The day of Pentecost is the day when the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus’ disciples and other believers whilst gathered praying in a closed room in Jerusalem. It is a day when the Lord Jesus Christ fulfilled his promise to send his Holy Spirit from the Father to his believers. It happened on the day called the feast of weeks which was a day for celebrating a new harvest of wheat. The account of the descent of the Holy Spirit is recorded in Act 2: 1-9 but reading the entire chapter would be helpful.
The background
On the day of Pentecost, the Apostles and other believers of the faith were all gathered in one place and suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind, and filled the house where they were sitting. Then, there appeared on them tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each one of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. The people comprised of Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven.
At this sound the multitude came together and were bewildered when each one heard them speaking in his own language so they questioned, are not all these who are speaking Galileans and how come we hear each of us in his own native language? Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians telling in their own tongues the mighty works of God. They were then mocked as drunkards.
The origin of Pentecost
It comes from the Greek word Pentekoste meaning fiftieth. It was celebrated as the seventh Sunday or fiftieth day after Easter which was the day of descent of the Holy Spirit which Jesus promised to his disciples. It has since been celebrated as white Sunday or Whitsunday to signify a day and event of purity, holiness and victory. Romans 11: 16 says if the dough offered as first fruit is holy, so is the whole lump; and if the root is holy, so are the branches. Therefore if the Father and his Son Jesus Christ are holy, then their Spirit is also holy, hence we refer to the spirit as Holy Spirit.
Situational lessons
The passage says the people were all gathered in one place waiting and praying. The gathering means a community of belonging or brotherhood of love and affection. We are to bond as children of God with unity of purpose and not of division and divisiveness as we see and experience in the body of Christ. John 17: 22 says the glory which thou hast given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, in them and thou in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that thou has sent me and hast loved them even as thou hast loved me.
Again the converts were waiting as Christ had directed them to do. This journey of the cross is one of waiting on God with patience. If Christ is in charge, we do not have to rush at all. We must trust him on his word and all we need is to wait for his instructions and intervention. James 5: 7 says be patient, therefore, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient over it until it receives the early and the late rain.
The day of Pentecost was a day of festival of weeks, an agricultural festival marking the beginning of wheat harvest. It signified fresh fruits and nutrition, hence energy and vitality. When we are obedient to God through Christ Jesus, he would give us a fresh start of vitality through nourishing of the Holy Spirit. Are we weak, without energy? Are we worn out without revitalization? If we take Jesus at his word, he will revive us as never before. 2 Corinthians 4: 16 says so we do not lose heart. Though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed every day. Titus 3: 5 says he saved us, not because of deeds done by us in righteousness, but in virtue of his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal in the Holy Spirit. Let us celebrate the feast of renewal of God’s Spirit of vitality in purity.
Presence of Christ Jesus
The disciples and other believers were gathered on the day of Pentecost because they expected the continuous presence and company of Christ Jesus which until his second coming, the Holy Spirit would adequately provide with excellence. They knew Jesus was alive for many had seen him and longed for his soothing presence and company which made all things new. Jesus said in Matthew 28:20 “I am with you always, to the close of the age. Psalms 145:18 also says the Lord is near to all who call upon him, to all who call upon him in truth. Jesus answered their prayers because they called on him in truth. Are we truthful to God and with deserving seriousness?
God’s spirit is unrestrained
Though the people held their prayers in close doors, the Holy Spirit located them and rested upon them individually. God deals with us individually by the character of our hearts and not by inheritance. Jesus said in Luke 3:8 bear fruits that befit repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, we have Abraham as our father; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. We cannot be saved by our family names but our personal relationship with Christ Jesus.
The Holy Spirit also located converts in the room where they had met to pray. It means God knows the state of our hearts at every moment. Luke 16: 15 says you are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts; for what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God. Psalms 66:18 says if I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me. It also means God knows our whereabouts every moment of our lives and whatever we do in secret anywhere. Hebrews 12: 25 says see that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less shall we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven.
Where are we?
In the garden of Eden, God asked Adam in Genesis 3: 9 where are you? Jesus is asking us today where are we? Adam had disobeyed God so he went into hiding but could not hide from God. Have we also disobeyed God? Are we hiding from God? The Holy Spirit sees, hears and knows all about us be them in darkness or in the light, secret or in public. We cannot mock God for Galatians 6:7 says do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he shall also reap. John 4:24 says God is spirit and he that worships him must do so in spirit and in truth. The Lord Jesus Christ out pour his Holy Spirit on us in his holy name, Amen.
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus Christ, we thank you for sending your Holy Spirit to aid us in your work. Mercifully aid us to obey his instructions and guide; love and to cherish your everlasting presence with us by the Holy Spirit. Grant us your grace and strength to reach out to the world with your word of life. Save our souls today by blood and the Pentecostal power. We pray in your holy name, Amen!!
