Encountering God in the New Convenant 

The Feast of Weeks, or Shavuot, was one of three pilgrimage Feasts in the Jewish year. Every able-bodied Jewish man was required to bring an offering from the first of his wheat harvest to the Temple in Jerusalem. At Shavuot, also called Pentecost, the Holy Spirit fell on the disciples empowering them to speak in the languages of those who had traveled to Jerusalem for this feast. That day, 3,000 people came to faith in Yeshua (Acts 2). 

In Hebrew, the Holy Spirit is known as the Ruach HaKodesh (ROO-akh Ha-Koh-DESH). The Greek, New Covenant word is paraclete (PARE-uh-cleet), which means “called to one’s side.” The Holy Spirit is the presence of God with Believers in Yeshua (Jesus). On Shavuot at Mount Sinai, God gave His law, the Torah. On the Shavuot after Yeshua died, God gave His Spirit to Believers and fulfilled the prophecy recorded in Jeremiah 31:31–33, in which God declared He would write His law upon our hearts. 

The Holy Spirit is our helper and comforter (John 16:7), interceding for us (Romans 8:26–17), and empowering us to bear witness to the truth of God (Acts 1:8). He is our guide and teacher (John 16:13) and serves as God’s pledge that we will spend eternity with Him (2 Corinthians 1:21–22). The Ruach HaKodesh also gives gifts to Believers for the purpose of building up one another (1 Corinthians 12:4–7). 

As God’s presence with us, the Holy Spirit enables us to fellowship with God at any moment. Through His Spirit, we can encounter the living God, experience the riches and delights of His presence (Psalm 16:11) and receive strength to meet any challenge (Zechariah 4:6). 

Where do you need the power of the Holy Spirit in your life today? Let these truths bring you comfort and strength.