Showing posts with label power. Show all posts
Showing posts with label power. Show all posts

Thursday, November 5, 2015

"A NUGGET FOR LIVING LIFE" - Prayer, Press On and Power - Steve Martin


A NUGGET FOR LIVING LIFE
Steve Martin


"Prayer is hard work. 
That is why not enough people 
do it."


"When you are pressed in 
then press on."


"We need boldness 
in our Christian walk. 
The Holy Spirit can give it."









nugget

[nuhg-it] 
 






noun
1.
a lump of something, as of precious metal.
2.
a lump of native gold.

Friday, October 9, 2015

"Why Should I Be Afraid?" - music video by Paul Wilbur



Paul Wilbur on Sid Roth "It's Supernatural" 



Published on Nov 22, 2014
Christian Encouragement, Comfort, HOPE & Inspiration
www.AMIGHTYWIND.com
=============
Psalm 91 Amplified Bible (AMP)

Psalm 91

1 He who [a]dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [Whose power no foe can withstand].

2 I will say of the Lord, He is my Refuge and my Fortress, my God; on Him I lean and rely, and in Him I [confidently] trust!

3 For [then] He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence.

4 [Then] He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings shall you trust and find refuge; His truth and His faithfulness are a shield and a buckler.

5 You shall not be afraid of the terror of the night, nor of the arrow (the evil plots and slanders of the wicked) that flies by day,

6 Nor of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor of the destruction and sudden death that surprise and lay waste at noonday.

7 A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not come near you.

8 Only a spectator shall you be [yourself inaccessible in the secret place of the Most High] as you witness the reward of the wicked.

9 Because you have made the Lord your refuge, and the Most High your dwelling place,

10 There shall no evil befall you, nor any plague or calamity come near your tent.

11 For He will give His angels [especial] charge over you to accompany and defend and preserve you in all your ways [of obedience and service].

12 They shall bear you up on their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone.

13 You shall tread upon the lion and adder; the young lion and the serpent shall you trample underfoot.

14 Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him; I will set him on high, because he knows and understands My name [has a personal knowledge of My mercy, love, and kindness—trusts and relies on Me, knowing I will never forsake him, no, never].

15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.

16 With long life will I satisfy him and show him My salvation.


Footnotes:
a.Psalm 91:1 The rich promises of this whole chapter are dependent upon one’s meeting exactly the conditions of these first two verses (see Exod. 15:26).

Thursday, June 25, 2015

Prophecy: I See a Great Wave of Glory Hitting the Globe


Prophecy: I See a Great Wave of Glory 
Hitting the Globe


Prayer is a key to birth and sustain revival.
Prayer is a key to birth and sustain revival. (Lightstock )

Prophetic Insight, from Charisma Media

The hubs are arising! This is the word that has been burning in my spirit. The Lord is igniting the flames of revival fire in various regions of the earth.
I was in prayer seeking God about His plans for the nations when suddenly a vision erupted in my spirit. I saw light springing forth from various places in the world. As I looked I could see this all over the globe. I literally saw a network of lit up places all connected (it looked like some type of digital map).
I began to ask the Lord: what am I seeing? He spoke to me that these are global revival Hubs. Each hub is a strategic place of outpouring. As the Lord continued to reveal to me His plans for revival centers and hubs He showed me that they would function differently than what I would typically perceive as a revival center.
The hubs are not only called to be places of revival and outpouring but also of equipping and advancing. Radical moves of the Spirit and hosting the presence of God are only part of the call of these emerging centers. These must also be places that teach, activate and equip the body of Christ for last days harvest and every member active!
I see a great wave of glory coming upon the Hubs! The Hubs will carry different expressions of revival in this hour yet each is vital to the plans of The Father. We must be very cautious not to attempt to create a cookie-cutter pattern for the revival centers and Hubs that are being established.
The revival hubs are called to embrace partnership between the apostolic and prophetic. The apostolic anointing is a building and governing anointing. The hubs carry a mandate for regional revival, equipping and activation! The prophetic anointing reveals.
In order for transformation to unfold and revival to be released there must be divine revelation. A hub is a place of continuing refreshing and outpouring. It is not just a place that enjoys a seasonal outpouring. This is an expression of the apostolic mandate to build places of presence and power! These are also places of prayer and intimacy.
"This is the discovery of a paradigm that will unleash a global harvest as my plans and purposes are fulfilled in the earth," says The Lord. "I'm building the foundation for revival and revival centers, it is not the work of man but the ordination of my spirit."
The Father is placing men & women in particular places to dig deep wells of revival and refreshing for a region. He is establishing ministries that will serve as a HUB of revival in their territory. These HUBS are places of divine outpouring and awakening led by radical revivalists whose heart's cry is to see a great awakening. The agenda of the hour is not just building another ministry but to release the spiritual destiny of a region and host the presence of God in a way that brings radical transformation to the lives of people.
Here are 8 characteristics of revival hubs:
1. Marked by hunger. It is the hungry that will press in and invite an outpouring in a region.
2. Digging wells that will not only bless the hub but also the region and beyond!
3. Will face opposition as the well gets deeper and the transforming presence of God grows in the hub.
4. Presence driven. The revival hubs and those who lead them place great emphasis and value upon the presence of God.
5. Prayer fueled. Prayer is key to birth and sustain revival.
6. Release the sounds of heaven. Revival HUBS are impacted by revival worship. God is birthing new sounds for a new move. There is no room for performance driven worship in these hubs. The worship that is coming forth draws people deeper into encounter. 
7. Known for miracles & power. Revival hubs are places of supernatural power where bodies are healed, live changed and miracles released.
8. Places of fathering and equipping. The emerging move is an apostolic and prophetic driven revival. The hubs that God is raising up birth and establish spiritual sons & daughters. As the move of God continues, training is key to raise up a generation that releases the Kingdom.
Let me leave you with this Scripture: Isaiah 55:1, "Ho! Every one who thirsts, come to the waters; And you who have no money come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost."
Ryan LeStrange has been preaching the gospel for more than half of his life. As a young man, God led him to leave his home and travel to Tennessee to study and train under Dr. Norvel Hayes, who later became his spiritual father. Pastor Ryan shares the apostolic call of Dr. Hayes to establish churches, ministries and Bible colleges, and to train leaders in the body of Christ. Ryan hosts a weekly television show on God TV called Power4Today. Ryan is the apostle and leader of Impact International Apostolic Fellowship, a network of churches and ministries around the world with a single vision to birth revival. He has founded two Bible colleges, served as an associate pastor and traveled as an evangelist. Visit him online at ryanlestrange.com.
The Charisma Podcast Network is now live. Featuring a variety of programs including news, leadership, inspiring stories, women's topics, sports, and even more.
Subscribe now for free!
Did you enjoy this blog? Click here to receive CHARISMA MAGAZINE by email.

