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The Feast of Pentecost
Finding Significance by Relating with God through the Lord’s Feast of PentecostSummary
Celebrated 50 days after Passover, this feast has special significance. This time served to link the deliverance from the bondage of Egypt to the giving of the Torah, or God’s covenant law. It, therefore, serves as a reminder that the redemption from bondage was not fully complete until God’s people had received the fullness of God’s covenant word and order, or law. Since 50 also signifies a time of jubilee according to the covenant (legal cancellation of debts, indentured relationships and restoration of land), this feast represents the shadow of a special time of jubilee. Following the LORD’s resurrection, the disciples had been spending time with one another in prayers and devotion. While they were celebrating this feast, a sound from the sky like the roar of a violent wind came and filled the whole house where they were. The disciples were “filled with the Spirit,” as recorded in Acts 2. On Shavuot—Pentecost—their lives were transformed by the Holy Spirit! In their devotions and celebration, God’s Word connected with His Spirit and brought completion—or fullness—to the revelation of God’s covenant. It therefore, brought fulfillment to Isaiah’s prophecy expressing the fullness of God’s covenant. (Isaiah 59:21) They also understood more clearly the reality of what the LORD meant by “a fountain of water” that would spring up within and bring refreshing new life.
Our understanding of our significance in life becomes magnified once the reality of the Holy Spirit’s infilling becomes real to us. In fact, it will change your life! It’s a matter of growing into the fullness of this revelation as you continue to receive refreshment and truth from the Holy Spirit.
Life Application Questions In what ways do you celebrate—and express gratefulness—for the covenant gifts God has given you—His Word and Spirit?
Scripture References Leviticus 23:15-22; Exodus 23:16; 34:22; Exodus 19; Acts 2; Acts 19:1-7
Discovering God’s Purposes by Relating with Him through the Lord’s Feast of PentecostSummary As Moses read to the people, they declared, “All that the LORD has said we will do, and be obedient.” (Exodus 24:7 NKJV) They, therefore, rededicated themselves to following God’s Word, and renewed their faith in God. It was during this feast that the disciples were first filled with the Holy Spirit. As much as the LORD fulfilled the Feast of First-fruits by being the first fruits of those resurrected in the newness of life redeemed by His sacrificial blood, the infilling of the Holy Spirit represented the fullness of God’s new covenant revealed; and also marked the rededication of the believer’s life from a walk under the law of sin and death to a walk of the Spirit—under the law of the Spirit. (Romans 8:2) For this reason, Paul declared, “But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.” (Galatians 5:18 NKJV) In other words, you are not in subjection to the system that results from perverting God’s law into legalism. In order to maintain the vitality of the Spirit, Paul further exhorted the disciples to be continually filled with the Spirit. (Ephesians 5:18) This is accomplished by regular reading and meditation of God’s Word, and communing with God, praying in the Holy Spirit. It also involves reaching and releasing outward towards others—giving away what God has given to you, so He can refill His reservoirs within you with more of His substance!
Life Application Questions In what ways do you continuously renew and rededicate yourself to God? How do you refresh your thoughts and opinions? How open are you to new revelations of truth God would offer you? Are there any areas of your life where your frame of reference may be somewhat legalistic? Are there any opinions that you have that might be a bit too dogmatic?
Scripture References
Receiving God’s Amazing Grace by Relating with Him through the Lord’s Feast of PentecostSummary On the day the disciples were celebrating this feast, they experienced the glorification of the LORD in a new way—through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. In His final great prayer, the LORD declared to the Father:
He knew His resurrection would glorify the Father. Even more, He knew the release of the power of the Holy Spirit would glorify the Father. He declared to the disciples:
Over the course of time, believers have collectively done more. The LORD still desires for His servants to do greater works in His name by the power of His Spirit.
Life Application Questions How can you reflect the gift of God’s word, Holy Spirit and nature in your life?
Scripture References
Responding in Faith to God’s Invitation of Life and Peace by Relating with Him through the Lord’s Feast of PentecostSummary As the disciples were celebrating this feast 50 days after the LORD’s ascension, they were filled with the Holy Spirit. John the Immerser, or Baptist, said that the LORD would baptize “with the Holy Spirit and fire.” Upon receiving the LORD in your heart, you receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Paul admonishes believers to understand what the will of the Lord is and, therefore, “keep on being filled with the Spirit.” (Ephesians 5:17 JNT) How is this accomplished? Paul explains in Colossians 3:16-17, it comes as we allow the richness of God’s word to live fully inside, as we teach and counsel each other in His wisdom, and as we sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude to God in our hearts.
It should also open up your heart and mind to God’s continuous enlightenment, a passion for the revelation of His truth, and the manifestation of various gifts of the Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12)
Life Application Questions In what ways do you seek God’s continuous infilling of the Holy Spirit? How has your life been a reflection of this infilling?
