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The day of Pentecost, as recounted in the Book of Acts, marks a pivotal moment in Christian history. On this day, the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles, empowering them to spread the Gospel with fervour and miraculous signs. This event is not merely a historical occurrence; it represents a profound spiritual reality that continues to resonate within the hearts of believers today. The Pentecost is born in us, renewing and transforming our lives through the power of the Holy Spirit.

THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

The Old Testament is filled with examples of the Holy Spirit’s work, including how the Spirit empowers leaders, engages in creation, and inspires prophets. Joel 2:28–29, for example, contains prophecies of a greater outpouring of the Spirit that were realised at Pentecost. By showing the continuity of the Spirit’s purpose from creation to the New Covenant, our understanding of the Old Testament work of the Spirit enhances our appreciation of God’s redemptive plan.

THE PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN OUR LIVES

The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is a transformative experience. When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, the Holy Spirit comes to reside within us, bringing about a new birth. This is the essence of being “born again” (John 3:3-6). The Spirit renews our hearts, convicts us of sin, and leads us into all truth (John 16:8-13).

Galatians 5:22-23 outlines the fruit of the Spirit, characteristics that become evident in the lives of those who walk by the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These qualities reflect the nature of Christ and are cultivated in us as we yield to the Spirit’s work.

EVIDENCE OF PENTECOST BORN IN US

The manifestation of the fruit of the Spirit in the life of a believer is one unmistakable sign that Pentecost was born in us. The outward manifestation of the Holy Spirit’s indwelling in us results in attributes that are consistent with God’s nature. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control,” according to Galatians 5:22–23. There is no law against such acts.

These qualities reveal a deep inner metamorphosis that permeates our behaviors, mindsets, and interpersonal interactions. Joy is no longer dependent on conditions, love becomes unconditional, and peace transcends comprehension. While self-control, gentleness, and faithfulness guide our behavior, others benefit from our patience, kindness, and goodness. These fruits demonstrate in concrete terms that Pentecost—the indwelling of the Holy Spirit—is a genuine event that occurs within us and continuously renews and directs our Christian journey.

THE PROMISE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

Before His ascension, Jesus promised His disciples that they would receive the Holy Spirit. In John 14:16-17, He said, “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth.” This promise was fulfilled on Pentecost, as described in Acts 2:1-4, when the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples with the sound of a mighty rushing wind and tongues of fire, enabling them to speak in different languages.

This outpouring was not limited to the apostles but is available to all who believe in Jesus Christ. As Peter declared in his sermon on that day, “The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call” (Acts 2:39). The same Holy Spirit who empowered the early church is at work in us today, guiding, teaching, and strengthening us.

LIVING IN THE POWER OF PENTECOST

To live in the power of Pentecost means to cultivate an ongoing relationship with the Holy Spirit. This involves regular prayer, immersing ourselves in Scripture, and being attentive to the Spirit’s leading. Ephesians 5:18 exhorts us to be filled with the Spirit, suggesting a continual process of seeking and being renewed by the Holy Spirit.

Moreover, it calls for a life of obedience and surrender. Romans 8:14 tells us, “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.” As we submit to the Spirit’s guidance, we experience greater intimacy with God and effectiveness in our Christian walk.

THE ROLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN INDIVIDUAL TRANSFORMATION

As believers are sanctified and transformed into the likeness of Christ, the Holy Spirit is essential to this process. The Spirit works within us to promote spiritual maturity as we gaze at the splendor of the Lord. Through constant conviction of sin, mental regeneration, and the development of Christlike characteristics, believers are able to live triumphant, virtuous lives as a result of this transformation (2 Corinthians 3:18).

THE HOLY SPIRIT AND COMMUNITY LIFE

Within the body of Christ, the Holy Spirit fosters community and unity, encouraging believers to support one another and have communion with one another. The Spirit empowers every member for the church’s edifying through the distribution of spiritual gifts. This kind of group empowerment strengthens church-wide worship, service, and mission, keeping the church a dynamic, coherent body that serves as a powerful global witness (Ephesians 4:13).

EMPOWERMENT FOR MINISTRY

The Holy Spirit not only transforms us inwardly but also equips us for service. Just as the apostles were empowered to proclaim the Gospel boldly, we too are given gifts and strength for ministry. 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 describes the variety of spiritual gifts distributed by the Spirit for the common good, including wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miraculous powers, prophecy, discernment, speaking in tongues, and interpretation of tongues.

