Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - June/73

Contributor - Peter J. Yff

Title - Pentecost, 1975

Topic - Pentecost

June is considered the month of brides, the time of joy and tears at weddings. This year, in the churches, hopefully, June will be known as the month of the Holy Spirit. Pentecost was observed on June 10th, a day of crucial importance for the church of Jesus Christ throughout the world.

In order to understand, and appreciate Pentecost, one should see it in relation to the other important times in the Christian calendar. No one day can be isolated from the others. For example, Christmas needs the climax of Good Friday, Good Friday is hardly that without Easter. Ascension Day marked Jesus' departure from earth, to rule at the Father's right hand. From heaven he sends his Spirit, empowering, equipping, using his Church. That began to happen on Pentecost in a very special way. That continues to happen, for it is through the Holy Spirit that scripture comes alive, and hearts are changed, and lives made over.

What a difference that first Pentecost made. The men were the same, and yet they were different, somehow. Peter, the spokesman is a good example. He was always ready to speak, true, but now his message carries both conviction and effect. He does not flinch now, as he had when a serving girl asked the question, "You were one of this Man's followers, weren't you?" Now boldly, he addresses thousands in this Name of salvation. He would become one who could say to the ruling council, "Whether it is right to obey you rather than God, you must judge; we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard" (Acts 4: 19).

The message itself was different, too. It was heard and understood in the mother, or native tongue of the pilgrims in Jerusalem. The message did not separate people by national groupings, but invited all into the redeemed family of God. There was a difference in the audience as well. Thousands were converted. None of them left without voicing some opinion. "What's this all about?" was the skeptical attitude of a part. Others, ruder, scoffed, "They are drunk! They are full of new wine." Those that believed were converted, and turned to God.

One might well say that the church began on Pentecost. To be sure, God always had his people, and in that sense, a church. In a new way, however, he has now an empowered, changed, and effective people.

All of this occurred a long time ago. What of Pentecost today? Many in the churches do not emphasize it. True, it has been with us a long while, but so has Christmas. Yet, this was the day that empowered the church. Perhaps the lack of a full orbed emphasis on the Holy Spirit in modern times explains why the day does , not carry as much meaning as it should. And it is this same lack of understanding of the Spirit's work that explains the powerless church we have in so many places today.

A reaction to that lack is sweeping some of the church world. The gifts of the Spirit, particularly the ecstatic, intensely personal experiences, such as speaking in tongues, are being hailed as the answer. Real as these experiences sometimes are, much more is needed. We need a renewed emphasis on the Spirit of God and on his work, but it must go farther than the ecstatic. We need the fruits of the Spirit. The apostle Paul tells us: "The fruits of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control" (Gal. 5 : 22, 23). Persons who demonstrate such qualities show the fruits of the indwelling Spirit. They are changed people, redeemed, made new, made over by the Spirit of God.

The gifts of the Spirit to be desired in our day are those gifts which help others, which bring the message of God in word and life. This is what Paul meant when he wrote, ". . . but earnestly desire the higher gifts" (I Cor. 12 : 31). These are the gifts which make real the message and redemption of God. One is not able to carry this out until the love of God has come into his heart. The message of Christian love, which is the theme of I Cor. 13 fits in at this picture. Paul's description and praise of Christian love thus is best understood as the motive, and the character, and the effect of the life in Christ.

Pentecost sent a new Spirit into the church. That Spirit has not been withdrawn, but works still in every yielded heart. This requires human response, human effort; and results in the greatest joy and satisfaction one can know.

Pentecost continues.

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