe marks the spot a little bit better for us when it comes to what God is doing spiritually. Because that axe that's marking the spot, I think it points to the unity that God's spirit brings. Let's think about that for just a moment. There are many ways that not only should we emulate when it comes to being in one accord, but I think God's given us a commission by the power of the Spirit that we must be a church that is unified. And unity does mark the spot. So let's think about a number of ways that God has said we must be united. Not just in name only. We are the United Church of God. But more than that, to begin with, are we truly united in purpose? The Feast of Pentecost points us in that direction. When we look at Acts chapter 1 right here, these disciples were united as they waited on God, as they looked to God, they were of one accord, of one mind. And more than that, they were in one sense of fellowship as well. If you turn over to Philippians chapter 1, Philippians chapter 1, we see how this trait of purpose must mark the church. It must be one of those factors that unify us because God has given us a purpose. And as we consider Philippians chapter 1, verse 27 is a powerful reminder that we must be united when it comes to heart and mind as well. So he says to us here in Philippians 1, 27, let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ. So whether I come and see you or I'm absent, I may hear of your affairs that you stand fast in one spirit with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel. Because there is one gospel, there is one set of good news that we preach and we teach and we live by. And so we have to behave as citizens of the kingdom of God in our conduct, how we act, what we do. We have to be representatives of that kingdom that's coming. And so we have to ask ourselves, do our lives demonstrate the value that we place on the gospel of the kingdom of God? In fact, he says here, we're not doing this separately. This isn't just an individual effort. Now, of course, we have individual responsibilities and God tells us we have to take personal responsibility as individuals. I mean, there's no doubt about it. But at the same time, here he tells us, strive together.

So it's not like I'm all alone doing this. We're to be brothers and sisters in Christ. That's made possible by the unifying sense of what God's Spirit can accomplish in us. When we strive together, literally, that means working side by side, working together. And so, collectively, as God's people, we work together, honoring God, glorifying God, carrying out His will in the world. Now, as we think about it, is that just something Cincinnati does? Is that something that just some television program does? Is that something just some booklet that's printed? Does this preaching of the gospel? I don't think so. He's talking about all of us carrying out His will in the world. We all have a part to play. Yesterday, we spoke a little bit in Queens about 1 Corinthians 12. If you want to look over there for just a moment, 1 Corinthians 12, we find this beautiful representation of striving together, working together, illustrated with the concept of the body. The body works together. We are the spiritual body of Christ. And when the body doesn't function properly together, what happens?

Well, if I'm the elbow and I don't do my job, what happens? Well, the hand can do some things, but it's going to be pretty tough to reach out and grab something and stand fast and hold tight, because that elbow is not doing its job. But boy, it seems like the hand would be very important to be able to grasp and to hold. But without the other parts working, it's not going to function properly. So here in 1 Corinthians 12, we see very clearly we all have to do our part. All of us, all of the body doing its design function. And God's called us all in various ways to do the things that He would have us do. And so here in chapter 12, we see very clearly, look at verse 17, if the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? Now you got to see, you've got to hear, you've got to have everything. Yep, and we even need noses. Not to be nosy, but got to be able to smile. We've got to have our senses about us, don't we? All the senses, so that the body's functioning properly. And so there are many parts that go into the body. But we see, verse 12, as the body is one and has many members, it says, but all the members of that one body are one. What's one?

