Shalom, Dear Friend,

What a tremendous blow to the disciples! Jesus telling them His mission was complete and He was leaving.

At the Passover meal Jesus said, “And I will pray to the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever.” The disciples knew His leaving was imminent. After Passover, they retired to the Mount of Olives.

What a night of terror — the trials and abuse, the horrible crucifixion and His burial! But, Praise God, then came the Resurrection! Jesus spent the next 40 days teaching and encouraging His amazed followers. He reminded them the Father was soon to send the Comforter and instructed them to stay in Jerusalem until then.

The Festival of Weeks, or Pentecost, was celebrated as the early harvest of spring. It was a joyous event and Jewish people from all over the world were attracted to Jerusalem. Jesus had been crucified on Passover, buried on the Feast of Unleavened Bread and resurrected on First Fruits. Is it possible the disciples were anticipating something very special on Pentecost?

There was a huge crowd at the Temple early that morning. Jesus’ followers were in one place. Suddenly, what seemed to be tongues of fire came upon each of them. They were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance! What an incredible moment! What was happening?

Scripture says the God-fearing Jews, who were in Jerusalem from every nation, heard the sound and came together. Amazed and bewildered, they heard Jesus’ followers speaking in the language of their native countries! “Aren’t these men Galilean? Yet, we hear them declaring the wonders of God each in our own tongue.” Some of the visitors were in awe; others thought they were drunk.

It was at this point Peter stood up and preached one of the most powerful, fruitful sermons in the entire Bible. Peter offered a defense and then an explanation of the message of Jesus, Messiah Yeshua, and the message of the Church. Then as now, it’s a message that demands a response. At Pentecost we see the Church exploding into the world as it begins to fulfill its purpose and mission through the empowering of the Holy Spirit.

Peter quoted the prophet Joel. He carefully told how Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy; how He died on the cross for sin — as a predetermined plan of God to offer salvation to mankind; how Jesus did not remain dead but was resurrected and conquered sin and death! Scripture says “3,000 were added to the church” and thousands more in the days that followed. Pentecost is the calling out of the Church.

Jesus had sent the rushing, mighty wind, the tongues of flame and had empowered them. They spoke in foreign languages, shared their faith and called people to Jesus and the Church. That’s the miracle of Pentecost.

God used a Jewish holiday to empower the Church! Those from far-off Rome, Libya, Asia and other countries heard the message of Messiah Yeshua in their own tongues.

All who were saved that day were Jews, but the demonstration of the foreign languages and the salvation of the travelers from many lands represented a remarkable prophecy — the Christian Church would sweep over the world.

Today we take it for granted that people of all nations become Christians. We forget that it all began at the Temple of God in Jerusalem. The Jewish church of Jerusalem began to supply spirit-filled missionaries for the salvation of the Gentile world… the Church was to touch all mankind with the truth of the Gospel.

I am a Jew, a believer in the Jewish Messiah. I love my people and I want to see them saved — just as I want to see Gentiles saved. Paul the Apostle said, “to the Jew first; and also to the Greek (Gentile).” I keep this phrase before you because it seems that the Church today doesn’t consider taking the Gospel to the Jew. If it happens, it’s only an incidental result of ministry.

When you spiritually and financially support Zola Levitt Ministries, you participate with a ministry that truly focuses upon God’s action plan that began at Pentecost and which Paul so plainly described in Romans 1:16. Presenting the gospel to the Jew is not incidental for us — it’s as important as reaching the Gentile. We want to teach both Jew and Gentile God’s plan for the “end times.”

I’m confident this emphasis is a major reason you support this ministry. As you include Zola Levitt Ministries in your Christian stewardship, be assured you are part of a plan that takes the Gospel to the Jew as well as the Gentile!

Passover was fulfilled by the crucifixion of Jesus, Unleavened Bread by His burial, First Fruits by His Resurrection and Pentecost is the Harvest. Now we await the fifth feast — Trumpets! When the trumpet sounds, the harvesting will be over and we will join the Lord! There’s an end to what we are doing now. We won’t witness forever. The manner in which you support this ministry is vital! There is still so much to do!

Your Messenger,

Zola

PS: May I count on you to respond this month? This will help us meet our expenses for May and help with the initial expenses for our next television project. We are planning a television series that will take the viewer to some of the significant mountains in the Holy Land. I also suggest you use the enclosed resource card to order my study booklet, The Spirit of Pentecost.

Zola Levitt Ministries is ECFA approved and has Charity Navigator’s top rating of 4 stars.

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