By New Testament times, the Jews also observed Pentecost in commemoration of the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai. When Moses came down from the mountain with the Ten Commandments, he was enraged to find the people engaged in orgiastic worship of a golden calf. He threw down the stone tablets, which shattered. Then he ground up the golden calf, mixed the powder in water and ordered the idolatrous Israelites to drink it. Moses then issued an ultimatum: "Whoever is for Yahweh, come to me!" The Levites responded, apparently alone. Moses commanded the Levites to strap on their swords and slaughter the people. On that day, the Levitical warriors killed 3,000 Israelites (Ex. 32:1-29). In contrast to this story of defection and death, the Pentecost of Acts 2 resulted in the repentance and baptism of 3,000 people who turned to God by accepting Jesus as the promised Messiah (Acts 2:37-41).

The first Christian Pentecost is best remembered as the day God gave the Holy Spirit to Jesus' followers indiscriminately -- young and old, men and women alike. This fulfilled the prophecy of Joel, the preaching of John the Baptist and the promise of Jesus (Joel 2:28-32; Luke 3:15-18; Acts 1:4-5). Perhaps it also signaled the beginning of the new creation -- just as God had breathed life into Adam's body and Adam became a living soul, so he breathed the Holy Spirit ("spirit" and "breath" are the same in Hebrew and in Greek) into the dormant spiritual body of Christ and the Christian Church began to live and to function in the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit. Our Bibles call Luke's second book "The Acts of the Apostles," but it is really "The Acts of the Holy Spirit." Any attempt to recover, recapture or restore that apostolic church that does not include the Holy Spirit as its divine guide and empowering source is only a faint shadow at best and a hollow mockery at worst (see 2 Tim. 3:5).

This year, 2006, marks the centennial of the birth of Pentecostalism at the Azusa Street revival in Los Angeles, California. What began 100 years ago with a small group of dirt-poor and generally uneducated seekers after God has now expanded to become the largest and fastest-growing segment of Christianity in the world including 100 million or more. At its best, the Pentecostal-charismatic renewal demonstrates total dependence on God, earnest prayer, commitment to sharing the gospel and interracial, egalitarian congregations befitting the kingdom of God. At its worst, this Christian heritage is marred by doctrinal dogmatism, spiritual elitism and a misplaced focus on human ministers and a materialistic "health-and-wealth" message in place of what Luther called a "theology of the cross." It is not fair to judge any movement or group by its worst examples, however, and the entire church is indebted to these humble servants of Christ who demonstrate God's ability to use the weak and ignored to confound and convict the self-satisfied and self-important.

Nearly 2,000 years ago the Holy Spirit was poured out on God's people, on the Day of Pentecost as recorded in Acts chapter 2. Today there is much confusion about Pentecost and  baptism in the Holy Spirit. I have prepared a very careful Bible study that explores the need for Pentecost, the background of Pentecost, the blessing of Pentecost, the diversity of Pentecost and an invitation to Pentecost. Whatever your Christian background or present fellowship, you'll be blessed by this powerful and personal message from Scripture! Simply click here.