Pentecost Sunday—is one of the most important days in the life of the Christian church—and yet, in many ways, possibly one of the most neglected. Somewhere along the line, Pentecost got treated like just another event from history to mark off on the calendar. We dust it off once a year, unpack the ornaments - sing songs and then drag it all back up to the attic – safely tucked away till next year.
Meanwhile the “real life” goes on - or does it? – We muscle through - Monday to Friday, 9 to 5, trying to “do our level best” in life … yet- we forget about the Pentecost Power God wants us to walk in - within. That power is the Holy Spirit!
The Holy Spirit is, in many way - the “forgotten One” of the Trinity. Not denied. Not rejected. Just quietly shelved. “I’ve got this God" – we say ... so - "step aside!” But – that isn’t God’s plan or His best for us. God never intended Pentecost to be like a day at the museum. It’s not just some ancient event; it’s a present reality. If we can see it - we are living in the present age of Pentecost ... and He is patiently waiting for us to see that and follow Him.
The Story Behind Pentecost
Pentecost didn’t just drop out of the sky back in Acts Chapter 2. God had been pointing to “what’s to come” - for centuries through the Old Testament prophecies and three feasts He intentionally instituted (see Exodus 23) – so we would recognize His hand today.
The three key feasts:
1. Feast of Unleavened Bread (right after Passover) Israel left Egypt in such a hurry that their bread didn’t have time to rise. They ate unleavened bread, a picture of leaving their lives of slavery behind—and keeping it simple, so that they would experience humble dependence on God. For us, it’s a picture of leaving our old life of slavery behind too – the slavery of sin – by God’s Grace through Faith –in Jesus Christ. We too should feel that humble dependence upon God (in this desert place) - His sinless sacrifice at the cross – His death and resurrection to life - we too have received freedom by grace through faith in Him! We who were once dead to the slavery of sin - have now received life everlasting in His name.
2. Feast of Firstfruits / Pentecost (50 days after Passover). “Pente” means fifty. This was the early summer harvest. Israel brought the ‘first’ of the wheat harvest to God, trusting Him with the rest to be harvested. On that very historic day of Pentecost in Acts 2, God chose to pour out His Spirit and gather His “firstfruits”—about 3,000 people saved in one day. Those first disciples - (as co-laborers) left this world - trusting God for the remainder of the harvest - and God is still trusting us - His 'co-laborers' today!
3. Feast of Ingathering / Tabernacles (the final harvest in the fall). This celebrated the ‘full’ harvest. Also known as the “Feast of Tabernacles” – because they lived in temporary shelters (to remember those wilderness years). It was also - to recall - God’s provision at that time - and His promise of their deliverance to the 'promised land'! Whereby they would reside - in permanent dwellings - no more breaking down or setting up tents and moving - again and again. They would finally be home - in a permanent earthly residence with an address. For Christians - this is a picture - which points forward to the "end-times" harvest - when the full measure of believers will be brought into His Heavenly storehouse! It is also a time when we ourselves ... our spirits and souls ... dwelling in these “earthly tents” –- (these human bodies) will be included among His great harvest and gathered into one of His "Heavenly Mansions" - our permanent Heavenly address with Him! - "In My Father's house are many mansions; if [it were] not [so], I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you." - (John 14:2)
So, Pentecost (this middle feast of "first-fruits") isn’t random. It’s God saying, “The true harvest has begun. My Spirit is here. Now you have power to serve! The firstfruits are in. More to come.
There’s Two Great Comings of the Spirit
To really understand the significance of Pentecost, we need to see two key moments in the New Testament:
Tongues are one of the most misunderstood gifts of the Spirit, but Scripture is clear that they show up in at least three ways:
1. As a sign to unbelievers (Acts 2) People hear the gospel in their own language and realize God is at work.
2. Within the congregational meeting – but always with interpretation. (1 Corinthians 14) A tongue given publicly ‘must’ be interpreted so that the whole church is edified (built up). Otherwise, it is to be kept - between you and God.
3. As a private prayer language. Paul says, “He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself” (1 Cor. 14:4).
Romans 8:26 tells us that the Spirit helps us when we don’t know how to pray, interceding with “wordless groans.” Often, praying in tongues is simply allowing the Spirit to pray through us beyond what our mind can fully understand.
