The Day of Pentecost

   This message was preached at Word Of Grace Church on June 8th 2025 by Colin D Cruz. For the audio & video please click here.  For the worship please click here.

The Day of Pentecost

In the last few weeks, we've been looking at God's significant works. Two weeks ago, we looked at Jesus' ascension after spending 40 days with his disciples. In heaven, he was given back his glory after his ascension. Before his ascension, Jesus told his disciples to wait for the Holy Spirit. This happened on the day of Pentecost. 

Acts 1:4-5 NIV - [4] On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. [5] For John baptized with water, but in a few days, you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

This scripture is repeated in the Bible 6 times. It is very important.

Matthew 3:11 NIV - [11] “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 

Mark 1:8 NIV - [8] I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

Luke 3:16 NIV - [16] John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

We see it 4 times in gospel lessons and twice in the book of Acts.

Baptism means immersion. Baptism of Holy Spirit is immersion in Holy Spirit. 

After the ascension, the disciples returned to Jerusalem, and they were praying and waiting on God. 

How long were they supposed to wait for the Holy Spirit? They didn't know. But they continue to wait because Jesus had promised them. 

We have a lesson to learn here. We all have promises from God. We must continue to wait for them to be fulfilled. 

Acts 2:1-4 NIV - [1] 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.

Here we see that on the day of Pentecost, the disciples were all together in one place.  Suddenly there was a sound like a violent wind and all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit which looked like tongues of fire. 

Acts 2:5-7 NIV - [5] Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. [6] When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. [7] Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 

The other Jews were amazed when they heard the disciples speak in their own native languages. 

The great happenings of the Day of Pentecost:

What does Pentecost mean? It means 50th. 

God has been unveiling his plans to the world in line with the ancient Jewish feast. 

Jesus' sacrifice was on the Passover feast this symbolising the true Lamb of God. 

Three days later he rose to life on the Feast of the first fruits. The Jews bring the first crop which is Barley as it can be harvested faster than wheat and then give it to God. 

1 Corinthians 15:20 NIV - [20] But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. 

Jesus is the first fruits of many more fruits. These other fruits are those who put their faith in Jesus. This is our hope - Just as how Jesus was risen to life, we will also be risen to life. What we have with Jesus in heaven will go on forever. Our time on earth is like a tiny dot when compared to Eternity. 

The next feast is the Feast of Shavuot in which 2 loaves of leavened bread is made. This was the day of Pentecost.

On the day of Pentecost, all were together. Let us be like them - all of us together for Sunday meetings, weekly prayer meetings and other meetings. 

Acts 2:2 NIV - [2] Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 

The first thing we notice is an audible sound like a violent wind. 

Acts 2:3 NIV - [3] They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.  

The second was sight-like tongues of fire. It was a supernatural phenomenon.

In the Old Testament, God's spirit and presence are usually in the form of wind and fire. 

Acts 2:4 NIV - [4] All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

The third was speech - the disciples spoke in different tongues as the Spirit enabled them. 

The key thing after the infilling of the Spirit is that the disciples were transformed. 

Acts 2:14 NIV - [14] Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say.

Peter, who denied Jesus 3 times, stood up boldly and addressed the Jews after he was filled with the Holy Spirit. 

Significance of the day of Pentecost:

1.        Reversal of what happened at the Tower of Babel

Genesis 11:1 NIV - Now the whole world had one language and a common speech.  

Genesis 11:4-7 NIV - [4] Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.” [5] But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower the people were building. [6] The Lord said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. [7] Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.” 

This was in the Old Testament. But on the day of Pentecost, languages were given to people, and they began to speak. This is to scatter them to different places to spread the gospel. 

Revelation 7:9-10 NIV - [9] After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. [10] And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” 

In the end, we're going to see people from every nation, tribe with different languages would worship God in unity.

2. The giving of the Holy Spirit is contrasted with the giving of the law

 

Exodus 32:8 NIV - [8] They have been quick to turn away from what I commanded them and have made themselves an idol cast in the shape of a calf. They have bowed down to it and sacrificed to it and have said, ‘These are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.’ 

The Day Moses was given the law, the Israelites made a golden calf and worshipped it. 

Exodus 32:10-11 NIV - [10] Now leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation.” [11] But Moses sought the favour of the Lord his God. “Lord,” he said, “why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand?  

God was very angry with them and wanted to destroy them. But Moses pleaded with God. 

Exodus 32:14 NIV - [14] Then the Lord relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened. 

Exodus 32:27-28 NIV - [27] Then he said to them, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Each man strap a sword to his side. Go back and forth through the camp from one end to the other, each killing his brother and friend and neighbor.’ ” [28] The Levites did as Moses commanded, and that day about three thousand of the people died.  

Moses commanded the ones who were on his side to go and kill all the others, which led to the death of 3000 people. 

On the day of Pentecost, this was reversed. 

Acts 2:37, 41 NIV - [37] When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 

[41] Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. 

After Peter preached boldly, 3000 people accepted the message and were baptized.

3.        Jesus is glorified and seated next to the Father

John 7:39 NIV - [39] By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time, the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified. 

Spirit being poured out meant Jesus was glorified. Jesus is preparing a place for you and me. One day, He will take us there, and that is our hope. 

4.        Baptized in the Holy Spirit

This doctrine caused considerable confusion among Christians. There is work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, but to do the works God has called us to do, we need to be baptised in the Holy Spirit. 

Acts 4:31 NIV - [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.

The infilling of the Holy Spirit is an ongoing thing. We all need more and more of the Holy Spirit.

Let us come and receive.

Word of Grace is an Evangelical (Born Again),  Spirit-filled (Charismatic), Reformed, English-speaking church in Pune that upholds the Bible as God's inspired Word for life. We are a church community that has people from every part of India and parts of the world. We are here to put the Great Command and the Great Commission into practice by equipping and releasing every member into works of service.  Word of Grace is part of a wider international family of Churches called RegionsBeyond.To know more about us please log onto www.wordofgracechurch.org.