The Book of Acts: Discipleship in Action Pt. 4 A Special Holy Day Preceded the Spirit's Coming!

We wrapped up Acts 1 and are ready to study a dynamic account of the birth of the New Testament church. 



A special Holy Day came. 

Acts 2:1  And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 

Pentecost is significant in both the Old and New Testaments. “Pentecost” is actually the Greek name for an Old Testament festival known as the Feast of Weeks (See Leviticus 23:15; Deuteronomy 16:9).   

The Greek word means “fifty” because fifty days passed since the wave offering of Passover. The Feast of Weeks celebrated the end of a bountiful grain harvest by praising God. 

We see in the very beginning of the New Testament church, an emphasis upon loving one another, caring and meeting needs, and enjoying a blessed and rich fellowship. 

These believers were likeminded and focused upon hearing the scriptures, praying together and waiting for the promise of the Spirit to be fulfilled. 

Celebrating the great Ingathering. 

Exodus 23:16  And the feast of harvest, the firstfruits of thy labours, which thou hast sown in the field: and the feast of ingathering, which is in the end of the year, when thou hast gathered in thy labours out of the field. 

Spiritually, the end of the grain harvest looks forward to that day when Christ returns and the dead in Christ rise first, followed by living believers being caught up with Christ and taken to heaven (See 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:50-58). 

After the seven years of tribulation are finished, Christ will return for all Jewish believers and the final harvest of souls will be completed. This is foreshadowed in the Feast of Weeks and celebrating the grain harvest.

Thus, this celebration was a time of blessing and rejoicing due to God fulfilling His promises. 

Jesus also gave some parables that look at the end times and a final ingathering of souls for the Kingdom of God. 

The Parable of the Wheat and Tares is an excellent example (Matthew 13:24-30; 36-43). Good seed (wheat) was sowed but an enemy secretly sowed bad seed (tares). 

The landowner (God) commanded that both kinds of seed be allowed to grow until the time of final harvest. Then the angels of God separate the wheat from the tares. The wheat are gathered into the barn but the tares are burned.

Jesus gave a preview of a future ingathering of souls.

John 4:35,36  Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. 36) And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. 

Jesus witnessed to the woman at the well in Samaria. He revealed the secrets of her heart and she ran into the village to tell others about Jesus. The whole town came out to hear Christ speak and many believed on Him.

When Jesus saw the people, notice what He told His disciples.  As Jesus looked up to see all the people coming, He compared it to a field ripe for harvesting. 

Jesus said there will be reaping by witnessing and sharing the Word of God. People responding with repentant faith in Christ represent the disciples of Christ being fishers of men. 

As the wheat or barley is harvested, it represents souls who are saved through gospel preaching. Thus, they are grain or fruit received by God for eternal life. 

Workers are needed for this Harvest!

Matthew 9:37,38 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; 38) Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest. 

Jesus then spoke these words and they looked forward to the coming of the Holy Spirit of God at Pentecost. He said there is a bountiful harvest of souls but more workers are needed. 

This will become the mission of Christ's disciples when Jesus returns to His Father. They will fully enter into the ministry of becoming fishers of men. It will be possible by the coming of the Spirit of God to comfort, help and aid all 120 disciples. 

Jesus showed the disciples what would happen when the Spirit came. 

Luke 10:17-20  And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. 18) And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. 19) Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20) Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

Jesus previewed the future ministry of the Holy Spirit when He sent seventy witnesses out to preach the gospel (Luke 10:1). They returned to Jesus with great joy because they were able to do mighty works as they shared the gospel of the kingdom.

Jesus elaborated on the power that they would receive in order to facilitate kingdom ministry and to withstand enemy opposition. 

Right before His ascension, Jesus told His apostles that they would receive power from the Spirit of God. 

God used signs and wonders to certify whether or not a person truly spoke for God (See Deuteronomy 18:20-22).  We will read of many miracles, signs and wonders done by the apostles, throughout the book of Acts.

The Holy Spirit will speak through them.

Matthew 10:19-20  But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. 20) For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. 

They were also empowered to be bold witnesses for Christ. They needed great help from the Spirit of God if they were going to fully communicate the gospel of Jesus Christ with power and clarity. 

Mark 13:9-11  But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them. 10) And the gospel must first be published among all nations. 11)  But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost. 

Jesus also previewed help He would send to them from the Spirit of God. In Matthew's gospel, Jesus said the disciples were not to spend time thinking about what answers they might give when religious or governmental leaders confronted them.

Rather, the Spirit of God would speak through the apostles just as He did throughout the Old Testament. 

Thoughts to Ponder...

We can learn much from studying the early church. 

They loved one another and enjoyed a close fellowship. Are we loving each other in our local churches? Are we filled with anticipation at assembling together?

They waited patiently for God to send His Spirit. Are we willing to wait on the Lord or do we try to rush forward without Him?

They spend time in earnestly praying. How dedicated are we in our prayer time? 

They spent time expressing praise and thanksgiving to God. Do we remember to thank Him for all He has done, is doing and will do for each one of us? 

God sent His Spirit to prepare workers for the ingathering of souls. Are we willing workers ready to serve our God?

May our hearts be filled with love and gratitude for the God who delivered us from our sins and provided for all our needs. May our Lord help us be those who stand up and say "Here am I Lord, Send me."

Bob


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