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Pentecost - The Feast of the Open Heaven

Leviticus 23:15-16 - “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.”

Acts 2:1-4 – “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.

            There are seven major feasts that God established with Israel in the Old Testament.  Pentecost comes in the Hebrew month of Sivan, which corresponds to the months of May/June on the Gregorian calendar.  These feasts are God’s appointed times.  These are appointed times for meeting with God. 

Pentecost is translated from a Greek word that means “fiftieth.”  The Hebrew word is “Shavuot.”  The first Pentecost took place at Sinai in the wilderness fifty days after the first Passover.  It was on the fiftieth day God visited them on Mount Sinai to establish a new order and inaugurate a new day.  Exodus 19:3-6 gives the details of this visitation, “And 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 children of Israel: ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself.  Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”
           
It was on the first Pentecost in the wilderness of Sinai that God visited the children of Israel and gave the Torah.  He established a new order and inaugurated a new day.  He gave them the Law and outlined their destiny assignment, to be a nation of priests representing the one true God to the nations of the earth.

            Pentecost is a time when God visits His people.  This visitation releases miraculous provision.  In Acts 2 God poured out His Spirit on the Day of Pentecost on the 120 who were gathered in an Upper Room in Jerusalem.  These disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in languages foreign to their understanding. 

What happened when the Holy Spirit fell on the Day of Pentecost? The 120 disciples were filled and empowered to become powerful witnesses of the Lord Jesus Christ.  God gave birth to the New Testament Church and it grew exponentially.  God took 120 believers and empowered them to turn the world upside down.

On this Pentecost we pray for an open heaven and a release of power to accomplish the task God is assigning us for this season.  Jesus gave this promise concerning Pentecost in Acts 1:8, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

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