Monday, May 2, 2016

Preparation for Pentecost

As the Passover Season has concluded, according to the Hebrew calendar, we now want to get ready for the Preparation for Pentecost. Pentecost is one of the three major Feasts on the Hebrew Calendar (Deuteronomy 16). The Day of Pentecost is celebrated on the 6th Day of Sivan on the Hebrew Calendar, which is generally 7 Sabbaths from the first Sabbath of Passover (which generally makes it on a Sunday). The Jews generally recognize Pentecost as the time when God gave the Law (the Ten Commandments) to the children of Israel through Moses at Mt. Sinai (Exodus 20). Christians generally recognize Pentecost as the Advent of the Holy Spirit and the beginning of the Church Age (Acts 2). Even though both of these historical incidents are correctly associated with this Feast, there's another aspect to Pentecost that I would like to address, and that is the aspect of Divine Visitation. Whether it was the giving of the Law or the Birthing of the Church, in both instances God chose to Visit His people and make His Presence known. I believe this Pentecost will be a season of Divine Visitation. Therefore, let us make Preparation for Pentecost.

One of the ways to prepare for Pentecost is to know how God chooses to Visit His people. There are many witnesses today of those who have had a Face to Face Visitation from the Lord Jesus Christ. Even though this would be an ideal form of Divine Visitation, God is not restricted to visiting His people in and through His Resurrected Son. God can visit you through Dreams. When Abraham lied about Sarah being his sister instead of his wife, the scripture says, "but God came to Abimelech (the king of Gerar) in a dream by night" (Genesis 20). So you can receive a Divine Visitation through Dreams. God also Visits His people through Social Intervention. The scripture says in the Book of Ruth, "then she arose with her daughters-in-law...for she had heard..that the Lord had visited His people in giving them bread" (Ruth 1). God also Visits His people through Angelic Visitation (Luke 1). So there are many ways that God can Visit you during this Season.

In terms of Preparation for Pentecost, we need to make sure we're getting the training we need for the Season. Before The Day of Pentecost, Jesus trained the disciples for 40 Days after His Resurrection (Acts 1). I am sure that there are some things God is training you for during this Season, particularly after Passover. Get the Lesson! Otherwise you won't be equipped for the Assignment that God has in store for you going into the Summer Months. Another area that needs to be addressed for Preparation for Pentecost is to make sure that we're on One Accord. The scripture says that before the Day of Pentecost, the disciples were "all with one accord in one place" (Acts 2). One of the things Satan is trying to do right now is maintain Discord in the church. I'm not just talking about in the congregation, I'm talking about between brothers and sisters in Christ. Don't let the devil put any angst or disagreement between you and your fellow Christians. As much as lieth in you, be at peace with all men (Romans 12). Now is not the time to be basking in bitterness and resentment towards one another. If you want to receive the blessing of Pentecost, be at peace in your hearts with your fellowman.

Lastly, don't be preoccupied with the Times. Many of us have been distracted by the "whens" of God. "When is God going to do this" and "when is God going to do that". Get your mind off the "whens". When the apostles approached Jesus with a "when" question, essentially He said, that's none of your business (Acts 1). God knows our needs, and they will be met and duly addressed at His Appointed Time. Let us have the witness of Job where he said, "all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come" (Job 14). We will truly experience the change and transformation of Divine Visitation if we are faithful to The Preparation for Pentecost.

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