Pentecost

And, brethren, the most important aspect of this day, this day of Pentecost for you and me, is to recognize that we are an integral part of the New Testament Church of God. You are an integral part of the church that began on Pentecost in 31 A.D. At least, that's when we believe it was. Pretty sure of that. The New Testament Church began when God's Spirit was poured out upon those whom God was calling at that time. We know God calls people. No one can come to Christ unless the Father draws Him. So we know that we're here because God is calling us and God is opening our minds to His truth by the power of His Spirit. Today, God has a church and you and I, we, are a part of the first fruits of planet earth. And I make no excuses for believing that. I believe it is a high and a holy calling, and I greatly appreciate that calling. And so I hope no one is ever offended by that belief. Now, that certainly doesn't make us better than anyone else. We're not better because God chose us. We're just blessed because God chose us. And God opened our minds to this truth and this understanding. Now, the United Church of God is an organization within the One True Church of God. I don't believe that the United Church of God comprises the One True Church. That's not what we believe in the United Church of God. God's Church is composed of all who have the Spirit of God dwelling within them presently, and also those who have died in the faith, who have been sealed for the first resurrection by God's Spirit. And by anyone else, God is going to call in the future and will grant them His Holy Spirit.

So, I hope we do understand that because that is what we believe. We do have other brothers and sisters in the faith scattered among a variety of organizations and also individuals who have God's Spirit dwelling in them. Individuals that, for whatever reason, they may not be fellowshiping with someone now, but they have God's Spirit in them. So, they are brothers and sisters in Christ.

God knows His own, even though we may not always know exactly who are His, but He certainly does. And we should strive to cooperate and, if necessary, reconcile with any members of God's Church as we have opportunity and there is a willingness to do so.

I have no doubt that God is working in the United Church of God. I believe that wholeheartedly, 100 percent. There are many who have the Spirit of God dwelling in them here today. Spirit-filled people of God, members of God's Church. We all need to clearly grasp this vision, this calling, and, frankly, we all need to do our best to strive to live up to this calling.

What does God expect of His Church, His people today? Now, I don't claim to speak perfectly for God. That's not what I'm saying, but I think I have some idea of what God expects of His people. I'm sure this isn't everything He expects, but I'm going to share with you some of the things that I do believe God does expect of His people.

We should ask ourselves whether or not we're accomplishing these things and how well we're doing. There is a clear pattern in the Scriptures of spiritual renewal and cleansing during the spring Holy Day season, during the Passover, the days of 11 bread, and the day of Pentecost. Clearly, a pattern in the Scriptures of spiritual renewal and a cleansing of ourselves.

We've heard many messages along these lines during this spring Holy Day season and during the countdown to Pentecost. God expects us to work on cleaning ourselves up spiritually. We are to become clean spiritually for you individually. I'm talking to each of you individually now. If God's Spirit dwells in you, you are the temple of the Holy Spirit. Scripture clearly says that, that you are the temple of God's Holy Spirit. If God's Spirit dwells in you, then you are the temple of the Holy Spirit. And also, the Church is collectively the temple of the Holy Spirit and the body of Christ. That's what the Scriptures teach. There is clear and undeniable proof that Pentecost was certainly being observed after Christ's death. And during the time of the early Church, and that God's true Church today ought to be observing God's feast days. But God's Church was persecuted and it was scattered not all that long after the day of Pentecost in 31 A.D. It wasn't long before persecution set in and they had to flee to Pella. And it was scattered. And there was a dark cloud over the Church of God because there was tremendous persecution and things were happening and the Church was being scattered. Today we see the Church scattered, but we also see clear evidence of God's Spirit and God's Church. So let's make no mistake of that.

