On the day of Pentecost as recorded in Acts 2: 1-9 and indeed the entire chapter, Christian all over the world celebrate the descent of the Holy Spirit on his eleven disciples and other believers who had gathered in Jerusalem waiting for it as Jesus had promised. Historically it happened at a period called the day of the feast of weeks when a new harvest of wheat was celebrated.
At the gathering on that day and whilst praying, the Holy Spirit suddenly, like the rush of a mighty wind with sound from heaven, filled the house of gathering and settled on each of them tongues as of fire. Filled with the Holy Spirit they had utterance to speak in other tongues telling in their own tongues the mighty works of God. Among the people were Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven, 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.
The unbelievers who witnessed the event but did not understand or appreciate mocked them as people filled with wine. 1 Corinthians 1: 25 says the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. Job 11: 7 says can you find out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limit of the Almighty? Like many of us, we mock God for lack of knowledge about things of the spirit. Proverbs 6: 6 says go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Proverbs 27: 11 says be wise, my son, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him who reproaches me. What then is the significance of the events of the day?
God understands all languages
The same tongues understood in diverse languages shows God understands us in any language on account of his mighty works. Language is thus not a barrier to God nor requires any interpretation of our language or tongue when we pray. God created all tribes and languages and tongues for his purpose and understands them perfectly. However, there is one condition. Isaiah 59: 2 says behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear, but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you so that he does not hear.
God demands purified tongue
The tongues as of fire signify purity. We must purify our tongues if we desire to be in communication with God. James 3: 6-8 says the tongue is a fire. It is an unrighteous world among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the cycle of nature, and set on fire by hell … .but no human being can tame the tongue – a restless evil, full of deadly poison. Only God can purify the tongue and we must submit our utterances and tongues to him to guard and purify.
God wants righteousness
We must also purify our bodies as the temple of God. God’s presence like fire burns all the impurities in us and makes us pure within. 2 Corinthians 6: 19 says do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God? You are not your own. 2 Corinthians 7: 1 says since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of the body and spirit, and make holiness perfect in the fear of God. See also Ephesians 4: 24; 1 Thessalonians 3: 13. Again says 1 Thessalonians 4: 7 for God has not called us for uncleanness, but in holiness.
God appreciates fellowship
God fulfilled his promise when the people were fellowshipping together. God is pleased with a fellowship in truth devoid of tribalism, race colour, and the like which have no place in the body of Christ. John 4:24 says God is spirit and he that worships him must worship him in spirit and in truth. Our fellowship must be by the light of God. 1 John 1: 6-7 say if we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not live according to the truth; but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. When we fellowship, we do not do so on our own but in Christ Jesus. 1 Corinthians 1: 9 says God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Why Christ Jesus sent the Holy Spirit
Christ Jesus sent the Holy Spirit for a purpose as engraved in scripture. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit we would list some of them whilst urging our audience to read the citations which we have referred to. Acts 17: 11 says now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with all eagerness, examining the scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
- Boldness – Acts 4: 31; 2 Timothy 1: 7
- Comforter – 2 Thessalonians 2: 17
- Companion – John 14: 16, 18
- Counselor – John 14: 26
- Enabler – Philippians 3: 21
- God’s representative – John 14: 7
- Remembrance – John 14: 26
- Representative of Jesus Christ – John 16: 7
- Sonship and inheritance – Romans 8: 14-15
- Spokesperson – Matthew 10: 19-20; 1 Corinthians 12: 8
- Teacher – John 14: 26
- Truth and guide – John 14: 17; 15: 26; 1 John 4: 6
- Witness of God – John 15: 26; Romans 8: 16
Access to the Holy Spirit
We cannot do without the Holy Spirit but many of us do not know him nor have knowledge of him. Hosea 4:6 says that my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. God does not delight in the death of a sinner so he has availed to us the Holy Spirit through his Son Jesus Christ that none may perish but have everlasting life. We must always remember that Romans 6: 23 says for the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. 1 Corinthians 15: 56 says the sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
We are cautioned in Hebrews 2: 3 that how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? We must be faithful to God and his word in Christ Jesus; be dedicated in his service of redemption, love and forgiveness; be obedient and humble to his instructions and ordinances; and we must trust him at his word for he is truthful and faithful. We must be prayerful at all times for spiritual nourishment.
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus Christ, avail your Holy Spirit to us in times of fear and anxiety. Let the sweet friendship of your Holy Spirit draw us closer to you. Let your visitation on the day of Pentecost revive our sordid hearts unto purity and righteousness from sin and the world. Mercifully redeem us, we pray, Amen!!
