PENTECOST

THE CHURCH OF THE NEW TESTAMENT

The church of Jesus Christ was not to be built by angels; it was not to be built in the first place by men; the Holy Christian Church (the assembly of those who are saved by the grace of God in Christ) is founded from eternity. On the day of Pentecost the New Testament church was born.

The apostles of Christ were gathered in a room in the city of Jerusalem when all of a sudden there was heard from heaven a sound as of a rushing mighty wind and the Spirit of God came to the apostles and settled upon their heads in the form of fiery tongues.

No sooner had this outpouring of the Holy Spirit taken place than the apostles began to bear witness to the great truths concerning God’s work in Christ.

It was an event which had been planned by God from eternity. He had used prophets, priests, kings, armies, empire builders, simple folk, individuals, great historic movements and moments. He used all of these for the ultimate preparation for this day: the birth of the New Testament church. He had brought Abraham out of Ur of Chaldea, designated him as the father of all believers by placing upon him the sign of the covenant of the Old Testament. God had solidified the descendants of Abraham into a people. Under the leadership of Moses and Joshua He had brought them out of Egypt into the land of Promise. All of these preparations had been made for the day of Pentecost. This day many became living members of His church. It was the work of the Holy Spirit.

When God’s hour had come, then He sent forth His Son, who is known to us as Jesus Christ, the Saviour of poor and sinful people. Jesus understood very well the purpose of His coming. The idea of the church was always with Him. He talked about it. He said: “I will build My church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it”.

The Lord and King of His church, to make possible the establishment of His church, had to pass through hours of great agony and pain of hell. Why was that necessary? Well, Isaiah put it this way: “All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned everyone to his own way.” As men wandered away from God, they stepped over into the camp of Satan. By their sins they erected a barrier between themselves and their Creator. There was no way in which they could come back to God. There was but one possibility, namely that Christ would suffer and die on the cross, and rise again. It was on the payment of this price that Christ opened the way for lost sinners. And by the operation of the Holy Spirit they could become members of the Holy Catholic Church, the Church of Jesus Christ. Jesus had a great vision of His church. He said before He ascended on high that this church was to be found in all parts of the world. He told His disciples, “Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.” Yea more, He promised them, before He left: “And lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

The beginning of the fulfillment of this message took place on the day of Pentecost when through the preaching of God’s Word, 3,000 people came to conversion, and thus became members of the Holy Christian Church.

When Jesus said that He would build His church, it must have seemed quite foolhardy to the religious people of His time. He gathered around Him a few men and women. He spent much time with them. He taught them by His Word and example. They were slow to learn, and they were slow to understand. We ask you: Is it better in our time?

One of the twelve betrayed Him. One of the twelve denied Him. All of them forsook Him and fled.

It was a sorry beginning. It must have seemed as though everything had ended in disaster and tragedy. Yet Jesus had said: “I will build My church.” And so He did, because He has all power in heaven and in earth. The Spirit of God came as Jesus had promised it would. On the first day of Pentecost a large number of people were gained, and from that day forth the church was to move on to the north, to the south, to the east and to the west. The hearts and lives of many have been re-created. They have become new, reborn people. The Holy Spirit came and used the apostles, and they began to speak with other tongues. A gift out of heaven to God’s honour and to the welfare of lost sinners.

You ask: How was it possible that God’s servants might speak in all kind of languages? Well, they knew by grace the language of Sion, and the Lord gave them the wisdom in their hearts and the right words in their mouth.

God brought and brings His people out of all tongues and nations. It has to come to the bitter, the proud, the beaten, the lowly, the degraded, the fallen man, the fallen woman, drunkards, theives, harlots, haughty and self-righteous Pharisees. That is the fruit of Christ’s dear work and the pouring out of the Holy Spirit.

Oh, my dear reader, the King has said: “I will build My church.” He has built it and is continuing to build it. His promises are “Yea” and “Amen.” He has strengthened His friends before He left, gave them power from on High, the Spirit would give them light and boldness to speak the words of eternal life. To warn sinners, to comfort people hopeless in themselves, to strengthen weak believers. But also to uncover our sins. Because, without knowledge of sin, there is no need for Christ and His Spirit. A lesson especially for us in these dark and wicked days.

We can know out of history that wherever the church has gone, it has always encountered opposition. Sometimes this has expressed itself in mockery and scorn. Sometimes it has expressed itself in violence, bloodshed and murder. Are we thankful that the Lord gives until now freedom to preach, to warn and to proclaim the Gospel of free grace?

The Day of Pentecost is past by, but the fruit of the day remains, namely that Christ builds His church through Word and Spirit.

That God’s people might come to the place where they may say as a fruit of the Holy Spirit: All praise and glory, honor and power, might and dominion be unto Him who is the Lord of Lords, King of Kings, the Head of the church.

May it please the Spirit of God and Christ to grant to each one of us the need of conversion, the need to know our sins and miseries, the need to become, by the work of the Holy Spirit, a child of God.

It can be, if the Lord has given His grace, that Satan assails you with the thought that there is no deliverance for you. But take note: if there is a need for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, don’t forget that He has bruised Satan’s head and shall deliver you out of his power.

May I give in simplicity a few lessons to you? Know then: The Holy Spirit prays for God’s elect. The Spirit itself makes intercession for them with groanings which cannot be uttered. The Holy Spirit shall guide in all truth. The Holy Spirit sanctifies His people. The Holy Spirit comforts His people.

Further, a last warning: The Lord comes as a thief in the night. We shall have to learn to bow before God, shall it be well with us. May He impress upon our hearts the seriousness of eternity. May the Holy Spirit open our hearts and awake us out of the sleep of death, ere it will be forever too late.

How great a blessing it would be if the Holy Spirit might come into our hearts. The fruit of Pentecost would then be very great. Amen.

Ch.

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