Tag Archives: Holy Spirit

Christianity, Current events, doctrine, faith, Theology, Uncategorized

I Went Back to the Well

Revelation 2:4 “Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love”.

We have all seen followers of Christ that have veered off course, started to follow the money and fame, or even left the faith. Something can happen to cause doubt and wandering in a Christian. Whether its the cares of this world, the money that can be had by fame, or simple a wrong turn. The losing of the first love, the fire and zeal one has for the study and preaching/teaching of Jesus and the only means of salvation, the Cross.

That was where I found myself for about the last year. I didn’t walk away or follow some money scheme.I just lost the fire and zeal of the love of Jesus the Christ. A couple years, I left the Catholic church and set out on what turned out to be a journey. I went from the Catholic church back to my Protestant roots.

I went from Roman Catholic to a local Pentecostal church, the Healing Ministries Church of God of Mountain Assembly. I had been there a few times, saw my oldest son saved and baptized there. But felt it wasn’t for me.

And I ended up being a partial Calvinist. I say partial because I could get behind all of the points of TULIP (Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace, Preserving Grace). The petal of this flower I had issue with was the Calvinist view of election. I could merge this with the concept of freewill and the words “Whosoever” from verses like John 3:16 and Acts 10:43. So I knew I could no longer be a Calvinist.

Now I was at at point that I tried the Healing Ministries church again. This time it was an older pastor who had been pastor at the church before. He is an old-timey preacher. Everything in his messages leads one back to the cross. I knew people that went there and figured I need a church, so why not. Pastor Wright became a mentor to me. I suppose you could say more of a grandfather to me, although we are only 30 years apart.

But even that, after awhile, I felt like I needed to be there. So I left the board and church and found myself back in the Roman Catholic Church. I think it was more because I knew the mechanics of the faith. By mechanics, I mean the set prayers (Rosary, Magnificat), the procedure of the service (the ups, downs, kneels, etc), and the celebrations (required Holy days, the Eucharist). But after a time, I found myself being pulled to the Eastern Churches (Eastern Catholic and Eastern Orthodox). Having already determined that the Pope is the Bishop of Rome and not the prime ruler over Christendom, I became an Orthodox Catechumen in the Antiochian Church.

It still had the mechanics (although a slightly different style) and the belief were almost the same as the Roman Church. So I traded the Rosary for the Jesus Prayer, which I still recommend people to pray from time to time because it is the prayer that gives all 4 main points of a prayer and is scriptural. “Lord Jesus Christ (name and position on the faith), Son of God (who He is), Have mercy on me (what we seek), A sinner (what we are)”. But in time, I found myself praying for something more than mechanics.

I found myself prayer for the zeal and the fire I had when I gave myself to Jesus in 1996. During my prayer regime (the Orthodox call it a prayer rule), the point of prayers when the Jesus prayer is said, it is 10 prayers followed by a personal prayer. This is done 5 times for a total of 50 Jesus prayers and 5 personal prayers said in a prostate position. For those who don’t know, the prostate position is face to the ground, forehead touching the floor. A position of submission to God’s sovereignty. During the personal prayers I cried out to God to fix in me what was broken so I could have that fire for Christ and the Cross that I had decades before. It consumed me, this longing for the walk I once had. And while there were times over the decades that it would flicker, it never became full flame again.

This last week, before Sunday last, I was told that Pastor Wright was having health issues, so I decided to o to Healing Ministries so that I could check on him after service. Something in me started to make itself known, so to speak, during the sermon. Not much because of the message, although Pastor Wright always had a way preaching that makes one think the message is for them (that’s the prodding of the Holy Spirit).

Those under the umbrella of Pentecostal faith believe in healing. I also do because I have seen it in my own family. At the end of the service I walked down to see how Pastor Wright was doing. I didn’t even get to ask. I got to the point where I said how great the message was and how I felt like I belonged there (at least for that day) and that’s when things took a different turn. The floodgates opened and I found myself unable to talk.

