The Day Of Pentecost
What is Pentecost?
The word Pentecost comes from the Greek ?e?t???st? (Pentekoste) meaning ”fiftieth".
It refers to the festival celebrated on the fiftieth day after Passover, also known as the "Feast of Weeks" and the "Feast of 50 days".
If you go back and read the Old Testament, you will discover that Pentecost was one of the Jewish feast days. Only they didn't call it Pentecost. That's the Greek name. The Jews called it the Feast of Harvest or the Feast of Weeks. It is mentioned five places in the first five books — in
1. Exodus 23:16
2. Exodus 24: 14-33
3. Leviticus 16: 1-44
4. Numbers 28: 26-31
5. Deuteronomy 16: 9-11
Modern Christians observe Pentecost as a holiday, not to celebrate a wheat harvest, but to remember when the Holy Spirit invaded the Church.
Acts: 2:2
The account in reports that, after Jesus ascended into heaven, Jesus’ followers were gathered together for the Feast of Harvest (aka Pentecost), and the Holy Spirit “filled the whole house where they were sitting”.
Acts 2:4
“All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them”
Acts 2:14
This strange occurrence drew a large crowd, and Peter stood up to speak to them about repentance and the gospel of Christ.
Acts 2:41
By the end of the day that the Holy Spirit came, the Church grew by 3,000 people.
This is why Christians still celebrate Pentecost.
The Book of Act is said to be the record of the History of the Church, how it was begin.
The Greek word ekklesia in the Greek is what is commonly translated to the English word church.
The promise of the Holy Spirit
Illustration
Once D.L. Moody, was speaking to a large audience, D.L. Moody held up a glass and asked, "How can I get the air out of this glass?" One man shouted, "Suck it out with a pump!" Moody replied, "That would create a vacuum and shatter the glass." After numerous other suggestions Moody smiled, picked up a pitcher of water, and filled the glass. "There," he said, "all the air is now removed." He then went on to explain that victory in the Christian life is not accomplished by "sucking out a sin here and there," but by being filled with the Holy Spirit.
Who is the Holy Spirit?
The Holy Spirit is a real person who came to reside within Jesus Christ’s true followers after Jesus rose from dead and ascended to heaven.
The Holy Spirit is not a vague, ethereal shadow, nor an impersonal force. He is a person equal in every way with God the Father and God the Son. He is considered to be the third member of the Godhead.
MATTHEW 28:18-20
Jesus said to His apostles... Which is called the great commission
"All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."3
A primary role of the Holy Spirit is that He bears "witness" of Jesus Christ. He tells people's hearts about the truth of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit also acts as a Christian's teacher.8 He reveals God's will and God's truth to a Christian
John 14:26
"The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you."
"When He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come."
The Holy Spirit also performs a function for non-Christians as well. He convicts people's hearts of God's truth concerning how sinful we are -- needing God's forgiveness; how righteous Jesus is -- He died in our place, for our sins; and God's eventual judgment of the world and those who do not know Him.
John 15.26 (KJV)
26But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceeded from the Father, he shall testify of me:
John 16:13-15
13 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. 14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. 15 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.”
Acts 10:9-16
Apostle Peter had a dream of a sheet that was spread with all unclean animals. But when he understood his dream a man from Joppa came and pleaded to come and he went. The Holy spirit thought him that Jesus was not only to the Jews but also to the gentiles.
While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon’s house was and stopped at the gate. 18 They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there.
Today as Church every one of us have to have a vision in the service of God. We live in a great nation India turning to Jesus should be our vision
Acts 16:6-10
Paul’s Vision of the Man of Macedonia
6 Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. 7 When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. 8 So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. 9 During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
What does the Holy Spirit do?
1. The Holy Spirit corrects us.
2. The Holy Spirit guides us.
3. The Holy Spirit works through us.
Illustration
In the mid-1800s in the town of Kells in Northern Ireland, four men met each Saturday night for intense prayer. The whole night was devoted to prayer. Shortly afterwards, there was a powerful revival. Courts adjourned for lack of cases. Jails were closed for lack of criminals. Policemen formed quartets to sing in churches because they had nothing to do.
