The Day The Gift Arrived

Have you ever had to wait to receive a gift? Maybe it was a Christmas gift or a birthday gift? You were told you were going to get it but you had to wait to receive it. In the book of Acts, Luke tells us about a group of believers in Jerusalem who had to wait for a gift. But the gift they were waiting for was no ordinary gift!

Jesus had promised His disciples that He would ask the Father to give this gift to them. The gift? The Helper, the Holy Spirit (John 14:26). Finally the day came when the gift arrived. Luke tells us: When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them (Acts 2:1-3). The Holy Spirit’s presence was evidenced by His power. His power was demonstrated the following ways: 1) they heard a sound like a mighty rushing wind, 2) they saw what seemed to be tongues of fire, and 3) they (Galilean Jews) spoke in the languages of those who were visiting Jerusalem during the Feast of Pentecost. There were many languages spoken that day but only one message: we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God (Acts 2:11). Wow! No doubt those who were present on the day the Gift arrived never forgot what they heard and saw. The Gift, the Holy Spirit, had come!

In addition, Peter’s message and the resulting response of the people demonstrated the Holy Spirit’s presence and power. Peter, filled with the Spirit of God, preached the Word of God. As a result, the power of God moved in such a way that about three thousand souls called upon the name of Jesus and were saved and then baptized (Acts 2:41).

There are several responses for believers in Christ Jesus:

1. We can always trust God to do what He says He will do. Jesus had promised that God would send the Gift, the Holy Spirit, and God did just that. We can trust every single promise found in the pages of God’s Word.

2. We must always rely on the Holy Spirit to do what only He can do. At the moment of salvation the Holy Spirit came to live in each believer; therefore His presence and power is with us at all times. The Holy Spirit empowers us to do what God calls us to do. He helps us (Jn. 14:16, 26). He teaches us (Jn. 14:26). He reminds us of Truth (Jn. 14:26). He prays for us (Rom. 8:26). He does all of this and so much more. We must rely on Him to do what only He can do.

3. We must always be faithful to declare the mighty works of God. Jesus told the disciples that once the Holy Spirit came they would be His witnesses (Acts 1:8). In his sermon, Peter, as Jesus’ witness, faithfully declared the mighty works of God (Acts 2:14-41). Nearly 50 days earlier Peter had not only denied that he had been with Jesus, he went as far as to deny that he even knew Jesus (Mt. 26:69-75). What caused Peter to be faithful to declare the mighty works of God on the Day of Pentecost? The Holy Spirit’s presence and power. Since the Holy Spirit indwells and empowers us, like Peter, we can faithfully and boldly declare the mighty works of God to others.

Pentecost, the Day the Gift arrived, is a reminder to all believers that we can always trust God to do what He says He will do. It’s a reminder that we must always rely on the Holy Spirit to do what only He can do. And it is a reminder that we must always be faithful to declare the mighty works of God. There is no doubt that the Holy Sprit who came powerfully on the Day of Pentecost is still actively and powerfully working in the lives of believers today.