Pentecost Sunday

“Pentecost Sunday”

By Pastor Kent Munsey

May 23, 2021

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.

Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”

Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”

• Acts 2:1-13

Today we are remembering the day of Pentecost. It is the church’s birthday when the Holy Spirit came in power. The disciples were waiting in the Upper Room because Jesus told them to preach the gospel to all the nations, but first they were to wait for the Holy Spirit to come. In Acts 2, the scripture says that they were all together in one place when a wind came and filled the room. As we celebrate Pentecost, we are all together in one place--the presence of God. 

Today there are denominations of Christianity that believe that when the apostles died, the power gifts recorded in scripture died with them. However, There is a trend where we are seeing denominational barriers fall. We are seeing a mighty move of God where, in the last one hundred years, spirit-filled churches have started to outnumber other Christian churches. Jesus is praying for his church to be united, and we are agreeing with him in that prayer. 

When we eat at restaurants, we generally assume that if an item is on the menu, then it should be in the kitchen. Similarly, if something is in the Bible, then we should be able to teach, believe and access that knowledge, gift or understanding in the church. Because the gift of speaking in tongues is in the Bible, it should be taught and embraced in churches today.

The University of Pennsylvania did a study on five people who spoke in tongues. While the subjects spoke in tongues, the part of the brain that made them feel in control shut down. When we pray in tongues, we are giving our brains a rest and connecting that experience with how we relate to God and the world. 

When tongues are spoken at a church, there should always be an interpretation. The first purpose of tongues are for personal edification, something done privately and intimately as a part of our relationship with God. On the day of Pentecost, the gift of tongues was given as a gift. Jesus is using us to establish the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth, and he has given us the gifts of the Holy Spirit. 

We are living in a time when our enemy knows that if we were to ever receive the Holy Spirit, that God would protect our heart, tame our tongue, and redirect our eyes when we are tempted. When you are a Christ-follower, it should change the way you hear, the way you see, and the way you talk. 

Reflection/ Discussion Questions:

 1. Have you been filled with the Holy Spirit? If so, what was that experience like?

 2. What did you learn (or not learn) about the Holy Spirit (or the gift of tongues) growing up? 

 3. How have you grown or evolved in your spiritual development regarding the Holy Spirit?

 4. How has the Holy Spirit changed the way you see, hear or talk? 

5. Invite the Holy Spirit into your prayer time this week and ask him to fill you. Journal about any changes you observe in your thoughts, words, and experience throughout the week.