Many Believe at Pentecost

OUR KEY VERSE CONVEYS the excitement shared among believers who constituted the newly founded Christian church. They were fully devoted to learning the new doctrine, founded upon Christ, which illuminated the Scriptures of the Old Testament. They now understood that the Messiah had to first suffer and then enter into his glory. These new revelations were the theme of their daily fellowship even as they gathered and broke bread together. Their relationship with God took on a whole new dimension in the prayers they offered, as they were granted the privilege of addressing him with the opening acknowledgement, “Our Father.”—Matt. 6:9

“Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles.” (Acts 2:43, NASB) The teachings, signs, wonders, fellowship and prayers were enabled by the pouring out of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Peter confirmed that all these extraordinary happenings were the result of one very important event—the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. “This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses. Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear.”—vss. 32,33, NASB

Although we are nearly twenty centuries removed from the events of Pentecost, we continue to delight in its blessings even now. We still enjoy the great comfort of praying to God, our Heavenly Father. The Holy Spirit continues to lead the church. “For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, Abba! Father!” (Rom. 8:14,15, NASB) Paul emphasizes this point again when he states, “Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, Abba! Father!”—Gal. 4:6, NASB

We still share in the blessings of fellowship with our brethren in Christ. We are privileged to comfort them with the same comfort that we have received from our Father in Heaven. (II Cor. 1:3-7) We are one in the spirit and in our mission because, “through Him we … have our access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.”—Eph. 2:18-22, NASB

We continue to enjoy the illumination of the Scriptures by the work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. The words Jesus spoke to us are still both spirit and life. (John 6:63) All of these blessings are as relevant to us today as they were to our brethren two millennia ago. Therefore, as is recorded in our Key Verse, may we find joy and excitement through continual fellowship, study, community, and prayer each day of our lives.