Today is Pentecost. Many churches recognize Pentecost but
very few observe it as a Holy Day. Fewer still understand the true meaning
of Pentecost.
So, let's talk about Pentecost .... where it came from,
why, and what it means to us today.
First, let’s discuss the history of Pentecost
The subject of Pentecost, or Shavu'ot in Hebrew, actually
begins with the weekly Sabbath before the waving of the omer or wave sheaf
offering of barley on the first day of the week after Passover. Fifty days
after that is Shavu'ot. Shavu'ot means weeks. As we shall see, Shavu'ot is
the anniversary of the giving of the Torah or the law or the Pentateuch.
These fifty days provide a bridge between the Holydays of Abib (or Nisan)
and Shavu'ot, and are sometimes called the "counting of Omer."
Lev 23:15-22 And you shall count for yourselves from the
day after the Sabbath [the weekly Sabbath - H7676], from the day that
you brought the sheaf of the wave offering: seven Sabbaths shall be
completed. {16} `Count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath;
then you shall offer a new grain offering to the LORD....... {21} On
that same day you are to proclaim a sacred assembly and do no servile or
strenuous work. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to
come, wherever you live.
There is sometimes confusion between the wave sheaf
offering, or first of first fruits, referred to in Leviticus 23:10, and
the new grain offering referred to in verse 16. Verse 10 refers to the
first of the early harvest of barley. Verse 16 refers to the thanks
offering of wheat.
(Exo 34:22 NKJV) "And you shall observe the Feast of
Weeks, of the firstfruits of wheat harvest, . . . . . . .
Exodus 19:1-3 strongly implies and Judaism believes that
the law including the ten commandments were given on Shavu'ot at Sinai.
Let's read those verses:
Exo 19:1-3 (NKJV) In the third month [Sivan - the
same month in which Pentecost falls] after the children of Israel had
gone out of the land of Egypt, on the same day, they came <to> the
Wilderness of Sinai. {2} For they had departed from Rephidim, had come
<to> the Wilderness of Sinai, and camped in the wilderness. So Israel
camped there before the mountain. {3} And Moses went up to God, and the
LORD called to him from the mountain, saying, "Thus you shall say to the
house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel:
Exodus 23:16 refers to Shavu'ot as the Feast of Harvest:
Exo 23:16 (KJV) And the feast of harvest, the
firstfruits of thy labors, which thou hast sown in the field: .....
These first fruits were the harvest of the barley and
wheat which were sown just after last fall’s Feast of Tabernacles. Between
Shavu'ot and the fall harvest of the current year, the rest of the grain,
the fruit harvest and all other crops will be harvested. The sacrifices
for the Feast of Weeks are described in Numbers 28:
Num 28:26-31 (NKJV) Also on the day of the firstfruits,
when you bring a new grain offering to the LORD at your <Feast of>
Weeks, you shall have a holy convocation. You shall do no servile work.
{27} You shall present a burnt offering as a sweet aroma to the LORD:
two young bulls, one ram, and seven lambs in their first year, {28} with
their grain offering of fine flour mixed with oil: three-tenths <of an
ephah> for each bull, two-tenths for the one ram, {29} and one-tenth for
each of the seven lambs; {30} <also> one kid of the goats, to make
atonement for you. {31} Be sure they are without blemish. You shall
present <them> with their drink offerings, besides the regular burnt
offering with its grain offering.
But it is the two wave loaves which make this sacrifice
different:
Lev 23:17-20 (NKJV) You shall bring from your dwellings
two wave <loaves> of two-tenths <of an ephah>. They shall be of fine
flour; they shall be baked with leaven. <They are> the firstfruits to
the LORD. {18} And you shall offer with the bread seven lambs of the
first year, without blemish, one young bull, and two rams. They shall be
<as> a burnt offering to the LORD, with their grain offering and their
drink offerings, an offering made by fire for a sweet aroma to the LORD.
{19} Then you shall sacrifice one kid of the goats as a sin offering,
and two male lambs of the first year as a sacrifice of a peace offering.
