The Feast of Pentecost

The Feast of Pentecost is surely misunderstood even by Pentecostal churches. Because of all the controversy over the last 97 years we might think that all the research on this feast would be complete by now. However, most Pentecostal churches could not give even a short summary of the Old Testament feast in order to validate the New Testament experience. The purpose of this study will be to provide a background from the Feasts to validate the New Testament experience.

The Feast of Weeks or the Feast of the 50th Day or the Feast of Harvest are all names given to this feast in the Old Testament. Penta in Greek is the word for 50 and therefore the New Testament feast is called Pentecost or the Feast of the 50th Day. We will refer to the feast as Pentecost even though we will use scriptures with the other names.

At each one of the seven feasts God told them they were to remember certain things and relate them to their children from generation to generation. At the Feast of Passover they were to remember that they were slaves in Egypt and God preserved or saved the first born of Israel while the first born of Egypt died. Because God had saved all the first born from death He said “all the first born belong to Me”. EXO 13:2] "Sanctify to Me every first-born, the first offspring of every womb among the sons of Israel, both of man and beast; it belongs to Me." They were to remember that God brought them out with a mighty arm and outstretched hand.

At the Feast of Pentecost they were to remember how God gave Israel the Law at Mt. Sinai. Israel had arrived at Mt. Sinai in Arabia on the 46th day after they left Rameses. On the 50th day God came down in blazing fire, a thick gloom with lightening, a whirlwind and earthquake. When the great trumpet of God sounded instead of Israel going up the Mountain into God’s Presence to hear His voice they turned and ran away. For that reason God gave them the Law, ,the Statutes and the Ordinances.

JER 7:21 Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, "Add your burnt offerings to your sacrifices and eat flesh. [22] "For I did not speak to your fathers, or command them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings and sacrifices. [23] "But this is what I commanded them, saying, `Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you will be My people; and you will walk in all the way which I command you, that it may be well with you.' [24] "Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but walked in their own counsels and in the stubbornness of their evil heart, and went backward and not forward.

voice and obey. Each time God spoke Israel backed up farther from the Presence of God. The farther they stood away from God the more Law, statutes and ordinances they needed. The same is true today of believers who stand off a ways from God. They may shout “legalism” but they just cannot walk in the spirit. At the Feast of Pentecost under the New Covenant God seeks to rectify this situation. Once again God seeks to restore man so he may come up the mountain of God and hear His voice and obey. God’s purpose under grace is to free us from the Law but that also requires that we hear His voice and obey. With this measure of grace there is no need for rules and regulations. The problem is that even Pentecostal people have trouble walking in the Spirit and putting off the deeds of the flesh. The Pentecostal experience is supposed to provide the power to walk in the Spirit and so free us from the Law.

Since there seems to be a great gap between the provision of Pentecost and the experience of Pentecost, if we study the Feast of Pentecost we should discover what is still lacking in our experience.

Over the years we have discovered that certain people that speak in tongues have not had the proper foundations laid in their lives and therefore lack in the power of that experience. If we study the various experiences of Israel that led up to the Mt. Sinai experience we should understand the types of the New Testament realities. For example; Israel had totally left Egypt and was many miles away. Many who speak in tongues still have one foot in the world {Egypt} and have not completely escaped the authority of Pharaoh { the devil}. Others have not yet crossed the Red Sea {baptism}. Still others have not truly eaten from the Manna from heaven, the angel’s food { Obedience to the Word of God}. Others fail to truly drink from the water out of the Rock, which is Christ, and are very dry. Nothing flows up out of their belly.

1 COR 10:1 For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; [2] and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; [3] and all ate the same spiritual food; [4] and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ. [5] Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased; for they were laid low in the wilderness. [6] Now these things happened as examples for us, that we should not crave evil things, as they also craved.

Still others have not prevailed in their battle with Amalek. Others have become grumblers and complainers like those who were leaving Mt. Sinai and headed for Canaan. NUM 11:1 Now the people became like those who complain of adversity in the hearing of the LORD; and when the LORD heard it, His anger was kindled, and the fire of the LORD burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp.

NUM 11:4 And the rabble who were among them had greedy desires; and also the sons of Israel wept again and said, "Who will give us meat to eat? [5] "We remember the fish which we used to eat free in Egypt, the cucumbers and the melons and the leeks and the onions and the garlic, [6] but now our appetite is gone. There is nothing at all to look at except this manna."

All these things were written for our example so we can understand where we lack. Some complain that they were promised power when the Holy Spirit came upon them but they didn’t get anything except tongues.

LUKE 4:1 And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led about by the Spirit in the wilderness [2] for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And He ate nothing during those days; and when they had ended, He became hungry.

Being “full of the Spirit” is one thing but living in “the POWER of the Spirit” is quite another. The difference is seen in the consecration offering that was given in the wilderness and in resisting the devil. Those who complain of no power will generally lack in these areas. More details can be seen in the revelation of the feast itself.

