ACTS CHAPTER TWO ~ PENTECOST

Pentecost was an existing event before the coming of The Holy Spirit than we label it as today. Take a look at this explanation and see the significance it had with God choosing to use it as the day for The Holy Spirit.

Pentecost

 (Ancient Greek: πεντηκοστή [ἡμέρα], pentekostē [hēmera], "the fiftieth day") is one of the prominent feasts in the Christian liturgical year. The feast is also called Whitsun, Whitsunday, Whit Sunday, and Whitsuntide, especially in the United Kingdom. Pentecost is celebrated seven weeks (49 days) after Easter Sunday, hence its name. Pentecost falls on the tenth day after Ascension Thursday.

Historically and symbolically related to the Jewish harvest festival of Shavuot, which commemorates God giving the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai fifty days after the Exodus, Pentecost now also commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and other followers of Jesus as described in the Book of Acts, Chapter 2 in the New Testament. For this reason, Pentecost is sometimes described as "the Church's birthday".

The Pentecostal movement of Christianity derives its name from this biblical event.

In biblical times Shavuot also marked the beginning of the new agricultural season. “The Harvest Holiday.” Other names Shavuot is known by are “The Feast of Weeks” and Hag HaBikurim, meaning “The Holiday of First Fruits.” This last name comes from the practice of bringing fruits to the Temple on Shavuot.

Many religious Jews commemorate Shavuot by spending the entire night studying Torah at their synagogue or at home. They chanted the Ten Commandments.  They also study other biblical books and portions of the Talmud, such as reading the Book of Ruth. The Book of Ruth is read during Shavuot because it takes place during the harvest season and because Ruth’s conversion is thought to reflect our acceptance of the Torah on Shavuot. Also, Jewish tradition teaches that King David (Ruth’s great-great-grandson) was born and died on Shavuot.

 This all-night gathering is known as Tikun Leyl Shavuot and at dawn participants stop studying and recite shacharit, the morning prayer..

The Foods of Shavuot   Jewish holidays often have some food-related component and Shavuot is no different. According to tradition we should eat dairy foods such as cheese, cheesecake, and milk on Shavuot.

The Revelation at Sinai (when the Torah was given to the Jews) occurs directly after their Exodus from slavery in Egypt. This journey is described as one "from the misery of Egypt to a country flowing with milk and honey..." (Exodus 3:8-17). Thus, eating dairy on Shavuot commemorates the sweetness of freedom and the new life that lay before the Jewish people.

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 where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.

Take note of each of these points in Acts 2:1-4: they were ALL (men and women) together... And they ALL heard a noise and saw "tongues of fire" distributed to each one of them. They were ALL filled with The Holy Spirit and began to speak as the Spirit gave utterance.  

Next post:  Pentecost and Prophecy

ACTS CHAPTER ONE

Lord, open my eyes that I may see wonderful things from Your Word. (Psalm 119:18)

"These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication."  Acts 1:14

What I think about praying:  Praying should be a delight; not a duty!

An active prayer life is like cell phone communication to Jesus just to say "I love You!"  Jesus' cell phone number is JEREMIAH 3:33 ~ Give Him a call.

There's so much that I would like to share about what I think each of those 120 were doing while they were gathered together waiting for The Holy Spirit.  I'm a very emotional person and tears are the language of my heart; so I can imagine a LOT of tears!

Tears of joy!

Tears of confession!  

Tears of regret!  

Tears of repentance!  

Tears of shame!  

Tears of unworthiness!

Tears of overwhelming Love!  

Tears of thanksgiving and praise!  

Who do you think would be shedding each of these tears?

Tears are so cleansing...

And being assembled together with them, He (Jesus) commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:4-8

A reminder:  "You shall receive power...you shall be witnesses to Me."  For how long?  Until He comes back to take us home with Him.  We are either living by our own power or by His.  We are witnesses!  Are we a good one or a bad one?  How in love with Him are we?  Where is the evidence?  

NEXT:  Acts chapter 2 ~ Pentecost

THE MESSIAH & THE JEWISH WEDDING

I could not download the file on The Jewish Bride & Groom and how it relates to The Lord's Supper and the words of proposal from Jesus to His Bride before leaving to make preparations for the Wedding.  However, I did go back and found a couple of websites where I gathered some of the information.  Do check them out.  I do hope that you will see a clearer meaning of Jesus presenting the new covenant of love and remembering Him through the bread and wine, and as you eat the bread and drink the wine it is saying "Yes, Lord, I'm Yours and I'm eagerly waiting for Your coming for me."

