The Feast of Pentecost in the Old Testament means 50 days after the Feast of the Passover. Meaning, 50 days after their deliverance from slavery, God gave the Law to Israel.
In the New Testament, God used this Jewish feast to give another gift.
Not the gift of a second law, but the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Not after the slavery from Egypt, but after breaking another form of slavery.
Because Pentecost is 50 days after Easter, when the spiritual slavery of death has been broken.
Here are 2 practical applications of Pentecost:
WAITING FOR SPIRITUAL RENEWAL
10 day after Jesus' ascension, he left and gave them a farewell instruction,
to wait, tarry, remain in Jerusalem, until they receive the promise of the Spirit.
But what does that even mean?
During seasons of uncertainty, or during times of doldrums or apathy, or even days of angst and anxiety,
we are being invited to stay, tarry, to wait in our Jerusalem,
until we discover the peace in stillness, or to experience the power of prayer.
Because a realization of inability, or a feeling of inferiority,
or a sense of getting stuck in what seems to be a dead end,
(like these disciples waiting, praying in the upper room),
can be an opportunity to experience a spiritual Pentecost.
it is true of an irony indeed that, during those lowest points in life,
there awaits a blessing of spiritual renewal,
there God provides the Holy Spirit of Pentecost to usher in spiritual renewal.
EMPOWERMENT FOR SPIRITUAL WITNESS
V.4: They began to speak in tongues as the Spirit had enabled them.
And then they proclaimed the wonders of God uninhibited by various language barriers.
The people all heard the gospel translated in different tongues.
The communication barrier has been broken.
The language gap has been overcome.
In a Recent Pew Research Poll, it says,
that the Christian population has declined from 78 % to 70% since 2007.
Between that 8 percent drop, we are talking about millions of people that decided to quit church.
And the question is why? There are a lot of answers.
But one of the reasons is portrayed in our text:
That is, it all depends on whether we can "speak in tongues" that people understands or not.
Because the Good News is not having the "tongues" of highfalutin theology.
This is the gospel that speaks in contexts and simplicity.
This is not the "tongue" of spiritual pride.
This is the "tongue" of humility and compassion.
This is not the "tongue" of forced uniformity,
But this is the "tongue" of diversity, that says, we are open hearts.
This is the pentecostal experience that we all need,
because this is the pentecostal witness that the world is waiting to hear.
St. Francis: "Let us all preach the gospel at all times and when necessary use words."
BENEDICTION
Like breathe, may the Holy Spirit fill you with life.
Like fire, may the Holy Spirit spark you with joy and energy.
Like dove, may the Holy Spirit calm you with gentleness and peace.
And like flowing, living water, may the Holy Spirit replenish your soul today.
Receive and bring with you the blessing of Pentecost this week.
