Pentecostal Power

Pentecostal Power

Narrative Sermon

May 31, 2009 FBC, Chester Dr. Mike Fogerson, Speaker

A Pentecost is one of my people’s three national feasts (Passover & Tabernacles)

1 YHWH has used this feast as a time to do new things, move in new directions among my people.

a In Genesis, the first book of the Torah, YHWH sent Father Noah a bow in the skies, a rainbow, as a sign of His covenant at what would later be the Pentcostal feast.

b In the second month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, the earth was dry.15 Then God spoke to Noah, saying,16 "Go out of the ark, you and your wife and your sons and your sons’ wives with you.17 "Bring out with you every living thing of all flesh that is with you, birds and animals and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, that they may breed abundantly on the earth, and be fruitful and multiply on the earth."Gen 8:14-17 (NASB)

aa The date given is the 27th day of Iyar, about a week before the 6th of Suran, the date that would late be designated as Shavuot (Pentecost).

bb My tradition teaches that God made the rainbow on Shavuot.

2 The days of conscience gave way, & human government came.

B In Exodus, the second book of the Torah, YHWH spoke & showed His glory to Moses and the assembly of Israel at Mt. Sinai.

1 My people had been delivered by God & redeemed by the blood of the Land, crossed over the Red Sea on dry ground, & fifty days past we found ourselves at Mt. Sinai (Pentecost means fifty).

a In the third month after the sons of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that very day they came into the wilderness of Sinai. 3 Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, "Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob and tell the sons of Israel:4 ’You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings, and brought you to Myself.5 ’Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine;6 and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel." Ex 19:1, 3-6 (NASB)

aa Arriving at the mountain where the Law would be received by Moses from the Lord, Moses said...

bb He said to the people, "Be ready for the third day; do not go near a woman."16 So it came about on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunder and lightning flashes and a thick cloud upon the mountain and a very loud trumpet sound, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled. Ex 19:15-16 (NASB)

Now Mount Sinai was all in smoke because the Lord descended upon it in fire; and its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked violently.19 When the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and God answered him with thunder .20 The Lord came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain; and the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.Ex 19:18-20 (NASB)

b On that day, & three days following, my fathers saw smoke (glory), fire fall on the mountain; trumpets blow louder, louder.

c Father Moses descended from Mt. Sinai with the Law on two tablets.

aa In fear, my people reverted back to worshiping the image of a calf.

bb After the fire & smoke cleared, 3,000 Israelites were slain out of judgment for their disobedience.

2 Pentecost (Shavuot) is the feast we celebrate YHWH giving us the Law.

a Before Elohim would allow my people entrance into the Promised Land, He brought them instructions on how to live.

b God gave the Torah to God’s peoples to teach God’s people how God’s people are to live.

c Stones from Mt. Moriah, from moreh, which means teacher.

d Shaddia transitioned to the Law at this Pentecost.

B My sons & I have been coming to Jerusalem for the feast of Pentecost, as my father and my father before him for generations, but this year’s Shavuot was anything but ordinary.

1 In the past, we’d bring our omer (sheaf/tithe) of wheat to the priest.

a Barley was brought at Passover (1st of the winter crops to come in); wheat was the last when we brought our first crop to the temple.

aa We believe if we bring YHWH the best first; and not the leftovers, He’ll bless the leftovers to abundantly meet our needs.