Tuesday, May 17, 2016

Praying at Pentecost

http://www.ewtn.com/ Devotionals/prayers/novena.htm

 
One of the great events in the history of God's dealings with men, occurred when God's Holy Spirit was poured out on the Feast of Pentecost upon those who were waiting in one place, in one accord, obedient to the instruction of Jesus:
"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; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now...you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."               Acts 1:4-8
At the moment of outpouring, Peter told the marveling crowd at David's Tomb that this was the fulfillment of the prophetic promise made through the Prophet Joel:
"And it shall come to pass afterward
That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
Your old men shall dream dreams,
Your young men shall see visions.
And also on My menservants, and on My maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days."             Joel 2:28-29

In that moment of outpouring manifested in Acts, God was doing something new and supernatural in mankind. He was changing men into a new creation. This new creation would be the tabernacle of His own Spirit. His word, His will, His power and wisdom would dwell in and among men. His judgment and His salvation would reside together in the earth, so that "...whoever calls upon the name of the LORD shall be saved."  (Joel 2:32)
This new creation was made possible by the work of redemption and salvation of God's Son, Jesus.
The timing of this event was on the Feast of Pentecost, the celebration of the early harvest, fifty days after Passover. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit would coincide with the great spiritual harvest of the latter rain, the latter days.

Old Testament Study Guide for Home-Study Seminary Students Unit 18 ...

The moment of Pentecost means that no longer are the oracles of God limited to the inquiries of kings, priests, and prophets, but Jesus has made us kings and priests, carrying the oracles of Light, Urim, and Truth, Perfection, and Completion, Thummim, within each of us. No longer is the Breastplate of Judgment/Decision worn over Aaron's heart (Ex. 28:30), but is now worn in the heart of each believer. The Word lies living, quickened, within our hearts, instead of letters engraved on tablets of stone.
This is the harvest of Pentecost:
"...and the nations shall know that I AM the LORD," says the LORD God, "when I AM hallowed in you before their eyes...I will sprinkle clean water on you and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all idols. I will give you a new heart, and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them."        Ezek. 36:23-27
Pentecost is a witness to all of the nations that God is the LORD, even as foreigners heard the Gospel and the praises being spoken in all of their own languages by the disciples as the Spirit filled them (Acts 2:7-12). Yet, the harvest also begins right where we are, in our Jerusalem, our Judea, as we are witnesses to all what Jesus is, and has done for us.
This year Pentecost is an especially important event in the Body of Christ. The dwelling of the Spirit of God with men is needed like never before. The harvesting of souls has become urgent in these days. The witness of Jesus is needed to those who are perishing.
We believe that a special time of prayer and supplication is being prompted by the Holy Spirit for this time. Although the Feast of Pentecost was celebrated by the Church on May 15, the actual date of the Feast, counting from the Passover, is June 12. For the days leading up to June 12th, we have called for fifty minutes of prayer daily for the salvation of souls, for unity and maturity in the Church, for this nation, which is sadly and dangerously headed in the wrong direction.
Following the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2, thousands were added to the Kingdom of God. This is the fruit, the harvest, of the ministry of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit bears witness with our spirits that the harvest is not yet complete, and the urgent work must continue.
Pray with us this Pentecost.
 










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