Power to preach

After Jesus has been resurrected, Luke tells us in the book of Acts that he spends 40 days with the disciples, speaking about the kingdom of God; essentially re-teaching them everything he taught them before the crucifixion. Only this time around, his teaching would have made much more sense, of course, because now the disciples had witnessed his death and resurrection for themselves. 

On one occasion during this period, Jesus gives them a very specific instruction: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptised with water, but in a few days you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 1:4-5).

Saying farewell

In John’s Gospel, Jesus speaks about the Spirit who will come when he goes. “But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you” (John 16:7).

The disciples knew a time would come when Jesus would no longer be physically present with them, walking through Israel’s towns and villages, speaking with people and performing miracles. But he also promised that he would never leave them nor forsake them (see Matthew 28:20). This means the presence of God is with us now in the Holy Spirit. 

In John’s Gospel, Jesus explains that the Spirit will do many things. He is the Spirit of truth who “will teach [us] all things and remind [us] of everything” Jesus has already taught us (John 14:26). He will convict the world of sin and righteousness; he will guide us into all truth; he will glorify the Son (John 16:8-15). He will sanctify and unify the followers of Jesus. 

The first gift

Jesus also says that the Spirit will witness to him and will also help us to witness: “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father – the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father – he will testify about me. And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning” (John 15:26-27).

When the Spirit was poured out at Pentecost, this was the first gift of the Spirit we see – the power to prophesy and to witness. 

The disciples were told to wait for the Spirit and not to leave Jerusalem until they received the gift that was to come from God. We don’t know exactly what they were expecting, but we do know something of people’s expectations of the Spirit from the time of Jesus. 

Robert Menzies explains that people understood the work of the Spirit at that time in relation to prophetic speech. In Empowered for Witness (T&T Clark), he writes that when people referred to the divine Spirit of God, it “almost always appears as the source of prophetic activity (inspiring speech or granting special knowledge)”. When Luke writes about the events of that first Pentecost in Acts 2, we see precisely this happening. 

Those who are filled with the Spirit preach the gospel with power 

The Spirit came like a rushing wind and tongues of fire (v2). All the disciples in the upper room are filled and begin to “speak in other tongues” (v4). People from different nations understand them, which amazes those who hear (v6). Peter then stands up and preaches boldly about Jesus as the Messiah and saviour, witnessing to his death and resurrection and calling those listening to repent and be baptised for the forgiveness of sins. He also promises that they too will receive the gift of the Spirit (v14-36). 

Peter, who had no courage before this to stand up for Jesus, becomes a completely different person – a fearless witness! This is what we see throughout the book of Acts. Those who are filled with the Spirit preach the gospel with power. Menzies writes: “The Spirit gives the disciples boldness and persuasive power in their proclamation of the word of God and provides direction, frequently through visions and dreams, for the expanding mission.”

Prophecy fulfilled 

Mission is linked to prophecy. Peter described the Pentecost event as the fulfilment of Joel’s prophecy (v16), specifically the outpouring and restoring of the gift of prophecy. And this prophetic gifting is given to preach the gospel, to witness to Jesus as saviour and Lord, so that many will be saved. Menzies writes: “The purpose of the prophetic gift, explicitly stated in Luke 24:49 and Acts 1:8, is to equip the disciples with power for the mission which lay ahead.”

I like this emphasis on prophetic speech linked to preaching the gospel and mission. The Church so often divides the two – seeing prophecy as something we do in our own congregations to each other, and preaching the gospel as some kind of set piece for the outside world. The gift of the Spirit brings them together. The sons and daughters who prophesy will testify about Jesus and witness to him. Not only this, but the Spirit gives the gifts of tongues and praise. 

As we mark Pentecost in a few weeks’ time, let’s be expectant of the power of the Spirit to fall all over again for the gifts of witness, worship, proclamation and praise – so that many hear the truth of Jesus Christ and come to know him.