PENTECOST IS ALL ABOUT BELIEVERS –- WE ARE THE FIRST-FRUITS
Jesus is the first of the “first-fruits” and we, his disciples, are the first-fruits to God. Therefore, the Holy Day triggered by the wave-sheaf offering is all about us. It is clear in both the OT and the NT. Note what the Apostle James states:
James 1:17-18, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. 18 Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.” (NKJV)
Wow! Believers who remain faithful to the end will be “His Beings.” We will be in the God Family. We have so great a reward as God's first-fruits. The Apostle Paul shares some similar encouragement. He writes that for us to share in something so wonderful and holy is awesome and unbelievable. God will work with and develop believers to partake of His holiness. Wow!
1 Corinthians 15:21-23, “For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. 23 But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming.”
Verse 43, “It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:”
The second coming of Jesus will be the moment when we become full members of his family and the first-fruit of God. This is the true meaning of Pentecost. The birth date of the church was the first New Covenant Pentecost with the gifting of the Holy Spirit. See Acts chapter 2.
Acts 2:1-4, “When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
The words “had fully come” meant the countdown of seven Sabbaths, or seven weeks plus one day, had finally arrived. All 120 followers of Jesus were empowered by awesome spiritual gifts and the church began with a tremendous start. Jesus was first seen the day after the Sabbath and that is the day of His followers being given power to spread the gospel fifty days later (Pentecost).
Acts 2:40-42, “And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, ‘Be saved from this perverse generation.’ 41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.”
The church at the end of this age will also be the first-fruits to God and be special in various ways, and probably be led and many converted by the two witnesses as in 31AD.
Revelation 14:1-4, “Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father's name written on their foreheads…3 They sang as it were a new song before the throne…one hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth. 4 These are the ones who were not defiled…These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb.”
Before we get to the end times, true believers are being pushed and subtly deceived.
WARNING: DO NOT NEGLECT SO GREAT A SALVATION
Believers who are blessed to be part of the first-fruits should appreciate the wonderful opportunity. Paul cautions those who are ready to backslide to not neglect this opportunity.
Hebrews 2:1-3, “Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. 2 For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast,...disobedience received a just reward, 3 how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him,”
Further, he says to accept the disciple and trials as from a loving Father and not give up.
Hebrews 12:9-10, “Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us…Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they…for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness.”
Pentecost is the smaller harvest –– the first harvest. Leaders who come from this harder harvest age are clearly blessed to be at the pinnacle or top of God's expanded family.
Revelation 20:5-6, “But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 BLESSED and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.”
BLESSED and special are those of us converted in this age who can be part of the first Resurrection. We have to persevere in the age of Satan! Paul further explains:
Hebrews 2:10, “For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.”
PENTECOST IS ALL ABOUT OUR BEING FIRST
The New Testament Church was born on the first New Covenant Pentecost. See Acts chapter two and note that on this date God empowered the Church of God. If God wanted these Holy Days removed then why BRING THE POWERFUL GIFTS AND SPECIAL EFFECTS ON A HOLY DAY? These days are for us, to remind us of our great calling.
Acts 2:5-8, “And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. 6 And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. 7 Then they were all amazed and marveled… 8 ‘And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born?’”
THE TWO WITNESSES ALSO WILL dazzle many with miraculous signs and bring many sons to salvation as first-fruits. This Holy Day is all about us brethren called now, we are the first-fruits to God. This is an unbelievable blessing and opportunity, do not neglect it and backslide.
