Pentecost
With Reverend Brian Moseley
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The Many Parallels of Sinai and Pentecost
Author Bob Dodson
The Feast of Shavuot (pentēkostē in Greek, Pentecost in English), one of the three great pilgrim Feasts that God told the Jewish people to celebrate (Deuteronomy 16:16), occurs fifty days after the Feast of Pesach (Passover). This holiday, described in Leviticus 23:15-22, was primarily an agricultural festival and celebrated the end of the barley harvest and the beginning of the wheat harvest. However, very early in Jewish history, it also took on an even greater significance. The Rabbis determined that the timing of the Feast of Shavuot coincided with the great event in Jewish History of God giving His Torah to Moses on Mt. Sinai. The Israelites left Egypt on the fifteenth day of the first month, the morning after the sacrifice of the Passover Lamb. They arrived at the foot of Mt. Sinai on the fist day of the third month (Exodus 19:1), which would have been approx 40 days. Moses then went up on Mt. Sinai and stayed there several days and then brought back down the two tablets written on stone by the finger of God. This total time-line closely approximated the fifty days after Passover that the Feast of Shavuot was supposed to be held on.
Since Passover was an Exodus related feast as was Sukkot in the fall, the Jewish sages concurred that Shavuot must be Exodus related as well and was to celebrate the occasion in which God revealed Himself to His people and made a covenant with them by giving them His written instructions on how to live (Torah). Why is this of significance to Christians today? The great event described in Acts 2 in the New Testament, when the Holy Spirit appeared and rested as tongues of fire on individual believers, occurred on the Feast of Shavuot (Pentecost)! The same day that the Jews were celebrating God’s giving of His Torah on tablets of stone, the Holy Spirit came and wrote His Torah on people’s hearts! This confirmed God’s promise in Jeremiah 31:31-34 and was the promise from the Father that Jesus had told His disciples about in Acts 1:4. A look at these two seminal events in Bible history will reveal some remarkable parallels and similarities and will increase your faith in the awesome God of the Bible! God had planned the Acts 2 events even from the time of the Exodus and then He brought them to pass in the framework of the Jewish Feasts that had been set up 1200 years prior. Here are some amazing parallels between these two events that happened 1200 years apart to the day!
- Both events occurred on a mountain (Mt. Sinai and Mt. Zion) known as the mountain of God – Exodus 24:13& Isaiah 2:3
- Both events happened to a newly redeemed people. The Exodus marked the birth of the Israelite nation while the Pentecost events recorded in Acts 2 marked the birth of Christianity.
- Both events involved God’s people receiving a gift-Torah and Spirit.
- In both events the gift was given by God settling on a mountain with the fire of His Spirit
- Both events took place at the same time on the same month
- The Israelites left Egypt on Passover and 40 days later arrived at Sinai. Then Moses went up on a mountain to see God (Mt. Sinai). Ten days later Moses came down with the Torah and the Israelites broke the covenant and 3000 people died as a result. Jesus died on Passover and 40 days later went up on a mountain to see God (Mt. Of Olives). Ten days after Jesus ascended, the Holy Spirit came down and 3000 people were saved!
- Fifty days after sacrificing Passover Lamb, the Israelites received a covenant from God50 days after sacrificing Jesus, Our Passover Lamb, believers received a new covenant from God.
- Both events had similar sounds and symbols-wind, fire, smoke, voices-the Hebrew word translated thunder in Exodus is “kolot” (Strong’s H6963), which means voices or languages. Think about this in light of the Acts 2 events.
- The fire at Sinai was one fire visible by all; the fire at Pentecost was individual fires on every person. In the event at Mt. Sinai, the people were kept away from the fire, but in Acts, the fire came to the people.
- Both events had theophanies, that is God showed up (Exodus 19:18-20& Acts 2:4)
- In both events God gave His Torah (Law) to His People and in both cases He sealed the covenant that He had made with them. At Sinai He gave the Law written by His finger on tablets of stone. At Pentecost, He gave the Law written on Tablets of the Heart.
- In both events a mixed multitude of people were represented (Exodus 12:38& Acts 2:5)13) The Torah attempted to change people from the outside (without). The Holy Spirit changes from within. The word “Torah” means teaching and in John 14:26 the Holy Spirit is called the teacher.
Think about these parallels! Wouldn’t they have been powerful to the Jewish people that would have been there to celebrate this time long ago when God showed up in fire, wind, smoke and voices? Suddenly, it looks like God is showing up again in the same way that He came before! They see fire and smoke and hear voices and the place is shaking violently! God is back! What is He telling us?
