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The sending of the promise of the Father. Jesus urged His disciples to settle down in Jerusalem until the promised Comforter would come. Luke 24:49 He came on the day established as the all important feast of Pentecost. In the fullness of the day the Holy Spirit descended on the waiting disciples and they were all filled with the Spirit. Acts 2:1-4 In this manner the baptism of the Spirit was introduced to the early church and continues to be the experience of those who hunger and thirst after the Lord. The Spirit of the Lord has never withdrawn His presence. The promise of the Word is that He is for those in that day, for their children, for ALL who are afar off and for AS MANY as the Lord will call to Himself. Acts 2:39 The promise of another Comforter, the Holy Spirit is one whose continued presence will abide forever. Thus we are assured of His everlasting presence. John 14:16.
There remains then the one great feast to have it’s counterpart, it’s fulfillment in the church age. It was the last great feast of the Levitical year. It was the time of the general harvest and portrays revival and harvest time for the end of the age. For all the revivals that have taken place in the past century, we have yet to see the final work of the Spirit of the Lord. The heart and core of this feast was the great day of Atonement. That one day of the year when the high priest was permitted to enter into the most Holy Place making Atonement for himself and his family. The priesthood. The tabernacle and the temple and for all of Israel. It was a most sacred and Holy moment when he stood before the Ark of the Covenant and made Atonement by sprinkling blood on the Mercy Seat. Lev. 16:13-14 It was at this momentous event that the priest stood in the awesome and Holy presence of the Lord. Lev. 16:2 It was a matter of life or death. If the priest had followed faithfully the process of preparation for this ministry he would be accepted. An unqualified priest would have died in the mighty presence of the Lord which was manifest above the mercy seat and between the cherubim.
When this day dawns, the true church will find herself challenged to bear the likeness and image of the Lord Jesus. That is to come to “the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” Eph. 4:13 A matter of spiritual growth until one reaches the same magnitude of Spirit and power as the Son of Man, the Lord Jesus. The same spiritual maturity and comprehension. Being made equal with Him. Never forget that He too was a man, totally human, tempted in all points even as we are. Nevertheless, He lived the life of very God while in the flesh. Our challenge is to follow His example.