In this message, our main focus is WHY the New Covenant is SO much more glorious, so new and so much better than the Old Covenant. I want to share the EXCITEMENT of experiencing the beauty of God’s plan. It’s FAR from just being an academic exercise. Don’t live in the Old Covenant – or even a renewed old covenant. We are in a NEW covenant. Share the joy with me. This is Part 1. We will include the scriptures for Part 1, as well as the CHART that we’ll examine closely over 2 messages.

YHVH has shared a prayer from Him – to YOU-- that He wrote. It’s the only prayer of YHVH for US and to us that I’m aware of. You may have heard of this ancient prayer. It’s commonly called the “Aaronic Priestly Blessing” (Numbers 6:22-27) But I hope this sermon inspires you to feel and appreciate more deeply YHVH’s love for you. The notes for this sermon are not 100% word-for-word, but are very close, so I recommend you hear the audio with the notes. They each have information not in the other. You’ll glean more by using both the notes and audio.

What is the Feast of Pentecost all about? This message breaks it down to five exciting main points that explain the multi-faceted overall picture of this very special day. What does “Pentecost” mean? How does this day explain God’s plan of salvation for humanity? We know God’s spirit was given to thousands on this day, but what other exciting things are yet to happen on this day?

Did men and women of God in the Old Testament have the Holy Spirit IN them the same way we have God’s spirit today? What are the theological consequences of saying “yes” or “no” to that question? Can God take away the gift of the Spirit if we don’t carefully guard it’s holy presence and function in our lives? This message also conveys what a JOY it is to have God’s spirit and how we are to value and guard God’s holy presence in us. You’ll find more nuance and feeling in the audio version.

Between Passover and Shavuot, or Feast of Weeks (Pentecost), YHVH brought Israel out of Egypt and brought them into a wilderness, where He gave them his Law and his teachings. They remained in that wilderness for 40 years. This teaching connects how “our wilderness time” IS connected to Pentecost. Some of you feel like you’re in a desert, a wilderness time of your lives. This sermon will encourage you and you’ll see how so many of the great men and women of scripture spent considerable time in the wilderness, where they grew and were prepared for greater deeds to come. WE are in our wilderness time right now. This sermon was originally given in June, 2012, after Pentecost (Shavuot) of that year. This time we’re playing it before Pentecost.