This Sunday is a significant day in the Christian calendar; it is Pentecost Sunday. Originally, Pentecost was an annual Jewish festival that occurred seven weeks after Passover. However, it became an important Christian celebration after God poured out the Holy Spirit upon the church in Jerusalem on the first Pentecost following Christ’s resurrection.
We read about this momentous occasion in Acts 2: When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. (Acts 2:1-4)
To help us apply the truths of Pentecost Sunday to our lives this year, I’ve included below a special prayer from Scotty Smith, author and blogger for The Gospel Coalition. I hope and pray that you will experience God’s nearness and love as you pray to our Father in heaven, through the person and work of his Son, by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Adam
Heavenly Father,
On the church calendar it’s Pentecost Sunday—a day for celebrating the giving of your Holy Spirit to your church—a day for rejoicing in themanyways theSpirit works in our lives.
For starters, it was your Spirit who raised us from our spiritual death, showed us the depth of our need, and convinced us only Jesus could meet our need. He gave us the faith we need to believe the gospel. We are grateful, Father.
And by the Spirit, you sealed us forever as your beloved children. We’ll never be unborn-again, disowned, or orphaned from you. The Spirit is the firstfruits of our final redemption—the guarantee that one Day we’ll be completely like Jesus, sharing life with all our brothers and sisters in the new heaven and new earth. Indeed, the Spirit is the engagement ring wrapped around our hearts—the sign and security of our marriage to Jesus, our loving Bridegroom. Nothing will ever separate us from the love of Jesus. Hallelujah!
It’s by the Spirit we hear you constantly telling us we are your beloved children—guiltless and condemnation free, desired and delighted in greatly. Hallelujah! We worship you acceptably only by the Spirit’s ministry. And he ceaselessly prays inside of us what we’d pray for ourselves if we knew what the Spirit knows. By the Spirit, you’ve gifted for service and empowered for mission—every one of us, no exceptions. Thank you, Father, thank you.
On this Pentecost Sunday, we heed afresh your command to be filled with the Spirit. We gladly and expectantly yield. Come, Holy Spirit, come, and fill us to overflowing—to the praise of our God and for the blessing of our neighbours. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ exalted and loving name.