The Groom makes a covenant or contract promise. The Ketubah is a document that is used for the purpose of assuring a bride will be provided for. Once this document was signed and witnessed by two people then it was binding and the couple was considered married. Kiddush~It is here that the groom-to-be offers the wine to the prospect bride and if she drinks it, that is her “Yes” to the proposal and seals the covenant.  

(Jesus gave a new covenant and offered the wine...)

http://www.yeshuatyisrael.com/messiah_wedding%201.htm

http://www.hebroots.org/hebrootsarchive/0002/000223_i.html

The Virgin's Lamp filled with oil and burning.

Matthew 24:42-51

     I hope that as you read some of my sharing that you will get as excited as I am about looking back at this important time in history when those who had a personal relationship with Jesus and watched him leave them into the heavens were told to wait in Jerusalem for the gift the Father promised...They were waiting for The Holy Spirit that He gives as our Engagement Ring to keep us reminded and faithful, watching for His return.

     As we look at the Scriptures and relate them to how these waiting are remembering what Jesus said and how they interacted with Him, we can envision the many emotions that they are encountering. I pray that our understanding will become clearer and our eyes and heart opened to receive what we haven't see before...

     In our waiting, may we not grow weary or tired and fall asleep without having prepared for His coming. Take another look at Matthew 24:36-51; Matthew 25:4-13 and Matthew 26:36-46.

      Why do we not see recorded that there was weariness, doubt, discouragement or sleeping taking place in that group gathered there waiting for the Promise of The Holy Spirit?

      Let Scripture speak: "Then returned they unto Jerusalem...And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,) Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled..."

     They were together in every way! They had purpose; they were united; they prayed; they read and discussed Scripture. There was no room for negative in a positive atmosphere!

The Shofar

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 - For the Lord Himself will descend from

heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, 

and with the Shofar, trumpet of God.

Next :  Study Acts chapter 1 

REMEMBERING THE LAST SUPPER PASSOVER MEAL

Blessed Morning to you...

     Refreshed, energized and excited about Day 2 of examining and experiencing from Scripture what the 120 waiting for the coming of The Holy Spirit might have been doing.            
     Today my thoughts are focusing on The Last Supper/Passover meal with Jesus and the changes He made and the new commands and ordinances that He presented.

     Before I share my findings and impressions, how about some of you sharing what you observed and learned from reading Matthew 26.  I would add John 14 to follow Matthew 26.

     My 2nd thought focuses on Matthew 28.  Jesus spent 3 years teaching and demonstrating how to live life His way. He used His last month before fulfilling His Purpose preparing His disciples to be disciple makers and fueling their lives with insights into His Divinity and the Godhead so that they could have convincing evidence as witnesses unto Him.

     Notice in Matthew 28 the first person He commissioned...then listen to what we call The Great Commission in verses 18-20. These are precious and profound words because they were Basic Instruction Before Leaving Earth to those who were to carry on the work begun by Jesus. 
     Think about these things and tell me what you think. What were you expecting from a "gathering together"? I don't think those 120 sat and listened to Peter expound of his personal relationship with Jesus and give them an agenda of what they would discuss and do until the "Promise" came!  Hear ye! Hear ye! What say ye?

(Bread) Take and eat, 

this is My body broken for you...

(Wine) Drink, all of you, 

this is My blood of the covenant 

which is poured out for the forgiveness of sins.

      Well, I pray that everyone has had a glorious day in The Lord today. I have had a long and full day. As I worked, I continued to think on these things. As I mentioned, my focus today has been on The Lord's Supper/The Passover meal.  As they were observing Passover they were honoring the old covenant given by Moses to remember the bondage and the blood that saved them. Then Jesus took the symbols of the unleavened bread and wine of redemption and gave a new covenant and meaning to these symbols - His body and blood.  Now these symbols were to be eaten and drunk in remembrance of Him and His crucifixion that brought redemption from the bondage to sin.
     Jesus told them this BEFORE He was crucified, and I don't think it registered then. But now, I think they are remembering and partaking the bread and wine with new meaning...in sorrow and celebration. We need to remember...

     I have learned a deeper intimate meaning that was probably understood by this group of Jews that we Gentiles wouldn't know. It has given observance of The Lord's Supper a whole new and exciting meaning for me.
     If we continue to John 14 and hear what Jesus says further after the meal we can see that the wine at the end of the supper meal was more than symbolizing redemption; it was also a symbol of proposal.     
     I want to give you the results of my study on the Jewish Bride & Groom. I'm not sure about converting it to this blog, but I will try because you will want to hear this wonderful news and insight into The Bride of Christ...

