05/23/2026
The Pentecost Question
Tomorrow we will celebrate Pentecost Sunday, observed fifty days after Passover and widely recognized as the birth of the New Testament Church. On this day the Holy Spirit took center stage in leading the newly formed church of Jesus, and the long-awaited mystery of God and humanity being brought together through Jesusâ death and resurrection was demonstrated in a moment through many languages.
The miracle of the Holy Spirit dwelling within imperfect men and women became beautifully evident. Luke writes:
âWhen the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind⌠and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utteranceâ (Acts 2:1â40).
Over the centuries, this text has often developed into doctrine and practice that can mean something different to many Pentecostal-minded believers today than it did in the first century. Growing up in Pentecostal or âSpirit-filledâ church communities, I was often taught that being âfilled with the Spiritâ simply meant a believer could function in a spiritual gift like prophecy, tongues, healing, or spontaneous worship. While these expressions are genuine and meaningful, they can sometimes narrow the âSpirit-filledâ life to moments in corporate worship, even though Scripture shows the Pentecost experience is far more than an emotional response to supernatural power.
Of nearly 49 New Testament passages about being âfilled with the Holy Spiritâ or related ideas, only ten directly describe spiritual gifts, and only three mention tongues. This raises an important question: what should we expect when someone is filled with the Holy Spirit? Most New Testament teaching connects the Spiritâs filling to Jesusâ mission of advancing His kingdom among the nations (Acts 1:8). The Spirit fills us to transform broken lives into righteous sons and daughters of God. While spiritual gifts may accompany this work, transformation of character is the greater purpose.
So the Pentecost question is this: have you been filled with the Holy Spirit and changed into evidence of Godâs transforming work? Are others seeing how God is changing you? This Sunday is an invitation to be filled with the Holy Spirit and join a community seeking to bring His kingdom into every part of daily life.
