The Pentecost Holy Spirit Gift
In today’s study we are going to share with you the third annual festival of Heavenly Father Yahweh called the Feast of Pentecost, also known as the Feast of Weeks (Leviticus 23:16-21; Acts 2:1). This holy day is also called the Feast of Harvest or Firstfruits (Exodus 23:16; 34:22). This commanded yearly feast corresponds with the start of the late spring wheat harvest in Israel. It was the day when Eternal Yahweh miraculously granted His Holy Spirit to the New Testament Church (Acts 2), the Church which he promised to build of which He is the Head (Matthew 16:18; Colossians 1:18). Very sadly, many professing Christians chose to ignore this sacred festival that Almighty Yahweh commanded ancient Israel to observe. Why are they avoiding this feast? Well, most Christians consider this festival to be either mere Jewish holy day or simply outdated. That is so further away from the truth! As always, we will let the Holy Spirit help and guide us in teaching you about the sacred Pentecost Holy Spirit gift.
On the day of Pentecost or Firstfruits, the Israelites were commanded to offer two “wave loaves.” The Bible shows that these wave loaves “are the first fruits unto Yahweh (Leviticus 23:17). These “firstfruit” loaves evidently pictured both the Old Testament and New Testament people of Heavenly Father Yahweh—since even the Old Testament prophets had the Holy Spirit of Yahweh (1 Peter 1:10-11). One very vital lesson of the “firstfruits” is that Yahweh is only calling out a small number of people—the “firstfruits”—in this age. Take note that the early spring harvest in Israel was a small harvest compared to the major harvest that came in the autumn. Do you know what this means? Strange as it may seem to millions of “mainstream” Christians who have been taught that Almighty Yahweh is trying to save the people of this world now, the true Elohim of the Bible is trying to do no such thing right now! If He were, then the billions of human beings who have lived for millennia on earth would have been “called” to Christianity. But the vast majority of people in this world lived and died not hearing the name of mankind’s Savior, Yahshua!
Furthermore, Pentecost pictures the first part of the spiritual harvest—the calling out of the Church—the called-out ones—which, for the New Testament dispensation, began on Sunday—Pentecost, June 17, A.D. 31. On that day the Holy Spirit came to dwell within flesh, as prophesied by the prophet Joel. On the 50th day (Pentecost) in Old Testament times, two “wave loaves” (Leviticus 23:17, 20) were brought out of the habitations of the congregation as the firstfruits unto the Master, as we stated earlier. Just so the New Testament Church was gathered out of this world as the firstfruits of His salvation, in fulfillment of the meaning of the wave loaves. We have all, if we have been genuinely converted as Christians, become a part of what was symbolized by those wave loaves. And just as the wave sheaf was lifted up into the air and waved, symbolizing Yahshua Messiah’s trip to heaven and return, so the wave loaves were lifted up and waved, symbolizing that we too shall for a moment leave this earth when we ascend to meet Him in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17) before we return with Him to stand on the Mount of Olives as He begins His forever mighty millennial rule on the earth (Acts 1:11; Zechariah 14:3-4).
The Feast of Pentecost or “Firstfruits” reminds us, year by year, that those few called-out of this world today are only the “firstfruits” and that a far larger harvest of souls will occur later. And as we read of the “outpouring” of the Holy Spirit on the first New Testament Day of Pentecost, we can be inspired that—though small in number—we “called-out ones” today have the power of the Holy Spirit to do the work of Heavenly Father Yahweh and His Savior Son Yahshua, as well as overcome ourselves with help never before given to human beings. The apostle Peter inspiredly proclaimed: “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Yahshua Messiah for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Yahweh our Elohim will call (Acts 2:38-39). We also read the apostle Paul’s inspired words, saying: “Now hope does not dissapoint, because the love of Yahweh has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who has been given to us” (Romans 5:5). Through the Holy Spirit, we receive the spiritual love of Almighty Yahweh—the kind of love we must have to fulfill Yahweh’s great spiritual law, the Ten Commandments, and build the very character of Yahweh. Does your church teach you these things?
In closing, the Feast of Pentecost continues to remind us that Yahweh is the Master of His harvest, choosing and preparing the firstfruits of His coming Kingdom by granting them His Spirit (Matthew 9:38; Luke 10:2; Romans 8:23; James 1:18). The Holy Spirit empowers us with the love of Yahweh, the motivation to obey Him, and a sound mind to discern His truth (2 Timothy 1:7; John 15:26; 16:13). Yearly, the Day of Pentecost reminds us of our unique calling and of the strength we are given through Yahweh’s Spirit to make our “calling and election sure” (2 Peter 1:10). Only those led by Yahweh’s Spirit—through which Yahshua Messiah lives again within the faithful and genuine believer—are called the sons of Elohim (Romans 8:9, 14; Galatians 2:20). Heavenly Father Yahweh gave this festival to His people in order to reveal, and to keep them continually informed, that the present dispensation is only the first, preliminary “harvest of souls.” This annual holy day feast keep us, His children, constantly in true understanding of Yahweh’s great plan. To accomplish this, Yahweh took the yearly material harvest seasons in ancient Israel as the picture of the spiritual harvest of souls through His Holy Spirit. We hope and pray that this true and faithful message has enlightened you about the true meaning and purpose of this sacred feast. Indeed, it’s a great honor for us to teach you about the Pentecost Holy Spirit gift. May Yahweh and Yahshua bless you all. Shalom, Halleluyah!