Pentecost: The Fire of God’s Presence

Pentecost celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit and the founding of the Christian Church. Jesus promised His disciples that when He returned to His Father that He would send the Holy Spirit to be with them forever (John 14:16). The Holy Spirit (the third member of the Trinity) acts as their comforter (John 14:16), teacher (John 14:26) and the one that would empower them to fulfill their commission (Acts 1:8).

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4).

Jesus stated that this was the fulfillment (Acts 1:5) of what John the Baptist had proclaimed, “He [Jesus] will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Luke 3:16). How would the disciples know when the Holy Spirit came? How would they have understood this strange event?

Throughout the Tanakh (Old Testament), fire is the symbol of God’s presence. Yehovah spoke to Moses from the burning bush (Exodus 3:2-6). Yehovah descended on Mt. Sinai as fire when He spoke the 10 commandments (Exodus 24:17). Yehovah led His people through the wilderness as a pillar of fire (Exodus 12:21-22). Yehovah’s presence in the Tabernacle was evident by fire (Exodus 40:38). Yehovah made His presence in the temple known by descending as fire (2 Chronicles 7:1-3).

The evidence of the presence of the Holy Spirit was the fire that descended on the disciples. That fire was diamerizó, (divided or distributed) among the believers (Acts 2:3). Prior to Pentecost, the fire of God’s presence was in once place – Sinai, the Tabernacle, the Temple. Now, the presence of Holy Spirit is still in the temple – the temple of each believer (1 Corinthians 6:19). God in the person of Jesus was manifest in one place at a time. The Holy Spirit, indwelling believers, allows His human agents to be many places simultaneously.

The Holy Spirit enables believers to fulfill the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19). Jesus said, “And He [the Holy Spirit], when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me; and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged” (John16:8-11).

Believers are also indwelled by Jesus and Yehovah! Jesus promised believers, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word. Then my Father will love him, and we will go to him and make our home within him” (John 14:23).

God moved from being distant from the His people (Mt Sinai) to being among His people (the tabernacle and temple) to indwelling His people. This is the intimate relationship He always wanted with His children.