March 14: The day of the Holy Spirit

Now when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like a violent wind blowing came from heaven and filled the entire house where they were sitting. And tongues spreading out like fire appeared to them and came to rest on each one of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit, and they began to speak in other languages as the Spirit enabled them. Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven residing in Jerusalem. When this sound occurred, a crowd gathered and was in confusion, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. Completely baffled, they said, “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that each one of us hears them in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and the province of Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own languages about the great deeds God has done!”  (Acts 2:1-11  NET)

Before His ascension into heaven Jesus told the apostles to wait in Jerusalem for the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and this is the Bible's account of that promise’s fulfillment. The Holy Spirit descended from heaven with the sound of a mighty wind, something that looked like fire appeared over their heads, and they began to speak of the wonders of God in languages they had never learned. This all happened on a Jewish feast day, Pentecost, when Jerusalem was packed with Jews from all over the world. That day became the birthday of the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. And just like this happened to 120 people around 2000 years ago, it should also happen to us. We shouldn’t expect the same wind and fire, but we should expect the same power and life-changing experience.

Three great preparatory events happened before that great day of the Holy Spirit—the death of Jesus, His resurrection, and His ascension into heaven.

Today we no longer have to wait for the coming of the Holy Spirit; He is here. The same Spirit of power and holiness is ready to live in you and make your life a channel through which God can bless other people. It is God's plan that all of His children be filled with the Holy Spirit.