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Pentecost
May 28, 2023
Today is the Day of Pentecost, one of the Holy Days given by God to the children of Israel. It was on this day that the Holy Spirit was first freely given to the early church. We will begin our review of this day at the very beginning of the Book of Acts, a book attributed to Luke, who also recorded the Gospel. Both Luke and Acts reference a Theophilus at the beginning. Theophilus means a friend of God, beloved by God, or loving God, and while the name was commonly used during the time of the writing of the Book of Acts, Theophilus was also an honorary title among Roman and Jewish academics.
From the very beginning of Acts we are shown that Jesus continued to interact with the disciples after His resurrection until He was taken up into the clouds, and that since that time, it is through the Holy Spirit that we have access to Jesus and God the Father. Shortly before his ascension to heaven through the clouds, a little more than a week before Pentecost, Jesus explained to the disciples that they would soon be baptized with the Holy Spirit, and that with the Holy Spirit it would still not be their place to know exact details of prophecy like times or seasons, but to use the Holy Spirit to spread the message of Jesus from Jerusalem to around the world.
Acts 1:1-8
The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,
Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:
To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
4. And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
The disciples very well knew the Holy Days. Throughout the Gospel there is a record of Jesus keeping Holy Days, and when Pentecost arrived just a few days after Jesus ascended to heaven, they gathered themselves together with a common purpose, probably trying to comprehend how they would spread the message of Jesus throughout the world, when the sound of a mighty rushing wind came from heaven and filled the house. Acts tells us only of the sound of a mighty rushing wind, not that there was actually wind. That sound without the presence of wind would cause people to take note, and if that wasn’t enough to grab attention, something like a cloven tongue of fire appeared atop them, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and started to speak in foreign languages.
Jerusalem as it is today, was then an international city where people from many different nations could be found, and the foreigners were amazed to hear these people speaking in their own language, and not even so much because these people were speaking their own language but because these people were Galileans who were speaking their own language. These foreigners probably traveled through Galilee and came to their own conclusion that Galileans were not that educated and maybe somewhat backwards. They marveled that these people from a backward place could speak of the wonders of God in a language they could easily understand. Some tried to make sense out of what they were seeing and others just dismissed it to too much day drinking too early in the day.
But then Peter stood with the other disciples and with a loud voice told them that what they were looking at wasn’t a bunch of drunk people, because it was only nine in the morning, but was the fulfillment of a prophecy written down by the prophet Joel who recorded that in the last days the Holy Spirit would be poured out on all flesh with an increase in prophecy and inspired preaching, with an increase in wondrous signs in heaven and on earth before the Day of the Lord, and how all of this was made possible through the death and resurrection of Jesus.
Peter shared how David spoke of him through the psalms, and that unlike David who remained dead and buried, Jesus was resurrected and now sits at the right hand of God, and that at the right hand of God, Jesus of Nazareth who they knew as a man is now Lord and Messiah. Peter’s message touched close to home for many who heard his words and it caused the gathered crowd to ask what they should do. Peter responded that they should be baptized for the forgiveness of sins and receive the Holy Spirit, how this promise was made to them, their children, for all who live afar, and for generations yet to be born. That day, about three thousand people were baptized.
Acts 2:1-41
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?
And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?
Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,
Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,
Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.
And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?
Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.
But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:
For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:
The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:
And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:
Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:
Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:
Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.
Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.
Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;
He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
Until I make thy foes thy footstool.
Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
The disciples gathered together on the Day of Pentecost because it was one of the Holy Days given to the children of Israel. It was a day they were familiar with. Let’s go back and look at Leviticus to look at original teachings regarding this day. Pentecost means fiftieth, and the children of Israel were taught to count fifty days, and on that fiftieth day, they were to have a Holy Day and provide an offering to God, with very specific requirements. It was also on this particular Holy Day the children of Israel were reminded not to hoard the harvest and to share with those less fortunate.
Leviticus 23:15-22
And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete:
Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the LORD.
Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals: they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with leaven; they are the firstfruits unto the LORD.
And ye shall offer with the bread seven lambs without blemish of the first year, and one young bullock, and two rams: they shall be for a burnt offering unto the LORD, with their meat offering, and their drink offerings, even an offering made by fire, of sweet savour unto the LORD.
Then ye shall sacrifice one kid of the goats for a sin offering, and two lambs of the first year for a sacrifice of peace offerings.
And the priest shall wave them with the bread of the firstfruits for a wave offering before the LORD, with the two lambs: they shall be holy to the LORD for the priest.
And ye shall proclaim on the selfsame day, that it may be an holy convocation unto you: ye shall do no servile work therein: it shall be a statute forever in all your dwellings throughout your generations.
And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not make clean riddance of the corners of thy field when thou reapest, neither shalt thou gather any gleaning of thy harvest: thou shalt leave them unto the poor, and to the stranger: I am the LORD your God.
