Living With God Is More Important Than What We Do For God

What was the significance of Pentecost

The New Pilgrim Bible Acts 2

Pentecost

Pentecost was one of seven feast days of Israel. Each feast was a reminder to them of what the Lord had done for them or would do for them in the future. (Read Leviticus 23:16 note, “The Feast of Pentecost.”) Thus it happened that the disciples, who were devout Israelites, observed the Feast of Pentecost. God used this day to commission and empower the church. Thus, He sent the Holy Spirit to baptize the disciples and to give them power to perform His work in the new way He had planned.

The children of Israel were familiar with certain signs as proofs that God gave them when He wanted to call their attention to the fact that He was speaking directly from heaven (Exodus 19:18; 1 Kings 19:11–12). On the Day of Pentecost the mighty rushing wind, the tongues like as of fire, and the voice of the Holy Spirit speaking through the disciples in other languages were all or signs that this was from God.

In the next few chapters of the Book of Acts, it is seen that the Holy Spirit was given to different groups under different conditions, but never twice in exactly the same way. The tongues like as of fire never appeared again. After the first century all of the signs ceased.

A one time wind

Acts 2:1-2

Acts 2:1–2 NIV84

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.

“Mighty Rushing Wind”; this combination of words are only used once in the Bible. “Rushing” is only found here in the New Testament

This word for wind is only found one other place: John 3:7-8

John 3:7–8 NIV84

You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

Tongues of Fire

Acts 2:3

Acts 2:3 NIV84

They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.

Where the wind was a special one time thing, the tongues of fire were as old as the original covenant God had with Abraham

Genesis 15:17-18

Genesis 15:17–18 NIV84

When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, a smoking firepot with a blazing torch appeared and passed between the pieces. On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram and said, “To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates—

So when you combine this New Wind and the Old Flame together what are some of the God disclosed answers it gives you?

Spirit Baptized verses Spirit Filled

Acts 2:4

Acts 2:4 NIV84

All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

We are told here that they were Spirit Filled and this is not a one time occurrence

Acts 4:8 “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people!”

Acts 4:31 “After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.”

Acts 7:55 “But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.”

Acts 9:17 “Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.””

Baptism of the Spirit is a one time event part of your witness when the Spirit fills you

Acts 11:15-16

Acts 11:15–16 NIV84

“As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning. Then I remembered what the Lord had said: ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’

How do you know you are Baptized in the Spirit?

What does being filled with the Spirit do for you?

Being Spirit filled means you are God’s Ambassador to those HE sends to you.

Acts 2:7-11

Acts 2:7–11 NIV84

Utterly amazed, they asked: “Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”

This is the inauguration of the new church

It was anticipated

Matthew 16:18

Matthew 16:18 NIV84

And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

The Spirit given at Pentecost opened the door to God’s kingdom to all

1 Corinthians 12:13

1 Corinthians 12:13 NIV84

For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

What boundaries might the Spirit be breaking down in your life so you can be a better witness?

When the Spirit fills you, the reactions of those around you is a mixed bag.

Acts 2:12-13

Acts 2:12–13 NIV84

Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?” Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”

How have people reacted when you witnessed to them?

And how did you react to that?

How did this Spirit filling change the meaning/purpose of Pentecost?