You have probably heard many sermons about the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. It’s always good to remember the great and wonderful things God did when the church was born. So much can be learned from reading the second chapter of Acts about the personhood of the Holy Spirit, and the unity and boldness of the early church.

Yet, what does it mean for me personally today? The story begins with Jesus commanding them to stay in Jerusalem and wait for the promise of the Father, and this is what they did, as you can read in Acts 1:14. They continued, united in prayer. So if we want to receive the Spirit’s power, we should follow God’s word, generally and specifically. Obviously, the believers expected something to happen, even though they didn’t know exactly what. And when the Holy Spirit came, it was suddenly. Suddenly has in it the surprise factor. 

Fifteen hundred years before, at around the same time; Moses came down from Mount Sinai after conversing with God. He brought with him something of importance. He went up empty handed, and came back with God’s ideal for humanity. That ideal for God’s people is broken down within the 10 commandments. Fast forward 1500 years to the ascension of Christ. What happened when He left this earth?  He left empty handed, but sent down another gift; the Holy Spirit. What couldn’t be saved on stone was now to be written on the hearts of men and women through the Spirit. That is what Pentecost is about. God gave…..again, but now into the minds and hearts of His people.