 The Covenant Values of The Feast of Pentecost
Summary
The Feast of Weeks or Harvest—Shavuot (Pentecost) is a feast of jubilee—a celebration of the glory of God. It marks the time God’s law was given to Moses. As the disciples were celebrating this feast, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as Messiah had promised. It truly marked the glorification of Messiah, and glory of the power of God.
Messiah called the Holy Spirit the Comforter. The same Greek word is used for comforter and consolation. The disciples learned quickly that it was by the power and comfort of the Holy Spirit that the community of believers grew and maintained its vitality.
In appreciating the value of the presence and ministry of the Holy Spirit, Paul endeavored to help believers understand the nature of the Holy Spirit, and how He communicates with us. He, therefore, shed light on Isaiah’s comment in 64:4—“Men have not heard nor perceived by the ear, Nor has the eye seen any God besides You”—by explaining…
“It is to us, however, that God has revealed these things. How? Through the Spirit. For the Spirit probes all things, even the profoundest depths of God. 11 For who knows the inner workings of a person except the person’s own spirit inside him? So too no one knows the inner workings of God except God’s Spirit. 12 Now we have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit of God, so that we might understand the things God has so freely given us. 13 These are the things we are talking about when we avoid the manner of speaking that human wisdom would dictate and instead use a manner of speaking taught by the Spirit, by which we explain things of the Spirit to people who have the Spirit. 14 Now the natural man does not receive the things from the Spirit of God — to him they are nonsense! Moreover, he is unable to grasp them, because they are evaluated through the Spirit. 15 But the person who has the Spirit can evaluate everything, while no one is in a position to evaluate him. 16 For who has known the mind of Adonai? Who will counsel him?? But we have the mind of the Messiah!” (1 Corinthians 2:10-14 JNT)
Messiah said the Holy Spirit “will guide you into all truth.” The Holy Spirit, therefore, is our greatly valued covenant partner, expressing Himself through “various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit” to confirm God’s truths. “For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?” (Hebrews 2:1-4 NKJV)
Scripture reveals how the gifts of the Holy Spirit flow within the context of a humble, reverent and orderly group of believers gathered together in faith to edify one another, and confirm His word of truth.
“What is our conclusion, brothers? Whenever you come together, let everyone be ready with a psalm or a teaching or a revelation, or ready to use his gift of tongues or give an interpretation; but let everything be for edification. 27 If the gift of tongues is exercised, let it be by two or at most three, and each in turn; and let someone interpret. 28 And if there is no one present who can interpret, let the people who speak in tongues keep silent when the congregation meets — they can speak to themselves and to God. 29 Let two or three prophets speak, while the others weigh what is said. 30 And if something is revealed to a prophet who is sitting down, let the first one be silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, with the result that all will learn something and all will be encouraged. 32 Also, the prophets’ spirits are under the prophets’ control; 33 for God is not a God of unruliness but of shalom.” (1 Corinthians 14:26 JNT)
Disciples are afforded the opportunity to grow into the measure of the stature of the fullness of Messiah, or Lord’s “standard of maturity.” (Ephesians 4:13 JNT) Such a measure, or standard, carries real value; “a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” (2 Corinthians 4:17 NKJV) If we truly value such a measure, we will respond to the conviction of the Holy Spirit, transforming our minds, and conforming our attitudes and character to that of Messiah’s.
Such a transformation happens over time. It truly requires disciplined submission to the Holy Spirit. “Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 3:17-18 NKJV)
The result of the process yields good fruits. The more we submit to the Spirit, the more we reflect the fruits of the Spirit. We must, therefore, allow the Holy Spirit to discipline our flesh through patient submission, humility and love. “Moreover, those who belong to the Messiah Yeshua have put their old nature to death on the stake, along with its passions and desires. 25 Since it is through the Spirit that we have Life, let it also be through the Spirit that we order our lives day by day.”
(Galatians 5:24-25 JNT)
Life Application Questions
In what ways have you valued the ministry of the Holy Spirit in your life? How do you recognize the comfort of the Holy Spirit? How does He speak to you? How do you confirm what the Holy Spirit reveals to you? How are you being transformed, and conformed into the fullness of Messiah?
Scripture References
John 14-16; 1 Corinthians 2:6-16; 12-14; 2 Corinthians 3:4-18; Galatians 5; Romans 14
Book References
Faith and Fables: p. 22-27; 58-59; 81; 115-122; 139-140; 164-165
Sons and Servants: p. 29-30; 44-46; 79-81; 90-91; 108-115; 119-123
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