Let's Get Ready For Pentecost

Not long ago, we kept the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and now, next weekend, we have the third Holy Day of the Year. It's an exciting Holy Day, and we know that, of course, to be Pentecost. We're going to be talking about it today and getting ready for this exciting day of Pentecost, when God sent His Spirit, and He continues to send His Spirit for His people. Let's do a little group quiz, first of all. True or false? Pentecost means count fifty. True and a little bit false, because it doesn't mean to count. The word actually just means fiftieth. We used to think it did include count fifty because Pentecost, no? The word actually means simply fiftieth. There are three Old Testament names for Pentecost. What are they? Feast of first fruits, Feast of wigs, and Feast of harvest. We got it! Great!

True or false? Pentecost pictures that God is trying to save the world today. False, that is correct. Very much so. Only of first fruits. True or false? As evils abound, Pentecost reveals to us what God is busy doing today. What do you think? As evils are abounding all around us, Pentecost reveals what God is busy doing today. All right. Yeah, maybe that first little expression threw you there, but yeah, Pentecost does reveal. We're going to see in the sermon what God is very busy doing today. True or false? There is a connection between Pentecost and a better resurrection. True. There is a connection, all right, between that better resurrection and the day of Pentecost. So the title of the sermon today is, Let's Get Ready for Pentecost. Many times we give sermons on getting ready for Passover. What about getting ready for Pentecost? We need to be ready for this day, and I'd like to encourage all of us to do some extra reading, study, thinking, and prayer about this day of Pentecost that is coming up, because this third Holy Day of the year of God's sacred calendar is very important. First of all, then, let's have a quick review of Old Testament scriptures. That's a good place to start. Let's go to Exodus chapter 23. We'll just read these very quickly. There are four or five places that mention the Feast of Pentecost in the Old Testament. Let's read them. Exodus 23 and verse 14. Three times you shall keep a feast to me in the year. Feast of Unleavened Bread, verse 15. And then in verse 16, the Feast of Harvest. That is one of the Old Testament names for Pentecost, the first fruits of your labors that you have sown in the field.

All right, let's go to Exodus 34 and verse 22. I think it's kind of good to review these verses. It's good to realize there are quite a few verses that do mention Pentecost in the Old Testament.

Exodus 34 and verse 22. You shall observe the Feast of Weeks. So here's a different name for Pentecost. The Feast of Weeks of the First Fruits of the Wheat Harvest. And then it gets to the Feast of In-Gathering. That's the Feast of Tabernacles there. Let's go to Leviticus chapter 23. This is a chapter we turn to most often pertaining to Pentecost. And this is where the Israelites, they would have this wave sheaf offering on the morrow after the Sabbath during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And then they were to count from that Sabbath. Let's pick it up in verse 15. You shall count for yourselves from the day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering, seven Sabbaths shall be completed. Count 50 days to the day after the seventh Sabbath. And they were told exactly other things that they were to do. And this would be verse 21, proclaimed as a holy convocation, and no customary work was to be done.

So we have this counting 50, but here in this chapter there is no name given for Pentecost. But note that it does require counting, beginning with the day after the Sabbath. Well, the day after the Sabbath is what we call Sunday. Sunday would be the first day, and Pentecost always ends up then on a Sunday. Let's go to Numbers 28. We find Pentecost mentioned in the Old Testament scripture as well. Numbers 28 and verse 26. Numbers 28-26. Also on the day of the first fruits.

Notice here that a different name. On the day of the first fruits. So another Old Testament name. Day of first fruits. When you bring a new grain offering to the Lord at your feast of weeks, you shall have a holy convocation. So here is called the day of the first fruits and also the feast of weeks. And finally, let's go to Deuteronomy chapter 20. No, pardon me. Deuteronomy chapter 16.

Deuteronomy chapter 16. So I think it's good to realize there are quite a few verses in the Old Testament that mention Pentecost. And here they are. We read them today. Deuteronomy 16 and verse 9.

