Pentecost – God Empowering His People

Pentecost marks the moment when God fulfilled His promise to send the Holy Spirit, transforming fearful followers into bold witnesses and birthing the Church that would carry the gospel to every nation.

The Old Testament Feast of Weeks

In Old Testament times, Pentecost was a major one-day feast also called the Feast of Weeks or the Feast of Harvest (Lev 23:15-22). It was held 50 days after the Passover and celebrated the wheat harvest. For the Jewish people this celebration is known as Shavuot and occurs in late May or early June. Pentecost is also sometimes referred to as Whit Sunday or Whitsun.

The feast was one of three pilgrim festivals where all Jewish males were required to appear before the Lord in Jerusalem (Deut 16:16). It was a time of thanksgiving and joy, where the firstfruits of the harvest were offered to God. This agricultural celebration would one day take on a far greater spiritual significance.

The Coming of the Holy Spirit

These annual events took on a whole new meaning in the New Testament. Jesus was crucified at the Passover and 40 days later He ascended to heaven. His parting message to the assembled followers was, "You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses...to the ends of the earth" (Act 1:8). Jesus knew His followers could only fulfill this mission with the help and power of the Holy Spirit, so He instructed them to wait in Jerusalem until they were given the Spirit (Lk 24:49).

Just as the Spirit had empowered Jesus for ministry, so the Spirit would now empower Jesus' people for ministry (Lk 4:1). Ten days after Jesus returned to heaven, about 120 of His followers were gathered in prayer in an upper room in Jerusalem when the Holy Spirit came upon them with such power that they were never the same again (Act 2:1-40). The New Testament Church was birthed — many people became believers and were instructed in the faith, miracles took place, and there was great rejoicing in God. Jesus had sent the Holy Spirit, as promised, to live in and empower His followers for ministry (Jn 14:16-17; 1 Cor 6:19).

In the Old Testament, God's work had mostly centred on the people of Israel, but at Pentecost His Kingdom was expanded to include "every nation under heaven" (Act 2:5, 10:35; Rev 7:9). Peter told the crowds in Jerusalem that the Spirit was being poured out on all people so that "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved" (Act 2:21).

Pentecost – God empowering people to reach people for Him

The Holy Spirit Within Every Believer

The good news is that not only can we be saved from eternal damnation because of our sin, but Jesus can now be personally present with each believer around the globe, through His Holy Spirit who dwells inside us (1 Cor 3:16; Gal 4:6). We have not fully grasped the necessity, importance and privilege of hosting the Holy Spirit, or the transformation He desires to bring to our lives.

Although the Spirit takes up residence in us at salvation, we largely determine the level of influence and activity that He is able to manifest through us. Just as with salvation, God will not override our freewill — if we are not co-operative, He will not force Himself upon us. Endeavour to be continually sensitive and responsive to His gentle voice within, so you can live a life pleasing to God, displaying the fruit of His nature (Gal 5:22-23). It is vital to have the ongoing empowering (filling) of the Holy Spirit to minister effectively.

Pentecostal or Charismatic churches give emphasis to the baptism in the Holy Spirit, along with speaking in tongues and the spiritual gifts (1 Cor 12:1-14:40). In our earnestness to experience more of God, we must be careful not to let emotionalism and religious fervour cause us to go beyond what is supported by Scripture, or develop new beliefs and doctrines to explain sometimes questionable experiences and emotions. Fervent experience, even when accompanied by miracles, is not the test of true faith (Mt 7:22-23).

The Spirit's presence is a gift — not a reward for spiritual intensity

Reflection and Application:

Thank God regularly for the gift of His Holy Spirit who lives within you and empowers you for every good work.
Ask the Holy Spirit each day to guide your words, decisions and interactions with others.
Be alert to the Spirit's prompting — He often speaks through Scripture, prayer and the counsel of other believers.
Seek the Spirit's empowering for ministry, remembering that effective witness depends on His power, not your own effort.