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- Preaching the Living WORD through
the Written WORD - 2 Tim 4;:2 - |
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THE
COMING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT Acts 2:1-3 (5/12/13) Grace Bible Church,
Gillette, Wyoming Pastor Daryl Hilbert I. THE DAY OF PENTECOST (1) A. The Holy Spirit was promised on numerous
occasions and in Jesus’ last promise he stated that the Spirit would come,
“not many days from now” (Ac 1:5). When the Holy Spirit was sent, He was sent
on the day of Pentecost. Surely it was no coincidence. So what was
significant about the day of Pentecost? The first and obvious significance
was that the phrase, “not many days from now” was fifty days from the
crucifixion of Christ. The name “Pentecost” (pentēkostēs )
means “fifty” and shows that God has a divine timetable. Other than the
meaning “fifty,” what is the significance of the Feast of Pentecost? There
were seven Jewish Feasts, and God has given Messianic significance to all of
them, including the Feast of Pentecost. B. The Jewish Feasts can be broken into two
groups or cycles. The first cycle is comprised of the Spring Feasts and the
second cycle is comprised of the Fall Feasts. The Spring Feasts celebrate
four Feasts which are relatively close in time. The Fall Feasts celebrate
three Feasts which are relatively close in time. Three of the Feasts are
associated with Israel’s harvesting times, with an emphasis on giving thanks
to God for every aspect of His
provisions. The other four Feasts deal with Israel’s relationship with God,
their spiritual condition, and God’s sacrificial system. The main sacrificial
Feast is the Day of Atonement when Israel’s sins were atoned for by
sacrifices. All of the Feasts contain some degree of sacrifices and offerings. 1. Spring Feasts a) Passover is celebrated on Nisan 14
(March-April) of the Jewish calendar. It commemorates God passing over all
Israelite firstborn in Egypt with blood on the doorposts (Ex 12:1-14). This
was the first of three mandatory pilgrimages to Jerusalem. b) Unleavened Bread is celebrated on
Nisan 15-22 and commemorates the hasty flight out of Egypt with no time to
wait for leavened bread (Ex 23:15-20). c) First Fruits is celebrated on Nisan
16, commemorating the “first fruits’ of Israel’s barley harvest (Le 23:9-14).
d) Weeks or Pentecost is celebrated on
Sivan 6-7 (May-June), which is 50 days after Passover. It commemorates the
first fruits of the wheat harvest (Le 23:15-21; Nu 28:26). This was
the second of three mandatory pilgrimages to Jerusalem. 2. Fall Feasts a) Trumpets is celebrated on Tishri 1
(September-October) and commemorates Israel’s New Year (Rosh-Hashanah, Le 23:23-25). b) Day of Atonement is celebrated on
Tishri 10 and is Israel’s holiest day where annual sacrifices were made for
the sins of Israel (Yom Kippur, Le 16:1-34). c) Tabernacles or Ingathering is
celebrated on Tishri 15-22 and commemorates Israel’s deliverance by God from
their wanderings in the wilderness as well as the end of the harvest (Le 23:43; Ex 23:16).This
was the third of three mandatory pilgrimages to Jerusalem. 3. Messianic Significance a) When we understand the Messianic
significances with each of the Jewish Feasts we being to understand God’s
purposes for them. In addition, we also begin to understand the significance
of the Holy Spirit coming on the day of Pentecost. b) The Passover is analogous to the death
of Christ as the Passover Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world
(Jn 1:29; 1Co 5:7). c) The Unleavened Bread is analogous to the sinlessness
of Christ and his atonement (He 10:10-12). d) The First Fruits symbolizes the resurrection
of Christ as the first fruits of the resurrection from the dead (1Co
15:20-23). e) Weeks or Pentecost symbolizes the birth
of the Church as the Holy Spirit comes for His earthly ministry of
harvesting the lost on the basis of Christ substitutionary sacrifice (Ac 1:8;
2:1-4; Ro 8:23). f) Trumpets is a type of a new dispensation
precipitated by the rapture of the Church and the beginning of the
Tribulation (1Co 15:51-52). g) Day of Atonement is type of judgment for
sin which can be observed in the Second Coming of Christ (Mt
24:29-30). h) Tabernacles is a picture of the
ingathering and dwelling of Israel into the Millennial Kingdom of Christ
(Re 20:1-7). It can also be pictured as the believers dwelling in Heaven (Jn
14:1-3) i) We see that the major event in God’s
redemptive program in the book of Acts is the coming of the Holy Spirit. His
purpose is to indwell and empower the Church to harvest the lost for the
Kingdom. II. THE HOLY SPIRIT (2-3) A. The Holy Spirit appears on the scene
“suddenly” (aphnō -
unexpectedly, unawares).
