Celebrating Pentecost
Pentecost commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon on the 120 in an upper room in Jerusalem after they had gathered for ten days in a powerful prayer meeting— fifty days after the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Historians generally agree this event marks the beginning of the Church age. Many Christians this year will celebrate this event on Sunday, May 28.
On Pentecost the Holy Spirit was poured out on everyday people—on all those there, men and women as well. Jesus’ mother was among them. What a phenomenon! Flames of fire. Violent noise. Speaking in unknown tongues. They were bewildered, amazed and marveled yet three thousand souls were added to the new church when Peter explained to them in a powerful sermon what had just happened.
Jesus had told His followers that He would not always be physically with them, but that He would ask the Father to send “another Helper that He may abide with you forever.” (John 14:16.) That Helper is the Holy Spirit—the Third Person of the Trinity.
After His resurrection and just before He ascended to heaven, Jesus appeared to His followers and He instructed them to wait in Jerusalem for this to happen.
[Jesus said,] “John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now…But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”….”And they [in the upper room] were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterances. (Acts 1:5,8; 2:4 NKJV).
The Holy Spirit would empower and equip them to fulfill their assignment to carry the gospel message to the ends of the earth (see Matthew 28:19‑20; Acts 1:8).
Is it still for today? Some denominations teach similar experiences ceased with the early church. But many do not accept that—especially those who have received a prayer language.
If you have truly been born again, it was the Holy Spirit who convinced you of sin, revealed to you the truth of the gospel and drew you into a relationship with Christ. The Holy Spirit is definitely with you from the time of your conversion. Yet the baptism in the Holy Spirit is subsequent to the salvation experience.
Why pray in tongues? Paul writes: “The Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.” (Romans 8:26-28 NIV)
Paul encouraged believers to speak in tongues and said he was glad he prayed in tongues more than they did. (I Corinthians 14:5,18)
Judson Cornwall wrote:
“Prayer is the most valuable use of tongues for it is “speaking to God”…The Holy Spirit is certainly not limited to the English language, nor is it confined to modern languages. He has access to every language ever used by mankind, and He is very familiar with the language of heaven. When deep intercession is needed, the Spirit often uses a language that is beyond the intellectual grasp of the speaker to bypass the censorship of his or her conscious mind, thereby enabling the Spirit to say what needs to be prayed without arguing with the faith level of the one through whom the intercession flows.”(1)
The Holy Spirit can guide our prayer by giving us words in our own language or by praying through us in a language we have never learned—to use for personal prayer, intercession, praise and worship. Jude wrote “But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit. (v.20).
Some people fear intimidation and opposition from family or friends. Ignorance, lack of understanding, and spiritual pride hold many people back from receiving God’s gifts.
The Holy Spirit: is a gift that we have to receive. He is our Helper, Teacher, Counselor, Comforter. He enables us to speak in tongues, helps us pray and praise, gives spiritual gifts, convicts of sin, and speaks through those who had this empowering.
The Holy Spirit responds to invitations. If you hunger for more of God, you can pray a prayer like this one and open your heart to receive all He desires to give you. This prayer was suggested by The Rev. Dr. Forrest Mobley who prayed for hundreds to receive this gift and is included in our book, The Beginner’s Guide To Receiving the Holy Spirit.
PRAYER: “Father, I acknowledge Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I ask You to forgive me for my sins: the wrong things I have done and things I have failed to do—the things I remember and those I don’t. I choose to forgive all who have hurt or wounded me. If I have ever been involved in the occult, knowingly or unknowingly (read my horoscope, played magic games, etc.) forgive me. I renounce the devil and all his works. If I have joked or mocked those who spoke in tongues and grieved the Holy Spirit, forgive me. Now I receive Your forgiveness. Lord, I now ask to receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit and to speak in a new tongue. In the name of Jesus Christ, I receive in faith with thanksgiving, Amen.” (2)
Now open your mouth and begin to speak in the syllables the Holy Spirit gives you to say. Your lips may begin to tremble or your tongue to stammer. But don’t be fearful—just begin to speak out the sounds, though they may sound strange to you. One of the best ways is to begin singing the simple chorus “Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia” and then sing syllables to that tune as the Holy Spirit enables you.
Use your prayer language every day. It helps you keep in touch with the Lord and strengthens your spiritual life. As you exercise this gift you will become less self-conscious and more fluent in your prayer language and your vocabulary will increase.
The Helper –the Holy Spirit—is ready and available to empower us to carry the gospel wherever He leads us, to strengthen and guide our private prayer times, and to deepen our understanding of Scripture. A great harvest of souls is coming as we embark into the Third Great Awakening. Unbelievers need us interceding for them–talking to God–in our prayer language, to help usher them into His Kingdom.
Prayer: Lord, I yearn for the Holy Spirit to make a difference in my life. I choose to lay down any preconceived ideas or wrong beliefs I’ve had concerning the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Thank you for this wonderful gift. I desire for the Holy Spirit to strengthen me. May I, in turn, allow Him to pray through me, comfort through me, teach through me. Lord, I want You to invade my life. I invite you to do whatever you wish as I wholeheartedly yield to Your Spirit. Amen.(3)
Footnotes:
1.Judson Cornwall, Praying The Scriptures (Lake Mary, FL: Creation House, 1990) 212.
2. Quin Sherrer and Ruthanne Garlock The Beginner’s Guide to Receiving the Holy Spirit, Bloomington, Minnesota; Chosen Books, 2011) p. 34 in paperback edition. Now available e-book.
3. Ibid, 47.
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