You shall count seven weeks for yourself. Begin to count the seven weeks from the time you begin to put the sickle to the grain. Then you shall keep the feast of weeks to the Lord your God with the tribute of a free will offering from your hand, which you shall give as the Lord your God blesses you. So we notice then there are three Old Testament names, the Feast of Harvest, the Feast of Weeks, and the Day of First Fruits. There are three verses in the New Testament mentioning Pentecost. Let's go to them. Acts chapter 2 and verse 1. We most often turn to this as far as the New Testament verse on Pentecost. And of course, it is a very appropriate one to turn to. This whole chapter here took place on the Day of Pentecost, the beginning of the New Testament Church. Acts chapter 2 and verse 1. When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. Notice also that they were all together. They were united in one accord on the Day of Pentecost. When this day had fully come, there they were. And that's when God poured out His Holy Spirit upon them. Instead of Acts 20 and verse 16, we find another reference here to Pentecost, Acts 20 and verse 16. Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus so that he would not have to spend time in Asia. For he was hurrying to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the Day of Pentecost. Obviously, he wanted to observe this Holy Day in Jerusalem, if possible. Let's go to the final New Testament Scripture in 1 Corinthians 16. 1 Corinthians chapter 16 and verse 8. 1 Corinthians 16 and verse 8. But I will tarry in Ephesus until Pentecost. These are the three references, then in the New Testament for Pentecost. But what does Pentecost mean? We want to begin to get into what this day pictures in God's great plan. It is a most significant Holy Day, and yet, actually, it's a Holy Day that has a mysterious aspect to it as well. Because it pictures something that God has been doing for 6,000 years that human beings have not seen. Only a few people have been able to see what God has been doing. You ask the average person, what is God doing?

Even religious people don't know. They say, well, He's trying to save everybody. He's trying to get everybody to give their heart to the Lord. They don't know. They don't really know what God is doing. And yet, God, in every age, in every age, God has been very busy. This very day—we'll get to this more later on—but this very day, our Father is busy, and Jesus Christ is busy.

Now, we don't see, you know, with our eyes, we don't see. But in a way, if we open our eyes, we can, because God is working today in the lives of a good number of people. He's busy working out His purpose. And Pentecost shows, during this age of deception, of mankind as a whole, what God is very busy doing. But, you know, ultimately, God has—he poured out His Spirit in Acts 2. We heard that read earlier in the sermonette. But it is God's purpose that all of mankind is going to have the Holy Spirit available for them. Let's go back to Joel, one of the minor prophets, the book of Joel, chapter 2, and beginning to read in verse 28.

Joel chapter 2, and beginning in verse 28. You know, God eventually—He's no respecter of persons.

He is not pouring out His Spirit on everyone today. Ultimately, He plans to do that.

Joel prophesies that here in chapter 2, verse 28. It shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh. So God is no respecter of persons. He wants everyone to have His Spirit.

Your sons and daughters shall prophesy. Your old men dream dreams.

And he goes on to say that he will, verse 30, show wonders. This gets into the second coming of Christ, actually, when God begins to pour out His Spirit on all flesh. I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth. Verse 31, the sun will be darkened. The moon will be turned to blood before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord. And who—notice verse 32 now—that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

So that shows that salvation then is opened up to everyone. Let's go to Acts chapter 2. I think we do know that the Apostle Peter quoted from Joel, and he applied what happened, what was happening there in Jerusalem on this day of Pentecost. He applied Joel's prophecy to what was happening. But I think we have to say that we know that it was only a first fruits of the Spirit, you might say, or the first ones to receive God's Spirit, not all flesh, not all of those in Jerusalem had God's Holy Spirit poured out on them. Acts chapter 2 and verse 14, people were amazed when they heard all that was going—they saw and heard all that was going on.

They heard the apostles speaking in different languages, all the wonderful works of God. So verse 14, Peter stood up to explain what was going on. He raised his voice and said, men of Judea and all that dwell in Jerusalem, let it be known to you and heed my words, for these are not drunk as you suppose. Some people thought they were drunk. No, they're not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day, about nine o'clock in the morning.

For this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel. What you're seeing, what you're witnessing, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel, what we just read. And he quotes what we just read. Verse 17, it shall come to pass in the last days, says the Lord, I will pour out of my spirit on all flesh.

Your sons and daughters shall prophesy your young men see visions. We won't read all of this. Verse 18, on my men servants and maid servants, I will pour out my spirit in those days. They will prophesy, show wonders in heaven, signs in the earth, blood and fire, vapor.

The sun turned to darkness, the moon to blood before the coming of the great and notable day of the Lord. And it will come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. So he was explaining that actually this was what was happening, was something that pertained to Joel's prophecy.

