PENTECOST

PENTECOST
Aruba and the Netherlands Antilles celebrate Pentecost as a special day. Since childhood we can recall this word or expression mentioned. But we never paid much attention as to its meaning of its importance.
But dear friends and bloggers, the truth is that Pentecost embodies all the fundamental doctrines of the Scriptures. E word Pentecost in itself means "the fiftieth day", and it was a Jewish celebration to commemorate the Jewish Passover, which took place e night when the Lord passed over Egypt, and killed all the first-born males, as well as animals (take time to read Exodus chapters 11 & 12). Year after year, the Jews would come from far and near to celebrate that day in Jerusalem.
For us today, Pentecost has a complete different meaning than what it was for the Jewish nation at that time. For us it means that on the Jewish day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came upon the believers, in agreement with what the Lord Jesus Christ promised to give to the Apostles. Please take time to read John chapters 14,15 and 16, and also chapter 1 & 2 of Acts. You will notice the importance the doctrine of the Holy Spirit is to every person in the world today. That includes every Aruban and every Antillean as well – without exception! To begin with the Holy Spirit was very important in the life of Jesus Christ Himself, and an absolute importance in the proclamation of the Gospel, salvation and forgiveness of sin for every person who believes in the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible teaches clearly and emphatically, that if a person does not have this Holy Spirit, he/she does not belong to Christ. (Read the complete chapter of Romans 8.)
What’s more, the Scriptures embody the words of our Lord Jesus where He Himself tells us very clearly that if He did not return to the Father, the Holy Spirit could not come, but when He would return He would send the Holy Spirit as we already alluded to. In the book of John chapter seven, verses 37-39, Jesus said in a loud voice: "If any man is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the Scriptures has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." But He said this of the Spirit Who His believers would receive. Up to this time the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet been glorified.
Dear friends beloved by our Heavenly Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave His live voluntarily to every human being that ever lived or will yet live. Today we cannot say that Jesus has not yet been glorified. Because that took place after His death and resurrection, and His disciples saw Him, how He was taken up into heaven and disappeared before their very eyes! (Read this entire happening in Acts chapter two. The time has come that each and every one of us examine him or her self and see if we are in the faith – either we are or we are not. (Read 2 Corinthians 13:5; Ephesians 1:13, 14 and also 4:30.) If one does not have this Holy Spirit in his or her life, that person is living under continuous condemnation. Therefore, repent and receive the Lord Jesus Christ as your only Savior, and you will receive this Holy Spirit. There is no other way.