Today, most of The Church of Pentecost branches all over the world are celebrating Pentecost. The General Secretary of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi, has charged Christians to return to the ‘Day of Pentecost’ which is accompanied by the manifestation and power of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers.
According to the General Secretary of the Church, Pentecost is the outpouring of the Holy Ghost with evidence in speaking in tongues, bearing fruit of the Spirit and operating with the gifts of the Spirit.
Celebrating the day, at the forecourt of the Roman Ridge Central/ English Auditorium of The Church, Apostle Kumi-Larbi spoke on the topic, “Experiencing Pentecost: Outpouring of The Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:1-4; 19:1-7). He emphasized that the Pentecostal experience is receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost (or the baptism of the Spirit), speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance.
He said that Pentecost Sunday, is a commemoration and celebration of the receiving of the Holy Spirit by the early church.
“John the Baptist, prophesied of the first Pentecost when he said Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire,” he said.
Apostle Kumi-Larbi quoting from John 14:26, revealed that Jesus confirmed this prophecy of the Holy Spirit to the disciples. He indicated that Jesus told the disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the Father’s gift of the Holy Spirit, from whom they receive power to be His witnesses to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:3-8).
“On the Day of Pentecost, just as promised, the sound of a violent wind filled the house and tongues of fire came to rest on each of them and all were filled with the Holy Spirit,” Apostle Kumi-Larbi stated.
The General Secretary further explained that Pentecost is not just a date that it commemorated, nor a historical event that lies in the past. According to him, Pentecost is happening right now in the lives of believers, adding that: “the promise that Jesus made to the disciples is the same promise he gives each one of us today. This is an event that has never stopped happening.”
Without the Holy Spirit, he, believed we will be trying to do things in our own strength, with our own ideas; however, with the Holy Spirit, we tap directly into the power of God, and that is how believers receive the boldness to follow in Jesus’ footsteps.
He highlighted on the fact that the outpouring of the Holy Spirit is talked about in at least two ways in Scripture.
The first one, he said, refers to the pouring of the Holy Spirit to indwell people, as prophesied in the Old Testament and fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost after Jesus’ ascension. The other way, he mentioned is the manifest presence of the Holy Spirit.
“God said to Israel, I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants,” he stated was predicted by Joel, and in Isaiah 44:3.
The General Secretary of the Church pointed out that in the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit was a rare gift that was only given to a few people, usually for specific assignments. Such individuals were Saul (1 Samuel 10:10), Othniel (Judges 3:10), Gideon (Judges 6:34), and Samson (Judges 13:25;14:6).
“At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was poured out on all believers in Christ, and He came to stay. This marked a major change in the Holy Spirit’s work,” he stressed.
Apostle Kumi-Larbi further observed that there are five instances of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, which are on the day of Pentecost: to Jews and proselytes in Jerusalem (Acts 2:1-4); with the Samaritan believers (Acts 8:14-17); the Apostle Paul after he was saved (Acts 9:17-18); in the house of Cornelius and the believing gentiles (Acts 10:44-47; 11:15-17); with the believers in Ephesus (Acts 19:1, 2, 6); and with present believers (Acts 2:39).
He, then led the congregation in an intensive Holy Spirit prayers and impartation, which manifested in the speaking of tongues.
Present were Mrs. Rose Kumi-Larbi, wife of General Secretary of the Church and Pastor Clement Akyim-Gyimah, District Minister of Roman Ridge District.
‘Pentecost Week,’ was a week dedicated by The Church of Pentecost, worldwide, to pray for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. It began on Monday, May 30, 2022 and ended today Sunday, June 5, 2022.
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