Unity. We are unified together. We're not just all the bits and pieces and parts. Together, we're in one accord. We see that Pentecost unity that comes together by the power of God's Spirit. And in fact, as we see this, it's not just that, well, this part's important and that part isn't so important. It's not that at all. When it comes to the body, every part is important. So if we skip back to, all the way back to verse 4, it says, there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. There are diversities of activities, but it's the same God who works all in all. Every one of us has been given a gift. And if we don't use that gift and utilize that gift, what's going to happen to the body? Well, it won't function in the way that God expects us to function. Or to think of it a different way. Will the gospel be preached in the most effective way if each of us aren't doing our part? If we're not united in purpose, in preaching, in teaching, and living that gospel, it's not going to be accomplished in the way that God would have it. And so, when you look at these passages here, if you were to read this in the message translation, it says it this way. Look back at verse 4 again. It says, God's various gifts are handed out everywhere, but they all originate in the Spirit of God. And they're carried out everywhere, but they all originate in God's Spirit. Various expressions of power, inaction, everyone throughout the body, in other words. But God Himself is behind it all. And I think this is a critical understanding when we recognize each and every one of us has a part to play in God's purpose and His plan. And we all have to have the same goal, the same purpose. We have to strive together, strive together. And it all happens by the unity of the Spirit. Because we know who the divider is, who would love to divide us and separate us. We know we're fighting spiritual wickedness in high places. And we know Satan is the accuser of the brethren. He is the one who divides. But Pentecost reminds us, we're to be united together in purpose. And let's think about that a little bit. What helps unite us? Well, certainly when we have the same goal, the same purpose. We have the same mission, don't we? We're to preach the gospel in all the world. That is the mission of the church. We know that commission was given the end of Matthew 28. That we're to go everywhere and preach and teach. Well, who does that take in order to accomplish that? It takes all of us. It takes every one of us. So as we consider that, we are united in purpose. But it certainly doesn't stop there, does it? Because what else were the disciples about at that first Pentecost?

When the church began, 31 A.D., what were they doing in that upper room?

Yes, they were united together, but they were also praying together.

We must be a praying people, because they were united in prayer, and we must also be unified as we praise and honor God. They prayed and worshiped and honored God the Father and Jesus Christ. But they also prayed for each other. And of course, what do you think about it? What is it that builds unity in the church more than petitioning God, drawing closer to Him? In fact, praying for one another, bearing one another's burdens. We certainly must be about our Father's business as we pray, we draw closer to Him, and we pray for each other as well. There's a wonderful section of Scripture over in Colossians chapter 1 that is a great reminder of this very fact. The Pentecost reminds us we're to be united in prayer. Colossians chapter 1 tells us that Paul writes to God's church in Colossae, and he writes to us by extension as well. And notice how much this needs to take place. Colossians chapter 1, verse 3 is where we'll start.

Here Paul says, we give thanks to God the Father, or God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. So here Paul, beginning his letter, right at the very beginning, says, we're thanking God, we're praying to God. In fact, he says at the end of verse 3, he says, we're praying always for you. Praying always for you, since we've heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of your love for all the saints. Well, how is that love expressed?

Well, certainly by prayer and in action as well. Verse 5, because of the hope that's laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth, as you also learned from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is your faithful minister of Christ on your behalf. Now, that's kind of interesting. It wasn't just Paul traveling around and preaching and teaching.

Others were as well. Here by name we have Epaphras as one of the ministers that are mentioned, but was it just the ministry?

I don't think so. Verse 9. It says, for this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.

Boy, that's something we can be praying about, isn't it? That we and others be filled with the knowledge of God's will. We can pray and petition God that his people would be filled with his knowledge. In fact, he doesn't pray just for a little bit of knowledge, not just a little bit of wisdom, not just a little bit of understanding. How much does he pray for? You see what it says here? That you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. We need that spiritual understanding. We need the wisdom of God. We need that knowledge in our life so that we can put it into action. And so we can pray about that. We can pray for God's guidance and his direction in our life, but also be praying for others. And of course, verse 10, that you may walk worthy of the Lord. We can pray that we might be living, breathing examples of God's way of life. That's what that's saying there in verse 10. That we may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. Of course, we can pray that. We can grow in grace and knowledge, grow in conversion, that we're growing more and more Christ-like every single day. And we're praying for each other, that we together would grow. And as a church, what happens when we accomplish that very thing?

Well, the church grows. The church grows. Verse 11, it says, Strengthen with all might according to his glorious power, for all patience and long suffering with joy. Now we're talking about growing in the Spirit. That the fruit of the Spirit would be evident. Doesn't that sound like the fruit of God's Spirit? Strengthen with light, patience, long suffering?

