The Day of Pentecost

                                  Leviticus 23:15-22

*The Day of Pentecost was a day to acknowledge the Faithfulness of God

*The Day of Pentecost was a day to celebrate the harvest

*Pentecost means 50 – — Jesus ascended 40 days after He rose and then the disciples spent 10 solid days in prayer

*The Day of Pentecost os the Feast of Pentecost – thousands attended this feast from across the world

(1) THE DAY OF PENTECOST WAS THE BEGINNING OF THE CHURCH – Lev 23:15-22

-the church began on the day of Pentecost

-this occurred on a Sunday

-the Holy Spirit fell in Acts 2 on 120 people in the upper room

(2) THE CHURCH CONSISTS OF TWO WAVE LOAVES – v17

-these were two loaves of bread lifted up to the Lord as a special offering

a.)  Why two loaves?  the church consists of two groups of people – those who are Jewish and gentile – Ephesians 2:13-18 – Jesus came to save everyone

b.) the two loaves are special

-this speaks of our position in Christ

(3) THE BREAD WAS LIFTED UP BY THE PRIESTS

a. This represents Jesus Christ as being the bread of life and head of the church

-the priests – all believers – are t lift up Jesus and Him only

b. Lifting up the bread means that the church needs to be visible

-we must spread the gospel and never turn inward

-the priests are the believers

-we all have an assignment from the Lord to reach the unreached

c.) Lifting up the bread was a sign of gratefulness

-grateful for the entire body of Christ

-grateful that people are getting saved – all kinds of people

(4) THERE IS LEAVEN IN THE BREAD – v17

-leaven represents corruption, sin and issues

-Jesus is the only one who has never sinned – everyone else has, does and will

-Keep your eyes on the Head of the church only – Jesus Christ

1. We must have a Biblical realistic picture of the church

-the church is a spiritual hospital for all kinds of people

-it takes a lifetime for people to get better

***I just cant believe it people – we are all under construction…

-But we are still BREAD even when we do not do what is right…

REMEMBER 2 THINGS:

          1. THE PATH TO REAL CHANGE IS NOT A PERFECT PATH, BUT A PERSONAL PROCESS AND EVERYONE’S PROCESS LOOKS DIFFERENT

          2. DO NOT DWELL ON YOUR IMPERFECTIONS.  FOCUS ON HOW FAR YOU HAVE COME

(5) THE CHURCH IS MADE OF FLOUR

V17 – TWO TENTHS OF A BUSHEL OF FLOUR – were ingredients in making bread

-This represents a double portion of the Holy Spirit

-we need a double portion because we get baked and pulverized in life – this is what happens to the flour in the making of the break and this represents the adversity of all believers

-a double portion of the Holy Spirit is being saved and then being baptized in the Holy Spirit