Today is Pentecost!

Many Christians do not know or understand the great significance of remembering and celebrating the Day of Pentecost recorded in Acts 2. Few calendars even note this day.

Could Pentecost be of even greater importance and significance than the birth of Christ?  Below are excerpts from a post I did 4 years ago, called, The Lost Message of Pentecost.  

The Lost Message of Pentecost

When it comes to Pentecost, what exactly do we celebrate? We are told that the celebration is all about commemorating the descent of the holy spirit upon the Apostles.  That event was recorded with a number of details in the book of Acts. But is Pentecost of even greater importance and significance than the birth of Christ?

There are a number of popular celebrations on the Church calendar.  The biggest and most popular is Christmas.  People understand they are celebrating the birth of Christ.  But when it comes to Pentecost, there are many who wonder what it is really all about.

What is the real significance of what occurred to those twelve apostles?  Is it possible that it was the greatest event to date in the history of mankind?  Has the great message of Pentecost been lost?

Ever since the book of Genesis, when man first came on the scene, having body, soul and spirit, there have been a number of events that have affected all of mankind.  Through the centuries there have been hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes and volcanoes.  But what happened in the Garden when Adam sinned was the worst disaster for human beings that has ever happened.

Even though there were only two people immediately affected, the consequences would be felt by billions and billions; the consequences would affect every single human being ever born, with the exception of Jesus Christ.

It is because of not understanding what happened when Adam sinned that results in not understanding what happened on the original day of Pentecost.  Adam was told that if he ate of the tree in the midst of the garden he would surely die.  If you are familiar with the record then you know that both Adam and Eve ate of that fruit.

Yet, if you continue reading in the Bible, they both lived for many, many years.  But God had said, “In the day you eat, you will die,” meaning that very day. By taking a closer look one can see that Adam and Eve were formed made and created with two life forms: soul and spirit.

The absence of life is indicated by the word, “death.”  What died that day for Adam and Eve was the spirit life that God intended for all human beings to have.  It is very significant to note that it was the spirit life that enabled them to have a close personal relationship with God.

When they lost spirit life, they still had body and soul life. But they had lost their connection with the Creator.  And, this loss was passed on to all men and women. This was a cataclysmic event, with devastating consequences on all of mankind.

Since very few understand what happened back in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve, they fail to see its connection to Pentecost.  But it was after the fall of mankind that God set in motion a plan to redeem mankind.  Because of Adam’s sin, human beings were now incomplete; they were lacking the spirit of God.

During the process of God’s plan, you can read about how God gave certain individuals His spirit on a temporary basis.  But it was not available to any and all human beings.  It took the completed work of Jesus Christ, the savior of mankind, to fulfill all that was necessary.

On that first day of Pentecost, Peter delivered quite a sermon.  It contained a number of references to God’s gift of holy spirit.  He concluded his message by exhorting those listening to change their minds, get baptized, and told them that they too would receive the gift holy spirit.   About 3,000 accepted the invitation.

Jesus taught his followers on many occasions about the coming of holy spirit. It was a major topic at the last Supper.  And after he was resurrected, the first time he got together with his disciples he talks to them about receiving the holy spirit.

On the day of the ascension, right before he left, the very last thing he talked about was about receiving the holy spirit.

If you look closely at Peter’s message on the day of Pentecost, it is filled with information about the spirit of God.

The lost message of Pentecost is the beginning of holy spirit for all of mankind.  That was the day when God officially made His holy spirit available to anyone and everyone.  The reason God wants everyone to have His spirit is so that He can have a close personal relationship just like He had with Adam and Eve in the Garden before the fall.

And while Adam and Eve could and did, lose the spirit of God, this time around, God made it permanent.  He has given us all eternal life which means you cannot lose it.

What a great day in the history of mankind Pentecost was!  God has opened the door for anyone and everyone to receive His gift of holy spirit.  No wonder Peter later referred to that day as, “the beginning.”  Now it is up to us to learn how to utilize and operate this gift of holy spirit that God has freely given us.

Mike Verdicchio
2010

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