You Need Mission More Than A Moment
Pentecost was more than a moment—it was about mission.
When the Spirit fell on the early believers in Acts 2, it wasn’t for show. It wasn’t hype. It wasn’t chaos for chaos’ sake. It was transformation. Tongues of fire and a rushing wind marked the beginning of something utterly new: God’s people filled with God’s Spirit to fulfill God’s global mission.
But to really understand Pentecost, we have to take a trip in the good ol’ biblical Wayback Machine.
The First Pentecost
Pentecost literally means “fiftieth,” marking 50 days after Passover. For devout Jews, it was a festival of firstfruits—a day to thank God for the beginning of the harvest and to offer up the best of what they had in faith that more was coming. But it was also a time of remembrance.
Fifty days after the original Passover—when the blood of the lamb freed Israel from Egypt—God brought His people to Mt. Sinai. There, Moses ascended the mountain into God’s presence and returned with the Ten Commandments. The Law. A new way to live as a free people under God’s rule.
Now, centuries later, Jesus—the greater Moses—has ascended into heaven into God’s presence. And this time, He doesn’t send the Law. He sends the Holy Spirit.
A new Pentecost.
A new fire.
A new way of living.
Pentecost wasn’t about a charismatic experience.
Pentecost was about receiving a new way of life for carrying out God’s purposes.
Pentecost wasn’t about ecstatic tongues or emotional highs. It was about mission. It was about God reclaiming the nations—every language, tribe, and people group.
- “We hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” (Acts 2:11)
- The reversal of Babel and the beginning of God’s promise in Psalm 2.“Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance.” (Psalm 2:8)
- This is the fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy:“I will pour out my Spirit on all people…” (Joel 2:28)
- This is the answer to Jesus’ command in Matthew 9: “Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers…” (Matthew 9:38)
And this is the invitation still open to us today.
At Pentecost, the Spirit did more than make noise. He made disciples.
He transformed:
Language – From confusion to clarity. People heard the Gospel in their native tongues.
Hearts – From fear to fire. The disciples went from hiding to body sharing about who Jesus was and what He had done.
Mission – From waiting to walking. The church moved from upper room to open road.
This was never meant to stay in Jerusalem. It was always meant to spread to the ends of the earth!
What Does This Mean For Us?
It means we don’t just remember Pentecost—we live Pentecost.
We say:
Lord, give us the nations – not for our fame, but for Your name.
Lord, send the laborers – raise up others and use us!
Lord, pour out Your Spirit – on our children, the next generation, on the doubting, the distant, and the desperate.
We are a Pentecost people.
Not defined by a moment in the past,
but driven by a here and now mission to engage the world with the hope of Jesus.