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Written by Bill Bradford
The Holy Day of Firstfruits also known as Pentecost, has great meaning for God's people at this time. The Holy Days and Feasts of the Lord, depict God's great plan to recover his creation from the rule of Satan and at the same time bring the human race to the place where they can become God's children.
The Holy Days are very descriptive when revealing God's plan. There are many wonderful lessons which can be learned from the Holy Days and Feasts of God. The powerful elements of God's plan which will be carried out in an ordered and permanent manner are the essential ones.
The Feast of Firstfruits tell us that God is not calling everyone now - only the Firstfruits of His spiritual harvest. This tells us the amazing and unique truth that this age is not the only time of salvation for man. This truth for those who understand it, gives hope for all mankind, no matter their stature, race or ethnicity. The people of God are alone at this time in their quest to fulfil God's authentic purpose.
Keeping the day of Firstfruits is one of the most encouraging and inspiring to God's called out people, because it reassures them of who they are, and it reassures them that all others who don't receive the same opportunity in this age, will have it in the next stage of God's plan. The Feast of Firstfruits reveals that God has several important steps in His plan. This Holy Day helps a Christian to understand the absolutely essential role the Firstfruits will play in God's future. But few people understand this and only "the few" in comparison are currently participating in that plan.
What does Firstfruits have to do with Pentecost and God's Holy Spirit?
The Holy Spirit was given to His called people on Pentecost, the ancient Feast of Firstfruits. Tremendous meaning is added to Pentecost when we understand that God's spirit is needed to establish who are His begotten children in this age. When a person receives the Holy Spirit, he or she becomes a begotten child of God. An individual becomes a child of God because God begets him/her through the indwelling of His own spirit. Receiving the Spirit of God is what makes a Christian Christ's own and one of His Firstfruits. "If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ he is not His" (Romans 8:9).
The giving of the Holy Spirit in the first instance is predicated on God's decision to call and establish a Christian as one of His Firstfruits. The giving of the Holy Spirit is not just to give His children something extra, but so they can function better in this life according to God's laws of love. To be sure it does this, Christ has instructed Christians to surrender their will and to bear fruit that reflects God's spiritual mind and heart.
This part of God's plan was so important that Jesus Christ – Himself - became the first of Firstfruits. Jesus Christ "became the Firstfruits of those who died (in the faith)" (I Cor 15:20). Jesus was "declared to be a Son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead" (Rom 1:4). So too, we are born children of God, when we are resurrected from the dead. The Firstfruits are those in the resurrection when Jesus Christ returns and will rule and reign with Him for a thousand years.
God is sharing this great message with the world and has invited our participation. Let us "stay on message". God asserts, "My counsel (plan) will stand" (Isa 46:10c). The world has gone astray because they don't know what God is doing. Look into the wonderful truths revealed in God's Holy Days and learn more about God's magnificent purpose for us by keeping the Day of Pentecost as God intended.
Read more about the meaning of the Feast of Firstfruits in the Bible study aid - God's Holy Day Plan.
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