Perhaps one of the most exciting events recorded in the Bible is when the day of Pentecost occurred in the second chapter of Acts. What an amazing experience it must have been to be sitting in the upper room when the wind of the Holy Spirit arrived, see the visual of what looked like tongues of fire over people’s heads, hear people suddenly speaking in a language they never learned, and watch 3000 people come to Christ in one day. Truly revival at its finest!
There’s a beautiful promise in this passage of scripture. After hearing everything that Peter had to say, there were many who were “cut to the heart” and they wanted to know, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37).
Then Peter replied in verses 38-39, “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 to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” This story inspires the following 4 ways to live in the power of Pentecost every day.
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/sedmak
1. Take a Bold Stand
1. Take a Bold Stand
Once the apostles received the Holy Spirit, they took the bold stand of witnessing to the Jews who lived in Jerusalem, as well as many foreigners who were lodging or living there and were drawn outside by the sound of the mighty wind of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:5-12).
Depending on our church affiliation, our first act of taking a bold stand may be our baptism. When we get baptized, we’re making a public profession of faith in front of other believers, and possibly non-believers, depending on who’s present for the event. There’s a great deal of support that comes with this, and it might even include a celebratory dinner, cake, photos, a certificate, and a new study Bible to commemorate the event.
After this, it’s more of a challenge because we may be taking that bold stand alone in our convictions, and we might even be in the minority. A work or school environment may not be so friendly toward our decision to live life as a Christian. It could be that we’re even in the minority where our family is concerned, and so we may need to call on the Lord daily to help us stand strong.
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Design Pics/Don Hammond
2. Pray without Ceasing
2. Pray without Ceasing
We’re directed in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 to “pray without ceasing.” Just as we are living in some pretty intense days and times, so were the first-century believers. The idea of this passage is consistent prayer, ideally, every day. This doesn’t have to be anything super formal, and it doesn’t necessarily need to be for an extended period of time. It can be something very simple where we’re being aware of His presence, and maybe even asking for His guidance and/or intervention in connection to a work or school project, a decision we need to make, friends or relatives who are going through some difficult circumstance and they come to our mind during the course of the day.
It doesn’t have to be just the big things in life that move us to pray. We can talk to the Lord about the little things, too. Prayer is the communication aspect of our relationship with the Lord. Just as we like to communicate with friends and family to keep our relationships strong, we can do the same with the Lord.
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/katleho Seisa
3. Stir Up the Gift within You
3. Stir Up the Gift within You
God has put gifts in each of us -- both natural and spiritual. Using those gifts regularly enhances our ability to use them more effectively, bringing joy to us, the Lord, and those around us. The old Chariots of Fire movie highlights this so well with the iconic words of Scottish runner Eric Liddell in a conversation he was having with his sister: “Jenny, you’ve got to understand. I believe God made me for a purpose—for China. But He also made me fast! And when I run, I feel His pleasure. To give it up would be to hold Him in contempt.”
While we may not be thinking of China in terms of God’s purpose for us, He definitely has one, and we will feel His pleasure when we’re doing what He has gifted us to do. Each of us has at least one gift. Some have more. If you’re not sure in what way or ways God has gifted you, you can take a spiritual gifts test to figure that one. One great place to find that online is Lifeway.
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/SDI Productions
4. Ask Him to Lead You Daily by His Spirit
4. Ask Him to Lead You Daily by His Spirit
There’s an old Broadway musical called Godspell, and one of the songs from that musical became a hit in 1972. The name of the song is “Day by Day.” It was on the Billboard Hot 100 for 14 weeks and peaked at #13. Godspell is basically a retelling of the Gospel of Matthew, and the song highlights three things that the character playing that role prays about each day, according to Music Theater International. Those three things were “To see thee more clearly, love thee more dearly, follow thee more nearly day by day.” If you’re curious to hear the tune, you can click here.
These three elements are all a part of being led by God’s Spirit on a daily basis. We can begin to be more open to this through memorizing Scriptures (hiding His Word in our hearts) and through consistency in our prayer life. As we do this, it deepens our relationship with Him, and we sense His directives, or His will for us, on a more regular basis within our spirit. There’s generally an uncanny peace that comes with being led by His Spirit. Sometimes this is also accompanied with a sense of joy.
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/palidachan
Originally published May 21, 2025.
