Pentecost Sunday marks the 50th day following Jesus. Pentecost comes from the Greek word “pentēkostē,” which means “fiftieth.” As recorded in Acts, it celebrates the time when the Holy Spirit came upon the first Christians.

The events of Pentecost are described in Acts chapter 2. After Jesus ascended into heaven, His followers converged in Jerusalem to wait for the Holy Spirit. A wind-like sound filled the room, and then tongues of fire emerged above the heads of every follower. 

Imagine this: Around 120 people are waiting in prayer in an upstairs chamber in Jerusalem. They wait, but it’s unclear how or when-what they’re anticipating will come to pass. The Lord Jesus has commanded them to wait, so wait they shall. What they don’t realize is that their lives are going to be irrevocably altered. They wait expectantly for the Holy Spirit to arrive, and then all of a sudden it does.

After receiving the Holy Spirit, they all started speaking in various languages so that people from all over the world may hear the good news of God’s love and redemption.

My dad, who is sceptical about believers speaking in tongues publicly, asked me some questions a couple of weeks back:

– “What is the point of all the “shhss” “rrrs” and other syllables being continuously spoken in churches without the knowledge of what they say?” 

-“Is it truly the Holy Spirit in them or do people make it up just to show others that their spiritual meter is on an all-time high?” 

-“Are these believers driven by emotions or the Holy Spirit?”

 It made me think, “Is it pressure from other that make people to speak in made up tongues just to show others that they are doing good spiritually?” “Are many folks trying too hard to replicate the Upper Room experience?” “Do we wait expectantly for the Holy Spirit to arrive or just rush into pretending that He already did?”

Speaking in tongues serves two purposes: the edification of the believer who speaks, and the edification of the body when it is interpreted. However, we need to understand that there are some regulations mentioned in the Bible to use this gift of the Holy Spirit the right way.

Do we wait expectantly for the Holy Spirit to arrive or just rush into pretending that He already did?

The church in Corinth had the ability to speak in tongues, but they didn’t know how to use it well. They needed to learn more. So Paul told them what to do. Here are some rules that Paul set out:

-We shouldn’t put too much stock in people who speak in tongues. There must be a time and place for things other than tongues in the service, like insights, words of knowledge, prophecy, theology, songs, and interpretations.
1 Corinthians 14:6 says,
Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching?

-You should only speak in tongues two or three times during a service.

1 Corinthians 14:27 says that if someone speaks in tongues in a public meeting, it must be translated.

27 If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret.

-People who speak in tongues in church should be quiet if no one is there to translate;

1 Corinthians 14:28 says,
28 But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God.

-Speaking in tongues is not meant to cause misunderstanding. 1 Corinthians 14:40 says,

40 But all things should be done decently and in order

Nowhere does it say that all Christians should expect to speak in tongues when they accept Jesus Christ as their Saviour and are baptized in the Holy Spirit. In fact, out of all the conversion accounts in the New Testament, only two record speaking in tongues in that context. Tongues is an amazing gift but is never the only sign of getting the Holy Spirit, and it never was.

Let us look at Jesus’ example. The Bible says that after Jesus’ baptism, He was full of the Holy Spirit. 

And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, went back from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert (Luke 4:1 ESV).

When Jesus was filled with the Spirit, He was led by the devil to be tempted. There is no record of Him ever speaking in tongues, however. We have read similar accounts of Elizabeth, Peter and Zechariah.

Yet, most of us have set ‘tongues’ as the marker of the Holy Spirit. The importance of the Holy Spirit in the lives of Christians is underscored on Pentecost Sunday. The disciples’ experience of the Holy Spirit’s descending offers a window into the Spirit’s guiding hand and transformational potential. Let us be receptive to the Holy Spirit’s empowering, renewing, and comforting presence within our hearts. A life lived to the glory of God and the reflection of Christ’s love in the world begins with inviting the Holy Spirit to work inside us, directing our thoughts, actions, and relationships.

Yes, desire for the gifts but remember that the Holy Spirit is more than just the gifts.

Consider this:   This week let us look deeply into the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives:   Strength and direction: The Holy Spirit is crucial in enabling Christians to follow God’s will. Acts 1:8 recounts Jesus’ words to His disciples: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” The Holy Spirit gives us the fortitude, understanding, and direction we need to carry out our mission and spread the gospel to the ends of the earth.   Spiritual Renewal and Transformation: The Holy Spirit is the agent through which we experience spiritual refreshment and development. One of the ways in which God rescued his people is described in Titus 3:5, where it says, “He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.” To be changed into someone with more love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control is the result of allowing the Holy Spirit to work in our hearts and minds (Galatians 5:22-23).   Solace and advice: The Holy Spirit is our Helper and Guide. According to Jesus’ words in John 14:26, “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” The Holy Spirit is a comforting and reassuring force because He imparts God’s wisdom, direction, and serenity to believers.