Pentecost
What exactly did happened at Pentecost?
Acts 2: 1- 47
I’ve heard many say the Church began that day when the Holy Spirit came and filled the believers at Pentecost.
If this is the day the church began how come we rarely revisit this event in our churches today.
I don’t know about you but Pentecost is something big in my opinion. Perhaps second to Jesus’s Birth, Life, and Ressurection.
I think were missing something if we just consider it to be the day the church began.
I want to believe much more began that day, my spirit tells me, this was part of why Jesus went to the cross.
The reconciling of man to his God. Jesus saw this day when God would send a helper the Holy Spirit to help guide those first Christians, from the miraculous, through spectrums of suffering, to overflowing abundant life.
I would wholeheartedly agree that day the followers of Jesus Christ came to a clear understanding of an age-old prophecy coming to fruition. The promised Messiah had come and fulfilled God’s plan for fallen humanity.
The purposes of life changed that day for many. For some like Peter, the message of the Messiah, sank its roots deep into every fiber of his being. Seering a conviction into his soul, that would change and guide his life forevermore.
I wonder if Peter started to see things he hadn’t before that appointed day. How reassuring it must have been for him, when God started making Peter’s mind click as the bigger picture saturated him from head to toe, as words were recalled some days, weeks, and years before, from the things Jesus had said and that were now coming to pass. Peter was a new renewed man that day, I’m sure of it.
Many for the first time in their life saw God do miraculous wonders that day. For the first time many began to see a little bit of heaven on earth.
The Bible says the Holy Spirit came like a great rushing wind and tongues of fire touched each and every person. People spoke in different languages they did not even know. People were humble and had close fellowship. People in need, were met by others who sold their belongings to meet that need.
All were praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people.
Many were added daily to their numbers and for days and days people fellowshipped with one another.
Now you may begin to see the reasoning for the title choice of this article.
What exactly did happen at Pentecost?
It would appear from scripture that the Holy Spirit came and the peoples lives are changed.
I mean what compels men to give up their prized earthly possessions, to prize their fellow heavenly brothers and sisters, whom they may have never met. Where can close fellowship and enjoying each other’s goodwill come from, amongst in some cases complete strangers?
Where can people for days and days help and love one another, praise God, and a presence of goodness so great that people were coming daily adding to their numbers ?
You may say to yourself, this sounds like a bit of heaven on earth because it sure doesn’t sound like the earth I live on.
For some of us we’ve had the fortunate experience of having a church or been to an event where God’s Holy Spirit is more than welcomed to come and transform peoples lives that often reflects that first church’s experiences and attitudes described at Pentecost. Alot of us unfortunately haven’t though.
What can we learn from Pentecost?
I truly believe when God shows up somewhere lives are affected and changed forever. A renewed mind, a complete change of heart, a sense of God’s plans and purposes. Such encounters with God can bring about the miraculous, a giving of oneself that multiplies to meet all needs and still some.
My Pastor once told us, God’s calling can seem bigger than us and like Jonah or Moses we shy away from his will. Our disobedience can prevent God’s blessings to flow. What if Jonah didn’t go to Ninevah? 120,000 less in heaven. What if Moses had not obeyed? Egypt perhaps would still be mastering Jewish slaves.
We need to realize God’s calling is the perfect way, him, his favor, and his provision are with us all along that way. All the while he waits for us already at the end of that calling.
Is God giving us the first example at Pentecost what Church is suppose to be like.
I see a church at Pentecost whose encounter with God through his Holy Spirit, sparked a fire. A supernatural manifestation fanning into flame an awareness of God’s bigger everlasting perfect picture for their lives. A purpose in life much more than just themselves or immediate loved ones. A love that could only come from God. A spiritual awakening or realization that God does have things in his control, and desires to be in relationship with his creation.
Can, in our materialistic world, we have this deluge of the spirit, this spiritual awakening?
Will God pour out his spirit on all flesh? Can we expect more prophecy being fulfilled, when our sons and daughters proclaim God’s message, when our young men see visions, and our old men have dreams.
When all who call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
I say yes and its happened since Pentecost. Men have chosen God’s gift of salvation and help of the Holy Spirit to this day. Perhaps the bigger question is will we shy away from God’s calling when he moves us into his will. Will we obey and let God’s blessings flow? Even when we don’t understand yet God’s plan. Even if, it is uncomprehensible to the human mind. Will we let the Holy Spirit flow into and out of our very beings.
Can we get to that place where God can multiply blessings to each person we reach out to in our journey in this material realm. Can we get to Pentecost where people closely fellowshipped and enjoyed each others goodwill. Can we as believers learn to trust God enough take daring steps into the realms only God has seen to bring about a little heaven on earth.
In my spirit I yearn for it, but in my flesh I fear the unknown.
My prayer is Lord help me to take those steps toward you and those realms where you lead, help me to love others as you first loved me, let me know you are always there and your favor is on the calling you have for my life. Teach me to obey and trust you, rather than ask a hundred question why. Let me have a teachable spirit for all your ways. Amen