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

The Awesome Power In A Mother's Mantle - Bill Yount

The Awesome Power In A Mother's Mantle - Bill Yount


Posted: 30 Mar 2015 
I'm not sure how this works. But I believe a mother's mantle casts a long shadow. I saw my mother's fall during the going away celebration at her church. It then unfurled like a tailor-made garment of love and continued to spread. I believe her mantle is imparting spiritual inheritance to many, even those who never knew her.

 My mother, Gertrude Yount, went to be with Jesus on March 2nd. 2015. Multitudes have been touched and encouraged by her many healings and miracles that God gave her in this lifetime. But what I will remember the most about mom is her persevering faith in spite of her many hardships. She found God in the storms of life. She touched so many people with God's love. She was 90 yrs. old. She is now totally healed forever.

 MOM'S SHOELESS ENTRY INTO HEAVEN

 Mom had an unusual request when she left this world. She said, "When they lay me in the casket, I don't want them to put any shoes or socks on me. I want to dance on the streets of gold in my bare feet." I called the funeral director and told him mom's unusual request and why. He agreed. Someone came up to me right before mom's funeral and said, "It's going to be hard to fill your mother's shoes." I said, "She doesn't have any."

 HER GIFT WAS LOVE

 Just hours before mom met Jesus, my sister visited her and said her face was glowing and she couldn't find one wrinkle on it. She was even walking on her own. One of my brothers stopped by also to see her minutes later. I called her around 7:30pm that evening and she said, "I was going to call you" Her voice was strong and clear. She told me that she had called my other brother Jim and talked to him also. Then within three hours of talking to us children, she left. The last words my brother heard my mother say was: "Tell everyone I love them."

When it came to loving people mom broke the rules. I remember growing up when she took us five kids to church she always squeezed other people into the car like sardines. On Sundays she would pick up a woman and her three kids ( which made ten of us in the car ). Many times mom would holler at us kids in the back seat, "There's a policeman, get down!" She seemed to get away with some things when she was helping people.

 INFLUENCED BY KATHRYN KUHLMAN

At eleven yrs. of age my mother often attended Kathryn Kuhlman meetings in Pittsburgh, PA. She saw unusual happenings that forever changed her life. A huge goiter on her mother's neck instantly disappeared before her eyes. The next second a five year old boy began jumping up and down shouting, "Mommy, where are you? Where are you mommy?" The mother on the other side of the boy said, "Honey, I'm right here." Mom said. "I saw that little boy jump up into his mother's arms and began shouting, "Oh mommy, I can see you! I can see you mommy!" The mother cried, "He was born blind!" My mother got the mindset at an early age: This is the way my life is going to be. And it continued the rest of her life.

She was 4' 11" tall. She found the key to long life. Twice cancer couldn't kill her. The first cancer spreading through her body, the doctors gave her five years to live. That was forty-five years ago. At eighty-seven the second cancer died through surgery. They got it all with no chemo needed. Years ago doctors witnessed a tumor disappear on her thyroid before taking a biopsy. Ten years ago doctors wanted to amputate her one foot. She told them, "Whenever I go to heaven, I'm taking my foot with me!" Later they changed their mind. She kept her foot and walked fine. Most doctors who told her she wouldn't live long are gone. She kept outliving them. Her famous prayer when she got attacked was: "Lord, if I get weak and sick, how am I going to help anybody and reach the lost?" That's it! Then healing would start attacking her.

After receiving that five year death sentence with cancer mom felt led to visit a different church in town. She went with Aunt Sophie. Aunt Sophie has been healed so many times, people thought she was crazy. They arrived early and sat near the front of the church before others got there. As soon as Mom sat down, she felt a hand touch her shoulder, shooting a bolt of electricity down through her body that burnt the hairs off her arms and legs. "I just knew God healed me of that cancer!" she said. They found out later that church didn't believe in healing. I think that's why God healed her before the service started. Mom loved to tell people of her healings and miracles. Then she would stop and say, "But you gotta repent!" as conviction fell on them.

NEW BLOOD IS FLOWING INTO THE BODY OF CHRIST

Late in life my mother had an ulcer on her leg that wasn't healing because of sugar diabetes. Doctors discovered the main artery in her leg was one hundred percent blocked with plaque that prevented the healing. Two doctors wouldn't touch it because she was 90 years old. A third doctor said, "I'm going to try it." ( Sometimes we need to try some things that look impossible.) He told my sister, "I chiseled it. I kept chiseling it. Two days later he called my sister and said, "The blood is flowing!"

