The day of Pentecost is very important it is the day that the Church of Jesus commenced. We must be very clear that being filled with the Holy Spirit is not a church doctrine or emphasis but a command of Jesus to his disciples (Acts 1:5). Also we must be very clear that the Bible is not a suggestion of how to live but a commandment which is not optional to the way that we live. To please God we must live by the truth of God’s word. Psalm 119:105 says: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. “ It is good to remind ourselves of what is recorded in the book “The Acts of the Apostles” which more correctly be “The Acts of the Holy Spirit”.To show how far the modern church has moved from being a Spirit-filled church, in Acts 11:38 the Prophet Agabus warned the church of the impending famine and the church was prepared for it. The church has just experienced a worldwide pandemic and the church was unprepared for it. This speaks to me that we need a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit. One final thing about the modern church is that many years ago it was decided to use modern technology to attract people, so the church has learned to put on a pleasing performance by using special lighting and loud music which gives an emotional experience that feels good but is not of God and never draws a person closer to God because it is fundamentally not of God. It is important briefly to look at the account given in the Book of Acts, firstly the 120 disciples who obeyed the command of Jesus were all filled with the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost and 3000 people were born again and later on 5000 were born again, baptised with water and filled with the Holy Spirit. We react in Acts chapter 8 when Philip went and preached in Samaria multitudes were born again so Peter and John came down and laid hands on them and they were filled with the Holy Spirit. In Acts 10 we read that when Peter preached to the Gentiles for the first time Acts 10: 44 says: “While Peter was still speaking these words, The Holy Spirit fell upon those who heard the word”. And Peter said in Acts 10:47 “Can anyone forbid water, that those should not be baptised who received the Holy Spirit as we have?’ Also, the Holy Spirit spoke and gave direction, in Acts 13 we read about the church at Antioch and in Verse 2 it says: “As they ministered to the Lord and fasted the Holy Spirit said’ Now separate for me Barnabas and Paul for the work to which I have called them”. When you look at the three missionary journeys that Paul did he was directed by the Holy Spirit and the then-known world was impacted by the gospel. I want to make it very clear that being filled with the Holy Spirit is not an event but a doorway to a Spirit-filled life, as I look back over my lifetime it is certainly true. Sadly some people never go through that door and never live a Spirit-filled life. Galatians 5:16 says: “I say then, walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfil the lusts of the flesh” and Galatians 5:25 NLT says: “If we are living by the Holy Spirit, let us the Holy Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives”. This Pentecost Sunday may we choose again to be filled with the Holy Spirit and demonstrate to everyone what that means. And may we continually ask the Lord for more of the Holy Spirit and not be satisfied with what we already have and keep asking for more of the Holy Spirit.
Also, read the previous blog “Pentecost Sunday 2023 “ dated 3/5/2023