Today is Pentecost Sunday and since the Pentecostal experience is a huge part of my walk of faith, I wanted to share a little about it’s history and how speaking in an unknown holy tongue as the physical sign of the indwelling of the Holy Ghost has radically transformed my life. I have a writer friend who explains it better than I do. Her name is Vi Moore. Vi has this to say about Pentecost:
“Pentecost, originally a Jewish celebration fifty days after Passover, is now recognized as the birth of the Christian church. The New Testament second chapter of Acts is the common reference to the first audible and visible outpouring of the Holy Spirit, even on Mary the mother of Jesus. “These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers,” (Acts 1:14, NKJV). Apostle Paul first mentions the importance of this celebration after he was filled with the Holy Spirit, “For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he would not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hurrying to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the Day of Pentecost,” (Acts 20:16, NKJV). Again St. Paul mentions Pentecost in his letter to the church at Corinth, Greece, “In the meantime, I will be staying here at Ephesus until the Festival of Pentecost,” (1 Corinthians 16:8, New Living Translation). That historical annual Jewish Feast which took place fifty days after the Passover was conferred with a greater meaning when it was heavenly ordained as the beginning of the New Testament Christian church. It is both ironic and sad that while major traditional churches in Christendom who will celebrate with colorful ceremonies tomorrow have not experienced Pentecost. Others who have a personal Pentecost with the baptism of the Holy Spirit, will let this day slip by unrecognized.”
But Pentecost is so much more than a day to celebrate or even an experience to have. It is a lifestyle of living with the empowerment of the living God. So many people know God, love God, and serve God in all they know, but they have yet to experience the powerful and dynamic presence of the holy God they serve by receiving the Holy Ghost like they did in the book of Acts. (See Acts 2,8,10 and 19) The Apostle Paul came across many honest, faithful people like this while on his missionary journeys. As a matter a fact he told the believers at Ephesus:
“Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?” and their response was “We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost!” (Acts 19-1-3) Paul then goes on to explain to them about water baptism and the infilling of the Holy Ghost as evidenced by tongues and it says in verse 4 “and they were baptized, and spoke with tongues and prophesied”
Oh my precious reader, the Holy Ghost is for you today too! Read the book of Acts and pray for God to fill you full to overflowing.
I was so privileged to speak at the Maranatha Bible Church yesterday to their women’s group. They are a dynamic group of Bible believing women. As I spoke the Holy Ghost moved, God’s presence was there so strong! With all my heart, I wanted them to experience this life changing infilling of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in tongues. I did tell them of Acts 19 and what Paul asked the Ephesian church, but I stopped short of challenging them to receive it for themselves. A few of them came up to me afterwards and told me that they HAD RECEIVED THE HOLY GHOST WITH TONGUES! This made me so happy!! (I will write more about these incredible women in the days to come)
But for today, my prayer for you is that you embrace ALL GOD HAS FOR YOU – including the HOLY GHOST!!
Hugs,
Debbie