We observe Pentecost today with the clear understanding that judgment has begun upon the house of God. That's what the Scripture tells us. Judgment has begun upon the house of God. God isn't judging everyone else right now. It's not their day of salvation, but it is our day of salvation. Now is your day of salvation. It's my day of salvation. So it's good to see you here today. It's good to see you obviously wanting to obey and serve God and be pleasing to God because it's important. This is our day of salvation. Let's go to Acts 2 for a moment. Everyone in his own order. That's what the Scripture teaches. Everyone will have their opportunity. So I don't know that we need to feel badly if God isn't calling everyone right now. That's his plan. That's his design. Acts 2. Now obviously when people are suffering because they don't know the truth, we don't feel good about that. But that helps us long for God's kingdom. When all people will come to a knowledge of the truth, they will come to understand God's truth as we have been blessed to know God's truth today. Acts 2, verse 1, When the day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. There's evidently about 120 that were meeting together in this one place. Suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing, mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues as a fire, and one sat upon each of them, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. It was clearly a miracle that God was pouring out his Spirit, and they were hearing one another in their own language, even though they spoke different languages, but they were hearing in their own language. So it was a miraculous thing that God was doing. The power of his Spirit was being poured out. We know that Peter was greatly filled with God's Holy Spirit. A man who had denied Christ three times, not long before, was now boldly standing up, unashamed, and very grateful to be called at this time.

Now, in Acts 1, where we read Christ's words, Christ had promised the Holy Spirit that he would send the Holy Spirit. In verse 8, he says, So the church of God began dynamically, you might say in one way, it began dynamically, but also very humbly. There were only about 120 that were assembling together initially, but we know that the Word went out, and others no doubt heard these things as there was an uproar going on with the Spirit being poured out, and people were pouring in to hear and to see what was going on. And several thousand were baptized that same day, and other thousands were baptized in very short order, and God was pouring out his Spirit dynamically. In fact, the word power in Acts 1, verse 8, is the Greek word dunamis. From this word, we get the word, the English word dynamo. You've heard people say, well, that guy's a human dynamo. It means he has a lot of energy. It was a dynamic thing, God's Spirit. It means force or miraculous power, derived from the word dunamis, which means to be able or possible, to be able.

So this is a powerful word, this word dynamo or dynamic power. Acts 2, verse 40, we'll see that this dynamic power was evident in the early church.

In Acts 2, verse 40, And with many other words, he testified and exhorted them. Peter had given that powerful sermon, and many people were asking, well, what can we do? What should we do? And he said, repent and be baptized. Every one of you have hands laid upon you and received the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Verse 40, And with many other words, he testified and exhorted them, saying, Be saved from this perverse generation. So it's not wrong to consider the generation in which we live as a perverse generation either, because it is a perverse generation.

That doesn't mean we look down on people or hate people.

Of course not, but this is what the Bible says. It is a perverse generation. We are to come out of the world. We are to be separate. We are to be different. And we are to respond to the calling that God is giving us. And we're to have a right perspective on what's happening and how God is working, and not be confused. It shouldn't be that confusing. God's Spirit is not a spirit of confusion. It's a spirit of power and of faith and of a sound mind, not a confused mind. So in Matthew 16, verse 18, Christ said very clearly, I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. Matthew 16, verse 18, And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church. Actually, Peter was a stone. That's what his name meant. But Christ was the rock, the rock that was with them in the wilderness, the rock that followed them, the rock that was ever present, that lives in us today. He says, on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades, the gates of hell, shall not prevail against it. It would never die out, and God's church has not died out. In fact, we're proof of that, living proof of that today. Because we're here as God's people, we're assembling together, because we know that we have been called out by God to keep this day. By the way, I would like to welcome any guests that we have here today. I notice there's a few that I don't readily recognize, so we're glad that you joined us. I'm glad that you were able to find this particular hall and are here with us today. So we are meeting here today as living proof that these words are true. Now, there are other groups meeting today as well. And I'm talking about groups that met yesterday, too. Not just today, but groups who also met yesterday. Because the Sabbath is a sign between God and His people, and that's one of the Ten Commandments. And that's an important sign between God and His people. And we shouldn't put too much emphasis on it, but we should not neglect that either. That's a part of this. So there are lots of people keeping Sunday today, but a whole bunch of them did not observe the Sabbath in the way that God commanded. So there's no doubt in my mind that some who are meeting today and who met yesterday as well are converted. They're not in this building today, but they're converted people. God has opened their minds. He's calling them. He's working with them. They're responsible for the choices that they make, obviously, and who they attend with. And you are as well. You get to decide. No one forces you to come to the United Church of God. That's your choice. It's your decision. So as the saints of God, as God called out once, God's church has a responsibility to fulfill the church's commission. 1. To preach the gospel of the kingdom of God. 2. To prepare a people for the return of Jesus Christ. 3. To make true disciples of all nations. That's one reason why we put so much emphasis on our calling and why we're here and what God is doing with each and every one of us. So, brethren, what is our legacy as the first fruits? What is your legacy as one of the first fruits, as one of the children of God that called out once? Again, God loves all people. For God so loved the world, He loved everyone. And that's why He gave His Son, not just for you and me, but everyone in their own order.

