“When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each.Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.”But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

‘In the last days it will be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,
    and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
    and your old men shall dream dreams.” Acts 2:1-17

About 120 disciples gathered during the festival and they were playing a big game of “The Waiting Game”. Why do I say that? I say that because it appears that the disciples were participating in the waiting game Jesus placed them in – even though it was a festival day. After all, Jesus had told them: “…while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised…”

So they were waiting for something to happen – they weren’t sure what – but they were waiting. What are you waiting for? We all are waiting for something: a package to arrive, a phone call, a check in the mail, a visitor, a vacation, a birth, a death….maybe it is this sermon to end.

Maybe, just maybe you are waiting for G-d to act in your life. You aren’t sure how G-d might act – you just trust and hope that G-d will. Sometimes you even cry out “G-d give me a sign!”

If G-d gave you a sign, what do you think it might be? What would you accept as a sign from G-d? Would you think it might be angelic visitors? Perhaps a divine bank deposit – or a ball of light in the corner of your room? Why does it always have to be something spectacular for it to be a sign from G-d? How about something more mundane? Like, you woke up this morning and were able to get out of bed – was that a sign? Did you have enough money to pay your bills this month – is that a sign? Your car started this morning – or you caught the bus on time today – was that a sign? You had food to eat, a roof over your head, clothing to wear – was that a sign?

We often get caught up in the problems we face each and every day, so much so that these problems keep us from seeing the small ways in which G-d talks to us – what we might call the small things that are the works of the Holy spirit.

Perhaps we need to take a lesson from the apostles and find some time to sit and just listen to G-d – through meditation or prayer. This alone might help us see the signs of G-d’s presence in our lives each and every day.

Pastor Dave

“Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he was saying. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things;there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.”  Luke 10:38-42

“All over the world, people go to unimaginable lengths to find God–which is sad when you consider the unimaginable lengths God has already gone to find us” (Joanna Weaver, Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World: Finding Intimacy with God in the Busyness of Life)

A good sermon can be preached in a house; and when our friends come to  visit we should be prepared to listen as much as to speak. Sitting at Christ’s feet signifies readiness to receive his word, and perhaps even to learn some guidance from it. Martha was providing for the entertainment of Christ, and those that came with him. She demonstrates respect to our Lord Jesus through the ministry of hospitality and the right care of her household affairs. Yet there is someone to be blamed – there is always someone to blame.

The care and concern of everyday matters can be a snare to us when it hinders us from serving G-d or serving each other. What needless time is wasted, and expense often laid out in the act of entertaining. I see such waste in the overly expensive wedding receptions that are currently all the rage in our society. Was Martha wrong for feeling the way she did? On this occasion she was a true believer caught up in her earthly roles and responsibilities. Mary had chosen the good part as Jesus determines and yet perhaps should still have lent a hand.

The good part in this life for Christians is to not allow our earthly roles and responsibilities to deny us the things we need in searching for the things we think we want. The best part comes in serving and listening to Jesus. Without the guidance of Christ and the discipline of listening to the voice of Jesus, we may also find ourselves not doing the good we should.

Pastor Dave