Many of God’s people do not realize that the Jewish people had been celebrating the day of Pentecost for 1,500 years before Acts chapter 2 was written.
This Holy Day takes place 50 days after Passover; that is why it is called in Greek, Pentecost, meaning 50. Jewish people refer to it as Shavuot, meaning weeks, because the Lord said that it falls “seven weeks after Passover,” (Lev. 23:15-16).
The Jewish people came to associate Shavuot with the day the God of Israel appeared on top of Mount Sinai in fire and glory and gave them His Law on tablets of stone.
In Acts chapter 2, we see many believers had gathered together in one place (Jerusalem). They were recounting how God had revealed Himself to their ancestors on Mount Sinai. They were thinking about the glory; they were talking about the fire; they were reminded of the voice of God and the revelation their forefathers had received at Sinai. Then suddenly, what the God of Israel had done 1,500 years earlier, materialized! HaShem appeared again, in an instant, revealing Himself with the same glory and fire that Moses and the children of Israel had encountered.
“When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly a noise like a violent rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with different tongues, as the Spirit was giving them the
ability to speak out,” (Acts 2:1-4).
This time He did not speak to them from upon a mountain or on tablets of stone, written by His finger. This time He spoke from amongst them; God spoke inside them—and wrote His Law upon their hearts.
Beloved, as the Holy season of Pentecost is upon us, invite Father to interrupt your life with His glory and fire. Let Him change and refine you.
Luke records for us in Acts 5:32, “And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.”
The Holy Spirit is a free gift that HaShem pours out. He can only make entrance however into our lives, when we by His grace, submit to Him. He can’t fill those who simply believe in Him, He can’t even fill those who simply want Him. We must believe in Him and want Him but to be filled by Him we must obey Him. This is why Yeshua taught, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me,” (Matt. 16:24).
The cross represents obedience. None of us are perfect but we must be growing in obedience and as we do, we will be more and more filled with the precious gift of the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit). {eoa}
Rabbi Schneider hosts the impactful television program Discovering The Jewish Jesus, which is available in more than 100 million homes in the United States and nearly 200 nations worldwide. In 2021 he began broadcasting on radio and now airs across America. Rabbi Schneider imparts revelation of Jesus’ Jewish heritage and His fulfillment of Messianic prophecy. Questions of how the Old and New Testaments tie together, and how Yeshua completes the unfolding plan of The Almighty Yahweh, are answered with exceptional clarity.
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