When I heard those words, I sensed the Lord saying to the Body of Christ. "The blood is flowing! The blood is flowing! I've been chiseling away at the blockages in your life. The blood is beginning to flow into the legs of my Body." The life is in the blood. Strength in our legs is coming from that blood. We are going to walk in newness of life. Walk in places we have never been. Do things we have never done. Try some things that look impossible.

 AN UNSTOPPABLE PERSEVERING FAITH

 "That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises." Hebrews 6:12

Mom was a fighter. 'A contender of the faith that was once delivered to the saints.' ( Jude 1:3 ) She fought for what she got. Her strong faith was like a runaway freight train that could not be stopped. In the Spirit mom could take out Muhammad Ali. She seemed to have the gift of faith. But there were times and seasons when God seemed distant, when the healings and miracles weren't arriving on time. But her faith kept going. Mom's answer to heaven's silence was: "I'll be ok. Let's see what God will do." It was these bumps in the road of mom's life that caused her to know the Lord like she did. Her life taught me: There's a whole lot of living between healings and miracles. And a whole lot of living after them. She knew how to run this race of life with patience. "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us." Hebrews 12:1 She ran with patience. Patience was her friend.

Near the end of mom's life she would always tell us. "When I get better, I'm getting my license back." She still blamed the state for taking her license. She told everyone, "They made a mistake about me." I have a gut feeling mom got her license back. I feel like she's driving something up there. Maybe a chariot. "Look out for those speed limit signs mom!"

A faith so strong, yet childlike. I remember when the doctor wanted to amputate mom's foot. She told me her childlike prayer: "Lord, you don't need my foot, and I do."

This story seems to sum up the fabric of my mother's prophetic mantle.

 A mother had a little daughter playing down the neighborhood. A storm was brewing and the mother called the neighbor and said, "Send my little girl home quick." The little girl started walking home two blocks away as the storm broke loose. A torrential downpour of rain beat the earth as thunder and lightning came crashing down. As the mother watched anxiously out her kitchen window she noticed every time lightning flashed her little girl would stop and start to smile. Several times as lightning flashed her little girl again would stop and a smile would break out on her face. The mother terrified ran out of the house and down the sidewalk and picked up her little girl in her arms and ran inside the house. As they got into the house, the mother said to the daughter. "Honey, how come every time it lightninged, you just stopped and started to smile?" The little girl responded. "Mommy, all the way home God's been taking my picture!"

 Oh, to have a childlike faith. To know in our worst storm, God is taking our picture.

Raise your hands and receive the power in my mother's mantle right now: The gift of faith that only believes and doesn't know how to doubt. The patience that outlasts every storm. And God's love that breaks the rules.

 And don't forget to smile. Cause all the way home God is taking your picture.

Blessings,

Bill Yount
www.billyount.com 

Friday, February 20, 2015

Today's Youth Want More of the Spirit by Lee Grady

Today's Youth Want More of the Spirit 

by Lee Grady

Identity Network

Spiritual trend watchers have come up with terms like "nones" and "dones" to describe young people in the United States. "Nones" are those who don't categorize themselves as anything when asked about their religion, while "dones" are those who have quit church. The prevailing assumption is that today's youth are disillusioned with organized religion, spiritually apathetic and morally loose.

 
I refuse to believe these trends are irreversible. From what I've observed, there's a surprising level of spiritual hunger among younger Christians - yet many churches aren't prepared to respond to it.

 
This past week I spoke at a series of chapels at Emmanuel College, a small Christian school in north Georgia. At every service the students gathered around the altar during worship, and they lingered long after the services ended to ask for personal prayer. When I taught about the baptism of the Holy Spirit on Friday night, dozens came to the front to ask for a supernatural filling.

 
I've preached at Emmanuel before, but I've never seen this level of spiritual intensity there. I've noticed similar hunger among young people in other settings recently. My hunch is that the water level is rising and that we are going to see a wave of the Spirit hit the younger generation - similar to what happened in the 1970's when the Jesus Movement rescued so many college students and hippie dropouts from drug addiction and rebellion.

 
Leading to a Deeper Experience

 
Younger Christians want more of God, but they are savvy enough to smell counterfeits. If you want to lead youth and young adults into a deeper experience with the Holy Spirit, consider these guidelines:

  • Don't water it down. Some churches are so afraid of a youth service going overboard that they keep the emergency brake on at all times and never risk letting the Holy Spirit take over. Today's young people don't want to play it safe. Invite them to the deep end of God's river and trust Him to work in their lives. Explain what the baptism of the Holy Spirit is, tell your own testimony and then invite them to pray. God just might pour out a fresh Pentecost that transforms your entire church!

  • Don't put on a show. Nothing turns off kids faster than a celebrity minister who is trying to impress people with his fake preacher voice and look-at-me attitude. Today's youth see can see through our goofy mannerisms and religious terminology. If you want to introduce youth to the power of the Holy Spirit, talk in a normal voice and be yourself.

  • Demonstrate the real power. It's not enough to talk about prophecy, healing or the word of knowledge. Let people see the gifts of the Holy Spirit in action. When youth see the power of God demonstrated, they are ruined forever. They want it! And when you pray for people, don't wave your coat, push people to the floor or manipulate people to make them think you are God's man or woman of faith. Be humble, act normal and don't turn off people with your phony antics.

  • Invite questions and offer answers. In many churches the preacher delivers a sermon and then disappears behind the stage. He lectures; the people nod. Those days are over. Today's generation wants to interact. They want to have lunch or coffee with you. Don't be afraid of questions, and be willing to admit mistakes. They will respect you more if you take off your mask and invite a two-way conversation.

