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Pentecost Sunday
On June 4, 2017, many churches around the globe celebrated what is known as Pentecost Sunday, and this holiday is recognized with great importance by many Christians. Christians celebrate this holiday, because it recognizes the coming of the Holy Spirit. Originally, the day of Pentecost was a feast in which Jews from all nations came together in Jerusalem to celebrate the day in which God provided the children of Israel with the Torah. In the book of Acts 1v.4-5 Jesus said, “ And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.”
As instructed in Acts Chapter 1v.4-5, the apostles gathered together in Jerusalem in order to receive the promise of the Holy Ghost. This step was pivotal in Christianity in that this Pentecostal experience is where the believer is given the power that they desperately need in order to live lives of holiness, power, and a sound mind. The Pentecostal experience is important to the believer in that the Holy Spirit is the one that guides the believer to walk as Jesus instructed. In today’s society, it seems as though many people (rightfully so) marvel at the Pentecostal experience, because it is a supernatural experience. The scripture describes the experience perfectly in the book of Acts 2v. 1-8: “And when the day of Pentecost was 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 all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?” (KJV) As described in the text, this was a marvelous and supernatural process that the Christians in the early church experienced. First, they heard a sound from heaven, and it filled the house as a rushing mighty wind. Also, they saw cloven tongues like as of fire which means that they also saw a heavenly manifestation of power in this experience. Also those that were filled spoke utterances that were given to them by the Holy Spirit. Also, the men from other nations heard the filled believers speaking in the tongues of other nations. This is an amazing experience, and it is still an amazing experience to have in this day.
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Becoming Witnesses
Although this experience is important to the believer, there are things that we must do after this wonderful experience has taken place in our lives. Jesus Christ instructs all believers that the Great Commission is the next step that the believer should make after receiving the promise of the Holy Spirit. In the book of Acts 1v.8 Jesus Christ said, “ But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Therefore, they were instructed by Christ to preach the gospel of his life, burial, and resurrection. In the book of John 14 v.16-21 Jesus said such: “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
Obedience is Critical
He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.” (KJV) In this passage, Jesus Christ explains to the believer that the Holy Spirit will come to bring to the memory of the believer everything that Jesus Christ has taught, and one of the lessons that he taught was the importance of obedience to the words that he spoke. Obedience is so important to Christ that he measures our love based on the ways in which we are obedient to him. According to the book of John 14, Jesus Christ explains that the person that loves him keeps his commandments. This is pretty much straight and forward. I am afraid that we live in a society in which the church is committed to dancing, singing, and speaking in tongues. These things are wonderful parts of the Pentecostal experience, but there are requirements that we must meet following the Pentecostal experience. Obedience is key. The Holy Spirit has come to us in order to impart into us the things that will maintain our salvation in Jesus Christ. However, it is also important for us to listen to the Holy Spirit after he has come. It is important for us to consult him in the facets of our lives. It seems as though many people of today want to enjoy the miraculous things that he brings such as speaking in tongues, dancing, and praises. However, it seems as though people quench or ignore him concerning the actions that we make in this life. There is such importance to obeying the Holy Spirit when he speaks to us as believers. The messages that he brings to us is a sustaining message. The message that he brings to us is a protecting message. The message that he brings to us is an empowering message. He also brings to us warning of temptation and lust. It is imperative that the believer obeys the words of the Holy Spirit. It is dangerous when people ignore the Holy Spirit. He is the one that helps the believer to continue in salvation. He is the comforter that was given to us by the Father because of the prayers of Jesus Christ. He is the teacher of the things of Christ. He is the one that keeps us and prepares us for heaven. Before he was martyred, the deacon Stephen warned the children of Israel of how they often rejected the Spirit of God. In the book of Acts 7v. 51-53 Stephen the deacon said, “ Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.” It is imperative that we except all of the things that the Holy Spirit brings not just the things that we view to be exciting. He warns us. He comforts us. He reminds us of the laws of God. He reminds us of the teachings of Jesus Christ.
Conclusion
He brings more than just a good feeling and the utterance of tongues. This is not a message that rejects any of the wonderful things that come with the Pentecostal experience. However, this message is a reminder to the believer that he must obey the Holy Spirit after he has invited him in to his heart. Be willing to submit to the Holy Spirit. Be willing to obey the Holy Spirit. Be obedient. Embrace all that he brings to you. Therefore, we must experience the Pentecostal experience. However, we must also embrace him. We must make sure that it is not just a form of godliness that we have. We must not reject the God thereof. In 1Thessalonians 5v.19-22, Paul instructed, “Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil.” We must not quench the Spirit. We must not reject Him. We must seek to do good in his sight. We must abstain from all appearance of evil. We must embrace the Pentecostal experience that he brings, but we must also accept him as well as the fullness of what he brings to us.
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