Part Five On the Day of Pentecost, when the followers of Jesus were gathered in the upper room awaiting the promise of the Holy Ghost, there were Jews, devout men, also in Jerusalem, “out of every nation under heaven,” for the Day of Pentecost. The Pentecost they were celebrating was the giving of the Law on Mt. Sinai. (Acts 1:4-5, Acts 2:5).

It was not by accident that God chose the Day of Pentecost to pour His Spirit out and begin His new covenant church. There are important correlations between the two events.

The Day of Pentecost was a fulfillment of what took place on Mount Sinai on that first Day of Pentecost, which the Jews call “Shavuot.”

On Shavuot, God’s Law was written on tables of stone. (Exodus 24:12)

On Pentecost God wrote His law on hearts. (Jeremiah 31:33)

On Shavuot the Jewish people accepted God's covenant and became His wife. (Exodus 19:7-8, Jeremiah 31:32)

On Pentecost those in the upper room accepted God's covenant and became His wife. (2 Corinthians 11:2, Ephesians 5:23-32)

On Shavuot the Jewish people became a peculiar treasure [special possession] from among all peoples, a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. (Exodus 19:5-6)

On Pentecost New Covenant Believers became a peculiar people [“special possession”], a chosen generation [“a chosen people”], a royal priesthood, and a holy nation. (1 Peter 2:9)

Each covenant was confirmed with blood. (Exodus 24:5-8, Matthew 26:28, Revelation 1:5, Acts 2:38).

To be continued…

Part 4 On the Day of Pentecost, Peter preached the gospel message to the Jews that were “out of every nation under heaven” and in Jerusalem for that special day.

"And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven." - Acts 2:5 KJV

These Jews spoke the language of the country they were from. As religious Jews, they would have also spoke Hebrew.

When the Holy Ghost was poured out that Pentecost morning, what did these Jews hear?

"Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. ...we do hear them speak in our tongues [languages] the wonderful works of God." - Acts 2:6, 11 KJV

The Jews there for Pentecost heard the people that had just been filled with the Holy Ghost “speaking in tongues.” The Jews were witnesses that it was God speaking through those from the upper room, because they were Galileans, not educated to know the languages of other nations. The words they were speaking, glorified God, declaring His “wonderful works.” (Acts 2:7-11).

"And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?  Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine." - Acts 2:12-13 KJV

"But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: for these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;" - Acts 2:14-16 KJV (See Acts 2:17-21).

Peter proceeded to preach the gospel - Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. (See Acts 2:22-36). There was no need for Peter to speak in all the languages of the Jews that were come from around the world for Pentecost, because they were all religious Jews, that spoke and understood the Hebrew language.

After preaching the gospel, Peter, with the other eleven apostles standing with him, then preached how to obey the gospel.

“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

To be continued…

Part 3 Why did God choose the Day of Pentecost to first pour out His Spirit?

The day of Pentecost, also called the feast of weeks, was one of God's three chosen holy days that His people were to come to Jerusalem to appear before the Lord and offer a sacrifice.

"Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the LORD empty:" - Deuteronomy 16:16 KJV

Because it was Pentecost, there were Jews at Jerusalem from all over the world.

"And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven." - Acts 2:5 KJV

These Jews spoke the language of the country they were from. As religious Jews, they would have also spoke Hebrew. Considering that the Roman Empire was in place in that day, they would have also spoke the common languages Greek and Latin.

Jesus had commanded His disciples that they should wait in Jerusalem for the promise of the baptism of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 1:4-5). They probably numbered about a hundred and twenty. (Acts 1:15).

"And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues [languages], as the Spirit gave them utterance [the ability]." - Acts 2:1-4 KJV

"Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?" - Acts 2:6-8 KJV

It was only because God chose this holy day of Pentecost, in which Jews from all over the world were present, that it was apparent this was the miraculous power of God. Otherwise, this great event of the outpouring of His Spirit would have been dismissed as nothing but a group of drunken Galilaeans. (Acts 2:6-18).

"We do hear them speak in our tongues [languages] the wonderful works of God. And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?" - Acts 2:11-12 KJV

To be continued…

The Day of Pentecost was the beginning of the New Covenant, God's Covenant of Grace.

In the Old Testament, the day of Pentecost (“Shavuot”) was the beginning of the old Covenant, when the Jewish people accepted God’s law at Mount Sinai.

The Prophet Jeremiah prophesied of God's New Covenant.

"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: not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: but this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel;

“After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more." - Jeremiah 31:31-34 KJV

In God’s Old Covenant, His law was written on tables of stone. In God’s New Covenant, God's law would be written in the heart of His people. And, in His New Covenant, God would remit the sins of His people.