  • Empower them to lead. I've been doing a series of leadership events for young men and women for five years. This year I'm handing the microphone to some of the 20-somethings who have been working with me since 2010 - and they are going to preach in many of the sessions. One reason today's youth have not experienced the Holy Spirit's power is that we've never given them the car keys and let them drive.

  • Pour on the love. Youth today want relationships, and if you don't make yourself available as a mentor and friend they won't be as willing to test the deep waters of the Spirit with you. Don't be mechanical. If you pray with them, cry with them and hug them they will also let you confront them. And don't make everything about the intense Holy Ghost meeting; sometimes the most genuine spiritual moment of the night will be when you are sharing a pizza afterwards.

Perhaps one reason we've lost touch with the younger generation is that we didn't invite them to experience the raw power of God. Maybe we should ditch some of our scripted programs, strobe lights and fog machines and allow the Spirit to create a real wow factor that is not manufactured by us. I believe that's what youth today are waiting for.

 
Lee Grady


Sign up to receive our daily articles and receive 2 FREE MP3 Teaching Downloads
by Jeremy Lopez automatically.
 
(New Subscribers Only Please) 
 
*The Seeing Process of a Seer
*What Next God? Discouraged After Your Prophetic Word.
 A $20.00 Value
 
 
 
 
 
E-Book PDF Download
By Simon Bailey
Price: $14.99
Sale! $10.29
Click HERE to order.
 

Sunday, March 23, 2014

Trailblazers "Ablaze With His Glory - Fierce Lions Against the Kingdom of Darkness" - Elaine Tavolacci

Elaine Tavolacci:
The Elijah List

Elaine TavolacciThe Lord is showing me that He is raising up a new generation of trailblazers. Many great men and women of God have passed away within the last few years, but the Lord is raising up men and women who are strong, adamant, uncompromising, and will do great exploits in the days ahead. 

The definition of a trailblazer is a person who blazes a trail for others to follow through unsettled country or wilderness.

"They Have Been Chosen to Deliver"

The Lord says, "I am looking for the trailblazers who will prepare the way to release My glory on this earth as it is in Heaven. I am looking for the leaders who will rise up and help others find their way to what they were called to do. They will not go in their own strength, but they will go in the anointing and authority that I have placed on them.

"They will trumpet My voice and teach others My ways. They will be used to demonstrate My Kingdom with miracles, signs, and wonders following.

ROAR by Linda Harris-Iorio"Many of them have been delivered from the depths of Hell themselves, therefore they are adamant, courageous, and fearless against the onslaught of the enemy. They will go into the enemy's camp, and places where others fear to go, to rescue the captives. 

They are as fierce lions against the kingdom of darkness, and they will stand immovable in the face of adversity.

"They will train others how to run, and teach them when to stand. 

They will reach down to help others out, when they have fallen into a pit. They are those who never settle back into their old ways, or partake of the things that they were once set free from. They will rescue and deliver those whose lives are in disarray, fear, and confusion. They have been chosen to deliver others from the very things that they were set free from, and nothing will derail them from their mission.

ElijahList Prophetic Resources

"Their Expectations Are Far Above Human Reasoning"

"They will release My glory wherever they go. They will carry My anointing into the highways and the byways, because they have become ablaze with My glory. I have made them to be a flame of fire to carry My Word to the nations. They are those who stand in the face of adversity and will not be afraid to go forth in My power. They are conduits of My anointing because they are not ashamed of My Name or My Word.

"They are unique and have been set apart for such a time as this, and they know that they are chosen for a particular assignment. These trailblazers are steadfast in their convictions and uncompromising in their walk with Me. They are the ones who will go forth and do great exploits, as they are tenacious in faith and not lax in prayer and intercession. They will impart to others what I have given to them.

Quiver Flaming Arrows by Linda Harris-Iorio"Their expectations are far above human reasoning. They will create a path and deliver the captive out of dilemmas because they are the forerunners who will lead people out of the wilderness.

"Just as John the Baptist was called to prepare the way, I am calling the trailblazers of this day to go ahead and prepare the way once again, because I am about to come and release My Glory on this earth, in this time and season," says the Lord.

Psalm 104:4 Who makes His angels spirits, His ministers a flame of fire.

Jeremiah 20:9 "Then I said, "I will not make mention of Him, nor speak anymore in His name." But His word was in my heart like a burning fire shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, and I could not."

John 14:12 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father."

Elaine Tavolacci
A Word in Season

Elaine Tavolacci resides in Staten Island, New York. She has been a student of the Word for twenty-nine years. She has a prophetic gift as well as a ministry of encouragement, which teaches the Body of Christ to walk in the fullness of what the Lord has called them to. 

She teaches others how to be overcomers in every area of their lives and understands the power and authority that Jesus has assigned to them. Her ministry, "A Word in Season," has been an encouragement to others for nine years. She has learned the transforming power of the Word of God and encourages others that nothing is impossible with God.

To subscribe to The Elijah List go to:http://elijahlist.com/subscribe

ElijahList Prophetic Resources

ElijahList Prophetic Resources
ProductNEW!
The Pleasure of His Company:
A Journey to Intimate Friendship
with God

by Dutch Sheets
$16.99
Book
Order Now!

bookNEW!
Creation Waits for WHO?

by Anne Elmer
Book, E-Book, Audio Book on CD or Audio Book MP3
$13.99
Order the CD
$10.99
Order the Download
$19.99
Order the Download
$14.99
Order the Download



March 23, 2014
Elaine Tavolacci:
Steve ShultzFrom the desk of Steve Shultz:

I know there are some great "Trailblazers" who God is raising up... and you'll be greatly encouraged by Elaine Tavolacci's prophetic word here.

