PENTECOST

Scripture Reading: Exodus 19 & 20 and Acts 2

What is Pentecost?

You shall count for yourselves -- from the day after the Shabbat, from the day when you bring the Omer of the waving -- seven Shabbats, they shall be complete. Until the day after the seventh Sabbath you shall count, fifty days... You shall convoke on this very day -- there shall be a holy convocation for yourselves -- you shall do no laborious work; it is an eternal decree in your dwelling places for your generations, [Leviticus, 21:15-16, 21].

Pentecost is a Greek word implying fiftieth day. It is a Greek name for Shavu'ot, the Jewish religious, Festival of Weeks.  Counting for the day of Pentecost starts from the second day of Passover to the day before Pentecost, 49 days or 7 full weeks.  It is feasted and celebrated on the 50th day to commemorate the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai [Exodus 20]. To the Jews it also marks a time when the first fruits are harvested and brought into the Temple as thanksgiving to Hashem (a respectful reference to God). It is known as Hag ha-Bikkurim (the Festival of the First Fruits). However, historically, it is the observation of the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai known as Hag Matan Torateinu (the Festival of the Giving of Our Torah) that takes the centre stage during Pentecost in Israel. To the Jews, their belief is that Passover is a celebration of freedom from physical bondage and slavery, and the giving of the Torah; redemption from spiritual bondage, idolatry, slavery and immorality [sin].

In Christendom it is regarded as the day when Holy Spirit descended upon the 120 disciples (Apostles and believers) gathered in the upper room. It is for this reason that Pentecost is often regarded as the birthday of the church; specifically occurring 50 days after Passover. In the Christian calendar, Pentecost comes 10 days after the Ascension of Jesus Christ. It is of particular importance to every believer because it is a day that our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ fulfilled His promise made in John 16:5-15 to send the "Counsellor and Spirit of Truth".

Holy Spirit: The Promise fulfilled and manifest

13 But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth-giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth). For He will not speak His own message [on His own authority]; but He will tell whatever He hears [from the Father; He will give the message that has been given to Him], and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come [that will happen in the future]. 14 He will honour and glorify Me, because He will take of (receive, draw upon) what is Mine and will reveal (declare, disclose, transmit) it to you. 15 Everything that the Father has is Mine. That is what I meant when I said that He [the Spirit] will take the things that are Mine and will reveal (declare, disclose, transmit) it to you (John 16:13-15).

Jesus had earlier made a similar promise in John 14:16-17:

16 And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby), that He may remain with you forever— 17 The Spirit of Truth, Whom the world cannot receive (welcome, take to its heart), because it does not see Him or know and recognize Him. But you know and recognize Him, for He lives with you [constantly] and will be in you.

The Conviction of Sin

In Exodus 20 God gives us the Torah including the 10 commandments whereas in Acts He gives us His Spirit, guidance and utterance. Please note that Jesus came to fulfil the requirements of Torah. The grace He affords you and me is not for us to do as we please. Beware of the hyper- grace teaching that is deceiving believers and basically teaching that Torah/Old testament is an irrelevant old covenant. This is largely due to an incorrect translation of the word. Torah means instruction direction, teaching or doctrine designed to teach us the truth about God. It is a path - a pathway to God, a pathway to Truth. "And You shall know the truth, and the shall make you free" (John 8:32 KJV). God can only forgive that which we acknowledge and repent of. You must work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. But you cannot be a successful Christian without the ministry and guidance of Holy Spirit.

Beloved our era is the dispensation of the Holy Spirit. Take a careful study of the scriptures given again paying particular attention to His works. You will understand that the works of Holy Spirit are all encompassing. They include both the deliverance done at the Passover and redemption from sin signified by the giving of the Torah. The Torah is about righteousness and judgment. 8 ...when (Holy Spirit) comes, He... convict(s) and convince(s) the world and brings demonstration to it about sin and about righteousness (uprightness of heart and right standing with God) and about judgment [John 16:8 Amp] 
And in King James version It was stated this way, “8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:” ( John 16:8 KJV) .

It is our job to yield to Holy Spirit.

The emblem of Holy Spirit, Holy Fire

1And when the day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all assembled together in one place,2 When suddenly there came a sound from heaven like the rushing of a violent tempest blast, and it filled the whole house in which they were sitting.3 And there appeared to them tongues resembling fire, which were separated and distributed and which settled on each one of them [Acts 2:1-3].

Let’s compare this with the scenario in the old covenant.

16 The third morning there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp trembled. 17 Then Moses brought the people from the camp to meet God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. 18 Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke, for the Lord descended upon it in fire; its smoke ascended like that of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly. 19 As the trumpet blast grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and God answered him with a voice. 20 The Lord came down upon Mount Sinai to the top of the mountain, and the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up  [Exodus 19:16-20].

If you compare this later portion of scripture to the previous you will see some similarities. For instance, the Israelites and the believers had to wait on God. One marks the beginning and institution of Pentecost, the other marks the celebration of Pentecost that heralded the arrival of the Holy Spirit. When God came into the picture it was unmistakable, there was fire on the Mountain and fire in the upper room. Our God is a consuming fire. In fact, fire denotes the presence and purity of God.  He is Holy and He is coming soon. There is no longer any time, the message of God to you and me is – LIVE READY.     

        

The Lord is giving His children the same message through dreams, visions and other encounters- “Tell my people I AM coming soon”. In the same way the trumpet sounded to announce His arrival on Mountain Sinai, it will soon be heard to herald His return. He is coming to pick His bride. Are you ready?