Pentecost & The power of the spirit
The book of Acts is where the giftings of the Holy Spirit are activated, and it charts the growth of the church — from Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria to the outermost ends of the Earth.
In Acts 1, Jesus told the disciples to wait for the coming of the Holy Spirit — the Advocate, the Helper.
But why did He ask them to wait? Let’s find out.
ABout Pentecost
The book of Acts covers about 30 years of one generation of action, starting from the Day of Pentecost, which was around 30 AD. Jesus, before His ministry, spent 30 years growing up, learning under Joseph and Mary.
When He started teaching, He talked about the power of God, and that upset the Jewish leaders and the Romans. They contrived against Him. He was unfairly judged, crucified, buried — but on the third day, He rose again.
Pentecost is fifty days after the Passover Feast.
The Passover Feast, which celebrates the first fruits, happened on the day Jesus rose from the tomb. Fifty days later, the disciples gathered, and Jesus had already told them that on this day, the Holy Spirit would come.
Luke, a doctor and a physician, wrote the book of Acts as a continuation of the Gospel of Luke, documenting Jesus’ life and ministry. Acts is the continuation of what Jesus is all about — that Jesus came to teach about the power and the glory of God, and He went through death and resurrection to bring that to the world. Christ commands us to wait until the Holy Spirit arrives in power.
But why did the disciples have to wait?
Unity and the Perfect Timing of Pentecost
Acts 2:1 (NIV): When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.
There was unity among the disciples.
At the right time, they were assembled in the upper room, praying and praising God. The Day of Pentecost was a festival, a time when thousands of people gathered in Jerusalem for the occasion. It was a time of celebration. It was also the final moment of the harvest cycle. At Passover, the people brought the first fruits of the wheat harvest into the temple. Fifty days later, at Pentecost, they presented the finished loaves of bread, the full harvest, in the temple to celebrate the completion of the season.
People from all over the region — both Jews and non-Jews — came together. It was culture. It was tradition. And because of that, they were in unity.
Why is unity important?
Psalm 133: How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down on the collar of his robe. It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.
Where there is unity, the blessing flows.
The disciples had seen Jesus crucified, buried, and resurrected.
They had seen Him.
They had heard Him teaching in His glorified state.
They knew that Jesus was the Son of God. And they were in agreement that He was Lord and Savior.
John 17:21 records Jesus' prayer: that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
The world needs to see believers together in unity. That’s why we gather in church. That’s why community matters. It’s not just for us to grow stronger, to worship, and to sit under the Word — it’s also because the world is watching.
The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost
Acts 2:2-4 (NIV): 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.
I love this passage. It wasn’t a gradual shift — it was sudden! There was an instant transformation of the disciples. They went from hiding, wondering, and meeting in secret to boldly stepping out into the streets and speaking in tongues.
Acts 2:5-7 (NIV): 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?"
Acts 2:8-11 (NIV): 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, 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!
That was the sign and wonder!
That was the miracle!
They waited as Jesus commanded them to. They prayed. They worshiped.
And then the Holy Spirit came!
They spoke in tongues — languages they themselves did not understand, but everyone else did!
Three Key Impacts of Pentecost
1. Transformation
Transformation is the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
2 Corinthians 3:18: And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we change.
We are transformed into Christ’s likeness.
We are no longer who we used to be.
When I became a Christian, I didn’t know the Holy Spirit. But I sought God. One day, at a Holy Spirit conference, the preacher stopped and asked, “Can anyone smell that fragrance?” It was a heavenly fragrance, and he said, “If you can smell it, come forward.” I did, and he prayed for us to be filled with the Holy Spirit. I started shaking and speaking in a language I didn’t understand but felt right. I felt like I was communicating and praising God and I never stopped it.
2. Divine Power
Tongues, miracles, signs, and wonders happen when we are filled with the Holy Spirit.
Tongues is a sign of the infilling of the Holy Spirit, but you don’t have to speak in tongues to be filled with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit enables tongues as a direct way to talk to God.
Pray for the filling of the Holy Spirit, for baptism in the Holy Spirit, and for the release of spiritual gifts. There are many other gifts beyond tongues. Tongues is an utterance that the enemy cannot touch. It empowers us to communicate with God without interference.
Acts 2:12-13 (KJV): And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this? Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.
The devil loves to divide, to plant lies that pull us away from God. But as we mature, as we grow in the Lord through reading the Bible, worship, fellowship, and communion, we are continually filled anew by the Holy Spirit and grow into the likeness of Christ.
When we know who we are in Christ, we can resist the devil’s lies.
3. Boldness
Before Pentecost, Peter denied Jesus three times.
After Pentecost, Peter preached his first sermon, and 3,000 people were saved!
That’s the power of the Holy Spirit.
The power of God is not just for our benefit — it is meant to witness to others. The same Spirit that filled the disciples on Pentecost still works today, enabling believers to walk in bold faith.
John 20:21 (NIV): Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”
The Holy Spirit gives us boldness to witness.
Personally, I wasn’t always this outspoken.
But now, I love talking about Jesus — whether in a mall or a casual conversation about the weather.
The Holy Spirit prompts us when to speak and what to say.
Receive the Holy Spirit Today
The Holy Spirit is still moving today, just as He did on the Day of Pentecost. We can receive transformation, divine power, and boldness. If you desire to be filled with the Holy Spirit, if you’re feeling weary and need a fresh touch from God, or if you long for the gift of tongues,
Pray: “Father, thank You for the Holy Spirit. Thank You for Pentecost. Fill me afresh today. Let Your power come upon me so I can live boldly for You. Amen.”
Watch the full sermon to learn more about the power of Pentecost!
