Monday, June 25, 2018

A Forgotten Memorial Day: The Feast of Pentecost. Why Should Christians Celebrate It? Update.

For “Scripture Sunday”:

A Forgotten Memorial Day: The Feast of Pentecost

Monday, May 28, was Memorial Day in the U.S. But there is another memorial day that commemorates one of the most momentous days in all of history.

A Forgotten Memorial Day: The Feast of PentecostOn Monday, May 28, most schools, federal offices and some businesses in the United States were closed to observe Memorial Day.  Memorial Day is a U.S. holiday remembering the Americans who died in all the wars fought throughout American history.

A day even more important than Memorial Day—it is the biblical Feast of Pentecost (or Feast of Weeks).

The unique feast of counting

In Leviticus 23 God gave Israel a list of special observances that He declared “the feasts of the LORD” (verse 2). These festivals were to be observed by God’s people as “holy convocations” (verse 2). Israel was to assemble together on these days to worship and learn.

The third festival in this list was unique. Instead of having a fixed date, the date of its observance was based on counting: “You shall count for yourselves from the day after the Sabbath [during the Days of Unleavened Bread], 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” (verses 15-16). In fact, the name Pentecost is simply the Greek term for “fiftieth.”

Every year when Christians gather to celebrate this day, they remember the events of the Pentecost that began the New Testament Church.A New Testament observance

Many, unfortunately, make the mistake of thinking that this day was just an Old Testament Jewish observance.

But the Bible paints a very different picture!

This special day is featured prominently in the New Testament. In fact, one of the most important events in the history of Christianity took place on this day. And that is no coincidence. Acts 2 tells the story of the beginning of the New Testament Church. You may have heard about some of the events of that day—tongues of fire, speaking in different languages, Peter’s powerful sermon, baptisms, etc. But have you paid close attention to why all these people were together in the first place?

Notice Acts 2:1: “When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.”

Yes, the first Christians were assembled to observe Pentecost! What happened on this day would change history forever. On that day, God began the Church of God—a group of people called out of the world and together to be “His own special people” (1 Peter 2:9). No longer would God work only with the nation of Israel. Through the Church, He would now begin calling people of all ethnicities, races and nationalities into a relationship with Him (Romans 9:24; 11:11; Galatians 3:14).

The Bible shows that the Church continued to observe the Feast of Pentecost after this day (Acts 20:16; 1 Corinthians 16:8).       Continued at: https://lifehopeandtruth.com/life/blog/a-forgotten-memorial-day-the-feast-of-pentecost/

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Dear Friends,

The annual festival Pentecost, which takes place during the second of three festival seasons each year. Have you and your children been counting the 50 days from the wave sheaf offering day during the Feast of Unleavened Bread?

The wave sheaf offering and the symbolism of the firstfruits are well worth a review as you prepare for this joyful feast day. Reflect on the gift of the Holy Spirit and what the fruit produced looks like when we allow God’s Spirit to work in our lives. Refresh your knowledge on these topics as well as the miraculous events of the Pentecost service recorded in Acts 2, and be inspired by the beautiful significance of this festival!

Expand your personal study on topics related to Pentecost and

timely activities to be reviewing with your kids now:  https://lifehopeandtruth.com/learning-center/youth-development/

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Why Should Christians Celebrate the Feast of Pentecost?

“Jesus Christ chose the Feast of Weeks (Shavuot in Hebrew) or Pentecost to begin His Church. What is the meaning of Pentecost for Christians today?

A wheat field up close.Nitin Bhosale/Unsplash

Why should Christians celebrate the Feast of Pentecost?

The third of God’s annual festivals (after the Feast of Unleavened Bread) is the Feast of Weeks, or Pentecost (Leviticus 23:16-21; Acts 2:1). This festival, also called the Feast of Harvest or Firstfruits (Exodus 23:16; Exodus 34:22), was also the day God first granted His Spirit to the New Testament Church of God (Acts 2).

