Keep My Word

Keep My Word

ACT I: Genesis 11:1-9 ESV The Tower of Babel

(Scene opens with crowds of people dressed in rough hewn garbs milling about excitedly babbling to one another.)

Narrator: These are God's people after the time of Noah. They have not been following God's demand of going forth and multiply to cover the earth. They have decided to take matters into their own hands.

Self-declared Leader: Come, let us make and settle here on this wide plain here in the land of Shinar. We have migrated far from the east.

Worker 1: Yes, let us make bricks and burn them thoroughly.

Worker 2: We now have brick for stone and bitumen for mortar.

Leader: Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.

(A cloud engulfs the workers.)

A voice from the cloud: See, what the children of man have built. Behold! They are one people and they have one language. This is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them.

More voices from the cloud: Come, let us go down there and confuse their speech.

(Suddenly, the workers cannot understand each other and so left off building the city and scattered.)

Voices from the cloud: Now they will disperse over the face of the earth as intended so they can spread the good news of the coming Savior.

(The earth shakes and the tower comes tumbling down.)

Act II: John 14:23-31 ESV The Lord's Supper

(Scene is Jesus surrounded by His disciples attentively listening to Him.)

Narrator: Jesus is instructing His followers trying to prepare them for what is to soon come: Betrayal, trial and crucifixion followed by His resurrection and ascension. They find it hard to understand.

Judas (not Iscariot): Why do you show yourself to us and not to the world?

Jesus: If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word you hear is not mine but the Father's who set me.

These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave you, my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. You have heard me say to you, 'I am going away, and I will come to you.' If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world, (Satan), is coming. He has no claim on me, but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.

(They all rise and exit.)

Narrator: The word 'keep' here has the sense of meaning to guard, protect and treasure. Sort of what one would do with his own cherished possessions. Guard it with your life, protect it in your mind, and treasure it in your heart. Hold the Word of God first and foremost in front of your eyes. Let it fill your mind and heart with the peace that passes all understanding. Let it become an integral part of your being.

ACT III: Acts 2:1-21 ESV The Day of Pentecost

(Disciples are gathered together in Jerusalem. A mighty rushing wind sounds from the heavens. A large tongue of fire descends toward them then splits into twelve smaller tongues and one lands on each of their heads. They begin to speak in many languages as they were filled with the Holy Spirit.)

Narrator: The dispersed children of man from all nations have regathered in Jerusalem.

Devout Jews mumble among themselves: I'm bewildered. What is it we are hearing? It's amazing! I'm astonished!

One man from Egypt: Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? How is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language?

Another man from Mesopotamia: We hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.

Others amazed and perplexed: What does this mean?

Some mocking: They are filled with new wine.

Peter (standing with the eleven others speaks loudly): Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: 'And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; even on My male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out My Spirit, and they shall prophesy.

And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.'

Narrator: What does this mean? Satan has been put in his place so can no longer accuse us for sin that has been forgiven in the blood of Jesus. This is the climax. The Holy Spirit is given so that the world will know about the death and resurrection of Jesus for the forgiveness of sins. The Spirit empowers those that keep His Word to go forth and spread His good news.

(The curtain closes.)

Note from the author: Inspired by the sermon my pastor gave on the Day of Pentecost.