Because Jesus was sacrificed once for all as described in the Book of Hebrews, there is no longer a need for the ritual sacrifices to be offered at a temple. Pentecost was not abandoned by the early church, and there is evidence of the early church keeping other Holy Days as well. Most Christians today only know of Pentecost because it is always on a Sunday and records the first mass giving of the Holy Spirit. Pentecost was referenced in the travels of Paul, both by Paul and in the Book of Acts. In Acts, we see that Paul wanted to be in Jerusalem on Pentecost.
Acts 20:13-16
And we went before to ship, and sailed unto Assos, there intending to take in Paul: for so had he appointed, minding himself to go afoot.
And when he met with us at Assos, we took him in, and came to Mitylene.
And we sailed thence, and came the next day over against Chios; and the next day we arrived at Samos, and tarried at Trogyllium; and the next day we came to Miletus.
For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost.
Concluding his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul wrote them sharing that he was planning to stay at Ephesus until Pentecost and God-willing hoped to see them when he passed through Macedonia.
1 Corinthians 16:5-8
Now I will come unto you, when I shall pass through Macedonia: for I do pass through Macedonia.
And it may be that I will abide, yea, and winter with you, that ye may bring me on my journey whithersoever I go.
For I will not see you now by the way; but I trust to tarry a while with you, if the Lord permit.
But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost.
When the Holy Spirit was given to the Gentiles, even Peter who cited Joel’s prophecy of the Holy Spirit being poured out on all flesh, was just coming to terms what all flesh actually meant. He was confronted by Christians of Jewish descent who couldn’t believe that a Gentile could be a brother or sister in the faith. Peter shared the vision he had been given, how he had been summoned through the direction of an angel to come to Cornelius’ house, and Cornelius wasn’t just a Gentile, he was Centurion, of the Roman army. Peter described that he saw the Holy Spirit descend on the Gentiles just like it had descended upon the early church on the Day of Pentecost shortly after the ascension of Jesus to heaven, and how he came to understand that salvation was available to the Gentiles as well as the Jews.
Acts 11:1-18
And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.
And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him,
Saying, Thou wentest into men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them.
But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them, saying,
I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a vision, A certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even to me:
Upon the which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.
And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and eat.
But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth.
But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
And this was done three times: and all were drawn up again into heaven.
And, behold, immediately there were three men already come unto the house where I was, sent from Caesarea unto me.
And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man's house:
And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter;
Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.
And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.
Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.
Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?
When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.
Before his arrest and crucifixion, Jesus told the disciples that they would be able to do what He did, and that anything asked in His name would be done so God the Father would be glorified through Jesus. He also told them the Holy Spirit would be in the disciples so that they would not be without comfort, and that the Holy Spirit would be how Jesus would come to the disciples.
John 14:12-18
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
If ye love me, keep my commandments.
And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever;
Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
In Luke, Jesus told the disciples to ask to be given, to seek in order to find, and to knock to have doors opened. He explained how the Holy Spirit is better than the best gift that could be given by any parent, and there is this component of asking for the Holy Spirit.
Luke 11:9-13
And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?
Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
When Paul was writing to the Romans, he explained we have peace with God through Jesus Christ, and that what we experience on earth, even the bad things we experience are opportunities for us to have hope, adding that the bad things in life help us to develop patience through experience, which leads to hope. The hope that we have will not lead to our shame because the love of God is given to us through the Holy Spirit.
Romans 5:1-5
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
The Ephesians were told by Paul that they were sealed in the Holy Spirit of promise. Paul then compared the gift of the Holy Spirit to earnest money, the type of money that today would be left to show serious intent in a real estate deal, not the full down payment, but enough to convey serious intent, and Paul shows that with God, His intent is that the gift of the Holy Spirit remain with us until the return of Jesus Christ when we are given glory. With that it was easy for Paul and should be easy for us to acknowledge that God the Father and Jesus Christ are both worthy of blessings as they have blessed us with this incredible spiritual blessing, that through Jesus in spite of who we were and are can be found blameless knowing we are the children of God through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This incredible blessing that we have comes to us not through actions on our part but through the incredible gift that comes through Jesus Christ. Through Jesus Christ we will obtain a spiritual inheritance of eternal life and the Kingdom of God.
Ephesians 1:3-14
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
As Paul reminded Titus, so we are reminded of the expectation to comply with human government, provided it does not attempt to subjugate the faith we have. We are reminded to be ready for every good work, to not speak evil of others, and to live in peace. As Christians, we are not to be the type of people who seek a fight, who are not complete unless there is conflict. We are to be gentle and even when we have power we can use, we are to live with meekness to all, including those people we do not like, that get under our skin. And we do this not so much because we are Christians today, but because at one time we were just like the people who today are not yet called. There have also been times in our life when we were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving diverse lusts and pleasures, where we let conflict rule our emotions, and where we might even have hated another person.
