Bread with Leaven

for the Feast of Shavuot, wheat bread rising with yeast before it is baked
for the Feast of Shavuot, wheat bread rising with yeast before it is baked

Throughout the Scripture leaven is almost always a comparison to sin or something wrong. The reason for this is that the leavening agent is basically old fermented dough. A very small amount of fermented dough is placed with a larger batch of dough the whole lump becomes leavened.

(Note: this does not mean eating bread and donuts is sinful.

The illustration the Scripture gives using “leaven” is just an example of how quickly and overpowering leaven works and the same for “sin” in that it quickly overpowers us.)

The Scripture warns us of leaven:

No meat offering, which ye shall bring unto the LORD, shall be made with leaven: for ye shall burn no leaven, nor any honey, in any offering of the LORD made by fire. Leviticus 2:11

כל המנחה אשׁר תקריבו ליהוה לא תעשׂה חמץ כי כל־שׂאר וכל־דבשׁ לא־תקטירו ממנו אשׁה ליהוה׃

Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. Matthew 16:6
And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod. Mark 8:15

Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. 1 Corinthians 5:6-8

A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. Galatians 5:9

The only place where God allows leavened bread to be offered with a sacrifice is here in Leviticus 23:18

And ye shall offer with the bread seven lambs without blemish of the first year, and one young bullock, and two rams: they shall be for a burnt offering unto the LORD, with their meat offering, and their drink offerings, even an offering made by fire, of sweet savour unto the LORD.

Being unleavened is comparable to being without sin.

The sinless Lamb of God Who took away the sin of the Earth was represented at Passover as the matzo, unleavened bread.

Notice the difference in these two types of bread: one contains leaven the other is unleavened.
Notice the difference in these two types of bread: one contains leaven the other is unleavened.
During the Feast of Shavuot, God is teaching us what happened when we were "Born Again".
During the Feast of Shavuot, God is teaching us what happened when we were “Born Again”.

 

Even though we are forgiven for all our sins past, present and future, we still sin against God. The Epistles were written to the early churches telling them how to overcome sin in their lives.

Though we are children of God, we still live in a sinful body and we continue to sin. No one can ever become sinless perfect in their body.
Though we are children of God, we still live in a sinful body and we continue to sin. No one can ever become sinless perfect in their body.

If anyone ever tells you they have arrived to the state of sinless perfection they are sinning by telling you a lie.

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 1 John 1:7-10

Don't be surprised when you do sin. You do not have to run hide like Adam and Eve. Growth is the normal part of a Christian life.
Don’t be surprised when you do sin. You do not have to run hide like Adam and Eve. Growth is the normal part of a Christian life.
A "born again" person is a three part beings. We have a God Consciousness, a self consciousness and a world consciousness.
A “born again” person is a three part beings. We have a God Consciousness, a self consciousness and a world consciousness.

This explanation goes all the way back to the beginning with Adam and Eve. They lived in Paradise.

And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground. But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground. And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed. And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Genesis 2:5-9

וכל שׂיח השׂדה טרם יהיה בארץ וכל־עשׂב השׂדה טרם יצמח כי לא המטיר יהוה אלהים על־הארץ ואדם אין לעבד את־האדמה׃
ואד יעלה מן־הארץ והשׁקה את־כל־פני־האדמה׃
וייצר יהוה אלהים את־האדם עפר מן־האדמה ויפח באפיו נשׁמת חיים ויהי האדם לנפשׁ חיה׃
ויטע יהוה אלהים גן־בעדן מקדם וישׂם שׁם את־האדם אשׁר יצר׃
ויצמח יהוה אלהים מן־האדמה כל־עץ נחמד למראה וטוב למאכל ועץ החיים בתוך הגן ועץ הדעת טוב ורע׃

God then said “Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

God then allowed the Tempter and Eve to offer Adam a choice. It was a difficult choice because Eve had already eaten from the tree and according to God’s word would die. Adam knew this and he chose to disobey God. Why did God do that?