Pentecost portrays God as the Lord of His harvest, choosing and preparing the firstfruits of His coming Kingdom by giving them His Holy Spirit (Matthew 9:38; Luke 10:2; Romans 8:23; James 1:18). The preceding festival of Unleavened Bread pictures our commitment to come out of a sinful life and live our lives by God’s perfect laws. But we can’t do this on our own. Pentecost pictures God’s willingness to give His Holy Spirit to provide the power those He has called need.

God’s Holy Spirit empowers us with the love of God, the motivation to obey Him and a sound mind to discern His truth (2 Timothy 1:7; John 15:26; John 16:13). Only those who are led by God’s Spirit are called the sons of God (Romans 8:9, Romans 8:14). These Christians have a pledge or down payment on eternal life (2 Corinthians 5:5) and can look forward to the first resurrection, which is to eternal life in God’s family.

The Church of God, which began on Pentecost (Acts 2), is given the mission of preaching the good news of the Kingdom of God in preparation for the next step in God’s plan, the return of Jesus Christ. This is pictured by the next festival, the Feast of Trumpets.”  From: https://www.ucg.org/bible-study-tools/bible-questions-and-answers/why-should-christians-celebrate-the-feast-of-pentecost

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The Miracle and Meaning of Pentecost

“Noisy and amazing things were happening in Jerusalem nearly 2,000 years ago. But a silent miracle turned out to be the most powerful of all—and it continues to happen to this day!”

https://lifehopeandtruth.com/life/plan-of-salvation/pentecost/miracle-and-meaning-of-pentecost/?

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Update.

So why am I showing you articles about Penetost now? 

Because our church, along with many other churches, is celebrating the Holy Day today, 24th. June, 2018.  It is all about how the time is figured from the new moons and when the times and seasons began in Gen. 1:14.  “And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:”.

Zack and I spent a couple of mornings putting away the stuff on two tables of the yard sale.  Some went into the van for donating and the better stuff into the greenhouse.  Then at least those two table could be folded up out of the way.  We moved the shelf units out of the 10’ x 20’ storage tent with the torn roof and put them in my greenhouse.  Everything is going to have to be stored in there for now, except that there are still two long tables full of yard sale items in the mini-house carports. But it is going to have to stay there for now, until I have time to sort it out.

This was the week that had been designated to get those annual medical appointments out of the way.  Eyes tested, blood drawn, EKG at the cardiologist.  They did tell me that I have cataracts, and the cardiologist said that I am doing great. He thinks it is because I don’t take any prescriptions!  Rare words coming from a doctor these days. I get the results of the blood next Tuesday at my doctor’s office. 

For the church potluck I made an all organic meal of farro and veggies, (organic  farro, onion, carrots, celery, seasonings).  This was for Lauri, a church member who lives down the road from me, who says that if she doesn’t eat organic she gets migraines.  I also made organic chicken breast with all organic seasonings in a separate crock pot.

I had taken Lauri to Conroe Social Security office to get some paperwork sorted out so that she could transfer her drivers license to TX, as she let her out-of-state one expire, so now I am driving her where she needs to go.  She gets sick very easily, and wouldn’t be going to the Sabbath service, but said that she would be better by today, Sunday, to go to the Pentecost celebration.   All she eats is processed health food out of boxes, and she will not try to improve her diet.  There aren’t any living enzymes in dried food, but she doesn’t seem to understand that. 

The Bible readings were Psa. 119:1-24, Num. 8:1-12:16, about the Passover, Zech.21:10-4-7, 1 Cor 10:6-13, and the Teaching was Are You a Normal or Nominal Christian?

Lauri and I went to the Pentecost service, and she did eat a little bit of the organic farro and chicken dishes that I had prepared for her, but wouldn’t take any home for later.  Just as well, as others in the congregation thought that it was great and ate it all up.

The Bible readings for Pentecost were Exo. 19:1-20:26, Verse 1 says it was the third month since they had left Egypt, which would make it June that they were getting washed and ready for some special event, which turned out to be giving them the 10 Commandments. Then, Isa. 10:31- 12:6, Acts 1:4-8 and 2:1-32. The Teaching was about The Holy Spirit at Pentecost, and the Spirit being in the Old Testament not just the New Testament.

It was a great day.

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