Pentecost Power

Pentecost Power: Birth of a Movement
Pastor Aaron Robinson

And from the day after the sabbath, from the day on which you bring the sheaf of the elevation offering, you shall count off seven weeks; they shall be complete. 16 You shall count until the day after the seventh sabbath, fifty days; then you shall present an offering of new grain to the Lord.[1](Lev 23:15,16)

Pentecost is one of the most important days on the Christian calendar.  Its importance stems not from its historical significance in the nation of Israel, but because it birthed a movement almost 2000 years ago.  The church as we know it was birthed out of that Pentecost after Christ’s death and resurrection. God used a celebration of harvest to grow a movement.

Jesus and any “good” Jew of his time was familiar with the Festival of Weeks, and what the Greeks called Pentecost. A celebration that occurred 50 days after Passover, 7 weeks after the nation of Israel recalled God's intervening power in the life of a people in bondage.  This pilgrimage/celebration is commanded in the book of Leviticus as a Thanksgiving offering for what God has done in the harvest.  Simply put, this was a first fruit offering as the nation of Israel celebrated the barley harvest and waited for the wheat harvest.

As the disciples were waiting in the city as commanded in the gospel of Luke and the book of Acts, God was working out a different kind of harvest. On the day of Pentecost some 2000 years ago, the Holy Spirit rained down on the disciples in the second chapter of Acts and made them fruitful, feeding the people's spirits and drawing them closer to God.

Pentecost Sunday is important to the Christian Church because it represents the birth of a movement that lifted up the name of Jesus and allowed direct access to God.  On that Sunday almost 2000 years ago, 50 days after the Jesus’ crucifixion, the world was forever changed. How did it change? On that day; power was imparted, peace was bestowed and his presence was made real.

The Bible tells us that the disciples received power from on high.  When the Holy Spirit is within us there is a power ever present to us. The disciples were able to move with more authority than they ever did, doing things they'd never done because of the power within them.  When we allow the Holy Spirit to move in us, we are tapping into a power source that can propel us into our purpose.

After the crucifixion of Christ and even after his resurrection, the disciples moved in fear. When the day of Pentecost came and the Holy Spirit rained down on them, peace poured into them. Peace and fear cannot reside in the same space or place. When we allow the Holy Spirit to move in us, peace surrounds us and flows out of us.

On that day, recorded in the book of Acts called Pentecost, Jesus’ presence was made real in the life of Israel. That day was the beginning of a movement that preached and reflected of the teachings and life of Jesus Christ.  The Bible tells us that the disciples witnessed on the life, the death, and the resurrection of Jesus Christ moving the masses to join a movement. It helped the nation understand God was with them.

As we celebrate Pentecost let us remember the power in the Holy Spirit, the peace that is provided to us when listening to the Holy Spirit and the presence of Christ in our lives. Like the early church let us come together and have all things in common with Jesus. Let us work for the good of the group so that the body of Christ will be made stronger.
 
Pentecost reminds us that God never leaves us without help and always provides a comforter for us in the midst of difficult situations.


  [1] The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989), Le 23:15–16.