TORAH, GOD'S INSTRUCTIONS LEVITICUS 23 GOD S HOLY DAYS PENTECOST PART 3 THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE Say - Welcome to Sabbath School class. Let's bow our head and ask God for understanding as we continue our study of the book of Leviticus. This lesson will focus on Pentecost, the feast of firstfruits, Feast of weeks or Feast of Harvest and the Pearl of Great Price. Say - In "Pentecost, Part 1 and Part 2 we discussed how God's "Firstfruits" are to become holy and how to become "ripe" for the First Harvest or the First Resurrection. In our lesson today, Part 3, we will discuss the MIRACLE of SALVATION, THE "PEARL OF GREAT PRICE". Say - During Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread we studied and celebrated many of the extraordinary miraculous events from the Power of God such as the plagues brought on Egypt by God s miraculous power and how through many of the plagues, the Israelites were spared. Also the power of God when He parted the Red Sea for His people as they fled the evil of the Egyptian Pharaoh. But most miraculous of all was the power of God displayed when He raised Christ from the dead and He walked through stone! Say - The Good News is for God's "Firstfruits" He has called now, we already have received this very "power" which is God's spirit in an extraordinary miraculous event that we all must experience before we can be in God s Family and in His Kingdom. This event is called Salvation. Salvation is a MIRACLE made possible from the power of God s Holy Spirit whereby we can be rescued from the 2nd death and the enslavement and bondage of sin just as the Israelites were rescued from bondage and enslavement in Egypt, symbolic of sin, by the Power of God's mighty hand. But there s more good news! Not only are we rescued from sin and death but we are promised ETERNAL LIFE at Christ's return for His "Firstfruits"!!!! This is the MIRACLE God's "Firstfruits" celebrate with thankfulness on the Spring Holy Day of Pentecost! Say - As we have discussed, God's Spring Holy Days, Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread and Pentecost or Feast of Weeks picture repentance, baptism and receiving God's spirit or SALVATION! Salvation means a Miraculous CHANGE has taken place in God's Firstfruits" and thus the "New Creation in Christ" begins to form inside the "NEW UNLEAVENED TEMPLE OF GOD" of His "Firstfruits", I Corinthians 3:16, 6:19, 2 Corinthians 5:17.
Say - Paraphrasing the first few verses of I Corinthians 2, God teaches us through Paul saying, "I didn't come to you with flowery language or with great oratory but to DIRECT YOU TO CHIRST and that we are to believe the simplicity of God's message of repentance, baptism and the receiving of God's spirit by the power of God and to believe the TRUTH of God and THAT CHRIST IS FORMED IN US." Paul said, "This is where our faith should stand and do not believe man-made religions for they do not know neither can they know what God has revealed to His "Firstfruits" until they are given God's spirit! This is the MIRACLE we celebrate with Thanksgiving on the Spring Holy Day of Pentecost! Say - God continued through Paul beginning in I Corinthians 2:9. " 9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit (and what God "has revealed" and "prepared" for His "Firstfruits" is DIVINITY with Him over the entire universe; this is the MIRACLE we celebrate on the Day of Pentecost! Read it for yourself, " 21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. 22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one" John 17:21-22!) 11For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him (before repentance and receiving God's spirit we thought with human reasoning only but now in contrast)?... 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God " I Corinthians 2:9-12. Say - God tells us more through Paul what the Holy Days picture. " 17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature (a NEW creation not an old one; a CHANGE, a MIRACLE has taken place!): old things are passed away (the "old man" sin and the "old leaven" were buried in the waters of baptism); behold, all things are become new (he has "put on the new man", Ephesians 4:24, and the "New Leaven" of the Nature of Christ thus re-creating us in His image; this is the MIRACLE we celebrate at Pentecost!) 2 Corinthians 5:17.
