Mahesh and Bonnie Chavda: Going on to Perfection: We are in the Season Between Passover and Pentecost

From the desk of Steve Shultz:

I only want to say a few things here. First, this is such an awesome article by Mahesh and Bonnie Chavda. Second, though I have celebrated my share of Passover Seders, we do not teach that the celebration of the Feasts is required by New Testament Christians for salvation. However, I would be dishonest if I didn't admit that I was blessed by how it all points to Christ—and thus I was super blessed to participate in Passover. Third, while Israel speaks of "Perfection" both She (Israel) and we (the Church) are far from perfection. Its most accurate meaning of perfection is "completion or maturity."

I love the poetry and restoration nature of God. First, through disobedience, Israel came to the mountain in which God revealed the law, yet many died because of disobedience to this law. But more brilliantly, 50 days after Peter denied Jesus to His face on Passover, using profanity—and three times at that—the Passover Lamb HIMSELF restored Peter who preached the greatest sermon of his day and 3,000 were saved on that day.

Yes, 50 days after Passover is Pentecost and is SO important in Biblical history. For we see the result of breaking the law which is death. Then we see the opposite, Peter, who broke the heart of the law giver, was restored with power as the Church was born through Peter's telling of the Gospel story.

The Chavdas are great teachers and full of wisdom, and I highly recommend you get their books featured here with their article:

The Hidden Power of a Woman by Bonnie and Mahesh Chavda $15.99 Book

 

The Hidden Power of Watching and Praying by Mahesh and Bonnie Chavda $15.99 Book

Blessings,

Steve Shultz, Founder and Publisher
The Elijah List & Breaking Christian News
http://www.elijahlist.com

When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from Heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.—Acts 2:1-4

We are in the season between Passover and Pentecost—it marks the days between Israel's Exodus from Egypt by the power of the shed Blood of the Lamb and the giving of the Law at Sinai, where God sealed His inheritance and gave His people a new identity. God was pointing to a day that was coming when He would deliver all who would believe from the bonds of sin and death, and pour out His Spirit as a guarantee of our eternal inheritance on Pentecost.

In the Jewish tradition, the fifty days between Passover and the day of Pentecost are called, "going on to perfection." They are the days God directed Israel to count the Omer (see Leviticus 23:15-16). Each day they would meditate on a divine attribute of God revealed at Sinai to more fully be transformed into that aspect of God's nature.

God always reveals Himself that we might draw us into Himself and His likeness. He wants to take us from our old identity in order to form us into His identity. Moses was a fugitive tending another man's sheep when he encountered a flaming bush near a wilderness mountain. He turned aside to see what it was, and God called him by name, commissioning and empowering him to go forth as His deliverer. Moses' personal identity connected to a corporate one.

Fifty days after Passover, Israel came to Sinai, and that same mountain where God first revealed Himself to Moses in a burning bush was now engulfed in the flames of His presence. He showed Himself to the entire nation, and in His self-revealing He called Israel into their destiny and new identity: "You shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation" (Exodus 19:5-6). God was calling out a people that through them the whole earth would know Him.

At Pentecost, Jesus poured out His Spirit and visible flames rested on the heads of those gathered in expectation of His promise in Jerusalem. That fire was the visible presence of God seen by Moses in the bush. It was the fire of God that rested on Mount Sinai. And now, that fire was God Himself coming through Jesus to rest on individuals saying, "This is what I promised you—to be with you and in you."

Ongoing To This Day

Pentecost is a demonstration of God's crowning desire—communion with His Creation—reconciliation of man to Himself in face-to-face fellowship, joy and fullness. When the day of Pentecost had fully come, God indicated the old Adamic race was put to death in Christ, and that in Him He had created a new race, Jew and Gentile, to be His royal priesthood. Like the earthen form that became Adam in the Garden of Eden, God breathed His Spirit into His new man, earthen vessels that would carry His fire to others and draw them into Father's loving embrace.

Pentecost was not a onetime event. It is ongoing to this day. Every individual has an open invitation to come deeper into the knowledge of God through Jesus Christ. Through Him we have access to face-to-face communion with the Father. Through Him He seals us with His Spirit, anointing and appointing us to be His representatives on the earth. Let His fire rest on you, consume you, change you and bring you into your identity. He is calling you out by name to transform you from glory to glory.

Whether you have been walking in the Spirit for a lifetime, or are fresh in the things of the Lord, He is calling you to be a carrier of His glory. As we are in this season between Passover and Pentecost, let us go on to perfection. As we see Him we are transformed into His likeness and image. In Him we discover who we really are, and display to the world who He really is.

Drs. Mahesh and Bonnie Chavda
Mahesh Chavda Ministries
Email: info@maheshchavda.com