These three things that I must write about are very important, especially the last one. As I considered what this blog post would be called, I thought of Proverbs 6:16, “These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:” The way this verse speaks has a way of attracting attention, especially to the last thing. So I thought about using this title: “These two things we should know about Pentecost, yea, three that we must know.” But to keep this subject as understandable as possible I offer to you the stripped down version – simple and plain – THESE THREE THINGS.

Acts 2:1-4
1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

There are some things that we must see…some things we’ve missed for too long. Somewhere along the way the waters were muddied. I would like to, with the help of the Lord, un-muddy the waters. The church has a great misconception about Pentecost.
Luke wrote, “having had a perfect understanding of all things, I write, in order, most excellent Theophilus, that you might know the certainty of those things.” We need good understanding. It’s God’s will for us to know these things.
Of these three things, I’d like to bring to your attention this one, first.

Prophet Joel proclaimed this. John the Baptist announced this. Jesus spoke on this. Peter preached about this. The first thing we must know about Pentecost is THE PROMISE!

Luke recorded this
Acts 1:4
And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.

On the day of Pentecost The Promise was fulfilled! The Holy Ghost was given and they all spake with other tongues! The second thing we must know about Pentecost is that when they received the Holy Ghost they received THE POWER!

Acts 1:8
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost 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.

Pentecost came with POWER! HOLY GHOST POWER! That Holy Ghost gives us the power to walk right, talk right, live right, love right. Power to live holy.

“Be Ye Holy for I the Lord your God am Holy.”

You can’t live a holy life without the Holy Ghost in you.

Everybody wants the gifts of the Spirit. Before you can receive the gifts of the Spirit, you must, first, receive the giver of the gifts. You need the Holy Ghost! The baptism of the Holy Ghost opens the door for receiving the gifts of the spirit. That’s where the anointing comes from. The Power to cast out devils, heal the sick, deliver the bound, and save the lost. It’s that Holy Ghost Power!

The Promise has been fulfilled. The Holy Ghost has been given. You don’t need to wait. You can receive the gift of the Holy Ghost today.

Now we know about The Promise of Pentecost and we know about The Power of Pentecost. That brings us to the third thing we must know about Pentecost.
Without THIS we couldn’t receive The Promise. Without THIS we couldn’t receive The Power. The third thing we must know about Pentecost is THE PURPOSE!

But first, remember I said the waters have been muddied. There’s something that must be cleared up before we go any further.
Over the centuries some changes have occurred. The church’s attention has shifted away from the single most important event of all time and I will deal with that later, but now let’s look at Pentecost.
Pentecost means 50. It’s called Pentecost because it falls on the 50th day after Passover; however, the Jewish Pentecost is not the same as the Christian holiday of Pentecost. Theirs occurs 50 days after Passover; ours, 50 days after Easter, or resurrection Sunday. This is where the waters got muddied!

For the Jews there is great significance in the counting of the 50 days. Counting of the days reminds them of the important connection between Passover and Pentecost: The counting is intended to remind them of the link between Passover, which commemorates the Exodus from Egypt, and Pentecost, which commemorates the giving of the Torah. Passover freed them physically from bondage, but the giving of the Torah on Pentecost redeemed them spiritually from their bondage to idolatry and immorality.
It reminds them that the redemption from slavery was not complete until they received the Torah.

On the day Pentecost they received the Torah and it was the birth of the Jewish nation.
In the year 33 A.D. on the day of Pentecost the Christians received the gift of the Holy Ghost and it was the birth of the church!

The Passover and Jewish Pentecost are Types and Shadows.

True Pentecost follows the type that was instituted by the Jews counting 50 days from the Passover. Jesus died on the Passover. He was our Passover lamb. He ate the Passover with his disciples before his crucifixion.

The Purpose of Pentecost is to number the days in remembrance of the great event that occurred 50 days prior. The Purpose of Pentecost is not to remember his resurrection – but his crucifixion! When He died on the cross He did it all!!
We can’t forget The Purpose. If he had not died we couldn’t receive The Promise. Without his death we could not have The Power! If we miss the true meaning of Pentecost, we miss the purpose.
True Pentecost doesn’t count from the resurrection…True Pentecost counts from the crucifixion!
The modern Christian Pentecost glosses over the death and magnifies the resurrection. The word of God tells the wages of sin is death. He died for our sins. He shed his blood for us.
His resurrection didn’t defeat the devil. His resurrection didn’t deliver us from bondage. His resurrection didn’t redeem us. His resurrection didn’t save us. His resurrection didn’t heal us.
“But he was wounded for my transgressions, bruised for my iniquities….by his stripes we are healed!”

His Resurrection was the PROOF! The proof that he was who the prophets said he was, who the scriptures said he was, who he said he was. The proof that he did what he said he would do. Proof that he defeated death, hell, and the devil on the cross. The Proof that He lives. The proof that whosoever puts their trust in him will live! He rose from the dead – that’s proof that we will rise unto life eternal!
Now you know the Purpose of Pentecost. You can receive the Promise of Pentecost. You can receive the Power of Pentecost. He died so that you can live.

Receive the Promise, the Power, The Holy Ghost! Experience Your Personal Pentecost!