Pentecost always falls on the seventh Sunday after Easter. In the Christian calendar it is one of our most important Holy Days. It commemorates the coming of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles (the Disciples of Jesus) and other followers, who were in Jerusalem celebrating Shavuot (also called the Feast of Weeks) which was a festival of the harvest.
The Bible tells us that the apostles were celebrating this festival when the Holy Spirit descended on them. It sounded like a very strong wind, and it looked like tongues of fire. The apostles then found themselves speaking in foreign languages, inspired by the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4). In the Christian tradition, this event represents the birth of the early church.
As Christians we believe in a Trinitarian God. That word simply means that God exists as three persons - Father, Son (Jesus) and Holy Spirit - not three separate entities but God as three in one.
The very first mention of the 'Spirit' is in the second verse of the whole Bible. The account of creation, Genesis 1:2, says 'Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.'
In addition to the Holy Spirit being depicted in the form of flames of fire, it is also depicted as a dove. We see this in the account of the baptism of Jesus (Matthew 3:13-17).
As a Christian, I believe that the Holy Spirit enables me to live a life faithful to God and to the teachings of the Bible. He acts as comforter (or Paraclete) to me, one who intercedes, supports and walks alongside me. He is the Spirit of Truth, who acts as an advocate, particularly in the difficult seasons of life.
The book of Galatians 5:22-23, in the New Testament, describes the Fruit of the Spirit as: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. My hope and prayer is that some of those attributes are evidenced in my life.
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