Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - May/82

Contributor - Mrs. Michelle Opmeer

Title - Pentecost

Topic - Pentecost

What a glorious day, the day of Pentecost. The beginning of the church of Jesus Christ! What a future!

The Lord Jesus, before He went back to be with His heavenly Father, was very much concerned about His disciples. He loved them so dearly that He wanted to prepare them well for the time they would be without Him. So we read in John 14:

"Let not your hearts be troubled" (vs 1)

"Truly, truly I say to you, he who believes in Me will also do the works that I do and greater works than these will he do because I go to the Father" (vs. 12)

"I will pray the Father and he will give you another Counselor" (vs l)

What a great love Jesus showed to prepare His children, while He Himself was going through an agonizing period of time. He knew that the sins of all mankind would be upon Him, and that He would be forsaken by His Father in order to save us from eternal separation from God.

After His death and resurrection Jesus showed Himself alive to many. Before He ascended into heaven, He told His disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the promise of the Father which, He said, "You heard from Me, for John baptized with water, but before many days you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit" (Acts 1:4, 5).

They waited as they were told, hoping, praying, longing for the Lord's promise to be fulfilled. They missed their Master, to whom they had been loyal, although they really had not understood sometimes, why! It was difficult to believe that it was better for them that Jesus left, but those were His words!

Then came the glorious day, the day we read about in Acts 2. Heaven came down, and glory filled the place where they were waiting.

"When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind. And it filled the house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance." (Acts 2:1 - 4)

All of a sudden they felt so close to their Lord Jesus that they did not even have to reach out for Him anymore. He was there! They felt His presence so powerfully and in such a new way. They were just lost in Him and the only thing they could do was to praise their Lord. And what strange sounds came over their lips as the Spirit gave them new words!

All who heard them were amazed and perplexed, but some said, "they are filled with new wine!" Then Peter got up and said, "these people are not drunk with wine but with the Holy Spirit". They had received the power to proclaim the Gospel and to do the works of Jesus: preaching, teaching and healing in His name.

It is now almost 2,000 years later, and many churches don't even celebrate their birthday anymore. But the Day of Pentecost should be one of the greatest celebrations of our church life.

As the disciples were filled with God's Spirt in order to witness and do His works, so are we in need to be continually filled with God's power in order to witness for Him. Let us prayerfully consider the promise given to the Church, and we indeed will have a great future. God is ready; are we?

Spirit of God, so fill my heart that I will be

lost in wonder, love and praise! Let me be able

through Your power to witness to those people

You put on my way. For Your glory, Lord,

In Jesus' name. Amen.

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