As Elaine shares: The Lord is showing me that He is raising up a new generation of trailblazers. Many great men and women of God have passed away within the last few years, but the Lord is raising up men and women who are strong, adamant, uncompromising, and will do great exploits in the days ahead.

It's truly a Kairos time to be a part of the Body of Christ!

Blessings,
Steve

To receive daily, encouraging prophetic emails from The Elijah List to your inbox CLICK HERE.
***

Note from Steve Shultz:

Your support for the Elijah List helps to pay the cost to deliver daily Words from the Lord to you for FREE. You help us by simply purchasing your prophetic and other Christian resources from a selection of over 6,000 products directly from us at: elijahshopper.com.

We appreciate our dear readers and we thank you for supporting your Elijah List staff!
Blessings,
Order the Download
Steve Shultz, Founder and Publisher
The Elijah List & Breaking Christian News 

http://www.elijahlist.com http://www.breakingchristiannews.com

To subscribe to The Elijah List go to:

http://elijahlist.com/subscribe

HR
ProductNEW!
The Pleasure of His Company:
A Journey to Intimate Friendship
with God

by Dutch Sheets
$16.99
Book
Order Now!

bookNEW!
Creation Waits for WHO?

by Anne Elmer
Book, E-Book, Audio Book on CD or Audio Book MP3
$13.99
Order the CD
$10.99
Order the Download
$19.99
Order the Download
$14.99
Order the Download

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Understanding of Pentecost (Shavuot) - in 2013 it begins May 15


Pentecost and the Feast of Shavuot


The Historical Understanding of Pentecost (Shavuot)

In the third month after the Jews left Egypt (Mitzrayim), they arrived in the Sinai desert and camped opposite Mount Sinai. Moses (Moshe) was then told by G-d to gather the Israelites together to receive the Torah (Exodus [Shemot] 19:1-8 NAS). The Israelites answered, "All that the Lord has spoken we will do!" In Hebrew, it is Na'aseh V'Nishmah, which means, "We agree to do even before we have listened." 
                                   

Moses (Moshe) then gave the Jews two days to cleanse themselves, wash their clothes, and prepare to receive the Torah on the third day. At the same time, Moses (Moshe) told them not to come too near Mount Sinai. From early morning, dense clouds covered the peak of the mountain. Thunder and lightning were frequently seen and heard. The sound of the shofar (ram's horn) came very strong, and the top of the mountain was enveloped in fire and smoke. The Israelites at the foot of Mount Sinai stood in great awe (Exodus [Shemot] 19:9-19). Moses (Moshe) then went up alone on the mountain, and as he neared the top, a mighty voice announced the Ten Commandments (Exodus [Shemot] 19:20-25; 20:1-21).

Later Development of the Holiday

Pentecost (Shavuot) traditionally has been seen in different ways. One is to see it as the concluding piece of the Passover (Pesach) season. The other is to see it as an independent festival. Because Pentecost (Shavuot) celebrates the revelation of G-d at Mount Sinai, Pentecost (Shavout) would seem to be of a clearly independent nature. It is, after all, counted as one of the three pilgrimage festivals (Deuteronomy [Devarim] 16:16). Yet, beginning with the Targum (the Aramaic translation of the Scriptures from the second century of the Christian Era or Common Era (C.E.), known more commonly as A.D.), Pentecost (Shavuot) is referred to in the rabbinic tradition as Atzeret. The word atzeret in Hebrew means "conclusion." The word atzeret is used in the Bible with the festival Shemini Atzeret (Numbers [Bamidbar] 29:35) and seems to mean "remain with Me [G-d] another day." There is a sense, therefore, that atzeret is the final part or completion of a festival. Therefore, Shavuot (Pentecost) is seen as the conclusion to the Passover (Pesach) season. One strong connection between Passover (Pesach) and Shavuot (Pentecost) is the counting of the omer serving as a chain that links the two festivals.

Spiritual Application (Halacha). Because Shavuot (Pentecost) culminates with the counting of the omer for 50 days, Shavuot (Pentecost) is called the Atzeret or conclusion to Passover (Pesach). Spiritually speaking (halacha), the believers in the Messiah Yeshua are on a journey out of Egypt (a type of the world's system and its evil ways) in the wilderness (of life), awaiting our time to meet G-d face to face on Mount Sinai (Exodus [Shemot] 3:12). There at Mount Sinai (spiritually), G-d will forever reveal Himself to us in a new and greater way. For all believers in the Messiah Yeshua, the Torah that was given at Mount Sinai represents the Word of G-d, the entire Bible. The believer inYeshua spiritually experiences Shavuot (Pentecost) when the Holy Spirit of G-d (Ruach HaKodesh) reveals the Word of G-d to him in a deeper and more powerful way, and his understanding and desire for the Bible increases accordingly.

