In this message we’ll seek biblical answers to questions like: What is Pentecost? What happened in the upper room on Pentecost? Was the Holy Spirit first poured out on that day? What is the baptism of the Holy Spirit and why is it important? What is speaking in tongues… is it a gift or the evidence of the Baptism of The Holy Spirit? Why should I seek the baptism of the Holy Spirit? Why is it so important?

Our Key verse is Acts 1:8 where Jesus said: “8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

Before we break down the verse, let’s start this teaching with: “What is Pentecost?”

“The term Pentecost comes from the Greek Πεντηκοστή (Pentēkostē) meaning "fiftieth". It refers to the Jewish festival of Shavuot celebrated on the fiftieth day after Passover. It is also known as the "Feast of Weeks"[i] and the "Feast of 50 days" in rabbinic tradition.” (Wikipedia)

For those of you don’t know, Shavout means “weeks.” It is commonly known in English as the Feast of Weeks. Torah (Old Testament) mandates the seven-week counting of the Omer [an ancient Hebrew unit of dry capacity equal to 1/10 ephah – Merriam-webster] which begins two days after Passover. Jewish tradition has that the torah (the law) was given 50 days after Passover. They believe the law made them a people belonging to God.

But the law made them slaves BUT Grace has made you a son and daughter:

“So, you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.” – Galatians 4:7 NIV

So where 50 days from the first Passover the law was given, on this Passover the empowerment of the Holy Spirit was poured out.

Now, let’s deal with some common misconceptions concerning Pentecost:

1. The Holy Spirit was first poured out on Pentecost. He began to dwell inside of Christians from the day forth. True or False? False!

Let’s hear from Jesus Himself:

“the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” – John 14:17 NIV

What Jesus was saying was that, until that point in time, the Holy Spirit was with the disciples (one translations says “he remains with you continually”) but not IN the disciples.

If you remember from my teaching on the tabernacle to the cross several years ago, I showed you that biblically, God CANNOT dwell in a “dirty” or unsanctified house. The tabernacle was sanctified by blood/burnt offering sacrifice (a type of Christ) and the anointing oil (a type of the Spirit):

“And it came to pass on the day that Moses had fully set up the tabernacle, and had anointed it, and sanctified it, and all the instruments thereof, both the altar and all the vessels thereof, and had anointed them, and sanctified them;

“And the princes offered for dedicating of the altar in the day that it was anointed, even the princes offered their offering before the altar. And the LORD said unto Moses, They shall offer their offering, each prince on his day, for the dedicating of the altar.”

“And he that offered his offering the first day was Nahshon the son of Amminadab, of the tribe of Judah:”

“One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering: One kid of the goats for a sin offering: And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Nahshon the son of Amminadab.”

Numbers 7:1; 10; 15-16 KJV

So we, God’s tabernacle NOT made with human hands also needed to be sanctified prior to Him making His abode IN us… and that’s what exactly happened at the cross! Once we were sanctified, THEN he was able to dwell IN us:

“And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” – John 20:22 KJV emphasis added]

So…

“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” – 1 Corinthians 3:16 KJV [emphasis added]

No let’s move on to number two:

2. You can be baptized with the Holy Spirit and NOT speak in tongues. True or False? False!

Verses:

Acts 2:4 – “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.”

Acts 19:6 – “And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking with tongues and prophesying.”

Acts 10:44-46 – While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message. All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God. Then Peter answered,”

Now number three:

3. Tongues is a gift and not everyone has it. True or False? True AND False!

True, there is a gift of tongues sited as one of the 9-fold gifts of the Spirit:

“Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant:”

“There are [d]diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. “

7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:

8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit,

9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by [f]the same Spirit,

10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.

However, that is NOT the evidence of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.

“So, then what’s the purpose of the speaking in tongues?”

Great question! Let’s answer that from the word:

Personal edification:

1 Corinthians 14: 4 – “He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.”

Building Your Faith:

Jude 1:20 – “But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,”

Connecting with God so as to Get The Right Answer for the Right Requests (In Spite of Our Weaknesses):

“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities [feebleness (of mind or body); by implication, malady; morally, frailty:-- translated: disease, infirmity, sickness, weakness.]: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” – Romans 8:26

Also, to Expand Our Reach and Insight Into a Particular Situation (the Spirit Going Beyond Our Natural Means:

1 Corinthians 14:14 - For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.

1 Corinthians 14:15 - What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.

Ephesians 6:18 - Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

I could go on, but time fails me. Let’s just look at the Baptism of The Holy Spirit as a gateway to entering into a deeper, more intimate, powerfully transformative, relationship with God… to be able to “get on the same sheet of music” as it were, into the plan of God for this age… praying in tongues is an act of faith but, it is also an act of obedience as we see in these scriptures from Paul.

As we get ready to close, I want us to look at act 1:8 one more time:

8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Notice that the baptism wasn’t for personal gain or a source of boasting here… no… it was so we could be witnesses UNTO HIM (or to Him)… not to the world but to HIM… Strange, right?

Think of it this way:

“If you saw or experienced something that would validate a statement I made and the court said to me “do you have a witness to support your statement?” and I said “Yes, your honor I do.” Then you’re a witness to me. You can validate everything I said because you saw and experienced yourself. THAT’S WHAT JESUS WAS TALKING ABOUT.

The Holy Spirit gives us the Power to be a witness to Jesus. Here’s a scriptural example:

Peter and John had been threatened not to speak or preach in the Name of Jesus nor about Jesus. So, they went back to their company and the church prayed in Act 4:

23And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them.

24And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:

25Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?

26The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.

27 For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,

28 For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.

29 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,

30 By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.

31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

God answered that prayer in a mighty way so that they would be ABLE to be a witness to Jesus’ majesty, power, and divinity.

The Holy Spirit is ALREADY IN you… Waiting, as it were, to be unleashed IN you… That power comes through, and as a result of, the Baptism of The Holy Spirit…

Are you looking for a deeper more intimate relationship with The Father? Do you want to be more like Jesus: meek and gentle of heart than seek the baptism… and if you have, yield to it… Let the Holy Spirit lead you… guide you… TRANSFORM you:

“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” – 2 Corinthians 3:18 KJV