On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. Suddenly, there was a 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 this 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. They were completely amazed. “How can this be?” they exclaimed. “These people are all from Galilee, and yet we hear them speaking in our own native languages! Here we are—Parthians, Medes, Elamites, people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, the province of Asia, Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, and the areas of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism), Cretans, and Arabs. And we all hear these people speaking in our own languages about the wonderful things God has done!” They stood there amazed and perplexed. “What can this mean?” they asked each other. But others in the crowd ridiculed them, saying, “They’re just drunk, that’s all!” (Acts 2:1-13 NLT)What the entire world had been waiting for happened. Jesus had died, rose again and returned to heaven. The disciples waited and soon the Holy Spirit came on them and gave them tremendous power. As they spoke under the Spirit’s power, it was miraculous. All who heard it recognized that here was something great. They may not understand it, but they could tell it was something great.
All were amazed. Except for a few knuckleheads. “They’re just drunk, that’s all.”
No matter what happens, and no matter how great it is, there will always be a few knuckleheads around to try to tear it down. It doesn’t matter whether they understand it or not.
In fact, sometimes, they know full well what is happening, that it is the power of God, but they still try to denigrate it.
Sometimes, they are jealous that they were not the ones to think of it, or to be in charge. Sometimes, they just have such a spirit of opposition that no matter how good it is, they will try to tear it down.
Sometimes they do not understand and are maybe afraid. Or maybe it isn’t going the way they want it to go, so they are going to stop it altogether.
Whatever the reason or motive, they will always be there.
They are the ones who killed Jesus because he was not what they wanted. Even though they could see that he was from God, they tried to stop it so that they could have their way.
They are the ones who will tear a church up rather than admit that they are not in charge, or that their idea is not the predominant one.
Even though they can tell that what is happening is from God, they are willing to hurt people rather than have God work in a way they are not approving of.
Why? I do not know, but it has always been and always will be. The church started with them and the church will end with them. They will always be here.
All we can do is what God calls us to do. The early church did and we are still here.
And the church will be here until Jesus comes again, no matter how those people work.
God is greater.
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