{20} The priest shall wave them with the bread of the firstfruits <as> a
wave offering before the LORD, with the two lambs. They shall be holy to
the LORD for the priest.
In the New Testament, the Feast of Weeks is called
Pentecost or fiftieth. The word "day" is implied.
We read in Acts that the New Testament church was keeping
Pentecost:
Acts 1:1-9 (NKJV) The former account I made, O
Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, {2} until the
day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given
commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, {3} to whom He also
presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs,
being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things
pertaining to the kingdom of God. {4} And being assembled together with
<them>, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait
for the Promise of the Father, "which," <He said>, "you have heard from
Me; {5} "for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized
with the Holy Spirit not many days from now." {6} Therefore, when
they had come together, they asked Him, saying, "Lord, will You at this
time restore the kingdom to Israel?" {7} And He said to them, "It is not
for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own
authority. [A lesson for those who set dates.] {8} "But you shall
receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you
shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and
to the end of the earth." {9} Now when He had spoken these things, while
they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their
sight.
Acts 1:15 (NKJV) And in those days Peter stood up in the
midst of the disciples (altogether the number of names was about a
hundred and twenty), .....
Acts 2:1-4 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all
together in one place.
[The original Greek reads ‘they were all together
together' or they were all together with one accord (with one mind). There
was complete agreement about when Pentecost was kept]
{2} Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind
came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. {3}
They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to
rest on each of them. {4} All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit
and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
This is the Power that Christ promised to send to the
elect in John 16:7. Let’s read it.
John 16:7 (NKJV) "Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It
is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper
will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him [i.e. It] to you.
In God's Master Plan, Pentecost pictures the giving of
God's Holy Spirit. So, let's get the picture: The Law was given at Mt.
Sinai. The Power to keep the law was given at the first New
Testament Pentecost after Christ's crucifixion.
What does the term "speaking in tongues mean?" Jerusalem
contained people from all over the known world. The predominate languages
were Hebrew, Aramaic, Roman and Greek and many people knew one or more of
these languages plus their native language. It appears to be in these
languages that they were speaking.
2nd. Let’s look at the significance of being "The First
Born".
Christ is the first-fruit now, duplicating the wave sheaf
offering. But where do the Saints come in? And what is the significance of
being firstborn? Let's look at some scriptures to find out:
In Gen 4:3-6, remember that Cain and Abel had brought
offerings to God. Cain offered fruit from the ground while Abel offered
animals. When God accepted Abel's sacrifice but rejected Cain's, Cain was
offended.
In Gen 4:7 God is talking to Cain after rejecting Cain's
offering. He says:
If you do what is right, will you not be accepted [have
the excellency]? But if you do not do what is right, sin [chataah -
H2403] lies at the door; and subject to you is his [Abel's] desire, and
you shall rule over him. [Because Cain was the first born.]
The word "sin" is translated from the Hebrew word "chataah"
which often means sin offering rather than sin. See Ex 29:14 for an
example. So the sentence would read "But if you do not do what is right, a
sin offering would be expected, . . . and you would continue to rule over
Abel."
In verse 7, God admonishes Cain. The gist of this rebuke
to Cain was this: "Why are you angry, as if unjustly treated? If you do
well (i.e. you have been innocent and sinless), your thank offering would
have been accepted. But because you have not done well (i.e. you are a
sinner), a sin offering is necessary. If you would have brought that, you
would have been met with acceptance and retained the honors of your
birthright. This implies that previous instructions had been given as
to the mode of worship Abel offered through faith. Note what Paul said
about it:
Heb 11:4 By faith Abel offered to God a better
sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was
righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he
is dead, he still speaks.
The high distinction conferred by priority of birth is
described in Gen 27:29, which we will read in a moment; but it was Cain's
conviction, that this honor had been withdrawn from him, by the
rejection of his sacrifice, and conferred on his younger brother - hence
the secret flame of jealousy was kindled. The flame grew into hatred, then
exploded into revenge. Do we ever experience the same emotions? If so, we
need to repent of them.
