The Meaning of Pentecost & The Spirit of Truth
Pentecost can be one of those "church" words floating around in the back of our conscience. It's not a totally foreign word. We remember hearing it before, but may have a hard time finding the right set of words to explain it. Do we really know it what it is? Why it matters or why the church still celebrates it? So I looked it up!
Pentecost's Greek word "Pentekoste", means fiftieth and so is celebrated 50 days or within the seventh week after Easter. Pentecost celebrates the manifestation of the Holy Ghost. Now the Holy Ghost is not a one moment occurrence, it's an everyday impartation from God!
In John 14, Jesus informs the disciples that He will be leaving soon (His death on the cross), but in doing so, Jesus promises the gift of the Holy Spirit and that it will comfort and guide them in His physical absence.
JOHN 14
15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever 17 the Spirit of truth.
26 The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
Fast forward to the next chapter. In Acts 2 after Jesus finally ascended to Heaven, the disciples were gathered together when suddenly the Holy Ghost descended on them.
ACTS 2
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
So what does this all mean and why is it important to our walk with God?
THE ADVOCATE
Well as Christian believers, the Holy Spirit awakens our life with Christ and allows us to have an encounter with God. Jesus calls the Spirit an "Advocate" which means to help, comfort and speak on behalf of another. Based on scripture above, the Spirit of Truth dwells in us providing an unexplainable peace during chaos, direction amidst confusion and helps us call to remembrance the words of God that we may keep them front of mind and in our heart. The Spirit opens our personal line of communicate with God.
SPIRITUAL GIFTS
Spiritual Gifts are skill sets and desires given to us to glorify God and contribute back to the edification and expansion of God's kingdom. To be clear, gifts aren't always seen as positions, offices or titles in the physical church, but can also be applied in our positions in the marketplace or industry of business (Religion, Education, Business, Entertainment, etc.)
Ephesians 4
11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
1 Corinthians 12
4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.
7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,[a] and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT
Fruits of the Spirit can be described as personal characteristics evident from following Christ. When we allow the Holy Spirit to work in us, the way we live changes. There are new standards we ascribe to. There is a difference in how we interact with others, our character, integrity and our motives. When we truly allow God in, people can witness fruits of His Spirit produced out.
Galatians 5
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
JUSTIFICATION
The Holy Ghost also manifests a covenant between Jesus and the Gentiles. We no longer have to speak to God through a priest, we no longer subscribe to circumcision and though we are not of a Jewish family bloodline, we are still connected to the promise, privileges and birthright of God through our faith in Jesus.
1 Corinthians 12
13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
In Acts 10 and 11, Peter contested with a vision that requested him to eat what was considered by law "impure", "unclean" and "unworthy". But the voice from Heaven spoke to Peter and countered that what God has deemed clean cannot then be called impure. Later in the chapter, it is revealed God was leading Peter to preach to a Gentile family (not of Jewish descent) who had already accepted God and believed in Jesus, but now in the presence of Peter had received the Holy Ghost. This was a dynamic symbolism of proof that everyone (including Gentiles) can be extended redemption and included in the promise of everlasting life!
As believers, we celebrate Pentecost because we are able to take presence in God, communicate directly with God, access power and wisdom from God through the Holy Spirit. Happy Pentecost Sunday!