The first Pentecost after the resurrection of Jesus Christ was many, many years ago; but on that day something happened that still affects us today. Because of what God accomplished through Christ, a new period of time in God’s historical and spiritual timetable arrived—the Grace Administration. On that day, God poured out His gift of holy spirit and made it available to all who would confess the Lord Jesus and believe in their hearts that God raised him from the dead. What does the day of Pentecost mean for us today? The gift is still available! Anyone who believes to receive God’s gift of holy spirit is born again, has power from on high, and can be a witness for the Lord Jesus Christ.
When someone receives the gift of holy spirit, that person is born again. On the day of Pentecost, Peter boldly declared what was made available on that day and what is still available today.
Acts 2:38,39:
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of [from] the Holy Ghost [the Holy Spirit, God].
For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
The promise is to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. That includes us! The gift of holy spirit that we receive when we are born again is God’s incorruptible seed—we cannot lose it.
I Peter 1:23:
Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
Once we receive this gift, we have power from on high. Shortly before Pentecost, Jesus Christ prepared his followers to receive the gift of holy spirit. He told them that they would receive “power from on high.”
Luke 24:49:
And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
On the day of Pentecost, this promise came to pass. The apostles were the first to receive the promise of the Father, which is the gift of holy spirit—power from on high.
Acts 2:4:
And they [the twelve apostles] were all filled with the Holy Ghost [the gift of holy spirit], and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit [God, the Giver] gave them utterance.
Since the original outpouring on the day of Pentecost, many others have believed, have received the gift of holy spirit, and have manifested power from on high.
Acts 15:8:
And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost [the gift of holy spirit], even as he did unto us.
From the day of Pentecost onward, this power from on high has been available for all who believe to receive and enjoy.
Ephesians 1:19:
And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power.
Ephesians 3:20:
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.
II Timothy 1:7:
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
What else does Pentecost mean to us today? Receiving the gift of holy spirit means that we can be witnesses for the Lord Jesus Christ.
Acts 1:8:
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost [the gift of holy spirit] is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
On the day of Pentecost, the apostles manifested the power they had received and were witnesses for the Lord Jesus Christ. One way they manifested power was by speaking in tongues (Acts 2:4). We, too, can manifest holy spirit power by speaking in tongues—in our private prayer life or publicly in a believers’ meeting, which is a dynamic witness to others (I Corinthians 14:22).
Once the apostles received holy spirit on the day of Pentecost, they were bold witnesses for Jesus Christ.
Acts 5:42:
And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
Likewise, we can fearlessly and faithfully teach and preach Jesus Christ so that others can enjoy the blessings that God made available through Jesus Christ’s accomplishments.
On the day of Pentecost, God gave a gift that is still available today. The day of Pentecost is something to celebrate because since that day it has been available to be born again, to manifest power from on high, and to be witnesses for the Lord Jesus Christ. Let’s celebrate this day of Pentecost!