The Loop

The Miracle of Pentecost and Your One

Have you ever felt like there were too many obstacles between you and sharing your faith—language, culture, fear of rejection? Scripture reminds us that God specializes in removing every barrier necessary to make sure people hear about Jesus. 

The Church: Where God’s Presence Is Experienced 

Throughout Acts, we see that the church is where God’s people experience God’s presence. That doesn’t mean a building—it means us. We are walking, breathing temples of the Holy Spirit. As we move through the world, people experience God through us. And something uniquely powerful happens when believers gather together. 

Jesus said, “Where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am with them” (Matthew 18:20). He wasn’t saying God is absent when you’re alone. He was emphasizing the unique power and presence that comes when believers commit to one another in community. 

Pentecost: God’s Barrier-Breaking Power 

Acts 2:4 tells us, “All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.” This happened on Pentecost, fifty days after Passover—one of the Jewish high holidays. Jerusalem would have been overflowing with Jews from all over the known world. 

Because of the Diaspora, Jewish people had been scattered into many nations. They adopted new languages and cultures but returned to Jerusalem to worship. Into this moment, the Holy Spirit moved, and the disciples began speaking in languages the crowds could understand. 

However it happened, the meaning is clear: God removed the language barrier so people could hear about Jesus. Pentecost shows us that God will remove every necessary obstacle to bring people to Himself. 

From Babel to Pentecost: A Reversal of Division 

To fully understand Pentecost, we must go back to Genesis 11. Humanity once shared one language, but instead of honoring God, they used their unity to build a tower in their own strength. Out of love, God confused their language—not to punish them, but to prevent further destruction and draw humanity back toward Himself. 

At Pentecost, God reverses Babel. Instead of confusing language to scatter people, He enables understanding to gather them. What sin divided, the Spirit redeems. 

God Still Removes Barriers Today 

God is still removing barriers. In many Muslim contexts, people report encountering Jesus through dreams. One woman, abused by her husband and unheard after years of praying to Allah, decided to stop asking, “Where are you?” and instead cried out, “Who are you?” That night, she dreamed of Jesus—and her life was changed. 

We may not always know what to do with stories like that, but God does. He calls it the Holy Spirit. 

The Spirit and Chaos 

Throughout Scripture, the Spirit of God is drawn to chaos. In Genesis 1, the Spirit hovered over the disordered waters before God brought creation into order. In the New Testament, Jesus continued this pattern—moving toward brokenness, sickness, and social outcasts. 

God’s invitation is always the same: Do you want My order brought into your chaos? 

‘Everyone Who Calls’ Means Everyone 

Acts 2:21 declares, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Paul repeats this promise in Romans 10:13. 

And yes—everyone means everyone; people with different sins, different politics, different identities, different pasts. We often place mental barriers where God places none. Scripture is consistent: anyone who calls on Jesus will be saved. 

So, who do you believe is too far gone? An ex-spouse? A child? A coworker? God hasn’t given up on them. 

Our Mission: Reaching Our One 

Our vision as a church is simple: pray for our One first, be intentional to reach our One, and look for ways to share God’s grace and truth. 

Who is your one? A sibling, neighbor, classmate, coworker, or parent? Paul asks in Romans 10:14, “How can they believe in the one they have not heard?” Faith comes by hearing—and someone has to tell them. 

Putting It Into Practice 

• IdentifyYour One: Pray and ask God to show you the person He wants you to reach. Write their name down. 
• Pray for Boldness: Rejection is real, but so is the possibility of someone finding new life in Christ.
• Trust God to Remove Barriers:  Fear, culture, and impossible situations are no match for the Spirit.
• Build Real Relationships: You can’t share Jesus with people you don’t know.

The same God who empowered the disciples at Pentecost is still removing barriers today. The question isn’t whether God can reach your one—it’s whether you’ll trust Him enough to be part of the process. 

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