But now we have been given kindness and love by God and Jesus Christ, not because of anything righteous that we have done, but solely through an act of mercy by God and Jesus Christ, how through the death and resurrection of Jesus made possible the gift of the Holy Spirit that brings about a renewing in each of us. Using a real estate comparison, we are not a tear down and build, but a renovation. We are renewed, and much like an older home can be transformed through a renovation, each of us is transformed by the renewing of our mind that comes through the Holy Spirit, and through this incredible gift of the Holy Spirit, we are heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Titus 3:1-7
Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,
To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.
For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Paul reminded the Corinthians that when he came to Corinth, there was nothing about him that was impressive. Knowing that Paul is the most prolific writer of New Testament books, we might immediately jump to the conclusion that what he did was impressive, but Paul was reminding them that he himself was not impressive, that what he did was made possible through the power of the Holy Spirit, and he made this point so that people would not have their faith connected to a man but in the power of God, the Holy Spirit.
It is through the Holy Spirit that our faith must stand, and never through any person. It is through the Holy Spirit that our faith must stand and not through enticing words that captivate our minds. It is through the Holy Spirit that our faith must stand. It is through the Holy Spirit, the power of God, that our faith stands. As the called, chosen, and faithful, we understand wisdom that transcends this world, a wisdom that for many is a mystery, but even this wisdom and the mystery we understand is not where our faith stands, because it is through the Holy Spirit that we understand this wisdom and mystery. God reveals all things to us through the Holy Spirit, and as we gain spiritual understanding, that too is the Holy Spirit.
We have been given the Holy Spirit not so we can better understand the things that are important to those who are not yet called, but to understand the things that are given to us freely by God so that when we consider wisdom we look not to the wisdom of this world, but to the wisdom that comes to us through the Holy Spirit, by helping us to compare spiritual things to spiritual things. Without the Holy Spirit, we could not understand the things of God, and as we interact with people who are not yet called, we are reminded that they do not yet understand the things of God. Unlike those who are not yet called, we have the mind of Christ.
1 Corinthians 2:1-16
And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.
For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.
And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
It is through the Holy Spirit that what we spiritually understand is made possible. Understanding spiritual knowledge comes through the Holy Spirit and because the Holy Spirit is the source of our spiritual knowledge, there is no need for any man to be commended. Even if another person helps you to better understand the teachings of Jesus, it is the working of the Holy Spirit that makes that possible. Spiritual understanding does not come solely through a person, but through the Holy Spirit. It is through the Holy Spirit we can understand the incredible gift we have through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Of and by itself the ten commandments cannot help any person comprehend the Kingdom of God and God’s righteousness-the Holy Spirit is needed. We don’t toss out the ten commandments because Jesus seriously spoke against that, but without the Holy Spirit we cannot spiritually comprehend what is in the Bible. We must have the Holy Spirit writing the word of God not on tablets of stone but in each of our hearts knowing that is through God we are complete.
Without taking away from the wondrous events of the Exodus and wandering in the desert for forty years, what we have through the Holy Spirit far exceeds the wonder and glory that they experienced then. The wonder and glory that we will see in the Kingdom of God will far exceed any wonder and glory previously seen on earth, and we know this through the Holy Spirit, knowing about the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Others cannot comprehend this wonder and glory that we know and anticipate because they are blinded not having the Holy Spirit.
Through Jesus Christ that vail which spiritually blinds people will be taken away at the time God the Father determines people are to be called and chosen. Through Jesus Christ we have freedom, through His death and resurrection which removes the penalty of sin. Through the Holy Spirit we have freedom because without the Holy Spirit we could not fully comprehend the incredible gift we have been given. This freedom that we have that comes through the Holy Spirit and allows us to comprehend Jesus Christ, and to become like Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 3:1-18
Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you?
Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:
Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.
And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward:
Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;
Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:
How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?
For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.
For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.
For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.
Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:
And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:
But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.
But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.
Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.
Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
Today is the Day of Pentecost, a Holy Day of God, the day that God chose first to widely give the Holy Spirit. Through the Holy Spirit, we have incredible freedom knowing that every evil thing that brings us pain in this life, will one day be no more. Through the Holy Spirit, we have incredible freedom to understand spiritual matters and the deep things of God, seeking first the Kingdom of God and God’s righteousness knowing that the Holy Spirit is the earnest deposit by God of our future place in the Kingdom of God and eternal life. Finally, the freedom that we have that comes through the Holy Spirit allows us to understand Jesus Christ and to become like Jesus Christ so we can have the mind of Christ.
All verses are from the King James Version.
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