But, you know, we know that God did not pour his spirit out on all flesh back on that day of Pentecost. No. Notice in verse 47, they were praising God and having favor with all people, and the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved, only those that God was choosing and selecting to be in his church at this time. So Pentecost then helps us to understand that God is going to pour out his spirit upon all flesh, but there are two phases. You might even say three phases of him doing that.

Phase one is he is pouring out his spirit on those he chooses and selects today, a chosen generation, a first fruits, and phase two will be in the millennium, all during the thousand years God is going to pour out his spirit. An extension of phase two might be the second resurrection, or you might say that's even a third phase when God will resurrect all those who have not understood during this time, and they will have God's spirit poured out upon them.

So Joel's prophecy and combining it with what we find here in Acts shows that only a first fruits. And as Jesus said, no one can come to me except the Father draws him. So only those that the Father draws. God is not yet pouring out his spirit on all flesh, but we are in a phase one of him pouring out his spirit upon all flesh.

Sepentecost reveals what God has been in a way very secretly doing that most of the world just doesn't understand at all. God is choosing a few to be a first fruits upon which he is pouring out his spirit. Let's read a few verses about first fruits. James chapter one and verse eighteen.

James chapter one and verse eighteen. These verses reveal them to us that God is pouring out his spirit upon a first fruits at this time. Later he will pour out his spirit upon the others, all the others. James chapter one and verse eighteen. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth that we might be a kind of first fruits of his creatures. The Phillips translation says the first specimens of his new creation. I like that, don't you? We are the first specimens of God's new creation. The Amplified Bible has the first children in his new family. That's good, too. We are the first children in his new family. In Hebrews 12 and verse 23, the church is referred to as the church of the firstborn. We have been brought to the church of the firstborn. And in 1 Corinthians chapter 15, it brings out about a first resurrection referred to as first fruits. Pentecost, then the Feast of First Fruits, very well named in the Old Testament. It pictures the ones being prepared, were called out and being prepared today. In the Old Testament, that would include the patriarchs of old. It would include the prophets and a few kings like David and just a very few righteous people, individuals. It seems like not big numbers.

But in the New Testament, God began to call more into his church. 3,000 were added to the church on the day of Pentecost. God began to work in larger numbers. Why would that be? You know, I believe the reason is there will be a lot of cities that will need to have teachers, kings and priests in the millennium. A lot of cities, just millions and millions of cities, will need kings and priests. So God is calling larger numbers to prepare rulers and teachers in the millennium. So Pentecost reveals something that God is doing today which is not understood by the world. It's a mystery to the world. It's hidden. Let's go to Matthew 11. Matthew 11.

This is a truth that we understand in the Church of God. Many people and most people in the world don't understand this. They think it's now or never. It's not now or never. God has hidden these things from the world at this time. The world just doesn't understand at this time.

In Matthew 11 and verse 25, at that time Jesus answered and said, I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth. I want to ask you before we get into what Jesus prayed here, do we ever pray this way or do we wish that God would just go ahead and straighten things out right now? Well, Jesus didn't pray that way. He said, I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth because you have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes even so, Father, for so it seemed good in your sight. Do we ever thank God? Well, thank you, Father. You're working it out the way that you are. And God is allowing a lot of things to happen. And now we have this terrible tragedy of the 19 school children, two teachers that were massacred this past Tuesday. Just horrible to even think about. God has allowed the world to be deceived. He's allowed Satan to have free access to deceive. You have to think that Satan was certainly behind this, working with this young 18-year-old person to do such a hideous thing.

But God has hidden the truth from the wise and the prudent. We should thank Him for the way He's working it out because it not only seems good, but it is good the way He is doing it. But He has revealed, notice He has revealed the truth to babes and to the first fruits He has revealed what He is doing. Let's go to Colossians chapter 1 and verse 26. Colossians chapter 1 and verse 26.