These gifts are given to build up the body of Christ and to witness to the world. The Pentecost experience compels us to move beyond our comfort zones, to reach out in love and compassion, and to declare the good news of Jesus Christ with courage and clarity.

CONCLUSION

The Pentecost is not confined to a single event in history but is a living reality in the hearts of believers. The Holy Spirit, who descended upon the early church with power and grace, is the same Spirit who dwells in us today. By embracing this truth, we can experience the transformative and empowering presence of God in our lives. Let us open our hearts to the Holy Spirit, allowing Pentecost to be born anew in us, fueling our faith, empowering our witness, and drawing us closer to our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Written by Deacon Obed Mensah

The dictionary defines truth as a verifiable and indisputable fact. Fact is also something known to have happened or existed, according to the Cambridge Dictionary. Many have paid needlessly with their lives for what they peddled as the truth about themselves or others. Others have weaponized their opponents against them for revealing some facts or truths to their detriment. The ill-advised zeal of “saying it as it must be said” or running amok with some facts they deem the truth has blown away several opportunities for people to make a lasting impact in their households, workplaces, political spheres, and Christian lives. The definition of “truth” even gets more involving per biblical standards since there is someone the Bible calls the Truth. Isn’t the Truth truly true? What are some of the popular lies told about truth? And how does the truth differ from the facts in the light of God’s word? These are some of the questions the article seeks to discuss and recommend ways of achieving intended goals anytime the truth needs to confront any life situation.

Truth is as critical as its presentation, so it’s a lie to think that once you lay your hands on the truth per your estimation, you can run riot with it. Plato once said, “No one is more hated than he who speaks the truth.” So, the presentation of truth needs a certain amount of tact if corporate goals are to be met. A quote attributed to Voltaire says, “Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said.”

In John chapter 4, Jesus had an encounter with the Samaritan woman whose relationship or marriage life was nothing to write home about. She virtually hopped from one person’s husband to the other, and when Jesus met her, she was with the sixth man, another woman’s husband (John 4:18). The fact was that she was a certified husband snatcher. However, what do you think would have happened if Jesus started attacking her on that lifestyle of hers? After all, that was the truth. She would have ignored Him or put up very defensive and unwelcoming posturing in their deliberations. She could have also attacked Him with all manner of unprintable words because the Samaritans had no business with the Jews in those days. Presenting the truth misguidedly only amounts to speaking to the fact of a matter and not necessarily speaking the truth.

However, the glorious end of Jesus’ engagement with the woman, who won her community for Christ and became His ambassador, is a lesson for all who are fortunate to discern the truth and have the opportunity to share it to God’s glory. It is a lie that truth can be presented anyhow for desired objectives to be met. Similarly, in the case of Rahab and the two Jewish spies in Joshua chapter 2, it was factual that Rahab hid them in her ceiling against her King’s command, but the truth was that God had given their land to Israel. It was, therefore, immaterial for her to stick to the facts or otherwise.

Again, it was an undeniable fact that the two Hebrew midwives in Exodus 1:19-22 allowed the Israeli male borns to live against the orders they received from King Pharaoh. However, the truth was that God detests the termination of human lives. Therefore, the response they chose to give Pharaoh for disobeying his wicked orders was also immaterial at the time. God was their ultimate, and so must He be to all who have decided to campaign for nothing but the truth.

When you obey man’s laws at the expense of God, you have not necessarily been truthful. You have disobeyed God because He is the standard and measure of truth. God is the custodian of the word “truth” because Jesus did not only say He was the way, but He also said He is the Truth. It was also a fact that Jesus healed a blind man, but the truth was that he was not supposed to tell anyone. The truth must, therefore, be presented in the light of God’s word and precepts because He is the truth.

Truth doesn’t derive its strength from one’s convictions. It is, therefore, a lie to think that once your convictions suggest you’re right, you can present your truths anyhow. You may be wrong or can be misled after all by your emotions. Truth is absolute and not necessarily relative, but for believers, it is contingent on God’s word. The yardstick is, therefore, God’s word both in content and by way of its presentation.

Another lie about truth is when people think there’s nothing wrong in breaking confidential news once that is the truth. When you break confidence, you have not spoken the truth but have become a gossip. “The oath of secrecy is the term used for the duty of clergy and church officers not to report, or comment on, facts and events of a confidential nature that they have come to know in the exercise of their office.” In Mark 9:9-10, Jesus warned His disciples not to tell anyone about the transfiguration until He had risen from the dead. Was it not true that He was transfigured at the full glare of Peter, James, and John? It was. But why would Almighty Jesus decide to manage information like He did when on planet Earth?

