Christian Challenge International Studies in ACTS "Curiosities on Pentecost (Shavout)"

To: Hebraic-Foundations@yahoogroups.com
From: "Pastor Buddy Martin" <Bro.Buddy@ChristianChallenge.org>
Date sent: Wed, 31 Jul 2002 13:26:44 -0500
Subject: [HF] Curiosities on Pentecost (Shavout)

Hebraics,

While yet preparing for our 12th Acts study, I felt it would be good to
share another curiosity about the day of Pentecost. (Shavout to the
Jews.) I'll draw attention to the words in CAPS by the use of a number.

The Lord said, "You shall also count for yourselves from the day after
the sabbath, from the day when you brought in the sheaf of the wave
offering; there shall be (1) SEVEN COMPLETE SABBATHS. You shall
count fifty days (1) TO THE DAY AFTER THE SEVENTH SABBATH;
then you shall present (2) A NEW GRAIN OFFERING to the Lord. You
shall bring in from your dwelling places two loaves of bread for a wave
offering, made of two-tenths of an ephah; they shall be of a fine flour,
(2) BAKED WITH LEAVEN as first fruits to the Lord ..." (Lev23:15-17)

There is more to the feast of Pentecost than these Scriptures, but what
I've presented will show the curiosities. Enclosed in Shavout is Jesus
Christ and the new covenant, including the new covenant day of
worship.

(1) The counting from Passover to Pentecost included seven full
Sabbaths. Pentecost was to be celebrated the day after the seventh
Sabbath. Which means that Pentecost was to be celebrated on the
first day of the week. (Our Sunday.)

Some promote the idea that Constantine actually instituted first day
worship. This is not the case. While Constantine did fix the date for
Easter, first day worship actually begin with the earliest Jewish
believers themselves.

Not only can we see this in the the New Testament writings, but the
Tulmud refers to this Jewish Christian day as 'the Nazarene day.'
Jewish synagogues that belonged to believers in Jesus were referred
to as Be Nitzraphi. (House of Nazarenes.)

Remember the accusation brought against Paul? The lawyer Tertullus
said, "For we have found this man a real pest and a fellow who stirs up
dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader
of the sect of the Nazarenes." (Acts 24:5)

Paul's responded, "But this I admit to you, that according to the Way
which they call a sect I do serve the God of our fathers, believing
everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the
Prophets." (Verse 14)

My point being that Sunday was established early on as the day of
worship for the new covenant. And while it was not made a law of the
new covenant, it did become the traditional day of worship for both
Jewish and Gentile believers.

(2) Notice God tells Moses there was to be a 'new' grain offering, but
the offered loaves were to be baked with leaven. In the Bible leaven is
always symbol of corruption or sin. Keep in mind that Passover was
also called the feast of UNLEAVENED bread. But Pentecost had
leavened bread.

The two loaves at Shavout were representative of sinful man, both Jew
and Gentile, and in how that we as sinners are saved through the
perfect atonement of a perfect sacrifice, the blood of Jesus. The
leaven represents what the Jews called 'yezer ha-Ra', or the evil
principle. That principle remains in our flesh. This is why Paul said that in
his body was no good thing.

No where in the Scriptures is there a doctrine called 'sinless perfection' in
this life. We are all sinners saved by the grace of God. But saved sinners have
a new law at work in their spirit natures. It is called the law of the Spirit of
life in Christ Jesus. Our spirits have been born again, and infused with the
life of Jesus. Yet in our flesh there remains the yezer ha-Ra. This is why
believers sometimes feel like there is a warfare going on in them.

But guess who is stronger? Did not the apostle say that 'greater is He
who is in you, than he who is in the world?' The point being that when
the Spirit of Jesus is in charge, the result is always life and peace.
When the 'yezer ha-Ra' is in charge, there is the possibility of every
evil thing. (And don't think that Christians can't be bad guys.)

This brings us to the conclusion of the curiosity of Pentecost.
Remember how the priest was to lift up the loaves and wave them
before the Lord. This lifting of the loaves symbolized our have been
lifted up in Christ Jesus. His perfect life has been credited to our
account.

Isn't it amazing how you can find Jesus and the new covenant written
throughout the Scriptures...

Shalom in Christ,

Buddy
Lawrence E. (Buddy) Martin, HF Host
email: Bro.Buddy@ChristianChallenge.org
Web: http://www.ChristianChallenge.org

"See to it that no one comes short of the grace
of God; that no root of bitterness springing up
causes trouble, and by it many be defiled." (Heb12:15)

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