7.Jul.24

We are not in an agricultural society, but God in the Bible commanded three feasts for all males. He is speaking to the spiritual adult males, you with the seed. How are we supposed to keep this in modern days? Pentecost Day is also called the Feast of Harvest for many Pentecostal churches.

For us, it is the first week of July. For the farmer back then, it is the end of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. At the end of the very first season, they are given the opportunity to farm. This is the time when the first crops have been harvested.

In July, we are now actually in the Feast of Weeks in the Hebrew calendar. In the Feast of Weeks, the Israelites are harvesting the wheat. The Bible tells us that the Feast of Weeks is 7 weeks.

We have the Passover, which is on the 14th day of the first month. We then have the first fruits of barley. This is like saying from the very first fruit of barley, you count 7 weeks, and then you have the Feast of Harvest. If you time the biblical events, after the Passover, the very next day is the Exodus. If you count 7 weeks after the Exodus plus 1 day, you will get the Feast of Harvest. It is God reminding us that after your Exodus, which is your baptism, and you add 1 day, you will come to the Feast of Harvest, and you are to keep this day.

Good Friday is on Passover Day during the year that Jesus passed, which is 33 AD. Jesus resurrected on Lord’s Day. From the Resurrection Lord’s Day, you count 49 days, you get Pentecost. Pentecost is the day of the Feast of Harvest. This is important for us because as you are observing this day, we need to know what the purpose is. When Pentecost took place, the Christians were not at home; they were gathered in one place, and the Holy Spirit came. The church was born on Pentecost.

The number 50 represents Jubilee. Jubilee is the day that you are set free. This is the day when slaves are set free. If you mortgage your property, you will get it back. The concept of Jubilee is every 50th year. This is the first half of the year. Now it is like a mid-term report that we have to give to God. With this report comes the Pentecost; you are to take this Word and spread it. All these feasts are not just feasts but they represent Jesus. They are just a shadow, a tutorial. Jesus is the firstborn son of God. He is also the firstborn of whoever will resurrect. He is the first fruit of those who will die. Jesus is also the first seed that was planted. This concept of Jesus sacrificing himself is a role model. When we die to ourselves, that is self-sacrifice. When we die spiritually and emotionally, you empty yourself, you will live because the new life that breathes in you will bring you to transfiguration. Why do we not transfigure? Is it because we did not do enough? It is when we really change and die that we will be there.

The core message of the Feast of the Harvest is thanksgiving. In Psalms 50:22-23, God is saying whoever offers praise glorifies me, but before that there is a curse. God is saying if you praise me, I will save you, but we forget and get darkened.

We say it is my time, my effort. It is God’s spirit inside you that stirred you up to serve. It is His extra grace to you, and we observe this day of thanksgiving in our hearts. God says you give, not a specific amount; you give as the Lord gives you. Everything that you have given is from God’s hand. The offering already belongs to God. Even the ability to make money is from God. All these are God’s grace to you. When we are bound in God to give thanks, the Bible tells us that you abound in grace; it overflows without ceasing. The grace is from January; we are sailing on this boat. How is your boat ride? Remember the near-death experience that you went through; it is only known to you. Leviticus 23:15-22 focuses on the offerings and preparation. God is saying give your firstlings, your young.

Deuteronomy 16:9-12 states there is nothing material; it is all according to free will. It asks you to remember your location. Whatever God has given you, it is the first. God is the first because He first loved us. When you give the first of everything to God, whether it is the first in the morning or the last thing at night, it has different weight. The priest waves the sheep, the bread. The waving is not disorderly; the wave is to you, back to me, a wave offering you give to the priest, and I will return it to you in another way.

If we have thankfulness, all will go well. A thankful heart has to be given by God. I am not thankful; I am angry every day. Ask God, I cannot give thanks for them, but give me a thankful heart. If you do that, God will say I will save you. If you do that, God will bless you; you will flourish. Rev. Abraham Park says if you are giving to the church, give the best because God will see that it is the best. When you bring something to church, give the best; do not be stingy to God. God loves your cheerfulness. We are to rejoice with everyone in church.

AMEN.

Summarized by Elaine Sng