Today's Reading: Numbers 28

Celebrating Your Pentecost

As the time drew near for the Israelites to settle in their new land, Moses stressed the need for constant devotion to God through the various sacrifices and festivals.  This great feast day was known as “Shavout” in Hebrew.  We know it as the “Festival of First Fruits” or as the Greek rendering, “Feast of Pentecost.”  Shavuot is usually celebrated...

in late spring (late May or early June). In the modern Hebrew calendar, it’s celebrated on the 6th day of the month of Sivan.  It marked the beginning of the grain harvest in Israel.

The Jews were to celebrate this festival through their worship of God, the offering of sacrifices, and rest.  It was an agricultural festival, marking the beginning of the wheat harvest. It was a time to rejoice in the outpouring of God’s blessings on their land and to be thankful for all He has provided.

This great feast day was honored by God in the sending of the Holy Spirit and the beginning of the Church of Christ on earth.  The fulfillment of Shavuot is the giving of the Spirit in Acts 2.  “When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.” (Acts 2:1-4) On that Pentecost day, the Holy Spirit filled the Church with power and added 3,000 new believers. No longer just an agricultural festival, this is now a time to rejoice in the outpouring of God’s Spirit upon His people.

Have you had your “Pentecost” experience?  Have you come to God in humility and faith and asked Him to pour out His Spirit upon your life? God wants you to embrace the power of the Holy Spirit, which will help you walk in a more victorious, fruitful life as a Christ follower. So, by faith, receive the power and fresh infilling of the Holy Spirit!  Make today a day to celebrate your Pentecost.