Former M.V.C.W.C. - HERALD ARTICLE ARCHIVE








"The Season of Fire and Spirit ~ Pentecost"
by Kelly Purvis

On May 28, Christians celebrated the "Day of Pentecost". As we look back into history and the Bible, we see 3 stages of this feast ~ a progressive unfolding of revelation that points us to and teaches us about our Messiah. These thing were given by God as a shadow of things to come (Heb 10:1) to teach us (Gal 3:24) about the Messiah and the redemptive work of God (Col 2:17

The original Pentecost was a holiday of harvest or firstfruits. 50 days after Passover... "the feast of weeks, that is the firstfruits of the wheat harvest" (Ex 34:22) "count 7 weeks from the time you begin to put the sickle to the grain..." (Deut 16:9) "you shall present a NEW grain offering... two loaves of bread... with leaven as the firstfruits to the Lord." (Lev 23:17)

The next revelation or unfolding of Pentecost is presented 50 days after the Israelites crossed the Red Sea to begin their journey through the wilderness. Jewish people today still celebrate the feast in this stage ~ the giving of the law on Mt. Sinai. The mountain of God was enveloped in fire and smoke so that Moses told the people not to come too close. The children of Israel stood at the foot of the mountain in fear and trembling while ONE MAN went up. The Lord said, "let them wash their garments; and let them be ready for the 3rd day... for on the 3rd day the Lord will COME DOWN on the mountain... beware that you do not go up on the mountain or even touch the border of it for whoever touches the mountain shall surely die." (Ex 19:1-12)

Finally, the 3rd revelation or unfolding of Pentecost reveals the miracle of God's extreme grace and plan of redemption! The mountain would come to us! 50 days after His resurrection, Jesus poured out His Spirit of fire into His disciples. "when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house... and there appeared to them tongues as of fire and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:1-5)

Everything changed! The patterns, the types, the shadows, the Torah, the law, the Old Testament... had come in a person ~ Jesus Christ! What mankind could never do, what mankind could not even touch or look at, was fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ. This mountain of God would now live within, would dwell in mankind! "For you have not come to a mountain that can not be touched and to a blazing fire, and to darkness and gloom and whirlwind, and to the blast of a trumpet and the sound of words which sound was such that those who heard begged that it stop... YOU have come to Mt. Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, and to the general assembly, and church of the firstborn... to Jesus"! (Heb 12:18-24) What extreme grace! Can you grasp the immensity of it?! The miracle of Pentecost began a "new life" for the church ~ a "3rd day" life!

What first began in the plan of God as a firstfruits wave offering at the feast of harvest now produces miraculous spiritual fruit. A great transference took place... Christ's righteousness for ours, Christ's sacrifice for ours, Christ's power for ours. Jesus Christ himself was pouring out His Spirit in fulfillment of ALL of God's promises. Exalted at the right hand of God, from His throne "he has poured out this which you see and hear." (Acts 2:32)

A great reversal was also taking place. What happened at Pentecost reversed what happened at the Tower of Babel. Human beings trying to create a kingdom apart from God resulted in a total breakdown in human communication. At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit immediately began to unite human beings from all diverse languages and cultures. Each person "heard" the Words of God in their own language and native tongue. God was speaking to every nation, tribe, people, culture and language in the world. God was now restoring the unity of the whole human race. This wonderful Gospel of Jesus Christ, "in Christ...Christ in us, this proclamation of truth, "cut to the heart" of those that heard it. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit on that Pentecost day indwelt the disciples both corporately and individually, uniting them all in the light and fire of God's own life. It is so even today. It manifests to others the unifying, restoring and healing love of God. The union of prayer, of hearts and minds in the fire of His Spirit is the birth and growth of the Church.

Today, the holiday of Pentecost and the season that follows it, completes or crowns the cycle of the Christian year. Happy Birthday Church and welcome to what is called the "Season of Fire and Spirit."

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Make a joyful noise!