God loves every person just as we need to learn to love every single person and pray for them and care for them and learn to love them all. But we have a special calling as the first fruits of God. What should you and I be focusing on right now with all of our might, with all of our soul, with our heart, and with our minds? How do we need to be focused? The two great commandments revealed in the Bible are, first of all, to love God with all of your heart, with all of your soul, with all of your might, with your mind.

To love God and to pour out your heart to Him on a daily basis and have that close relationship with God that will allow God to guide you, to lead you, and to help you make good, sound, godly decisions in your life. God will do that for you if you have faith and if you believe that.

And secondly, it is to love your neighbor as yourself. And your neighbor includes all people. You know, it's not just those whom God is calling now, it's all people. No, God wants us to love all people. God really does want us to love all those who are made in His image. And in His likeness, we all have a wonderful potential to be born into God's family. And so, hopefully we realize that, we see that. But more specifically, what should we be focusing upon as God's people today?

Yes, those two things are given. Those are the two great commandments. To reach out to people in our fellowship and in other fellowships and out in the world and try to make a difference in their lives. And try to be as involved as we can be, you know, within proper reason. But today, let's consider five aspects of our calling. Five aspects of our calling. How well are we doing in these different five aspects? We should ask ourselves that. We should consider this. Number one, okay, we are called, and you're going to hear the word called a lot today in each one of these five aspects.

We are called today to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, the kingdom of God to all the earth as a witness to all nations. That's important. You can't do that in your living room by yourself. That doesn't work! We are called to preach the gospel of Christ, the kingdom of God to all the earth as a witness. That doesn't mean that that person at home can't make some difference with a few people that live close by or that they know, or a few people. But I don't think that's what God is saying here.

He wants us to have an organized work. It's okay to have an organization that bind together and work together so that more can be accomplished. And that's what we're doing in the United Church of God. Matthew 24 verse 14 says, And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.

This is a high calling to preach the gospel of the kingdom of God to the world, to make a difference in the world. God wants us to do that. And in the announcements, I read some of the things. There was one statistic, over 12 billion impressions on different advertising, Yahoo, and different things. 12 billion, I mean, that's quite a few. I mean, we're a small group. We're weak in many, many ways. But should we not do the best we can and bind together to do as much as we possibly can?

Now, I think we have one of the finest websites in the world, the United Church of God. That's not to say that others don't have very fine websites, but the United Church of God has a very good one. And frankly, I would rather we just had one big one instead of a bunch of little ones.

I mean, that's what I would prefer, but that isn't the way it is right now. Things are scattered. We do the best we can. Most importantly, our website is packed with the truths of God. Beyond Today TV and Beyond Today magazine are among the finest in the world. I believe that. I believe they're among the finest in the world.

They're also packed with the gospel of the kingdom of God and the truths of God. So, brethren, let's pray faithfully for God's kingdom to come. I hope we're all doing that, that we're all praying faithfully as part of our daily prayers. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. The world desperately needs the return of Jesus Christ.

It needs this truth that we have been entrusted with, and we should do our best to preach the gospel of the kingdom. Pray faithfully for God's guidance and blessing in preaching the gospel. Pray that God would allow us to have more strength and that more people would tune in and listen and respond. It's all according to God's will, isn't it? He's the one who does the calling. God can stir things up in a moment. God can make things happen. He can turn the key on in people's minds.

