On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: 'Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.'

-Acts 1:4-5

Count off seven weeks from the time you begin to put the sickle to the standing grain. Then celebrate the Festival of Weeks to the Lord your God by giving a freewill offering in proportion to the blessings the Lord your God has given you.

-Deuteronomy 16:9-10

If you pay attention to these laws and are careful to follow them, then the Lord your God will keep his covenant of love with you, as he swore to your ancestors. He will love you and bless you and increase your numbers. He will bless the fruit of your womb, the crops of your land—your grain, new wine and olive oil—the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks in the land he swore to your ancestors to give you.

-Deuteronomy 7:12-13

The Word of God is the Work of God to bring peace and prosperity.

By the time we arrive in Acts 2, Shavuot has become primarily about two things:

When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear.

-Exodus 20:18

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues the Spirit enabled them.

-Acts 2:1-4

Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken.

-Acts 2:5-6

The similarities between Shavuot and Pentecost:

In Exodus 32 we are told 3000 were judged for their blatant and unrepentant idolatry.

In Acts 2: 42 we are told that 3000 were saved through repentance and baptism.

In Exodus, God writes his law on Stone Tablets.

In Acts, God writes his law on the hearts of men.

Mt. Sinai was the ground floor for proclaiming God’s law.

Pentecost is the ground floor for proclaiming God’s grace.

Why is this so important! Because the very reason for your existence comes into clear focus.

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth.

-John 14:16-17

Advocate: Paraclete from Para-Kaleo.

Para:

Kaleo:

He defends you against the enemies of this world.

He defends you against the enemies of your heart.

The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, 'Abba, Father.' The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.

-Romans 8:15-16

Shavuot or Pentecost is about allowing the Holy Spirit to transform you to the point of leading a compelling life.

Jesus has fulfilled the First Four Feasts.

Now we wait for the final three appointed times.

What do we do while we wait?

1. We acknowledge the relationship between law, life, and Healing.

Your physical health is a response to your emotional and mental health.

Many physical ailments come as a result of improper responses to the events and emotions of our lives.

The Word of God works with the Spirit of God to bring true Shalom into your life.

Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.

-John 14:13

Greek: “Not greater in kind but scope.”

We may not do the physical miracles Jesus did, but we will bring spiritual healing on a grand scale.

2. We acknowledge that we have been marked.

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed (marked) for the day of redemption.

-Ephesians 4:30

God has placed His mark on us. Why?

1. Protection

Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.

-Revelation 7:3

2. Ownership. We belong to God for His purposes.

He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

-Philippians 1:6

Your life is going to have every challenge, obstacle, roadblock, twist and turn necessary to complete the work God began in you.

3. We acknowledge that if we want take hold of the Milk and Honey, we must follow Jesus wherever He leads us—wherever He goes.

They follow the Lamb wherever He goes.

-Revelation 14:4

You have been set apart.

1. The journey of life is to discover your calling.

2. To follow courageously wherever God leads.

Whatever God calls you to do He assumes the responsibility of equipping you to do it.

Your best life is on the other side of obedience.

Each act of obedience leads you one step closer to Shalom.

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