Do check back for this.   Next post:  The Messiah and The Jewish Wedding

WHO WERE THE 120 IN THE UPPER ROOM?

Based on the Scriptures given yesterday, and from memory, who do you think that room of 120 or so people was like?  (A possible list of who they were follows below.)  Who do you think acted as leader?  Let's imagine Day 1 - How do you think it began?  I think Day 1 began with prayer.  What do you think?

Who were the about 120 in the upper room waiting for the coming of the Holy Spirit?  What did they do for the 10 days they waited?  ~See Acts Chapter 1

The Upper Room Prayer Meeting
This was a time of very great excitement! Christ had died and risen to life! HE was now alive forevermore! For forty days He had been with them before He ascended to heaven. They were to wait for the Promise of the Father! They waited for ten days; here’s the account: 
Acts 1:13-15 "And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication (they all joined together constantly in prayer), with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.  And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty.)"  

Who are these hundred and twenty persons? By looking closely at what is said here and in other places, we may know who they were. These had the common bond of knowing that Jesus had been raised from death and was alive forevermore.

The Twelve
We recognize the names of the Twelve Apostles (now eleven with the absence of Judas Iscariot –see note in The Seventy about replacement for Judas).

The Seventy
Also with them were the 70 (Luke 10:1). Each of the 70 would meet the qualifications Peter mentions: "Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us..." Among the 70 were Joseph Barsabas and Matthias (who were put forward by the whole group as possible choices).  Just these two cast their lots (to take it out of the realm of human action) and the lot fell on Matthias. He became the twelfth Apostle to complete the number. We would expect that those mentioned in Acts 6:5 had been among the 70 (Stephen, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, Nicolas), also Barnabas. These were men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom

The women                                                                                                         Women were also identified to be among the 120. Mary the mother of Jesus is mentioned by name. The wives of the apostles were there (1 Cor. 9:5 "Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?").  Each of the wives was a devout believer in Christ.  Part of the number of women would be those mentioned in Luke 8:1-3. "And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him, And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils, And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance." See also Matt. 27:55-56; Luke 23:49,55. We would expect that the sisters of Jesus were also believers by this time, as His brothers had become. Jesus was much more inclusive of the women than were the scribes and Pharisees. The women had accompanied Him as He went through every city and village. The very first person to announce the Risen Christ was Mary Magdalene (John 20:11-18).

The brothers of Jesus
The brothers of Jesus are also included in the 120. They had not been believers before the Crucifixion (John 7:3-5). Now they were firm in their faith and devotion to Him. These were: James, Joses, Simon, Judas (Matt. 13:55-56). James the Just was the leader of the Jerusalem Church in Acts 15:13. He is called an apostle in Gal. 1:19, although not one of the Twelve. See also 1 Cor. 9:5.James was the author of the Book of James. Judas was the author of the Book of Jude.

Others associated surely there

Nicodemus, Joseph of Arimathea, Zaccheus, Mary, Martha, Lazarus, little boy feeding 5,000

Those healed

Officer’s son, widow & son raised from dead, Tabitha & parents, blind man, lepers, lame man (there were lots more)

12+12+70+7+7+8+12 (128)

I have mentally been doing a spiritual journey back in time and imagining this room and the people in it. I've tried to think about the excitement they must have had and the sweet remembering of each one's relationship with Jesus. I've thought about Mary Magdalene & Mary, Martha & Lazarus, of course the 12 closest disciples; and what about Jesus's mother and siblings, those who were healed. I think there has to be a huge celebration going on and some of the sweetest fellowship ever known.

Can you imagine it?  

Wow, wouldn't you have loved to be included in that group of intimate friends of Jesus? What a prayer meeting! "They gathered together continually in one accord..." can't you just hear the Amens! I am encouraged by the addition of "with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren." The women were included in one accord - there was no separation in their worship! Wouldn't you just love to hear what the mother of Jesus prayed? What about His brothers and sisters who now believe in Him as the Messiah? I bet there was lots of confession for their unbelief and preconceived ideas of who He was and what He was going to do. Can you imagine the prayers of Peter, James & John who could not watch and pray with Him for one hour without falling asleep when He needed them the most? Wow, I bet they prayed some powerful prayers.

