By: Rev. J. Loren Russell
Acts 2: 1-4 (NKJV)
When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Today is the day of Pentecost. The word “Pentecost” means the fiftieth day, which is the second of the great Jewish feasts. Pentecost occurs fifty days following the celebration of Passover.
The Passover Feast is recognized annually as the night the death angel passed over all the homes of the Hebrews in Egypt where the blood of the sacrificial lamb was painted over their door posts. This evetually led to the liberation of the Hebrews from Egyptian captivity. In the New Testament, Passover commorates the day of Christ’s death and the shedding of His blood as the sacrificial lamb of God. His shed blood became the means for the pardon of our sins.
Fifty days after Passover, the Hebrews were in the wilderness. There they celebrated the feast of Pentecost. They gave the first fruits from their first harvest as free people to the Lord. Just imagine the celebration; the first harvest celebrated as free people after 400 years of slavery!
Christians celebrate freedom from sins and the birth of the church on Pentecost. It is a celebration of the first fruit of the resurrection, Jesus Christ. It is the day that Jesus talked about when He said that He would send the Comforter who will teach them all things and bring to remembrance every thing He said to them (John 15:26 and John 14:26).
Today is that day! The day the Lord has made! Churches worldwide will be celebrating the coming of The Holy Spirit — on this Day of Pentecost.
While the Disciples were in one place and on one accord, the Comforter, the Holy Spirit descended upon them; overwhelming to the ear and amazing to the eye. It was like a mighty rushing wind and as divided tongues of fire! (vv. 2-3) People began speaking in other languages and Peter preached to the multitude. “Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them” (Acts 2:41).
The church was birthed on the Day of Pentecost!
Be Blessed +++
Rev. J. Loren Russell is an associate minister at both Goodwill and The Greater Universal Baptist Churches in the Bronx, President/CEO of The JLR Company for Church Financial &. Strategic Consulting, and hosts “Matters of Faith – The Radio Show” on Soul 1 Radio, Mondays 8:00 – 10:00 PM. Listen by phone” at 626-226-1448. Be sure to Friend “Matters of Faith” on Facebook and email us at mattersoffaith.mof@gmail.com. Order your copy of Matters of Faith: The Book at Book Blues.
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