Who Happened At Pentecost?

Why is this such a complicated topic?

Theological traditions and agendas.

Semantics, terminology

Fear

One of a handful of truths that if we can get thrown off by our enemy will make us less effective for God’s kingdom, and less connected to Jesus.

Going to save the more trinity-centered topics for next Sunday, Trinity Sunday.

Pentecost - what happened on the surface

Timeline and reference to the HS.

John 14 - the Spirit, the Help, dwells WITH you, and will be IN you.

He is crucified on Passover.

He is risen on the Feast of Firstfruits

John 20 - Jesus breathes on them, “receive the Holy Spirit.” Something must have happened. Spirit was now IN them.

40 days after resurrection, Ascension. “You will receive power when the HS has come UPON you.” Purpose of the powers, to be witnesses of Jesus.

Pentecost, 50 days after Feast of Firstfruits (7 Sabbaths plus one day). Jewish males, born or converted, gather in Jerusalem.

Sound like a rushing wind but no actual wind (sound of breath/spirit), something like tongues of fire appeared over each one, not just the 11 disciples, filled with the Spirit, in this case began speaking in other languages known on earth but unknown to the speaker.

Those close enough to hear the sound also heard these country hicks speaking in their own languages about “the mighty works of God.” The Gospel. Some thought they were drunk.

Peter gives a sermon in their common language about how they are responsible for the death of the Messiah, and about 3K people were saved.

What happened under the surface

This event in Acts 2 is usually equated with what John called the baptism with the Spirit; a visible or tangible supernatural experience. Was it? This is where the terminology and semantics come into play. Interestingly, that phrase does not appear here.

There is a first time for everything. Sometimes the first time doesn’t look like the rest of the times. For example, God created Adam out of the elements of the earth, then created Eve out of Adam, then the next humans were born from the first two.

If you want to call this event the initial or first baptism with the HS, that’s fine with me. But that doesn’t mean that every event or experience that looks like this is another baptism with the HS.

Peter tells the crowd who wants to repent to be baptized in water and they will receive the gift of the HS. Charis, grace, gift, charismatic. No evidence that these began speaking in tongues or experienced any other manifestation. Perfect gift for this moment

All Christians are baptised with the Spirit when they are save. These subsequent fillings and refillings where there is a manifestation are what we tend to call the gifts of the Spirit.

Not a superpower, not your gift. Benefits others.

Different views. Cessationist tend to be that way because of crazy charismatics and overly rigid interpretation of scripture. And then the reverse.

Gifts are God’s toolbox to build the kingdom through you. Anglican view of gifts? Pretty open.

The sign of the HS, if there is one, is conviction of sin combined with strong sense of God’s love for you and your love for God. It’s an allergic reaction to God, so to speak.

The Point of Pentecost

is to celebrate the harvest so far