Pentecost Sunday
By Caron Cline
Burke County
May 23rd is Pentecost Sunday, a day that every born-again believer should celebrate. Unfortunately, most Christians have never acknowledged this day as special on their calendar, and yet the day of Pentecost was the birthday of the church. Traditionally, this festival was a celebration of the wheat harvest, a feast of 7 weeks. Beginning on the day after Passover, the Israelites counted 49 days and then began the celebration on the following day, or the 50th day after Passover. It was an agricultural feast, but over time Pentecost was also celebrated as the anniversary of God’s giving of the Law on Mt. Sinai. The Law was written to expose and judge sin but was incapable of destroying the power of sin. Jesus completely fulfilled the Law, offered Himself as the ultimate sacrifice, and canceled our sin debt. He initiated a New Covenant through His blood, providing a new and living way to approach a holy God. After rising from the dead, Jesus spent forty days teaching the disciples deeper truths concerning the Kingdom of God. Shortly before ascending to heaven, He commanded these followers to wait in Jerusalem for the gift which the Father had promised, saying, ‘For John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now…you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem and in Judea, and Samaria, and as far as the remotest part of the earth’. (Acts 1:5-8) Ten days after the ascension, on the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit arrived in great might and power.
A violent rushing wind filled the house; tongues of fire rested on each believer; all were filled with the Holy Spirit and all spoke another language. This new power produced an uncontainable proclamation that propelled them into the streets of Jerusalem. They certainly drew a crowd. The text implies that the people were amazed that their message was being delivered in multiple languages by people who were Galileans; people who did not know these languages. How in the world could this happen? People from many different nations were represented and all heard the mighty deeds of God in their own language. This was just a taste of Jesus’ prophecy in Acts 1:8. The 120 followers of Jesus were suddenly His witnesses to people from many different nations in just one day. Imagine the possibilities for the future!
Unless the people of God are filled with the Holy Spirit, the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ cannot go forth. Our heavenly Father has called every Christian to deliver truth, dispense grace and distribute peace to a lost and dying world. Delivering the truth of God’s Word at the right time in the right manner requires wisdom and discernment. The Holy Spirit guides believers into all truth and brings to mind applicable Scriptures for specific situations. The truth of the gospel pierces hard hearts as the Holy Spirit uses those words to convict the unsaved of sin, righteousness, and judgment. Dispensing grace in the midst of delivering truth is essential. While those without Christ are facing an eternity separated from God, His grace offers the hope of salvation through faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross, His resurrection, and His ascension to the right hand of God. Distributing peace to those who have embraced the grace of God through Christ Jesus anchors the soul for eternity. As Spirit-filled witnesses, we can boldly proclaim that those who were once the enemies of God now have peace with God through the blood of Christ.
Followers of Christ should celebrate Pentecost Sunday by offering praise and glory to the Father for the gift of the Holy Spirit. He is our seal of ownership and the pledge of our eternal inheritance. The Spirit is our Counselor, our Comforter, and our Confidence. Without Him, we can do nothing.
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Caron is a follower of Jesus Christ and a member of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Morganton, NC. She loves to teach the word of God.
Her desire is to see every believer grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord. Read more good Christian news from Caron HERE.
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