Out of the darkness, through the morning and into the day — in that order the great events of salvation seemed to have taken place here. Jesus was born in the night, He arose early in the morning, and the Holy Spirit was poured out when it had become day. Does this perhaps symbolize that out of the darkness of sin the victory of Christ turns the darkness of night into the light of the morning, and the Spirit's being poured out brings the light of a new day that will never end?

Pentecost means fifty. It was a Jewish feast day celebrating the fact that the Lord had given His people a full harvest. On this day they were to bring to the Lord the first fruits of the complete harvest. This was also the fiftieth day after Jesus had been crucified. Now the "first fruits" of the com­pleted spiritual harvest are being brought in with the out­pouring of the Holy Spirit.

Consider what a harvest this was and is for the church of Jesus Christ! What the pay check is to the laboring man, what the financial profits are to the business man, and what the harvest is to the farmer, that Pentecost is for the church of Christ. The Holy Spirit was poured out into the church. When Jesus was on earth He preached to the people with word and deed. On the cross He died for His people. On Pentecost He begins to work in them, giving them the harvest of His wonderful salvation.

The Holy Spirit makes new creatures (or creations) out of old, lost sinners. He is the marvelous Power of God that enables sinners to walk and live in the way of godliness. He is the Spirit that, in this world devastated by sin, produces the fruits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22).

What blessings are given to the people who receive the Spirit, and are enabled to produce such marvelous fruits. John says that their works are even greater than what Jesus Himself did on earth. The Spirit will continue the work of God until all the elect are raised from the grave in the final day, in a new heaven and earth, to enjoy an eternity in full life and fellowship with the Lord.

The Holy Spirit, "poured out" on Pentecost, is "the third person of the Trinity, one with the Father and the Son" as we learned from our earliest catechism books.

The Holy Spirit was given with "signs." Although He in Himself is invisible, the church must know who He is and what He does when He is given. The signs are given only once, although He came to stay with His people.

One special sign was a sound of a violent storm, perhaps like the sound of a tornado. Someone who experienced it once told me that when the tornado passed his home it sound­ed like ten long freight trains passing at once. This noise came suddenly and unexpectedly. The "sign" was not a wind, but the sound like that of a violent wind. The meaning of the sign is clear. Jesus compared the Spirit with the wind. He is invisible, but has tremendous power. The Holy Spirit works invisibly and internally with infinite power in the hearts and lives of God's elect people. He can change the hardest heart — think of the conversion of the Apostle Paul. He has power to make sinners new creations, to make spiritually dead people alive, to resurrect God's people in the final day with glorious new bodies. He can give faith that can move "figurative" mountains and can grant a comfort and peace that surpasses all understanding.

A second sign was separated tongues of fire, appearing on the heads of all who were in that room. There was no fire, but what looked like fire. What did this sign mean? First, fire purifies. The Spirit purifies our filthy hearts from the sin that is in us. Fire also gives light. The Spirit will enlighten the minds of the Lord's followers so that they can under­stand His work. Think of what great changes they experi­enced in this short period of time. Up to this time the entire work of Christ seems to have been a "mystery" to them. They did not understand Him or the meaning of His cross and resurrection. Now Peter was ready to preach the memorable Pentecost sermon with such power and enlighten­ment that 3000 people repented and were added to the church.

What was the meaning of their speaking in foreign languages? With our speech we communicate with others. The Spirit with His power and enlightenment changes the hearts of saved sinners, so that they begin to pray to and praise God. He also enables them to speak for their Lord to other people. This speech in many languages points ahead to the work of the Lord in saving, along with these believ­ing Jews, believing Gentiles from all kinds of other nations.

Jews already in that day lived in many parts of the world and were often business men. Many of them had come from these diverse countries to celebrate the feast of Pentecost. Now they heard these followers of Christ talking in the native languages of the countries from which they had come. This amazed them, for these speakers had no formal training in these languages which they were speaking. This speech in foreign languages meant that the Holy Spirit and salvation would be given to believers from all nations with no coun­try excluded. We who are mostly from Gentile ancestry need to appreciate and thank the Lord for extending this grace also to us.

We notice, finally, to whom the Holy Spirit was given. He was not given to all people or to a group of them in­discriminately. Unbelievers do not receive the Spirit. He is poured out upon believers. Note too, as a basic principle found through the Scripture and the history of the church, that the Holy Spirit is not given where there is continuing in sin. These two are opposites. We remember how Samson, when he was obedient had incredible power, but when he broke his Nazarite vow lost his strength. When David fell into sin with Bathsheba, he prayed that God would not take His Spirit from him (Psalm 51:5). Pentecost follows Calvary. Atonement must be made — our sins must be removed before the Spirit is poured out. In practice, we must confess our sins and seek forgiveness in Christ before we enjoy the bless­ings and peace of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit was poured out upon the church which was in Christ and for whom He died. On the New Testament church, living in obedience to God's word and in the unity of the faith, the Lord poured out His Spirit. The Spirit works through the Word which He inspired and where that Word is received.

Was there another time in the history of the New Testa­ment church when the people of God were so characterized by zeal, love and dedication as was the church at this time? This condition did not last long. We soon read about Ananias and Sapphira. The blessings of Spirit-filled people are given only where people repent from sin, trust in the Lord Jesus Christ and live by His Word.

Today's church is generally not filled with the Spirit. He is often "quenched" or "grieved" in our lethargic and com­placent "Christianity." May the Lord lead us by His Word to pray,

Come, Holy Spirit, Heavenly Dove, with all thy quicken­ing powers;
Kindle a flame of sacred love in these cold hearts of ours.
Look how we grovel here below, fond of these trifling toys;
Our souls can neither fly nor go to reach eternal joys.
Come, Holy Spirit, Heavenly Dove, with all Thy quickening powers;
Come, shed abroad a Savior's love, and that shall kindle ours.