Shavuot 2026: The Forgotten Feast of the Last Days

In case you don't know, today is the Feast of Shavuot, also known as Pentecost, where believers look back in celebration to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, where tongues of fire landed on the heads of the disciples, and all who were gathered there was revival. 3000 got baptized and saved. But there's something special about Shavuot that many Christians are tragically unaware of. And I'm not just talking about recognizing the biblical feast, but rather what it truly means. See, Shavuot isn't just a historical moment that was, but it is. It's time for us to stop looking at the freedom that came through Jesus, his disciples, and the early church into the world as past tense, as just a Bible story, when Shavuot is living and breathing right now and seeking to break out miraculously on whomever would be bold enough to believe what is written. Because Shavuot, it's not just an event. It is the new nature of the believer. Acts 2:17 is where it happened. And it's written, in the last days it shall be. God declares that I will pour out my spirit on all flesh. Your sons and daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams, even on my male servants and female servants in those days, I will pour out my spirit, and they shall prophesy. So God declares that Shavuot is something for in the Lord last days, a last days reality. And so if Acts 2, which was 2,000 years ago, was the last day moment, are we not in even latter last days now? Because for some reason we think that Acts 2 was a moment where the Holy Spirit descended upon believers and these wonderful things happened. And then where is it today? Did the Holy Spirit leave? Because, I mean, well, where are the prophecies? Where are the visions? Where are the dreams? I mean, look, I know we don't say that the Holy Spirit has left, because, let's be honest, that just sounds bad. But many of us do question in our hearts, maybe even secretly, where are these signs of the presence of the Holy Spirit that we just read about? Because in Acts 2, his presence was connected to his works. He did something. There was freedom in the room, tangibly. And that's also what's written for. It's written where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And as God declared, I will pour out my Spirit and. And then there will be young men who have visions, there will be dreams, there will be prophecies. This is God's promise of Shavuot. So if we have the feast, but not the promise of the feast. Something's missing. And that's why I'm coming to you this Shavuot with a sobering message. See on Shavuot. As we celebrate the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, some of us are celebrating something that we have lost confidence in. Some have even gone as far as to coin this loss of confidence in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. And they've called it cessationism, the belief that the gifts of the Holy Spirit have just ceased. But even if you haven't adopted that into your theology, my question to you today is, have you adopted that into your lifestyle? Because we can talk here about theology all day long, but what we truly believe is what we live out. And some people today are living as if there was no shavuot in Act 2. I mean, we could go as far as to wipe the event from history, take it out of the pages of our Bibles, and nothing would be different in their lives at all. But let me say something to you that you may not expect from me. I understand. In fact, believing this promise of God is one of the most difficult things that any man can maintain. And I want you to notice that I said maintain because it's easy to believe when it's new and exciting that God can do a miracle, maybe even through me. Like any child who hears something for the first time, we receive it with joy. But when we grow up, we're confronted with life. The trials of life come our way and can cause us to lose confidence in the gifts of the Holy Spirit that God is giving us because, well, we feel so overwhelmed by trials that are close to home, such as in our family or friends. And then it becomes harder to believe that this God of the Bible is. Can move miraculously all that often. Maybe you've been praying for something for a long time, yet you just haven't seen breakthrough. Maybe you have a friend or family member who's sick, or a prodigal child. Maybe you have a friend or a family member who's just been tearing you down relentlessly. Whatever it is, this shouldn't surprise us. Because even for Christ himself, some people who are close to home for him and didn't receive their miracle in Matthew 13:54, we read and coming to his hometown, that's his friends, that's his family, he taught them in their synagogues so that they were astonished and said, where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works? And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, a prophet is not without honour, except in his hometown and in his own household. And he did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief. See, some people will come to us, look at us and say, I've known you since child, you're nothing special. And what they're doing is they're placing a fleshly identity upon you and not seeing you for who you are in the Spirit. But here's the thing with that. That's not supposed to rob you of anything. It only robs them of God's gifts in you. When Jesus was confronted by the situation, that meant that God would not heal or do the miracles. It was in his own hometown, among friends and family, the moment and place and people that we would consider the most important moment for God to heal and move right. That's the people we want reached most. But when it didn't happen