Barbara J. Yoder

I love the Lord, I love the Holy Spirit, I love moves of God. But I’ve continued to have a sense on the inside that there’s something we’re still missing. It’s not a criticism, it’s not a judgment. It’s a looking around, listening, looking to God asking God what is it? I know that this is a year where the revival is to be kick started on a much larger scale. I know that with revival comes reformation. Let me spell it this way, re-formation. But deep in my heart there’s an unsettledness, I haven’t quite landed on what I believe is the key thing for right now. I do know that we’re in Ezra and Nehemiah. I do know that we’re in an Esther time. I know that we’re in the prophetic books of Zachariah, Haggai and Malachi. But there’s a substance that seems to be missing at least in me. Someone sent me this, this morning. And all of a sudden, I said that’s it. And I can’t take the credit for it, it belongs to Brian Simmons. Here’s what he said this morning. And my heart said yes yes yes, that’s it! So here’s what Brian posted about three days ago.

The Body of Christ does not just need another movement, another conference, or another debate—we need a baptism of love. A fresh immersion into the love of Jesus that melts cold hearts, heals old wounds, and silences the need to compete, compare, and criticize one another.

The early church turned the world upside down not simply because they had power, but because they carried a love that looked like Jesus. A love that washed feet. A love that forgave enemies. A love that restored failures. A love that carried burdens. A love that refused to give up on people. I have preached many sermons and spoke at many conferences. I have pursued gifting and sought revelation. But now the Spirit is calling me (us) deeper into love.

Not shallow or sentimental love. But the fiery, holy, transforming love of God that baptizes us until we become tender again. The baptism of love teaches us to see people through the eyes of mercy instead of suspicion. It breaks the orphan spirit and awakens us to sonship. It removes the fear of rejection and fills us with bold compassion. It causes truth to flow with tears instead of stones.

Jesus never said the world would know us by our platforms, our denominations, or our arguments.

“They will know you by your love.”

Holy Spirit, baptize Your Church again in the love of Christ until we become a living expression of His heart in the earth. Let our gatherings become love feasts. We lay our cold hearts before you and ask for a baptism of love. In Jesus Name.

Part 2: Pentecost

Pentecost was also about the harvesting of nations. It was never meant to remain confined to one people group, one city, or one geographic region. It was the launching of God’s redemptive plan into the nations of the earth. Jesus made this clear before the outpouring of the Holy Spirit when He told the disciples:

“You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” — Acts 1:8

Pentecost was the divine empowerment for global harvest. The Holy Spirit was poured out not merely to create spiritual experiences, but to release supernatural power for the reconciliation of nations back to God.

In the book of Acts, we watch this unfold in real time. The apostles move outward from Jerusalem into Judea, Samaria, throughout the Middle East, Asia Minor, Greece, Rome, and according to historical tradition, even into Spain and beyond. Nation after nation began to hear the gospel. Barriers were broken. Territories once trapped in darkness were confronted by the Kingdom of God. Through Pentecost, God was reclaiming peoples and nations that had been alienated and disqualified through rebellion and idolatry.

This was part of the power of Pentecost: the gathering of nations into one Kingdom under one King.

At Babel, humanity attempted to build its own kingdom apart from God. Genesis 11 reveals man striving for unity independent of heaven, seeking to exalt himself. The result was confusion, division, and scattered languages. But at Pentecost, God reversed what had been fractured at Babel—not through human ambition, but through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

The disciples were filled with the Spirit and began speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gave utterance (Acts 2:4). Jews and proselytes from many nations heard the wonders of God declared in their own languages. Heaven introduced a new language—the language of the Kingdom of God. It was not merely natural speech; it was a supernatural governmental expression declaring that God was forming one new people under His authority.

Babel divided nations through pride.
Pentecost united nations through surrender to Christ.

What man could never achieve through self-exaltation, God accomplished through the cross and the Spirit.