His entrance begins with a “noise” (ēchos - loud sound or report)
from heaven. The Holy Spirit’s dwelling was in heaven but now it will be on
earth in the church. Heaven also signifies that the Spirit was being sent by
the Father and the Son. B. Luke vividly describes the sound as “a
violent rushing wind.” It is not just the noise of any wind, but a “violent”
(biaios - forceful with power) wind, signifying the power of the
Godhead. The wind is also “rushing” (present participle of pherō - to
bear or bring) signifying intent and purpose of the Godhead. The sound
came from heaven but filled the house where the first church met to reveal
that the Spirit’s ministry was in and through the church. C. Luke further describes “tongues as of
fire” “resting” (aorist - kathizō - sit down, settle, stay) on
each disciple. God had used both wind and fire as symbolic illustrations of
the actual coming of the Spirit. Such visible phenomenon was necessary for
the apostles who had not yet received the Holy Spirit and spiritual
understanding. These were necessary initially under the circumstances, but
would not be the norm in receiving the baptism of the Spirit. D. The Symbolism of Wind 1. At times, the Scriptures portray
symbolism, a literary device for explaining difficult truths, such as the
truth of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit has already been symbolized as a “dove,”
confirming Jesus as the Son of God (Mt 3:16). 2. The symbol of the wind is well suited to
represent the Holy Spirit. In fact, Jesus uses such symbolism to teach the
Spirit’s ministry in salvation. You cannot physically see or hear the Spirit
as He moves upon the hearts of men as He desires (Jn 3:8). 3. There is an implicit reference to wind in
2Pe 1:21 regarding the Spirit. The prophets were inspired by the Holy Spirit
to speak and write from God. Peter uses the Greek word pherō for
“moved” in the sense that the prophets were borne and lead to speak and write
inerrantly for God. The same word is used in Ac 2:2 and symbolizes the
Spirit’s powerful influence in all believers but especially the apostles. E. The Symbolism of Fire 1. Another symbol in Scriptures is that of
fire. We see fire initially representing the divine presence (Ge 15:17; Ex
3:2-6; 13:21-22; 19:18; 40:38) as well as God’s approval (Le 9:24). 2. John the Baptist spoke of spiritual
baptism as, “He will baptize you with
the Holy Spirit and fire” (Mt 3:11; Lk 3:16).
According to Malachi 3:1-3, John the Baptist would prepare the way for Christ
who will bring judgment and cleansing, symbolized by fire. John taught that
there would be a harvesting of wheat and the burning of chaff in unquenchable
fire of judgment (Mt 3:12; Lk 3:17 cf. Mal 4:1). 3. On the Day of Pentecost, fire might
symbolize all of the above, the Lord’s presence, approval, protection,
cleansing, and of judgment for those who reject the gospel. III. OBSERVATIONS AND APPLICATIONS A. The coming of the Holy Spirit on the Day
of Pentecost initiates the presence of God in the church (1Co 6:19). B. The coming of the Holy Spirit on the Day
of Pentecost initiates the work of regeneration (Tit 3:5). C. The coming of the Holy Spirit on the Day
of Pentecost initiates the completion of the canon of Scripture (2Pe 1:21). JEWISH FEASTS
* = mandatory pilgrimage to
Jerusalem |
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