Erev Shavuot 5783

Me

We

God

We live in what I like to call a post-truth era… I didn’t coin the term, It was originally used in reference to political discourse, in which talking points at emotional responses rather than factually based truths are common. The idea is simple though, we live in an era that supposes what is truth for me may not be truth for the next guy. In other words, most people would say there is no “absolute truth.” Absolute truth is a philosophical concept that can be defined as inflexible reality: fixed, invariable, unalterable facts.

This presents a major problem for Believers, seeing as how we believe that certain things are absolute truths and inflexible realities.

Such as:

• The death, burial, and resurrection of Yeshua

• The young nation of Israel stood at the base of Mount Sinai and heard the audible voice of God speak forth the Aseret HaDibrot (Ten Words/Commandments)

• We believe that to be saved one must accept the blood atonement of Messiah Yeshua

• We believe in heaven and hell

• A seven-day creation

• That Adam and Eve were the first humans

• That the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) was poured out in Acts 2             

• The virgin birth of Yeshua

• Yeshua’s ability to heal the blind, the deaf, the lame, even raise the dead to life

• That Yeshua ascended into heaven from the Mount of Olives

But, for the most part, those with whom we might find ourselves sharing the Gospel today likely do not accept the possibility that there is an absolute truth at all.

Principle: The Body of Messiah needs a fresh renewal of the Ruach HaKodesh because the post-truth world around us needs to see G-d’s tangible Presence in us.

(Repeat)

(expound)

Exodus 19:16–19 TLV

In the morning of the third day, there was thundering and lightning, a thick cloud on the mountain, and the blast of an exceedingly loud shofar. All the people in the camp trembled. Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they stood at the lowest part of the mountain. Now the entire Mount Sinai was in smoke, because Adonai had descended upon it in fire. The smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace. The whole mountain quaked greatly. When the sound of the shofar grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him with a thunderous sound.

(expound)

Exodus 20:1–3 TLV

Then God spoke all these words saying, “I am Adonai your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. “You shall have no other gods before Me.

(expound)

Exodus 20:18–19 TLV

All the people witnessed the thundering and the lightning, and the sound of the shofar, and the mountain smoking. When the people saw it, they trembled and stood far off. So they said to Moses, “You, speak to us, and we will listen, but do not let God speak to us, or we will die.”

(expound)

Principle: The Body of Messiah needs a fresh renewal of the Ruach HaKodesh because the post-truth world around us needs to see G-d’s tangible Presence in us.

(expound)

Acts 2:1–4 TLV

When the day of Shavuot had come, they were all together in one place. Suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And tongues like fire spreading out appeared to them and settled on each one of them. They were all filled with the Ruach ha-Kodesh and began to speak in other tongues as the Ruach enabled them to speak out.

(expound)

Acts 2:5–13 TLV

Now Jewish people were staying in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation under heaven. And when this sound came, the crowd gathered. They were bewildered, because each was hearing them speaking in his own language. And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “All these who are speaking—aren’t they Galileans? How is it that we each hear our own birth language? Parthians and Medes and Elamites and those living in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and parts of Libya toward Cyrene, and visitors from Rome (both Jewish people and proselytes), Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring in our own tongues the mighty deeds of God!” And they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to each other, “What does this mean?” Others, poking fun, were saying, “They are full of sweet new wine!”

(expound)

Acts 2:14–21 TLV

But Peter, standing with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed them: “Fellow Judeans and all who are staying in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and pay attention to my words. These men are not drunk, as you suppose—for it’s only the third hour of the day! But this is what was spoken about through the prophet Joel: ‘And it shall be in the last days,’ says God, ‘that I will pour out My Ruach on all flesh. Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. Even on My slaves, male and female, I will pour out My Ruach in those days, and they shall prophesy. And I will give wonders in the sky above and signs on the earth beneath— blood, and fire, and smoky vapor. The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the great and glorious Day of Adonai comes. And it shall be that everyone who calls on the name of Adonai shall be saved.’

(expound)

— Peter’s sermon begins with his proclaiming the words of Joel 3 (Joel 2 in most English translations)...

Acts 2:37–40 TLV

Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the rest of the emissaries, “Fellow brethren, what shall we do?” Peter said to them, “Repent, and let each of you be immersed in the name of Messiah Yeshua for the removal of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Ruach ha-Kodesh. For the promise is for you and your children, and for all who are far away—as many as Adonai our God calls to Himself.” With many other words he warned them and kept urging them, saying, “Save yourselves from this twisted generation!”

(expound)

Principle: The Body of Messiah needs a fresh renewal of the Ruach HaKodesh because the post-truth world around us needs to see G-d’s tangible Presence in us.

(expound)

Galatians 5:16–21 TLV

But I say, walk by the Ruach, and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Ruach, but the Ruach sets its desire against the flesh—for these are in opposition to one another, so that you cannot do what you want. But if you are led by the Ruach, you are not under law. Now the deeds of the flesh are clear: sexual immorality, impurity, indecency, idolatry, witchcraft, hostility, strife, jealousy, rage, selfish ambition, dissension, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, just as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit God’s kingdom.

(expound)

Galatians 5:22–25 TLV

But the fruit of the Ruach is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Messiah have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Ruach, let us also walk by the Ruach.

Principle: The Body of Messiah needs a fresh renewal of the Ruach HaKodesh because the post-truth world around us needs to see G-d’s tangible Presence in us.

You

(Call Worship Team back up and unmute)

We