The earliest Christians, 120 of them, gathered in Jerusalem waiting in the upper room until they were “clothed with power from on high” (see Acts 1:13-15, Luke 24:49).
There is a temptation to run after the quick way, the short cut, and forego the pain of the marathon for the sprint. Do we put in the hard work, the study, the laying of the foundation before building the house? The upper room is a place of waiting. It is a place of sheltering in place together clinging to precious promises. It is full of anticipation, but also fear. Fear of the unknown, fear of the authorities, fear of being unable to follow where Jesus led. Can you imagine contemplating life without Jesus after enjoying intimate fellowship with him for three years?
I am sure that the promise of the Holy Spirit, while exciting, could not shake the sense of loss. Perhaps the upper room was the place of reminiscing about all that Jesus taught. Perhaps the first writings that became our Bible began here. God made them wait for a reason. Before we can be conduits of his power and witness to his message we must come through the crucible of transformation. They trusted, they prayed. The learned anticipation and faith… and then fire fell from heaven. Tongues of flame rested on each one of them. The room stirred and the rumble began as tongues were loosed. Not the speech of human control but the speech of heaven, the world was opened to the direct words of God’s Spirit through submitted human vessels. Satan knew fear.
God’s word spoken by men has the power to change the world. Unadulterated by our desires, God’s words create… well, everything.
”We hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” (Acts 2:11b)
The speaker can’t control the content. The speaker just decides when and whether to let loose God’s voice into the darkness. Those who hear are changed. Those who speak are changed. There is humility in glossalia (“speaking in tongues”). These were simple Galileans. To not know what you speak, is to trust the one who speaks. It requires setting aside your sovereignty. Like Mary, you say yes to God’s plan, and literally lay down control of your body, in this case, their voices.
“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels and have not love I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophesy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.” (1 Corinthians 13:1-2)
“God is love” (1 John 4:8b) How can I speak through the Spirit of love and have not love? Sadly it is easy. My sinful desires get in the way. Pridefully I manipulate others. “Can you not speak in tongues? You must be less than I. Perhaps not even saved.” These are the lies of the enemy. But in the upper room there were no such lies. The enemy was unprepared for God’s gift and didn’t have time to spin his web, so the world changed. The church was born in a day.
When God truly moves Satan doesn’t see it coming and everything changes. We are sheltering in place. We too have fears and precious promises. Join me in praying. Expect the unexpected.
Come quickly, Lord Jesus.
Atheist to Elder 