Pentecost-Welcome, Holy Spirit
On Sunday, May 19, many Christians will celebrate Pentecost—a day commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the 120 apostles and other believers in an upper room in Jerusalem. A new era began for the Christian Church when the outpouring of the Holy Spirit empowered it for ministry and much more!
Jesus had already told them 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.
We read what Jesus said to His followers before He ascended to heaven.
“And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” Hesaid, “you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now…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.” (Acts 1:4,5,8 NKJV)
Those 120 believers heard a sound like a rushing mighty wind, saw flames as of fire resting upon each other, and they began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance—in languages they had not learned. They had “been baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
Multitudes who heard the believers speak in their own languages were amazed and perplexed. But Peter explained to them about the Lord Jesus— dying for their sins, their need for repentance and His promise to send the Holy Spirit. Three thousand souls were added to them that day.
Jesus had said believers would receive power when the Holy Spirit came upon them. This word power–derived from the Greek word dunamis from which we get the words dynamo or dynamite‑‑also means ability, strength, or energy needed to accomplish a task.1 In other words, the Holy Spirit would empower and equip them to fulfill their assignment to carry the Gospel message throughout the earth.
During times when we simply don’t have adequate words to pray about situations, Holy Spirit, our Helper, can help us pray. Paul wrote: “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…he intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.” (Romans 8:26-28 NIV)
When we were born again it was the Holy Spirit who convicted us of sin, revealed to us the truth of the Gospel and drew us into a relationship with Christ. The Holy Spirit is definitely with us from the time of our conversion. Yet the baptism with the Holy Spirit is subsequent to the salvation experience.
The Holy Spirit can guide our prayers by giving us words in our own language or by praying through us in a language we’ve never learned—to use for personal prayer, intercession, praise and worship or to build ourselves up in the holy faith (see Jude).
“Have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed? Paul asked believers at Ephesus this question, and learned they knew nothing about it. So, when he placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in unknown tongues and prophesied.” (Acts 19:2-6)
.Judson Cornwall explains: “Prayer is the most valuable use of tongues for it is ‘speaking to God’…The Holy Spirit has access to every language ever used by mankind, and He is 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 one through whom the intercession flows.” 2
Perhaps you are ready to experience this baptism in the Holy Spirit which the early believers experienced and Jesus promised. The Holy Spirit responds to invitations. If you hunger for more, you can pray something similar to this:
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 forgive me. If I have joked or mocked those who spoke in tongues and grieved the Holy Spirit, forgive me. Now I receive Your forgiveness. And I ask for the baptism in the Holy Spirit with the ability to pray in tongues. I receive in faith with thanksgiving, Amen.
Paul told believers to pray in the Spirit on all occasions, with all kinds of prayers and requests.
(Ephesians 6:18 NIV) (See our e-book on this subject for contemporary testimonies).
The Holy Spirit is available to empower us to share the Gospel wherever He leads us, to strengthen and guide our private times of prayer and worship and to deepen our understanding of Scripture.3 A great harvest of souls is coming. Unbelievers need us interceding for them.
Now you can open your mouth and begin to speak in the language the Holy Spirit gives you. At first it may sound like baby talk, but you will become more fluent as you continue to use the prayer language the Lord gives you. Paul told believers to pray in the Spirit on all occasions, with all kinds of prayers and requests. (Ephesians 6:18 NIV)
Prayer: Father, thank You for sending the wonderful Holy Spirit—our Teacher, Comforter, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate. May He help us to pray more effectively for what is on Your heart. Help us keep tuned to His voice, direction and guidance. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Prayer: Holy Spirit, You are welcome in my life today. Speak to me. Love through me. Come and direct my every step, every conversation, my every decision.
Scriptures: But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you.” (John 14:16 AMPC)
Footnotes:
- James Strong, The Strongest Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, Greek entry, #1411.
- Judson Cornwall, Praying the Scriptures, (Charisma House, 1997, p. 203).
- Blog excerpted from: The Beginner’s Guide to Receiving the Holy Spirit, Quin Sherrer and Ruthanne Garlock, (Chosen, e-book available).
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