Robert Morris - Pentecost

Many people are afraid of the word Pentecost because of past experiences or someone else’s behavior. The word simply means 50. Pentecost was the celebration of the giving of the Law, and it occurred 50 days after Passover. Now Pentecost is the giving of the Spirit that brings life, not the giving of the Law that brought death. We don’t have to be afraid of the Holy Spirit! Pastor Robert demystifies Pentecost and shares that the giving of the Holy Spirit brings life.

1. What is Pentecost? The word Pentecost means 50. In the Old Testament, it was the celebration of the giving of the Law, and it occurred 50 days after Passover. Pentecost in the New Testament (Acts 2) occurred 50 days after the resurrection. When the Law was given, there was a sound from heaven and God wrote the Law on tablets of stone and 3,000 people died. When the Spirit was given, there was a sound from heaven and God wrote His law on tablets of flesh—our hearts—and 3,000 people were saved.

2. What happened at Pentecost? Pentecost is the giving of the Spirit that brings life, not the giving of the Law that brought death. At the Tower of Babel, the people were in one place, were in one accord, and spoke one language. And the Lord came down and confused and scattered them. Pentecost is the blessed reversal of the Tower of Babel experience. God is going to restore to His people a pure language so we can serve Him in one accord. Because of Pentecost, we can understand one another and be in unity through the Holy Spirit.

3. Can I experience Pentecost? In Acts 19, Paul asked the people if they received the Holy Spirit when they believed. They responded that they hadn’t heard about the Holy Spirit, so Paul prayed with them to receive the Holy Spirit. Pentecost was fulfilled 2,000 years ago, and we can still experience Pentecost today. When we are saved, we have the Holy Spirit. But when we receive the Holy Spirit and invite Him into our lives, we can experience Pentecost and receive His perfect language from heaven.