Pentecost- The Historical Significance

The New Testament is filled with the fulfillment of prophecies and the realization of type and anti-type. It also unveils the shadow and reality relationship of Old Covenant lessons and their point of reference in Christ Jesus.

One of those lessons is in that of the day of Pentecost in the book of Acts. For years we have looked at this text as a very significant historical marker for the genesis of the church of our Lord. Truly, it marks such and occasion but it also houses in its time, tradition and the text a very rich appreciation for Jehovah God.

The purpose of this lesson is to understand the historical, contextual, and cultural significance of Pentecost so that we appreciate and participate in honoring God right now for all that He does.

In order to do this we will need to examine the historical significance by appreciating Pentecost as a required remembrance, and seeing the nation’s reverent response and the uniqueness of its relevant relationship. When we can understand this day in Acts two as they understood it then perhaps our celebration will be greater and our remembrance won’t have to be prompted and of course we will gain in glory to God.

I. A required remembrance

God chose to bring His people back to a point of reference through the various mandatory feasts. One of which is the feast of harvest also known as Pentecost.

A. Its History (one of three required feast)

1. Passover- Death of the Lamb in their place

2. Pentecost- (Harvest) Fruitfulness of God

3. Booths- Tents they live in during the wondering

4. All of these pointed to greater blessings in Christ.

            B. Its Heritage (the bond of a birth rite)

                        1. It was handed down through trial and triumph:

                        2. through the United Kingdom of David

                        3. through the divided Kingdom of Reheboam

                        4. in the years of captivity and the carrying away

5. Regardless of the period God promised blessings when you remember Him.

            C. Its Healing (our application)

                        1. We have required observations from God.

                        2. We must observe the Passover-Christ Jesus

3. We must worship God for the first fruits of Jesus Christ which gives us a guarantee that he will deliver us up one day.

4. Feast of Booths- We too remember that we are on our way to Canaan land and that this body is just a tent, just temporary, that is won’t be very long till this short life shall end.             2Cor.5:1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

II. A reverent response            Acts 2:5,9-11

Their worship and celebration to God and for God and with God was a:

A.    Family Matter                 Dt. 16:9-12

B.     Focused Movement       Psalm. 120-134

1. Every nation from all over made way

2. Even in dispersion they remembered

C.     Faithful Mentality                      Luke 2:41-44

 III. A relevant relationship

A.    To Gods Plan- one of the high lights of this particular feast is that the Giving of the Law was 50 days after Passover.

B.     To Gods People- were to have lives that emulated the God of the law they observed.

C.     To Gods Purpose- was to touch their lives, the lives to the seven heathen nations that surrounded them and all that were continuously being born into covenant.

What we are about to see in this chapter is the celebration of lamb who died our behalf, the celebration of the Law being given for our behalf and the reception of the Spirit of God to commemorate the New covenant of God. This text is the transition from History to the New Covenant Heralds and the Healing that Only God can give.

So what do we do?

1.      Appreciate the blessings of your personal Passover.

2.      Acknowledge the blessings of your life.

3.      Accept the challenge of changing the world around you.