The Permanence of Pentecost

The agricultural cycle of ancient Isreal revolved around two harvest periods, one in the spring and the other in the fall.

To kick off the Spring harvest before any grain could be pulled up, the priest would wave a sheath of newly harvested barley.

This wave offering was done on the day after the Sabbath during Passover/Easter. 50 days later there would be another harvest commemorated by another wave offering of two loaves of bread (w/leaven) made from the first fruits of that harvest . Thats why you couldn’t worship God empty handed.. says “none shall appear before me empty-handed...

That wave offering of Barley was not only celebrating what God had done, but it also marked a confidence by the people of what God was going to do within the next 50 days (give another harvest). This second harvest celebration was Pentecost (meaning 50) or 50days after Easter (the waving of the sheath of barley).

Celebrated 50 days from the 16th day of Nissan (Easter) or the day after the completion of 7wks.

(PENTECOST FOR TODAY)

Jews came together to bring & celebrate the evidence of God’s provision & promises.

When we look at Pentecost today, it comes 50 days after the celebration of Easter.

On Easter, we acknowledge what God did in sending his Son/Jesus, but it also marked what God was getting ready to do in sending the Holy Spirit. Jesus says, “I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.

On Easter, when Christ was resurrected, he was like a wave offering before God of the provision of God (WE WERE SAVED)

But it also marked what God was getting ready to do in helping us not JUST TO BE SAVED, but HOW TO LIVE LIKE SAVED FOLK (only possible with the power of the HOLY SPIRIT) which would come 50 days after the resurrection/wave offering of Christ.

The Passover feast is distinguished by the presentation of a wave offering of two loaves of bread made with the corn of the new harvest

Before the start of the 50 day period or the day after the Sabbath of Passover/Easter, The priest would wave a sheath of newly harvested grain/barley.

FCF: God told them to observe this forever…never come before me empty-handed. God could say that because he ALWAYS provides for his people! EXPOUND…to worship meant to give…if you didn’t give, you weren’t worshipping.

(SCRIPTURES)

We come back to the question of

Acts 2:12 ESV

12 And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?”

Remember at the outset that whatever the Holy Spirit was at the first that he is now, for as God he remaineth for ever the same: whatsoever he then did he is able to do still, for his power is by no means diminished.

As saith the prophet Micah, “O thou that art named the house of Jacob, is the spirit of the Lord straitened?” We should greatly grieve the Holy Spirit if we supposed that his might was less to-day than in the beginning.

Understanding the Meaning is to understand the purpose for Jesus’ words, “If I don’t Go, the Helper won’t come”....

WHERE DO WE NEED HELP.

· Although we may not expect, and need not desire, the miracles which came with the gift of the Holy Spirit, so far as they were physical, yet we may both desire and expect that which was intended and symbolized by them, and we may reckon to see the like spiritual wonders performed among us at this day.

(Pentecost)

Pentecost Brought COMFORT & ADVOCACY

Exactly the first day after 7 complete weeks or day 50, Jews came together to bring & celebrate the evidence of God’s provision & promises

Jesus says in to be encouraged. He says...

John 16:7–8 ESV

7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:

John 14:16 ESV

16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,

John 16

The priest would wave a sheath of newly harvested grain on the day after the Sabbath during the feast of unleavened bread (period of 7 days after the Passover)

the word for Helper here is parakletos (encourager, advocate)

FCF: Often, we look for advocacy we look for others to stand in our behalf.

But the advocacy of the Holy Spirit comes from within.

FCF: When you honor God in times of trouble and trial, doing what’s right convicts the hearts of others.

1 Samuel 30:6 ESV

6 And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul, each for his sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.

Pentecost Brought REMEMBERANCE

John 14:26 ESV

26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

In the midst of trials is sometimes the hardest times to trust/stand with God because you can’t remember what he said or what you read.

Jesus said the father is sending a helper in my name to teach you and bring to your remembrance.

Matt

Matthew 4:5–6 ESV

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple 6 and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and “ ‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’ ”

Pentecost Brought A STRONG DEFENSE

Luke 12:11–12 ESV

11 And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”

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