Knowing God

Over the centuries, God has revealed Himself in many ways—through prophets, visions, laws, and miracles. But at Pentecost, something fundamentally changed. The God who had spoken through burning bushes and mountain thunder now came to dwell within His people.

This was no ordinary event. It was the divine announcement that the old ways had passed and a new era had begun—an era where God’s Spirit would live not just among us, but in us.

From Knowing About God to Knowing God

In his classic book Knowing God, J.I. Packer reminds us that we’re not simply called to learn about God, but to actually know Him. Intimately. Personally.

And that’s what Pentecost made possible.

God had been building toward this moment for centuries. From the call of Abraham, through the giving of the Law to Moses, through the ministries of prophets like Elijah and Isaiah, the stage was set for something bigger—the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension were not the conclusion of God’s plan—they were the preparation for this transformative moment.

Pentecost: God’s Loud and Clear Announcement

When God does something big, He announces it.

• He told Noah before the flood.

• He called Abraham and promised to bless the world through his descendants.

• He thundered on Mount Sinai to give Moses the Law.

• He used John the Baptist to prepare the way for Jesus.

And when Jesus came, His own baptism by John was an announcement: Things are about to change.

In the same way, Pentecost was an announcement that God would now relate to us in a radically new way: through the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Why the Wait?

After His resurrection, Jesus told His disciples to stay in Jerusalem. And wait.

Think about it—they had every reason to flee. Their leader had just been executed. The authorities were watching. And their homes were miles away in Galilee. But they obeyed. They waited.

And because they waited, they witnessed a miracle.

The Day the Spirit Came

When the day of Pentecost arrived, Acts 2 tells us they were all together in one place. Suddenly, a sound like a mighty wind filled the house, flames appeared over their heads, and they began to speak in other languages—languages they didn’t know, but others understood perfectly.

Jews from all over the known world—gathered in Jerusalem for the festival—heard the disciples speaking the Gospel in their native tongues. It was the reverse of Babel. It was God saying: “Now this message is for everyone.”

No longer would access to God be reserved for one nation, one tribe, or one ritual system. Now, everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Why This Matters

Pentecost wasn’t just a wild spiritual experience. It wasn’t about emotional highs or ecstatic speech. It was about:

• Power to live differently

• Conviction of sin

• Understanding of righteousness

• Boldness to share the Good News

• Intimacy with God

God’s Spirit now dwells in believers—not just prophets, not just priests, not just the “super spiritual.” Ordinary people—you and me—can walk with God every moment of every day.

The Spirit Still Shows Up

After Pentecost, the Holy Spirit became the driving force of the early church:

• He empowered Peter to preach to thousands.

• He guided Philip to the Ethiopian eunuch.

• He filled Paul and Barnabas for their missionary journeys.

• He comforted believers in persecution.

• He warned, corrected, encouraged, and equipped.

And He’s still showing up today.

But here’s the key question: Do you want the Spirit?

God never forces Himself on us. But if you want the Spirit—if you’re willing to die to self, to surrender your life, to seek first the kingdom—He will fill you.

Not to make you feel religious. Not to give you a spiritual buzz. But to empower you to live the life Jesus died to give you.

From Goodness to Grace

Many of us want to be “good people.” But the message of Pentecost is not about self-improvement. It’s about transformation. It’s not about acting better—it’s about being made new.

Pentecost invites us to stop checking boxes and start living in relationship.

• You don’t become a Christian by going to church.

• You don’t get saved by memorizing Scripture.

• You don’t earn eternal life by being “nice.”

You become alive when God’s Spirit moves into your life.

The Message in Every Language

That day in Jerusalem, God made sure everyone heard the message in their own tongue. That was no accident. It was a powerful symbol of what was happening:

God was going global.

The message of Jesus is for all people, in every nation, in every language. And that message is simple:

Jesus, the Son of God, died for your sins. He rose again. He ascended into heaven. And now He offers you new life, through the Holy Spirit, forever.

Final Thought: Don’t Miss the Point

It’s easy to make Pentecost about spiritual gifts or emotional highs. But at its core, Pentecost is God saying:

“Now, I will live in you.”

You are the temple. You are the messenger. You are the example the world will see.

So let Him in. Let Him work. Let Him change you. Because Pentecost wasn’t the end—it was just the beginning.