Pastor Wright laid his hand on my shoulder and started praying. I felt a heat inside that I hadn’t felt in almost three decades. By the time he was done, a small group (including a dear friend) were at my side praying jointly with Pastor Wright. I went to check on his health and the Holy Spirit used him to heal my struggling soul.

The stories of well’s in scripture are a metaphor and symbol of the life giving water that is Jesus. “Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour. There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink. (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.)   Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?  Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle? Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” (John 4:6-14).

I found on that Sunday that sometimes, the best place for a Christian to go is back to the well. For us country folk, going back to the well means going back to the beginning. For me, this meant going back to my Protestant roots to a place and person that are so dear to me. While the fire is still starting to reignite, its no longer smoldering in ash. I had forgotten the Cross and replaced it with church mechanics. I had to be shown the thing that matters in this life. The Cross of Christ, the cleansing blood, and the empty tomb. The Cross and the cleansing blood washes away the sin and the empty tomb is the sign of hope of redemption in Christ. Something I needed reminded of.

People today expect concert style entertainment and a soft message in church. And God may use those (He is Sovereign and does as He wills). But never putdown a grandfatherly Cross/Sin/Hellfire/Need of redemption preacher in a backwoods little throwback church. Because I found that the well in those old country walls has the most refreshing Living Water of Christ one can ever drink.

Standard
Christianity, doctrine, faith, Theology, Uncategorized

Biblical Baptism

Over the last couple of months, three of my children have been baptized with believer’s baptism. This type of baptism comes in the form of full immersion, an the words of Jesus in Matthew 28:18-19. ‘And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:’.

So today, I would like to speak about baptism in the New Testament and beyond. The first New Testament baptism is John’s baptism prior to the baptism of Jesus. ‘Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene,   Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.   And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;’ (Luke 3:1-3)

According to the Jewish Mikveh ritual, which is used for various reasons, total immersion is used for purification. This is believed to be the reason that John was baptizing as part of his ministry. To purify the person in the eyes of God. Purification was a part of everyday life. Women needed purification after their menstrual cycle. The diseased needed purification after healing. And with the holiest feast being for the Day of Atonement, purification was needed to present sacrifice, for the priests to enter into their duties, and the High Priest to enter the Holy of Holies. So as part of preparing the way of the Messiah, it would be natural for John to incorporate this ritual into his ministry.

Christ required full immersion to fulfill the symbolic purification. ‘Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.   But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?   And Jesus answering said unto him,  Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness.  Then he suffered him.   And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:   And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’ (Matthew 3:13-17)

Peter changed the wording. He removed the ‘Father,Son, Holy Spirit’ replacing it with the Name and title of Jesus. ‘Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.’ (Acts 2:38)

Most churches use the version taught by Jesus. Some New Testament churches use Peter’s version. So one needs to contemplate, when it comes to wording, to listen to the Apostle or to the Lord when speaking during baptism. This baptismal form shows the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.

Over time, other forms of baptism came to be used. Sprinkling and pouring are the two that are most notable. Pouring comes not from scripture but from the Didache (which has been posted on this site). In the Didache, the writer’s (reportedly Apostles and disciples of the 1st and 2nd centuries) gave baptismal instruction. From Didache 7:1 “CONCERNING BAPTISM” ‘ Concerning baptism, baptize in this way. Having instructed him in all of these teachings, baptize the  catechumen in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, in running water.  But  if you do not have running water, then baptize in other water. And if you cannot in cold water, use warm.  But if you have neither, then pour water on the head three times, in the name of the Father, and of the Son,  and of the Holy Spirit. And before the baptism, let both the baptizer and the catechumen fast, and also any  others who are able. And be sure that the catechumen fasts a day or two before.’

Those who use sprinkling (such as the Catholic Church and the Presbyterian church) use two sources for their reasoning. The difference between the classical Greek word baptizmo (immerse) and the 1st Century Greek word koine (washing or cleansing). They site Ezekiel as a source for sprinkling in baptism. ‘Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.   A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.   And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.’ (Ezekiel 36:25-27)

One more matter in the concept of baptism. That is infant baptism. Most Christian churches do have an infant ceremony, christening. This is to give the child a name, give the child to God, and to dedicate the child’s rearing in the faith.

Some churches, like the Catholic Church and some Protestant denominations, give full baptism to infants. Having been Catholic for a couple decades before leaving and becoming Protestant, some of my children were given infant baptism. And those churches use the story of Cornelius and the jailer to justify that practice. ‘While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.   And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.   For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,   Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?   And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.’ (Acts 10:44-48). ‘And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.’ (Acts 16:27)

While neither of these verses say directly infants were  baptized, those that do infant baptisms believe it is implied. Most Christian denominations and Independents believe that believer’s baptism is the scriptural standard. Many verses say so specifically. Acts 2:38, Mark 16:16, Matthew 28:19, Acts 2:41, etc, all speak of believing in Jesus’s redemptive power and then baptism.

While baptism is an outward sign, it is not part of the redemption of Christ. Only the acceptance of His gift of Salvation saves us. 

Standard
Christianity, Current events, doctrine, faith, Theology, Uncategorized

The Cessation of the Apostolic Signs and Wonders

Anyone who has been in a church under the umbrella of Charismatic Christianity (which includes Pentecostal, Assembly of God, etc) has seen the ‘signs and wonders’ which had been seen in the works of the Apostles in the first century of the church. I have already written on tongues, that can be view by going to the main list of articles. This article is going to be a general overview and why the ‘signs following’ as seen in Holy Scripture no longer occur in that manner.

First we must look at the position of Apostle. With the original apostles (the 11), and we will include Justus Matthias as he was chosen by lot to replace Judas. This will also include the Apostle Paul. These 12 men were the only Apostles of Christ. By definition, an Apostle has to have one very specific criteria. Interacted with and chosen by Jesus Christ himself. Matthias is included, because Judas needed to replaced after his apostasy and death. The number was 12 because there were to be 12 main disciples (later Apostles) to correspond with the 12 tribes of Israel. And while Paul started towards the Jews, he was sent to the Gentiles. While others also went out of Israel into the world, we know that Paul was the one for the Gentiles.

From the death of John on Patmos, no other disciple (slave of Christ) meets the requirements to be an Apostle. And I do understand that today we have many self described “apostles”, but they don’t meet the requirements of the first century Apostles. Today’s so called apostles, are so only because of a supposed personal revelation. Revelation tells us not to add or detract from scripture. A personal revelation adds to scripture and would make the Holy Scriptures a continually added to book, not the Inspired Word of God in its finality.

None of those deemed Apostolic Father (those who studied under the Apostles like Clement and Polycarp). The majority of denominations recognize these men because there is proof of their being with the original Apostles. But their writings are not considered Inspired of God and placed in Canon of Scripture. They are considered theologians, but humanly so, meaning their writings could contain errors. But if you read their writings (and I do suggest that you do for theological perspective due to their proximity to the Apostles), you will not see any ‘signs and wonders’ beyond the Apostles.

Nowhere between the death of John and the early 20th century are there any records of ‘signs following’ from any slave of Christ. None. For a great history on the modern Charismatic Umbrella ‘signs and wonders’ check the Strange Fire Conference and the Charismatic history presented by Justin Peters. Both can be found on YouTube. These programs have a very detailed history of the Charismatic Umbrella.

The gifts of the Spirit: tongues (which is a known language according to the Greek word helios), healing, etc were for the Apostles to show the magnificence of God’s glory when the church was first being formed. After that, what the Holy Spirit gives us is listed in Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,   Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” It is these fruits that show a person has the Holy Spirit indwelling in them.

James tells us how healing comes. “Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.   Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:   And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.” (James 5:13-15).

We are told by Paul that even those who come from Satan will show signs. “Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,   And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.   And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:   That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” (2 Thess 9-12)

I must make this clear. YES, God still heals. Yes, God still can raise from the dead. Yes, God can do as He wishes. With something like healing, yes its real. Not because a person lays hands on someone, but because God chooses to. Paul himself asked for healing for an eye issue. God told him no. I have seen the power of healing. In my own family, as well as others. But in the Charismatic Umbrella, when someone is not healed, its because the person ‘lacks faith’. NO, its because there are times when God’s glory shines the brightest through the tribulations and trials we have to face.

So be careful and don’t fall into the erroneous assumption that signs and wonders are from God. 1900 years, or so, of history shows that the signs by the Apostles were for that time of the church. Now everything needed to know comes from scripture, not personal revelation. Healing is from God’s sovereignty alone. And as James tells us, comes through prayer. But we have to remember that sometimes, God says NO. Not because you lack faith or that God is mean. But because He will show His glory however he chooses to.

Read Holy Scripture, listen to theologically sound biblical doctrine, and pray. If you are a true believer in Christ and follow his commandments (yes, those two go together as stated in multiple verses), then you have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The fruits are the proof, not Apostolic signs and wonders as promoted by the Charismatic umbrella of denominations.

May God keep you blessed.

Standard
Christianity, faith, Uncategorized

Tongues: Language or Not

And when the day of Pentecost was 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 all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. (Acts 2:1-11).

When we speak of tongues, many automatically think of the Charismatic movement. This term is an umbrella term used to define those that have the doctrines of signs following and Pentecost type of experience. So I want to delve into the concept of ‘speaking in tongues’ starting with an understanding of the Pentecostal message of the Apostles.

We first need to remember that Jews were living all over the known world at the time. Israel was the gateway to three continents (Asia, Europe, and Africa). So in all of that, there would have been dozens, if not a hundred different languages and dialects. This is seen in the understanding of the four languages of Israel at the time. We know Galileans spoke Aramaic. Hebrew was the language of the temple. Greek was the language of civil government and business. And the Romans would have spoken Latin amongst each other. The above passage identifies various areas of the Jewish diaspora.

Looking at the Greek of the New Testament writers, the word translated into the English as tongue is glossia. It simply means tongues of nations, or simply put as known languages of a geographical area. The main point is ‘known languages’. Even when expositing upon this set of verses, theologians and pastors agree that it was known languages spoken at the Pentecost message. So, we will look at the other New Testament uses of the word tongues and its Greek wording and meaning.

One of the most used scriptures for the concept of speaking in tongues is in1 Corinthians 14:2-5, ‘For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.   He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.’The Greek here is still the word glossia, ‘tongues of nations’. It is a known language, unknown by those listening in this case. A couple verses later, it is better to prophecy for the edification of the church.

On top of the misunderstanding of what tongues meant in the Greek writing of the New testament, there are actually a few rules. The first rule is to have an interpreter. Look above at the last verse of the passage.

This is also mentioned in chapter twelve of 1 Corinthians, that tongues is only one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and not mentioned as the defining gift of the Holy Spirit. Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:   But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. (1 Cor 12:4-11). Here, diverse tongues simply means multiple languages.

Nowhere in scripture is the ability to speak a non-language tongue (which seems to be the only vocalization during the ‘speaking in tongues’) ever mentioned. I have been to many churches where this vocalization occurs. Never have I seen anyone interpret. Just people being in awe of the action itself. How does that edify the body of believer’s of Jesus Christ.

Sid Roth, a charismatic that has a show ‘Its Supernatural’ that airs on stations like TBN and Daystar. I will include a you tube link of Mr Roth teaching how to speak in tongues. Of course this cancels any validity of the action. https://yout.be/hJl7li1ajKs?si=ZhbuwpSvmKvuCvJk. Or just look up Sid Roth Teaching Tongues.

The history of speaking in tongues, as done within the umbrella of the charismatic movement starts in the 19th century. Two groups are noted to having the non-language tongues. One was the Catholic Apostolic Church and the other were the Mormons. As for the charismatic umbrella of denominations, their start came from two men, Charles Parham and William Seymour. Their view of ‘speaking in tongues’ was an addition to justification and sanctification (biblical truths). They assumed it to be a work of grace. They saw it as the single proof that one had the Holy Spirit. However, biblical teaching show that the Holy Spirit is working in every believer. That it is not a special dispensation.

I understand that this small article will cause discontent of those that adhere to an unbiblical principle. But it must be pointed out that scripture does not speak of this type of tongues, but of known languages whether or not the speaker knows said languages. And how a person lives in relation to God’s will is the determining factor of the Holy Spirit. Yes, there are the gifts. But tongues is a language that is known (even if not known by the speaker) and is the last listed. And has been relegated below the gift of prophecy.

It is dangerous and destructive to a believer if they are convinced that the Holy Spirit does not work in them strictly because they don’t have the gift of ‘speaking in tongues’. It will a least discourage them. At most, it will destroy their faith in God through Christ.

Standard
Christianity, faith

Old and New Pentecost

This past Sunday, Christians around the world celebrated Pentecost Sunday. And as I heard various messages on this Holy day, what I did not hear was the story of the original Pentecost. Nor did I hear how the two play together. One was a foreshadowing of the other. So here, the reader will be given a quick tour of Pentecost. And to show how three different remembrances and celebrations blend together for a beautiful understanding of this day.

Christians know that the book of Acts is about the birth of the church in its mission to spread the Gospel of Christ to the world. But for those who may not know it, a quick catchup.

In the Gospels, Jesus had been taken prisoner by the Pharisees (the religious leaders of the Jewish people) on the night of Passover. ‘While Yeshua was still speaking, here came Judah, one of the Twelve, and with him a big crowd with swords and clubs, from the ruling kohanim and elders of the people. Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying, ‘The One I kiss, He’s the One—seize Him!’And immediately Judah drew near[k] to Yeshua and said, “Shalom, Rabbi!” and kissed Him.“Friend,” Yeshua said to him, “do what you’ve come to do.” Then they came up and threw their hands on Yeshua and seized Him.And suddenly, one of those with Yeshua stretched out his hand and drew his sword, and he struck the kohen gadol’s servant and cut off his ear.Then Yeshua said to him, “Put your sword back in its place! For all who take up the sword shall perish by the sword.Or do you suppose that I cannot call on My Father, and at once He will place at My side twelve legions[m] of angels?How then would the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?”At that hour Yeshua said to the crowds, “Have you come out with swords and clubs, to capture Me as you would a revolutionary?[n] Every day I sat teaching in the Temple, and you didn’t seize Me.But all this has happened so that the writings of the prophets would be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples fled, abandoning Him.Now those who had seized Yeshua led Him away to Caiaphas, the kohen gadol, where the Torah scholars and elders had gathered.’ (Matthew 16:47-57, TLV)

This was in remembrance of the Israelites being freed from bondage in Egypt by God through the various plagues, including the last one…death of all firstborn.‘Then came the day of matzah when the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed.Now Yeshua sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, so we may eat.”Then they said to Him, “Where do You want us to prepare?”And He said to them, “Behold, when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him into the house that he enters.And say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, “Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?”’And with that, he will show you a large upper room, fully furnished. Make preparations there.”So they left and found just what Yeshua had told them, and they prepared the Passover.When the hour came, Yeshua reclined at table, and the emissaries with Him.And He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.For I tell you, I will never eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”And when He had taken a cup and offered the bracha, He said, “Take this and share it among yourselves.For I tell you that I will never drink of the fruit of the vine from now on, until the kingdom of God comes.”And when He had taken matzah and offered the bracha, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body, given for you. Do this in memory of Me.”In the same way, He took the cup after the meal, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you.’ (Luke 22:7-20, TLV)

That first meal was eaten ready for flight as everyone stayed in their homes, protected by the markings of blood on the doorway. The angel of death would see the blood and ‘Pass Over’ the house, leaving all inside alive. God then made this meal (the Passover Seder) an annual remembrance for the children of Israel. ‘The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt,“This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year.Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb[a] for his family, one for each household.If any household is too small for a whole lamb, they must share one with their nearest neighbor, having taken into account the number of people there are. You are to determine the amount of lamb needed in accordance with what each person will eat.The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or the goats.Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the members of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight.Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs.That same night they are to eat the meat roasted over the fire, along with bitter herbs, and bread made without yeast.Do not eat the meat raw or boiled in water, but roast it over a fire—with the head, legs and internal organs.Do not leave any of it till morning; if some is left till morning, you must burn it.This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is the Lord’s Passover.

“On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn of both people and animals, and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord.The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.“This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord—a lasting ordinance.For seven days you are to eat bread made without yeast. On the first day remove the yeast from your houses, for whoever eats anything with yeast in it from the first day through the seventh must be cut off from Israel.On the first day hold a sacred assembly, and another one on the seventh day. Do no work at all on these days, except to prepare food for everyone to eat; that is all you may do.

“Celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread, because it was on this very day that I brought your divisions out of Egypt. Celebrate this day as a lasting ordinance for the generations to come.In the first month you are to eat bread made without yeast, from the evening of the fourteenth day until the evening of the twenty-first day.For seven days no yeast is to be found in your houses. And anyone, whether foreigner or native-born, who eats anything with yeast in it must be cut off from the community of Israel.Eat nothing made with yeast. Wherever you live, you must eat unleavened bread.”Then Moses summoned all the elders of Israel and said to them, “Go at once and select the animals for your families and slaughter the Passover lamb.Take a bunch of hyssop, dip it into the blood in the basin and put some of the blood on the top and on both sides of the doorframe. None of you shall go out of the door of your house until morning.When the Lord goes through the land to strike down the Egyptians, he will see the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe and will pass over that doorway, and he will not permit the destroyer to enter your houses and strike you down.

“Obey these instructions as a lasting ordinance for you and your descendants.When you enter the land that the Lord will give you as he promised, observe this ceremony.And when your children ask you, ‘What does this ceremony mean to you?’then tell them, ‘It is the Passover sacrifice to the Lord, who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt and spared our homes when he struck down the Egyptians.’” Then the people bowed down and worshiped.The Israelites did just what the Lord commanded Moses and Aaron.At midnight the Lord struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh, who sat on the throne, to the firstborn of the prisoner, who was in the dungeon, and the firstborn of all the livestock as well.Pharaoh and all his officials and all the Egyptians got up during the night, and there was loud wailing in Egypt, for there was not a house without someone dead.

During the night Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “Up! Leave my people, you and the Israelites! Go, worship the Lord as you have requested.Take your flocks and herds, as you have said, and go. And also bless me.”The Egyptians urged the people to hurry and leave the country. “For otherwise,” they said, “we will all die!”So the people took their dough before the yeast was added, and carried it on their shoulders in kneading troughs wrapped in clothing.The Israelites did as Moses instructed and asked the Egyptians for articles of silver and gold and for clothing.The Lord had made the Egyptians favorably disposed toward the people, and they gave them what they asked for; so they plundered the Egyptians.The Israelites journeyed from Rameses to Sukkoth. There were about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides women and children.Many other people went up with them, and also large droves of livestock, both flocks and herds.With the dough the Israelites had brought from Egypt, they baked loaves of unleavened bread. The dough was without yeast because they had been driven out of Egypt and did not have time to prepare food for themselves.Now the length of time the Israelite people lived in Egypt was 430 years.At the end of the 430 years, to the very day, all the Lord’s divisions left Egypt.Because the Lord kept vigil that night to bring them out of Egypt, on this night all the Israelites are to keep vigil to honor the Lord for the generations to come.

The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “These are the regulations for the Passover meal: “No foreigner may eat it.Any slave you have bought may eat it after you have circumcised him,but a temporary resident or a hired worker may not eat it.“It must be eaten inside the house; take none of the meat outside the house. Do not break any of the bones.The whole community of Israel must celebrate it.“A foreigner residing among you who wants to celebrate the Lord’s Passover must have all the males in his household circumcised; then he may take part like one born in the land. No uncircumcised male may eat it.The same law applies both to the native-born and to the foreigner residing among you.”All the Israelites did just what the Lord had commanded Moses and Aaron.And on that very day the Lord brought the Israelites out of Egypt by their divisions.(Exodus 12, TLV)

The reader may wonder why I brought up the Passover meal instead of the trial, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus. The reason is fairly simple, The Jewish nation counts days from the Passover to Pentecost. Fifty days from Passover is Pentecost. For the Jewish faith, it is the Feast of Weeks. Originally, this feast was known as the Festival of Harvest (Feast of Firs Fruits). I will bring this point into the story later.

The gathering of the faithful in that room was at the command of Jesus. They knew something was going to occur because Christ said so.‘But the Helper, the Ruach ha-Kodesh whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you everything and remind you of everything that I said to you.’ (John 14:26, TLV). Ruach ha-Kodesh translates as this – the divine force, quality, and influence of God over the universe or over God’s creatures. And something great happened. We will break  it down point by point. Linking things to the Old Testament.

‘When the day of Shavuot had come, they were all together in one place.Suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.And tongues like fire spreading out appeared to them and settled on each one of them.They were all filled with the Ruach ha-Kodesh and began to speak in other tongues as the Ruach enabled them to speak out.’ (Acts 2:1-4, TLV)

I highlighted 3 parts of this set of verses. I’ll break each down in order. When the day of Shavuot had come, they were all together in one place, I’ve already mentioned that they were together because of the God set festival. Some will say that they were huddled and scared but scripture shows, that as Jewish believers, they were to celebrate this festival.

Mighty rushing wind can be viewed as the Holy Spirit that gave life in the beginning. ‘Then Adonai Elohim formed the man out of the dust from the ground and He breathed into his nostrils a breath of life—so the man became a living being.’ (Genesis 2:7, TLV) The might rushing wind and the breath of life are indicative of the Holy Spirit creating life. First into man as a being and then into the church as the bride.

Tongues like fire. Fire has been used in various forms in scripture. In that room it was the indication of God’s presence, like it was with Moses, ‘Now Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian. So he led the flock to the farthest end of the wilderness, coming to the mountain of God, Horeb.Then the angel of Adonai appeared to him in a flame of fire from within a bush. So he looked and saw the bush burning with fire, yet it was not consumed.’ (Genesis 3:1-2, TLV)

As it was the Festival of First Fruits- we can see this act of God through the Holy Spirit as the first fruits of the church.

After the Temple was demolished in 70 AD and sacrifices could no longer be made, the Jewish people also understood that the giving of the Torah to Moses was done on this festival day. So they spend the night studying the Torah. That brings another point to the Pentecostal Day message.

‘Then I will give them one heart. I will put a new Spirit within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh…’ (Ezekiel 11:19, TLV)

‘For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says Adonai. I will put My Torah into their mind, and upon their hearts I will write it. And I will be their God, and they shall be My people.’ (Hebrews 8:10, TLV)

As one can see, The Christian Day of Pentecost was more than just the Christian view we have today. It was grounded in the Old Testament. Every aspect of it was foreshadowed and came into play for those that believed in Yeshua Messiah (Jesus Christ) on that day.

To understand the life of a Christian, we must look at the Jewish Covenant. Everything then came to fullness in Christ. We tend to forget that Jesus and the Apostles and writers of the New Testament (except Luke) were Jewish. They kept the Old Testament in their hearts and actions. We need to start seeing the importance of the Old in the New. I have started to learn and love the Jewish roots of our faith in Christ. Because their faith gave us our faith.

Standard