THE POWER AND PURPOSE OF PENTECOST!
There is no doubt that Pentecost had the most significant impact on Christians after the Death and Resurrection of Jesus. As Pentecostals, we have no doubt or question regarding the events that happened at Pentecost and its subsequent empowerment of people and the Church throughout history. However, for almost two thousand years, the purpose of Pentecost has not been fulfilled due to false assumptions and the myths the Church had believed.
As we celebrate another Pentecost Sunday this week, let us ask the Holy Spirit to open our hearts not only for a fresh experience of ‘power’ but also to give us a revelation of the actual ‘purpose’ of Pentecost.
Let us pray that the following 3 Myths will be replaced by the Truth of God’s Word:
- Myth 1: Pentecost is the ‘Birthday of the Church!”
- Myth 2: “First Jerusalem and Then” – The Priority and Sequence Myth.
- Myth 3: My Jerusalem is my Hometown or City.
Although it has been nearly 2,000 years since Pentecost, the Church is still struggling to fulfill its purpose of existence, which is to fulfill the Great Commission.
Myth 1. Pentecost is the Birthday of the Church!
Celebrating Pentecost without understanding the greater purpose of the Church’s existence is like commemorating ‘baby Jesus’ at Christmas without focusing on His adult ministry and mission.
The infantile attitude of seeking more power at Pentecost is a selfish and self-centered exercise.
The ‘Chicken or the Egg’ question – which came first – keeps challenging the existence and priority of the Church. The Mission of God always existed before the birth of the Church! The Church was born for the Great Commission, not for its own existence. In Acts 1:8, Jesus gave the purpose and the commission of Pentecost to the Church:
‘But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”’
The Church was born to cross geographic boundaries to go to the ‘ends of the earth.’
The state of the post-Pentecost Church is summarized in Acts 9:31.
‘Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened… and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers. ‘ Acts 9:31
The Churches referred to here include three geographic areas mentioned in Acts 1:8, but were primarily Jewish in nature (Samaritans were half Jewish). The purpose of Pentecost was not just numerical growth or enjoying peace and stability. They fell short in increasing their geographic influence to the ‘ends of the earth’ to take the Gospel to ‘all nations.’
Ironically, this scripture is mentioned immediately after ‘Saul’s conversion.’
God was raising an Apostle to the Gentiles and Nations, who through a missionary movement from Antioch, would fulfil what God intended at Pentecost. Consider this: Paul was not present at Pentecost – yet he fulfilled the Mission of Pentecost throughout his life and ministry.
Pentecost was not intended to just birth a Church, but a Missionary Movement which would reach the ends of the earth!
Myth 2: “First Jerusalem and Then” – The Priority and Sequence Myth.
Most Pentecostal churches do missions as if Acts 1:8 reads, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses FIRST in Jerusalem, THEN in all Judea, THEN Samaria, THEN to the end of the earth.”
This is the SEQUENTIAL or “FIRST/THEN” interpretation of Acts 1:8, suggesting the gospel should be taken to these four geographical areas step by step.
- The Greek Word “Kai”:
The Greek word used in the original text for “and” is kai, which indicates a simple conjunction, connecting each location with the others without suggesting a specific order. - Avoiding a Sequential Interpretation:
Interpreting “and” as “then” would create a false sense of a sequential mission instead of ‘simultaneous action.’ It suggests that the disciples should first witness in Jerusalem, then in Judea, then in Samaria, and finally to the ends of the earth. - Adopting The Simultaneous Interpretation:
However, the Simultaneous interpretation of Acts 1:8 agrees with other scriptures that we must reach all nations everywhere before Jesus comes. And they must be given an equal chance to hear the gospel regardless of where they live.
Oswald J Smith has said, “No one has a right to hear the gospel twice while someone has heard it once.”
We don’t plan to finish in Jerusalem, but begin at Jerusalem to reach All Nations.
‘and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. ‘ Luke 24:47-48
Myth 3: My Jerusalem is My Hometown!
This false notion prioritizes focusing on one’s hometown or city before considering Missions to Nations.
- Jerusalem was not the Hometown of Jesus or the Apostles!
Capernaum was Jesus’ home base of ministry, not Jerusalem. Jesus concentrated his ministry primarily in Galilee. City of Capernaum had a population of approximately 1,500 people, and Nazareth, where Jesus was raised, had only about 400 people.
According to the Synoptic Gospels, Jesus visited Jerusalem only once during His ministry, although John refers to 4 visits. However, these were brief visits compared to His ministry in Galilee.
After the resurrection, Jesus insisted they stay in Jerusalem and not return to Galilee.
Therefore, Jerusalem was not their home city. It was a distant place from home!
- Why Jerusalem?
In contrast to the notion that we consider our hometown as Jerusalem, Jesus wanted the Disciples to begin in a ‘new location.’ Because it was in this new location of Jerusalem that the Apostles would have access to His ‘Global Mission.’
For, on the day of Pentecost, ‘ there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. ‘ Acts 2:5 - Access to all nations was in Jerusalem, not in Capernaum!
If your Church does not have an openness and awareness to ‘Nations’ and the ‘ends of the earth,’ then your Pentecost is in the wrong place! The Pentecost power is intended to reach ‘all Nations,’ not just individuals or Churches.
Wherever your church is today, it is not your Jerusalem unless you can create an awareness of nations, people groups, and the Unreached Peoples so that your Pentecost will be more meaningful and impactful.
The Power of Pentecostals Today.
We praise God for raising the Pentecostals around the world who believe in the Power of the Holy Spirit.
However, if you consider ‘Jerusalem’ as your home city or town, you will only prioritize local evangelism while neglecting ‘Global Evangelism.’ It will be difficult to measure your success, as it is not easy or possible to know when your Jerusalem is fully evangelized before moving on to other regions.
It favours your Jerusalem over lost people in ‘all nations’, and it cannot help finish the Great Commission. If the reached people groups keep on reaching themselves, the gospel will not reach “the ends of the earth.”
Prayer at Pentecost:
Please take a moment this Pentecost Sunday to reflect on this and pray the Truth of God against the myths that have kept the Church from Reaching Nations.
The Truth against the Myth!
- The Mission of God on earth must take priority over all other activities of the Church. The Church does not do Missions – the Church exists for the Mission of God.
- It is not ‘Jerusalem first, and then…’ It is a simultaneous Mission. We must think of ‘all nations’ and the ends of the earth in all that we do.
- Jerusalem is not your hometown. It is a place where you begin to think of Nations and Ends of the Earth. Pentecost is not meant for a church that wants to ‘stay’. But for a Church that is seeking to Go!
Sources:
Read More about Acts 1:8 Sequential or Simultaneous interpretation.
Acts 1:8 Challenge by Reuban Shadrack Kachala
And not Then – Traveling Team.
A Special Prayer Focus:
Pray for the PENTECOSTAL WORLD CONFERENCE IN HELSINKI – JUNE 4-7
Please Pray for this important Pentecostal Conference as world leaders come together:
Go & Make! is a conference designed to inspire, ignite passion, create connections, and equip attendees. We hope, that participants will return from the conference strengthened, applying new methods, and carrying a renewed vision for mission work.
Thank you for your Prayers.