Pentecost

This week, we start the celebration of the season of Pentecost, one of the most important events in the life of the early church. According to the church Calendar, this is no ordinary time; this is the time we celebrate the Third Person of the Holy Trinity.  The Holy Spirit is often not talked about by many in Christendom; He is often not mentioned in sermons, and many ignore the fact that it is the Holy Spirit who guides their lives every day through every situation. The reasons for this neglect are multi-faceted, and they vary from one denomination to another. 

The Holy Spirit opens up the pages of Scriptures so we that we can understand the things of God and receive His teaching; without the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the Bible would be just another book of stories.  It is the Holy Spirit Who leads us in to true worship as His presence is magnify in the midst of our praises.  He gives us the extra strength to overcome the wiles of the devil as He speaks to our conscience, reminds us of our nature in Christ, and affords us to live a holy life. And it is the Holy Spirit who stays with us and provides comfort when we are in our times of sadness and despair.

This is what Jesus said of the Spirit as He ministered and prepared His disciples to carry on with His work after He had ascended to the Father.  John 16:7-15 “

But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. When He comes, He will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because people do not believe in Me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see Me no longer; and about judgment, because the Prince of this world now stands condemned. “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on His own; He will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify Me because it is from Me that He will receive what He will make known to you. All that belongs to the Father is Mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what He will make known to you.” 

The part of this teaching by Jesus that really highlights how vital the guidance of the Holy Spirit is in our lives is in verses 12 and 13 of John 16.  We see there is so much more for us to learn of the kingdom according to our spiritual maturity, all of which is revealed by the Spirit as He sees fit and as we are ready.  Jesus said the Spirit will guide us in all truth and will prophesy to us the things to come.

John 16:7-15 is a cumulative summary of the nature and work of the Holy Spirit as He is highlighted throughout Scripture…we see the many names used to show His deity:  Spirit of glory…Spirit of revelation…Spirit of the Son…Spirit of wisdom…Spirit of counsel…Spirit of might…Spirit of understanding….Spirit of judgment…Breath of the Almighty…good Spirit…Spirit of truth…Spirit of prophesy.  These are a few among many names of the Spirit of God, all of which show the Love of God for mankind and His desire to dwell amongst us in complete communion.

The celebration of Pentecost was brought about because of a special event recorded in the book of Acts.  Pentecost is also the great festival that marks the birth of the Christian Church by the power of the Holy Spirit.  This event was the fulfillment of a promise by Jesus just before His ascension to heaven when He told this to His disciples. Acts 1:4, 5,

On one occasion, while He was eating with them, He gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard Me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” 

The disciples were obedient to Jesus’ command, and as a result, they received a fresh anointing by the Holy Spirit. This was the most dramatic and glorious movement of the Holy Spirit recorded to date.  Acts 2:1-4
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.”

The book of Acts, imparted to us the accounts, of the great campaign, that built and established the Church. This campaign by the Apostles, under the guidance and influence of the Holy Spirit, began the Great Commission, as Jesus commanded us to do. The book of Acts could as easily be called, the Acts of the Holy Spirit. The influence of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles is clearly expressed throughout this book.

This said Spirit is Who leads, comforts and ministers to us every today. This same Spirit renews us and refreshes us each day with a new revelation and comforts us in times of sorrow.  It is the Holy Spirit Who guides us in all our prayer, as He knows our needs even before we are in need. Most importantly, it is this same Spirit Who empowers us, to take the Gospel to a broken world. How wonderful an assurance!

Pentecost is also a preparation for the season to follow, Kingdom Tide, which is a period of sanctification and the working of the Holy Spirit in the lives of Christians.  This season is the longest on the Liturgical calendar, which progresses until Advent.  It is a time when there are no major holidays or festivals. It is the time when the Church focuses on missions, evangelism, and other mercy and charity works, for this is Christ’s will for the Church.  Pentecost prepares and empowers us for this important time and life in the Church.

J R Tracey