In a Pentecost sermon at Church of the Messiah on June 4, 2022, Kyle Kettering began by reminding the congregation about the wonderful parallels between Pentecost at Mt. Sinai in Exodus 19 and Pentecost at Mt. Zion in Acts 2. He noted that Torah and Spirit, the gifts of Pentecost, are the tools by which the plan of God reaches its full strength. Both tools equip God's people to reach the whole world.
Kyle observed that Church of the Messiah is itself a microcosm of the nations, with many nationalities represented.
One motif common to the experiences at Sinai and Zion is that of shaking or trembling. At Sinai the children of Israel trembled at the signs they saw and heard (Ex 19:16-19). The coming of the Holy Spirit results in shaking (Acts 4:31).
One passage that discusses the shaking motif is Hebrews 12, where the trembling at Mt Sinai is mentioned in v 21. Hebrews 12 also refers to Haggai 2:6-8 and a final "shaking" of the world, after which only what is unshakeable will remain. Hebrews 12 exhorts Christians to rejoice in the unshakeable kingdom that they have received. Like David, we have an unshakeable position under God's protection (Ps 16:8).
