One of the outstanding features of the Kingdom of God is the esteem and dignity of every “citizen”.  It took me a while and a deeper understanding of the Word to see myself as a saint – set apart for a specific purpose.  I had to first learn that my sanctity is not of my own doing, but that the honour is attributed to me solely and exclusively because of Jesus’ work on the Cross.

In church tradition, it was a “title” bestowed, usually post-mortem and with lengthy and meticulous discussion about a person.  Eventually, he or she is given “saint” status.

There are many questions surrounding the process.  Who are the witnesses, who saw or experienced what about such a person, and surely many more?  For me, there are certainly many “saints” in the traditional sense of the word of devoting their lives to the good of others, walking among us who are not recognized for their work in the eyes of the denominational church.

No one sees the mothers on their knees and the quick steps from the fridge to the stove.  No one sees the fathers driving up and down searching for “lost” children, perhaps somewhere on a street with a needle in their arm.  One of the beautiful testimonies in church the other day was from a grandmother who told how they have been helping a grandchild over many years, together with the police, social workers, rehabilitation personnel, and all the wonderful people dedicating their lives to the aid of such, so that evil does not prevail.  Children are literally pulled back from the hell of addiction and cared for.

Our focus today is on ourselves – our own status of holiness.  We are members of the Church of Jesus – the powerful and omnipresent invisible Body of Jesus that changes the world and means defeat for evil.  The chaos of political and social street voices, shouting twisted and confusing cries of rebellion and confrontation, is enough to drive anyone into a cocoon of silence.

Young people are hungry for the greater truth, something that matters, something that could have lasting value.  They find it in a motive for incitement to obtain a worthy cause for action.  Whether it’s political or socio-economic, it usually stretches across borders and plays out on the world stage.  It’s a characteristic of the current generation of young adults, commonly known as Gen Z.  They are more educated and more technologically empowered than any previous generation.  Their eye is on global trends rather than local and even national.  It’s simply not enough to just be good to the people around you – you have a voice on the international platform and that’s where the difference is made by individual voices in a group.  Hopefully some rationality will prevail when time passes and realities and complexities become clear. 

This brings us back to the promise of Pentecost.  Jesus stands with his disciples, ready to depart while the overwhelming wonder of his Resurrection is only 40 days old.  He tells them to wait. (Acts 1:8)  Something is going to happen that will empower them to take the great Message of Jesus into the world.  He speaks globally, but it’s not the first priority.  First on the list is Jerusalem, then Judea, then Samaria, and only then the ends of the earth.

Jerusalem was right there with them – their own people.  One could say the people of their household.  Judea was part of the small, middle-of-the-world region where Jesus walked, healed, and talked.  One could think of Judea as your family.

Then Samaria, where Jesus initiated his disciples with the transformative work of the Holy Spirit already active within them.  In them was ingrained the hatred for the Samaritans from childhood.  No Jew would linger in Samaria to talk and especially not to eat.  While Jesus talked with a woman – indeed a woman with whom no Jewish man would talk publicly – at the well, the disciples went into the village to buy food – food from hated hands, already preparing the wonder of reconciliation and love.  Two miracles – a rejected woman becomes the messenger and the whole village comes to listen to the Messiah when they hear the unusual conviction in her voice and a Jewish teacher socializing with Samaritans.

And then… the ends of the earth.  The disciples could surely never have imagined how quickly this prophecy of Jesus would come true.  Just ten days later, there are people from the ends of the earth in Jerusalem, and the Church is born with fire and tongues.

There were people from all the nations under the sun in Jerusalem. (Acts 2:5)  The sound of the wind and the fire piqued normal curiosity in them to know what’s going on.  They are there for the Feast of Weeks – the harvest festival.  Perhaps the people attending expected nothing out of the ordinary to happen and for the feast to play out the same way as so many before.  The sound and the people speaking to them in their own languages are enough to make the ordinary extraordinary.

The Birth of the Church was an outdoor event. It was not possible from the very first day to contain the Church of Jesus, the Holy Spirit-born powerful Church, in a building.  This is still the characteristic of the true Church of Jesus.  It is literally a church without walls, the invisible Church.

The Church is the supreme and decisive “street voice” that shifts history globally.  It is the cry of LOVE that makes the difference everyone yearns for.  It is in the Church of Jesus, not the churches divided and disconnected by man-made buildings and doctrines, where the true saints are crowned and rewarded, not with gold poured into all kinds of statues or cups, but with the gold of a heavenly crown and the special jewels in God’s treasure chest. (Revelation 3:18; 4:4; Malachi 3:17)

Throughout history, the Church, reduced to human religious practices, has limited itself to organizations and compromises and lost its “voice” of love.  Money, sex, and power have sown destruction and continue to do so. Just as throughout the Old Testament where the same evil plagued Israel, God preserved the remnant and called and protected the true prophets.  The Church feels the purifying fire of the Holy Spirit from time to time so that the chaff is separated and burned.  As church scandals dominate the front pages of our news channels, it’s as if every Christian hears the mocking, sneering voice of devilish delight, not to mention the schadenfreude of the unbelievers.

This should not upset us at all.  God will not tolerate compromise.  It is rather incomprehensible with how much patience and grace He covers corrupt leaders until their shame is exposed.  One thing is certain – judgment is coming.

Listen to what the Lord says to Amos.

“Behold, the eyes of the Lord God are on the sinful kingdom,
And I will destroy it from the face of the earth;
Yet I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob,”
Says the Lord. “For surely I will command,
And will sift the house of Israel among all nations,
As grain is sifted in a sieve;
Yet not the smallest grain shall fall to the ground.  (Amos 9:8,9)

Feel free to read the entire chapter to understand God’s restoration after judgment.

Samuel grew up amidst the disobedient sons of Eli in a dysfunctional “church” and yet became one of the greatest prophets of Israel.

So Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel had been established as a prophet of the Lord.   (1 Samuel 3:19,20)

Us saints are part of the outdoor gathering that fills the streets with truth and love.  We cannot let this Pentecost pass without experiencing the Holy Spirit, so that we may receive the promised power to be witnesses and  transform our streets.

It is the attitude of our hearts that makes the ordinary extraordinary.

God shares His Plan with His prophets.  Judgment always comes with warning and ample opportunity for confession.

Surely the Lord God does nothing,
Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.  (Amos 3:7)

Pentecost is a Harvest Festival, a festival of souls for the Kingdom.  Let us pray and wait for a mighty work of God in our midst.  Our voice in worship makes the dwelling place of God with us.  We are the key voices on the “streets” of our community to bring the truth.

Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel! (Psalms 22:3)

We want to witness the mighty deeds of God as of old.

 Then the Lord said to Samuel: “Behold, I will do something in Israel at which both ears of everyone who hears it will tingle.  (1 Samuel 3:11)

Expect the extraordinary!