We could be overwhelmed in short order with people who are seeking to know more about the truth of God. God is fully capable of doing that. Perhaps if He hears His people praying for that sort of thing, He would be more inclined to do it. So I would encourage you to pray that God will open people's minds. It's a good thing for them to be called now.

That's a good thing. I've been very blessed because I've been called now. And so I'm all for as many as God will call. And we should all certainly put it in God's hand because He does the calling. But He wants to see His people passionate about His Word and His truth and His way of life.

So we talked in the offering about the importance of tithing and offerings. That makes a difference. I was encouraged at the recent General Conference of Elders because things are looking better in the United Church of God. We suffer when there are divisions among us. We suffer when things happen. It takes a while to recover from those types of things. But we are recovering.

And perhaps God will bless us in greater ways in the future.

So, number one, we are called to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom to all the earth as a witness. I mean, God isn't calling everyone now. We know that. But as a witness to all the world.

Secondly, another aspect. We are called to make disciples of all nations and to faithfully teach God's way. So the first part was as a witness. But also, we are called to make disciples of all nations. That's why it would be wonderful if the person from Botswana had an opportunity to continue and to come around and become a baptized member of the Church of God. That's kind of a far-flung place when you're living here in the United States. How many of you have been to Botswana? Probably a few of you, but not many. A few of you have, but not very many. Matthew 28. Let's read our commission together. Verse 16. Matthew 28. Verse 16.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. And I have no doubt that his disciples tried to do that. They tried to do that. There was persecution. Many of them gave their lives because of it. It wasn't easy. It was a difficult road. Baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you. All things. Yes, we teach all things. We teach the Ten Commandments. We teach obedience to the Ten Commandments. Not just in the letter, but in the spirit of God's law. And we'll talk more about that later. It is important to teach God's truth and to expect people to keep it. Expect ourselves to keep it. Expect others that God is calling who claim to be Christians to keep it. Consider what you can do to preach the Gospel as the situation warrants it in your own lives. In the past, people tried to convert everybody. They were called out. We've had articles written about not trying to force people. Not trying to convert people because it doesn't work.

You are not capable of converting another person. God has to call people. But that doesn't mean you have a path to never say anything about what you believe. God says, be ready to give an answer to anyone who has a question of why you do what you do. As you come in contact with people at work, with your friends, wherever you are, be willing to speak up and let them know that, yes, I am a Christian. I believe in Jesus Christ. And I believe that we should keep God's commandments.

That's what I believe. And see if they're interested. See if they're receptive. If they allow you to continue, keep on going. But read the people, and if they're turned off, then shut up and say no more. Because God isn't calling them. God isn't calling them. If He is, they'll come back to you. They will continue to seek. I felt compelled to be a part of God's church when God was calling me. I felt compelled. It was a calling. It was on my heart. I was 18 years old. It was something I had to do. So if God is truly calling someone, eventually they'll get to that point where they see the absolute beauty of this calling.

And they'll be compelled to be baptized. It does puzzle me why some people come to church and are not baptized for years. I wonder why. What is it? Can't you make a decision? What is the problem? Make a decision. If you're coming here, you must believe it. So step out in faith. Be baptized. Trust God. Paul was not ashamed to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, nor should we be. Romans 1, verse 16. Let's look at that. Paul was so wrong.

He persecuted God's people. He had some of them killed. But he was repentant of all that. Romans 1. Let's read what Paul says here. Romans 1. He says, verse 16, I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

For it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes. For the Jew first, and also for the Greek or the Gentile. To whomever God will call, for in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith. It is written, the just shall live by faith. Or by faithfulness, the just shall live. By our faithfulness, we shall live. So I hope you're 100% committed today to God's church and God's way of life and doing all that God is calling you to do.

We are called to make disciples of all nations and to faithfully teach God's way. Brethren, support the preaching of the gospel collectively as we attempt to take the gospel to the world. Let's get behind the church of God and let's not be negative about what God is doing. And let's allow the Spirit of God to stir us up to good works. All of us together. Number three, another aspect. We are called to set an example of God's way and truth in our lives, in the way that we live our lives.

