It’s Pentecost! This is that!

But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel

Acts 2:16 KJV

This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.

Acts 2:32-33 ESV

It’s Pentecost Sunday! Today we celebrate the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on all flesh. Not everyone received this blessing on that first day. Jesus had instructed those He visited after His resurrection that “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth”(Acts 1:8). What happened that day is still spreading, water from the same fountain. This is that.  

The diverse crowd heard them “telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God” (Acts 2:11), though the speakers were all Galileans. When the crowd reacted, Peter proclaimed, “this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel”(Acts 2:16). He quoted from Joel chapter 2 about all people, men and women, young and old, all being used by the Spirit. Having dreams, seeing  visions, and prophesying would no longer be the exclusive privilege of prophets and priests. This is that.

Peter went on to proclaim that this outpouring came from the Father to the Son, then from the Son to those who had been waiting for the promised Spirit. (Acts 1:4) According to Peter, this happened when Jesus was exalted to the right hand of God. The final words of verse 33 are particularly noteworthy. He indicates that this promise from the Father resulted in something they could both see and hear. He then declares that this was sufficient evidence for all Israel to recognize “that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified” (Acts 2:36). This is that.

On our celebration of Pentecost, let’s remember that from the very first moments of this age of the Spirit, God has been moving in ways that are tangible, that we can see and hear. We the people of the Spirit are not just teaching a theoretical faith. The Holy Spirit is not a doctrine, He’s a person. Experiencing the Spirit is a part of the Christian life. Whether it’s transformed lives, new boldness to preach, speaking in tongues, healings, miracles, or prophecy, something happens when the Holy Spirit is poured out. Expect it! It’s Pentecost! This is that!