(May 17, 2024) Dr Jim McClure shares …

Pentecost has often been described as the ‘Birthday of the Church.’  Why? Because Pentecost was the day when the mission of the church was born.

The first Christian Pentecost was a hugely dramatic occasion. ‘Suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance’ (Acts 2:2-4).

Pentecost was not just a random, revival-type experience for those first Christians – it was a fulfilling of Christ’s promise to His disciples, ‘When the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of me’ (John 15:26 NJKV). The Greek word translated here as ‘Helper’ literally means ‘one called alongside.’  The Holy Spirit walks alongside us in our journey through life.

(more…)