In Jeremiah 2, verse 3, it says that the children of Israel were to be holiness to the Lord. They were called out. They were a special people. They were to be holiness to the Lord, become you holy, even as I am holy, is what God is telling each and every one of us on this day of Pentecost.

Be you holy, even as I am holy. Israel was to be holiness to the Lord and they were to be the first fruits of his increase. But they blew it and he knew they would. They weren't capable. They didn't have it in them. Only a few had it in them. Only a few truly responded to God and were given his Spirit. A relatively few.

A few thousands. I don't know exactly how many, but there were certainly some who have responded throughout the ages. But they went into captivity and they were punished because of their disobedience and because of their unfaithfulness. Let's go to Deuteronomy chapter 26. Israel was to be a special people to God. I believe there is a thread in the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. We today are spiritual Israel. It's good to read the Old Testament and to consider what was written there because it all blends together.

We get a fuller understanding of what God expects of us when we see what he wanted the children of Israel to be. Deuteronomy chapter 26. Deuteronomy 26 verse 16. The day the Lord your God commands you to observe these statutes and judgments, therefore you shall be careful to observe them with all of your heart. How careful are you to observe God's commandments? Be careful to observe His commandments with all your heart and with all your soul. Today you have proclaimed the Lord to be your God, the Eternal, and that you will walk in His ways and you will keep His statutes, His commandments, and His judgments, and that you will obey His voice.

Also today the Lord has proclaimed you to be His special people. God makes no excuses for having a special people. Israel was to be a special people. Just as He promised you that you should keep all of His commandments and that He will set you high above all nations which He has made in praise, in name, and in honor, and that you may be a holy people to the Lord your God just as He has spoken. Now that's how I look at all of you as a holy people called out by God.

I expect the best of you. I expect the best of me. I don't always give it. And I know sometimes you won't either. And we'll all fall short. But we should expect it of one another because we are called of God and we have the power of God, we have His Spirit to guide and direct and lead us. In Ezekiel 20, let's go there and read a few verses. In Ezekiel 20, again showing a special people in the Old Testament that frankly they failed. But we are not to fail. We must not fail. If not for the elect's sake, all people would be destroyed upon the face of the earth. If it were not for the elect's sake, God will shorten the days so that we won't kill ourselves. Ezekiel 20, it's going to get bad on this earth before it gets better. Ezekiel 20, right now it's very good and I'm enjoying it. God's been good to us. We should enjoy our lives. But we should not lose sight of who we are. Ezekiel 20, verse 40.

He's obviously talking about in the future. This has not yet been fulfilled. There may have been a certain earlier fulfillment in a very small way when they came out of Babylon and they came back into the land of Israel. But this is talking about a time-yet future.

Then you shall know that I am the Eternal when I bring you into the land of Israel, into the country for which I raise my hand in an oath to give to your fathers. And there you shall remember your ways and all of your doings with which you were defiled.

And you shall loathe yourselves in your own sight because of all the evils that you have committed. I have personally loathed myself at times because of my sins.

I think every true Christian needs to go through that and realize that we all fall far short of the holiness of God and that we must be a repentant people.

Seeking to obey and follow God. Then you will know that I am the Eternal when I have dealt with you for my name's sake. Not according to your wicked ways, nor according to your corrupt doings.

God is so merciful and I thank God daily for His mercy.

I was thinking earlier today, what a scallywag! I don't even know exactly what that means. But I'm a scallywag and then I thought, but I'm God's scallywag.

I'm God's scallywag. You know, O wretched man that I am, who's going to deliver me from this body of death?

I thank God through Jesus Christ, my Lord. I will be delivered through Jesus Christ. He is my Savior.

And I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

So God is love and we are to grow in love for one another. Let's read a little bit further here. I wasn't quite done with this.

Verse 45, Furthermore, the word of the Lord came to me, saying, Son of man, set your face toward the south.

Preach against the south and prophesy against the forest land, the south. And say to the forest of the south, Hear the word of the Lord.

Thus says the Lord, God, behold, I will kindle a fire in you, and it shall devour every green tree and every dry tree in you.

The blazing flames shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be scorched by it.

