Pentecost Speaks to the "Heart" of Being Firstfruits

In revealing His plan for mankind, God chose Holy Days focused on the harvest seasons of Palestine (Exodus 23:14-17 [14] Three times thou shalt keep a feast unto me in the year.
[15] Thou shalt keep the feast of unleavened bread: (thou shalt eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded thee, in the time appointed of the month Abib; for in it thou camest out from Egypt: and none shall appear before me empty:)
[16] And the feast of harvest, the firstfruits of thy labours, which thou hast sown in the field: and the feast of ingathering, which is in the end of the year, when thou hast gathered in thy labours out of the field.
[17] Three times in the year all thy males shall appear before the LORD God.

See All...).

In revealing His plan for mankind, God chose Holy Days focused on the harvest seasons of Palestine (Exodus 23:14-17 [14] Three times thou shalt keep a feast unto me in the year.
[15] Thou shalt keep the feast of unleavened bread: (thou shalt eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded thee, in the time appointed of the month Abib; for in it thou camest out from Egypt: and none shall appear before me empty:)
[16] And the feast of harvest, the firstfruits of thy labours, which thou hast sown in the field: and the feast of ingathering, which is in the end of the year, when thou hast gathered in thy labours out of the field.
[17] Three times in the year all thy males shall appear before the LORD God.

See All...). Reaping crops at three festival seasons provided spiritual symbolism for God's people. For us, Pentecost shows how God is harvesting people for eternal life in His Kingdom. Jewish tradition connects Pentecost with the giving of the law at Mt. Sinai. For New TestamentThe 27 authoritative books of the apostolic writings: the four Gospels of Christ, Acts (a history), 21 apostolic letters and the book of Revelation. Christians the meaning is how to keep the spiritual intent of God's law.

Pentecost shows we need God's Spirit to keep the law in our hearts.

No matter how hard we try to avoid it, we still sin (Romans 3:10-18 [10] As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
[11] There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
[12] They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
[13] Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:
[14] Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:
[15] Their feet are swift to shed blood:
[16] Destruction and misery are in their ways:
[17] And the way of peace have they not known:
[18] There is no fear of God before their eyes.

See All..., 23). Acknowledging this inherent human weakness, God lamented in Deuteronomy 5:29O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!
See All..., "Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me and always keep all My commandments, that it might be well with them and with their children forever!"

Oh, how we can agree. If only we had a heart in us that would willingly always do what Jesus did. God shows we have a heart problem. Merely doing our human best to keep God's law does not enable us to think like God. Becoming godly in thought, attitude and action is beyond the ability of men and women without the additional ingredient of God's Spirit.

God reminds us every year through Pentecost that He is now dealing with only a few people—just a small part of the huge spiritual harvest to come. All who have ever lived will in their own time have the opportunity to know God. But for now God extends His truth only to a few—the firstfruits of His plan. That's a miracle too, because only God can unlock the human mind so it can comprehend spiritual understanding (1 Corinthians 2:14But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
See All...). The firstfruits have the awesome responsibility of possessing God's truth. Such knowledge must be used well.

Christ Tests the Heart of the Church

The firstfruits are challenged to be the first to do as Jesus would do. The early New TestamentThe 27 authoritative books of the apostolic writings: the four Gospels of Christ, Acts (a history), 21 apostolic letters and the book of Revelation. Church was the first to take on this task. On Pentecost the Holy Spirit dramatically changed their lives. Their transformation was viewed as turning "the world upside down" (Acts 17:6And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;
See All...). Such was the dynamic, miraculous power of the Holy Spirit. It was the same divine power at work in Jesus' ministry (Luke 4:14And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.
See All...).

The first century Church was taught about their battle with human nature (Romans 7:22-25 [22] For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
[23] But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
[24] O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
[25] I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

See All...) and with unseen evil forces (Ephesians 6:12For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
See All...). They learned about the sanctity, symbolism and purpose of marriage and family (Ephesians 5:22-25 [22] Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
[23] For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
[24] Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
[25] Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

See All...). Husbands were taught to love their wives as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself for her. Wives were encouraged to submit to husbands "as to the Lord." Christians were to obey authorities, whether emperor, king or magistrate, unless it conflicted with God’s law (Romans 13:1Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
See All...; 1 Timothy 2:1-2 [1] I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
[2] For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

See All...; Acts 5:29Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
See All...). Christians were to call on the elders of the Church to be anointed when they were sick (James 5:14-18 [14] Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
[15] And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
[16] Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
[17] Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.
[18] And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.

