Pentecost - Glorifying & Exalting Jesus

Tomorrow, Sunday May18, is what is called Pentecost Sunday.  The word Pentecost is a Greek derivative word which has reference to fifty.  Fifty is the number of days from the time of the passover to the feast of Pentecost.  It is the Sunday that Christians recognize and celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost as recorded in the book of Acts.  Some Christians get uneasy when a preacher preaches a message on the Holy Spirit.  There is mystery in the Holy Spirit and being baptized in the Holy Spirit.  People don't understand the tongues and are often mystified by those who speak in tongues. 

I remember when I worked in youth camp several years ago.  The Holy Spirit was moving is a magnificent way.  People were worshipping God in the Spirit through the gift of unknown tongues.  Campers were praying in the altar and staff was praying and counseling with them to share the gospel and help lead them to Christ.  Most everyone was moving around worshipping and praising the Lord.  I was in one of the corners of the chapel worshipping the Lord speaking in unknown tongues while praying for the campers.  After the service, a young boy camper came up to me and said, "Jabber me some more of them words."  At first I was surprised, then it was a point of humor for me.  I smiled and shared with the young man, that the tongues were a form of worship, prayer and speaking to the Father through the Holy Spirit.  He smiled and nodded but I'm sure, as it is with most, it was a mystical thing for him to hear me and others speaking in unknown tongues.  Yet, we have clarity from Jesus in John 16:13-15 as to why the Holy Spirit has come.  Tongues accompanied the coming of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost to empower and enable the disciples to witness the gospel of Christ in several dialects or languages of the people who had come for the feast of Pentecost but there is more that Jesus tells His disciples about the Holy Spirit

Listen to John 16:13-15 (KJV)  [13] Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.[14] He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you. [15] All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall show it unto you.

The Holy Spirit is One of the Trinity.  He is to be revered, honored and worshipped as God.  God is Trinity.  God is Trinity in unity.  These three are one.  The Holy Spirit is one of the Trinity.  1 John 5:7 (KJV)  [7] For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.  It is vital that we give due respect, place and reverence to the Holy Spirit.  Jesus says here in John 16:13, when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth."   We do not to have to be in the dark, confused, or frustrated about truth.  Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would lead us and guide us into all truth.  The Bible, God's holy Word is truth.  Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life."  Not only will the Holy Spirit lead us into the truth of the Word,  He will lead us into the truth of Jesus and truths about Jesus.  He wants disciples of Christ to have a close interactive, intimate relationship with Jesus and He will lead the disciple into that relationship.

Notice the next part of verse 13, "for he will not speak of himself."  The Holy Spirit is not here to make a name for himself, just as Jesus was not here to make a name for himself.  He is not here to make any name great or famous but One - that is Jesus.  He is here to empower and enable Christ's disciples to finish the work of the Great Commission.  He is here to equip Christ's disciples to finish the work of the Great Commission through the ministry of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers.  The completeness of the Holy Spirit's work does not include speaking of himself.  The Amplified Bible translates it like this, But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth-giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth). For He will not speak His own message [on His own authority]; but He will tell whatever He hears [from the Father; He will give the message that has been given to Him], and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come [that will happen in the future]. (John 16:13 AMP)  The Holy Spirit will guide into all truth and show things to come.

Finally Jesus says,  "He (the Holy Spirit) shall glorify me (Jesus): for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you. This clarifies more specifically what the Holy Spirit will bring to us of Christ.  He then says, "All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall show it unto you."   Jesus shows the unity of the Trinity here - Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  He honors His Father as he did all through His earthly ministry as we are expected to do.  The Holy Spirit has come to glorify Jesus.  The Spirit Filled Life Bible says, "The Spirit’s ministry is not only directed to believers and to the world, but also to Christ. What the Spirit teaches He draws from and conveys in the authority of Christ, and glorifies Christ in all that He does. True ministry in the Holy Spirit never serves a private agenda. Rather, working in us and through us, He never exalts Himself, but He continually glorifies Christ who glorifies the Father."  Neither does the Holy Spirit glorify human ministry.

We need the guidance, teaching and forth-telling of the Holy Spirit in our time.  There are many voices in the world but one God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  We must listen and hear the Holy Spirit.  He will not lead us wrong.  He is here to lift up Jesus and glorify Him.  He is here to speak of Jesus.  The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are in unity.  We must come into unity with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and as we submit He will bring us into that unity.  Thank God for the Holy Spirit and His work in the last days.