“When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
“Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. And they were amazed and astonished, saying, ‘Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.’ And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, ‘What does this mean?’ But others mocking said, ‘They are filled with new wine.’
“But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: ‘Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:
“‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams;
even on my male servants and female servants
in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.
And I will show wonders in the heavens above
and signs on the earth below,
blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke;
the sun shall be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood,
before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day.
And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon
the name of the Lord shall be saved.’
“‘Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know—this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. For David says concerning him,
‘“I saw the Lord always before me,
for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken;
therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;
my flesh also will dwell in hope.
For you will not abandon my soul to Hades,
or let your Holy One see corruption.
You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will make me full of gladness with your presence.”
“‘Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says,
‘“The Lord said to my Lord,
‘Sit at my right hand,
until I make your enemies your footstool.’”
“‘Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.’
“Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Brothers, what shall we do?’ And Peter said to them, ‘Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.’ And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, ‘Save yourselves from this crooked generation.’ So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.”
Pentecost! I wonder whether we actually know what happened on that day. Most Christians can recite how the Holy Spirit settled on those who had waited in the Upper Room on that day. We are each conversant with the described phenomena that drew so many running to see what was going on—the sound of a mighty rushing wind, the Spirit appearing as flames of fire settling on those who were anointed, those early followers of the Christ speaking in languages they had never learned. We recognise that something dramatic happened at that time. However, Christians may become so focused on the dramatic signs, the startling events of the day, that they miss the reason God included this account of that day in His Word. What happened at Pentecost?
Establish an essential truth in your mind—Pentecost is history. To be sure, there remains a day identified as Pentecost Sunday that is set aside on the church calendar. And in Judaism, there is still a day of celebration that is known as Shavuot, the very day identified as Pentecost in Luke’s account of the events occurring among the early churches. However, the day of Pentecost as described in Luke’s account of the Acts of the Apostles was an event heralding the empowerment of the people of God to perform the work of fulfilling the commission that Jesus assigned for His disciples. This day marked the first time that followers of Christ would be empowered by the Spirit of Christ to perform the work to which we are appointed. Pentecost as recorded in Luke’s account that records the acts of the early churches will never be repeated, for the Spirit of Christ now lives in each one who is born from above.
The Spirit of God will not again descend as He did on that day when these early saints were empowered for service. There is no need for such an enduement of power upon the saints now, for each follower of Christ is already empowered by the Spirit of Christ. You, as a follower of the Risen Lord of Glory, now have the Spirit of Christ living in you, and you have His power working in you. This does not mean that there will never again be manifestations as the Spirit of Christ works in power among His people; but there will never again be a day quite like Pentecost as described in the account before us this day. And that should encourage the people of God!
God works in each twice-born saint to accomplish His will. That is evident when we see the Apostle write, “My beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure” [PHILIPPIANS 2:12-13].
The benediction pronounced in the Ephesian Letter points to this powerful and abiding work that has already been accomplished in each Christian. Note that Paul prays, “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen” [EPHESIANS 3:20-21].
Speaking of the power indwelling his life that allowed him to accomplish all that he had done, Paul testified to the saints in Colosse, “I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me” [COLOSSIANS 1:24-29].
That energy that powerfully worked in Paul is the same energy at work in you as one who is born from above and who has received the Spirit of Christ. This is nothing less than the fulfilment of the divine promise Jesus made when He promised those early disciples, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” [ACTS 1:8]. We are not waiting for the Spirit to come; He has already been given!
God works in unique fashion among His redeemed people. The Lord does what is best for each of His beloved children, equipping each one to serve where they are and at the time in which they are appointed to serve. Our God doesn’t restrict Himself to work in some narrow, artificial fashion to accomplish His will. We don’t often allow ourselves to think of this, but God places us where He would have us serve; we don’t choose our place of service—He appoints us, setting us where He wills. Each one who follows the Christ is given the Spirit of Christ as they come to faith in the Risen Lord, though the manifestations described in our text will not likely be evident. Twice born saints of God will receive power to do all that the Master expects, though to the eye of lost people they will appear to be the same as they have always been. The one who follows Christ as Lord will be equipped to work powerfully as he, or as she, declares the message of life. Each individual walking in the Way of Life, following the Risen Saviour, will indeed receive power because the Spirit of God now works through them to “convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment” [JOHN 16:8]. Knowing this, I invite you to join me in a study of the Sprit’s ongoing work among the people of God to this day.
PREPARING FOR THE SPIRIT’S DESCENT — I realise that the passage is extended, especially when we compare what may be usually read when establishing a point in a message, nevertheless for the sake of completeness, I invite you to follow along in your own Bible as I read the opening verses of the Books of Acts.
“In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.