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Firstfruits in the Kingdom of God will be able to explain to others how, from painful experience, they subjected themselves to the authority of men while under the authority of Christ; how they withstood the philosophies of false teachers and sorted out what was true and false. In effect they will be able to use the modern phrase: "Been there, done that and bought the T-shirt."

Firstfruits Are Called to Be Holy

Christians are called to be different. They learn when there is a conflict with a job and the Sabbath, it isn't a Sabbath problem but a job problem. They know the Sabbath was here before the job.

They are prepared to be different to serve God. When Unleavened Bread comes, they set themselves apart by a different diet. When major tests of obedience come, they respond as Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego did: "We want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up" (Daniel 3:18But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
See All..., NIV). They don't consider compromising with pagan customs, hoping that God will understand.

Firstfruits have demonstrated a willingness to follow, obey, take orders, learn and repent because God's Spirit gives an attitude of respect. Being holy is to be different, and the firstfruits don't apologize for being different in a world under the sway of the devil.

But some firstfruits have succumbed to evil. Christ's corrective words to the seven churches of RevelationThe disclosure of God's Word and plan to mankind. In the Bible this refers to making obscure things clear; bringing hidden matters to light; causing especially called individuals to see, hear, perceive, know and understand the things of God; the unveiling of biblical mysteries (Romans 16:25). 2 and 3 reveal how sorely lacking in holy character some were. They failed to make right choices after apostasy had entangled their lives. Christ said: "You tolerate that woman Jezebel who calls herself a prophetess" (RevelationThe disclosure of God's Word and plan to mankind. In the Bible this refers to making obscure things clear; bringing hidden matters to light; causing especially called individuals to see, hear, perceive, know and understand the things of God; the unveiling of biblical mysteries (Romans 16:25). 2:20Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.
See All..., NIV). Paul warned similarly for the end time about those who want teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear and turn aside to myths (2 Timothy 4:3-4 [3] For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
[4] And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

See All...). Divergent opinions and independent spirits held sway. We see evidence of similar attitudes today.

However, as we keep Pentecost, we are reminded that the power given to the first century Church is still the same power available for the 21st century. We too can apply that power with miraculous zeal.

Firstfruit Privilege

The firstfruits are the first of their family tree to be called. And marvelous pioneering firsts belong to our calling. The printing press has given us inexpensive access to the complete BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ.. The Old TestamentThose books that make up the Hebrew Bible generally accepted by Christians, Jews and to some extent Muslims. It contains a threefold division: the Law (the five books of Moses), the Prophets and the Writings. patriarchs lived out the truth with occasional direction from God. The disciples had the Old TestamentThose books that make up the Hebrew Bible generally accepted by Christians, Jews and to some extent Muslims. It contains a threefold division: the Law (the five books of Moses), the Prophets and the Writings. manuscripts and lived out the experience of Acts. Only in recent times has the complete BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ. been freely available, along with the most up-to-date handbooks and BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ. helps.

The firstfruits of today are able, through the technological revolution, to participate in never before imagined ways to spread the gospel. The Church in our age has enjoyed the color printing press, radio, television, videos and now Internet Web pages. We have the special opportunity to share in making the truth of ScriptureThe divinely inspired writings of both the Old and New Testaments. The term Scripture is used in the New Testament to refer to both the Hebrew Bible (Luke 24:44-45) and the new apostolic writings accepted as inspired (2 Peter 3:16; 1 Timothy 5:18). available globally to any who will respond.

Every age on earth has been a violent, dangerous one in which to live. Firstfruits are called to be the first to demonstrate that commandment keeping can be done, even in an evil time.

Firstfruits are first in learning the limitations of man's government, whether it be a Caesar, emperor or Western democracy. Yet they learn to respond to government in a godly way.

Firstfruits are first in being accountable for their actions. They are confronted with making righteous judgments—about what is right and wrong, asking what Jesus would do—and in striving for a Christian attitude.

Firstfruit Qualities

God reveals that Spirit-born firstfruits will be those who are as good as their word—people of high integrity. "They were purchased from among men and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb. No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless" (RevelationThe disclosure of God's Word and plan to mankind. In the Bible this refers to making obscure things clear; bringing hidden matters to light; causing especially called individuals to see, hear, perceive, know and understand the things of God; the unveiling of biblical mysteries (Romans 16:25). 14:4-5 [4] These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.
[5] And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.

See All...). They are pictured as free of deceit, falseness, pretense or window dressing.

Saints through history, along with us, will eventually be models for the rest of humanity. It's being first in keeping God's law against all odds.

Until that future time, the daily goal of a firstfruit is patient commitment to producing the fruits of God's Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23 [22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
[23] Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

See All...)—the finest spiritual character possible. UN