“SUDDENLY”
By: Frank Tunstall, D. MIN.
“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly… (Acts 2:1).
The gift of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost that occurred 50 days after the Lord’s resurrection is one of the greatest miracles of all time. From Jesus’ exalted position at His Father’s right hand, the Heavenly Father honored Jesus’ request and sent the Holy Spirit to indwell and empower the disciples and their followers. And it happened suddenly. The Holy Spirit went into immediate action.
The Spirit had certainly been at work in the Old Testament era, but the scale of the ministry of the Spirit significantly expanded after Calvary. It ushered in a whole new beginning of God’s dealing with His creation, including a new way of worshipping and serving God (John 4:23-24; 15:5-8).
The group of 120 in the Upper Room were in “one accord” as they waited in prayer. They were fervently praying in the Upper Room in Jerusalem when the tenth day arrived that was also the day of Pentecost. They were crying out to God for the gift Jesus had promised them.
Suddenly the church was born. The third Person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, ushered in the new form of heartfelt worship that God desires (John 4:23-24; 14-15; Matthew 16:16-20).
The First Church of Jerusalem, born on the day of the advent of the Holy Spirit, started with 3,000 new converts. Each of them needed a church home where they could enjoy fellowship with people of like faith and be able to mature in Christ. This included finding their place in Jesus’ international vision.
A new standard of worship was rising, and the might of Rome allied with all the other forces of hell combined could not stop it (Isaiah 59:14-17). The blessing of the indwelling Spirit has continued in all twenty-two generations of the church (John 14:16; Acts 2:39).
Yes, Jesus’ prophesy that He would build His church happened quickly that morning (Matthew 16:16-20).
The church has been blessed with many great teachers throughout its history, but none have equaled Jesus, the Master Teacher, and the Holy Spirit, who knows everything about Jesus (John 13:3; 14:26). Let it be noted – for the Spirit to be able to teach all that Jesus is, including all Jesus said and did, required that the Spirit be Jesus’ equal. Only then could He know and teach everything about Jesus. No Bible scholar who has ever served in the Lord’s church can make the Holy Spirit’s claim to know everything about Jesus, including all Jesus said and did.
A 1500-year era from Moses to Christ ended that morning; the Holy Spirit no longer made His home in the Most Holy Place of the temple. The new temple became the temple of the heart and worship of God henceforward would be heartfelt.
A crowd suddenly gathered and for obvious reasons: the sound of the “rushing mighty wind” arrested their attention. The people from the outside quickly went into the Upper Room into the Upper Room and saw the cloven tongues of fire sitting on the 120. But even more convincing was the ten or more languages of observers being spoken simultaneously.
They also heard Peter’s sermon: “‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy” (Acts 2:17-18).
Peter also gave the crowd the Lord’s solution to their sins: “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your followers and to all who are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call” (Acts 2:38-39).
Please take note, dear reader. No lamb was offered in the temple and no blood sacrifice was made. A new era of worshipping God in Spirit and in truth had dawned. Jesus was the Lamb and the sacrifice, identifying Him as “both Lord and Christ” [the Messiah.] “The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off — for all whom the Lord our God will call” (Acts 2:36-39).
In addition to the hometown Israelites, pilgrims were present from across the Empire. The crowd included Jews and converts to Judaism and represented a diversity of languages and dialects.
Peter’s sermon stuck in the hearts of 3,000 worshippers including the pilgrims who began their way home. With every dusty step, they felt “utterly amazed and perplexed” as they took this new gospel home with them (Acts 2:12).
From Day One the gospel of Jesus Christ has had an international vision, and witnessing is all about telling your personal story.
Do it again, Lord; please do it again!
They were in an upper chamber.
They were all with one accord.
When the Holy Ghost descended,
As was promised by our Lord.
O Lord send the power just now.
O Lord send the power just now.
O Lord send the power just now;
And baptize everyone.
Author unknown to me.
