The Purpose of the Day of Pentecost

Acts chapter two is the birthing of the New Testament church, of which, we are part!! All that God gave His people on that day is entire but not exhausted. God has so much for us through the person and power of His presence. And we see it recorded in scripture like so... “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling there at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.”

So let's break this down a little. There were three manifestations of the Spirit that day and I believe they represent something for us to explain and experience an empowered life.

First, we see there was WIND... this represents power!! The church was birthed in power and must continue in power. The arm of the flesh and the strength of man’s prowess will never accomplish what God wants to do and what man needs done in his heart and life. We need the demonstration of God in our soul, body, and spirit. The church should be known for its power in the earth, for we have residing in us the raw naked strength of God.

Then, notice with me, there was FIRE!! This represents purity!! The empowered life that God gives us is one that is pure from the working of God’s grace in our hearts. Fire is an agent that cleanses. Holiness and sanctification is not a work we do for God, it is a work that God does for us. We could never save or sanctify ourselves. We are helplessly sinful and impure, but the fire of God will bring cleansing to our hearts and lives and make us something we cannot be on our own.

Last, there were TONGUES!! This represents people. On the first day of the birthing of the church, God made a loud announcement to the world, the demonstration of which would say that the Gospel is for all people- Jew and Gentile!! Greek and Barbarian!! Male and Female!!! This demonstration of tongues was so supernatural that everyone there heard the Gospel in their native language. No matter what the gift of tongues is to the body of Christ, there is one thing for certain.... the statement God made on the day of Pentecost is that all He is and all that He has is for ALL.

Let us experience the empowered life and change someone else’s life because of it!!!