Next post:  Remembering The Last Supper

PREPARATION FOR GOING INTO THE UNKNOWN

As we conclude this first day of stepping back into the lives and imaginations of those closest to Jesus when He was on earth, I am refreshed and excited and energized to want to join them and bathe in the joy and tears and prayers of those consecrated and devoted to God The Father and His Son who is now Savior and Lord.

I pray that we will all open our hearts and minds to be receptive and sensitive to what The Holy Spirit would have us to see and know from this venture of ten days in God's Word and Prayer.

I might add that I don't have a pre-planned study course to teach you.  My intention for this gathering was to experience what would happen when God's people united together to focus on the birth of The Church and the coming of The Holy Spirit of God upon those who belong to Him; to experience what those who were waiting in that room in eager anticipation of the Promise of Power from on high did.  I have enjoyed a one-sided view of this event while waiting on others to share.  I shall continue to lead in hopeful discussion and be sensitive to the leadership of The Holy Spirit to provide what you were expecting from being IN this group.  Sweet, restful sleep in the hope and expectation of a fresh new day to worship, fellowship and witness in The Spirit.

Next:  Who were the 120?

GOING INTO THE UNKNOWN

To get us off on the right mindset of the 120 disciples according to Acts 1:15; 
"they all joined together constantly in prayer..."  
I would like to pray for us and ask you to pray for us, too.

Gracious Lord,
I praise You and thank You that in all Your Almightiness and Holiness

that you ordain for us to be holy. 

It is only possible because You made the way by paying our sin debt.

We are covered by Your blood and made a new creation in Your image.

So that we can experience this new life more fully and

know the fullness of being baptized in Your Spirit,

I thank you for prompting me to initiate this experiment.

I thank You for these You have brought together with excitement, curiosity and

sincere desire to know more about You, Your Word, Your Spirit and our relation.

We seek for You to do in us whatever You have planned just as you did with the original group of disciples that meet in that upper room in obedience

and waited for The Promise Jesus said The Father would send.

Do something so HUGE, Lord that there can be no explanation but…YOU!

 Something equivalent to what took place at Pentecost.

 May we experience true unity.

 I pray in the Gracious and Glorious Name of our Lord, Jesus.

Amen. ~Betty

WELCOME TO THE ACTS 2 GATHERING PLACE!
Going into the unknown with great expectation of finding Glory.
"This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad..."

Leviticus 23:15-22 ~ How to calculate Pentecost.

Count from the day after the Sabbath (Resurrection Sunday) The first day would begin after 6 pm on the Sabbath then add 7 Sundays for 50 days.

7 Sabbaths - the morrow after (Sunday)

Jesus from Resurrection 40 days with His Disciples

Ascension on Wednesday and Pentecost 10 days later on Sunday.

Who were the about 120 disciples in the upper room waiting for the coming of the Holy Spirit?  What did they do for the 10 days they waited?  See next post on Preparation.

ACTS 2 GATHERING PLACE

     Why this Blog?  

In October 2012 the Lord impressed upon me to do a Special Group on Facebook to come together to study God's Word, pray, ask questions, seek The Holy Spirit, strengthen, encourage, remember, fellowship and share things in common like those in Acts 2.

It did not turn out as I had hoped.  It seems that most people don't like to read the Scriptures and interact about it.  It seems that they like someone else to do the research and give them the results so that they can read...or not, and enjoy or put in their data bank.

I did do a lot of study and research; prayer and application, and The Lord impressed upon me that there may be some out there that would still benefit from this effort.  Thus, I decided to bring the study into a blog and let The Lord direct those as He chooses.  If you are one of those people, may you be blessed.

This was the introduction:

   Come together to study God's Word, pray, ask questions, seek The Holy Spirit, strengthen, encourage, remember, fellowship and share things in common like those in Acts 2.  

I look forward to Koinonia fellowship - that's fellow Christians in a ship steered by The Holy Spirit!  Looking forward with excitement.

<<<>>> 

I want to introduce you to a new word and give you an invitation.

The word is epignosis and it means experiential knowledge of God. 

The invitation is to be part of the Acts 2 Gathering Place and experience what it was like to gather in that upper room waiting for The Spirit of God to be poured out; to spend 10 days experiencing and celebrating Pentecost.

  Are you living prophecy? 

Have you experienced the Spirit of God

being poured out on you? 

Join me in looking at His Word; discussing and answering these questions. 

Next post is Going Into The Unknown...