The new covenant that Jeremiah prophesied of began on the Day of Pentecost with the outpouring of God’s Spirit, God writing His law on the hearts of His followers in the upper room, and Apostle Peter preaching the gospel of the new covenant for the very first time.

"And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." - Acts 2:1-4 KJV

Peter proceeded to preach the gospel to all the Jews gathered in Jerusalem for the holy day of Pentecost (Shavuot). He preached the gospel of Jesus – that Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day. Peter then preached how to obey the gospel.

"Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

“For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

“And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation." - Acts 2:37-40 KJV

To be continued...

Pentecost Sunday is this coming Sunday, June 9, 2019. What is Pentecost Sunday? It is one of the three holy days in the Old Testament that God commanded His people to appear before Him. They would appear before the Lord at the Temple in Jerusalem.

"Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the LORD empty:" - Deuteronomy 16:16 KJV

We know the feast of unleavened bread as Passover, and the feast of weeks as Pentecost. The Hebrew names for these three holy days are Pesach, Shavuot, and Sukkot.

Shavuot means “Seven Weeks.” Pentecost means “the fiftieth day.” Pentecost is fifty days after Passover.

Shavuot is the celebration of the wheat harvest and the ripening of the first fruits, (the "Day of the First Fruits" the "Harvest Festival"), but it’s primary celebration is commemorating the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai. (The Jewish people call the Law, which is the first five books of the Old Testament, the Torah.)

Jewish sages have compared Shavuot to a wedding between God and the Jewish people. It is said that Shavuot also means “oaths,” for on this day God and the Jewish people made an oath to each other.

Exodus 19:5-6 KJV - "Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure [my own special treasure] unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: and ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel."

Exodus 19:7 KJV - "And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD commanded him."

Exodus 19:8 KJV - "And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD."

We can see why God chose the Day of Pentecost as the day to first pour out His Spirit and begin His New Covenant church.

To be continued…

How can we be like Jesus?

Jesus is God (1Timothy 3:16, Philippians 2:5-6). He is our Heavenly Father that took on the form of man and dwelt among His creation on earth (John 1:1,10-11,14). His name “Jesus” is above all other names (Philippians 2:9-11). He is all powerful (2Chronicles 20:6). He is holy (1Peter 1:16).

To be like Jesus, we need His name and His Spirit (James 2:7, Acts 2:38, Rom. 8:9). We need to be holy, as He is holy (1Peter 1:15, Hebrews 12:14).

When we are born again, we receive Jesus name in water baptism, and receive His Spirit when we receive the Holy Ghost (John 3:3,5, Acts 2:38). With the Holy Ghost in us, we have the power of God to live a holy life (Acts 1:8).

To be like Jesus, we must not only be born a son of God (John 1:12-13), but we must grow up and become perfected, as Jesus is perfect (Galatians 4:5-6). To do this, we must assemble ourselves together so that we can hear the preaching of the word (Colossians 1:27-28). The word “perfected” and “perfect” in the Bible often refers to maturity.

Jesus gave us apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers to perfect us so we can measure up and become like Jesus. He does not want us to be immature children tossed about by false doctrines, but rather growing in every way more and more like Christ. (Ephesians 4:11-15).

Mature saints are skillful in the word and by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. They teach others. They have grown from milk to strong meat (Hebrews 5:12-14).

It is by going to church that we can be equipped to become like Jesus. We hear the preaching of the word; we can be baptized in Jesus name and receive the Holy Ghost. By hearing the word of God our faith is increased (Romans 10:17). It is essential to assemble together so we can play an active part in the kingdom of God, prepared and helping to prepare others for Jesus’ soon coming.

Hebrews 10:24-25 KJV - And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

The Eyes

We are impacted by the things we see. Images and scenes can become ingrained in our minds, even from childhood, lasting a lifetime.

Some of the things we see are a part of our daily life experience - home life, school, work, and social interaction.

Yet some of the things we see that impact us are from what we call "entertainment." Some images, often with dramatic music, instill fear. Some are disturbing images; others are violent images.

Other images are sexual and lustful. Others are of immoral, abominable acts. Seeing such images repeatedly can begin a programming process to cause moral values to deteriorate into immoral values. Images can gradually make the unacceptable to become acceptable "in our eyes" and then in our minds.

As a child of God, we need to be led by the Spirit as to what we look at. We are the temple of God. We must be careful what we see. We must guard our eyes so that we do not let evil enter into our minds and heart. We must not allow the world to program us to its immoral values. And we must protect the eyes of our children likewise.

Psalms 101:3 KJV - I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me. [I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not fasten its grip on me.]

1 John 2:15-17 KJV - Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Romans 12:1-2 KJV - I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Acts 2:38 KJV - Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

2 Corinthians 6:17-18 KJV - Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.