God has revealed this mystery. The first fruits understand the mystery of God. They're not hidden what God is doing. What a blessing that is to us. It may be a blessing we take for granted, but God has revealed to us what He is doing. It's not a mystery. In Colossians 1 and verse 26, verse 25, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you to fulfill the Word of God, the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations all down through human history. It's been a mystery, but now it's been revealed to the saints. It's been revealed to the first fruits. To them, God willed to make known. So God has willed to make known to the first fruits what are the riches of the glory of this mystery. We do understand the glory, the glory of sonship in God's family, and that is going to be provided for everyone who will. The riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. So this mystery is not a mystery to the first fruits. They understand what is going on. You know, it appears that God planned it this way from the very way back, way back, ancient, in ancient times, maybe before even the foundation of the world. Let's go back to Colossians chapter 1 and verse 3. Ephesians chapter 1 and verse 3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world. So it does appear that God had foreseen just how He would work out His great plan of salvation. We know there was the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. So God foresaw the need for the Passover, that mankind would sin, that He would need to have a way provided for sins to be forgiven. And it appears that He also foresaw the need to let man go his own way, but then choose out a firstfruits as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself according to the good pleasure of His will. So it does appear that God foresaw Pentecost, firstfruits, and ones that were predestined to be chosen out at this time. And it goes on the same in verse 11, in whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will. So predestined then to be called during this time. Verse 12, that we who first underscore that word first, firstfruits, then we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. So God foresaw Pentecost, just as He foresaw Passover, that He would choose certain ones to be first to come to Christ.

In verse 9, He says, having made known to us the mystery of His will. So the firstfruits have had this mystery of the will of God revealed to them. Having made to us, I think we all say we understand the will of God. We know how God is working out His plan and purpose. Firstfruits have been given understanding of a mystery. How do you like to understand, you know, a mystery story? We all like a mystery, maybe movie, don't we, every now and then? Well, we're in a mystery story as far as God's purpose and plan, and God has revealed what that mystery is, how He is going to work it out.

Verse 9, having made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Himself. And verse 10 is a verse to ponder and meditate, that in the dispensation of the fullness of times, in other words, eventually, eventually when God brings it all together at the conclusion of His plan and purpose with human beings, in the dispensation of the fullness of times, He might gather together in one all things in Christ. That's an amazing accomplishment of Almighty God. How would you like to take all that is happening in the world and bring it together in one, and to bring all that's happened in history and bring it together in one?

Is God's purpose to do that? Is He up to the task? He is. And the first fruits are going to actually help gather together all things in one. In the millennium, in the second resurrection, we're going to help Christ in doing that. You know, brethren, as evils abound, we think about what the slaughter at the school in Texas this past week, you know, we focus so much on that. But what about all the children that die in cities like New York, Los Angeles, Chicago? There are killings and shootings that are going on all the time. Add them up. You get a few here, a few there before too long. You get far more than were killed on Tuesday. We should be concerned about all that is going on.

And evils are abounding. As evils abound, some people wonder why God doesn't do something. Why doesn't God do something? And the truth we know, and that we can take great comfort in, and that gives us complete hope it's all going to be worked out. The truth is God is doing something, and Pentecost reveals what God is doing. For 6,000 years, he has been preparing a people, and these people are going to marry Christ at his return, be the bride of Christ, and they are going to help Christ straighten things out. So we should not ask, why doesn't God do something? He is. For 6,000 years, he has been preparing. We have the names of ones in the faith chapter, Abraham, Noah, righteous people already prepared. He's continuing to prepare people to this day. So I think it gives us great comfort to know that, hey, God has hidden these things. He's allowing it to happen. It's all going to work out for good in the end, and He's going to bring it all together in one. God is doing something, and has been, is, and will continue. You know, the church, this is part of Pentecost, is going to become the bride of Christ. Let's read a few verses on that.

2 Corinthians 11 and verse 2. And this is an amazing thing. It's something that we want to never take for granted. Say, oh, I've heard that before. Let's think about that as we prepare for Pentecost. The Bride of Christ. I want to think about it more. I want to let it register more deeply on my mind. How about you? We're going to become the Bride of Christ in 2 Corinthians 11 and verse 2. I am jealous for you with godly jealousy, for I have betrothed you to one husband.

Oh, these firstfruits in Corinth. And we could say us today. We are betrothed to one husband that I may present you as a chaste, chaste virgin to Christ. So we, the church is being prepared to be the Bride of Jesus Christ. We are betrothed at this time to Christ. Let's read Ephesians 5 and verse 32. Several verses show the church being prepared to marry, become the wife of Jesus Christ, and reign with Him. Ephesians chapter 5 and verse 32. This is a great mystery. Oh, that's what Pentecost is. Pentecost is a mystery to the world, not to the church.

