Why Pentecost?

Why  Pentecost?

Irael had a feast called “the feast of first fruits.” It was a celebration of the summer harvest. Then, Exactly fifty days after “the feast of first fruits.” is another feast called THE FEAST OF HARVEST.  This was the fall harvest. Also known as the last harvest.  The fifty days between these two harvests is call Pentecost. Pentecost means fifty. All seven feast of Israel were given by God in Leviticus chapter 23.

 The FEAST OF HARVEST was the reason all Israel had gathered together, as recorded in the book of acts  chapter 2.

God had said the time would come when he would do away with the old testament and bring forth a new testament. This NEW testament is what we are in today. It is also known as the church age. Jesue himself would come and do away with the old, and usher in the new.

             Its interesting to know, the coming of Christ to usher in the day of salvation by faith and grace,  was HIDDEN within the old testament laws! Everything God had ordained in the old testament, was symbolic of what Jesus would do, when he came as the Messiah!

1Co 2:7  But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 

1Co 2:8  Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 

If Satan had known the death of Christ would bring  salvation to the world, he never would have influenced the Jews to kill Jesus. Satan thought killing Jesus would end the God-head, and destroy Gods power! Then Satan would take over heaven and the world completely! to destroy them!

 The old testament was based on strict laws and conformity. Those seeking to walk with God, Or go to heaven, sought it by observing all the O.T. laws and rituals. But those laws could not change the heart of the worshippers. As such, all their sins they thought were forgiven by animal sacrifices, were reserved on hold, until the day when Jesus would come and provide his own blood, to cancel all those sins.  The blood of bulls and goats could never take away sin. They were symbolic only!

 The reason behind all the symbolism, was to hid the coming of Jesus the messiah, as the Saviour of the world!

The prophecies in the Old Testament concerning the coming of the Son of God, presented him as the coming Messiah that would set up his kingdom on earth. A kingdom that would last forever!

According to the O.T. this Messiah would:

1. Deliver all Israel from their enemies.
2. He would restore the world back to its original condition, before the fall.
3. The Messiah would rule the world from Jerusalem.
4. His kingdom would last forever.
5. Designated Israelites would rule the world under his authority.
6. Satan would be cast out of the  world, and into the pits of punishments.
7. The wicked would never enter the glorious kingdom of the Messiah.
8. Those living in the kingdom of the Messiah, would live forever.
9. In the eternal kingdom of the Messiah, there would be no such thing as death, sickness, or ageing.
10. Only the Messiah could forgive sins, heal the sick, raise the dead, and destroy all sin.
11. No person or nation could ever make war against the messiah’s kingdom.
12. The eternal city of God, would be a world of peace and happiness.

However: there was a problem. the jews knew all this, but completely missed the fact, before all this could happen, the old testament of strict laws and harsh punishments had to be done away with!

The Messiahs kingdom, would be kingdom of peace, love,  and unity with the heavenly Father! Something that strict laws and punishments could not do! the hearts of the people  had to be changed, or their wicked hearts could never be allowed in the city of God! Laws of “do’s and Don’ts” could not change their hearts.

            The Jews knew all this concerning the Messiah, but only considered it on the physical world ONLY!

This is how the Jews interpreted it:

1. Deliverance we from their Roman oppressors.
2. The restoration of the world, was a physical change only.
3. The seat of the Messiahs power, was from the physical Jerusalem, as they knew it.
4. The eternal kingdom of the Messiah, would start when he came to earth.
5. To be an Israelites was a matter of national earthly birth.
6. Satan would be physically destroyed, when the Messiah came back.
7. All gentiles, were banned from the Missiah kingdom.
8. Eternal life was in the physical form.
9. The messiah would banish all sickness, death, and  ageing.
10. The idea of a human person being able to heal, raise people from the dead, or forgive, was unthinkable.
11. Anyone who opposed or challenged the messiah, would be stoned to death on the spot.
12. The peace of Gods kingdom could only be achieved, when everyone obeyed his strict laws.

It is very plain, the jews, and the early church, never understood the new testament was ushering in the church age! They thought when he came, he would start the millennium and reign forever!

Yes, Jesus would come.

Yes he will do all those things!

Yes it would all happen when the Messiah would return to earth to set up his kingdom.

Yes he would rule from Israel during the millennium!

BUT! Before all that, there would be the church age: salvation by faith, grace, and purity of heart! Without the church age, that was ushered in by Jesus on the cross, there would be no true forgiveness or salvation.

All humanity would be lost in the abys of hell without any hope of forgiveness or deliverance.

 The prophesies of the messiah were all fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Because Jesus IS the  MESSIAH!

But what Jesus came to do, and how he did it, was so far removed from what the Jews were expecting. This is why the Jews didn’t believe that Jesus was their Messiah! They considered him a heretic and crucified him for it!

This is what  Jesus really came to do, as the Messiah!

1. The deliverance from their enemies, was the enemy of sin, death, and hell.
2. The restoration of the world, would not come until Jesus sets up his kingdom at the millennium.
3. Jesus reign from Jerusalem, was a new Jerusalem, come down out of heaven from God.
4. Jesus kingdom started at Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came to administer the church age.
5. To be a “Jew”  was to be born again of the spirit, having nothing to do with a nationality.
6. Satans final destruction would not come until the battle of Armageddon, at the end of the world
7. The wicked would still be rejected from heaven.
8. The saved by grace saints would live in heaven forever, not just the redeemed of  Israel!
9. The eternal kingdom of the messiah is heaven and a new earth! not a remodel Israel.
10. Jesus is the Messiah, and still has the power to forgive sins, heal the sick, raise the dead, and destroy sin.
11. Every nation on earth has attacked Gods people. But Jesus has always sustained them.  
12. The kingdom of God is a spiritual kingdom, and is represented by the fruits of the spirit in the heart of the sanctified believer.

So, what has all this to do with tongues and Pentecost? EVERYTHING!

Pentecost was/would:

1. the end of the old testament
2. the start of the new testament.
3. the beginning of the church age,
4. The promise of the father that would change the heart of the believers.
5. The doing away of the “Jews” a people of God.
6. Anyone saved and sanctified, would become the child of God, and be known as Gods people!
7. Start the salvation from sin, to be the new requirement of who Gods people actually are.
8. The people of God wound be empowered to do the same things Jesus did, while he was on earth.
9. Defeat the Devil and break the power of sin.
10. Open the way for sinners to get saved.
11. Turn salvation into sanctification!
12.  Pentecost restored man back into fellowship with God!

God wanted to send the holy spirit into the world, to open the way for salvation.  BUT, to send the holy spirit, without the atoning work of Christ, would have been useless! Jesus had to come first and provide the salvation that the holy spirit would lead men to!

Salvation would be by trusting in the merits of Christ, not the O.T, laws of  forced obedience to a set of impossible rules!

The coming of the holy Spirit was  to lead man to salvation and sanctification by faith in Christ: was the greatest moment in all of heaven and earth’s history.

This is the:

1. Reason of Pentecost.
2. Plan for a Pentecost.
3. Gods provisions for Pentecost.
4. Miracle of Pentecost.
5. Real message of Pentecost.
6. Power of Pentecost.
7. Glory of Pentecost.

It’s no wonder satan wants to make it look like a bunch of babbling clowns! He is mocking God!

The hottest parts of the lake of fire, is reserved for those turned from the truth!