“And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, ‘you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.’
“So when they had come together, they asked him, ‘Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?’ He said to them, ‘It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.’ And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.’
“Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.”
[ACTS 1:1-14]
Throughout the pages of the Old Covenant, we witness the Spirit of God working, though His work in that distant age differs in one significant aspect from His work observed in this present age. Under the Old Covenant the Spirit of God empowered selected individuals, nor were all who worshipped the LORD Spirit empowered. Throughout the pages of the Old Testament, the Word speaks of the Spirit rushing upon a person, or of the Spirit cloaking an individual, or of the Spirit enveloping an individual. During the days of the Old Covenant, God’s Spirit worked in selected individuals, but the Spirit never lived in or worked in all who worshipped the LORD or who walked with Him.
Undoubtedly, it is overkill to list all the times the Spirit is said to have worked in individuals, but do note a few of the incidents that demonstrate the work of the Spirit in individuals who were then living under the Old Covenant. Identifying those whom He had equipped to prepare the Tabernacle and the utensils to be used during worship, the LORD identified Bezalel, saying “I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship” [EXODUS 31:3].
Later, Moses would speak of this man, saying, “See, the LORD has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, with intelligence, with knowledge, and with all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold and silver and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, for work in every skilled craft. And he has inspired him to teach, both him and Oholiab the son of Ahisamach of the tribe of Dan” [EXODUS 35:30-34]. This man Bezalel was recognised as filled with the Spirit of God because of the skill and intelligence and knowledge and craftsmanship possessed to do the work assigned for building the Tabernacle.
Next, note the way the Spirit of God intervened when Balaam sought to enrich himself by cursing God’s Holy people. Moses describes what happened, writing, “Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe. And the Spirit of God came upon him” [NUMBERS 24:2]. The Spirit of God came upon Balaam and he prophesied before a king who was seeking to harm the people of God. Balaam revealed in detail how God would bless Israel.
Quickly, note the language used when we witness the interaction of God’s Spirit with individuals elsewhere in the Word. Among the Judges, we read how God’s Spirit interacted with Othniel. “The Spirit of the LORD was upon [Othniel], and he judged Israel. He went out to war, and the LORD gave Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand. And his hand prevailed over Cushan-rishathaim” [JUDGES 3:10].
In the case of Gideon, we read, “The Spirit of the LORD clothed Gideon, and he sounded the trumpet, and the Abiezrites were called out to follow him” [JUDGES 6:34].
Concerning another of the Judges, we read, “The Spirit of the LORD was upon Jephthah, and he passed through Gilead and Manasseh and passed on to Mizpah of Gilead, and from Mizpah of Gilead he passed on to the Ammonites” [JUDGES 11:29]. Did you note that nowhere do we read of the Spirit of God dwelling in one of these people, nor do we read of Him living with them.
Of Samson, we read, “The Spirit of the LORD rushed upon [Samson], and he went down to Ashkelon and struck down thirty men of the town and took their spoil and gave the garments to those who had told the riddle. In hot anger he went back to his father’s house” [JUDGES 14:19].
We witness a similar statement when Samson faced the Philistines on another occasion. “When [Samson] came to Lehi, the Philistines came shouting to meet him. Then the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon him, and the ropes that were on his arms became as flax that has caught fire, and his bonds melted off his hands” [JUDGES 15:14].
A similar phraseology is used when Saul was told that he would be met by the Spirit of God. Samuel told Saul, “The Spirit of the LORD will rush upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man. Now when these signs meet you, do what your hand finds to do, for God is with you. Then go down before me to Gilgal. And behold, I am coming down to you to offer burnt offerings and to sacrifice peace offerings. Seven days you shall wait, until I come to you and show you what you shall do.
“When he turned his back to leave Samuel, God gave him another heart. And all these signs came to pass that day. When they came to Gibeah, behold, a group of prophets met him, and the Spirit of God rushed upon him, and he prophesied among them” [1 SAMUEL 10:6-10].
Similar wording is used of David when he was anointed by Samuel. “Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah” [1 SAMUEL 16:13].
As is true in this present dispensation, the Spirit was actively working throughout the days of the Old Covenant. However, He did not work in all who sought the LORD, nor did He work continuously. He was ever present, ever watching over God’s work, but His intimate work in the lives of individuals was sporadic, punctuated, occasional. When He did work, what He did was, as it were, a preview of what He would do in the lives of the redeemed people of God in this Church Age.
THE SPIRIT’S DESCENT — “When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them” [ACTS 2:1-3].
Christ ordered the disciples “not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, ‘you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now’” [ACTS 1:4-5]. The disciples obeyed, for we read, “They returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers” [ACTS 1:12-14].
