Pentecost

And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 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 there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 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)

I became a Christian in 1973 (I know, right after the last apostle passed away). There was a debate and discussion going on in the Church then about the Holy Spirit. Modern Pentecostalism began in 1901, spread rapidly and crystallized into “Pentecostal” denominations. In 1960 the Charismatic Renewal began and spread through the traditional church, causing quite a stir. There were books and sermons for and against the renewal and the baptism with the Holy Spirit. Almost everyone felt it necessary to speak or write about the Holy Spirit.

I was impacted by this as well. I was a member of First Baptist Church of Donelson, TN. One Sunday night Bro. Harris mentioned and recommended a book, The Holy Spirit: Who He Is and What He Does by R.A. Torrey (following up on his recommendation eventually got me chased out of the Baptist church!). And when I went off to college (University of Tennessee at Martin) I ran smack into the Charismatic Renewal (Maranatha Ministries) and I had to choose sides.

I don’t want to write a history of the Pentecostal movement or the Charismatic Renewal. Or about my own experiences. Not even a defense of or presentation of a particular doctrine or experience related to Pentecost. But I do wonder at the lack of emphasis on the Holy Spirit today. I don’t hear much on the power of the Spirit, or the love of God being poured out into our hearts, or the witness of the Spirit. And forget about the gifts of the Spirit. What about praying in the Spirit? The fruit of the Spirit is mentioned from time to time. But what about walking in the Spirit, being filled and so much more?

The gospel has two fundamental promises: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ [justification]; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. (Gal 3:14) And this gift of the Holy Spirit produces a dynamic life in the Spirit. Sadly, Pentecost seems to be ignored today and the Christian life is reduced to saying and doing to right things.

Watchman Nee wrote The Normal Christian Life. Great book. Chapter 8 is, The Holy Spirit and in this chapter he speaks of Pentecost then and now. He picks up on a statement the apostle Peter made on the day of Pentecost. Peter, in his explanation of what was happening, said, This is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel. Watchman Nee points out that our this needs to be and can be that. I think it is fair to ask, Is our this that? What?? Yes, Is our this - our Christian experience – that which Joel spoke of and the apostles experienced? In other words, Are we experiencing all that the Gospel promises? If not, we need to get alone with the Lord and seek Him until our hearts are full and we can answer, Yes!

What will it be like or feel like when we are filled? How will we know? We have all heard about speaking in tongues and I am all for it. After all, it is mentioned in the New Testament! And of course there are all the evidences of the Spirit mentioned above. But here is a story from F.B. Meyer that really speaks to the point:

A woman came to her pastor and asked if she could use the church building for the day. He asked her why and she replied, “I’m going to seek God and wait on Him until He fills me with the Holy Spirit.” So he gave her permission and she went to an upstairs room and locked herself in. About supper time she came down.

“How did it go, sister? Did God meet you? Have you been filled with the Spirit?”

With much sorrow she replied, “Alas, no. I was not filled with the Spirit.”

The pastor then asked, “Tell me, sister, how is it with you and Jesus?

Her face lit up and she answered, “Oh pastor, it has never been better. He is so sweet to my soul!”

The pastor told her, “Sister, THAT is the Holy Spirit!”

Is my this THAT?