On Sunday May 28 at our 9:30am service, we will share in a special Pentecost Sunday worship experience! We invite you to meditate on and be blessed by this Prelude to Pentecost - “When the Day of Pentecost Had Come: The Birth of the Early Church” by our own Reverend Dr. Martha C. Taylor. And, invite your family and friends to join us in worship on campus or online via YouTube, Facebook, Livestream, or Vimeo.
When the Day of Pentecost Had Come: The Birth of the Early Church
By Rev. Dr. Martha C. Taylor
The Book of Acts is considered the second volume of a story which has no end. It is the connection of the work of Jesus’ ministry on earth after his ascension back to heaven, and the continuation of Jesus’ ministry, the beginning of His Church through the disciples by the aid of the Holy Spirit The birth of the Early church started on the day of Pentecost.
The first hint of the Holy Spirit as fire in the New Testament was on the day that Jesus was baptized; the people were wondering what was going on, John answered them all, “I baptize you with water…. He (Jesus) will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire". Acts 2:3 was a fulfillment of what was previously recorded in Matthew [Matt 3:11] and Luke 3:16. The fire on the Day of Pentecost appeared in the form of tongues to symbolize God’s holy power through the proclamation of His Word. The symbol of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost were tongues of fire.
Acts 2:1-4 New International Version
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
God was communicating to them about the operation of the Holy Spirit — the fire was not physical, literal fire. It was spiritual, figurative fire which is the symbolic meaning of what they saw physically. In a sense it is the inbreaking of heaven into humankind to do the work of the ministry. No one can truly do the work of ministry unless empowered by the Holy Spirit. Subsequently, Acts 2 must be interpreted as a special historical event, signifying a new period in how God will use his people after the ascension of Jesus Christ. Namely, Pentecost signals the dawning of the age of the Holy Spirit that will empower the people to continue the work of Jesus’ ministry. It is the power of the Holy Spirit that enables the work of the ministry to continue.
Pentecost comes from the Greek word pentekoste which means fiftieth. Pentecost is celebrated on the seventh Sunday after Easter which is also fifty days after Easter; Pentecost is also called the feast of Weeks and the Feast of Harvests that occurred when Jews from all over the Mediterranean world were gathered in one place. Pentecost is a moveable celebration, meaning the date is not fixed. This year we commemorate Pentecost on May 28, 2023. Luke introduces the story of the Christian Pentecost by linking it to the phrase in Acts 2:1 “When the (promised) day of Pentecost had come” – the promise of Jesus in Acts 1:8 is now fulfilled. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Keep in mind in John 21, Jesus appeared before the disciples Jesus had already promised the disciples, they would receive power. The birth of the church.
When Peter promised the gifts of the Holy Spirit during his sermon at Pentecost, “they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Brothers, what shall we do?’ And Peter said to them, ‘Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." In other words, change your old beliefs to new ones that will give you courage and power to speak on God’s behalf. At the same time, the birth of the Early Church started when early Christians devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. Note, the disciples assumed the name Apostle because they became the messengers of the gospel and not just followers. Think of yourself as a messenger of Jesus Christ. You are now an influencer, a witness for the Lord that can proclaim the truth of God’s word with confidence and boldness. As Christians we are part of the Great Commission – we are disciples of Christ under the authority of Jesus Christ. We too are commanded to go and make disciples in all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit.
Do not doubt the power that has been bestowed upon you, you are part of this unending story of the birth of the Church, day of Pentecost.