There’s a very sound logic as to why we must not haphazardly tell people our plans, visions, and dreams due to the hatred and jealousy they usually stir in the hearts of weak minds and callous hearts. Joseph fully disclosed his dreams as a growing young man to his family members, but the more he told them those truths, the more they hated him. But for God’s intervention through Judah, he would have been slaughtered like a fowl by his brothers (Genesis 37:2-5). Of the seventeen people in Jacob’s household, only Jacob and his wife could contain the exciting truths in Joseph’s dreams. That works to just a little over 11% of the household population. Therefore, presenting the truth still requires a certain amount of circumspection, which has nothing to do with peddling falsehood. The Holy Book has many lessons for those who share their dreams and visions anyhow and anywhere without circumspection because they want to be truthful. Some will sound encouraging and supportive when personal dreams are shared. But others would thwart consciously or unconsciously the fulfillment of such dreams.

The devil is so limited in power when compared to God to the extent that he often takes his clues for launching attacks from our shared dreams or careless talk. The devil engaged Eve in the Garden of Eden for a conversation, and when Eve chose the full disclosure path, they were enticed to sin against God. Eve, therefore, didn’t have any business or courtesies to answer the questions the serpent first asked, let alone entertain more interaction with the devil (Genesis 3:1-5). In Proverbs 17:27-28, a fool is even mistaken to be wise if he keeps silent. Esther in the Citadel of Susa could also have revealed her true identity as a Jew during the early stages of the pageantry. After all, that was the truth. However, her cousin Mordecai had warned her never to disclose it at the time. She wholeheartedly obeyed Mordecai, so it was not too consequential her responses to questions regarding her nationality. As long as she concealed her Jewish identity, the best for her and God’s will for her life (Esther 2:10, 19-20). In a letter to Francois-Joachim de Pierre, Cardinal de Bernis on April 23, 1764, Voltaire said, “There are truths which are not for all men, nor for all times.”

One other myth about truth is that everyone dislikes it and will, therefore, do everything to stifle it. King Herod still liked John the Baptist, although he boldly told him the truth he didn’t want to hear (Mark 6:20). Although some, for want of their interest, may appear allergic and fight it, their instincts, conscience, and inner being secretly admire the truth. Ironically and contrary to popular beliefs, the Bible says in Proverbs 16:13 that kings take pleasure in honest lips; they value a man who speaks the truth. This means, for want of their selfish desires, they may not necessarily like you because of your truthful stands; they will, however, give you your value.

Before attacking Ramoth Gilead, 400 prophets in Israel had all prophesied victory for King Ahab and Israel. Yet Jehoshaphat, King of Judah, who had visited the King then, was still unconvinced and wanted more spiritual consultations. Ahab sent for Micaiah, who initially did not want to hear his prophecy since he didn’t believe he was going to say anything his itching ear wanted to hear. Jehoshaphat insisted it would be good to listen to him as well. It is, therefore, a lie that people always do not want to have anything to do with the truth.

“When he arrived, the king asked him, ‘Micaiah, shall we go to war against Ramoth Gilead or not?’ ‘Attack and be victorious,’ he answered, ‘for the LORD will give it into the king’s hand.’ The king said to him, ‘How many times must I make you swear to tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the LORD?’ Then Micaiah answered, ‘I saw all Israel scattered on the hills like sheep without a shepherd, and the LORD said, ‘These people have no master. Let each one go home in peace.’” (1 Kings 22:15-17). From the above text, in that spiritually intimidating presence of 400 prophets singing the same chorus, Micaiah initially tested King Ahab by affirming what the other prophets had already told him. However, as powerful and attractive as the truth always stands, the King is unconvinced but pleads with Micaiah to say to him nothing but the truth. At this, Micaiah told him the truth and the fallout of the pending war, which was not in the King’s favor. Although Ahab insisted on fighting that battle, every word Micaiah spoke came to pass, and the King of Israel died in that battle. Even though many may not have the wherewithal to accept the truth, they would still want to hear it anyway. The truth is presented to the glory of God and for the betterment of society and not just for the sake of presenting facts. To speak the truth as a believer, get the facts correct, mirror them in the light of God’s word, and present them without any intent to deceive anyone. It can, therefore, be safely concluded that truth is absolute to the extent of God’s word because Jesus is the Truth.

Stay blessed.

Written by Apostle James Orhin Agyin