A New day, a New gift, and a New beginning!
It was fun being able to share on Pentecost some of the questions that surround the “Great Event” that occurred in Acts 2:1-4 when the Holy Spirit Came at Pentecost. “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. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.” These four verses have always been a point of discussion for many of us who want a fuller relationship with God. Sometimes confusion can get in the way. Let me share why Pentecost gives us A New day, a New gift, and a New beginning in the Holy Spirit.
Pentecost, which has been called the birthday of the church, took place on the annual celebration of the Feast of Harvest. This yearly celebration since Moses was a pilgrimage of Israelite men from all nations. It was always celebrated 50 days after Passover. This Feast of Harvest (Pentecost) was different because Jesus had risen from the dead. Before His final ascension in Acts 1:4,5, He told them “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days, you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” This was the single event that created Pentecost. It was the new covenant.
This was simply God fulfilling an OT promise. In Ezekiel 36 we see an example. Ezekiel’s prophetic assignment was giving hope to Israel. Israel again was in captivity. In Ezekiel 36:26a, God promise was, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you;” The next chapter goes on about the dry bones (Israel) being revived, but that is what the new life through Jesus gives.
Challenges for followers in Acts 2:1-4 primarily are about the flames of fire and speaking in tongues. The fire represents the glory and presence of God. An example can be taken from Numbers 9:15(there are many more). “On the day the tabernacle, the tent of the covenant law, was set up, the cloud covered it. From evening till morning, the cloud above the tabernacle looked like fire.”.
The next challenge comes where in Acts 2:4 it says, “All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.” Points of clarification for this are in Genesis 11:1-9, humanity spoke one language. In this it created more division from God. In Genesis11:9 it says, “there the Lord confused the language of the whole world”. This was the one act of God from Genesis that because of Jesus sacrifice of the new covenant could be eliminated by bringing all humanity back to the point where we could fellowship with God. Sin had been defeated!
Back to the Feast of Harvest. This pilgrimage of Israelite men from all nations which was a massive gathering was taking place. In Acts 2:5,6 it says, “Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken.” Remember Acts 2:4 it says, “All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.” Because of God’s immeasurable love and grace, we each can have A New day, a New gift, and a New beginning today through Jesus Christ!
Come and visit, Pastor John Chamberlain
‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ Acts 17:28
