Birth Of The Church

When you stop to think about it…what brought us here today. Now I don’t mean by plane, train, or automobile, but what things in our lives caused us to be gathered today, and each Sunday before and after today? We gather here not by chance, but by divine appointment. We are not here merely to fill a pew, but to fill our hearts with the living word of God. As we come together today, let's remember the words of the great Christian author, A.W. Tozer, who wrote, "The Bible is not an end in itself, but a means to bring men to an intimate and satisfying knowledge of God, that they may enter into Him, that they may delight in His Presence, may taste and know the inner sweetness of the very God Himself in the core and center of their hearts."

Our divine appointment was written in stone, so to say, when the birth of the church occurred at that first Pentecost after the resurrection of Jesus.

When the Day of Pentecost had 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 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 other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Acts 2:1-4

For many reasons I love the Bible, but this one I am about to say is one of them…it is not just an historical account, but a vivid and accurate illustration of God’s promise fulfilled, His power bestowed, and His plan for us revealed. Today we are going to look at the prominence of Pentecost in the Israelite tradition, the prophetic foreshadowing of Pentecost to the New Testament believers, and the post-resurrection power that was unleashed at Pentecost.

So, let's open our hearts and minds as we consider the day of Pentecost, a day that forever changed the course of human history, a day that continues its impact on our lives today. Are we ready to receive what God has for us today? Are we ready to experience the power of Pentecost in our lives? If we are, say Amen.

Pentecostal Prominence in Israelite Tradition

The word Pentecost is not used in the Old Testament but is a word from the Greek that means “fiftieth” and it relates to the Feast of Weeks. This feast was commanded by God that the Israelites observe seven sabbaths after the Feast of Firstfruits. According to the Old Testament, you would go to the day of the celebration of Firstfruits, and beginning with that day, you would count 50 days off. The fiftieth day would be the Day of Pentecost or the Feast of Weeks. The Feast of Firstfruits is the beginning of the barley harvest and Feast of Weeks is the celebration of the beginning of the wheat harvest. Now keep in mind the feast that leads up to the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost), because it is an eye opener and will show the awesome power of God and His word.

Since the Feast of Weeks was always 50 days after Feast of Firstfruits, and since 50 days equals seven weeks, counting the day after firstfruits, it always came a "week of weeks" later. Therefore, they either called it the Feast of Harvest or the Feast of Weeks.

The Feast of Weeks was a pilgrim festival. That meant that according to Jewish Law, all the adult Jewish men would come from wherever they were living to Jerusalem and personally be in attendance during this celebration, and because of how God created all the feasts, this is the one that would get people, both Jew and Gentile to be together in one place for the birth of the church.

Prophetic Foreshadowing of Pentecost

Now this is where the eyes are opened and the power of God’s creation and planning over the course of thousands of years is seen.

The Feast of Weeks was a pilgrim festival. That meant that according to Jewish Law, all the adult Jewish men would come from wherever they were living to Jerusalem and personally be in attendance during this celebration, and because of how God created all the feasts, this is the one that would get people, both Jew and Gentile to be together in one place for the birth of the church.

And you shall count for yourselves from the day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering: seven Sabbaths shall be completed. Count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath; then you shall offer a new grain offering to the Lord.