NOTE: Pentecost always falls on Sivan 6. Just like your birthday always remains the same. While the day you were born changes because every year the date falls on a different day, the date remains the same. In order to have the correct date, which is 50 days after the Passover celebration, it is important to have the Passover celebration date correct. Exodus chapter 12 lets us know that Passover was held on Nisan 14th. The Feast of Unleavened Bread was held directly afterward, which is from Nisan 15 – 21/22. So the count of Omer (which means count your blessings) begins on Nisan 15th. This will take you to Sivan 6th.

Note: I want to add this. The festival of first fruits happens on Nisan 16th. It is the day that Jesus was raised from the dead as the first among many brethren. Regarding this, listen to what the Bible tells us:

But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead.For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. – 1 Corinthians 15:20-23

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1Corinthians15:20-23&version=NKJV

Therefore, having obtained help from God, to this day I stand, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses said would come—that the Christ would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.” – Acts 26:22-23

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts26:22-23&version=NKJV

In the next verses, the Apostle Paul was praying for the spiritual growth of the Colossian church and what he said about Jesus Christ is so powerful. Listen.

giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. – Colossians 1:12-18

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians1:12-18&version=NKJV

I know that I only need two or three witnesses but I don’t want to leave this one out. Look at what John wrote about Jesus Christ in the opening chapter of the book of Revelation

John, to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne,and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, – Revelation 1:4-5 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation1:4-5&version=NKJVJohn, to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne,and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, – Revelation 1:4-5

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation1:4-5&version=NKJV

So, I mentioned and focused a little on Jesus being the firstborn from the dead because sometimes you will notice that the Pentecost celebration, which begins at 6pm on Sivan 6th, ends at 6pm on Sivan 8th. It covers the 6th and 7th of Sivan because some begin counting on Nisan 15th and some begin counting on Nisan 16th. (I don’t remember if that had anything to do with whether or not the date fell on a Sabbath.)

Now this writing was done and shared initially for the 2023 celebration. But because I hope to remember to share this for years to come, in case you missed celebrating this Holy day that God Himself instituted here are the dates for Sivan 6th for the year 2024 and 2025:

• 2024: Sivan 6th begins at 6p on June 11, 2024 and is observed until 6pm June 13th.
• 2025: Sivan 6th begins at 6pm on June 1, 2025 and is observed until 6pm June 3, 2025

Now let’s talk about PENTECOST (I’m excited about this)

I’ve been studying this since 2004-5 when the Holy Spirit first made me aware of it and never let me miss a date. Every time I learn a little more that excites me.

I am so grateful that the Holy Spirit would always remind me of what time it was and make me check the dates because when we are used to using the Gregorian Calendar which we were all raised on, it is easy to forget and miss this important date. Here is the link that I use to check the accuracy of the date (because Google is no help in this instance):  Hebrew/Gregorian date converter.

So, with that being said, Here is a snippet of some of the information that I learned as I considered PENTECOST this year. (Because I don’t follow any of the religious traditions and because I choose to sit before the Lord and be taught not the traditions of men, but truth by the Holy Spirit who is our tutor leading us into all truth and sent to us from Christ Jesus, I have found these lessons amazing and I try to prepare ahead of time so that I can understand what is happening beyond just going through the motions of celebrating a holiday.

These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one.For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ. – 1 Corinthians 2:13-16

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1Corinthians2:13-16&version=NKJV

What I am learning as I sit in the presence of the Lord is so on point, and has me so on fire, that I can’t help but share it with others. I believe you will thoroughly enjoy and be blessed by this as I was.

ABOUT PENTECOST

Thursday, May 25, 2023, beginning at 6 pm into Saturday at 6 pm is PENTECOST (Sivan 6/7). [See above for the 2024/2025 dates.]

During Pentecost, there were many dwelling in Jerusalem from every nation under heaven.hi

This was a festival that the Lord had sanctified (set apart) to be celebrated a long long time ago in the days of Moses. So many were present for that festival.

Those who were there were called devout men.

Also present were the Apostles who were together in an upper room upon whom the Holy Spirit came.

What stands out is that EVERYONE HEARD the sound from heaven which was as a rushing mighty wind. For all of the devout men, they were confused. You see, not only did they hear this “sound” that caught their attention but they also experienced hearing the gospel spoken in their own native languages.

The purpose of speaking in tongues furthered the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ. When a tongue is spoken someone else should understand what is said.

That understanding should cut one’s heart so that they can be led to repentance.

These devout men said to Peter…

“What shall we do?”

There is an action that one would be led to take.

Peter said: “Repent and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children; and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”

The scripture says Peter testified and exhorted them with the result that those who heard and received were baptized. 3000 in that day and we are told that the church was added to daily.

Daily

This is the result of an empowered church.

Growth.

And it was devout men that were reached first.

Do you know what a devout person is? A devout person is a deeply committed religious person.

Peter and the eleven were allowed to speak in the native tongue of the deeply religious who were there for the Pentecost celebration and on that day 3000 of those who had deep religious commitments were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.

Do you know what that means?

They shifted from religion to relationship.

Glory Hallelujah!

And who added to the church Daily was the Lord.

The power for growth comes from the Lord.

Anyway…

As I thought about what it means to be devout, this beautiful song came to mind.

Fully Committed.

Reconsidering this account what stands out to me today (the day after I first considered this experience) is that a devout man or woman is one who is religiously committed.

Devout men were gathered in Jerusalem for worship during the annual Pentecost festival.

Yet, as devout as they were when the Holy Spirit came down it got their attention but it didn’t rest upon them.

Yet they were the target of the Holy Spirit because when the Holy Spirit gave the ability to speak in tongues to the Apostles it was the language of the devout men that they spoke in for the purpose of speaking to the devout men the gospel of Christ.

The result was that 3000 gave their lives to Christ Jesus on that day and daily that number continued to grow

When people speak in tongues today, what is the purpose?

Who is hearing the gospel of Christ in their language?

Who is repenting and getting baptized in the name of Christ Jesus?

Over the years, we have spent so much time “going through the motions” of looking religious and “being seen”. We need to ask ourselves, “What real impact am I having in reaching people with the Gospel of Christ?”