All flesh shall see that I, the Lord, have kindled it. It shall not be quenched. God is coming back with fury.

When Jesus Christ returns, He is coming back with great fury.

All flesh shall see that I, the Lord, have kindled it. It shall not be quenched.

Then I said, Ah, Lord God, they say to me, Does He not speak parables?

Yes, we are to strive to understand these parables, these prophecies.

The study of God's Word is fascinating. It's something that we should be turned on to.

We should want to open our Bibles. We should want to study our Bibles. If we don't, you need to open your Bible and start reading it.

God will give you that fire, that passion that you need.

God is love, and we are to grow in love for one another. We are to become like God is.

We are to become love. All the fruits of God's Spirit, that's what we are to become.

Producing the fruit of His Spirit. We are to be Spirit-filled people, faithfully going about doing our Father's business.

We are to live by every word of God.

The law of God is an integral part of the Church of God. The commandments of God are just that. They are commandments.

The Church of God is a people who strive to obey God and keep His commandments.

It's very likely that the law of God was given on Mount Sinai in a very dramatic way on the day of Pentecost.

We are to treat others humbly and with respect. That's how God would have us treat one another.

All people. We should not have haughty spirits. We should be humble people, led by the Spirit of God.

Then we can do a great work, and we can help others.

A fourth aspect of our calling. We are called to grow and to overcome, to move toward perfection.

It's a high and a holy calling. To become spiritually mature, we are to become without spot or wrinkle or any such thing.

We know what that, in Ephesians, it talks about that. Ephesians 25. Let's go there for a moment. Let's read it together.

We read it not long ago in the sermon I gave on marriage and how God's Spirit will change your marriage if you yield to His Spirit.

You can have a vibrant marriage if you'll yield to God's Spirit. If you won't, it's doomed.

At least it won't be nearly as happy as it would be if you were being led by God's Spirit.

I know it takes two, and two people have to turn to God and allow God to work in them. Ephesians 5.

Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her. Certainly men have no free pass when it comes to marriage.

They're supposed to love their wives as Christ loved the church.

That He might sanctify and cleanse her with washing of water by the Word. That He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing.

No spot, no wrinkle. But that she should be holy and without blemish.

The Passover Lamb was to be without blemish. We are to become like Christ. We are to put on the mind of Christ. We are to allow Christ to live in us.

We're told to become perfect, even as our Father in heaven is perfect.

Let's go to Romans 8.

Romans 8.

Romans 8.

Romans 8.

And this is after Paul talks about being a wretched person, after he talks about baptism.

And then in chapter 8, verse 14.

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God, daughters of God, children of God, those who are led by the Spirit of God.

For you did not receive the Spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption or sonship, by whom we cry, Abba, Father.

The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, with the Spirit in man, that we are children of God.

And if children, then we're heirs. We're heirs of God and joined heirs with Christ. Christ is the firstborn.

Among many brethren, he is the first of the firstfruits.

But on this day of Pentecost, we need to realize who we are and live up to our calling.

So we are called to grow and to overcome, to move toward perfection, to become spiritually mature, to become without spot or wrinkle.

And collectively, both individually, obviously we have to work on ourselves first. We have to get the plank out of our own eye.

Then we can help someone who has perhaps a speck in their eye.

We have to take care of our own self first, as far as repentance and turning to God.

But then collectively, we need to turn to God and to each other in love.

And whatever we can do to help the world, let's do it.

You know, God is our judge, though. You're not the judge of how much someone else serves other people. You know, you can't put yourself in that kind of category that you look down on the Church of God and the people of God.

That's unhealthy.

We should have a positive approach toward God and His Church and His people and toward God.

That doesn't mean we have rosy, tinted glasses and we don't see anything that needs to change because certainly we can change.

But God is wanting a godly balance.

And again, we work together when we are more positively seeing one another.

You know, God says, think on the things that are right and good and pure and lovely.

And don't allow yourself to be so frustrated by our inadequacies.

Yes, we're an inadequate people. We should know that.

But God is our God and we are a holy people called out by Him.