Gen 27:29 reflects a part of the blessing Jacob received
from his father Isaac and describes the importance of being the firstborn.
Let's turn to it:
Gen 27:29 Let people serve you, and nations bow down to
you: be lord over your brethren, and let your mother's sons bow down
to you: cursed be every one that curses you, and blessed be he that
blesses you.
You might also want to read Gen 25:23, where God went out
of his way to point out that in this case the older son shall serve the
younger because that was to be the exception to the rule.
But let’s turn to Exo 4:22 to see another reference to the
firstborn.
Exo 4:22 Then say to Pharaoh, `This is what the LORD
[i.e. Adonai] says: Israel is my firstborn son,
Why is Israel referred to as God's firstborn son? Because
the Israelites became the first to receive God's written law.
However, David knew that it would be Christ, in Hebrew, ha
Mashiach, the King of Kings, who would be the Father’s firstborn.
Psa 89:27 I will also appoint him my firstborn,
the most exalted of the kings of the earth.
Again, speaking of Christ:
Col 1:15-16 He is the image of the invisible God, the
firstborn over all creation. {16} For by him all things were
created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether
thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by
him and for him.
Again speaking of Christ and indirectly of the saints:
Heb 1:6 And again, when God brings his firstborn
into the world, he says, "Let all God's angels worship him."
But the saints are more specifically identified in Chapter
12:
Heb 12:23 to the church of the firstborn, whose
names are written in heaven [in the book of life]. You have come to
God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made
perfect,
And finally:
Rev 1:5 and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful
witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings
of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his
blood,
3rd. Now, let's elaborate on the New Testament Pentecost:
Again, Pentecost pictures the giving of God's Holy Spirit.
Pentecost is the anniversary of the New Testament church. Anniversaries
provide a good opportunity to review the past year. Have we grown this
past year? Have we grown since receiving the Holy Spirit? We in the Church
of God have been given a small ‘talent’ and it's up to us to see what we
will do with it.
2 Cor 5:5 Now it is God who has made us for this very
purpose and has given us the earnest [or down-payment] of the
Spirit [a small part of what is to come in the future].
We have been given a small down-payment of God's Holy
Spirit.
Now, let’s consider the Parable of the Talents:
Mat 25:14-30 "Again, it will be like a man going on a
journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them.
{15} To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and
to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on
his journey. {16} The man who had received the five talents went at once
and put his money to work and gained five more. {17} So also, the one
with the two talents gained two more. {18} But the man who had received
the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's
money. {19} "After a long time the master of those servants returned and
settled accounts with them. {20} The man who had received the five
talents brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me
with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’ {21} "His master
replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful
with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and
share your master's happiness!’ {22} "The man with the two talents also
came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have
gained two more.’ {23} "His master replied, ‘Well done, good and
faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put
you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!’
{24} "Then the man who had received the one talent came. ‘Master,’ he
said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not
sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. [Taking what you
have not earned. Like many today who blame others including God (fate)
for their fruitlessness.] {25} So I was afraid and went out and hid your
talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’ {26} "His
master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest
where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? {27}
Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so
that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. {28}
Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents.
{29} For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an
abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from
him. {30} And throw that worthless servant outside, into the
darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
How are we investing or building on the down-payment of
the Holy Spirit which we were first given at baptism? How much has it
increased? The only way to receive more of God's Holy Spirit is to wisely
use what we have. If we just hide it from others and don't use it, what we
have will be given to someone else and we will be caste aside.
The first part of this chapter also describes the use and
strengthening of the Holy Spirit.
