What is Shavuot?

25 05 2023

Fifty days after Passover is the Biblical Feast of Shavuot, or Weeks. It starts at sundown tonight 5-25-23. Three times a year Israel gathers to Jerusalem according to Leviticus 23 to observe the feasts of Yehovah. “It was originally an agricultural festival, marking the beginning of the wheat harvest. During the Temple period, the first fruits of the harvest were brought to the Temple, and two loaves of bread made from the new wheat were offered.” This feast is lessor know but has great importance and Biblical meaning. The Jews believe it was the time when God gave Moses the Ten Commandments. Christians celebrate it as Pentecost which also means “fiftieth day.” The Holy Spirit was poured on the early Jewish believers as described in the second chapter of Acts. This was the first fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy.

​“And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; ​​Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, ​​Your old men shall dream dreams, ​​Your young men shall see visions. ​And also on My menservants and on My maidservants ​​I will pour out My Spirit in those days.”  Joel 2:28-29

Both of these shared events (Shavuot and Pentecost) are fulfilled for believers. The Commandments engraved in stone represent the written word. The gift of the Holy Spirit represents the power and presence of God in our lives. The Holy Spirit provided to us  is the only way we can walk in His word. Notice both word and Spirit are included in this next verse.

“In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.”  Ephesians 1:13-14

We trusted YEHOVAH GOD after we heard the WORD of truth. Then we were sealed with the promised HOLY SPIRIT. We now can recognize Father, Son, and Holy Spirit coming together to allow us access to the presence of God the Father in the very throne room of heaven.  Jesus is the living Word and the Holy Spirit is the Seal of our relationship. These three working in perfect unity usher us into intimacy with Yehovah God. Hallelujah! Thank you Jesus!

We celebrate Shavuot/Pentecost beginning at sundown tonight in the Jewish calendar and this Sunday in the Christian calendar.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, wisdom for Prime Minister Netanyahu, and for rain in season.

Les Lawrence, a voice of Christian Zionists                       (Read more)

Why  do I use God’s literal covenant Name: Yehovah? Here is a link to the explanation in my book: The Hebrew God Who Has No Name. And here is a link to a great visual from my friend Keith Johnson.





Happy Pentecost/Shavuot 2020

29 05 2020

Dry Bones Shavuot 2020

Today Jews celebrate Shavuot, which is celebrated by Christians as Pentecost this Sunday. What is the meaning of this holiday? Jews observe it to honor the giving of the Torah and Ten Commandments on Mt. Sinai. Written by the hand of Yehovah, Moses introduced them to the people. The laws became the basic legal code of modern civilization in the Western world. Shavuot means weeks. Seven weeks were counted from Passover to the wheat harvest in Israel, followed by a Sabbath rest. Shavuot is also called “first fruits” because of the first harvest.

Christians use the Greek word Pentecost, which means fifty days after Passover. Recorded in Acts 2, it was the day that the Holy Spirit was poured out in fulfillment of Joel 2:28-32. Christians consider the 3,000 Jews filled with the Holy Spirit that day as the “first fruit” of the church.

When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:1-4

But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel

“​And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy. I will show wonders in heaven above And signs in the earth beneath: Blood and fire and vapor of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of Yehovah. And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of Yehovah shall be saved. Acts 2:14-21

We pray that there is a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit in these days of great trials in the whole world. May it be the beginning of the great last days harvest of souls for the Kingdom of Yeshua, the Messiah.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem and pray for seasonal rains.

Les Lawrence, Voice of Christian Zionists

Here is an internet event with Lance Wallnau, you may like this Sunday night…





What is Shavuot?

18 05 2018

Dry Bones Shavuot 2018Christians celebrate Pentecost Sunday this week. Do you know why? Yes, it is the anniversary of the Holy Spirit outpouring in Acts 2. But why did that great event occur on that day in the First Century? Most Christians are ignorant of the roots of Pentecost, but what about Shavuot?

Do you know that the first syllable “pente” means fifty? So what? Well actually, it is very important. The Acts 2 event was precisely 50 days after Passover. After the resurrection, Jesus told His disciples to wait in the upper room in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit power.

“And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.” Luke 24:49 NLT

But what about Shavuot? Jews also celebrate the same day (although they start at sundown Saturday). Shavuot literally means “weeks”, and refers to the seven weeks after Passover (49 days) leading on Day 50 to the great Biblical Feast of Weeks found in Leviticus 23:15-22. Jews believe that date is when Yehovah God gave Moses the Ten Commandments and the Torah. It is timed to celebrated the first fruits of the wheat harvest.

An interesting difference from Passover is the bread eaten. For Passover it must be unleavened bread. For Shavuot it must be leavened bread. Why is this? Christians understand the amazing symbolism. Unleavened bread speaks of Yeshua who was unleavened by sin. But Pentecost/Shavuot uses leavened bread which speaks of the leavening of sin in His people; that is washed away by the blood of the Lamb/Messiah Yeshua. This is accomplished by the Holy Spirit leavening the whole lump with grace and forgiveness for the individual believer and for the entire body of Messiah believers.

Finally, for this Feast, Jews read and reflect on the deeply moving Book of Ruth, which is the Biblical story of love and covenant.

But Ruth said: “Entreat me not to leave you, or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, and there will I be buried. Yehovah do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts you and me.” Ruth 1:16-17

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

Les Lawrence, Voice of Christian Zionists                  (Read more)

 

 

 

 

 








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