Feast of Weeks

New Testament

One of the places in the scriptures that we find that Pentecost was fulfilled is in Acts 2.  The disciples came together for the Feast of Firstfruits as in the Old Testament and as we do today.  We find that they sat down with one accord and the Holy Spirit came on each of them like a rushing wind.  It appear to each of them as a cloven tongue which means that it was a split tongue.

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each one of them. (Acts 2:1-3 RSV)

The Holy Spirit gave each of them the ability to speak and the people from near and far heard the disciples speak in their own language.  It was a blessing of hearing because the people could hear the Word in their own language.  So when the disciples where discussing the scriptures the multitude was amazed that not only did they hear their own language spoken but they heard the scriptures being spoken.

And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. And they were amazed and wondered, saying, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians, we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of Yahweh." And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "What does this mean?" (Acts 2:4-12 RSV)

As we see in verse 11 some among the multitude say that they hear the mighty works of Yahweh in their own tongues.  This is an amazing show of Yahweh's power.  These people were so impressed that many of them were baptized.  Three thousand were baptized that day according to verse 41.  It is also important to note that here in Acts 2 the are speaking from the Old Testament.

"And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions; and also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out My Spirit. "And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth--blood and fire and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of Yahweh come. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of Yahweh shall be delivered; for in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as Yahweh hath said, and in the remnant whom Yahweh shall call. (Joel 2:28-32 KJ21)

This scripture from Joel is one that the disciples use here in Acts 2:17-21.  Joel speaks of the last days before Yahshua's  return.  This passage is one of many that point out the importance of calling on Yahweh's name.  Yahweh will deliver them that call on His name.  It is only a small remnant who call on Yahweh and who produce the fruit of Galatians 5:22-23.  In a generation of Jews that would not use the sacred name this must have been motivating.  They were full of the Holy Spirit.  Being led by the spirit many heard them and were pricked in there hearts.

Holy Spirit

This represented a change in way the Holy Spirit was given.  David cried to Yahweh not to take the Holy Spirit away from him.  It is important to realize that before Yahshua's sacrifice the Holy Spirit came and left.  Now with people that were cleansed the Holy Spirit could stay and help men and women discern the scriptures.

Psalms 51:11 Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

John the Baptist prepared the way for Yahshua.  He did the work of Eliyah and returned many of the people back to Yahweh.  The baptism of Yahshua changed the people through their heart.  The desire of the people was not on pleasing their brother only.  The baptism of the Holy Spirit changed men to follow with their whole existence.  (Mark 1:8)

Acts 28:25 So when they did not agree among themselves, they departed after Paul had said one word: "The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to our fathers,

Romans 5:5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of Yahweh has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

The Holy Spirit provides us with something that brethren before Messiah didn't have all the time.  The ability to discern the scriptures and the fruit that should flow from us should be like a river over running its banks.  We unfortunately may be guilty of quenching the spirit and not allowing it to grow in us to a point that we are acceptable to be firstfruits.  The first resurrection is the resurrection that we pray to be a part of.  The firstfruits will be a kingdom of priests.  Image what the kingdom of Yahweh would be like.  

Better Tomorrow

The future is bright but we must strive to perfect one another and to do that we must start with our heart.  Our desires lead to our destruction if they are not for Yahweh.  We must search the scriptures until we are sure.  Sure that we are doing our best to serve almighty Yahweh.

Now if Messiah is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Messiah is not risen. And if Messiah is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. Yes, and we are found false witnesses of Yahweh, because we have testified of Yahweh that He raised up Messiah, whom He did not raise up----if in fact the dead do not rise. For if the dead do not rise, then Messiah is not risen. And if Messiah is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Messiah have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Messiah, we are of all men the most pitiable. But now Messiah is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Messiah all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Messiah the firstfruits, afterward those who are Messiah's at His coming. Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to Yahweh the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. (Revelation 20:14) For "He has put all things under His feet." But when He says "all things are put under Him," it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted. Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that Yahweh may be all in all. (1 Corinthians 15:12-28 NKJV)

Revelation 2:11 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the ekklesia. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death."'

Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of Yahweh and of Messiah, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.

The kingdom is coming and with each passing second it is that much closer.  Those who serve Yahweh through the coming tribulation and through out their lives are heirs to the kingdom

Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: But when the fulness of the time was come, Yahweh sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, Yahweh hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of Yahweh through Messiah. (Galatians 4:1-7 AV)

I pray that we become heirs to the kingdom with Messiah a kingdom that we can only imagine its splendor.  A future with no more death and no more pain.  A world of people entirely dedicated to working together for Almighty Yahweh.  The kingdom will be greater than anything we will ever know in this existence.  With sound of a trump Yahshua will return and re-establish rule of this world to almighty Yahweh.

Conclusion

Pentecost is a time of thanking Yahweh for the many blessings that he has given us and our brethren.  Our entire ekklesia benefits from serving Yahweh.  Yahweh deals righteously with His people.  The ekklesia is made up of different parts but none greater than the head Messiah.  Lets take this time to thank Yahweh for his blessings striving always to become the firstfruits.

[ Home ] [ Up ]