INTRODUCTION
Pentecost and Babel. New Testament. Old Testament. Two very different events and yet when we compare them we can learn and be helped.
The Genesis’ account of the Tower of Babel tells us that after Noah’s Flood everyone in the world spoke the same language. As the population began to grow people moved to new areas. A group of people moved to the Plain of Shinar. We know it as Babylonia or part of Iraq. There they decided to build a tower that would reach to the heavens. They wanted to make a name for themselves and they also did not want to be scattered to other areas of the earth.
Some scholars think that these people remembered the Great Flood of Noah. Apparently they did not believe that God would keep his word. They did not believe in the covenant of the rainbow. That God promised to not destroy the world again with water. To create a means of escape, they began to build the tower with baked bricks that were sealed together with tar. Perhaps they were trying to build a stationary type of a Noah’s Ark. They may have been trying to outwit God and escape judgment for their sins.
Other scholars think the Babel People thought they could build a tower and reach to Heaven and somehow become gods. To become equal with God. How many lost souls do you know who are trying to get to Heaven in some way other than God’s way? No one comes to the Father except through faith in Jesus Christ the Lord. Remember Adam and Eve were misled by Satan that they would become like God. Part of the judgment that God allows sinful humans to endure is to allow them to become their own gods. On our own man is never good enough, powerful enough, smart enough, creative enough, loving enough, holy enough…to become a god and save himself.
Before the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, Pentecost for the Jews was a time to celebrate God giving the Law to the Jews. The Law on tablets of stone. Pentecost for the Christian is a time to celebrate God placing the Holy Spirit into the hearts of believers. Pentecost was the beginning of the church age. There is the “BC Pentecost,” that Jews still celebrate today. Today, we enjoy the “AD Pentecost,” where God, through the work of the Holy Spirit, writes His law of love in our hearts. The Holy Spirit enables man to keep Jesus’ new command to love our fellow humans as Jesus loved. It is helpful to look at the differences between the good and the evil, the spiritual and the earthly, the godly and the ungodly… Let us look for a while and compare Babel and Pentecost.(Before that, should we sing “Happy Birthday to the Church?”)
I. BABEL DISPLAYED THE SPIRIT OF ARROGANCE AND PRIDE. PENTECOST DISPLAYED THE POWER OF LOVE.
The Babylonians were so proud that the Lord said they thought that they could do anything that they wanted. He destroyed the tower to remind them that He was sovereign. They wanted to become gods. At Pentecost the 120 in the Upper Room wanted to become like Jesus. From that time till now, the church has been characterized by love.
II. BABEL DIVIDED MEN THROUGH LANGUAGE. PENTECOST UNITED MEN THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT PROVIDED GIFT OF LANGUAGES/TONGUES.
The Babylonians were using their common language to empower themselves and to escape the judgment of God. Today, there are hundreds of language and dialect groups on the earth. On Pentecost the Holy Spirit enabled the early church to speak in the languages of all of the people who had come from all over the ancient world to celebrate Pentecost.
The language of the Babylonians was being used to build an earthly kingdom of crafty, evil men. The languages of Pentecost were used to tell the world that Jesus was the Lord, the Messiah.(The languages the Believers spoke were real languages. See verses 4,6,8,11.) Believers spoke in languages that all could understand and explained that the Promised Holy Spirit had been given to all who would believe. They told the crowd of the need for them to believe in Jesus.
III. BABEL BROUGHT CONFUSION. PENTECOST BROUGHT PEACE.
Our world is filled with people who are confused about the truth. Many are trying to teach our children that there is no real truth. Jesus said that he was the way, the truth and the life and that man can only come to God on God’s terms. Those terms include belief in, faith in Jesus. He promises a peace that the world does not give. The early church and we live in a world that is full of war, unrest, confusion… In the heart of a Christian is a peace that passes all understanding.
IV. BABEL SHOWS US MAN FULL OF HIMSELF. PENTECOST SHOWS US MAN FULL OF GOD.
As it was in Babylon, the spirit of rebellion, selfishness, greed, and all manner of sin is very strong today. Man wants to do things his way. To take things into his own hands. In the Upper Room the early church obeyed the teaching of Jesus to wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit and for power.
When will this world ever learn that there will be no real peace, and justice and mercy for all, until the world begins to do things God’s way? The Spirit filled church changed their world and continues to change the world, one person at a time. As Peter preached his famous Pentecost Sermon, individual believers witnessed to individual crowd members of the saving story of Jesus the Messiah.
Babylonians wanted to further their power. Christians wanted to spread the power and love of the Lord.
V. BABEL BROUGHT THE DESTRUCTION OF THE TOWER. PENTECOST BROUGHT THE FOUNDATION OF THE CHURCH.
The people who lived on the Plain of Shinar had to have known of the story of Noah. They had to have know that there were certain things that God had forbidden. Yet they did their own thing and tried to get away with their sin. As a result, God poured judgment upon their works. He changed their language and scattered them over the face of the whole earth.
On the day of Pentecost, God began to build his church on the Rock, Christ Jesus. He is our Foundation. He is our Rock. The Babylonian Tower and the Jewish Temple had been built with hands. Constructed by man. On Pentecost the believers in Jesus became temples of the living God. Temples not built with hands. Their hearts were just as full of the Spirit of God as the Holy of Holies in the Temple was full of the Spirit of God. On the day of Jesus’ crucifixion, the veil of the Temple was torn apart from the top to the bottom. God reached down and symbolically said, “Through my beloved Son, Jesus, man can come into my presence.” Through Jesus, and only through Jesus, man may become holy. Jesus is our sacrifice and our high priest. Does his Spirit live within you? If not--Invite him in today.
VI. BABEL SCATTERED MAN OVER THE FACE OF THE EARTH TO TELL THEIR CHILDREN OF GOD’S POWERFUL WRATH. PENTECOST SCATTERED BELIEVERS OVER THE FACE OF THE EARTH TO TELL THE WORLD OF JESUS AND HIS POWER TO SAVE.
Can you imagine those who lived in Babylonia telling their children about how it used to be and how God had brought judgment? Telling them of the Flood’s destruction and the destruction of the Tower? Most people know about the wrath of God and are afraid to meet Him as Judge. Few know His love. God is love. He wants to have a personal love relationship with you.
After Pentecost the resident believers stayed in Jerusalem, the rest scattered back to their home lands, to the uttermost parts of the earth. On the trips home and when they got home, they told everyone in languages that they could understand, of the prophecies, love, miracles, teachings, sufferings, death, and resurrection of Jesus. They told people that he would one day come again and that they needed to repent, believe, love, and be ready to meet Jesus. They told the God-fearing of their need to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Have you been filled with Him?
The people of the Tower did not want to be scattered. The early church did not want to be scattered either: But when they were, they took the gospel story with them and shared it with all that they met.(Many were scattered by persecution.) Willingly they sent out missionaries, teachers, evangelists, and pastors. Out of their fearlessness the church was built and is being built.
CONCLUSION
Are you like the Babylonians, trying to do it on your own? Are you relying on the power of your own strength or the power of other men to bring you what you need? The Tower People gathered together to do their own thing. The Pentecostal Church obeyed Jesus, gathered together, waited for his promise, were united in Christ, prayed… And God gave them His Promised Holy Spirit. Then they went out to become witnesses, to share the good news. Have you received the Holy Spirit? Come. Be filled with the Spirit. Allow Him to fill you with His love.
(Ron Keller 6/8/03)