That it's evidence in our life. And so we can ask God to help us and guide us, deepen our understanding to what really is important, to what really is necessary. How your Word can go out in more power, in more strength, that we may see ourselves even more thoroughly so that we can grow and be more Christ-like. And we can pray for others that their spiritual understanding would deepen. And in a sense, that Gospel would go out more effectively. You see, part of what was happening on Pentecost is that people came together and they heard the Gospel in their own language. And they could go out and be that living, breathing example of what God's way was all about. That's part of our commission as individuals. Because, can a television program go to where you work?

Yeah, I doubt it. You always hand out booklets on your job, or in your neighborhood. Maybe not. But you're there. And how you live your life, and how you work, and how you act, and how you react is to be a shining light of God's way.

We should stand out like a sore thumb where we live, where we work, where we shop. How we act. We should be... If we don't stand out...

Wow, are we really doing what God has commissioned us to do?

Because we're different. We don't have the same standards of this world. We don't have the same morality of this world. We've been given God's way, and His will, and His law. And that should cause us to stand out as someone different. Different because of what we believe, because of our faith, because God's given us His Spirit. And so we should be that light that is shining on that hill, that can't be hidden. So at some point, people are going to say, it's a deal. Why are you different? How can you put up with that? How can you act this way? Why aren't you worried about life?

Why?

Which would give you an opportunity to talk about the hope that lies within. Prayer is a powerful thing that can help bring this very fact about. And we pray, and we ask God to give us the strength, the courage, the guidance, to live His way, and to be that personal representative of Jesus Christ. And we pray for others that they may do the same. And that gets the focus off me, on others. And so it's about all of us together. And when I'm praying for others, boy, it makes it really difficult to focus on my own problems, my own worries, my own needs, because now I'm thinking about others. In fact, Philippians chapter 2 reminds us of it. Just write that down. Because it talks about the kind of individual Christ is and was as He walked the earth. He focused on others. And so when we consider that very fact, that's the kind of thinking we're to have. To have His mind. And as we pray and draw close to Him, we can be united with that right perspective that comes through Jesus Christ.

Now, of course, as we think about it, there were miraculous things that happened as the Church began. These miraculous things that showed it was evident there was something special going on here. And it wasn't just, you know, a thing that wasn't very impressive. You know, as you read through those miraculous things that were going on, God showed a fantastic power that was demonstrated through the giving of His Spirit.

Should it be any different today? I believe we should be united not only in this great calling that we've been given. We have to be united when it comes to prayer. But we also must be united in power. Power. When we think of why there was unity, the reason there was unity is they were all filled with the power of the Spirit of God. That's what Acts chapter 2 points to. They were all filled with power together. Together they could accomplish things that no one individual could do. And it was all by the power of God's Holy Spirit. Can we be like that? We need to be like that. I mean, what were the results of that power? What did that power of the Spirit of God produce? It produced something that not one of them could do individually. I was reminded of this when I saw an old Peanuts cartoon. Anybody? Peanuts fans, you know, Charlie Brown, Linus, and all those crazy characters. I remember seeing one. It was kind of interesting. Linus and Lucy were sitting there watching TV, your brother and sister, right? You don't mess with Lucy. Lucy walks in, just changes the channel on Linus. He says, Hank, what makes you think you could just walk right in here and take over?

Lucy says, these five fingers make it possible. And he says, what do you mean? He says, individually, they're nothing. But when I start curling that world together, I can put whatever channel I want on them. Of course, the final little glimpses Linus looking at his fingers going, why can't you guys get together like that? Well, that's it. Together, together, by the unity of the Spirit, God can produce amazing things through us. We see here, they, by the power of the Spirit, could preach the gospel. And it produced amazing things. They could preach, and they could teach. They could be unified together so that they could care for one another. We see the care of the Church come up. They could carry the burdens of one another. They loved one another, and it was demonstrated among them. And so, by being filled with the Spirit, that made all the difference in the world. And that's a challenge for us today, because we are different. We come from different backgrounds. We are different ages. We're different races. We're just different. But what is it that brings us together and binds us with the unity that mankind really cannot understand? What's the unity of God's Spirit? And that's what can make us complete and move forward in power. It's not by might. It's not by strength. But we move forward on our knees in the power of the Spirit of God. And Pentecost gives us that opportunity as God's poured out the Spirit on us and called for us. He wills us not just to submit once in a while to God's Spirit, just to be sort of dedicated to God. Not just in, well, in this aspect of my life. I don't know, try to be strong. No, every aspect, every area. I can't have this work life over here and then this church life over in this other area. No, it's all one. We are one individual. And God wants every aspect of our life all working and pulling in that same direction. And that same aspect as the body, as His church, as His people, we're to be called together so that we can accomplish His will and His work, which I think moves us to another, maybe you've seen so far, these are all p-words, another way that we need to be united. Another way, not only in purpose, not only in prayer, not only by His power, but we're to be united in performance. Now, what do I mean by that? What we saw in this first century when the church began, God poured out His Spirit, all were filled, and wham! Something happened. They just couldn't stagnate. They weren't just to say, wow, I've got the Spirit of God, isn't this great? No, they were moved to speak. They were moved to action. Each one of them had a part to play. God's called them all to serve. In fact, there's a beautiful passage in Ephesians chapter 2. Let's notice Ephesians chapter 2.

Oftentimes, the religious world looks at verse 8 of chapter 2, and it says something very powerful. It says, by grace you've been saved through faith. There's no doubt about that. Because God favors us, we can't have the opportunity for salvation. We know we're not there yet. We're in that saving process. Ultimately, when Jesus Christ returns, His kingdom will be established, and we can have that opportunity to be given eternal life. We recognize that's not where it stops. In verse 10, it says, we are His workmanship. Because He's called us, because He's given us the Spirit, now we better get to work. We've been called to be His workmanship. It says, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

We've been made a spiritual creation to do good works. And part of those good works is obeying God, keeping His seven, remembering the Holy Days and observing them, but also being that example of God's way of life, living as a first fruit, showing the results of what it's like to have the Spirit of God and grow in grace and knowledge. We are a part of those first fruits, and we know we have to demonstrate that. Remember, James said, it's not just the fact that, oh, I'm a part of the church, and now that's all that's expected of me. No, it's not. Faith without works is dead, and that's basically what Ephesians is saying here as well. We have been called as first fruits of God right now in this early harvest to demonstrate that God's way works. It works in this messed up world that when you're dedicated to God's way and you allow God's Spirit to work in you and through you, you can be different. You can be a spiritual creation, and He's called us to be just that. And so united together, like Lucy's five fingers, not for punching your brother, but for preaching the gospel, it changes everything. It changes everything. And so we see at this first Pentecost, they were moved. Moved to be that demonstration of what God was accomplishing, what He was performing, what His actions were expected of us. So we can't just lie around thinking there's nothing for me to do, and somebody else will do it. Well, it's not just for someone else, we're the body. It's all of us working together. And so we can't be sluggish. I had to heard a story that I believe is a true story. They way back when the United States was building the Panama Canal. The story goes that they were hiring Panamanians to help, but for some reason it seemed like there was just something lacking. Was it the fact that they just weren't very good workers, that they seemed kind of sluggish? You know, sometimes the Americans in their self-righteousness thought, well, we're so much better workers than they are. I don't know what's wrong with them. But that wasn't the case at all. They did some studies, and they found something interesting, that there was a lack of certain vitamins in their diet. And as they studied these things, they found a lot of the plant life, a lot of the foods that they ate lacked vitamin B. And without vitamin B, it kind of caused them to be more sluggish. And so, as they studied this, they found they ate. They needed a more varied type of nutrition. And when they added this vitamin to their diet, it changed everything. It changed everything. And of course, as they were put to work with this new diet, things were accomplished. And as I read about that story, I was like, wow, that's really strange, that that could change. But you know, think about that spiritually for a moment.

We better not suffer from a spiritual vitamin deficiency. And it's not just vitamin. We better have some vitamin A, that we put God's way into action.

