Rabbi Lynnette Arriela Bonner/Bethel Temple Fellowship
We just finished celebrating Shavuot(Pentecost)! Shavuot is the Hebrew word for “weeks” in the plural form. It comes from “Shavua” in singular. It means to “count the 7 weeks.” This celebrates the completion of the seven-week Omer count, which is the counting period between Passover and Shavuot.
This feast is about the Holy Spirit existing from the creation of the world, Genesis 1:2. Shavuot is the giving of the Torah to God’s people in the Old Testament, and in the New Testament it’s about the empowerment of the Holy Spirit in men’s hearts and lives.
The Torah was given by God to the Jewish people on Mount Sinai more than 3,300 years ago. Every year on the holiday of Shavuot we renew our acceptance of God’s gift, His Word, and Holy Spirit.
In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit played a significant role in revealing God’s will and communicating His messages through the prophets. The Spirit enabled the prophets to speak God’s word and write the Scriptures. The Spirit’s work was instrumental in providing guidance, direction, and insight into God’s plan and purposes.
The Holy Spirit came upon his disciples and his prophets when He presented his message to people.
So, the Holy Spirit has always been here. In the New Testament the Holy Spirit was given to people to abide in us after Jesus left this earth.
The difference was that in the Old Testament, there were few who were chosen to have the Holy Spirit in and on them to show the power of God. In the New Testament, the Holy Spirit could now abide in a person; anyone that chooses to commit their life to Jesus. When someone receives salvation, the Holy Spirit takes over that person and He abides in their heart and life! The Holy Spirit empowers them, helps them to be an effective witness, and He helps them to overcome sin.
That is why it is vital to our spiritual survival that we are obedient and surrender to the Holy Spirit in our lives. Also, there is coming a time when the Holy Spirit will not be here on the earth. The word of God says, in Genesis 6:3 “My spirit will not always strive in men.” This is also in Matthew 24:37,39.
37. “For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 39. and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.”
When it says “the coming of the Son of man” it’s talking about Jesus. People did not care about God in Noah’s time, because sin and perversion were so prevalent, and that is all anyone thought and cared about. That same era is coming back, especially when “The Tribulation” takes place. When God’s children are taken up in the rapture, the Holy Spirit will not be here on earth. Chaos will reign on the earth like never before, because it will be Satan’s time.
God’s grace and mercy will be on the earth, because He will send two witnesses to preach the gospel, and thereby giving people one last chance to receive Jesus. But why wait until then to accept salvation? Today is the day of salvation!
Listen to that tugging in your heart. The Holy Spirit is telling you to receive salvation, to receive Jesus in your heart and repent from sin. Shavuot is about the Holy Spirit empowerment of God in your life so you can accept Jesus, overcome sin, and live a life that makes Jesus smile on you.