CELEBRATING PENTECOST TODAY
                                                                      
                                                                                                                                                                   By W. G. Guy

          Pentecost is the beginning of the church; like a birthday.  The church, (that is the true church), is the spiritual representation of the Kingdom of God that began at Pentecost and is to continue that representation right up unto the return of Christ.


          All that was happening with the early church should be happening today as a continuation of the Book of Acts.  The manifestation, or works, of the Holy Spirit are still valid as the spiritual Kingdom (the domain) of God still manifests showing that Jesus Christ is indeed the crucified and risen Son of God; proven by the power of the Holy Spirit working in true believers as His witnesses.


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 Judæa, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.


          Such supernatural works of the Holy Spirit are called “gifts” as listed in scripture.


1 Corinthians 12:8-10 – For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;  to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;  to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: 


          This includes the Fruit of the Spirit:


Galatians 5:22-23 – But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,  meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 


          This Fruit is what God, the Father, is looking for in His church.


John 15:1-5 – I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.  Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.  Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.  Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.  I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 


          Unfortunately, much of what is known as “church” today is not walking in the power that came at Pentecost.  Why?  God has not changed!  Christ has not changed!  The Holy Spirit has not changed!  The Word and promises of God have not changed!  So what changed?  It is the church that has changed; this is due to unbelief and accepting false doctrines of false preachers and teachers. 


          It’s time for the church to awake from its spiritual slumber and believe God and His Word for all that He provided for us so that the church can be recognized for the spiritual factor that it is that changes lives.  The church needs get its eyes off of the things of this world and onto the things of the Kingdom of God.         


          Are you able to celebrate what the Lord has given freely to the church?  It is received by faith, believing in what He promised!