Tongues Edify!
In a 2006 brain study by Dr. Andrew Newberg at the University of Pennsylvania, he found that when believers pray in tongues, the frontal lobe goes silent (where language and decision-making happen). Unlike normal speech or even meditation – where the brain scan would normally ‘light-up’ – individuals in this study – though they were praying out loud – their tongues were bypassing – this area of the brain. In other words, something different is going on. It is as though there is a "direct connection" that goes up to - and back from God. - Where the 'upload and download speeds' – are less like the old AOL dial-up and more like Super -Hi-speed fiber optic – but even in that - a Zillion times faster! Science is just catching up with 1 Corinthians 14:4—which says - those who pray in tongues are being “built up.”
Guardrails for Tongues.
Now - Paul gives us some guardrails for this gift:
So what do we do with all this? The crowd in Acts 2 asked, “What shall we do?”
Peter’s answer is still valid: -
Pentecost is not over. We are sill living in the long Pentecost season of history—the age between our freedom from slavery and the final 'end-times harvest'. The firstfruits have come in, but God is not finished yet. He is still gathering, still empowering, still speaking, still saving - and still using us to do so.
The question is not, “Do I have the Holy Spirit?” The question is, “Does the Holy Spirit have me?”
May we not be content to "un-pack" our Pentecost just once a year. May every day be our Pentecost—until the harvest is complete and He takes us to our heavenly home.
“Then he said to His disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.” - Matthew 9:37
Blessings,
Bob
Meanwhile the “real life” goes on - or does it? – We muscle through - Monday to Friday, 9 to 5, trying to “do our level best” in life … yet- we forget about the Pentecost Power God wants us to walk in - within. That power is the Holy Spirit!
The Holy Spirit is, in many way - the “forgotten One” of the Trinity. Not denied. Not rejected. Just quietly shelved. “I’ve got this God" – we say ... so - "step aside!” But – that isn’t God’s plan or His best for us. God never intended Pentecost to be like a day at the museum. It’s not just some ancient event; it’s a present reality. If we can see it - we are living in the present age of Pentecost ... and He is patiently waiting for us to see that and follow Him.
The Story Behind Pentecost
Pentecost didn’t just drop out of the sky back in Acts Chapter 2. God had been pointing to “what’s to come” - for centuries through the Old Testament prophecies and three feasts He intentionally instituted (see Exodus 23) – so we would recognize His hand today.
The three key feasts:
1. Feast of Unleavened Bread (right after Passover) Israel left Egypt in such a hurry that their bread didn’t have time to rise. They ate unleavened bread, a picture of leaving their lives of slavery behind—and keeping it simple, so that they would experience humble dependence on God. For us, it’s a picture of leaving our old life of slavery behind too – the slavery of sin – by God’s Grace through Faith –in Jesus Christ. We too should feel that humble dependence upon God (in this desert place) - His sinless sacrifice at the cross – His death and resurrection to life - we too have received freedom by grace through faith in Him! We who were once dead to the slavery of sin - have now received life everlasting in His name.
2. Feast of Firstfruits / Pentecost (50 days after Passover). “Pente” means fifty. This was the early summer harvest. Israel brought the ‘first’ of the wheat harvest to God, trusting Him with the rest to be harvested. On that very historic day of Pentecost in Acts 2, God chose to pour out His Spirit and gather His “firstfruits”—about 3,000 people saved in one day. Those first disciples - (as co-laborers) left this world - trusting God for the remainder of the harvest - and God is still trusting us - His 'co-laborers' today!
3. Feast of Ingathering / Tabernacles (the final harvest in the fall). This celebrated the ‘full’ harvest. Also known as the “Feast of Tabernacles” – because they lived in temporary shelters (to remember those wilderness years). It was also - to recall - God’s provision at that time - and His promise of their deliverance to the 'promised land'! Whereby they would reside - in permanent dwellings - no more breaking down or setting up tents and moving - again and again. They would finally be home - in a permanent earthly residence with an address. For Christians - this is a picture - which points forward to the "end-times" harvest - when the full measure of believers will be brought into His Heavenly storehouse! It is also a time when we ourselves ... our spirits and souls ... dwelling in these “earthly tents” –- (these human bodies) will be included among His great harvest and gathered into one of His "Heavenly Mansions" - our permanent Heavenly address with Him! - "In My Father's house are many mansions; if [it were] not [so], I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you." - (John 14:2)
So, Pentecost (this middle feast of "first-fruits") isn’t random. It’s God saying, “The true harvest has begun. My Spirit is here. Now you have power to serve! The firstfruits are in. More to come.
