“And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues as the Holy Spirit gave them utterances” (Acts 2: 4).
Today Christians the world over celebrate “Pentecost” in remembrance of the out-pouring of the Holy Spirit on the early disciples more than 2000 years ago.
That event heralded the birth of the church. The book of Acts records that on that day the early disciples (about 120 of them Acts 1: 15) assembled in Jerusalem with other pilgrims who had come to celebrate the Jewish annual festival known as the feast of weeks or “the Day of First Fruits”. It was celebration of the first buds of harvest. “Pentecost” comes from Greek Pentekostos; “fifty”. It was so-called because the festival was celebrated fifty days after the Jewish Passover.
As the Jews celebrated the ingathering of their first fruits, our Lord saw the time as most appropriate for the ingathering of the first fruits of Christians. Before His ascension, Jesus had told the disciples to remain in Jerusalem until the descent of the Holy Spirit who would empower them (Luke 24: 49).
In Acts 1: 8 Jesus had also promised the believers thus: – “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth”. This promise was fulfilled on this day. The scriptures record that the coming of the Holy Spirit was accompanied by sound from heaven like rushing wind and tongues of fire which, from the Old Testament, indicates the presence of the Holy Spirit (Exodus 3: 2).
As the disciples, being with one accord, one mind, earnestly united in their faith and prayer, waited patiently, they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Peter (being filled with the Holy Spirit) then preached a sermon that opened the way of salvation for about 3,000 in one day. As they were filled with Holy Spirit, they fulfilled their mission as Christ’s witnesses. As Christians we are all called to be Christ’s witnesses.
It is obvious that we cannot accomplish this mission unless we are filled with the Holy Spirit. Therefore we must be of one accord, one mind, we must take the things of God with all seriousness. None of those disciples was lukewarm but they were all united in faith and prayer. For us to function as effective witnesses for Christ we need the Holy Spirit because He is:
1.The author of New Life (John 3: 3 & 5)
2.Life giver (John 6: 63; Romans 8: 11)
3.Imparter of power (John 14: 12-17; Acts 1: 6-8)
4.Eternal comforter or Helper (John 14: 16, 26)
5.Teacher of truth (John 14: 17)
6.Reminder of the truth (John 14: 16)
7) Guide to all truth (John 16: 13)
8) Revealer of Christ (John 16: 13 -15)
9) Revealer of event (John 16: 13)
10) Glorifier of Christ (John 16: 14)
11) Chief witness for Christ (John 15: 26)
12) Convincer of sin, righteousness and judgement (John 16: 8)
As those called by grace out of darkness into His marvelous light to be His witnesses, we must strive to live our lives in purity of heart and holiness in order to demonstrate to the world that we are filled with the Holy Spirit.
Have a power-packed life of victory over sin, the devil and the flesh as you make your life open to the in-filling of Christ’s Holy Spirit.
Your brother, Vicar & Archdeacon.