Shavuot as a Marriage: A Betrothal Contract

One of the most beautiful images of Shavuot (Pentecost) is that of the marriage between G-d (the groom) and Israel (the bride).
In the biblical wedding service that G-d gave (Romans 9:4; Hebrews 9:1; 1 Chronicles 28:11-12), marriage consisted of two stages. The first stage is betrothal, called erusin in Hebrew. You enter this first stage of marriage as soon as a betrothal contract (a shitre erusin) is made between the two parties. The written contract is called a ketubah. During betrothal, you are legally married, but do not physically dwell with your mate. Betrothal is so legally binding that you cannot get out of it without a divorce, called a get in Hebrew.
In fact, by understanding the Hebrew language, we can see how betrothal is legally binding. To G-d, Hebrew is the pure language (Zephaniah 3:9), and Hebrew will allow us to understand deeper spiritual truths in the Bible that would be more difficult to understand otherwise. The word for betrothal in Hebrew, erusin, comes from the Hebrew verb arasAras is related to the Hebrew wordasar, which means "to bind." By this, we can see that the Hebrew language communicates to us that betrothal is legally binding.
Messianic Fulfillment. In the New Testament (Brit Hadashah), we can see that Joseph (Yosef) was betrothed to Mary (Miryam) when the angel Gabriel announced to Mary (Miryam) that she would have a son named Yeshua (Jesus), by the Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh) of G-d, who would be the Messiah (Luke 1:26-35). When Joseph (Yosef) discovered that his betrothed (espoused) wife Mary (Miryam) was pregnant, he decided to get a divorce (get) until the angel of the L-rd changed his mind by appearing to him in a dream (Matthew [Mattityahu] 1:18-20). Betrothal is mentioned in the Torah in Exodus (Shemot) 21:8; Leviticus (Vayikra) 19:20; Deuteronomy (Devarim) 20:7; 22:23. The second stage of marriage is the fullness or consummation of the marriage. This stage of marriage is called nesu'in.
The Bible tells us in Jeremiah (Yermiyahu) 2:2 that at Mount Sinai, G-d betrothed Himself to Israel, as it is written:
Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the Lord; I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after Me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown. Israel was holiness unto the Lord, and the firstfruits of His increase... (Jeremiah [Yermiyahu] 2:2-3)
.
In Exodus 19, when G-d by the leading of Moses (Moshe) brought the children of Israel to Mount Sinai, G-d betrothed Himself to Israel. On Mount Sinai, G-d gave the Torah to Israel (Exodus [Shemot] 20:1-21). At this time, G-d was making a betrothal contract, a ketubah, with Israel. Theketubah (or written betrothal contract, which is understood to be the Torah) represents "The book of the covenant" (marriage is a covenant) that Moses (Moshe) wrote prior to the revelation at Mount Sinai (Exodus [Shemot] 24:4,7). The Book of the Covenant spelled out mutual obligations of G-d and Israel just as the ketubah spelled out the obligations between husband and wife. So, G-d made a marriage contract with Israel in Exodus (Shemot) 19:3-7.
In Exodus (Shemot) 19:8, Israel accepts G-d's marriage proposal. Israel answered in Exodus (Shemot) 19:8, "All that the Lord hath spoken we will do" (Na'aseh V'Nishmah -- we agree to do even before we have listened).
In Exodus (Shemot) 19:2, Israel camped before the L-rd. The word camp in Hebrew is chanah and in this case is singular, while Israel is plural. By this we can see that at that time all Israel had become one. This is also a necessary requirement for marriage (Genesis [Bereishit] 2:24; Ephesians 5:31).
The biblical wedding ceremony that G-d gave requires that the marriage be consummated under a wedding canopy known as a chupah. In Exodus (Shemot) 19:17, Moses (Moshe) brought forth the people out of the camp to meet G-d and they stood at the nether part of the mount. The word netherin Hebrew actually implies that the people stood underneath the mountain. This imagery gives the understanding that the mountain had become a chupah and Israel was standing underneath the mountain or under the chupah, the place where the wedding takes place.

Every wedding will have two witnesses. They are called the friends of the bridegroom. One is assigned to the groom and one is assigned to the bride. In Exodus (Shemot) 19:17, Moses (Moshe) is seen as one of the two witnesses whose job is to escort the bride to meet the groom under the chupah (Mount Sinai). In order for the ketubah, the written contract between the husband and the wife, to be legal in consummating the marriage, it must be signed by the two witnesses, the friends of the bridegroom. Since we can see that Moses (Moshe) was one of the two witnesses, he had to sign the Ketubah (Torah) in order for the full marriage between G-d and Israel to be consummated.
However, when Moses (Moshe) returned from being with G-d on Mount Sinai, he did not sign the Ketubah (Torah). Instead he broke the two tablets (ketubah), which were in his right hand (Exodus [Shemot] 32:19), thus not signing the ketubah which G-d had made with Israel. Therefore, he did not allow Israel to enter into the full marriage. Moses (Moshe) broke the two tablets (ketubah) when he saw that Israel was worshiping the golden calf and thus were being unfaithful in their marriage.
The Spiritual Understanding of Shavuot (Pentecost)

Spiritual Application (Halacha). The giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai involved the Aaronic priesthood, the sacrificial system, the tabernacle, the sabbath days, the festivals, the civil and ceremonial laws, and the Ten Commandments (Exodus [Shemot] 19:17,20; 20:1,21-22; 21:1-2,12; 22:1,16; 23:10-11,14; 24:1-8,12,18; 25:1,8-9,40; 28:1; 31:12-18; 32:1; 34:27-28; Hebrews 8:1-6; 9:1-12,15,18-24; 10:1,10; 13:20). These things were given by G-d as a shadow of things to come (Hebrews 10:1) to teach us (Galatians 3:24) about the Messiah Yeshua and the redemptive work of G-d (Colossians 2:16-17). Shavuot (Pentecost) was the birth of the congregation (kehilat) in the wilderness (Acts 7:38). The things given at Mount Sinai were divine and from G-d, but shown in a physical way (Hebrews 9:1) to enable us to understand the spiritual truths that G-d wanted to communicate to us (1 Peter 2:5-9). So G-d gave Israel the covenant, the Torah, the services, the oracles of G-d, and the promises (Romans 9:4-5; 3:2), which were divine (Hebrews 9:1), at Mount Sinai to teach us about the Messiah (Psalm [Tehillim] 40:7). With this in mind, let's look at the spiritual understandings that G-d was communicating to us at Shavuot.
The Two Leavened Wave Loaves (Leviticus [Vayikra] 23:15-17)
This was to be a new meal offering to the L-rd (Leviticus [Vayikra] 23:16; Numbers [Bamidbar] 28:26). There were to be two wave loaves baked with leaven (Leviticus [Vayikra] 23:17). At Passover (Pesach), leaven was absolutely forbidden (Exodus [Shemot] 12:15,19-20) and in the regular meal offering, no leaven was permitted (Leviticus [Vayikra] 2:1,4-5, 11). We saw earlier that leaven represents sin (1 Corinthians 5:6-8; Galatians 5:9). Passover (Pesach) and Unleavened Bread (Hag HaMatzah) spoke of the death and burial of Yeshua who was without sin. Yet onShavuot (Pentecost), G-d commanded just the opposite. Why?