Obedient to His command, these disciples were not idly lounging about eating grapes and watching reruns of Oprah—they united in prayer! Included with them were “the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.” What women, you may ask. I believe we would be on solid ground if we said that “the women” included Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and Salome at a minimum. These women, together with others who are not named, had witnessed the empty tomb.
The Risen Christ had promised fulfilment of a pledge the Father had made—that they would be baptised with the Holy Spirit within a short time. You may recall how Jesus appeared to the disciples shortly after His resurrection. The women who had been at the tomb and Peter and John had reported how it was empty and the guards had fled. Two disciples The Living Master, very much alive, had walked and talked with two disciples. These various reports had caused amazement and confusion but did serve to draw most of the disciples together. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there with them!
Wow! Talk about stunning! Luke wrote of this, reporting, “As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, ‘Peace to you!’ But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. And he said to them, ‘Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.’ And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, ‘Have you anything here to eat?’ They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate before them” [LUKE 24:36-43]. Well, that was convincing!
It was then that Jesus began to teach them once again, reminding them of the lessons He had delivered before His crucifixion. The Master instructed them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled” [LUKE 24:44]. With that, the Risen Saviour pointed to what was written and what they should have understood from the Word, saying to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high” [LUKE 24:46-49].
Note that Jesus again referred to the promise of the Father. That promise had been given in the hours immediately before the Master’s Passion. Remember how He said, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.
“These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But 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 have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe” [JOHN 14:23-29].
They could not know what it would mean, or even what it could mean, to be baptised with the Holy Spirit, but they had at least an idea of what Jesus meant. They had all witnessed John’s baptism, especially the baptism of Jesus. They understood that they would be immersed in the Spirit of God, and when thus immersed, they would understand the will of God fully, they would have peace, they would have the ability to recognise the will of the Father. They would be enabled to do what they otherwise could not do because they would be guided by the unseen Spirit of God.
Even more important for the work to which they were being appointed, they would be enabled to present the message of life with power. Jesus promised, “I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.
“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you” [JOHN 16:7-15].
What was promised to those first disciples was a promise to all who follow the Saviour. Consequently, reading of the descent of the Spirit, we are caught up in focusing on the external phenomena—the sound of the rushing wind, what appeared as tongues of fire over each disciple, the fact that they were heard speaking in languages they had never learned. These phenomena grip us, and we wonder if we should reproduce what was taking place at that time. However, when we are focused on these external phenomena, we neglect the fact that each one was filled with the Spirit and thus spoke with power.
Those who came rushing to see what was going on were asking, “Where is the storm? Who lit the fire? What gives them such excitement?” NO! No one said anything about the sound of the wind or of the dancing, darting tongues of fire. NO! They wondered that they heard “them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God” [ACTS 2:11b]. No one will long remember phenomena associated with what we call supernatural; but redeemed people who come to faith in the Son of God will remember so long as they have breath that they heard the wonders of the Living God declared in a language they could understand! The natural man, living only for this age, focuses on what startles and amazes, but the one born of the Spirit focuses on that which is eternal. Seek Christ and the message that transforms the lost which was promised by the Master!
THE PHENOMENON WITNESSED — “Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. And they were amazed and astonished, saying, ‘Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God’” [ACTS 2:5-11].
While it is true that my God often works in slow motion, and while it is true that He reminds us that in quietness and in trust is our strength, He seems to burst out suddenly at times to reveal His power and His glory. We will stand in awe of God, and especially will we do so when He acts abruptly, unexpectedly. However, for the one hundred twenty disciples who had been gathered in that upper room, what happened was not a surprise—it was fulfilment of what they had been seeking for ten preceding days!
Though I just mentioned the abruptness which marked the descent of the Spirit, the adverb denoting that what took place happened “suddenly.” Yet, these events were not unexpected. The disciples had been obedient to the command of Christ—they were waiting just as He had ordered them to do. They knew that what Jesus promised was not something for which they needed to just hope would occur—what He promised, He did! However, they were not idle as they waited for the fulfilment of his promise, for they had devoted themselves to prayer. All these disciples were united in heart and life as together they sought God’s promised blessing. These disciples were pleading with God to do what He had promised He would do, which was to wait in Jerusalem until the Spirit had been poured out on them. And God answered their prayers just as they knew He would!
Suddenly! There is that word again. Suddenly, the sound of a rushing, mighty wind was heard, filling the house where they had secreted themselves for ten days as they prayed and prepared their hearts for what God was soon to do. And the sound must have been heard beyond the walls of the house since many were drawn to see what was going on. Something appearing as “tongues of fire” settled on each one in the house. Whether this visual phenomenon remained on them after they went out into the streets or whether it dissipated as they ventured forth is not said, but they were compelled to speak of God and of His mighty works. Moreover, these who were speaking of God’s mighty works were heard as though they spoke in the native tongue of each listener! And what was being said drew the listeners to pay careful attention to the message that was being given.
