“They’re speaking our languages, describing God’s mighty works!” Acts 2 v 11 The Message.
“We are from these different countries, but we can hear these men in our own languages! We can all understand the great things they are saying about God.”
The Feast of Pentecost was perhaps the best attended Jewish festival in Jerusalem with Jews and visitors from all corners of the world, sharing many languages, gathering for the Feast. The disciples and followers of Jesus had also gathered, possibly in the Temple Courts area for the festival, as they waited for the promised Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit came, the disciples and followers were first aware of the sound- a loud, audible sound like a powerful, gale force wind filling the whole building. This was followed by flames of fire settling upon the head of each one present. As the Holy Spirit moved among them, disciples and followers began to speak out their praises and worship to God in spoken languages that they had never learned, as the Spirit came them power. The crowds, attracted first by the sound of the strange wind, began to gather round, then hearing words of praise and thanksgiving in their own native tongues and languages, from the mouths of a motley collection of uneducated Galileans.
The disciples were speaking out to all within earshot, the wonderful works of God. They were praising their God, proclaiming His goodness, communicating, and delivering their praise in such a dramatic way, that their hearers were astounded at what they were hearing- because they were now tuned in and hearing this, each one in their own native language.
The lovely phrase ‘now you’re speaking my language’ means ‘now I see what you’re getting at’ now I can understand what you’re saying’ and even’ I think that we are on the same page!’ Now I can see it!
So often when we are talking about Jesus and our Christian faith, we are not talking the same language as our listeners. We are not on the same page, and so it is not surprising that ‘they don’t get it!’ Some years ago, a book called The Five Love Languages. How to express Heartfelt Commitment to your Mate by Gary Chapman, became an instant best seller. The book outlines five different ways (words of affirmation, quality time, receiving gifts, acts of service and physical touch) that we can express, receive, and experience love. The author believed that it was important to know your ’love language and that of your partner to make sure that you were communicating in the way that you can receive the message. He also believed that love could get’ lost in translation’ when couples speak different love languages.
The crowd in Jerusalem got the message very clearly. The worship and praise was in their ‘first’ language, their ‘heart’ language, their ‘love’ language. “There are Parthians, Medes and Elamites; there are men whose homes are in Mesopotamia, in Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, and the parts of Africa near Cyrene, as well as visitors from Rome! There are Jews and proselytes, men from Crete and men from Arabia, yet we can all hear these men speaking of the magnificence of God in our native language.”
After Peter’s clear presentation of the gospel message of salvation, to the crowd, three thousand individuals that day were added to their group. They had heard, ‘got it’ and responded in faith.
PRAY
Forgive me when my words of praise and thanks are feeble or non-existent.
Forgive me when I do not speak of you even to those in the family of faith.
Help me so that my words and my life may speak of you in ways that can be understood.
Give me the words to say so that they are clear, simple and do not confuse.
Help me to tune into the way that others are thinking, feeling and speaking so that I can bring your grace and love. AMEN
I love You, Lord
For Your mercy never fails me
All my days, I’ve been held in Your hands
From the moment that I wake up
Until I lay my head
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God
And all my life You have been faithful
And all my life You have been so, so good
With every breath that I am able
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God
I love Your voice
You have led me through the fire
In the darkest night
You are close like no other
I’ve known You as a Father
I’ve known You as a Friend
And I have lived in the goodness of God
Cause all my life You have been faithful
And all my life You have been so, so good
With every breath that I am able
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God
Bethel Music