Shavuot (Pentecost) speaks of the birth of Israel as a nation, as well as the birth of the congregation (kehilat) of believers in Yeshua through the Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh). The two loaves speak of Israel and the congregation of believers in the Messiah. Even though both Israel and the congregation (kehilat) of believers in the Messiah Yeshua are chosen by G-d and are holy to Him, sin is still found in Israel and sin still exists in the congregation of believers. Passover (Pesach) and Unleavened Bread (Hag HaMatzah) speak primarily of Yeshua who is without sin, butShavuot (Pentecost) speaks of Israel and the congregation (kehilat) of believers where sin still exists.
We have just stated that the two wave loaves speak of Israel and the congregation (kehilat) of believers in the Messiah. The number two in the Bible is the number of witness and testimony. For example, two witnesses in the Bible establishes a truth (Matthew [Mattityahu] 18:19-20; Deuteronomy (Devarim] 19:15; John 5:30-33,36-37; Luke 24:44; 1 John 5:8; Revelation 12:11; 11:3). The Ten Commandments were written on two stones (Exodus [Shemot] 31:18). Also, the Ten Commandments are fulfilled by obeying two commandments (Matthew [Mattityahu] 22:34-40). Messiah and His congregation (kehilat) of believers testify of the love, grace, and plan of G-d for the whole world.
The meal offering was to be an offering burned by fire upon the altar. A work of the Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh) is an immersion (baptism) of fire (Luke 3:16). Fire is what G-d uses to burn sin out of the lives of a believer in the Messiah (1 Corinthians 3:13-15; 1 Peter 1:7). The followers ofYeshua are supposed to live a righteous (tzaddik) life before G-d (Ephesians 4:17-32; 5:1-13; Colossians 3:1-13; Romans 8:1-4).
Two-tenths Ephod of Fine Flour (Leviticus [Vayikra] 23:17)
The grinding and crushing of wheat produces fine flour. The fine flour speaks of the refining process that our faith goes through as we are conformed to the image of Messiah Yeshua and enter into His trials, testings, temptations, and sufferings (Zechariah 13:9; Romans 5:3-5; 8:29,35-39; 2 Corinthians 1:3-11; 1 Peter 1:7; 4:12-19; Revelation 3:18).

Messianic FulfillmentYeshua was the wheat that was planted into the ground (John [Yochanan] 12:24; 1 Corinthians 15:35-38,42-44). As wheat is beaten and refined to become fine flour, so the Messiah was beaten and bruised as He became that fine flour (Isaiah [Yeshayahu] 28:28; 52:14; 53:1-6; Psalm [Tehillim] 81:16; 147:14).
Holy to the L-rd for the Priest (Leviticus [Vayikra] 23:20)
Even though the two wave loaves were leavened, the L-rd counted them holy unto Himself for the priest. As mentioned earlier, the two wave loaves that the priest waved represented both Israel and the congregation (kehilat) of believers in Yeshua. Both the Jewish believers in Yeshua, represented by Israel, and the non-Jewish believers, represented by the congregation (kehilat), consist of individuals who are leaven. We still sin before G-d despite being believers in the Messiah. In spite of this sin, because we are believers in Yeshua and seek to serve and love Him with all our hearts, we are considered holy before G-d (Deuteronomy [Devarim] 7:6-8; 14:2; Luke 1:68,72-75; Ephesians 1:4; 5:27; Colossians 1:22-24; 1 Thessalonians 4:7; Titus 2:12; 1 Peter 1:15-16).
A Statute Forever (Leviticus 23:21)
The Holy Spirit came to dwell with the believer in Yeshua forever (John [Yochanan] 14:16-17). Therefore, the followers of Yeshua should have a continual Shavuot (Pentecost) experience; one on a daily basis.
The Feast of Harvest of First Fruits (Exodus [Shemot] 23:16; 34:22; Numbers [Bamidbar] 28:26)
Shavuot (Pentecost) is called the Feast of Weeks, the Feast of Harvest, or the Feast of the First Fruits. Passover (Pesach) was the barley harvest and Shavuot (Pentecost) was the wheat harvest (Exodus [Shemot] 34:22; Ruth 1:22; 2:23; Joel 1:11).
Israel was called a land of barley and wheat (Deuteronomy [Devarim] 8:7-8; 2 Chronicles 2:15; Jeremiah [Yermiyahu] 41:8). The spring wheat and barley harvest preceded the major harvest in the fall, the Feast of Ingathering (Exodus [Shemot] 23:16; 34:22). Both the spring and the fall harvests were dependent upon the rains coming at the right time. The fall rains are called the early rain. The spring rains are called the latter rain. The early rain is spoken of in Deuteronomy (Devarim) 11:10-15; 28:12; Leviticus (Vayikra) 26:4; Joel 2:23,28-29; and Zechariah 10:1. The rain is prophetic of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh) upon people's lives individually as they accept Yeshua into their lives and allow the Holy Spirit to teach and instruct them concerning the ways of G-d. The early rain and the latter rain also teach us about the pouring out of G-d's Holy Spirit in a corporate way upon all flesh. The early rain refers to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh) during Yeshua's first coming and the latter rain refers to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh) during Yeshua's second coming.
As we are seeing, the harvest speaks of the salvation of people. The spring harvest was the beginning of the harvest of people who would come to receive Yeshua as Messiah with the greatest harvest being at the end of this age (Matthew [Mattityahu] 13:39; 9:37-38; Mark 4:29). The fall harvest or the harvest at the end of this present age (Olam Hazeh) is in the seventh month on the biblical religious calendar. Shavuot (Pentecost) is in the third month. From Shavuot(Pentecost), there are four months until the final harvest in the fall (John [Yochanan] 4:34-35). The fall harvest is the fruit harvest.