Let's turn to verse 1:
"At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten
virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. {2}
Five of them were foolish and five were wise. {3} The foolish ones took
their lamps but did not take any oil with them. {4} The wise, however,
took oil in jars along with their lamps. {5} The bridegroom was a long
time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. {6} "At
midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet
him!’ {7} "Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. {8} The
foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are
going out.’ {9} ‘No ,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both
us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for
yourselves.’ {10} "But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the
bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the
wedding banquet. And the door was shut. {11} "Later the others also
came. ‘Sir! Sir!’ they said. ‘Open the door for us!’ {12} "But he
replied, ‘I tell you the truth, I don't know you.’ {13} "Therefore keep
watch, because you do not know the day or the hour."
These scriptures also describe the process of a young
Jewish couple's courtship and marriage. The parallel is fascinating and
fits exactly with the scriptures we have just read. Let me describe it to
you, and as I describe it, I’ll compare it with these last scriptures:
The couple is chosen by the parents, not each other,
though the couple's choices are certainly taken into consideration.
[Similarly, God chooses His elect]. In the bride’s presence, the
prospective groom asks permission of the bride's father to marry his
daughter. During the discussion of terms of the contract, the father and
the groom agree on a dowry. The dowry is given to the bride's mother to
support her should she become widowed. The groom then asks the bride to
marry him by passing a glass of wine to her.
This is just another example of how wine is served at
special occasions. Consider:
Gen 14:18 where Melchizedek, priest of Most High God,
served wine [H3196] and
John 2:1-11 Christ’s made wine from water for the wedding
[G3631 or H3196]
The bride demonstrates her acceptance of his marriage
contract proposal by drinking from the glass. If she refuses to drink of
the wine, she is refusing his offer of marriage. Is there an analogy here
with the drinking of wine at Passover? As we drink of the wine aren’t we
accepting Christ’s sacrifice for us and demonstrating our willingness to
be His bride?
After the bride accepts the groom (she almost always does,
but it is her choice), the groom leaves to begin constructing a
room for them at his father's house. The bride's family will prepare for
the wedding. This typically takes a year or so. During this engagement
period the bride wears a veil whenever she is in public to announce to
other men that she is taken. [As a comparison, God’s elect want no part
with other religions.] The engagement period is considered almost as
binding as marriage itself and requires a written statement of divorce to
break; the only grounds being adultery. There is also an analogy here if
one should then join a church which does not keep God’s laws and Christ’s
examples, and which does not have faith in Christ’s sacrifice - see Rev
14:12.
After the room is ready and approved by the groom's father
(in Christ’s case, God the Father), the groom and a group of his friends
will come after his bride in the middle of the night, hence the need for
oil in the lamps. When he takes her from her home, she removes her veil
and places it on his shoulder with the words, "the government shall be on
his shoulder." The bride and groom then enter the room which the groom
built for them, and may remain there for several days. The best man will
stand outside the room to provide food and drink and whatever they may
require. The wedding feast, at which the bride and groom sit under a
canopy, dressed like a king and queen, can last for a week. Part of the
festivities includes the giving of the bed coverings to the bride’s
father, so that he can prove that the bride had been a virgin.
So, in these scriptures, we have a perfect picture of
those in the church who have prepared for the return of Christ, the
husband of the church, by keeping their lamps (their obedience to the
commandments) lit and full of oil (God's Holy Spirit). The Holy Spirit
gives us the power to obey God's commandments just as the oil keeps the
lamps lit. The light from those lamps compares with our example to the
world of the proper way to live. As we can see, Christ's return compares
perfectly with the traditional wedding ceremony.
Prov 6:23 For the commandment is a lamp, and the law is
light, and the corrections of instruction are the way to life,
Notice that the bride is to be a virgin...not spotted with
the world's religions. Notice that the bridegroom waited...How many times
have you wondered why Christ has not come already? At times, He seems to
be waiting -- Is He waiting for His Saints to get ready? Yes, but He is
also preparing a place for His Saints, just as the bridegroom prepares a
room for his bride. And our Father has planned the timing of Christ's
coming, probably from the beginning of time. We just have to wait.
4th. A few minutes ago I asked how much we had grown.
