09WK16-CHURCH FESTIVALS, WHAT IS PENTECOST SUNDAY

CHURCH FESTIVALS WHAT IS PENTECOST SUNDAY

KEY VERSE: All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. ACTS 2:4

Scripture lesson: ACTS 2:1-13, 40-41
1. When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.
2. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.
3. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them
4. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
5. Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven.
6. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language.
7. Utterly amazed, they asked:” Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans?
8. Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language?
9. Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,
10. Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome
11. (both Jews and converts to Judaism Cretans and Arabs – we hear them declaring the wonder of God in our own tongues!”
12. Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”
13. Some, however, made fun of them and said, “they have had too much wine.
ACTS 2:40 With many other words he warned them and he pleaded with them; “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”
14. Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

INTRODUCTION
Pentecost Sunday is an important date in the Church calendar. It falls on the tenth day after Ascension Thursday and fifty days following Easter Sunday in most Christian tradition. It occurs as early as May 10 and as late as June 13, depending on when Easter in fixed.

Pentecost Sunday commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and other disciples of Jesus (Act2) and thereby empowering them for mission.

This week we shall study the meaning, significance and relevance of Pentecost to the Church of today.

EXPOSITION
Biblical Background
The word “Pentecost” means “fiftieth day”. Historically and symbolically Pentecost is related to the Jewish harvest festival of “Shavout” (the Feast of Weeks). This agricultural festival was celebrated to give thanks for the first fruits of the early spring harvest (Lev 23:15-22). In Exodus 23:14-17, instructions on the celebration of three annual festivals are given. The first is, the Feast of Unleavened Bread which is a reminder of the Exodus from Egypt and the Passover. The second is referred to as follows, “Celebrate the Feast of Harvest with the first fruits of the crops you sow in your field.” This is the feast of Pentecost. The third is the feast of Ingathering which marks the end of the harvest season. The further instruction was that, “Three times a year (i.e, during the three festivals) all the men are to appear before the Sovereign Lord.”

By New Testament times, Pentecost had gradually lost its association with agriculture and the Torah and had become associated with the celebration of God’s creation of his people and their religious history.

Theological Background
1. The Resurrection of Christ: The Apostle Paul describes the resurrection of Jesus as follows; “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (I Cor. 15:20). Therefore, it can be said that the Feast of Firstfruits or Pentecost looked forward to the resurrection of Christ.
2. The Birth of the New Testament Church: Pentecost was indeed the fulfillment of the prophecy of Joel about what the Lord will do in the Last days. “I will pour out my Spirit on all people…” (Joel 2:28-32). It was also a fulfillment of the promise of Jesus to the disciples just before his ascension – “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Ac 1:8). Pentecost had to take place, before the Church could take off.

The Holy Spirit as the Firstfruit of Our Inheritance: Pentecost does not only remind us of the pouring of the Holy Spirit, but it also reminds us, in the words of the Apostle Paul that, “we ourselves who have the firstfruits of the Spirit… wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.. “(Ro. 8:23-27).

Pentecost therefore represents God’s gracious enabling power to his people so the would lives in dynamic ways, the witness of being his people. Pentecost points to the reversal of the event of the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11 where God disorganized the people with different languages. In Acts, he united them with the languages of many people and gave birth to the universal church.


INSTITUTION OF THE FESTIVAL
Pentecost Sunday is also called Whit Sunday or Whitsunday possibly in reference to the white robes worn by catechumens and others who are baptized on that day. An alternative derivation is from the word “wit” or “wisdom” which implies that it was the day the Apostles were filled with wisdom from God by the Holy Spirit.

The sanctuary colour of Pentecost Sunday is red, the colour of the Church. The red symbolizes the Fire of Pentecost as well as that of the Apostles and other disciples of Jesus who were gathered in the Upper Room for the empowerment from God to preach the gospel to other nations.

CELEBRATING THE DAY
Pentecost Sunday should be a day of reflection by the individual Christian and the church as a whole.

1 The Individual Christian: This is a day for the individual Christian to reflect on the meaning of the day as discussed above. Pentecost Sunday is the day to celebrate hope because Christ our firstfruit is risen and his indwelling Holy Spirit is a guarantee of our inheritance in him. It is also a time to reflect on the empowerment of the Holy Spirit in our lives for living and for ministry. Then, we need to examine the working of the gifts of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

2 Celebration by the Church: This is a day to celebrate the birthday of the New Testament Church knowing that God is at work among His people, through His Holy Spirit. It is a celebration of newness of creation, of revival of purpose, mission and calling as God’s people. It is a recognition of God’s Spirit-filled people doing God’s on-going work in the world.

There is the need to use this sacred day to call the people to renewal through the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives. Pentecost Sunday should provide the opportunity for instruction and reflection on spiritual renewal, nurture and growth in the Church Jesus told his disciples, “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit is come upon you and you shall be my witnesses… “ (Acts 1:8) this therefore is a day for serious reflection on whether the church is experiencing and demonstrating the power of the Holy Spirit in all his manifestations and in its mission or that it has become a group of “Powerless” individuals meeting for “worship.” Since the sanctuary colour of Pentecost Sunday is red, symbolizing the Fire of Pentecost, it should remind the church of the power we need for mission. The prayer on this occasion should be; “Come Holy Spirit, empower your church.”

The week must be observed as a serious week for evangelism, doing house to house visitations – not just to share the Good News but also to pray for the sick and help the poor and needy in society. There is the need to focus on the Church’s mission to the world. It must be a real celebration of the birthday of the Church and the Church will do well to organize programmes that will strengthen its “Koinonia” (fellowship). A Pentecost vigil will also be of help to the Church by reminding us of the Pentecost Fire which must keep on burning.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Discuss the importance of the Holy Spirit in the Church’s ministry.
2. What does the event of Acts 2 mean to us believers of today?
3. With the impressive work done by the Apostles, for example, Peter after the descent of the Holy Spirit in mind, what must be our attitude toward evangelism today?
4. What does it mean to be empowered by the Holy Spirit?
5. Suggest ways of making Pentecost Sunday more relevant to believers of today. Discuss each one of them.

BIBLE LESSON APPLICATION
This week, make it a duty to share your personal experience of Jesus with at least one unbeliever. Lead them to Christ with this demonstrable testimony, share the outcome with the class.

DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Monday Isaiah 44:1-8 Recreation of God’s people
Tuesday Genesis 11:1-9 Restoration of Community and unity of purpose.
Wednesday Psalm 104:24-34 Newness and renewal.
Thursday John 14:8-17 God empowers people for mission
Friday John 20:19-23 Jesus breathes His Holy Spirit upon us.
Saturday I Corinthians 12:3-13 Gifts of the Holy Spirit enable God’s
People to work in the world.

Pentecost Sunday this year falls on31st May 2009.
Apply the lessons of this week’s study to ensure a fruitful celebration.