We better make sure vitamin D is something we're taking in all the time, so that we're doers of the Word, and not just here, so that we are performing those spiritual good works that God would have us do. And vitamin C better not be lacking, because we better have the commitment that it takes to do God's will, no matter what. And maybe throw in a little vitamin Z while we're at it. I don't think there is a vitamin C, but I made that up. There's a vitamin Z. We better have some zeal to accomplish that task, because without it, we're not going to be able to fulfill the vision that God has for us as His people, as His church. The vision of the church is spelled out here in the book of Ephesians. If you just turn over to chapter 4. Ephesians chapter 4 explains the vision of the church. In fact, the United Church of God has formulated this as our vision statement, taking Ephesians chapter 4, verses 14, 15, and 16, and combining it all together, so that we can see what God's expectations are for us. It says we shouldn't be tossed around like little children anymore. We can give it the Spirit of God, and by the Spirit of God, it changes everything. Now it's time to grow up. It's time to grow up individually and collectively as well. And so, he says, verse 16, we grow up to the head, Christ, from whom the whole body joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, what every member supplies, because there's something you can supply that I can't. There's something you can supply than someone else, because God has worked with you, and you're where you're at, and you are a unique individual who's been given at least a special gift in order to shine forth the truth of God's way. And so, as we look here in Ephesians chapter 4, every joint has something to supply. And then it says, according to the effective working by which every part does its share. So it's not just about the home office. It's not just about a booklet or a program or a video or the web. It's about each of us taking personal responsibility and collectively then preaching the gospel in our life. Now, we're not talking about banging on somebody's door or going around, you know, door to door. No, we're talking about living it. Shining forth is truth. And when someone asks you, why are you different? Why do you do what you do? Where are you going on Saturday anyway? We're able to verbalize, like they did on that first Pentecost, the truth of the Word in a way that draws people to the truth. And we don't turn them off. We don't put them down. But who knows if God might use you, as an instrument, to call others where you live, where you work. That's a powerful thing. That we need to be united in performance. And when that happens, what's the result? What's the result when we submit our lives to God's Spirit and allow Him to work in us through it? Well, here we see very clearly. Look at the end of verse 16. When we're joined and knit together, when we're united in our purpose and prayer and performance, every one of us are doing our part. And then it says, it causes growth of the body. How many of us have ever said, boy, I wish the church would grow?

Yeah, I've said that. But what am I doing about it? Have I submitted to God in my life, gotten my own selfish ambitions out of the way, my own shortcomings, my own sin? So then I submit to God's Spirit and I grow in the character of Jesus Christ so that He may use me as His instrument. Every one of us needs to do that. And then collectively, God can do powerful things. And He says the body will grow. It causes the growth of the body. Now, I believe that is, in a sense, yeah, numbers will grow. But it's certainly not all about numbers. Don't get me wrong. It also causes our growth. The body, we, as the body of Christ, the church, will grow spiritually. We will be a stronger spiritual body. And it says, for the edifying of itself in love. And so together, we can be edified. We can be encouraged. We can be comforted. We can be strengthened because we submit ourselves to the Spirit of God. And we get ourselves out of the way. And so ultimately, that's the goal. And the results, the church grows spiritually. We grow stronger. Because let me tell you, tough times are ahead. Difficult challenges are ahead. We know things cannot go on the way they are. And so we better have the strength and the power of God's Spirit so that we can stick together. And we can accomplish the task that God has in mind. And so when we will submit ourselves, great things can happen. It's like a snowstorm. Because here we are, we're just like individual little snowflakes. But what are individual little snowflakes like? Well, they hit the ground. They seem to just melt. They're fragile little things, aren't they? But put them together? Well, they're kind of like Lucy's fingers. You put those snowflakes together and suddenly they can stop traffic.

But the same thing is true with us. When we're united in performance, great things happen. Which that also means it leads us, I think, to a final pea that I have for you this afternoon. And that is passion. Together we must be united in passion. In fact, it's not only a suggestion, it's a command. When they confronted Christ and tried to trick him and said, what's the greatest commandment? They thought they could trick him up. But he was an amazing individual who answered most appropriately. Turn with me over to Mark 12.