because of their unbelief, Jesus did not let the unbelief of others grow unbelief in Him. See, you're going to face the same temptation. And only those who are willing to push through this difficulty and continue in belief despite what they've seen, they will see the works of the Holy Spirit consistently in their life, the way that we all desire to see. But then there will be others who will allow the unbelief of others or the trials and disappointments of this life to shake their faith. Here's a word that I want to give to someone out there today that's very important, so please hear me clearly. After this moment, the miracles didn't leave Jesus ministry. So why did it leave yours? You can have a hometown or a household that rejects God's anointing on you. And that's expected according to the Scriptures. While Christ was rejected by those near him, he did not let their opinions determine his identity. Rather, he received his calling, identity and worth from heaven, not from Earth. Matthew 10:36 says, and a person's enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. I want to let you know that your enemy is not your God. But when you let the words of your enemy define your faith and set the limits for what you can believe, for then you've made your enemy an idol. And some of us have let our trials speak so loud, much louder than the Bible, and made our trials our God. But the Bible declares that our God is is miraculous, generous and eager to heal. Psalm 103:2 says, Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, and who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy. But I know that there are some who will listen to me and say, well, pd all this that you're talking about, these gifts of the Holy Spirit, that's not for me, that's not for us, that's for the apostles, that's for the early church, that was for another generation, all of these arguments we come up with. But I want to submit to you that at its root these arguments are emotional because some people can't believe that they could do the works of Jesus, even though that's what Jesus said they will do. Jesus said in John 14:12, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do, and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Now some have looked at these verses and said, well, we will do greater works than Jesus because we're going to be more people than Jesus, right? There's going to be more believers, therefore more manpower. And that means more spirit power. Yay. Right? But that's just not the reason that Jesus gave. Jesus said specifically why we would be able to do the works that he has done and even greater than these. He says, because he's going to the Father. So then we have to ask the question, well, why did he go to the Father? What does that have to do with this? Well, he's told us to send the Holy spirit. In John 16:7, Jesus says, It's to your advantage that I go away. For if I don't go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. For many years I wondered, how could it be that Jesus is saying that his leaving could be good? I mean, how could this tangible, living, breathing, walking, talking in the flesh, face to face, Jesus presence upon the earth with the people be exchanged for this intangible Holy Spirit? And then Jesus says, it's to our advantage. I want to submit to you. It's because Jesus understood something about the Holy Spirit that we have forgotten that the Holy Spirit is God. And not only God with us, which is enough, but God inside of us. See, the Holy Spirit is not just God externally, which would be glorious and enough, but God internally. And this is important because what we need most is change. On the inside. See, the Pharisees who came against Yeshua, they were all about trying to cleanse themselves on the outside, how they looked on the outside, their outside appearances. But Yeshua was so interested in how we can be cleansed on the inside. And that's what the Holy Spirit comes to do. In Ezekiel 11:19, he says, I will give them one heart and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh. I want to submit to you that sometimes it's not the unbelief of the people of Nazareth that caused a miracles of Jesus to not occur, but it's our fault. See, we can become our own worst enemy. We're the person most familiar with us. Who's closest to our hometown, who's in our Nazareth, is us. Because we are still seeing ourselves in our old fleshly identity and not in the Holy Spirit. And then convincing ourselves that God can use us, that's a challenge, especially when we've been told our whole life that we're worthless. So when we then see God using someone else powerfully, even miraculously, we're tempted to criticize because what we're seeing is threatening to us and our religion. But I want to tell you today that the gates to the Holy Spirit has been opened, the veil has been torn and Shavuot has come. That means that it's time to lower your weapons and get your identity from the Father and not from whomever has told you otherwise. God can, and indeed he wants to use you to have a word of wisdom, to have a word of knowledge, to cast out demons, to heal the sick, to speak in tongues, to interpret tongues, to discern spirits, to do miracles, to have a gift of faith, to prophesy. These are all things that Paul the Apostle lists that the Holy Spirit does through believers, whatever it is that he chooses for you. But don't come to me with, well, our God doesn't do that stuff anymore. Because when we say that, it becomes a self fulfilling prophecy in our own life. Because that's what happened in Nazareth as it's written. And he did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief. Speaking of unbelief, I want to submit to you that America and the west has