The church understands, but the world does not. This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. It's this passage on husbands and wives. So the husband-wife relationship is even to be like that of Christ in the church. And I tell you, the more it's like that of Christ in the church, the more it's going to be happy and successful. Let's go to Revelation 19. We read about this marriage. Right after Jesus Christ returns, this marriage will take place. Revelation 19 and verse 6. Verse 7. It talks in verse 6, the last part, Hallelujah! For the Lord God omnipotent reigns. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready. That's what we must be busy doing at this time, making ourselves ready. To her was granted to be a raid and find linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. It is God's divine nature and character developed in us. He said to me, Right, blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb. And He said to me, These are the true sayings of God.

So, then Christ and His bride will proceed to reign over the nations and begin to bring things together in one and begin to pour out God's Spirit upon all flesh. At the beginning of the millennium, God will begin to do that. And then the second resurrection comes along after the millennium, and all of those people will have God's Spirit poured out upon them. Let's read in Revelation 20 and verse 4. It talks about the first fruits here. I saw thrones and they sat on them. These are ones who have become the bride of Christ, and judgment is committed to them.

The souls of those beheaded who had not worshiped the beast or his image. They lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. And this is the time when God pours out His Spirit upon all flesh.

Those who, verse 6, blessed and holy is He that has part in the first resurrection. So, the first fruits are indeed blessed and holy. They will be priests of God and Christ and reign with Him a thousand years. Verse 5 says, The rest of the dead did not live again till the thousand years were finished. And so then in verse 12 it talks about them. I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God. And books opened. Another book opened. The book of life. Now they can receive God's Holy Spirit. God's Holy Spirit will be poured out upon them, and they'll be judged by what they do.

So, the saints are going to bring righteous government, and they're going to bring all things together and help Jesus Christ as the wife of Christ. Brother, Pentecost is a mystery to the world. You know, the world, it pictures that the world doesn't understand what God is doing at this time. But the first fruits, no, they understand. They know how they fit into God's mystery that He's working out. But did you know that Scriptures say that soon is not going to be a mystery anymore?

After Christ returns, we just read about that. Everybody is going to have the righteous government of Christ brought to them. Let's go to Revelation chapter 10.

And it's coming a time then when the mystery of Pentecost will no longer be a mystery. The world is going to understand. In Revelation 10 and verse 5, The angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land lifted up his hand to heaven, and swore by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things that are in it, the earth and things that are in it, and the sea and things that are in it, that there should be delay no longer. In a way, God has been just kind of delaying things.

I guess you could say as far as straightening things out, He's been doing it all along.

God's just not been stepping in. And He could turn it around. He could put an end to things like happen, the killing of those children. God could do it right away, but He's delaying doing it. He's waiting until just the right time. When's He going to step in and really begin to turn things around? Verse 7 tells us, in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, that seventh trumpet sound, when He is about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished as He declared to His servants the prophets. So I find this a very encouraging verse, don't you? Why doesn't God do something? Well, He is delaying really straightening it out. He's doing something. He has the first fruits He's preparing to be the bride of His Son, but He's not really turning things around yet. But He's really going to turn things around, beginning with the sounding of that seventh trumpet. That's what it says here in verse 7. So the mystery of God, then, what does it say, will be finished. It will no longer be a mystery. People will then understand the age of Pentecost will be over. The day of first fruits will come to an end, and the day of second fruits. And second fruits includes everyone. You know, when you think about it, the Feast of First Fruits, that implies there must be at least a second fruits. And I think in a way, you could say there are three fruits as well. The second fruits being the millennium. Everyone will have God's Spirit poured out upon them. The third fruits will be the second resurrection. All those of this age will be resurrected, and they'll have God's Spirit poured out upon them. So in the end, all flesh will indeed have God's Spirit poured out upon them. So let's think about this.

You know, people wonder why doesn't God do something while He is doing something? That is, we should not doubt what God is, the way He's working it out. You know, why isn't God doing something? He is doing something. What is He doing right now? Let's briefly think about that.

