The Spirit of Pentecost

God gave the Holy Spirit to His Church on the Day of Pentecost, but few now understand the meaning of this Holy Day. God’s Holy Spirit is vital for true Christian living, but many are unaware of what it is, what Pentecost is, and what these things mean to Christians today!

Many confuse the babblings seen in modern “charismatic” churches as manifestations of the Holy Spirit. They’re wrong—and the truth is far more profound. Can you be filled with the same Spirit as Christ’s first disciples? Yes, you can!

The 50 days following Jesus Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection had been an unforgettable time for His disciples. Their Teacher had come back from the dead after a brutal execution and had taught them for 40 days. More than 500 people at one time had seen Him (1 Corinthians 15:6). The disciples ate with Him, talked with Him, and even touched the wounds where His body had been pierced.

But that was not all. After 40 dramatic days of instruction, the Savior ascended into the clouds while His disciples watched with wonder and amazement. But He did not leave them alone! He promised to give them something that would empower them with spiritual vitality they had never before experienced (Luke 24:49).

The disciple Luke describes Christ’s encouraging words: “And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, ‘which,’ He said, ‘you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now’” (Acts 1:4–5).

What event was the risen Christ speaking of? What was this “promise” to come? Most Bible students know the basic story, but many are not fully aware of the profound impact this momentous fiftieth day would have on the Church of God from that point forward. It was the day of Pentecost—the day of miracles on which the New Testament Church began!

What happened on that amazing Day of Pentecost in AD 31? Luke records the day’s events:

When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues [known languages, not indecipherable babble], as the Spirit gave them utterance (Acts 2:1–4).

The beginning of the New Testament Church was characterized by astonishing sights and sounds. It was an awesome display of divine power, reminiscent of the awesome sights God had shown on the day He gave Moses the law on Mount Sinai (Hebrews 12:18–21). In fact, according to Jewish tradition, the law of God at Mount Sinai was given on the Day of Pentecost many centuries earlier!

The Power of the Universe

But more important than the sights and sounds were the events that could not be seen or heard. These manifestations of God’s majesty signaled the outpouring of the power of the universe: God’s Spirit. The same power that ignited the sun and the stars—the power that formed and set the planets in motion—would now literally abide in human beings on Earth (John 14:17).

Is that same Spirit transforming you? Is it motivating you? Would you like to have more profound personal change in your life? Would you like to have more evidence that you are being led by the Spirit of God? And would you like to be more personally involved in the Work that Christ is doing today? Answers are available if you have the will to seek them.

For an overview of God’s plan of salvation as revealed through the annual Holy Days, order a free copy of The Holy Days: God’s Master Plan, or read it online right here at Tomorrow’s World.