PENTECOST WEEK (PART 6)
"And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, ... 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 they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." - Acts 2:1-4, (KJV)
Pentecost week begins on the 22nd of May, 2023. Sunday the 28th day of May 2023 is indeed the Pentecost Sunday. On that day, we commemorate the coming of the Holy Spirit to the Church being the "final" fulfillment of the "Promise of the Father" (Lk 24:49; Acts 1:4-5). Remember that it was "partially" fulfilled in Jn 20:22.
What is referred to as the "Promise of the Father" is what prophet Joel said in Joel 2:28-29.
"And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:" - Joel 2:28 (KJV).
But the story of Pentecost as recorded in Acts 2:1-4 does not "fulfill literally" the prophecy in Joel, above referred. Why do I say this? I say so because of what the Apostle Peter told us. Peter, explaining the experience of Pentecost said, that "this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;" (Acts 2.16). Peter said “this is that” and not “this fulfills that.” There's a big difference between the two expressions!
What happened at Pentecost does bear some - but only some - similarity to Joel's prophecy. Joel said that there would be "prophecy", "dreams" and "visions"; but at Pentecost, we saw no prophecy, no dream, and no vision. What happened at Pentecost was "a sound as of the rushing of a mighty wind", "cloven tongues like as of fire" and that the disciples “began to speak with other tongues.” (see Acts 2.1-3). But in the prophecy of Joel, there is no mention of these! This shows that what happened on Pentecost is not a "literal fulfillment" of Joel’s prophecy, but is instead that which runs along the same lines. Like Peter said, "this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;" (Acts 2.16).
In passing, let me address a very pertinent question about tongues as the "initial evidence" of baptism in the Holy Spirit. For a long time, some believers strongly affirm that to have the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, we MUST speak in tongues.
From experience, we come to know that the manifestations of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit vary. While some may laugh, others may cry and be filled with tears. Still, some shake vigorously, some may sense electric current all over them. Others may experience joy (Acts 13:52) or boldness (Acts 4:31), etc. All kinds of sensations are being experienced at the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. They all fit into Peter’s analysis of "this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;" (Acts 2.16).
Do you notice that no mention was made of Apostle Paul speaking in tongues at baptism? (see Acts 9:17-18; but eventually, he spoke in tongues more than all at Corinth - 1 Cor 14:18). See other cases also in Acts 4:31,13:52)
NOTE: I'm in no way belittling tongues, for as believers, it's one of the signs that should follow us (Mk 16:17). I speak in tongues also. The point is, other initial evidence of baptism in the Holy Spirit occurs besides tongues.
When the Holy Spirit comes on you and you respond by speaking in tongues, all good and fine! What I'm saying is that in practice, tongues may not be the only initial evidence of baptism in the Holy Spirit. By God's grace, we have been used of God countless times to impact men with the Spirit's baptism. It's excellent to find men filled and speak in tongues, but the absence of initial tongues isn't to mean they are not filled!
Many times, I've seen people visibly endued with power, yet didn't speak in tongues. This may be out of ignorance because they haven't been well taught on how to receive the Gift, or for other reasons. For instance, some close their mouths, expecting the Spirit of God to do the speaking. No! The Holy Spirit doesn't speak in tongues. It's you that will open your mouth wide and when the Lord fills you, you do the speaking (Ps 81:10). You may not speak in tongues initially, but eventually, you will, when you are baptized in the Holy Spirit.
PRAYER:
Lord, open my understanding so that I may not only be filled with Your Spirit, but also that I may experience Him in life, in Jesus name.