Pentecost 2020 is upon us. This day does not get much coverage even the Christian churches. I know my church is not planning any special ceremony for it. But we should as this is the birth date of the church itself.
Almost 2,000 years ago, the apostles are in Jerusalem still trying to wrap their heads around the resurrection of their teacher Jesus. The Jewish festival Shavuot is upon them and they are still in hiding from the Romans.
Pentekost means fiftieth in Greek. It was 50 days after the Resurrection of Jesus. Jesus told the disciples to stay in Jerusalem even though their every being was pushing them to flee out of the city that crucified their Master. But they held firm to His command and on the fiftieth day, the Holy Spirit descended like a dove ( just like Jesus baptism) and fire was upon each one of them.
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. Acts 2
What a site this must have been to withhold. The fire upon them enabled them all to talk in different tongues (or languages) so they could go and spread the Gospel. Not everyone spoke Greek or Latin in those days and to hear the revelation of the Good News in your own language may have given it the foothold it needed to endure.
Interestingly enough, the Jewish festival Shavuot was all about the celebration of Moses giving the Jews the Old Testament or first five books of it from God. On Pentecost in Moses Day, this was the day Moses handed over to the Israelite's the Word of God. Both occasions represent the gift of God to men.
What was the result of this indwelling of the Holy Spirit? Well Christianity spread like wildfire...Over the course of the next hundred years, Christian churches sprang up all over the Roman empire. So much so that Rome finally adopted it as their state religion in 313 AD.
So on Sunday, God may not gift you with the Holy Spirit but the Bible says if you repent, He will come upon you.
Acts 2:38
Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
I pray that each one of you receives the Power of the Holy Spirit, renounces evil and is planted within you the fire of truth in the precious and wonderful name of Jesus. May God truly bless you this season of Pentecost.
And that is the Whole Truth!
May God richly bless you in your walk with Him.
Remember, God always answers His kneemail.
