“Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,…”
– Acts 2:46
If you know me, you know I’m a historian at heart — and that means I love to teach. Today, I’d like to share a comforting analogy with you. Pentecost or Shavuot as it is known in the Hebrew language, was a temple celebration in Jesus’ day. Pentecost is Greek for fifty, and the reason that holiday was called Pentecost to the Greek Jews is because Shavuot is the feast of weeks or fifty days after Passover. This is traditionally the date on which the first ripe grain of the wheat harvest is celebrated, and it also celebrates the giving of the Torah, the first five books of the Bible. Imagine hundreds of thousands, if not millions of Jews coming from all over the world to the temple to celebrate Shavuot. This temple, in the eyes of a first-century Jew, was an amazing place. They never called it a temple, they called it “the house,” or bayit in Hebrew, meaning the house of the Lord. God’s people believed the idea that God was literally there in the house. We know where He is if we need Him, He’s in Jerusalem in His house, the temple. He’s there behind those beautiful doors, yes He is there! Friend, if you’re in a pickle, you can say, “let’s go to the temple!” If you need atonement for your sin, if you need help with a problem, or if you need to help someone else, go to His house. If you need hope, encouragement, or prayer, go to God’s house and gather there — it’s where miracles happen. We know that’s where you go and find God. |
Prayer
Father, I know that I can go to your house when I am in need. Show me how to help someone else in need.
Reflection
Have you found hope, encouragement, or prayer in God’s house? How can you give to someone in need?
If you’re unable to attend your local church or need some additional weekly inspiration, be sure to tune into Hour of Power every Saturday night at 6:30 p.m. PT on TBN or watch online at hourofpower.org/episode.
One Response
Hello Pastor Bobby and The Hour of Power Family. I watched the program tonight and it was..as always a true Blessing. Blessings to you and your Precious Family as you continue to spread the Gospel to a hurting and dying world. R. Ken Howell