Pentecost or the Feast of Weeks, 2012

24 Thursday May 2012

Posted by Rev. Nadine Drayton-Keen in Spiritual

Tags

6th of Sivan, Covenant of Christ, Day of Pentecost, Feast of Harvest, Feast of Pentecost, Feast of Weeks, flames of fire, Household of Faith, Jews and Gentiles, Lord of the Harvest, Mosaic Covenant, redeemed individuals

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.Suddenly a noise like a strong, blowing wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw something like flames of fire that were separated and stood over each person there. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they began to speak different languages by the power the Holy Spirit was giving them. ~ Acts 2:1-4, NCV

The Feast of Pentecost (Shavu’ot) also is called the Feast of Harvest and the Feast of Weeks, the latter because, according to Old Testament Scriptures, this Jewish feast day was observed seven weeks after the offering of the barley-sheaf (cf. Leviticus 23:15-17; Deuteronomy 16:9-11). Thus, this feast day takes place on the 6^th of Sivan, which God appoints as the date that comes exactly 50 days after the Feast of Firstfruits (50 days from the day the Temple priests waved the firstfruits of the barley harvest).

The Feast of Pentecost is the concluding festival of the grain harvest. This great feast also commemorates the giving of the Law (Torah) to Moses on Mt. Sinai, as well as celebrates the giving of the Holy Spirit to the Body of Christ (ekklesia or CHURCH). Moreover, it was on the Feast of Pentecost, nearly 2000 years ago, that the Holy Spirit, resembling 120 flames of fire, fell upon the same amount of disciples who were fellowshipping together in a Jerusalem Upper Room (cf. Acts 1:13-15; Acts 2:1-4).

Now, it is ironic that Father God, who is the Lord of the Harvest, chooses the Feast of Pentecost, the day when Jewish men and women from all of the world gather in Jerusalem to reaffirm their commitment to the Mosaic Covenant, to be the day He would send His Holy Spirit to establish a brand New Covenant—the Covenant of Christ, which is a marriage between Christ Jesus and redeemed believers. In other words, it is ironic that God chooses Pentecost to be the day His Holy Spirit would begin preparing the firstfruits of the redeemed individuals who would makeup God’s Kingdom to come—the day that blood-bought Jews and Gentiles, by the Grace of God, become God’s sons and daughters in the Household of Faith. But thank God He did!

HAVE A VERY HAPPY PENTECOST DAY, 2012!!!!

For additional information about Pentecost, please read my blog entries: The Day of Pentecost’s Tongues…; The Holy Spirit’s Baptism (Infilling) Transforms; and The Seal of the Holy Spirit IS Speaking in Tongues.

Breath of God (Ruwach)

24 Thursday May 2012

Posted by Rev. Nadine Drayton-Keen in Heavenly Insights

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Breath of Almighty, Breath of God, comforter, Convicter of Sin, Guide, Living Water, Rhema Word of "Life", Ruwach, Spirit of Life, Spirit of Truth, Teacher

Breath of GOD

So I prophesied as He commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army. ~ Ezekiel 37:10, KJ21

Just like the prophet Ezekiel lived in a time of international crisis and conflict, today’s Christian believers also live in a time of international crisis and conflict. Indeed, if September 11, 2001 taught contemporary Christian believers anything, then it was that the love of many, which includes those who are in AND out of the “CHURCH,” truly is waxing cold.

The events on September 11, 2001 also have made it clear to the genuine Body of Christ members that this increasing coldness is why they must continue to share the hope they have in their Lord’s restorative and reconciliatory power with the countless unresponsive, fallen, broken, and/or empty clay vessels, full of dry bones. Additionally, September 11, 2001 has taught the genuine Body of Christ members that they can rest assured that the indwelling and infilling Holy Spirit is transforming them into spiritually redeemed, whole creatures who have faithful, impeccable character, perfect awareness, spiritual authority and dominion, and an overwhelming brilliancy that leaves no doubt that they are the light of this world (cf. Matthew 5:14-15). As such, these faithful and obedient believers know that they must share the hope they have in the transformation that is taking place in them, a transformation that is the result of the promised saturation (outpouring) of the Breath of God, which not only has poured out upon them but also has soaked into their spirits (hearts).

The point here is that, in this present Church Age (this time of international crisis and conflict), nothing but the Breath of God (or Ruwach, which figuratively means “life”) will be able to renew, restore, and empower today’s institutional “CHURCH.” Only the Breath of God (Holy Spirit) can produce true believers who not only are able to dream dreams and see visions, but also who are able to speak a Rhema Word of “life” into the Lord’s ekklesia, as well as speak a Rhema Word of “life” into the many unresponsive, fallen, broken, and/or empty clay vessels, full of dry bones. The bottom line is that the Holy Spirit’s “life” (the Breath of God) is the God kind of “life” that creates yielded, obedient, and believing individuals who become mighty soldiers that are equipped and anointed to stand firm against the swelling numbers of this world’s unloving people.

Breathe on us Holy Spirit. Let Your Breath of Life refill us with Your supernatural power. Awaken afresh in us our divine purpose. Revive in us, Holy Spirit, a surrendered will that is steadfast and immovable. Keep us standing on Christ Jesus, our Rock, while we are fighting on these last days and end times’ battlefields for our Lord. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Taken from Heavenly Insights