Let's talk about growing and bearing fruit:
Col 1:9-13 For this reason, since the day we heard about
you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with
the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and
understanding. {10} And we pray this in order that you may live a life
worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit
in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, {11} being
strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so
that you may have great endurance and patience with joyfulness; {12}
giving thanks to the Father, who has made us suitable to share in the
inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. {13} For he has
rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom
of his dear Son:
What are some fruits of the Holy Spirit we should be
demonstrating? Let's look at some scriptures discussing five of these
fruits:
First: God's people must do good to all people:
Gal 6:1-10 Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you
who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you
also may be tempted. {2} Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you
will fulfill the law of Christ. [It doesn't say to just shun them or
disfellowship them, does it?] {3} If anyone thinks he is something when
he is nothing, he deceives himself. {4} Each one should test his own
actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to
somebody else, {5} for each one should carry his own load. {6} Anyone
who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his
instructor. {7} Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps
what he sows. {8} The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from
that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the
Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. {9} Let us not
become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a
harvest if we do not give up. {10} Therefore, as we have opportunity,
let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the
family of believers.
Second: God's Spirit in us enables us to discern God's
thoughts and ways:
1 Cor 2:11-16 For who among men knows the thoughts of a
man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the
thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. {12} We have not received the
spirit of the world but the Spirit which is from God, that we may
understand what God has freely given us. {13} This is what we speak, not
in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit,
expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. {14} The man without the
Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for
they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they
are spiritually discerned. {15} The spiritual man makes
judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's
judgment: {16} "For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may
instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ.
Third: God's Spirit guides us in Christian living:
Rom 8:7-9 the sinful mind is hostile to God. It
does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. {8} Those
controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. {9} You, however, are
controlled NOT by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of
God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he
does not belong to Christ.
Fourth: Those with God's Spirit can see that there is a
better priesthood and covenant under Christ:
Heb 8:4-6 If he were on earth, he would not be a priest
(he was not a Levite), for there are already men who offer the gifts
prescribed by the law. {5} They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and
shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was
about to build the tabernacle: "See to it that you make everything
according to the pattern shown you on the mountain." {6} But the
ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant
of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, and it is founded on
better promises [not laws, but forgiveness of sins, the Holy Spirit, and
eternal life]. [A mediator is a go-between - between us and God the
Father.]
Fifth: God's elect (the royal priesthood) will inherit the
former positions of the chief rabbis and priests:
Mat 21:33-44 "Listen to another parable: There was a
landowner who planted a vineyard [an area set aside for the producing of
fruit]. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it and built a
watchtower.
Let me pause here to read from the Old Testament verse to
which Christ refers:
(Isa 5:1-7 NASB) Let me sing now for my well-beloved A
song of my beloved concerning His vineyard. My well-beloved had a
vineyard on a fertile hill. {2} And He dug it all around, removed its
stones, And planted it with the choicest vine. And He built a tower in
the middle of it, And hewed out a wine vat in it; Then He expected it to
produce good grapes, But it produced only worthless ones. {3} "And now,
O inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, Judge between Me and My
vineyard. {4} "What more was there to do for My vineyard that I have not
done in it? Why, when I expected it to produce good grapes did it
produce worthless ones? {5} "So now let Me tell you what I am going to
do to My vineyard: I will remove its hedge and it will be consumed; I
will break down its wall and it will become trampled ground. {6} "And I
will lay it waste; It will not be pruned or hoed, But briars and thorns
will come up. I will also charge the clouds to rain no rain on it." {7}
For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, And the
men of Judah His delightful plant. Thus He looked for justice, but
behold, bloodshed; For righteousness, but behold, a cry of distress.
I have been told that there are something like 400
references to the book of Isaiah in the New Testament. Continuing with our
reading of Mat 21:33:
Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers [ordinary
spiritual guides of the people] and went away on a journey [for a long
time]. {34} When the harvest time approached, he sent his servants
[prophets and other messengers] to the tenants to collect his fruit.