Looking at the history of Shavuot and what God did there makes the story of Acts so much deeper and increases our faith in the God of the Bible. His plans for us were made from the beginning of time and are exact down to the last detail. What a mighty God we serve!
- What are the things that we think and feel that prevent us from receiving the Holy Spirit?
- Unbelief that it is real.
- feeling foolish when praying in tongues
- doubt that it is him and not us.
- What will people think or say about us?
- what if it doesn’t work, such as healing etc.
- Fear of doing it wrong
- past religious teachings that we have that teach against it.
- not understanding what the word says and teaches us about: who, what, when, where, how, and why.
- Feelings of unworthiness
- You may think that you already have the Holy Spirit, but is the fruit evident in your life?
- You feel comfortable where you are in your relationship with God but are you being used by him? Faith without works is dead and faith is the only thing that pleases him. No spirit, no faith. No spirit in you, no love of God in you.
Luke 11:10 – ask believing and receive the good things of God that he has to offer.
10 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
Luke 11:13
13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”
1 Corinthians 14:13-14 -we must relate to God spirit to spirit, not using our hearts and minds.
13 Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.
Mark 11:24 -we must believe that we have already received every spiritual blessing in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.
John 16:7 – the Holy Spirit honors Christ, who is the word of God.
7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.
Genesis 1:1-3 -God does nothing without using the Holy Spirit.
The History of Creation
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness [a]was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
3 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.
Zechariah 4:6 -only by the spirit in us and with us, does God do great and mighty things. He does this so that we do not boast and that all honor and glory go to him.
6 So he answered and said to me:
“This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel:
‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’
Says the Lord of hosts.
John 20:28 -you have received salvation but…
28 And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”
Romans 10:9-10 -you have received salvation but…
9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Acts 1:4- we must wait until we have received power of the Holy Spirit or we may cause more harm than good.
The Holy Spirit Promised
4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me;
Acts 1:8-the Holy Spirit is evident in those who have been baptized in him because they will exhibit confidence and fearlessness.
8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be [a]witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Acts 8:3-6- all the Samaritans were saved by the exhibiting of the Holy Spirit.
3 As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.
Christ Is Preached in Samaria
4 Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word. 5 Then Philip went down to [a]the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. 6 And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
Acts 8:15-16- this is scriptural evidence that you must be saved, baptized, and then receive the holy spirit. In acts 19 below, speaking with tongues comes with the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Add scripture says “the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.” It isn’t something we have to do but it is a gift that we get to partake upon for our rest and refreshing.
15 who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 16 For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Acts 19:1-6
Paul at Ephesus
19 And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples 2 he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”
So they said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.”
3 And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?”
So they said, “Into John’s baptism.”
4 Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.”
5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.
Luke 11:13-Speaking in tongues and the other gifts of the Holy Spirit are not of the devil has some denominations would teach. They are protected by God.
13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”
The Positive ministry of the Holy Spirit
1 John 3:19-21- Our conscience and heart are what condemn us, not the Holy Spirit.
19 And by this we [a]know that we are of the truth, and shall [b]assure our hearts before Him. 20 For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God.
Hebrews 10:35 – these two scriptures show that we are free from condemnation.
35 Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.
1 Timothy 1:19
Fight the Good Fight
18 This [a]charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, 19 having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck, 20 of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.
Hebrews 9:14- these scriptures show that the blood of Jesus, through the Holy Spirit purge our conscience of dead works and that equals freedom!
14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without [a]spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Hebrews 10:22
22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
Hebrews4:16
16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
John 14:16- the Holy Spirit is the comforter, not the afflicter.
16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another [a]Helper, that He may abide with you forever—
John 3:17-19- this is condemnation according to scripture.
17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
John 14:26-the following scriptures show that for those who have received the Holy Spirit, we have a most perfect gift from God! He is better for us than having Jesus physically here with us!
26 But the [a]Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
John 15:26
The Coming Rejection
26 “But when the [a]Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.
John 16:7-10 – the Holy Spirit convicts, not condemns! He convicts Of THE sin of not trusting him and believing on Jesus for all things, which is the root of all sin!
7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. 8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; 11 of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.
1 John 2:2- not individual sins, THE sin of not trusting Jesus. He paid the price for all sin, for all time. It is a heart problem, not our actions that stand in the way of God using us by his spirit in us.
2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.
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