What is the purpose of Pentecost? Perhaps you know the story of Pentecost in Acts 2. It begins by saying, “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.” This is an incredible and powerful moment in the New Testament, and a pivotal one in the age of the church. But, do we know what this day really means? And what significance does it have for us today?

The Spirit Empowers Us

I believe that understanding the importance of Pentecost is paramount for us, as Christians. So, let me share my answer to the question up front, and then I want to explain it through the text. Pentecost initiated the baptism of the Spirit to empower God’s people for mission. In other words, beginning at Pentecost, believers are baptized by the Spirit to give power for mission. That is the foundational purpose of Pentecost. There are certainly many other effects of Pentecost; there are other glorious consequences for the church because of Pentecost. But the foundational purpose is the baptism of the Spirit to empower for mission.

Peter explains this to the crowds in Acts 2:14-21, and he makes an intertextual reference to Joel 2 as proof. Peter tells all the Jews present that God’s promises in the Old Testament book of Joel are being fulfilled. He says, “This is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people…I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy” (vv. 16-18). What he means is that “the last days” have dawned because the Spirit has come and, because of the Spirit’s coming, God’s people will prophesy.

Now in context, this does not mean that believers will foresee future events. Rather, the prophesying here is the preaching of the gospel. It is the telling of what God has done and what people should do in response. The Spirit empowers for mission. That is what Peter is saying.

The Book of Acts at a Glance

The Spirit’s empowering of believers to preach the gospel truly becomes the lens through which to read the whole book of Acts. At every turning point in the book, it is the Spirit moving God’s people for mission. In Acts 4, the Spirit gives the church boldness to proclaim the gospel in the face of hostility. In Acts 8, the Spirit directs Philip to the Ethiopian eunuch. This Ethiopian man believes, and he takes the gospel to Ethiopia. In Acts 10, the Spirit directs Peter to the house of Cornelius, a Roman military officer. In Acts 13, the Spirit commands Paul and Barnabbas to reach the Gentiles in Turkey. In Acts 16, the Spirit leads Paul to Europe. In Acts 19, the Spirit confirms Paul’s missionary plans.

Each of these references show how the Spirit gives power for mission. The Holy Spirit is entirely concerned with the spread of the gospel. This is why the Spirit empowers the church. The church is empowered to spread the gospel.

Brothers and sisters, I want to stress this fact because we have neglected this crucial aspect of the Spirit. Instead, churches spend too much time thinking about the gifts of the Spirit, about tongues, and issues like it. Now, don’t get me wrong; those are important issues. But we have failed to see evangelism at the heart of what the Spirit does. The Spirit is more concerned about the gospel going forward than whether we are experiencing the Spirit at a church service. We spend all our energies on trying to have a Spirit-filled service that we neglect Spirit-led evangelism. So church, know that we have been baptized by the Spirit for mission.

Do Not Neglect The Gospel

Now here comes the hard part: if we are not speaking the gospel, then we are forsaking the fundamental purpose of the Holy Spirit. I don’t want that for us. I have been praying that we would not neglect this purpose. I want the Spirit to further empower us for mission. That is why we are still on earth. God has not taken you up to glory because your work is not over. There are people you still need to take the gospel to. There are people in your city, your town, your neighborhood that God wants you to go to.

But be encouraged; you are not alone. The Spirit dwells within us so that we can speak the gospel. This is the purpose of Pentecost. We have been baptized by the Spirit to be empowered for mission. That was the purpose for the apostles and it’s our purpose today. Amen?

We have failed to see evangelism at the heart of the Spirit's activity. The Spirit is more concerned about the gospel going forward than whether we are "experiencing" the Spirit in church. Click To Tweet