Pentecost

Acts 2:33

April 7, 2008

Computing the 45 days of the travel of the Israelites from Egypt to Sinai, (Ex.19.1) and 2 days of Moses going up and down Mount Sinai and sanctifying the people for 2 days, it was altogether 49 days (Ex.19. 10, 11). The dawn of the next day would be the 50 th day.

That day God would come down on the mountain. It was the day of Pentecost!

From early morning, dense cloud, fire and smoke engulfed the mountain. The whole mountain quaked. The thunder and lightning were frightening and the blast of the trumpet was becoming louder and longer! People were terrified (Exodus 19:16-18).

Moses went up the mountain! God came down upon the Mountain and spoke to him!!! (Ex. 19:20-25, 20:1-21).

All the people saw the thunder and the lightning! (Ex. 20.18). This is interpreted as the people saw the voices and the flames” How could they see a voice? We understand that “the Voice of God went forth as flames or tongues of fire” Jeremiah 23.29 says, “Is not My Word like fire says the Lord and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?”

On the day of Pentecost God gave His Law to Israel. His finger wrote with fiery flame the commandments on the tablets of stone. He made a covenant with Israel. They shall be to Him, a kingdom of priests and a Holy Nation. Israel did not keep the covenant!

God vowed to make a new covenant forgiving the sins of His people and writing His laws in their minds and hearts. ( Jer. 31.31 ) . On the day of Pentecost, after the resurrection of Jesus Christ (Acts2.33), the voice and the flames of God came down. The Holy Spirit came like a rushing mighty wind and filled every one of the 120 in the upper room. Cloven tongues of fire descended upon each one and they were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke with other tongues, as the Holy Spirit gave them utterance.

What God gave is not only for the 120. It is for us. Have we received what God wants to give?

I believe there is going to be another great Pentecost! Harvest Pentecost! The Jews celebrate Pentecost as the Festival of Weeks at the end of the Harvest. The Lord said that the Harvest is ripe. And I believe that the Lord of the Harvest is coming! We can already hear the rumbling in the air. The trumpet will sound soon. But that will be end Harvest. Are we ready to meet the Lord!