Pentecost Sunday 2026

Does anybody know what today is? Today is actually what we call Pentecost Sunday.

Historically, it is recorded as the day when the Holy Spirit came down like a mighty rushing wind in Acts chapter 2, and the people in that upper room were filled and baptized with the Holy Spirit and fire. As that happened, it spilled out into the streets, and people were getting saved left and right. It was an awesome visitation from the Lord.

We are going to read about what happened on that day in just a bit, but first let’s talk about Pentecost for a moment.

Many people hear the word “Pentecost” and immediately become nervous because it sounds a lot like “Pentecostal.” Pentecostals have often been labeled as the crazy people in the church world, especially by those who come from backgrounds that do not believe the gifts of the Spirit are still active today.

Some believe those gifts and manifestations of the Spirit passed away with the apostles and the times of the book of Acts. But there is no real scriptural foundation for that belief, and honestly, it does not make much sense. To say those things passed away would negate much of the New Testament epistles that were written to teach the church about spiritual gifts, encouraging believers to seek them and teaching how they should be properly stewarded.

Paul even dedicates an entire chapter—1 Corinthians 14—to prophecy, tongues, interpretation, and how things should be done decently and in order.

Still, Pentecostals have been labeled fanatics, holy rollers, tongue talkers, runners, shouters, and dancers. In other words, people a lot like those you read about in the Bible.

Back in the old Pentecostal circles, some of the older women with the beehive hairdos were known as the “bobby pin assassins.” They would feel the Spirit moving, start shaking their heads, and bobby pins would go flying everywhere. If you were not careful, you might catch one in the eye.

But my point is this: many people become closed off whenever Pentecost is mentioned. My concern is that people do the same thing with the Holy Spirit Himself. You never want to resist or shut down the Holy Spirit in your walk with God because He is your Helper and Comforter.

Today we are going to talk about Pentecost, and my prayer is that everyone walks away with a better understanding of it and a greater surrender to the Holy Spirit in their lives.

Next week we will continue our “Better Ministry” series, but let me say this: we will never experience better ministry without the help of the Holy Spirit.

Now let’s start with what the word “Pentecost” actually means. Pentecost is a Greek word that simply means “fifty.”

In the Old Testament, after God delivered the Israelites from slavery in Egypt through Moses, He gave Moses the Law and instituted seven feasts.

Leviticus 23 says:

“These are the feasts of the Lord, holy convocations which you shall proclaim at their appointed times.”

These were the seven feasts:

1. Passover

2. Unleavened Bread

3. First Fruits

4. Pentecost, also called the Feast of Weeks

5. Trumpets

6. Atonement

7. Tabernacles

There were four spring feasts and three fall feasts.

The Hebrew word for feasts means “appointed festivals,” and the word convocation can also mean “dress rehearsal.” These feasts were prophetic rehearsals for what was to come.

Jesus fulfilled the first four feasts in His first coming:

- Passover through His crucifixion

- Unleavened Bread through His burial

- First Fruits through His resurrection

- Pentecost through the sending of the Holy Spirit

Jesus was crucified on Passover exactly to the day. He was buried during Unleavened Bread, symbolizing the removal of sin. Leaven represented sin, and Jesus buried our sin through His death.

Then He rose during the Feast of First Fruits. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:20:

“Christ is risen from the dead and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.”

Then came Pentecost—fifty days later.

During the Feast of Pentecost, priests would wave two loaves of bread before the Lord, representing fullness. Many believe those two loaves symbolized both Jew and Gentile coming into the fullness of God.

It was during Pentecost that God sent His Holy Spirit not just to dwell on people, but within them—to immerse, fill, and baptize believers with His Spirit.

That leaves three feasts still to be fulfilled:

- Trumpets

- Atonement

- Tabernacles

I believe these will be fulfilled in Jesus’ second coming.

The Feast of Trumpets points to the rapture of the church.

The Feast of Atonement points to Christ’s return in judgment.

The Feast of Tabernacles points to dwelling with Him forever.

Now let’s return to Pentecost.

Leviticus 23:15-16 says:

“Count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath; then you shall offer a new grain offering to the Lord.”

Many believe Moses received the Law on Mount Sinai during Pentecost. Whether or not that timing is exact, the parallels between Sinai and Acts 2 are incredible.

At Sinai, God descended in fire and smoke. Moses came down with the Law written on stone tablets, but the people were worshiping a golden calf. Judgment came, and about 3,000 people died that day.

Fast forward to Acts 2.

Fifty days after the resurrection of Jesus, the Holy Spirit came.

Acts 2 says:

“When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. Suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind…”

Tongues of fire rested upon them, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

People from every nation heard the wonderful works of God in their own languages. Some mocked and accused them of being drunk, but Peter stood and declared that this was the fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy:

“In the last days, says God, I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh.”

When Peter finished preaching, about 3,000 souls were saved that day.

Isn’t that amazing?

Under the Law, there was a sound from heaven, the Law was written on stone, and 3,000 people died.

Under the Spirit, there was a sound from heaven, God wrote His law on hearts, and 3,000 people were brought to life.

The Law brings death, but the Spirit brings life.

That is why the enemy fights Spirit-filled churches so hard. When the early church was filled with the Holy Spirit, they turned the world upside down—not because of their own strength, but because of the power of the Holy Spirit working through them.

Paul said:

“I did not come to you with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.”

Now here is the question: Can we still experience Pentecost today?

Some believe Pentecost was a one-time event that ended 2,000 years ago. But Pentecost was not merely an event—it was a fulfillment.

Just as Jesus fulfilled Passover through His sacrifice, He fulfilled Pentecost through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Because it was fulfilled, we can still receive the promise today.

Peter said in Acts 2:

“Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and your children, and to all who are afar off.”

The promise of the Holy Spirit is still for us today.

In Acts 8, people in Samaria believed and were baptized, but Peter and John still came to pray for them to receive the Holy Spirit.

In Acts 19, Paul asked believers in Ephesus:

“Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”

They answered, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.”

Paul laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit, speaking in tongues and prophesying.

My burden today is this: many people stop at salvation and never fully receive all that God has for them through the Holy Spirit.

Because of labels, misunderstandings, or strange experiences, many people refuse instead of receive the Holy Spirit.

But we need our Helper—the One who comes alongside us.

I’ll close with this story.

Peter Lord, a Baptist pastor for over fifty years, once read Acts 19 during his personal devotion time. God asked him, “Peter, have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed?”

Peter tried to answer theologically:

“Well God, when I received Jesus, I received the Holy Spirit. He lives in me.”

God responded:

“Your mother-in-law has lived in your house for eighteen months. Have you received her?”

Peter thought for a moment and answered, “Nope.”

Then the Lord said:

“That is how many of My children are. Yes, the Holy Spirit lives in them when they are saved, but many have never truly received Him.”

So my burden today is not just for people to know about the Holy Spirit, but for every person to fully receive Him and surrender their lives completely to Him.

Holy Spirit, I am Yours. Do whatever You want with me.