Scripture References
Walking in Spiritual Reality by Relating with God through the Lord’s Feast of PentecostSummary Moses therefore reminded the people that God provided manna in the wilderness to prove an important point: “He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD.” (Deuteronomy 8:3-4) The LORD quoted this very scripture when tempted by Satan in the wilderness right before embarking on His ministry. (Matthew 4:4 and Luke 4:4) As the disciples were celebrating Shavuot, the Holy Spirit fell upon them as recorded in Acts 2. God’s covenant Word connected with His Spirit and brought completion—or fullness—to the revelation of God’s covenant. It therefore, brought fulfillment to Isaiah’s prophecy expressing the fullness of God’s covenant: "this is My covenant with them: My Spirit who is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth…” (Isaiah 59:21 NKJV) So, full independence in God would be expressed by depending on God’s Word breathed by His Spirit—the Holy Spirit. This is what the LORD revealed towards the end of His ministry in the upper room.
This is also what Paul had in mind in expressing what liberty in the LORD is about: standing free, not being “entangled again with a yoke of bondage.” (Galatians 5:1) As the LORD has discharged us from the debt to the law of sin and fully acquitted us from the guilt of the effects of sin, we have the capacity to be empowered to walk in the Spirit of liberty! That capacity is realized by the transforming power of the Holy Spirit; the enabling power to resist worldly influences and carnal impulses so the LORD’s nature can dominate our thought processes and actions. This happens as we allow the Holy Spirit to enable us to resist the ways of the world and sways of sin: the lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh, and pride of life. The more we yield to the LORD’s nature by the Holy Spirit, the more we appropriate His victory in our life. This is what the LORD meant in declaring, “He who loves his life loses it, but he who hates his life in this world will keep it safe right on into eternal life!” (John 12:25 JNT) He was referring to a real kind of life transformation: where our life absorbed in satisfying the desires of the flesh become renewed; and we become more focused on satisfying the desires God imparts in our heart and purposes He has towards us—which have the capacity to bring more fulfilling measures of liberty and the real joy and peace of God. This transformation comes as the Holy Spirit enlightens your mind and heart to truth, bringing God’s real refreshment and liberation! The more you yield to the Holy Spirit, the more you are able to resist temptations and be free from the pulls that lead to anxiety and fear—so God can bring you to His rest, His settling state of peace.
Life Application Questions What good desires and purposes do you think God has towards you? What thoughts can you release to the LORD so the Holy Spirit can empower you to greater measures of freedom, peace and joy?
Scripture References John 12-17; Romans 8; 1 Corinthians 2; Galatians 5-6
Be Blessed by Embracing God’s Values and Relating with Him through the Lord’s Feast of PentecostSummary The LORD called the Holy Spirit the Comforter, promising He “will guide you into all truth.” 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 encouraged believers to 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…
Paul encouraged all believers to grow and mature into the fullness of the measure of the stature of the LORD’s likeness. (Ephesians 4:13) Such growth promises real value in God’s eyes: “a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” (2 Corinthians 4:17 NKJV) As we truly value the LORD’s gifts and nature, we will have the opportunity to respond to the beckoning of the Holy Spirit, working to enlighten and empower us and transform our minds and nature. Real transformation happens in time through God’s process as we yield to the Holy Spirit and grow in the liberty of the Spirit.
The result of God’s process yields good fruits. The more we submit to the Spirit, the more we reflect the fruits of the Spirit. “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 5:25 JNT)
Life Application Questions In what ways can you value the ministry of the Holy Spirit in your life? How do you think you can recognize the working of the Holy Spirit? How does He speak to you? How might you confirm what the Holy Spirit reveals to you? How do you think you can be transformed into the fullness of the LORD’s nature?
Scripture References John 14-16; 1 Corinthians 2:6-16; 12-14; 2 Corinthians 3:4-18; Galatians 5; Romans 14
Living Life in its Fullness by Relating with the Lord who is the Good ShepherdThe LORD came to fulfill prophecy and bear revelation of God’s covenant truths. He came fulfilling all the biblical feast of Shavuot represents. While the disciples were celebrating this very feast, 50 days after His resurrection on the day of the feast of First-fruits, the Holy Spirit was poured out amongst them. It became known as Pentecost. Whereas this feast had been celebrated by remembering the giving of the Law to Moses, now it would truly represent the fullness of God’s covenant—His Word and Spirit. In was on this day that Peter stood up remembering the prophecy of Joel, “I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh…” (Joel 2:28) It was also about 550-600 years after the prophet, Ezekiel, spoke of the condition of His people and of His future solution…
He continued…
In the midst of escalating political tension and corruption that was spurring an impending revolution against dominant Roman powers, the LORD arrived on the scene to make a difference. The religious leaders expected a political type to take his place as the Messiah-King. The LORD did take His place as the Good Shepherd of God’s flock. He came fulfilling Ezekiel’s prophecy.
The LORD came full of compassion. He came “moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.” (Matthew 9:36) |
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