We have all we need . . .

After Jesus died and rose again and returned to heaven, His followers gathered in one place. Did they know what would happen next?

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:1–4)

The Spirit was poured out in a visible sign of fire. At this time, His anointing equipped the disciples to share the Gospel with the multitudes who arrived to celebrate the harvest. They were amazed to hear God’s good news in their own languages but wondered if these disciples had too much wine. This tells me that the arrival of the Holy Spirit changed their behavior from grief over Jesus leaving them to great joy and celebration!

Peter defended the disciples saying they were not drunk but doing exactly what had been prophesied by Joel:

“And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Acts 2:17–21)

Christians often speak of the last days as a future time, but the Bible indicates that the last days began with the Ascension of Christ. It will end with a short time of wonders in the heavens and signs on the earth, but those ‘last days’ began with God pouring out His Spirit, first on the disciples and then on all people. Lives will be changed when those who hear call on the name of the Lord and are saved.

Many long for another Pentecost, another great outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Tozer notes that the first time it happened, the people were “all together in one place.” If this is a condition for another event, the togetherness might be possible, but hardly likely would we be in one place! There is no building or place large enough.

That said, God has always encouraged oneness of mind among those who are His. As the psalmist says, “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!” (Psalm 133:1) Over and over the Bible exhorts us to “Let brotherly love continue.” (Hebrews 13:1) This love is at the heart of unity.

Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. (1 Peter 3:8)

It is also a fruit of the Holy Spirit, that same One who was poured out at Pentecost. And lest we forget, that was not the only time it happened, only the first time. As the disciples shared the good news, they ran into some opposition. The Spirit at first gave them the ability to speak in different languages — now they asked for boldness and powerful abilities that would convince people that what they were telling them was from God . . .

“And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. (Acts 4:29–31)

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Precious Jesus, as I read this, I’m delighted at the reminder that the Holy Spirit gives His people whatever we need to do whatever You want us to do. It might be boldness. It might be the words to say to a visitor or a neighbor. It might be an unusual ability to help someone. It might even be the strength to call sin sin. Grant us the love and unity we need to speak the same thing, to agree on the basic truth that You did for our sin, then rose the third day. Because You are alive we can enjoy new life and the promise of eternity with You. Because the Holy Spirit is alive, we have all we need.