So we should consider that God lives in us, each and every one of us. Let's lift each other up. Let's encourage one another. Let's help each other and let's not go down that other path.

Let's go on to a fifth aspect in regard to our calling.

We, as God's church, are called to keep the faith that was once and for all delivered to the saints.

That's what the Scripture tells us.

In Jude 3, let's go to the book of Jude. Jude 3.

Jude and Revelation. Jude 3 and 4. There's only one chapter. So Jude 3 and 4.

Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, this is Christ's own brother, beloved, while I was still very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you, exhorting you, to contend earnestly for the faith, which was once for all delivered to the saints.

For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men who turned the grace of our God into lewdness, and they deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.

There will always be tears that try to come among us and hurt us as a people, as God's people.

In Leviticus 23 it talks about the wave sheath offering, how it was offered on the morrow after the Sabbath.

They were to offer a Helam without blemish. Christ is our wave sheath. He has sacrificed Himself for us. He's paid that penalty for us. Our sins are forgiven. So when you sin, don't wallow in your sins. Get up and do better.

Get up and do better and don't make excuses. Don't wallow in self-pity. Be here at church. This is the best place for you to be.

Prioritize your life so that you're not so blasted, worn out when it comes to the Sabbath.

The Sabbath is to be a day of rest. It's also a day of worship. And it's a day of assembly. It's a commanded assembly.

So if you're going to make excuses, don't make excuses in this way. Find a way around it.

In 1 Corinthians 15 it says that Christ has risen from the dead and has become the firstfruits of those who are asleep.

The firstfruits, each in his own order. We are the firstfruits. You are the firstfruits.

That's why I titled this Pentecost, God's Spirit, and you.

Take it personally. Be passionate about the truth and the ways of God. Let's conclude with one Scripture in Revelation chapter 14. Revelation 14 verse 1.

Then I looked, John says, I looked, and behold, a lamb. Capitalize. This is the Lamb of God.

This is Christ Himself returning to the earth. All that we've been waiting for, all that we've been looking for, the anticipation.

Christ is coming! I looked, and behold, a lamb standing on Mount Zion.

And with Him 144,000, having His Father's name written on their foreheads, and I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder.

And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps.

And they sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures and the elders, and no one could learn that song except the 144,000 who were redeemed from the earth.

These are the ones who were not defiled with women. These are the ones who are pure spiritually, who have repented of their sins, who have had their sins forgiven and are clean before God.

They have become without spot or wrinkle or any such thing in the eyes of God.

For they are virgins. 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.

And in their mouth was found no deceit, no deceit, for they were perfect before God.

For they are without fault before the throne of God. What a powerful, powerful passage.

Do you anticipate Christ's return? Do you believe with every ounce of your being and are you actively involved and determined to be more active in the world?

Brethren, we need to remain faithful to our calling. How well are you doing? It's okay to ask yourself that from time to time. You have to. We have to ask ourselves, how well are we doing? Could we do better? Sure, we could do better. Let's do better. Let's all determine to do better. We can all do better. Can't we? I know I can. I know I can do better. I'm sure of it.

Brethren, we are, number one, called to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, the gospel of the kingdom of God to all the earth as a witness to all nations. We are called to make disciples of all nations and to faithfully teach God's way. We are called to set an example of God's way and truth in our own lives.

We are called to grow and to overcome, to move toward perfection, to become spiritually mature, to become love, to become as God is, to become without spot or wrinkle and truly humble in regard to the ways of God. And we as God's church are called to keep the faith that was once and for all delivered to the saints.

Make it personal.

God's spirit, Pentecost, and you.

Brethren, the world doesn't know it, but it really needs us to do our part. The world is blinded. Satan is the God of this world. Christ said, How be it in vain do they worship me? Yes, there are people who profess Christ, but they worship Him in vain. It's not good enough, but they can't help it if God isn't calling them now. But God is calling you, and He's calling me. And we are to be doing our Father's business. So let us all move toward becoming without spot or wrinkle or any such thing. Let's pull together as God's people. Let us strive to fulfill the five aspects of our calling that we focused upon today. This day of Pentecost as the New Testament, Church of God.