Messianic Fulfillment. G-d said that the coming of Yeshua would be like the former and latter rain on the earth (Hosea 6:1-3; Joel 2:23). James (Ya'akov) ties the coming of the L-rd to the early and latter rain (James [Ya'akov] 5:7). Yeshua's death, burial, and resurrection was in the spring of the year; the outpouring of the Holy Spirit after the resurrection of Yeshua was in the spring of the year; and all those who believed were first fruits of the entire harvest and were a part of the spring harvest. Yeshua's second coming will be in the fall of the year and the greatest number of believers will believe at this time. Yeshua spoke about this great harvest at the end of this present age (Olam Hazeh) in Matthew (Mattityahu) 13:39; 24:13-14; and Revelation 14:6,15-16.
A Harvest of Freewill Offerings and Rejoicing (Deuteronomy [Devarim] 16:9-11,16-17)
As believers in Yeshua, when we come before G-d we are to give of ourselves, including our time, talents, and money, and present them before Him with a joyful heart (Acts 4:32-37; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2; 2 Corinthians 8-9).

The Conclusion of the Spring Festivals

This concludes the study of the spring festivals. We have seen how the spring festivals are applicable in three dimensions. They are historic to the nation of Israel; they are fulfilled in the Messiah Yeshua; and they describe how the individual believer is to walk (halacha) and live his life before G-d. In other words, we can see that G-d has a plan for every individual to willingly come to Him. So the spring festivals were not only historic, but they were also our type and example (1 Corinthians 10:1-2,6,11).
To natural Israel, Passover (Pesach) was their freedom from the bondage of Egypt (Mitzrayim) (Exodus [Shemot] 12). Unleavened Bread (Hag HaMatzah) was the separation from the land of Egypt into the immersion (baptism) into the Red Sea and the Cloud in the wilderness (1 Corinthians 10:1-2). Finally, G-d led the people to Mount Sinai (Exodus [Shemot] 19:1) where they experienced Shavuot (Pentecost and G-d revealed Himself to the people in a deeper and greater way than He ever did previously.
Messianic Fulfillment. The spring festivals were fulfilled by Yeshua. Messiah, who was our Passover Lamb, died on the day of Passover (Pesach). He was without sin and is the Bread of Life.Yeshua was in the sepulcher on the day of Unleavened Bread (Hag HaMatzah) and He was the kernel of wheat that was buried in the earth. Yeshua arose as First Fruits of the barley harvest, He Himself being the first of those to rise from the dead and receive a resurrected body. Finally, the Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh) was poured out upon all flesh during the feast of Shavuot(Pentecost) to gather all believers in the Messiah to be G-d's spring harvest in the earth. As these four feasts describe in detail the significant events during the first coming of Messiah when He came as the suffering Messiah, Messiah ben Joseph, to redeem both man and the earth back to G-d following the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, we will find that the fall festivals give us tremendous insight and understanding concerning the events of Yeshua's second coining. Then He will return as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and come back to earth as the kingly Messiah,Messiah ben David, to rule and reign on earth during the Messianic age or the Millennium.
Spiritual Application (Halacha). Every time a person receives Yeshua the Messiah as his own Savior, he spiritually experiences Passover (Pesach). He is to flee Egypt (the world's evil system and ways) and trust (emunah) in the Messiah, the Lamb of God, and allow Yeshua to be the doorpost of his heart. As believers, we are then to seek to live holy lives before G-d and experience Unleavened Bread (Hag HaMatzah). Just as Yeshua arose from the dead, we are to consider our former ways dead to us and experience the newness of life in the Messiah. Once we do this, we can be immersed (baptized) in the Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh) and have the power of G-d (the anointing) in our lives. At that time, G-d will begin to take us on a spiritual journey through the wilderness of life.

In the process of experiencing life's bitter disappointments and struggles, if we keep our eyes upon G-d, He will take us from Passover (Pesach) to Shavuot (Pentecost) where He will reveal His ways and His Word, the Bible, in a deeper and progressive way. By keeping our eyes on the Messiah through life's struggles, G-d will not only reveal His Word, the Bible, to us in a greater way, but He also will refine our faith like fine flour just as was done to the wheat. Meanwhile, if we put our entire trust (emunah) in Yeshua through our spiritual journey in the wilderness of life as G-d refines our faith and reveals Himself to us in a greater way, our spiritual journey will not end in the wilderness of life. Instead G-d will take us forward to spiritually experience the fall festivals and our spiritual promised land. It is when we spiritually experience the fall festivals, especially the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot), and enter into our spiritual promised land that G-d will anoint our lives for Him in an awesome way as we live and serve Him. We will then experience the greatest joy in our entire lives. Joy unspeakable! This is what the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) is all about. It is called "the season of our joy" and this joy is what we have to look forward to as we read about the fall festivals in the following chapters.



Come Ruach HaKodesh! 

Come Holy Spirit!


(For a further complete reading of Pentecost/Shavuot and all the Feasts: Feasts of the Lord)