Did you notice that the emphasis is on the fact that those hearing the disciples speak heard them in their native language? The text is quite specific in stating, “each one was hearing them speak in his own language” [ACTS 2:6b]. Those hearing the disciples speak, marvelled, saying, “How is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God” [ACTS 2:8-11]. The disciples were not spouting gibberish! They were not speaking in the tongues of angels, as some wish to recast what was taking place! What the disciples were saying was heard in the language of the various people gathered to hear them. If there was no understanding of the message delivered, the exercise would have proven futile. As it was, what took place resulted in the salvation of about three thousand precious souls.
WHAT REALLY HAPPENED — “Others mocking said, ‘They are filled with new wine’” [ACTS 2:13]. Heaven came down. All who were aware came running. Running to where the sound was coming, all were bewildered. To be sure, many, hearing the declaration of the glories of God were transfixed, wanting to know what the phenomena they were witnessing could mean. What is sometimes overlooked is that those who are antagonistic to Heaven and to Heaven’s God will always mock what God does. They will dismiss what God is doing as coincidence, as serendipity, as “just one of those things.”
But the proffered explanations of those who will not believe the message does not change the truth. Truth, when applied to the heart by the Spirit of God, transforms lives. That is, after all, what was promised when Jesus said of the Spirit that “when He comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment” [JOHN 16:8]. The Spirit is given not to make us feel good about ourselves, but to convict mankind!
Each one who had been in that Upper Room, praying for God to fulfil His promise that He would soon give His Holy Spirit, received what they were asking. And when the Spirit was given as God had promised, all the disciples alike were empowered to declare the mighty works of God, each one speaking with power such as they had never experienced before. Doctor Luke is ever so careful to note, “[the disciples] were all filled with the Holy Spirit” [see ACTS 2:4a]. Each disciple shared in the work of God’s Holy Spirit, just as each disciple continues to share in the work of God through the Spirit of Christ to this day. God invests His Spirit in all redeemed people, and He empowers each one to accomplish His holy work, confronting the world with the message of Christ!
Unlike the transience of the Spirit witnessed and the selective experience of the Spirit’s work in individuals as recorded throughout the days of the Old Covenant, the Spirit of God came down at Pentecost, investing Himself in the life of each disciple throughout the whole of this age. And He continues to live in each follower of the Risen Saviour to this day, equipping and empowering each one who follows the Risen Saviour. Know that the Spirit of God lives in you, working powerfully as you strive to obey the Master, provided you are a twice born child of the Living God. And the Spirit of God lives among the churches that are endeavouring to fulfil the will of the Master.
Consequently, I’m not speaking of Baptist congregations only. Candidly, there seems to be a surprising number of churches bearing the name “Baptist” that have little openness to allowing the Spirit of Christ to work in their midst. Any congregation in which the message proclaimed is salvation freely offered through faith in Christ without human effort, is a congregation in which the Spirit of God can work. I understand that we like to hang out with our own people, and thus we look at the name over the door as indicative of who worships in each church. Ideally, we would know what we will find because of the name. However, we are too often in for a disappointing surprise.
Sometimes we will question whether other churches are truly Christ honouring because we differ with them on some aspects of church life—how they do church or whether they manage to check off every doctrine we deem essential. We can set a pretty high standard that doesn’t manage to meet reality. Our standards are often quite artificial. However, if that congregation holds to the historic Faith that teaches Jesus Christ is God, that He died a sacrificial death and rose bodily from the tomb, that He ascended into the heavens where He is seated at the right hand of the Father, and that by faith in the Risen Lord of Glory, without human effort, we are saved, it is a pretty good indication that we will meet fellow believers there. This will be especially true if the basis for the Faith they espouse is the written Word of the Lord which they hold to be inerrant and infallible. These foundational beliefs reveal that we are speaking of brothers and sisters in the Faith.
Pentecost has come, and all who put faith in the Risen Son of God receive the Spirit of Christ. He lives in you, as one who is twice born. And He is working among His churches where Christ is honoured and worshipped. God is equipping you with power so that you can speak of the glories of Christ and of the mighty works of God. And your words, empowered by the Spirit Who lives in you, will inevitably have an impact on the lives of those who know you and those who hear you as you speak of Christ the Lord. Child of God, you who are twice born saints of the Living God, don’t hesitate to tell the lost of Christ. Boldly proclaim Him as Lord of life and as the King Who reigns over you. Tell others that they may know Him also, receiving the gift of life just as you received when you were saved. Tell others to glorify the Saviour. Amen.
[1] Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2016. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
