Opus 2011-174, Pentecost Is Coming

Many of us do not belong to liturgical churches.  We know about Christmas and Easter but beyond that we consider ourselves Bible people, not ritual people.  We are poorer because of that.  The original purpose of the liturgy was to make sure that all of the truths of the Bible were covered in a regular an orderly basis.  If you look at the church year you will find things like the Trinity taught.  When is the last time you had a specific teaching on this central Christian truth?

Pentecost Sunday is coming.  I believe that this year it is June 12.  It comes fifty days after Easter.  It celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit to the disciples in the upper room.  He was a promise the Jesus told them to wait for.

(Luke 24:49 KJV)  And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

/Often this day passes without notice.

The original Pentecost is in the past.  In one sense it was a one day event that happened shortly after Jesus ascended into heaven.  In that sense it is over.  It is often called the birthday of the church because when the Holy Spirit came, He came in a way He had never come before.  We have reference to specific individuals receiving the Spirit in the Old Testament but Pentecost tells us that things have changed.  The Holy Spirit is now promised to all believers, not just a select few.

That means that Pentecost is ongoing.  It is not an event of the past.  It is not just a day in the church calendar.  It happens every time a new believer receives the Holy Spirit.  In a sense it happens every time a believer seeks revival.  It is the mark of a living church instead of a fossil. 

Look forward to Pentecost Sunday.  Look to it as a reminder.  Look to it as a spur to renewal.  If you do not know the Holy Spirit, seek Him and ask for His filling.

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