Well, you know, the Father is choosing and calling who will be in the Church. Jesus said, no one can come to Me unless the Father draws Him. So we're not here because Christ, you know, drew us. The Father is the one that handpicked you and Me. And that's an awesome thing to think about. We many times don't think about it as much as we should. The Father looked it down and selected you and Me to be in His Church, to be among the first fruits. The Father hears our prayers. We pray to the Father. Jesus said, say, our Father in heaven. We don't pray to Christ.

It's okay to say to Christ, thank you for what you have done. It's okay to recognize that Christ is at the right hand of God, but we direct our prayers to the Father. And He hears them and He answers them. He oversees our spiritual growth and our progress along the way. Now, what does Jesus Christ do? Is He busy doing something? Yes, He's busy doing something too. He's the head of the Church.

God has committed all judgment to Him. He's the CEO. You might say He is operating according to the plan and purpose that is being worked out. He's assisting our Father in our spiritual growth.

He attends to many of our daily needs. We can pray to our Father, whatever it may be.

We can boldly come before the throne of grace and Jesus Christ sitting there. Jesus attends, then, to our daily needs. He's an active CEO. He gives direction and judgment for the Church. He's the head of the Church. He's an active head of the Church. And the Father and Jesus Christ worked together. John 5 and John 6 show that they worked together in the plan of salvation.

So what is God doing right now this very day? He's calling some. He's calling some. He's looking down and saying, well, I think I'll draw. I'll put the spiritual magnet on this person. I'll draw him to the Church, to my Church. He's bringing some to baptism, guiding them, giving them understanding of this truth and that truth, drawing them toward baptism. He's bringing them to Christ to work with in the Church that Christ is head of. He's hearing and He's answering our prayers. God, He is, our Father is etching His law upon our hearts and minds. Day by day, hour by hour, He is slowly creating divine nature and godly character.

He sees any flaws and weaknesses. He sees any areas where we need to grow.

So Sabbath to Sabbath, holy day to holy day. God is busy working. He's doing something.

He's preparing the first fruits to reign with Christ. So let's never wonder, you know, why doesn't God do something? He is doing something. It just isn't doing that something quite as much as we might like. That is, changing everything in the world. That time is coming.

So what should we be doing? First fruits need to realize they are being trained and prepared to reign and to govern with Christ. They should be learning God's holy and righteous laws.

They should be taking on His, the godly nature and using their spiritual gifts to serve others, learning to lead and to govern. First fruits should daily resist Satan and overcome him.

And Satan's world is strong. It's coming at us. The first fruits must overcome Satan's evil world and overcome their own fleshly nature. So this Pentecost, let's appreciate this day. Let's prepare for it. I thought about this sermon that it would be good to give one on preparing for Pentecost, just as we give sermons to prepare for Passover, so that we can see more clearly that God is doing something. Why doesn't God do something? Well, He is doing something.

Let's wrap it up, then, with a couple of things here. Is there a connection between Pentecost and a better resurrection? We correctly answered that as yes. Let's go to Hebrews 11.

Hebrews 11. In verse 35, we all know this is the faith chapter. It mentions people of faith down through the ages. Abel, Enoch, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, and others. People of faith.

People, first fruits of the Old Testament. And in verse 35, it talks about all that they went through.

And you know, we as first fruits have things that we go through. Difficulties, opposition, persecution sometimes. Well, verse 35, women received their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.

Oh, the first fruits do go through hardship. They have to come out of the world and be different.

It's not easy being a first fruit, but there's a better resurrection. So, yeah, there's a connection between Pentecost, first fruits, and better resurrection.

First fruits will be in the first resurrection. The first resurrection is to immortal life.

The second resurrection is not a bad one. People that never understood come back to physical life, but isn't the first one so much better? Yes, it is.

The ones in the first resurrection are given immortal life. They become the bride of Christ. They reign with Christ. They're in the millennium. It certainly is a better resurrection.

So, in conclusion, let me encourage everyone to do some reading on Pentecost.

Our current literature has things about Pentecost that you can read.

Our United News and our Holy Day booklet has a whole chapter on Pentecost. That would be good to read.

Let's conclude by reading Matthew 13 and verses 16 and 17. Matthew 13. The beginning of verse 16.

Matthew 13 and 16. Blessed are your eyes for they see. Jesus is telling this to his disciples. His disciples were called to be first fruits. Pentecost, first fruits. Blessed are your eyes for they see and your ears for they hear.