All Nations (in one day)

All Nations (in one day) by Andy Carruthers

All Nations is an interesting word as many languages would not have been present on this day of gathering in Jerusalem. I have watched with interest as surfing has taken its gospel to all nations well those with waves but now with the wave pool technology, it may be all. Iceland Russia Ukraine, Turkey China all these nations once thought well outside of the realm of surfing have well and truely entered into the fray. How? well by the news and information spreading about surfing. here on the day of pentecost gathered in Jerusalem are people who will take the news of Gods new radical way of meeting with his people back to their corners of the earth. God needed to perform a miracle of language to make that happen.

Acts 2: 5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. 7 And they were amazed and astonished, saying, Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, 11 both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.

Here we see subsequent to the Holy Spirit of God indwelling the 120 believers they are empowered with a gift. The gift of tongues. Now the word ‘gift’ in greek is Charisma / or Charismata (plural). This is the combination of two words Charis meaning grace associated with Gods extraordinary love, and Ma which means resulting from. So we see the description of the gifts or Charismata of the Spirit, literally means something resulting from Gods grace and amazing love for us.

The spiritual gifts are bestowed by God for a purpose. The Spiritual gifts is God going beyond; beyond the flesh of man; beyond the intellect or understanding of man and beyond the ability of man. God goes beyond to display his divine attributes and love through ordinary vessels.. like us. 

2 Cor 4:7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.

Here in Acts 2 we see that this curious sound the rushing wind and the declaring the mighty works of God draws a crowd. The Jewish world runs and hears the 120 speaking out the things of God in their own languages; multiple languages all at once. 

They began to speak with other tongues, besides their native language, though they had never learned any other. They spoke not matters of common conversation, but the word of God, and the praises of his name, as the Spirit gave them utterance, or gave them to speak apophthengesthai--apophthegms, substantial and weighty sayings, worthy to be had in remembrance.             Matthew Henry

There is a marked difference between what Peter does and what the 120 others did on this occasion. Peter preaches to the crowd the 120 declare the mighty works of God. 

Preaching / teaching / prophesy are God speaking to man through human means.

Tongues is man speaking to God in praise and worship declaring his mighty works or attributes through the spirit. This is different again to what is later described as preying in tongues or in the spirit. 

I will deal with those and the gifts later.

I want us to think about this term all nations as what is a tribe and what is a nation borders and boundaries have changed as the political landscape has evolved. A people group is perhaps a better way to think of this that Gods message is for all peoples all people groups. So Surfers and surfing has been my people group my tribe. but even here are we narrow in our view? Is it just short boards is it just our beach our country? Does God only call us to place where the waves are good or is it these emerging surf cultures that now need the real gospel not just the gospel of surfing?

And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.  - Matthew 24:14 

“God isn't looking for people of great faith, but for individuals ready to follow Him" — Hudson Taylor

“We must be global Christians with a global vision because our God is a global God." — John Stott

"To belong to Jesus is to embrace the nations with Him." — John Piper

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Andy planted the  SALT Life Community church, is the Chaplain to the World Longboard Tour and is a well-published Surf Photographer and Writer with articles across multiple magazines and newspapers.