Acts 2:1-4 English Standard Version

¹ When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. ² And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. ³ And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. ⁴ And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

If a vessel is filled with water, there is no longer any room for air. This is the essence of being filled with the Holy Spirit, there is no room for self. The power of the Holy Spirit overwhelms the presence of self and takes over. These men did not know the language they spoke. They were not learned men.

There are fifty days from Passover to Pentecost. Pentecost is the first of three great festivals. It is the feast of weeks. This is what the International Standard bible Encyclopedia has to say about Pentecost.

“The requirements of the three great festivals were then well understood at this time, and their authority was founded in the Mosaic Law and unquestioned. The festival and its ritual were minutely described in this Law. Every male in Israel was on that day required to appear before the Lord at the sanctuary.”

This is a sign of God’s perfect timing in which the power of the Holy Spirit was not demonstrated until this great gathering of faithful Jews that were gathered before the Lord. What was different for all these men was to experience that the sanctuary of the Lord now abides in men. That had to be demonstrated in a way that was undeniable. Every man had to see for themselves the power of the Lord as He appeared before them.

This was something that had never happened before in all their experiences.

Proverbs 13:7 English Standard Version (ESV) One pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.

The definition of pretentious is attempting to impress by affecting greater importance, talent, culture, etc., than is actually possessed. Ref.Dictionary.com

The root word for pretentious is pretend. The insinuation is that the pretentious understands in their hearts that they do not actually possess this importance.

Why would we pretend to be something we are not? Perhaps it is a protective mechanism. What illusions do we suffer in not knowing who we are in truth? What deep seated insecurities do we harbor and try to hide because we feel vulnerable? How unlovely do we feel?

 Philippians 4:8 English Standard Version (ESV) Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

It is when we look to Him who is true that we can stop pretending.

The reason is that we cannot see Jesus in truth without having surrendered self to His Lordship. We will know that our past lives no longer matters. We do not need to pretend any longer.

Yet the desire to be more still exists within our nature. We were empty vessels for so long it is hard to imagine what it feels like to be filled. The Holy Spirit is gentle, kind and fully aware of how we feel and will protect our souls from harm, even from ourselves.

Psalm 4:2 English Standard Version (ESV) O men,^{[men of rank]} how long shall my honor be turned into shame? How long will you love vain words and seek after lies? Selah

How long indeed shall we pretend to know who and what we are and deny our new creation in Christ?

We will discover who we are in Christ by looking to Him and not ourselves.