20Now then we are ambassadors for Christ... (As God's "Firstfruits"we speak and live God's Truth, His Instructions and Laws; we don't change them or falsify them. Read for yourself how God performed and made possible the MIRACLE of Pentecost). " 21 For he (God) hath made him (Jesus) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him", Christ re-creating His "Firstfruits" in His image to be "born again" SPIRITUALLY at His First Harvest or First Resurrection, 2 Corinthians 5:20-21, Galatians 3:13, Hebrews 4:15. It says the same thing in the Old Testament, "... he was cut off out of the land of the living (remember Christ was "cut off" as the Wavesheaf Offering during the Feast of Unleavened Bread): for the transgression (sin) of my people was he stricken" Isaiah 53:8. Say - To those God has called now, this is the NEW YOU, the NEW CREATION IN CHRIST which will make His "firstfruits" a part of the FAMILY OF GOD! It is the MIRACLE we celebrate with Thanksgiving at Pentecost. Let's read more about this MIRACLE as we prepare to worship God on His Holy Day from 2 Corinthians 5:1-9. 1 For we know that if our earthly (physical) house of this tabernacle (tent) were dissolved (and we know that it will be in the 1st death), "Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me (by His death, burial and resurrection)" 2 Peter 1:14, I Corinthians 15:47.), we have a building of God ("we have this treasure in (our) earthen vessels", 2 Corinthians 4:7. This "TREASURE" is the "PEARL OF GREAT PRICE" or the TRUTH OF GOD formed by the spirit of God; His very Nature walks and lives in us and this is what we celebrate with Thanksgiving at Pentecost! Here is what the verse says 45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: 46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price (meaning the truth of God), went and sold all that he had (the old you the old sinful weight), and bought it (How many are willing to give up friends, family or church and follow God?) Matthew 13:45-46). an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens (meaning it came from Heaven just as Abraham, Isaac and Jacob believed; read it for yourself, " 8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country,
dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: 10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God", Hebrews 11:8-10). 2 For in this we groan (" 23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the spirit (that is us)!, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, (sonship), waiting for our spiritual birth, the redemption of our (physical) body" Romans 8:23), earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven (that is where God and Christ reside and they hold the power as to when His "Firstfruits" are to be changed to spirit beings): 3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked (because we are "clothed with the "Garments of Righteousness" of God when we walk with God not contrary to Him). 4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan (in our physical, mortal human body or "tent"), being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed (of God's Righteousness), but clothed upon, that mortality (death) might be swallowed up of life (at Christ's coming or at the 1st. resurrection changed to immortality) 2 Corinthians 5:2-4. The following is how God explains it, " 53 For this corruptible (this perishable, physical body we have) must put on incorruption (imperishable), and this mortal must put on immortality (spiritual). 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up (transformed) in victory" I Corinthians 15:53-54). This is the promise or MIRACLE we celebrate with Thanksgiving at Pentecost! 5Now he (God) that hath wrought us (created us, made us) for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. (He gave unto us some of HIMSELF, His spirit, the "earnest" or PROMISE of eternal life just as He tells us, read it for yourself. " 13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise (it is the spirit or power of God which seals us not a 3rd person), ( 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto
the praise of his glory" Ephesians 1:13-14). This is the MIRACLE we celebrate with Thanksgiving at Pentecost! 6Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body (until the resurrection), and to be present with the Lord (For God's "Firstfruits" know it will be a split second knowing no passage of time and when resurrected will be with Christ.). 9Wherefore we labour (His "firstfruits" are to be diligent and never give up the "hope that lies within us"), that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him (that we will be a "holy living sacrifice acceptable unto Him" by our love to Him, our faithfulness and obedience to Him as we "put on His Nature" until He comes)" 2 Corinthians 5:1-9. Say - God tells us more about the "NEW YOU" in Romans 8: 9-17! "...Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his (" 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not (because they are spiritually blind), neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you" John 14:17). And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin (spiritually speaking); but the Spirit is life... (the Bible tells us " 20 At that day, (when Christ returns or the resurrection day) ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you" John 14:20). 11 But if the Spirit of him (God) that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken (give eternal life to) your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you (at the resurrection) Read also in Romans 6, " 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life (In ways of obedience to God). 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection" Romans 6:4-5, I Corinthians 6:14. We went through the process of baptism symbolic of burying the "old leaven" the old way of life of sin and have "put on the New Man" and now
His "Firstfruits" walk in the "New Way" of obedience to God taking on His Nature to eternal life). This is the MIRACLE we celebrate at Pentecost! 12Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die (human reasoning and man - made religions): but (when we live in the spirit) if ye through the Spirit do mortify (put to death and destroy as in baptism and not return unto them) the deeds of the body, ye shall live (This is the same religion God taught to the Israelites), 14For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God (no one can take it from us). 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption (sonship), whereby we cry, Abba, Father (but we can't claim Him as our Father if we return to our former way of life after baptism; repentance means change and we must "put on the "New Leaven" of the "Nature of Christ" to be His child). 16The Spirit (talking about God not a 3rd person but Himself) itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God (as in a FAMILY RELATIONSHIP). This is the MIRACLE we celebrate with Thanksgiving at Pentecost! 17And if (God's)children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ (This is the ultimate purpose of man, to be with God and inherit all things, Galatians 3:29, and to be born into His Family in His image for this is the destiny of His Firstfruits taught to us through His Holy Days!); if so be that we suffer with him (we suffer with Him because we keep God's Laws which the majority of the world ignores because of spiritual blindness), that we may be also glorified together (We will be Elohim because we CAME from Him and we were BEGOTTEN of Him at baptism; this is not talking about the physical but the FUTURE spiritual BIRTH, I John 3:1)" Romans 8:9-17. This is the MIRACLE we celebrate with Thanksgiving at Pentecost! Say - The Bible tells us, " 4 But after that the kindness and love of God our
Saviour toward man appeared (to those He called or His Firstfruits), 5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost (spirit) (the Word of God, His righteous Law of love cleanses us because it is His spirit which now lives in us); 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour (He poured it on us and shows us what is right or wrong, Acts 10:35); 7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life" Titus 3:4-7. Say - Here are some further Instructions from God for His "Firstfruits". " 22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water (symbolic of baptism and being "washed" or cleansed by His blood removing the "old leaven" of sin which is what the Power of God's spirit does). 23Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) 24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching (God wants us to help one another with love become perfect by "edifying and building up", nourishing the "New Creation in Christ" and sincerely helping one another grow in the knowledge of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, that we may all inherit eternal life)" Hebrews 10:22-25. Say - Christ tells us, "to be spiritually minded is life and peace" even in a world in turmoil God's "Firstfruits" can celebrate the "Pearl of Great Price" which lives within us and celebrate with Thanksgiving the MIRACLE of PENTECOST for it has "Fully come to His Firstfruits" Romans 8:6, Acts 2:1!!! MEMORY VERSE But if the spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken (make alive) your mortal bodies by His spieit that dwelleth in you. Romans 8:9-11 BELOW IS THE SABBATH SCHOOL LESSON FOR TOTS
PENTECOST, THE POWER OF GOD'S SPIRIT A MIRACLE OF GREATEST IMPORTANCE IS OFFERED TO GOD'S LITTLE "FIRSTFRUITS"; SALVATION IT IS CALLED WHEN GOD GIVES HIS SPIRIT TO US AND WE CAN BECOME A PART OF THE FAMILY OF GOD! AN AMBASSADOR FOR CHRIST IS WHAT WE ARE AS WE SPEAK AND LIVE GOD'S WAY; AS GOD FILLS US WITH HIS LOVING NATURE TO BE "BORN AGAIN" IN SPIRIT ON THE RESURRECTION DAY! AS LITTLE "FIRSTFRUITS" WE NEVER GIVE UP AND ARE THANKFUL FOR HIS KINDNESS IN SAVING US; FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME I AM A CHILD OF GOD WHEN HIS SPIRIT LIVES IN US....HE THAT RAISED UP CHRIST SHALL QUICKEN (MAKE ALIVE) YOUR BODIES BY HIS SPIRIT... ROMANS 8:9-11