{35} "The tenants seized his servants; they beat one, killed another,
and stoned a third. {36} Then he sent other servants to them, more than
the first time, and the tenants treated them the same way. {37} Last of
all, he sent his son [Christ] to them. `They will respect my son,` he
said. {38} "But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other,
‘This is the heir. Come, let's kill him and take his inheritance.’ {39}
So they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. {40}
"Therefore , when the owner of the vineyard comes [judgment time], what
will he do to those tenants?" {41} "He will bring those wretches to a
wretched end," they replied, "and he will rent the vineyard to other
tenants, who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time." {42}
Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures: "‘The stone
the builders rejected has become the capstone [This refers to Acts 4:11
from Psa 118:22, and 1 Pet 2:4-6 from Rom 9:33]; the Lord has done this,
and it is marvelous in our eyes’. {43} "Therefore I tell you that the
kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who
will produce its fruit [God's elect]. {44} He who falls on this
stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be
crushed." [A condemnation of the chief priests and Pharisees.]
But living the good life cannot be done without sacrifice,
effort and sometimes pain. We must remain obedient and faithful to
Christ's way of life. The Kingdom will be the inheritance of those who
produce spiritual fruit, not those who just happen to be in the right
church or are righteous in their own eyes.
John 15:1-10 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the
gardener. {2} He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while
every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more
fruitful. {3} You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to
you. {4} Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear
fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit
unless you remain in me. {5} "I am the vine; you are the branches. If
a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart
from me you can do nothing. {6} If anyone does not remain in me, he is
like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked
up, thrown into the fire and burned. {7} If you remain in me and
my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.
{8} This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing
yourselves to be my disciples. {9} "As the Father has loved me, so have
I loved you. Now remain in my love. {10} If you obey my commands,
you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands
and remain in his love.
Before I close, I want to read two more scriptures to you
to tie this all together:
Heb 12:18-24 (NKJV) For you have not come to the
mountain that may be touched and that burned with fire, and to blackness
and darkness and tempest, {19} and the sound of a trumpet and the voice
of words, so that those who heard <it> begged that the word should not
be spoken to them anymore. {20} (For they could not endure what was
commanded: "And if so much as a beast touches the mountain, it shall be
stoned or shot with an arrow." {21} And so terrifying was the sight
<that> Moses said, "I am exceedingly afraid and trembling.") {22} But
you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the
heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, {23} to the
general assembly and church of the firstborn <who are> registered
in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made
perfect, {24} to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the
blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than <that of> Abel.
2 Cor 3:3 (NKJV) clearly <you are> an epistle of Christ,
ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living
God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, <that is>, of the
heart.
If Jewish tradition connected the "Feast of firstfruits"
with the "Mount that might be touched", and the "voice of words which they
that heard entreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more,"
we have in this respect also "come unto Mount Zion," and to the better
things described as the New Covenant. To us the Day of Pentecost is,
indeed, the "feast of firstfruits", and that of the giving of the better
law, "written not in tables of stone, but on the fleshy tables of the
heart," "with the Spirit of the living God." For, as worshipers were in
the Temple, probably just as they were offering the wave-lambs and the
wave-bread, the multitude heard that "sound from heaven, as of a mighty
rushing wind," which drew them to the house where the apostles were
gathered, there to hear "every man in his own language;" the wonderful
works of God; And on that Pentecost day, from the harvest of firstfruits,
not less than three thousand souls added to the Church were presented as a
wave-offering to the Lord. The cloven tongues of fire and the apostolic
gifts of that day of firstfruits have, indeed, long since disappeared. But
the mighty rushing sound of the Presence and Power of God's Holy Spirit
has gone forth into all the world to the Church of God.
Brethren, all this was accomplished for our benefit. Use
this Power of God's Holy Spirit that your lamp will shine brightly for God
and all the world to see. A lamp is seen. It is not heard. We, like a
lamp, can be a witness to others by what they see us do, not by what
others hear us say.
(Mat 5:14-16 NKJV) "You are the light of the world. A
city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. {15} "Nor do they light a
lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light
to all who are in the house. {16} "Let your light so shine before men,
that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in
heaven.