And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. 1 Timothy 2:14

From the foundation of the world God wanted to give mankind a choice. He made them perfect, they chose to sin. He gave them a Law to show that all have sinned. He gave us The Messiah Redeemer to give us a choice; to live in sin or come to God for forgiveness.

… written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Revelation 13:8

This photograph is from a Torah Scroll showing the verses for the account of the fall of mankind.
This photograph is from a Torah Scroll showing the verses for the account of the fall of mankind.

After Adam and Eve had eaten from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil they did not just fall over dead as we know the word “dead”. Adam went on to live nine hundred and thirty years. The true meaning of death is separation.

The very instant Adam and Eve ate from the tree their spirit was disconnected, separated, from God. This is death.
The very instant Adam and Eve ate from the tree their spirit was disconnected, separated, from God. This is death.

 

He was dead the instant he ate of the tree. He was separated from God and remained that way for over 3,500 years until the Feast of First Fruits. Then “Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) Ephesians 4:8

The same example can be seen with this rose. While still attached to the plant it is alive, once cut it is dead but will remain beautiful until corruption takes place.

A rose will retain its beauty and smell for only so long after it has been separated from the parent plant. This is an example of mankind after being separated from life, God.
A rose will retain its beauty and smell for only so long after it has been separated from the parent plant. This is an example of mankind after being separated from life, God.

 

The period of time from birth to death is when mankind is offered the choice to accept the free gift of eternal life.

In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; 1 Timothy 1:2

If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. 1 John 5:9-13

Those who have never been “born again” still exist among the good things God has created on Earth, like food, water air, everything.

That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
Matthew 5:45

Today, the unsaved (dead) still receive the blessings of God while they exist on Earth.
Today, the unsaved (dead) still receive the blessings of God while they exist on Earth.

Upon death, or separation from our body,those who have not chosen life are separated again from God’s presence. This is the final separation.

But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. Revelation 21:8

The Bible speaks of a "second death" a second separation for those who do not accept Jesus The Messiah for their redemption.
The Bible speaks of a “second death” a second separation for those who do not accept Jesus The Messiah for their redemption.

weeks GZ 51_001

Hebrew Priest lifting bread to the Lord at Shavuot, Pentecost.
Hebrew Priest lifting bread to the Lord at Shavuot, Pentecost.

 

Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals:

ממושׁבתיכם תביאו לחם תנופה שׁתים שׁני עשׂרנים

Pwn to move from side to side in a lifted position

Wave

The offering was to be held high before those gathered and before God as a public showing of what had been offered

A “Born Again” person will not have a glorified body until his present body either dies or the Lord returns in what is called the rapture. The Christian is not exempt from pain and troubles as he continues his life. However, because that person is now alive, God’s Spirit dwells within the person. The following verses show us how we are lifted to God at this present time.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: 1 Peter 1:3-10

But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Ephesians 2:4-9

like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Romans 6:4

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
2 Corinthians 5:17

The Feast of Shavuot explains to those who have been "born again" what happened to them when they accepted Jesus as their Savior.
The Feast of Shavuot explains to those who have been “born again” what happened to them when they accepted Jesus as their Savior.

 

We are a “new creature” but we still have to make choices. The same choices that Adam had to make. Do I want to do what I know God says or do I want to do what I want to do, because I want to.

Are we going to be lead by the spirit or by the flesh?

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
1 John 2:15-17

You still have a battle in your life and you still have to make choices: to be lead by the Spirit or lead by the flesh.
You still have a battle in your life and you still have to make choices: to be lead by the Spirit or lead by the flesh.
The passage of Scripture from Romans chapter 7 show the struggle within a Christian.

Read this several times and see how it relates to your inner struggle. The struggle you have is common to all “Born Again” people.

There are some who erroneously say these verses in Romans 7:14 through Romans 7:25 were talking about Paul before he became a Christian. Some even say they no longer ever desire to sin. They can claim sinless perfection if they choose to believe that, but that is certainly never taught in the Word of God. Only Jesus the Son of God was sinless perfect until He took our sins on the cross to redeem us.