In Mark 12, notice Christ's response. Faced with that very question, he answers in a wonderful way and such a great reminder for us as well. Now, Mark 12, we'll pick it up in verse 30. When they asked what's the great commandment, he started out by saying, love the Lord. That's what we must do. Verse 30, he says, you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your mind, all your strength. For this is the first commandment. Then he summarized those ten into two. Love God and love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.

Now, if you were to read this first commandment, and so the other, maybe more contemporary translations, it jumps out a little bit differently. Of course, it says, all heart, all soul, all your mind, all your strength. What's that talking about? That's talking about the fact we better be passionate for God's way. In fact, I think it's a new English transmission. It says, love the Lord with all your passion, all your passion, all your prayer, all your intelligence, all your energy. And it's so easy to get distracted in the world we live in today. But don't be distracted. Put your zeal, put your obsession, put your enthusiasm, put your excitement, put your devotion and your dedication to loving God first, no matter what. And when we do that, we can be united in passion and accomplish unbelievable things from this world's perspective. We can do just that. And so we have to have this burning desire to accomplish God's will in our life, and Pentecost is this fantastic reminder of just that. One more illustration for you before we conclude. You may have studied history, and as the Spanish explorer Cortez came to the new world, he was on a mission. He was on a mission for the king, and he was to take this new land that they had found. And as he came to what we would call today Mexico, this Spanish explorer came with multiple ships. In fact, these many members of his group came to conquer, and they were to settle this new land for their king. But how could just a handful of men accomplish that? They came with 11 ships, and as they came to the shore, Cortez wanted to make sure there was no turning back. He wanted to make sure they were united in passion and zeal to accomplish their mission.

So do you know what Cortez did?

He lit the ships on fire. He destroyed the fleet. He wanted to make sure that his men shared the same zeal, that same fire, to accomplish the job for their king. And so he burned down his boats so there'd be no retreat, no going back. Retreat was not an option. They were forced to move forward. That was their only option. So they better be wholeheartedly at that task. And so when you read history, history points the one thing that contributed to their success was that he led 110 sailors, 500 soldiers who conquered something like five million people. It made an amazing task. And I think whether you worry about the morality of what happened at that time, what I'd like to focus on is the zeal to accomplish the mission. And we've been given so much more important mission. This picture of commitment and wholehearted, absolute zeal to accomplish their job. And of course, we're to overcome spiritual darkness. That's the task that we've been called to. We're to be the light to the world, that light that's shining within us, that God's given us. And so we must accomplish that task. That kind of caused us certainly a reminder that's our duty, that's our calling. And even though we may be few, we're to take on the ways of this world and demonstrate the power of God's Holy Spirit. And so God's called us not to an impossible task, but to a task that will be and must be accomplished. And so as we read the end of 1 Corinthians chapter 15, it's a powerful chapter that's often referred to as the resurrection chapter. 1 Corinthians chapter 15. And the conclusion of it all, because there will be a resurrection, because God's called us to be His representatives, living by the power of His Holy Spirit, He tells us very clearly to be united in this effort to accomplish what God has called each of us individually to do. 1 Corinthians chapter 15. Verse 58, all the way to the end of this particular chapter, we have this great call to action, call to duty. Paul writes, therefore my beloved brethren, be steadfast, be immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. In my efforts, that's useless, but when I submit my life to God, He can accomplish great things. Let's all do that. Pentecost is a call to unity. Let's duplicate the condition of that New Testament church who were united in purpose. They were united in prayer. They were united in power. They were united in performance and passion by the power of God's Spirit. It's possible, and it's more than possible. It's a requirement that by the power of God's Spirit, we can be bold, we can be relentless, we can be uncompromising in our calling. Let's have this renewed zeal that God wants us to have, a renewed dedication, a deeper commitment to God's way and a willingness to live as that light that God has called each one of us to be. And so let's allow this Pentecost to inspire us to a greater enthusiasm that drives us to obedience and faith, all in unity.