Pentecost — Church Without Walls

Pentecost

As we celebrate Pentecost Sunday, many still do not fully grasp the magnitude of what happened on that day, an event that has the power to touch every person on the earth. Pentecost was not merely a moment of emotion or power, but the fulfilment of God’s eternal purpose: a gift to the world from God the Father through Jesus Christ.

It Starts at the very Beginning

Genesis 1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. ²The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

The Spirit is hovering, waiting, and now through Jesus Chrsit is able to come down to indwell those who would believe.

What Does the Spirit Do

The Spirit of God comes to make the spiritually dead alive, reconnect people back to God, and restore hope where all hope has been lost. In the vision of the dry bones, Israel appeared utterly lifeless, scattered, broken, and without strength. Yet God speaks life through His Spirit.

Ezekiel 37:9 Also He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.¹⁰So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army. ¹¹Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They indeed say, ‘Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!’ ¹²Therefore prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. ¹³Then you shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves. ¹⁴I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken it and performed it,” says the Lord.

So we understand the Spirit of God is real and He comes into our lives through the presence of God and brings rest for our souls and a real hope.

He is also known as the Helper and Comforter.

God Promised His Spirit Will Come

Jesus Chirst, has now fulfilled all the requirements through His sacrifice on the Cross for the Holy Spirit to be able to dwell with us and in us, His words remind us in the Gospel of John 14 15“If you love Me, keep My commandments. 16And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.]

The Holy Spirit is Here for Everyone

As we continue, we see that the Spirit of God is no longer merely hovering over creation, as in Genesis, but now comes to indwell His people, those who believe in the message of Jesus Christ. He is called God the Holy Spirit, the third person within the triune nature of God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Under the New Covenant, the Holy Spirit is poured out not only upon the Jewish people, but upon all who believe in Christ. The Gospel is extended to every nation and people group on the earth. We now read the account of the Holy Spirit coming to dwell in Gentile believers. Gentiles refers to anyone who is not Jewish.

Acts 10.34 Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. 35But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. 36The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all—

Here Comes the Gospel

37 that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: 38how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. 39And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree. 40Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, 41not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. 42 And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. 43 To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.”

Here Comes the Response When You Believe from Your Heart

44While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. 45 And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 46For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God.

Then Peter answered, 47“Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.]

God Sends The Spirit to All Believers

So we have now read excerpts from Genesis, the prophets such as Ezekiel, the words of Jesus Christ Himself, and then the disciples of Christ bringing forth the New Covenant through the power of the Holy Spirit. This is why Pentecost is so important for us to understand and enter into as believers in Christ.

Pentecost was not simply a historical event, but the fulfilment of God’s promise to dwell within His people through the Holy Spirit. Without Pentecost, there would be no Church upon the earth. The Holy Spirit gave birth to the Church, and every true Church of Christ is to be led and empowered by the Spirit of God.

Under the New Covenant, believers are now called the temple of God and the dwelling place of His Spirit. [Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” 1 Corinthians 3:16] Pentecost is about God coming to live with His people through the Holy Spirit. ● He Brings spiritual life, ● Reveals Jesus Christ, ● leads believers into truth, ● Heals the broken hearted ● Transforms us from the inside out and gives us a new heart ● and assures us that we belong to God As Scripture says: “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” Romans 8:16] Through Christ, believers are adopted into the household of God and loved as His own children.

Pentecost therefore reveals not only the power of God, but the nearness of God. His presence dwelling within those who believe. The same Spirit who hovered over the waters in Genesis, who raised the dry bones in Ezekiel, and who descended at Pentecost, still calls people today into fellowship with the living God through Jesus Christ.

Invitation: How will you respond today after hearing the WORD.

Will you sincerely receive Him today?

Let us pray for all those that He may fall on some today and give new life.