The Great Spiritual Harvest Pictured By Pentecost

The biblical holy days are presented to us as 3 seasons of harvest, two grain harvests in spring and early summer, then a produce harvest in the fall. The first festival season is Passover and Unleavened Bread, the second is the Feast of Weeks, the final is the Festival of Tabernacles.

The United Church of God teaches that the second grain harvest… the harvest of wheat which happens at the same time as the festival of Pentecost … is a picture of the great spiritual harvest taking place NOW. The sowing and reaping of this harvest is the current work of the Church, placed upon us by the Father and Jesus Christ.

The 7 holy days give us God's timeline for bringing humanity into eternity… a timeline that spans thousands of years... At this present moment we are in the phase of the great spiritual harvest, the harvest of the first-fruits. So let's go through what the bible has to say about the great spiritual harvest pictured by the Feast of Pentecost.

Outpouring of the Holy Spirit

Pentecost anticipates and now memorializes the outpouring of the holy spirit into all those who believe and are baptized. This holy power is no longer restricted to only a few among the chosen nation of Israel... Beginning with Pentecost in  31 AD. the spirit will be poured out on people called and chosen by God… out of all nations, and races.

The connection between Pentecost and the outpouring of the holy spirit is clear, emphatic, and without question Acts 2:1-4.

Acts 2:32-33 One of the His new roles of the risen and exalted Christ is to administer this outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2:24, 36 through undeniable signs of death and resurrection according to prophecy  the Father has made it known that Jesus is the rightful Messiah. Jesus has demonstrated His worthiness to serve in this role.

Romans 1:4-6 Jesus is raised by the power of the holy spirit, He reigns through the power of the holy spirit, and He continues to administer the outpouring of the holy spirit through His Church.

John 16:5-8 Jesus said "I must go so I can take up this important task!"

What is the cause and effect sequence here?

· He would die to provide atonement for sin for whoever is willing to claim it

· He would rise again to give proof of God's promise and power... appearing to the disciples and over 500 witnesses for about 40 days… He also gave further instruction regarding the messianic prophecies [some fulfilled and some yet to be fulfilled}.

· He would return to the Father's throne and be exalted at His right hand

· From there He would send for the holy spirit

Repentance is Not Enough

I want you to really think about this one…

Acts 1:2-5 the baptism of repentance for sin was not enough... they needed the holy spirit poured into them.

John 1:32-32 Jesus administers the outpouring of the holy spirit which comes forth from God.We need this in addition to the baptism of repentance John proclaimed. Why?

l Repentance and forgiveness of sin frees us from the due penalty of for sin

l But that atonement is not what give us eternal life. Eternal life come through the power of the holy spirit placed within you.

l The flesh will die no matter what you do… even repentant flesh will die. 

l Repentance and forgiveness only "clear the way" so that we might receive the holy spirit.

Consider Adam

Even without his great sin Adam's flesh would grown old and died. Why?

Because he did not have an immortal soul… and neither do you. To get everlasting life Adam would need to reach out his hand and eat of the tree of life… which was also in the garden. But through his sin he lost access to that tree of life… he was cast out.  And since that day death, with no option for immortality, has been the sad reality for all flesh and blood.

However, [and this is the good news] Christ has now made full payment and atonement for your sin. Because of that watershed event in human history… YOU… may enjoy restored access to the tree of life… and what that really means is the receipt of the holy spirit!

Acts 2:38-41 when the people gathered at Pentecost in 31 AD. learned the truth about Jesus they asked what should we do? The answer was: repent, be baptized for the forgiveness of sins... so that you might  receive the holy spirit.

Through this simple equation you [and people like you] can become part of the great spiritual harvest that is taking place NOW. This is the spiritual harvest of the first fruits pictured by the feast of Pentecost.

Notice that the holy spirit did not descend directly upon the 3,000 like it had upon the disciples. For everyone who came after them, Christ administered the outpouring of the spirit through His Church.

This is why the receipt of the holy spirit is conferred upon a person through the laying on of hands from an appointed elder of  the Church of God. The laying on of hands is a visible symbol and reminder of Christ working through delegated authority within His Church.

The Beginning of a New Life

Romans 6:4 when a person is baptized they go down into a watery grave... and then rise up to life. But wait, you're still in the flesh right? What makes this new life any different from the old life? The holy spirit within you makes this new life different... because the holy spirit is the beginning of eternal life... it is God's guarantee of His promise... your down payment.

Throughout chapters 6 and 7 of Romans Paul elaborates on death to sin, freed from its penalty, and freed from its total control over our mind and action.

But once again... being “dead to sin” is not enough. You may be cleaned up and forgiven but you’re still going to end up dead. Why? … because no human being possesses an immortal soul.

Each of us must also receive the spirit of power and of everlasting life which is the holy spirit. That is the substance of Romans chapter 8.

Romans 8:1-2 the holy spirit is a life giving spirit

Romans 8:8-11 the holy spirit in you is the power of indestructible life.

Romans 8:16-17 it is through the receipt of the holy spirit that we are recognized as God's children.

So, the time of being brought into the family of God and designated as heirs… is NOW. The time of the great spiritual harvest…  is NOW. This is the meaning of the Feast of Pentecost!

What We Are Is Hidden… For Now

Romans 8:19 we are considered children of God now, through the holy spirit placed within us. However, this magnificent status is now hidden to the world. It will be revealed when Christ returns.

Ephesians 4:30 the word sealed means hidden, marked, designated, confirmed. Imagine a envelope with a wax seal on the opening seam. The contents of the envelope are hidden, or kept secret… until the seal is broken and the letter is opened.

The letter will be opened and the contents revealed at the appointed time and by the appointed party. I am speaking of the return of Christ when we come into the fullness or our inheritance, the time of resurrection, receipt of new bodies, and our reward. All of which will be granted granted to the children of God who have grown into the fullness and maturity of Christ.

The point I am trying to make is that through the receipt of the holy spirit you are already designated as children of God and you are already the “first fruits” of creation James 1:18 --> Ephesians 1:13-14.

Romans 8:23 having the holy spirit placed within you makes you a first fruits. In this way you are NOW part of the great spiritual harvest pictured by the feast of Pentecost.

Galatians 4:4-7 the word adoption here [and elsewhere] should be understood in the Greco-Roman sense. It is a legal ceremony whereby a child is designated as the rightful heir. It would apply to a child born of your own flesh... or a child brought into your family from outside.

John 3:5-6 only those born of water [repentance] and the spirit [power of life] will be designated as heirs. Then when the time is complete they will come into their full inheritance.

Conclusion:

The feast of Pentecost is a time of harvest. It is a picture of the great spiritual harvest taking place at this time in human history. I am belaboring this point because confusion on this point appears to be circulating within the Church.

1. It is now that we are designated as children of God, first-fruits, and heirs [pictured by Pentecost]

2. Later, the full glory of God's children will be revealed and we come into our inheritance [pictured by Trumpets]