Day of Pentecost
Pentecost is all about a reflection of David’s kingdom, composed of not just Jews, but Hittites, etc. as well.
For a marriage back then, there was a series of documents signed. After the signing, they were officially engaged. Then, he leaves to prepare a house or a room attached to his parent’s house. While he is gone, he sends a gift to remind her that he is coming back. This gift was to strengthen her or make her more beautiful.
In receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, we receive something to remind us that He is coming back. This gift strengthens us and beautifies us. It’s the Gift of the Holy Ghost.
Pentecost means 50. It’s always on Sunday. It doesn’t have a day of its own, nothing to do with the moon. It’s always 50 days after Passover. Sinai is an 11 day walk. Take away the first day, (because they were leaving Egypt that day, and you get 10 days of walking. Moses was called to Mt. Sinai and was on the mountain for 40 days. 40+10=50. 50 Days. This is 50 days after they got out of Egypt. This is the celebration of God giving them the covenant, the promise that He would be their God and they would be His people.
The gift of the Holy Ghost is a better covenant. God wrote His law on our hearts. He speaks to us directly just like with Adam and Eve in the Garden.
On Pentecost, Moses went up on the mountain. There was a tempest and a fire that descended on the mountain. It smoked. The mountain was the wick and God’s Spirit was on top as a tongue of fire. The people were very afraid. So, they told Moses to just tell them what God said, rather than hearing from God themselves. When Moses came down (the second time), the people agreed to the covenant.
On the Day of Pentecost, it’s possible they heard the same thing the Jews heard at the time of Moses.
Jer 31:31 “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:”
Jesus quoted prophets. Those prophecies came to pass hundreds of years later. We’ve got hundreds of Scriptures that Jesus fulfilled. Jeremiah 31:31 is a prophetic writing about Pentecost. ‘Covenant’ could be translated ‘testament’.
A new covenant is not like the old one that was broken.
Jer 31:32-34 “The day is coming,” says the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah. 32 This covenant will not be like the one I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand and brought them out of the land of Egypt. They broke that covenant, though I loved them as a husband loves his wife,” says the Lord. 33 “But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel after those days,” says the Lord. “I will put my instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 34 And they will not need to teach their neighbors, nor will they need to teach their relatives, saying, ‘You should know the Lord.’ For everyone, from the least to the greatest, will know me already,” says the Lord. “And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.”
Jesus unveiled himself to Peter with Moses and Elijah. Peter was overwhelmed. Jesus is the Word of God packaged in a body. Pentecost is the same light and power spread out through the whole earth for you to receive what Jesus had.
You are the people of God. You belong to Jesus.
Ez 36:26 “And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.”
Pentecost is more than just Acts 2. The next feast represents the rapture. Is it a timeline? Many believe it is. These are all rehearsals for the main event. There is so much symbolism for what is coming.
The main stage event happened 2000 years ago when the Holy Ghost was poured out. The people gathered were sad at losing Jesus. They were probably praying, but not about receiving the Holy Ghost. They didn’t know what that was yet. They were probably terrified. They had seen Jesus raised from the dead, but that didn’t take away their fears.
Suddenly, Jesus was there and they were frightened. He said, ‘Look, it’s Me.’ He proved it by showing His scars.
He disappeared again. They didn’t go telling people about the resurrection. The 40-50 days that went by, they were still scared. They prayed and knew there was a festival coming up. They didn’t prepare anything.
All of a sudden, at 9 o’clock in the morning a sound came from heaven. This is when they were filled with the Holy Ghost.
There is an ancient tradition where Jewish men get together and pray. No women or gentiles are allowed. As they get in one mind and one accord, they stop and allow the Spirit to speak through them.
This is like what happened on the Day of Pentecost, and today, speaking in tongues, preaching about the resurrection and the power of God and what Jesus did for us.
They received the power of God and the church was born. They weren’t afraid anymore because they had the power of God. It’s real.
Getting the Holy Ghost is the greatest thing you can ever experience. He is real and it’s worth it. Your life will never be the same. It’s for you. It’s right and it’s home. At the moment when you feel the Spirit of God coming into your life, you’ve got to let go of your own will. ‘I trust you, Lord.’
Psalm 67:1-7 “May God be merciful and bless us. May his face smile with favor on us. Interlude 2 May your ways be known throughout the earth, your saving power among people everywhere. 3 May the nations praise you, O God. Yes, may all the nations praise you. 4 Let the whole world sing for joy, because you govern the nations with justice and guide the people of the whole world. Interlude 5 May the nations praise you, O God. Yes, may all the nations praise you. 6 Then the earth will yield its harvests, and God, our God, will richly bless us. 7 Yes, God will bless us, and people all over the world will fear him.”
It has 49 words. If you praise God and thank Him, you will feel it grow. If you praise Him first, seek ye first the Kingdom of God, you will activate increase in your life. Set your mentality on seeking His will over your own. Let go your worry and trust Him. As you choose to trust Him and His timing, you will have the increase and the answer to your prayers.
You can’t complain and receive from God. You have to repent first. Get in one accord and agreement with Him and see good in your life. You will be blessed by first seeking His kingdom, His will, His way.
More Questions for Personal or Group Study:
- What really spoke to you in this message?
- Are you in full accord and agreement with Jesus? What are you still holding onto that prevents you from fully walking with and hearing from Him?
- Read Heb 10:1-24. How does the writer of Hebrews contrast the old covenant with the new covenant? How are we made different? What are we to do with this new covenant?
- How can you encourage someone else with this message?
Excerpted from a sermon preached by Pastor Anthony LoCascio.
If you are looking for an Apostolic Pentecostal church and are in the Chicagoland area, come check out The Life Church of Northbrook.
We have services on Sundays at 11 am: The Life Church of Northbrook and Life Groups on Wednesdays at 7 pm.
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