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Resurrection
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Receiving God’s Amazing Grace by Relating with Him through the Lord’s Feast of First-Fruits
TRUTH AND PURPOSE
The feast of First-fruits marks a time of giving back to God in gratefulness—and in faith—for His bountiful provision. It also marks a time to examine the first fruits of our labors to test the quality of the harvest. If the first crops are good—and therefore blessed—the following fruits are likewise blessed.
RELEVANCE
Interestingly enough, Yeshua the Messiah, Jesus Christ was also “inspected” by the religious leaders to test His claim to be the Messiah. Many false Messiah’s have attempted to claim Messiahship. His point was made and His claim proved, however, after His resurrection from the dead!
The feast of First-fruits is, therefore, a shadow pointing forward to the LORD’s resurrection as the first soul arisen in the newness of eternal life.
But the fact is that the Messiah has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have died. 21 For since death came through a man, also the resurrection of the dead has come through a man. 22 For just as in connection with Adam all die, so in connection with the Messiah all will be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: the Messiah is the firstfruits; then those who belong to the Messiah, at the time of his coming; 24 then the culmination, when he hands over the Kingdom to God the Father, after having put an end to every rulership, yes, to every authority and power. (1 Corinthians 15:20-24 JNT)
Through immersion into his death we were buried with him; so that just as, through the glory of the Father, the Messiah was raised from the dead, likewise we too might live a new life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will also be united with him in a resurrection like his.
(Romans 6:4-5 JNT)
In identifying with the LORD’s death and resurrection, we resist the temptations of sin, and allow the Holy Spirit to arise within and empower us to overcome.
The more we yield to this gift of grace—the true gift of the empowerment of the Holy Spirit—the more we experience the real sufficiency of God in our life. Paul discovered that this grace gift became the true source of his strength.
And we have such trust through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. (2 Corinthians 3:4-6)
REFLECTION, REALITY AND RESPONSE
None of us will ever be perfect in our mortal frames. We are just asked to seek first His kingdom, and earnestly allow the Holy Spirit to transform us, and conform us—into His image until He is revealed in us.
In what areas would you like to see God’s nature reflected in you?
REFERENCES
Romans 6; Philippians 3:7-16; 1 Peter 1:3-9
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