The next Holy Day in God’s annual calendar is the Feast of Pentecost. This Holy Day is unique in God’s commanded assemblies in that it is the only Holy Day not on a fixed day from year to year – the date depends on when the Sabbath day is during the Days of Unleavened Bread.
God could easily have given a set calendar date for Pentecost, just as He did for all the other festivals, but He does not. He instructs us to count 50 days from the Days of Unleavened Bread to determine when to keep Pentecost.
Why do we observe the Feast of Pentecost? That is a question that was asked of us historically - and it bears asking again. Why do we observe the Feast of Pentecost?
What does this day picture in God’s plan of salvation?
What is our role in this day?
What meaning does the Feast of Pentecost have for us?
In the sermon time I have this afternoon let’s review why we keep the Feast of Pentecost.
Past
For Ancient Israel the Feast of Pentecost was a counting until the first-fruit harvest in the late spring, and a reminder of the giving of the Law at Mt. Sinai.
Leviticus 23:15-22 – count from the Sabbath
The word “Pentecost” simply means count 50.
If we fast-forward to the New Testament, we read of the Holy Spirit given to the Church after the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Acts 2:1-4 – on the Day of Pentecost
Before this time God had given His Spirit only to a select few, but never to a people. The day of Pentecost is an annual reminder that God poured out His Spirit to establish His Church, the group of believers who are lead by His Spirit.
It is with this Spirit dwelling in us that we are able to put into practice the spiritual lessons of Passover and DOB.
We also have evidence that the apostles continued to observe these Holy Days such as Pentecost.
1 Corinthians 16:8 – tarry there until Pentecost
This was written 56/7 A.D. – 25/6 years after Christ’s resurrection.
Acts 20:16 – hurrying to be in Jerusalem on Pentecost
This was written around 58 A.D. (27 years after the Resurrection)
Traditionally, the Jews teach that God gave the Law at Mt. Sinai on this day.
Exodus 19-20 – the preparation and giving of the 10 Commandments
As we just read in Acts, we know for certain that God gave His church His Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost.
The interesting connection between the two events is God’s Law directs us how to live, and having God’s Holy Spirit guides us in being able to truly keep the Law.
Christ stated that He had come not to “…destroy [the law] but to fulfill….”
Matthew 5:17 – came not to destroy the law
Christ came to make the Law full, to make it possible to be fully kept, to magnify (fill to the full).
The Greek word for “fulfill” means to make replete (to stuff full).
The Father and the Son always intended that the Law and the Holy Spirit would work together in us to reflect their nature and character.
1 John 5:1-4 – we keep His commandments
Loving God, and keeping His commandments, is not fully possible without God’s Spirit dwelling in us.
Then both together bring a synergy not possible with either by itself – 12 horses pull twice as much as 8 horses.
Present
The event in Acts 2 (REF: Acts 2:1-4) is one of those pivotal events in history. God had now given His Holy Spirit to a called out people referred to as First-fruits.
First-fruit harvest
Romans 8:23 – first-fruits of the Spirit
James 1:18 – first-fruits of His creation
Revelation 14:4 – first-fruits to God and the Lamb
1 Corinthians 15:20-23 – the order of the first-fruits
God’s Salvation plan
These first-fruits are us – or can be us.
It is not by anything special on our part.
It is simply by the mercy of God for us to be part of His plan at this time.
John 6:44 – the Father draws him
For whatever reason, God has looked down and called us now.
He needed to have someone to work with now – those who are not humble will not listen or yield to Him.
1 Corinthians 1:20-31 – not many wise or noble
We have been called now to be examples to the world, so that no one should boast.
1 Peter 2:9-10 – who are now a people
A quote from Hosea 2:23
The world as a whole does not understand their purpose for living – that is they don’t understand the ultimate purpose of life. We do.
God has given us an understanding of His plan of salvation – and because of that our calling is now.
God, in His wisdom, has chosen to call only a few before reestablishing His Kingdom, to show the rest of the world that He had not forsaken His creation, and that it is possible to overcome Satan and the false way of life he promoted.
James 1:22-25 – hearer/doer of the law
(story of prisoner who knew the Bible but couldn’t live it)
Romans 8:14-18, 22-39 – led by the Spirit, Sons of God
There will be a time when God will remove the veil from all and show mankind what true life can be like.
We are learning now, as first-fruits, how to be the leaders, teachers, ministers and so forth to all of those who will be given God’s Holy Spirit after us.
We will have the best jobs in the universe - serving all of God’s people.
Future
Mankind’s future
Hebrews 2:10 – many sons to glory
Zechariah 14:16-19 – shall go up year to year
Doesn’t it stand to reason that the other Holy Days will be expected to be observed as well?
Future observance
Exodus 12:14 – an everlasting ordinance
The Hebrew word translated “everlasting” literally means “forever.”
Pentecost is an integral part of God’s Holy Day plan.
Today we have reviewed the meaning of Pentecost – from the perspective of past, resent & future meanings of that Feast day.
We have been given the awesome opportunity to be part of that plan now - that is why we will observe God’s Feast of Pentecost.
