I. Shavuot celebrates the wheat harvest!
A. Pesach, the Feast of Passover, points to our redemption from sin!
B. Matza, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, is about our sanctification to holiness!
C. Bikkurim, the Feast of First Fruits, impels us to make God first in all of life!
D. Shavuot, the Feast of Weeks, began the harvest of new souls in God's Church!
- "You shall count fifty days to the day after the seventh sabbath; then you shall present a new grain offering to the Lord" (Leviticus 23:16).
- The Lord also said to Moses, "Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments; and let them be ready for the third day, for on the third day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people" . . . And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain (Exodus 19:10-11, 17).
II. Shavuot points to the harvest of souls!
- When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance (Acts 2:1-4; see also 14-24 and Joel 2:10-13).
- '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, baked with leaven as first fruits to the Lord' (Leviticus 23:17).
- See Ephesians 2:13-14, 18.
III. Shavuot pictures an outpouring of the spirit!
- "So rejoice, O sons of Zion, and be glad in the Lord your God; for He has given you the early rain for your vindication. And He has poured down for you the rain, the early and latter rain as before . . . It will come about after this that I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; and your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions" (Joel 2:23, 28).
- And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18; see also Acts 1:8).
Sermon by Pastor Rod Akins, July 28th, 2024.
Life group flow and discussion questions
"The feast of weeks (Shavuot/Pentecost)"
An important Guideline of Life Groups: Understanding the teachings of the Old Testament lays a foundation for interpreting the New Testament. How are the Lord's appointed times (Leviticus 23:4) inspiring your Life Group in a stronger faith?
Getting Started:
- How did the ceremonial washings in Jewish Mikvah's before Shavuot anticipate and lead to a spiritual repentance in Christian baptism during Pentecost in Acts 2:38, 41?
- What is the difference between being "indwelt" with the Holy Spirit and being "filled", directed and empowered by the Holy Spirit?
Discussing Truths:
- Why do you think God was so specific about His "appointed times" for each of the Seven Jewish Feasts?
- Do you see a significance in the fact that "about 3,000 men" were killed after giving the Law (Exodus 32:28) and "about 3,000 souls" were saved after giving of the Spirit?
- What did Paul mean that "the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life" (2 Corinthians 3:5, 6)? See also Romans 8:1-8.
- How is the unity of the Spirit being manifested in Christ's Church today (Ephesians 4:1-3; Colossians 3:14)?
- What did Jesus do to break down the barrier of the dividing wall between Gentiles and Jews (Ephesians 2:13-18)? How can we break down barriers between people today?
- When someone is filled and anointed with the Holy Spirit, what character traits are exhibited in their life and words?
Now What? Application:
- Will you take time every day to pray and ask God to fill you with His Holy Spirit (1 John 5:14, 15)?
- Take the list of the fruit of the Spirit and ask God to increase these character qualities in your life (Galatians 5:22, 23).