For centuries, the church has celebrated its birth fifty days after the death and resurrection of Jesus. That will be this Sunday! But did you know that this was prophesied for hundreds of years by an Old Testament feast and prophecy?
The original Pentecost was a Jewish feast called Shavuoth, or Feast of Weeks. It took place seven weeks after Passover and celebrated the first harvest of Israel’s growing season. Since the harvest was grain, two loaves of bread were prepared from wheat and waved before the Lord on the proper day. (This was along with several burnt animal offerings.) Some people think that one loaf represents the harvest of Jewish people under the Messiah, and the other loaf represents the harvest of Gentile believers into God’s kingdom.
Beyond that, the Old Pentecost celebrated the giving of the Law and Covenant to Moses fifty days after he led them out of Egypt. There was fire and smoke and rushing wind from Mt. Sinai that day.
Later, Joel prophesied an outpouring of God’s Spirit in the last days. Peter quoted this on the Day of Pentecost as the church was born in Acts 2:
In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and your daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. Acts 2:17,18
This time there was fire and rushing wind on Mount Zion in the temple. The tongues of fire sat on the heads of the believers. This time a new covenant was announced—forgiveness of sins and a fresh filling of the Holy Spirit in the name of Jesus the Messiah. This would include men and women prophesying and dreaming dreams as the Spirit was poured out. The 120 followers of Jesus who had been meeting together filled the temple that day with their praises as they were empowered to witness for Jesus in languages they had never learned.
As a result, Jewish believers from fourteen countries heard the gospel in their own tongue and three thousand responded. The church was born into a New Covenant. This was a fulfillment of the early harvest feast, signifying a great harvest to come! No doubt the people who were transformed that day took the good news home to their own countries. As their own people received the good news, the church grew all over the empire. And over the centuries, the church grew to millions and almost two billion today. It is still growing around the world, especially in countries where there is persecution. God’s fire refines as well as empowers us!
Lord, we thank you for that Spirit outpouring on the birth of the church. We thank you that the Spirit still empowers us today, to worship, to witness, and to do warfare against spiritual enemies.
Lord, pour out your Spirit in a fresh way in our lives this week. Give us new understanding and new anointing to share the new covenant! Lord, thank you that you never give up on us and that your mercies are new every morning. Lord, as Peter encouraged the people to save themselves from a “corrupt generation”, encourage us as we are once again in such a generation. Save us as we seek you. May we prophesy to the world around us of your saving grace. Thank you that the harvest continues around the world. Fill us with your Holy Fire. Lord of the harvest, continue your work in our day! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.