– The Spirit is for the Harvest
Today many people do not know the original meaning of the holiday. Shavuot is the celebration of the harvest of wheat. Wheat in the Bible is often used as a symbol of evangelism. Peter’s uses Joel’s prophecy to make the connection between the Holy Spirit and the salvation of Israel.
Acts 2:14-21
14 Then Peter stood up with the 11 apostles. In a loud voice he spoke to the crowd. “My fellow Jews,” he said, “let me explain this to you. All of you who live in Jerusalem, listen carefully to what I say. 15 You think these people are drunk. But they aren’t. It’s only nine o’clock in the morning! 16 No, here is what the prophet Joel meant. 17 He said,
“ ‘In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Holy Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy.
Your young men will see visions.
Your old men will have dreams.
18 In those days, I will pour out my Spirit on my servants.
I will pour out my Spirit on both men and women.
When I do, they will prophesy.
19 I will show wonders in the heavens above.
I will show signs on the earth below.
There will be blood and fire and clouds of smoke.
20 The sun will become dark.
The moon will turn red like blood.
This will happen before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
21 Everyone who calls
on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
The Holy Spirit empowers us to reach both Jews and Gentiles.
PRAY FOR THE CHURCH TO USE ITS EMPOWERMENT TO PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL TO ISRAEL.