Through Pentecost, the door was thrown open not only to the Jews, but also to the Gentiles. Ruth prophetically foreshadowed this reality. A Gentile woman was grafted into covenant relationship with Israel and ultimately written into the lineage of Jesus Himself. At Pentecost and throughout Acts, that prophetic picture exploded into fulfillment as Gentiles were brought into the household of God.

Paul became one of the great apostolic witnesses of this reality. City after city, nation after nation, he advanced carrying the gospel of the Kingdom. The Spirit kept pushing outward. Pentecost was never static. It was movement. Expansion. Harvest. Nations being discipled and reconciled to God.

And now, once again, we are living in a time when God is dealing with nations. He is shaking, reordering, exposing, and realigning them according to His purposes. Scripture repeatedly reveals that nations are accountable before Him. He raises up and brings down kingdoms. He weighs leaders, governments, and peoples according to how they align with His truth and His covenant purposes.

The issue of Israel is again central in the earth because God’s covenant purposes are still unfolding through history. Nations are being confronted with the question: Will they align themselves with the one true God and His purposes, or will they build modern Babel systems rooted in rebellion, self-rule, and human exaltation?

Pentecost reminds us that God’s ultimate vision has always been global:
“Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance.” — Psalm 2:8

This feast is not merely about personal renewal. It is about Kingdom advancement. It is about the empowering of believers through the Spirit and the Word to bring the reality of heaven into the earth until every tribe, tongue, and nation has had the opportunity to encounter the King.

ROCK: Position yourself in the Omer Season

During this season of counting the Omer—moving from Passover to Pentecost—Rabbi Curt Landry released a powerful acronym or framework: ROCK.

R — Remember
Remember God’s faithfulness and His blessings throughout your life. Rehearse His goodness. Recall the moments He broke through, made a way, restored what was lost, and carried you when you didn’t think you would make it.

O — Observe
Observe what arises in this season that seeks to undermine your confidence. Be discerning of thoughts, pressures, or circumstances that attempt to exploit weaknesses or destabilize your identity and faith.

C — Confess
Confess who God has called you to be. Why, this is a time when the enemy will attempt you into negativity through any means he can. If He has called you, He has graced you. You will not fail or flounder. Declare His Word over your life and your situation. Align your voice with heaven’s perspective.

K — Keep Your Focus
Keep your focus. This is not a season to drift—it is a sequence of advancement. At Passover, you were repositioned. Now you are called to hold that ground and move forward intentionally toward Pentecost.

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My Thoughts: The Power of Remembering (also meditating on which means muttering—verbal)

This season is profoundly activated through remembrance.

When you rehearse God’s goodness, something shifts internally:

* Your perspective realigns
* Your faith strengthens
* Your expectation rises

Even if you don’t feel His goodness in the present moment, look back:

* Look at how He has come through before
* Look at the breakthroughs you’ve already experienced
* Look at the fact that you are still standing

Gratitude becomes a gateway. As you bless the Lord, your heart opens—and you become positioned to receive what He is releasing next.

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From Seed to Fullness: The Journey to Pentecost

This Omer journey is not passive—it is active and progressive.

Pentecost represents:

* Fullness after process
* Harvest after sowing
* Empowerment after positioning

It is deeply connected to the story of Book of Ruth, where loss was turned into restoration, and faithfulness opened the door to unexpected redemption. What began in emptiness for Ruth and Naomi culminated in provision, legacy, and divine alignment.

This is the pattern:
God restores. God redeems. God fulfills.

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The Nature of God: Creator and Restorer

From the very beginning in Book of Genesis, God revealed Himself not only as Creator—but as Restorer.

When the earth was without form and void, He didn’t abandon it—He reordered it.

This establishes a foundational truth:

God is continually working to recreate, restore, and redeem what has been marred.

Fear-based religion tries to control and contain.
But God’s nature is to restore, renew and release.

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A Call to Expectation

Carry expectation in this season.

The same God who has been faithful before will be faithful again.

As you count the Omer:

* Count His faithfulness
* Count His provision
* Count His breakthroughs

Count your blessings—and you will step into your harvest.

The best is not behind you.
It is before you.