Pentecost includes the celebration of the birthday of the Church of Christ; the day when the first Apostles received the gift of the Holy Spirit and delivered a sermon so powerful that approximately 3000 souls gladly received the word and were baptized, becoming part of the first congregation of the Church of Christ. The significance of this day should also include the fact that it was when God revealed and manifested Himself with humankind as the third person of the one Godhead.
Over the course of salvation history, humans were introduced to the triune God. God thus revealed Himself as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - the three persons of the one Godhead. In the old covenant, He revealed Himself, among other examples, to Adam and Eve and to Moses in the burning bush. Later, He revealed Himself as the Son in Jesus Christ of whom He said
“This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” (Matthew 17:5). Later, Jesus teaches how He, the Son, and the Father are one when He answers Philip,
“He who has seen Me has seen the Father.” (John 14:9). Before His death, Jesus Christ promised His Apostles that He would send the Holy Spirit.
“And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever – the Spirit of truth.” (John 14:16-17). After His death and before He ascended to heaven, He told His Apostles to wait in the city of Jerusalem until they received the gift of the Holy Spirit. He referred to the Holy Spirit as the promise of God and the power from on high (Luke 24:49). Ten days after Jesus Christ ascended to heaven, they experienced the fulfillment of this promise on Pentecost when God manifested Himself as the Holy Spirit.
It stands to reason then that the Holy Spirit is the most powerful spirit in existence. His power was already witnessed on the day of Pentecost in the sermon by uneducated men. He filled them with courage to boldly proclaim the gospel. Scripture records the impact of this sermon on the salvation of those present. Being baptized with water and the Holy Spirit, therefore, gives us confidence as we fight against the evil one and the many spirits he commands and sends to undermine our faith in God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
While we interact with humans, we deal with spirits that want to undermine our faith and distract us from the goal of our faith. We do not tempt God, nor do we underestimate or tempt the evil one. In 1 John 4:1, however, we are exhorted to
“test the spirits, whether they are of God.” Being blessed with the gift of the Holy Spirit, we can be comforted in the fact that if we allow Him to, the Holy Spirit will help us discern among the spirits to know whether they are of God or not. He wants to guide our pathways according to God’s will and lead us to the kingdom of God. He wants to help us transform into the bride of Jesus Christ and thus reign with Christ in the kingdom of peace.
We can call on God the Holy Spirit to help us in all our battles against evil and the spirits from the evil one. When we surrender to Him, He will not only guide us to the truth, but He will also help us to already today reign over the spirits that are not from God.
Wishing you great joy in the celebration of Pentecost when God revealed and introduced Himself to us in the Holy Spirit.