After the flood GOD GAVE A COMMAND, “God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them: “Be fruitful and multiply and FILL THE EARTH (scatter out all over the world).” (Genesis 9:1) This was man’s response, “Now the whole earth had ONE language and ONE speech…they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top IS IN THE HEAVENS; let us make a name for ourselves, LEST WE BE SCATTERED abroad over the face of the whole earth.” (Genesis 1:4)
Could these people keep from being scattered as God commanded? “…the LORD said, “Indeed the people ARE ONE (they are like-minded) and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now NOTHING THAT THEY PROPOSE TO DO WILL BE WITHHELD FROM THEM. Come, LET US go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.” So, the LORD scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they ceased building the city. Therefore, its name is called Babel (confusion), because there the LORD CONFUSED THE LANGUAGE of all the earth; and from there the LORD SCATTERED THEM ABROAD over the face of all the earth.” (Genesis 11:6-9)
The Lord said about being like-minded, “…go and MAKE DISCIPLES of ALL NATIONS, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and TEACHING THEM to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end…” (Matthew 28:19-20) Paul said, “…make my joy complete by being LIKE–MINDED, having the SAME LOVE, being ONE IN SPIRIT and of ONE MIND…In your relationships with one another, have THE SAME MINDSET AS CHRIST JESUS…” (Philippians 2:2-5)
Just how will the Lord accomplish this? “When the day of Pentecost came, they were ALL TOGETHER IN ONE PLACE. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews FROM EVERY NATION under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because EACH ONE HEARD THEIR OWN LANGUAGE being spoken. Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? Then HOW IS IT THAT EACH OF US HEARS THEM IN OUR NATIVE LANGUAGE?” (Acts 2:1-8)
What happened as a result or this like-mindedness? “Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit…Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about THREE THOUSAND SOULS were added to them.” (Acts 2:38-41)
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham