That Church预览

THE PURPOSE OF PENTECOST

The events on the day of Pentecost are so much more impacting for us than we realise. The significance of the descending of the Holy Spirit upon the newly formed family of God goes way beyond good vibes and ‘spiritual tingles’. It’s about being empowered to be a witness. Specifically, a super-natural, divine, otherworldly power entered their worlds and began to work out in tangible and detectible ways – initially to those immediately around them, and eventually to the ends of the earth. Luke pre-empts these events in Acts in the closing words of his gospel. (Luke 24:44-49 – esp. 48-49)

There is so much to notice in Acts 2, but let’s have a look at some key points. They were united both in Spirit and geography as the family of God, God moved in the same way that he moved in the Old Testament with fire (Exodus 19:18, Deuteronomy 4:24, 2 Samuel 5:24) and breath/wind (Ezekiel 37:5-10, 1 Kings 19:11-13). They were inspired and empowered by the breath/wind and as a result, they spoke in other languages. This gift of being able to speak in other languages wasn’t for themselves, it was an evangelistic tool, so that the nations could hear about God’s work.

This moment in Acts 2 is a “there” and “then” and a “here” and “now” moment. We’re a part of the great unfinished story – the book of Acts in this sense is unfinished! We too are empowered, when we’re united, through repentance and baptism we too become Christ’s witnesses. As Jesus promises in Acts 1:8, “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.”

"When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them". - Acts 2:1-4

Prayer Point: Father, thank you so much for the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2. Thank you for sending your Holy Spirit upon the Church so that we are empowered to be witnesses to the nations. Thank you that you fill me afresh now with the power of the Holy Spirit, to continue the unfinished story.