May 27, 2020 What is Pentecost?

Three times a year it is very important to God for all His people to celebrate, to stop and reflect on who He is and what He has done for us!
 
Deuteronomy 16:16  Three times in a year all your males shall appear before the LORD your God in the place which He chooses, at the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Passover) and at the Feast of Weeks Pentecost) and at the Feast of Booths (Fall Feasts), and they shall not appear before the LORD empty-handed.
 
We celebrated Passover earlier in the spring, and now fifty days later, we are celebrating Pentecost.  The Lord told His people to count seven weeks plus one Sabbath after Passover to celebrate Pentecost. (Leviticus 23:15-16)
 
Moses took God’s people out of Egypt on Passover, and 50 days later they were at the base of Mt. Sinai listening to God share His heart for His people. He thundered from the mountain giving Israel the Ten Commandments, so He could bless them in their obedience. 
 
Exodus 20:18-20  All the people perceived the thunder and the lightning flashes and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood at a distance. Then they said to Moses, "Speak to us yourself and we will listen; but let not God speak to us, or we will die." Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid; for God has come in order to test you, and in order that the fear of Him may remain with you, so that you may not sin."
 
This is the feast that Moses kept telling Pharaoh that God wanted His people to celebrate in the wilderness with Him. 
 
Exodus 5:1  And afterward Moses and Aaron came and said to Pharaoh, "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'Let My people go that they may celebrate a feast to Me in the wilderness.'"
 
This feast was fulfilled the Holy Spirit was and is given to all believers.  After Jesus’ resurrection, He walked among His followers for 40 days giving them instructions.  Right before Jesus left His disciples to ascend into heaven to be with Father God, He instructed His followers to wait in Jerusalem for the promised gift from the Father.  Ten days later, on the day of the feast of Pentecost, as the Christ’s followers were gathered to pray, the Holy Spirit descended upon them in great power and signs.
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Acts 2: 1-4  “When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.  And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.  And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them.  And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.”
 
Much like Moses’ experience on Mt. Sinai, there was a roaring sound as tongues of fire fell on each of Jesus’ disciples.  The Holy Spirit was writing His law on their hearts, instead of on the stone tablets of the Ten Commandments.  As they received great gifts and power from the Holy Spirit this small group went out and made thousands of disciples all over Israel and even to the ends of the earth, spreading the good news of the Gospel of Christ. 
 
Today, Israel celebrates this day as a day of great joy and rejoicing.  They adorn their homes with flowers and greenery, and wear colorful costumes.  They invite guests and strangers to celebrate with dancing and feasting. 
 
For Christians today, this is a good time to reawaken and strengthen our personal relationship with God by rededicating ourselves to the study of His Word; and yielding more to the guiding of the Holy Spirit in our lives. 
 
We are celebrating Pentecost this Friday from 6:00 AM- 9:00 PM.  We will be reading through many books of the Bible all throughout the day, as well as praying and worshiping our Amazing God!  If you would like to participate with us, please contact Pastor Bertha.