Acts 2:1-41
I am continually amazed by this story. The rushing of a violent wind, tongues of flame, and the disciples speaking other languages and glorifying God is an amazing part of church history. It is often called the birthday of the church. But it is so much more than that. In Joel 2:28-32 we see where Joel prophesied that God would pour out His Spirit on all flesh. This event prophesied by Joel was to mark the beginning of the last days, or the end times. Peter quotes this section in Joel in his sermon because Peter rightly understood that the giving of the Holy Spirit to the church marked a new era. With the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, God was marking His new-covenant people. Pentecost is another of God’s promises fulfilled.
This promise being fulfilled means that God is no longer hidden from us. Before Jesus’ crucifixion, the way to God had not been open because we were still in our sins. When Christ died, the curtain in the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. This curtain separated God’s presence from His people. It represented the wall between us and God. It represented how our sins separate us from God. When Christ died, the curtain was torn because Christ’s sacrifice was perfect and atoned completely for our sin. To say that Christ atoned for our sin is to say that Christ paid the price for our sin. The fact that it was torn from top to bottom shows us that it was God Himself that made it possible for all people to now come to Him in Christ.
The gift of the Holy Spirit is not limited to ethnicity, nationality, or a particular culture. Christianity is not a cultural faith. It transcends culture and brings people of different nationalities and ethnicities together in Christ (see Revelation 7).
Not only does the gift of the Holy Spirit make it possible for people to know God, it makes it possible for every believer to be able to make God known. Witnessing about the reality of forgiveness of sins through Jesus Christ is not the job of pastors and professional missionaries only. If you are a believer, you are a missionary. You may not be called to exotic lands among people of a different culture. Yet, you are a missionary wherever you are. If you are a farmer, you are a missionary. If you are an insurance salesman, you are a missionary. If you are a stay-at-home mother, you are a missionary. If you are retired, you are a missionary. If you are unemployed, you are a missionary. No matter what your circumstances, you are a missionary.
What does this mean? The Holy Spirit provides believers with courage to be bold witnesses to all the things God has done. We testify about Jesus because of the Holy Spirit within us. The Holy Spirit gives us strength to be able to reach others, and to proclaim Jesus Christ. Every believer is now tasked with making God’s Word known. We are to be faithful in proclaiming God’s Word to the world. Each one of us will have different opportunities for sharing the good news of Jesus with others. But all of us are strengthened and encouraged by the same Holy Spirit.
Today as you celebrate Pentecost (even if you aren’t reading this on Pentecost Sunday), pray to the Holy Spirit for a renewed awareness of His presence in your life. Pray that you will have the opportunity to pray for and witness to someone who needs to hear the good news of Jesus. Pray that you will be refreshed by the good news of Jesus Christ as well. Jesus poured out His Holy Spirit on the disciples, and to all Christians (including you) so that we can enjoy being always connected to Jesus, in all places. Be encouraged today knowing that God loves you and has given you His Holy Spirit to encourage, comfort, guide, and help you.
