What Happened at Pentecost?
Pastor Lee Cummings
May 24, 2026 Message Recap
There’s something powerful about a storm rolling in: the air changes, the wind shifts, and you can feel it in the air before you see it.
That’s what Pentecost was like. After Jesus rose from the dead, He spent 40 days teaching His disciples about God’s Kingdom. But before leaving, He told them to wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit. So 120 believers gathered together and prayed for ten days, waiting for God’s promise.
Then suddenly, everything changed.
Acts 2 says a mighty rushing wind filled the house. Tongues of fire appeared over each person, and they were filled with the Holy Spirit. They began speaking in different languages, and people from many nations heard them declaring the greatness of God in their own language.
This was the fulfillment of God’s promise to pour out His Spirit on all people.
Pentecost was not random.
In the Old Testament, Pentecost was celebrated when God gave His law to Israel at Mount Sinai. God wanted His people to know Him deeply and follow Him from the heart, but the people were afraid and kept their distance.
At Pentecost in Acts 2, God did something new. Instead of writing His law on stone tablets, He wrote it on human hearts through the Holy Spirit, and the church was born. It wasn’t just a building or a place, but a Spirit-filled movement meant to bring God’s message to the world.
Unfortunately, many churches today have traded spiritual power for comfort and routine. We have buildings, programs, podcasts, and endless resources, yet we often lack passion for reaching people or living fully surrendered to the Holy Spirit.
It’s possible to have structure without spiritual power.
Like a sailboat without wind, we can look prepared but remain stuck. In Scripture, when people encountered God, they became aware of their need for repentance and purity. Today, many believers focus more on success, comfort, or image than on becoming more like Jesus. We often celebrate talent over character, but God desires hearts fully devoted to Him.
The good news is this: God is still moving.
Cultural Christianity may be fading, but God is awakening people who truly hunger for Him. Many are realizing that programs and personalities cannot replace the Presence of God.
We do not need a new version of Christianity. We need to return to dependence on the Holy Spirit, prayer, holiness, and obedience to Jesus.
Just like the disciples waited in expectation for God to move, believers today are invited to seek Him again—to pray, surrender, and make room for the Holy Spirit to work. The question is not whether God still moves; the question is whether we are ready to respond.
As the Church, will we respond in obedience to the wind and fire that God seeks to unleash, or will we remain stagnant, stuck in comfort and performance?
Scripture References
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About Radiant Church
Founded in 1996, Radiant Church has grown into a multi-location church committed to biblical teaching, discipleship, and mission.
At Radiant Church, there is an invitation to grow in your spiritual journey, build meaningful community, and truly get connected. We are passionate about helping people grow in faith, encounter the Presence of God, and become part of a church grounded in Spirit and truth.