Day of Pentecost and It’s Importance

I just finished listening to my dad’s sermon. Today is the day that many Christians and churches celebrate the origin of the church, that is, the day that the Holy Spirit was poured out on ordinary men, women, and children. Below is a helpful summary of the significance of this day:

For Christians, Pentecost is a holiday on which we commemorate the coming of the Holy Spirit on the early followers of Jesus. Before the events of the first Pentecost, which came a few weeks after Jesus’ death and resurrection, there were followers of Jesus, but no movement that could be meaningfully called “the church.” Thus, from an historical point of view, Pentecost is the day on which the church was started. This is also true from a spiritual perspective, since the Spirit brings the church into existence and enlivens it. Thus Pentecost is the church’s birthday (click here).

What I love about my dad is that for a few years now, he elevates the event of Pentecost to the same level of importance as Christmas and Easter. I mean, think about it.

Jesus born = Christmas.

Jesus’ death = Good Friday.

Jesus resurrection = Easter.

Okay, but what the heck are you and I supposed to do when He ascends? Be holy? Forgive others? Understand spiritually-laced scriptures? Build the church? Be generous as opposed to greedy with our money? Put other people’s needs before our own? Walk by faith rather than by sight?

Yea right. Good luck!

We never had a shot without an additional event. We needed an agent, a person of power to come and assist. A helper. A comforter. A guide. A teacher. God’s presence at every moment.

And then God did just that. In Acts 2:1-21, God pours out the Holy Spirit, the third member of the Trinity. We needed help.

I absolutely love the following words of Jesus:

“…but now I am going to him who sent me.None of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ ⁶ Rather, you are filled with grief because I have said these things. ⁷ But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. ⁸ When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: ⁹ about sin, because people do not believe in me; ¹⁰ about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; ¹¹ and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned (click here). 

The ascension of Jesus paved the way for the coming of the Holy Spirit. The incarnated Jesus could only be in one place at one time. He, even as God’s Son, was limited due to the physical boundaries of his existence. But not the Holy Spirit. The immaterial Holy Spirit was not bound by physical laws. Ergo, the Holy Spirit can be in multiple places at the same time (i.e. your heart, my heart, this church, that church). You get the idea.

When is the last time you sat still and talked specifically to the Holy Spirit. Benny Hinn is a rather controversial figure (back in his heyday), but he did have one practice that I want to do a better job of implementing in my own walk with the Lord. He began every day with the prayer, “Good morning Holy Spirit.” 

According to the Christian scriptures (source of truth), the only member of the Trinitarian God that is on earth is the Holy Spirit. The Father and Son are in heaven. Why do we treat the Holy Spirit as if He is the third wheel, the tag-along, the mystical force without a face or identity. Silly, huh?

The Holy Spirit is the one that is here. In you. In me.

May we wake up and realize our desperate need for the Holy Spirit and that Christianity was meant to be MUCH more than three bullet-point sermons telling us how to behave.

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If interested in my dad’s sermon, click here.