become, as Nazareth, so familiar with Jesus that some would even take offense at the prospect that he could heal them. They'll say, look, my issue, it's so big. And Jesus, I've known Jesus since child. It's just Jesus, he can't help me. And that's when you know that they don't know him. But do you? Has your problems become too big for the God of Shavuot just because he hasn't moved on your timing? We can grow arrogant, and we can be so arrogant to tell him how to do things and when to do it, whilst he knows what he's doing. Even if you don't, you don't need to understand everything. And releasing that control to him is what faith is by definition, where you say to God, I can't see what you're doing right now, when you're going to do it, how you're going to do it. But I believe that you know what you're doing. Hebrews 11:1 says, now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. You can look at me at this point and say, okay, Peter, I get it. So where to from here? How do we restore Shavuot to more than a religious celebration, but to a way of living? And if you've been taking notes, now is your chance, because I'm going to give you a few steps. Number one, believe like a child. Again, it says, when Jesus saw it, he was indignant with the people and said to them, let the children come to me. Do not hinder them, for to such belong the kingdom of God. Some of us have grown up and let the world, with all of its hurts, betrayals and disappointments, smother our faith. But God can make us believe like little children. Again, ask like a child who's asking his father. In Luke 11:13, it's written, if you, then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him? If we have children, we can imagine the joy of giving a gift to a child, something that the child has been asking for, and he's saying, how much more then how much more does your Father want to give you the Holy Spirit, but you don't have, because you don't ask. And if you ask, you ask. And you do not receive because you ask wrongly to spend it on your passions. Asking as a child means that we ask in childlike innocence for the sake of God's kingdom, building his kingdom, not for our own exaltation among men. And this is very important when it comes to the gifts of the Holy Spirit, because God wants to entrust those to the humble, to the child, like in faith. So I want us to take a moment now and actually ask God, just as he told us to ask, and I'm going to read to you the list of the spiritual gifts as Paul has given in 1 Corinthians 12. And I want you to take this moment of prayer and ask God, which one on this list does he have for you? God, I pray right now for all who are listening. And I ask that as we read through your word and these gifts that your Apostle Paul has outlined, that you would just highlight in our soul what it is you want us to seek next in the humility and in the fruit of the Spirit. And so those gifts that Paul lists are a word of wisdom, a word of knowledge, faith, gifts of healing, workings of miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, speaking in tongues, and interpretation of tongues. Father, I pray that right now that you would just make us fully aware of your will for us in light of how you want to use us in ministry by the power of the Spirit. What gifts, what circles of people are you calling us to? What opportunities are you setting aside for us? Amen. I want you to remember that the Holy Spirit is eager to work through you in this very list. In 1 Corinthians 12 and verse 7, Paul Wise, the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit with all. In other words, if you can hear me, this is for you, for it is for every man and woman. Number three. God is calling us to act then in faith. After asking God, after humbling ourselves before him, it's time to do. See, regarding the gift that God is highlighting to you, it's important for you to actually act in a moment of opportunity. In other words, if someone is sick, pray for healing. If someone needs direction, pray for God to give you a word of wisdom for them. Supernaturally, if someone doesn't know God, ask for a prophetic word for them so that you may show them that he is there and knows about them. If someone has a demon, ask for the discernment of spirits. Whatever the situation, God has equipped us for it. But we must step out for if not nothing else. We've been discussing matters because we are co laborers with Christ. 1 Corinthians 3, 9. You cannot do nothing and then complain that nothing is happening. We have to actually step out because he is empowering us and we have to do something with that. Empowerment by faith. And faith is more than intellect. It's more than thinking. It's more than thought. It's doing. And when we step out in that opportunity that's before us, what then will eventually come across our path and is adversity and when that happens, we must push through. And you can only push through if your passion to see the lost saved is greater than preserving your image before men and those who would like to judge you. Being willing to be rejected and to have things not happen in our timing, but still continuing in the Holy Spirit regardless and trusting his will as pure, that's going to be necessary to see him move in the ways that he desired. I mean, Christ had adversity like none of us. He was crucified at the end of it all. The works of the Spirit will cause spiritual warfare. It will cause adversity. But he is with us. He is for us. He fights for us. We only need to trust Him. And we will be resurrected from the dead and we will receive a crown of glory for dying to ourselves. Mourn with those who are mourning and rejoice with those who are rejoicing. And I say this because we shouldn't let our pursuit