09-29-2019 - Pentecost

Pentecost means “fiftieth” because this feast was held fifty days after the Feast of Firstfruits (Lev. 23:15–22). The calendar of Jewish feasts in Leviticus 23 is an outline of the work of Jesus Christ. Passover pictures His death as the Lamb of God (John 1:29; 1 Cor. 5:7), and the Feast of Firstfruits pictures His resurrection from the dead (1 Cor. 15:20–23). Fifty days after Firstfruits is the Feast of Pentecost, which pictures the formation of the church. At Pentecost, the Jews celebrated the giving of the Law, but Christians celebrate it because of the giving of the Holy Spirit to the church.

The Feast of Firstfruits took place on the day after the Sabbath following Passover, which means it was always on the first day of the week. (The Sabbath is the seventh day.) Jesus arose from the dead on the first day of the week and “became the firstfruits of them that slept” (1 Cor. 15:20). Now, if Pentecost was fifty days later—seven weeks plus one day—then Pentecost also took place on the first day of the week. Christians assemble and worship on Sunday, the first day of the week, because on that day our Lord arose from the dead, but it was also the day on which the Holy Spirit was given to the church.

On the Feast of Firstfruits, the priest waved a sheaf of grain before the Lord; but on Pentecost, he presented two loaves of bread. Why? Because at Pentecost, the Holy Spirit baptized the believers and united them into one body. The Jewish believers received this baptism at Pentecost, and the Gentile believers in the home of Cornelius (Acts 10). This explains the presence of two loaves of bread (see 1 Cor. 10:17). The fact that there was leaven (yeast) in the loaves indicates the presence of sin in the church on earth. The church will not be perfect until it gets to heaven.

We must not conclude that this ten-day prayer meeting brought about the miracles of Pentecost, or that we today may pray as they did and experience “another Pentecost.” Like our Lord’s death at Calvary, Pentecost was a once-for-all event that will not be repeated. The church may experience new fillings of the Spirit, and certainly patient prayer is an essential element to spiritual power, but we would not ask for another Pentecost any more than we would ask for another Calvary.

The New Covenant PROMISED

John 7:37–39 NLT

On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’ ” (When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.)

The New Covenant REALIZED

At the Last Supper, Jesus announced that His shed blood was to bring forth a NEW COVENANT

He also clearly spoke of the coming of the Holy Spirit - NOT TO BRING ABOUT PENTECOSTAL POWERS as some in the church today mistakenly believe, but:

to TEACH you all things and bring to your remembrance “All I have Said” (Jesus) John 14:26

to be the SPIRIT OF TRUTH who… will bear witness about me (Jesus) John 15:26-27

CONVICT OF SIN, RIGHTEOUSNESS AND JUDGMENT, sin because they do not believe in me, righteousness because I go to the Father and you will see me no longer; judgment because the ruler of this world IS judged. John 16:7-11

to GUIDE YOU INTO ALL TRUTH… for He will not speak on his own authority, but whaterver he hears he will speak John 16:14

He will DECLARE to YOU the things that are to come.. John 16:13

He will GLORIFY ME for He will take what is mine and declare it to you John 16:14

Acts 2:1–13 NLT

On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability. At that time there were devout Jews from every nation living in Jerusalem. When they heard the loud noise, everyone came running, and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers. They were completely amazed. “How can this be?” they exclaimed. “These people are all from Galilee, and yet we hear them speaking in our own native languages! Here we are—Parthians, Medes, Elamites, people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, the province of Asia, Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, and the areas of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism), Cretans, and Arabs. And we all hear these people speaking in our own languages about the wonderful things God has done!” They stood there amazed and perplexed. “What can this mean?” they asked each other. But others in the crowd ridiculed them, saying, “They’re just drunk, that’s all!”

The Day of Pentecost - FIRST Day of the Week, 50 Days after The Feast of First Fruits (Day of Resurrection)

Believers Meeting TOGETHER

EVERYONE present FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT

Began speaking in other LANGUAGES

as the HOLY SPIRIT GAVE THEM THIS ABILITY

Results:

Jews from every nation, they heard the loud noise

Bewildered to HEAR THEIR OWN LANGUAGES being spoken (v. 6) ....

Completely amazed...”and yet we hear them speaking in OUR OWN NATIVE LANGUAGES” v. 8

And we all hear these people speaking in our OWN LANGUAGES

About the WONDERFUL THINGS GOD HAS DONE

CHALLENGE:

Are we allowing the Holy Spirit who Indwells us, if we have called on Jesus to Save us, Are we allowing the Holy Spirit to FILL US so we may SPEAK OF ALL THE WONDERFUL THINGS GOD HAS DONE?

Are we full of bitterness, complaining, breathing threatenings and just generally miserable.