There’s Two Great Comings of the Spirit
To really understand the significance of Pentecost, we need to see two key moments in the New Testament:
- The Risen Jesus in the Upper Room (John 20). Jesus appears to His disciples, breathes on them, and says, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” That’s a picture of salvation – we are born again – a new creation—and pointing back to God in the Garden - breathing life into Adam. This is what happens when we first come to faith. Jesus breathes new life into us. The Spirit then comes to live in us and gives us eternal life.
- The Day of Pentecost (Acts 2). - Fifty days after Passover, the disciples are together and suddenly a sound like a mighty rushing wind fills the house. Tongues of fire appear, and they begin to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gives them utterance. People from many nations hear them declaring “the wonderful works of God” in their own languages. In the upper room, the disciples “had” the Holy Spirit. At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit “had” them.
Tongues are one of the most misunderstood gifts of the Spirit, but Scripture is clear that they show up in at least three ways:
1. As a sign to unbelievers (Acts 2) People hear the gospel in their own language and realize God is at work.
2. Within the congregational meeting – but always with interpretation. (1 Corinthians 14) A tongue given publicly ‘must’ be interpreted so that the whole church is edified (built up). Otherwise, it is to be kept - between you and God.
3. As a private prayer language. Paul says, “He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself” (1 Cor. 14:4).
Romans 8:26 tells us that the Spirit helps us when we don’t know how to pray, interceding with “wordless groans.” Often, praying in tongues is simply allowing the Spirit to pray through us beyond what our mind can fully understand.
Tongues Edify!
In a 2006 brain study by Dr. Andrew Newberg at the University of Pennsylvania, he found that when believers pray in tongues, the frontal lobe goes silent (where language and decision-making happen). Unlike normal speech or even meditation – where the brain scan would normally ‘light-up’ – individuals in this study – though they were praying out loud – their tongues were bypassing – this area of the brain. In other words, something different is going on. It is as though there is a "direct connection" that goes up to - and back from God. - Where the 'upload and download speeds' – are less like the old AOL dial-up and more like Super -Hi-speed fiber optic – but even in that - a Zillion times faster! Science is just catching up with 1 Corinthians 14:4—which says - those who pray in tongues are being “built up.”
Guardrails for Tongues.
Now - Paul gives us some guardrails for this gift:
- Not everyone has this gift. (1 Cor. 12:29–30) It’s unbiblical to say you must speak in tongues to be Spirit-filled or saved. –
- Love and edification come first. (1 Cor. 13, 14:1, 26) Gifts are not fireworks; they are tools to build people up. – (self and others)
- Public use must be orderly and understandable. (1 Cor. 14:27–28, 40) God is not a God of confusion.
So what do we do with all this? The crowd in Acts 2 asked, “What shall we do?”
Peter’s answer is still valid: -
- “Repent” – Turn from your old way and toward Jesus.
- “Receive” – Trust Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and receive the Holy Spirit.
- “Be baptized” – Publicly declare your allegiance to Christ.
- “Yield” – Let the Spirit not only be ‘in’ you, but truly 'have' you.
Pentecost is not over. We are sill living in the long Pentecost season of history—the age between our freedom from slavery and the final 'end-times harvest'. The firstfruits have come in, but God is not finished yet. He is still gathering, still empowering, still speaking, still saving - and still using us to do so.
The question is not, “Do I have the Holy Spirit?” The question is, “Does the Holy Spirit have me?”
May we not be content to "un-pack" our Pentecost just once a year. May every day be our Pentecost—until the harvest is complete and He takes us to our heavenly home.
“Then he said to His disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.” - Matthew 9:37
Blessings,
Bob
HOPE Blog ... Pastor Bob DeFelice
Sometimes random - sometimes not - some things I think - measured against scripture.
"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
~ 2 Timothy 2:15
"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
~ 2 Timothy 2:15
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