Pentecost

*Note: This is an edited post from last year (May 4, 2015).

From http://www.hprweb.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Pentecost-Sunday-collage-2.jpg  

“And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto to them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” (Acts 2:1-4 KJV)

Sunday, May 15, is Pentecost, the day we celebrate the birth of the Church. It is a day of joy, a celebration of God’s gift of the Holy Spirit to His children.  Without the Holy Spirit we could accomplish little—what little we did accomplish would be in our own power and/or strength. (As a side note: on May 15, 2005, I was water baptized. In the future, I will share more in a post dedicated to water baptism.)   

Pentecost is the fiftieth and last day of the Easter Season—when the gift of the Holy Spirit was given to the church (see Acts 2). The Holy Spirit came to those who had been waiting and praying for the One promised by Jesus before His ascension.

Likewise, we too, may have to wait for the Holy Spirit to baptize us, to empower us to live a Christian life and to do the ministry God has equipped us to do. (Many times this is separate from the Holy Spirit’s indwelling in us at the moment of our conversion. At some point in the future, I will address this in an additional blog post or series of posts.)  Receiving the Holy Spirit baptism changed things for me in a very positive way.  

The color red, symbolizing the tongues of fire that came down upon the apostles and those gathered together, is the color of the church at this point in the year.

What else does the symbol of fire represent to you?

What comes to mind?

What does fire do (cleanse, purify, destroy)?   

Yet, Pentecost is much more than this.  Pentecost is when Jesus’ promise (see John 14:15-17) to send a Counselor, a Comforter to be with and empower those He left behind was fulfilled. It was at this point that the apostles had the power to preach, to heal, to speak in tongues (unlearned languages and spiritual languages), and to cast out demons.

Without this gift of the Holy Spirit, the disciples would have remained fearful (and stayed in hiding) of the religious and political authorities. We, likewise, without the Holy Spirit are weak, yet when we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we can do great things! Consider the great men and women of faith who have done great things for the Lord (for some examples please see Believing God: Those Who Believed God).

I believe this gift—the baptism of the Holy Spirit—with the speaking of tongues and everything else received by those early followers of Jesus is still available to us today. It has not died out as some believe. Just because we do not see certain things much, if at all, today does not mean that the gift given at Pentecost is no longer available to us. More likely, it is due to us getting too smart for our own good! Fear gets in the way too. The Holy Spirit is not to be feared; He is a gentleman and will not come where He is not welcome, nor will He behave in ways that would cause fright.

From http://images.sharefaith.com/images/3/1241457364338_376/slide-02.jpg 

What experiences have you had with the Holy Spirit?

Have you experienced Pentecost in your life?

“Nevertheless, I tell you the truth; It is expedient that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:”

(John 16:7-8 KJV)

From https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2087/5791934000_816bcc3b4d_b.jpg

Please join me in prayer:

Dear Jesus, thank You for fulfilling Your promise of sending the Holy Spirit to us. Thank You for the work that the Holy Spirit does in our lives. We realize our need for the Holy Spirit’s empowerment to live as a Christian and to walk as You walked, Lord. Without the Holy Spirit baptizing us, we will rely on our flesh to live as we are to live and to fulfill the ministry that You have called us to; something that we cannot do for the long haul. Come Holy Spirit, fill us with Your presence and empower us to do what we cannot do on our own. In Your Name, we pray. Amen.

From My Heart to Yours,

Kim

Come Holy Spirit, Come!