First we need to see some of the ignorance that keeps us from the power of the experience of Pentecost. EXO 23:14 "Three times a year you shall celebrate a feast to Me. [15] "You shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread; for seven days you are to eat unleavened bread, as I commanded you, at the appointed time in the month Abib, for in it you came out of Egypt. And none shall appear before Me empty-handed. [16] "Also you shall observe the Feast of the Harvest of the first fruits of your labors from what you sow in the field; also the Feast of the Ingathering at the end of the year when you gather in the fruit of your labors from the field. [17] "Three times a year all your males shall appear before the Lord GOD.

EXO 34:23] "Three times a year all your males are to appear before the Lord GOD, the God of Israel. [24] "For I will drive out nations before you and enlarge your borders, and no man shall covet your land when you go up three times a year to appear before the LORD your God.

We may expect all the blessings of God to be poured out upon us even if we haven’t fulfilled God’s requirements. The message of God’s grace has been so mis-stated over the years by the church that we get the idea that there are no requirements because of God’s grace. Actually it is God’s grace that gives us the ability to meet God’s requirements.

Within these three feasts in which each one of us must appear before God there are seven parts. For example in the Feast of Passover there is the Feast of Unleavened Bread and the Feast of First Fruits. It is not possible to just keep a part of these feasts and still qualify for the blessings of these feasts. At the end of the harvest year there is the Feast of Tabernacles that also includes the Feast of Trumpets and the Day of Atonement. These three parts constitute one complete feast. If we only participate in part we cannot expect the blessing of the whole.

For example we cannot go up for Passover and still claim that God will drive out our enemies before us. This promise is valid IF we go up three times a year for all three feasts. In addition to these requirements there are probably many others. We complain about the lack of power in the Feast of Pentecost without even knowing IF there are requirements. Those who reject the Feast of Pentecost have created a doctrine that the power passed away with the last apostle along with the gifts of the Spirit. That may be convenient but still a perversion of truth. If we lack the power promised there IS a valid reason for the lack and not that God has withheld the power. The problem is always with us. If the early church had the power it means they met the requirement and not that God blessed them but withheld from us.

that only relates to the whole feast or the whole series of feasts. For example; We may participate in the safety of the blood of our Passover Lamb but never bother to eat the Lamb or keep the rest of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. We may reject the bitter herbs. Then we might claim the deliverance that is related to the whole feast and wonder why God doesn’t respond.

I expect this is what has occurred in keeping the Feast of Pentecost. There is still much more for us to experience. Maybe we haven’t yet participated in the part that produces the power. It is so easy just to dismiss the power by saying that is not my calling or my ministry. Once we have kept the whole feast then we may offer some excuses but not before.