This is NOT, again I say, NOT talking about Paul BEFORE he was saved. This is the current battle he and every Christian has.
This is NOT, again I say, NOT talking about Paul BEFORE he was saved. This is the current battle he and every Christian has.

 

This is really good news for children of God. You now are free to grow in the Lord.
This is really good news for children of God. You now are free to grow in the Lord.

A Christian can be “Spiritual Minded”.

As we spend time reading God’s Word, praying, communicating with other believers and making a conscious effort to do what God tells us to do we become “spiritual minded”.

Being “spiritual minded” does not mean you will do weird things and act out of control. It means you will do the following.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. Galatians 5:22-26

We are now redeemed and set free to grow in the Lord and be spiritual minded.
We are now redeemed and set free to grow in the Lord and be spiritual minded.

 

A Christian can be “Carnal Minded”.

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: Galatians 5:9-21

The New Testament gives examples of Christians who are “Carnal”.

It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife. And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. 1 Corinthians 5:1-5

For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
1 Corinthians 3:11-15

Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
1 Corinthians 3:16-17

A "born again" person does not have to live a carnal life.
A “born again” person does not have to live a carnal life.

 

 

All Christians go through stages in their lives. We all have struggles daily with doing the things God expects from us. We have times when we are spiritual and times when we are carnal. God’s Spirit lives within us and He always knows the truth about us.

It is vitally important that we always start here. According to His Word He has forgiven us through the shed blood of His Son Jesus Christ. We have accepted Jesus as our Savior and we are eternally secure as His child because He said so. We do sin, but as His child He will help us grow to be more like Him. The growing is as He changes our heart.

This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 1 John 1:1-2:2

We all go through stages in our Christian life. Sometimes we struggle, sometimes we are spiritual, sometimes we are carnal.
We all go through stages in our Christian life. Sometimes we struggle, sometimes we are spiritual, sometimes we are carnal.

It is important to know that all Christians are the same; we have daily struggles, times when we are Spiritual, times when we are carnal. We also have another thing in common, our spirit is alive because God’s Spirit lives within us. The place He lives is in our spirit.We are alive, connected once again with God. Adam was disconnected, separated from God. That is death. Our spirit is the real person. The body is not the person, it is only where we live. Your spirit can never die again. Another way of saying that is; you can never die once you are “Born Again”. This is what Jesus meant when He said: “And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?” John 11:26

There is one thing in the Christian that is constant and never changes. The spirit is alive and will never be separated from God again.
There is one thing in the Christian that is constant and never changes. The spirit is alive and will never be separated from God again.

 

Our soul and spirit have been given a body. We live in a body. The body changes and eventually dies. Our soul and spirit never ceases to exist even when our body is damaged and eventually dies.
Our soul and spirit have been given a body. We live in a body. The body changes and eventually dies. Our soul and spirit never ceases to exist even when our body is damaged and eventually dies.

 

The following verses from Ecclesiastes shows how the body gets old and starts ceasing to function. We call that death, however it is only moving time for the spirit.

The Scroll of Ecclesiastes written in Poland in the early 20th century.
The Scroll of Ecclesiastes written in Poland in the early 20th century.

 

Ecclesiastes 12 Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them; While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain: In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened, And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of music shall be brought low; Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets: Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern. Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

Born again people will always exist in God's presence.
Born again people will always exist in God’s presence.

At the “New Birth” our spirit is rejoined with God and will never be separated again. The rejoining is illustrated in the following video.

The New Birth is a wonderful thing, to never be separated from God again.
The New Birth is a wonderful thing, to never be separated from God again.

 

weeks GZ 50_001Romans 9:31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

Romans 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
Galatians 3:21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.

We are eternally secure not because of what we do, but because of what Jesus Christ did.
We are eternally secure not because of what we do, but because of what Jesus Christ did.

 

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
2 Corinthians 4:7

When a Christian dies, his spirit goes to be with the Lord because it is sinless, his body returns to dust because it is sinful.
When a Christian dies, his spirit goes to be with the Lord because it is sinless, his body returns to dust because it is sinful.

 

Absent from the body, present with the Lord.
Absent from the body, present with the Lord.

But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

The dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
The dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.