The coming of the holy spirit

THE COMING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

The Jews have many festivals. One of the Jewish festivals was the Pentecost. It is also called the feast of weeks. The Pentecost was an agricultural festival held seven weeks or on the fiftieth day (50^th day) after the Passover to thank God for a successful agricultural year and to seek His protection and blessing for the next agricultural year. Many Jews came from far and near to celebrate the festival in Jerusalem. Whit-Sunday is the Christian festival corresponding to the Pentecost of the Jews.

Before the coming of the Holy Spirit while they were praying and waiting for the promise, Peter rose up one day and addressed the disciples numbering about one hundred and twenty, on the matter of the successor of Judas Iscariot. The qualification was personal knowledge of Jesus and His ministry. Joseph called Barsabbas and Matthias were picked. After prayer and casting of lots, Matthias was chosen to complete the twelve disciples/ apostles.

The coming of the Holy Spirit took place on the day of Pentecost .This was ten days after the ascension of Jesus into heaven. On this particular day, the disciples were together in the upper room where they had eaten the last supper with Jesus. They had remained in the room after the ascension of Jesus for fear of the Jews. They prayed and worshipped together in the upper room. Suddenly there was first the sound of a great wind which came from heaven into the room. Then, they saw what look like flames in the form of tongues resting upon each of them. They were immediately filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in an unknown tongue i.e. they began to speak in different languages the goodness of God.

The people around there who had come for the feast of Pentecost had the noise, they rushed to see what was happening and discovered that the disciples were speaking and preaching about God because each of them heard the disciples preach in his own language. There were Parthians, Medes, Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, Phrygia, Pamphilia, Egypt and parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene. There were also visitors from Rome, Create and Arabia. They were all amazed at the wonderful event but some mocked and made jest of the disciples accusing them of being drunk.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE COMING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

God fulfilled His promise by sending down the Holy Spirit on the disciples/apostles on the day of Pentecost. This shows how reliable, dependable and trustworthy God is in His dealings with human beings. He never fails in His promise.

EVALUATION:

1. The promise of the Holy Spirit was fulfilled on ——– day.
2. What were the disciples accused of?
3. Why did the disciples remain in the upper room in Jerusalem?
4. Judas Iscariot was replaced by ———-.
5. How many days are between the Passover and the Pentecost?

Objective Questions

1. The promise of the father pronounced by Jesus to his disciples refers to (a) blessing (b)faith (c)hope (d)joy (e)the Holy spirit
2. After the Holy spirit had come upon Apostles, they became (a)afraid and timid (b)bold and wise (c)condemned and confused (d)eloquent and proud (e)unwise and afraid
3. As a disciple of God who has just received the gift of the Holy Spirit, your reformation include all except (a)boldness to preach the word of God (b)courage to preach (c)discernment of the spirits (d)enablement to hate non christians (e)enablement to love even your enemies
4. Speaking in tongues means to (a)acquire a second language (b)be under alcoholic influence (c)speaking Hebrew and Greek (d)be under the influence of the Holy Spirit (e)speaking several Nigeria languages
5. Those who had come to Jerusalem to celebrate the feast of Pentecost heard each of the apostles (a)baptizing in the name of Jesus (b)Preaching in the name of Jesus (c)preaching in their own languages (d)proclaiming that Jesus was the Christ (e)Telling them about the Holy Spirit.
6. The promise of the Holy Spirit was fulfilled on the day of (a)Christmas (b)Easter (c)Pentecost (d)pass over (e)Holy communion.

WEEKEND ASSIGNMENT

1. Give detailed account of Peter’s speech.
2. Mention the effect of his speech.