Acts 2:1-21 (click to view Scripture below)
Pentecost is a biblical event that all too often gets lost among the “biggies” like Easter and Christmas. The truth is that all three events are interwoven together in the Bible. While the birth of Jesus and His victorious resurrection from the dead (following His crucifixion) are central to the Gospel story, Pentecost is the guarantee that Jesus is doing the same ministry today as He did 2100 years ago. Read the accounts of Jesus in the Gospels and you will see the ministry of Jesus authoritatively recorded.
Pentecost signifies the ongoing impact of Jesus and His continuing ministry with the same power that raised Him from the dead. Jesus is walking the streets of your city just as He walked through the towns and villages of the Holy Land centuries ago.
At ChildHope we believe in the guarantee of Pentecost. ChildHope schools are serving in places where people are impacted by the brokenness of humanity. Political promises and economic systems are not producing safety and security for citizens. The results, more often than not, are violence and hopelessness. ChildHope cannot rely on the commitment and professional skill of our teachers alone; the challenges are too great. Simply put, we need the power of Pentecost to thrive in places where hope seems to be a commodity in short supply. The guarantee we have with Pentecost, is that Jesus is continuing His ministry to this very day, with signs and wonders. That guarantee provides our ChildHope schools with eternal power to do the eternal business of providing compassion, education and transformation with the power of Pentecost.
Vice President, ChildHope
Prayer: Lord, thank you for the guarantee of Pentecost. I want to be a vessel for your continuing ministry in my neighborhood and city!
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Acts 2:1-21 (ESV)
1When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language.7 And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, 11 both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” 12 And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”
14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. 15 For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16 But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:
17 “‘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;
18 even on my male servants and female servants
in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.
19 And I will show wonders in the heavens above
and signs on the earth below,
blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke;
20 the sun shall be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood,
before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day.
21 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’
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Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.