Jeremiah 23:1-10
In the days following Jesus’ death on the cross, the reality of the mood of the disciples was doom and gloom. Then Easter came and the band of the brothers and the followers of Jesus saw the power of God’s Spirit at work in their lives. Jesus gave his disciples instructions. Fifty days after Easter the Pentecost Spirit filled their lives and changed life forever for these believers. In Acts 2:1-21 we see the Holy Spirit changing the life of the disciples from despair to their being alive in their faith in Jesus Christ. Dr. Luke paints a word picture for us as to the change in the lives of the disciples. It changed the life of despair for these disciples to a life filled with the living spirit of God, giving them assurance that God is with them and gives the people of faith the power to face the hard times in life.
“On the day of Pentecost all believers were meeting together in one place.” Dr. Luke paints the word picture of the power of the Holy Spirit at work in these believers’ lives. “Suddenly there was the sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm and it filled the house where they were sitting. Then what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages as the Holy Spirit gave them ability. At that time there were devout Jews from every nation living in Jerusalem. When they heard the loud noise everyone came running and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers.”
Dr. Luke was telling us how the Holy Spirit cleaned up the lives of the believers. The tongues of fire burned away the despair, fear and uncertainty. The Holy Spirit gave the believers the power to speak other languages so they could communicate with all the people. That way each person received the message that faith in Jesus gives you a new life.
But like today, there were others in the crowd that ridiculed them saying. “They’re just drunk, that’s all.”
But the Holy Spirit’s power changed Peter and the other apostle’s lives. Peter said, “These people are not drunk. They have received what God promised us long ago by the Prophet Joel. ‘In the last days God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people”. It is the Holy spirit that gives us hope in the time of despair. Peter said, “The sun will become dark and the moon will turn blood red before that great and glorious day of the Lord arrives”. We will have all kinds of trouble and problems in life. But Peter gave an answer to the trials we have in life. “But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Saving from sin and despair is what the power of the Holy Spirit does for us who believe in God’s saving grace.
Even before Pentecost, God was dealing with the broken lives of people caused by their own sinful actions. Israel had rejected God and continued to live as they wanted. They stubbornly followed their own evil desires. They were taken to Babylon to live as slaves. As you read the Psalms you can hear the despair from these broken people crying for help. God’s spirit worked through Jeremiah to change the despair of these slaves in Babylon.
Jeremiah told them what they had done to be in the pain and mess that they were living out in Babylon. As a nation they had accepted bad leaders. “What sorrow awaits the leaders of my people – the shepherds of my sheep – for they destroyed and scattered the very ones they were expected to care for.” Says the Lord.” This is speaking to us today. In the church we have wicked elders and corrupt bishops that have broken their covenant with God and His church. This corrupt leadership has rejected the scriptures and turned to the many gods of humanism.
Jeremiah tells these wicked leaders what God has done and will do. “Therefore, this is what the Lord God of Israel says to the shepherds, ‘Instead of caring for my flock and leading them to safety, you have deserted them and driven them to destruction. Now I will pour judgment on you for the evil you have done to them.” Many years ago, the church leaders in Europe began to follow the god of socialism; that is how Hitler came to power in Germany. When the leaders of the church and government follow the gods of socialism, God’s church becomes empty of the true message and the Holy Spirit. Sin and evil leaves us in despair.
But like Pentecost, when God’s Spirit fell on the believers’ lives, Jeremiah told the despairing people of the exile that God cares for the faithful. “But I will gather together the remnant of my flock from the countries where I have driven them. I will bring them back to their own sheepfold, and they will be fruitful and increase in number. Then I will appoint responsible shepherds and care for them and they will never be afraid again. Not a single one will be lost or missing. I, the Lord, have spoken.”
God’s Spirit was working in the life of Jeremiah telling the people why they would no longer live in despair. “For the time is coming says the Lord, ‘When I will raise up a righteous descendant from king David’s line. He will do what is just and right throughout the land. And this will be His name: The Lord is our Righteousness. In that day Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety.”
Israel came home for a while, but turning to other gods destroyed their nation again. Pentecost produced the Church that has claimed and saved millions of lives that were lost in the world of sin.
These times of despair produced by the coronavirus, leaders in the church breaking covenant with God, and government leaders not following the Constitution is producing further despair. May God’s Holy Spirit awaken us before we find out what life was like in “Babylon.” We must turn to a life of faith in Jesus Christ. His love will lift us up from our despair. Pray that the Pentecost spirit will fall upon us.
