Pentecost Will Change You!

Scripture: Acts 2:1-21 (Call to Worship - Psalm 104:24-35)

Title:

Pentecost Will Change You!

Pentecost Message -

The Holy Spirit will transform the way 1. You Speak (Your language) 2. You walk (The way you live)

INTRO:

Grace and peace from God our Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Grace and peace from Our LORD Jesus Christ who came to take away the sins of the world!

Happy Shavuot (shah-voo-ote) this morning!

Enjoy Shavuot today!

That may have been what you would have heard if you had been at the Temple in Jerusalem some 2,000 years ago. Of course, we don't use the word "Shavuot" in many of our churches today. Nor do we use the other title "Festival of Weeks". Instead, we use the Greek translation of the Hebrew word "Shavuot" - PENTECOST.

So - Happy Pentecost!

You may remember that Shavuot/Pentecost is one of the three main Jewish Festivals that the LORD commanded His People to celebrate after they were freed from their bondage in Egypt (Exodus 23:14-17). The other two festivals of course, being, Passover which is celebrated fifty days earlier in Spring and Sukkoth ( Feast of Tabernacles) which is celebrate around the end of September or early October.

Historically and theologically, the Festival of Pentecost has always had a very important double significance. First of all, Pentecost was an agricultural festival. It was the day that the grain farmers would bring the first sheaf of wheat from their crops to the Temple and offer them up to the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY (Exodus 34:22) as a thanksgiving offering. They would then spend a great time praying that the LORD would grant His People an abundant grain harvest and would help them safely bring it in.

All of this was no small matter. An abundant wheat harvest was essential for their very survival. They knew that their lives depended on the Lord's grace and blessings. Without wheat and other grains there would be no bread and without bread literally thousands of people would be in dire danger of poverty, starvation and death. An abundant grain harvest meant life. An abundant grain harvest meant national success and prosperity.

Pentecost also honored the anniversary of the Day that the LORD GOD JEHOVAH (the Good God of Creation) gave His Teachings (Torah) to the whole nation of Israel at Mt. Sinai. Pentecost was the day that God revealed more about Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

As a result, the people were able to know more about God and understand more clearly how they were to live as God's Holy People. They began to realize what it meant to be a People of Holiness, People of Love and a People of Unity in everyday life. They began to realize what it meant to be a set apart people who followed the will of the Good God of Creation/the Great I Am that I Am. By the time of Jesus, it became of part of Jewish tradition to spend the day of Pentecost reading the Torah, reciting the Ten Commandments along with spending the majority of the day in worship, prayer and celebration.

It should not surprise us that the LORD used both the seasons of Passover and Pentecost to explain the true mission of His Only Begotten Son, Jesus - God in Flesh. The Bible tells us that Jesus died on the Cross and Rose Again during the season of Passover as an eternal signpost that in Christ we can experience everlasting freedom from the bondages of Sin, Death and Hell. In Christ, we can be born from above having all our sins and guilt wiped away. We can be rescued and redeemed by the blood of Jesus.

On Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was poured out as a signpost revealing to us that in the power and presence of the Holy Spirit we are now able to live as genuine human beings who can reflect God's Image and Glory both today and forevermore. In the Holy Spirit we can live a life that is supernatural and transformative. In the Holy Spirit we can live life as it is meant to be - a life that is fulfilling and meaningful. A life that is full of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.

As followers of Jesus, the Bible tells us that we are filled with the Holy Spirit. Being filled with God's Spirit is not just for those whose traditions are Charismatic or Pentecostal in nature. It is not just something that happens to some people and not to others. The Bible tells us that every believer is filled with God's Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14; Acts 2:38) when they receive Salvation. In other words, the Holy Spirit -- your source of power for living -- is "included" when you receive Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord.