Email from Abiding Place Daily Bread – November 11, 2024 (The Second Day – Genesis 1:6-8) Acts 2:1-4 – And on the day that Pentecost came, they were all of one purpose in the same place. And suddenly there came, out of Heaven, the sound of a violent rushing wind and it filled the whole house where they were seated. And there appeared cloven tongues like fire, and they set down upon each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit spoke forth from them. The Birth Of The Church Pentecost is the Festival of Weeks, or of the Firstfruits. The Festival of Firstfruits is known as ‘Shavuot’ in the Hebrew tradition. There were three special holy days of great significance in which all Israel was commanded to appear before the Lord in Jerusalem: Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles. ‘Pentecost’ is a Greek word meaning “the fiftieth part of something.” Greek-speaking Jews used this word to refer to the harvest festival (‘Hag Shavuot’ or “Feast of Weeks”). Pentecost takes place on the fiftieth day, counting from the Passover. It is also the Feast of Firstfruits (Leviticus 23:15-16; Numbers 28:26). The day of Pentecost is called the Feast of Weeks (Exodus 23:16, 34:22; Deuteronomy 16:9-10, 16; 2 Chronicles 8:13), the Assembly, and ‘Shimcha Torah’ (The Joy of the Law). Passover and Pentecost are of great significance to all of us, for Jesus our Savior was crucified on Passover as our Passover Lamb, and on the day of Pentecost (Shavuot), the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the Church (1 Corinthians 5:7; John 19:31). The significance of the blood of the Passover Lamb was first revealed on the day God delivered Israel from the slavery of Egypt. Just as the blood had marked their lives and became the means of their deliverance from slavery, the blood of Jesus has delivered all those who will believe from sin and death. The first Pentecost, highlighted with Israel in the wilderness, was also marked with great significance. The Lord God Almighty appeared in the midst of the fire-cloud of glory and spoke audibly from mount Sinai in the ears of all Israel (Exodus 19:16-19). The law, with its typology and examples, was a schoolmaster to bring us to the day that the glory of God would be seen once again tabernacling in the lives of men (Colossians 2:17; Hebrews 8:5, 10:1; Galatians 3:23-25). So when the day of Pentecost was fully come after Jesus had ascended to the throne of glory, the fire of God came and rested upon all those who were cleansed and sanctified by His blood (John 7:37-39; Acts 2:33). The glory of Heaven broke forth, and the voice of God was heard coming out of the bellies of those who had been redeemed. It was on this day the Church was born in the fires of the Holy Ghost. Instead of man bringing their firstfruits to God, God brought His firstfruits to man (Romans 8:23; Exodus 34:22; Numbers 28:26; Deuteronomy 26:10). Now, because of the grace of God, we can live in Pentecost everyday. We can live in the baptism of the fire of the Holy Ghost, and be filled continually with His glory (Ephesians 5:18-19; John 7:38-39; Matthew 3:11). Blessings, Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
Daily Bread 11/11/2024
