27/05/2026
Trinity Congregational Church
Pentecost Sunday Service- May 24 2026
Preaching and Presiding: Rev Kagiso Edwin Mphato
Interpreting: Pako Lebanna
Scripture Reading: Acts 2: 1-4
THE SERMON: Rev Kagiso Mphato preached a Pentecost Sunday message about God the Son, Jesus Christ, having ascended to heaven, availing through God the Father, the promised Comforter and Helper, the Holy Spirit to enable the disciplies to pursure Christian mission.
Towards the end of His earthly mission, Jesus tells His disciples, "But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I go away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you, but if I go, I will send Him to you." (John 16:7)
Jesus had instructed the disciplies to tarry in Jerusalem and indeed, in the ten days after Ascension, the disciples waited in hope and belief, praying in one accord, Rev Mphato taught.
The text from Acts 2: 1-4 states that when the day of Pentecost came, the disciples were together in one accord and suddenly the sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the house where they were sitting.
The Spirit came rushing like tongues of fire, resting on each one of them, and they started speaking in tongues.
Rev Mphato noted that the disciples had waited in unison, praying together, an important message to the modern church that for the move of God to use us in a mighty way, we need to be in one accord.
The Spirit that came upon Jesus in the likeness of a dove (Matthew 3: 16-17; Luke 3:22) now came as fire, for John the Baptist had foretold that he was baptising with water for the repentance of sin, but He who is greater would baptise with the Holy Spirit and fire (Matthew 3:11)
It would be worthy to note, Rev Mphato taught, that different nationalities understood the tongues spoken by the apostles as they preached the gospel in various languages.
As such, there are tongues of angels and tongues of men, and what edifies the church is what can be understood by others, which is why Paul instructed that if one speaks in tongues that cannot be interpreted to edify the church, then the speaker "should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God." (1 Corinthians 14: 27)
As commissioned by Jesus Christ, the believers had waited for the promised Spirit in Jerusalem and were enabled to preach the gospel to the nations, to the ends of the earth.
Rev Mphato charged the Trinity congregants to partake in this Great Commission, submit to the Holy Spirit and go out to seek to save at least one soul this year.
The Holy Spirit, described in Hebrew texts as Ruach ("Breath" or "Wind,") and Pneuma in Greek texts, is a devine force that is unstoppable, akin to a great power, and once He takes control, the believer has no choice but to obey.
The Holy Spirit can inspire believers into the fever of the day of Pentecost, but can also inspire holiness in quiet submission to produce the Fruit of the Spirit- love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, fauthfulness, gentleness, self control. Believers should be careful not to confuse human emotions of ecstacy with the move of the Holy Spirit, Rev Mphato cautioned.