of a miracle become more important than the purpose of ministry to love the oppressed. We all want people healed. We all want to give someone a meaningful word from the Lord. But sometimes what they need more than that is to be heard. A hug may heal wounds that nothing else can reach. Or maybe what they need is to have their need met. Financially, it's important for us to discern the real need in each moment and don't let any single tool or gift that God gave us become our primary pursuit, even over people. The gifts of the Holy Spirit is amazing, but it's just a tool. And a tool is not more important than the person who is in front of you. And then, last but not least, number six, endure in doing good to the end, even if you stand alone. In Galatians 6, 9, we read, and let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap if we do not give up. Do you see how Paul actually says that it is possible to give up, that we will reap if we don't give up. So if you're at the sound of my voice right now and you're like, pd, I've been feeling like giving up. God is telling you right now, do not give up. There is a light at the end of the tunnel for you, no matter what darkness you're walking through right now. You know, this message could even just feel like totally irrelevant to you. Something that is only there for those who are healthy, well, and who have their life in order or their spiritual life in order, or, you know, who's got everything in their family and friends. And, like, sorted. But I want to remind you that among Nazareth, when Jesus was there, among his friends and family, they rejected him. Can you imagine that feeling when he's standing before them, those whom he knew so intimately? And now he's there with this commission from heaven. And they say, you are not sent. You are not who you think you are. You are nothing special. I can't imagine the pain emotionally that he must have felt. And he knows that pain so well that when you feel it, he still feels it. He's reminded. He knows he's not far from you and your trial and your pain. And so that's why this message is not far from you, because this message is all about the Holy Spirit. And the Holy Spirit is known also as the comforter. To comfort those who need comfort, to comfort us when we feel like there's no one else who can comfort, because we've been rejected around every corner. If you feel alone, you are not alone. He is with you. Do not give up. Stand up and let the commission from God that's upon you this day, right now, this Shavuot, this time, where the Spirit is being poured out, let that become real to you. And don't let the attacks of the enemy steal this from you. Stand up and take hold of the gifts that God has for you. Just as Christ had to do, he had to walk away from Nazareth and walk to the people that were open to what he had for them. And there, in those opportunities and places, the Spirit was poured out. People were healed, delivered. Demons were cast out. Eyes of the blind were opened. The Samaritan woman at the well had her heart healed. The layman at the Pool of Siloam was touched. Everywhere he went, there was freedom. But not in Nazareth in the same way. So when it doesn't happen in your Nazareth, it's not your fault. But importantly, when we are in a time like this, we have to respond like Yeshua did in the Spirit. Not through our flesh, not through hatred, bitterness, anger. For he says, for the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption. But the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. So this Shavuot. So to the Holy Spirit, repent from sowing to the flesh. Make a change in your life and stick to it. Don't let this precious gift of the Holy Spirit pass you by. Because the dream of Moses has been realized in your generation. And I'm talking about that moment where Moses said, are you jealous for my sake with that all The Lord's people were prophets, that the Lord would put his spirit on them. That the dream of Moses for all of God's people to receive the Spirit, which. It hadn't happened in his day yet, but he knew it was coming. And today it has come. For the Holy Spirit has been poured out upon all who call on the name of Christ. And so, God, I pray right now for anyone, the sound of my voice who's hungry for your spirit, hungry to see more, who's not been satisfied with the status quo of just a feast, but not a lifestyle. I pray that you would make this not just a feast to us of once a year, but a lifestyle. Because the early church walked this out as a lifestyle, not a one day a year thing. Their lives were changed. God, I ask that you would change our lives. You would deliver us. And through that Lord, through that power that's upon us, deliver others around us. Give us words of knowledge, of wisdom, of prophecies. Let us touch the wounds of the sick and see them recover. Let us be bold to step out in casting out demons. Give us a vision, a dream. Father, I pray that the young and the old, at the sound of my voice, all would hear with taste and see the Lord is good and that all that I'm saying is true. When they see you work through them, when they see that this is not theory, this is not just interesting Bible stories, but this is real, very real that you really can. For in the last days, you will pour out your spirit as you've said. Father, I thank you for your glory in the name of Yeshua. Amen. May the Father bless and keep you. Thank you for being with me. The Shavuot. If this teaching has been a blessing to you, consider being a partner of this ministry to help us continue to reach people with the message of the Holy Spirit and Shavuot. If you'd like to bring a Shavuot offering, you can find out more at riseonfire. Com. Many blessings to you and Shalom.