	THE FEAST OF PENTECOST The Feast of Pentecost is surely misunderstood even by Pentecostal churches. Because of all the controversy over the last 97 years we might think that all the research on this feast would be complete by now. However, most Pentecostal churches could not give even a short summary of the Old Testament feast in order to validate the New Testament experience. The purpose of this study will be to provide a background from the Feasts to validate the New Testament experience. The Feast of Weeks or the Feast of the 50th Day or the Feast of Harvest are all names given to this feast in the Old Testament. Penta in Greek is the word for 50 and therefore the New Testament feast is called Pentecost or the Feast of the 50th Day. We will refer to the feast as Pentecost even though we will use scriptures with the other names. At each one of the seven feasts God told them they were to remember certain things and relate them to their children from generation to generation. At the Feast of Passover they were to remember that they were slaves in Egypt and God preserved or saved the first born of Israel while the first born of Egypt died. Because God had saved all the first born from death He said “all the first born belong to Me”. EXO 13:2] "Sanctify to Me every first-born, the first offspring of every womb among the sons of Israel, both of man and beast; it belongs to Me." They were to remember that God brought them out with a mighty arm and outstretched hand. At the Feast of Pentecost they were to remember how God gave Israel the Law at Mt. Sinai. Israel had arrived at Mt. Sinai in Arabia on the 46th day after they left Rameses. On the 50th day God came down in blazing fire, a thick gloom with lightening, a whirlwind and earthquake. When the great trumpet of God sounded instead of Israel going up the Mountain into God’s Presence to hear His voice they turned and ran away. For that reason God gave them the Law, ,the Statutes and the Ordinances. JER 7:21 Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, "Add your burnt offerings to your sacrifices and eat flesh. [22] "For I did not speak to your fathers, or command them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings and sacrifices. [23] "But this is what I commanded them, saying, `Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you will be My people; and you will walk in all the way which I command you, that it may be well with you.' [24] "Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but walked in their own counsels and in the stubbornness of their evil heart, and went backward and not forward. God’s purpose was not for Israel to offer burnt offerings and sacrifices but just to hear His voice and obey. Each time God spoke Israel backed up farther from the Presence of God. The farther they stood away from God the more Law, statutes and ordinances they needed. The same is true today of believers who stand off a ways from God. They may shout “legalism” but they just cannot walk in the spirit. At the Feast of Pentecost under the New Covenant God seeks to rectify this situation. Once again God seeks to restore man so he may come up the mountain of God and hear His voice and obey. God’s purpose under grace is to free us from the Law but that also requires that we hear His voice and obey. With this measure of grace there is no need for rules and regulations. The problem is that even Pentecostal people have trouble walking in the Spirit and putting off the deeds of the flesh. The Pentecostal experience is supposed to provide the power to walk in the Spirit and so free us from the Law. Since there seems to be a great gap between the provision of Pentecost and the experience of Pentecost, if we study the Feast of Pentecost we should discover what is still lacking in our experience. Over the years we have discovered that certain people that speak in tongues have not had the proper foundations laid in their lives and therefore lack in the power of that experience. If we study the various experiences of Israel that led up to the Mt. Sinai experience we should understand the types of the New Testament realities. For example; Israel had totally left Egypt and was many miles away. Many who speak in tongues still have one foot in the world {Egypt} and have not completely escaped the authority of Pharaoh { the devil}. Others have not yet crossed the Red Sea {baptism}. Still others have not truly eaten from the Manna from heaven, the angel’s food { Obedience to the Word of God}. Others fail to truly drink from the water out of the Rock, which is Christ, and are very dry. Nothing flows up out of their belly. 1 COR 10:1 For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; [2] and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; [3] and all ate the same spiritual food; [4] and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ. [5] Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased; for they were laid low in the wilderness. [6] Now these things happened as examples for us, that we should not crave evil things, as they also craved. Still others have not prevailed in their battle with Amalek. Others have become grumblers and complainers like those who were leaving Mt. Sinai and headed for Canaan. NUM 11:1 Now the people became like those who complain of adversity in the hearing of the LORD; and when the LORD heard it, His anger was kindled, and the fire of the LORD burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp. NUM 11:4 And the rabble who were among them had greedy desires; and also the sons of Israel wept again and said, "Who will give us meat to eat? [5] "We remember the fish which we used to eat free in Egypt, the cucumbers and the melons and the leeks and the onions and the garlic, [6] but now our appetite is gone. There is nothing at all to look at except this manna." All these things were written for our example so we can understand where we lack. Some complain that they were promised power when the Holy Spirit came upon them but they didn’t get anything except tongues. LUKE 4:1 And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led about by the Spirit in the wilderness [2] for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And He ate nothing during those days; and when they had ended, He became hungry. LK 4:14 And Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit; and news about Him spread through all the surrounding district. Being “full of the Spirit” is one thing but living in “the POWER of the Spirit” is quite another. The difference is seen in the consecration offering that was given in the wilderness and in resisting the devil. Those who complain of no power will generally lack in these areas. More details can be seen in the revelation of the feast itself. First we need to see some of the ignorance that keeps us from the power of the experience of Pentecost. EXO 23:14 "Three times a year you shall celebrate a feast to Me. [15] "You shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread; for seven days you are to eat unleavened bread, as I commanded you, at the appointed time in the month Abib, for in it you came out of Egypt. And none shall appear before Me empty-handed. [16] "Also you shall observe the Feast of the Harvest of the first fruits of your labors from what you sow in the field; also the Feast of the Ingathering at the end of the year when you gather in the fruit of your labors from the field. [17] "Three times a year all your males shall appear before the Lord GOD. EXO 34:23] "Three times a year all your males are to appear before the Lord GOD, the God of Israel. [24] "For I will drive out nations before you and enlarge your borders, and no man shall covet your land when you go up three times a year to appear before the LORD your God. We may expect all the blessings of God to be poured out upon us even if we haven’t fulfilled God’s requirements. The message of God’s grace has been so mis-stated over the years by the church that we get the idea that there are no requirements because of God’s grace. Actually it is God’s grace that gives us the ability to meet God’s requirements. Within these three feasts in which each one of us must appear before God there are seven parts. For example in the Feast of Passover there is the Feast of Unleavened Bread and the Feast of First Fruits. It is not possible to just keep a part of these feasts and still qualify for the blessings of these feasts. At the end of the harvest year there is the Feast of Tabernacles that also includes the Feast of Trumpets and the Day of Atonement. These three parts constitute one complete feast. If we only participate in part we cannot expect the blessing of the whole. For example we cannot go up for Passover and still claim that God will drive out our enemies before us. This promise is valid IF we go up three times a year for all three feasts. In addition to these requirements there are probably many others. We complain about the lack of power in the Feast of Pentecost without even knowing IF there are requirements. Those who reject the Feast of Pentecost have created a doctrine that the power passed away with the last apostle along with the gifts of the Spirit. That may be convenient but still a perversion of truth. If we lack the power promised there IS a valid reason for the lack and not that God has withheld the power. The problem is always with us. If the early church had the power it means they met the requirement and not that God blessed them but withheld from us. Too often we participate in some small part of the feast experience and claim the promise that only relates to the whole feast or the whole series of feasts. For example; We may participate in the safety of the blood of our Passover Lamb but never bother to eat the Lamb or keep the rest of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. We may reject the bitter herbs. Then we might claim the deliverance that is related to the whole feast and wonder why God doesn’t respond. I expect this is what has occurred in keeping the Feast of Pentecost. There is still much more for us to experience. Maybe we haven’t yet participated in the part that produces the power. It is so easy just to dismiss the power by saying that is not my calling or my ministry. Once we have kept the whole feast then we may offer some excuses but not before.