Sermon Notes: Pentecost Balo Elizonda

Balo Elizondo gace a powerful and uplifting message at the Central Texas Church of God on the meaning of Pentecost. Pentecost is one of the Holy Days mentioned in Leviticus 23 that most churches still observe. The following are the notes that Balo graciously provided.

The Harvest of the first fruits.

Finally we have arrived at the 50^th day starting with the wave sheaf day. This day is full of meaning and it is central to God’s plan! God’s plan is revealed to us by His Holy Days.

Pentecost is also called the feast of weeks (Exodus 34:22) Shavuot in Hebrew, because we have to count 7 complete weeks, and in Exodus 23 it is called the “Feast of the Harvest of the First fruits.”

Today I’d like to focus on this concept of the Harvest of the First Fruits and how it pictures the first resurrection. That’s when the harvest of the firstfruits will be completed.

Lev 23:3-16

·  3. Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of rest, a 

holy convocation. You shall not do any work. It is a Sabbath to the LORD in all 

your dwellings.

        

·  4. These are the appointed feasts of the LORD, holy convocations which you shall proclaim in their appointed seasons.

        

·  5. In the fourteenth day of the first month, between the two evenings,     between sunset and dark is the LORD'S Passover,

        

·  6. And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the LORD. You must eat unleavened bread seven days.

        

·  7. On the first day you shall have a holy convocation. You shall not do any servile work therein,

        

·  8. But you shall offer a fire offering to the LORD seven days. In the seventh day is a holy convocation. You shall do no servile work therein.' ”

        

·  9. And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

        

·  10. "Speak to the children of Israel and say to them, 'When you have come into the land which I give to you, and shall reap the harvest of it, then you shall bring the premier sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest to the priest.

        

·  11. And he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD to be accepted for you. On the next day after the Sabbath Heb. ha sabbat refers to the weekly Sabbath,

not the annual high day Sabbath. the priest shall wave it.

        

·  12. And you shall offer that day when you wave the sheaf, a male lamb without blemish of the first year for a burnt offering to the LORD.

        

·  13. And its grain offering shall be two tenth parts of fine flour mixed with oil, an offering made by fire to the LORD for a sweet savor. And the drink offering of it shall be of wine, the fourth part of a hin.

        

·  14. And you shall eat neither bread, nor parched grain, nor green ears until the same day, until you have brought an offering to your God. It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.

        

·  15. And you shall count to you beginning with the next day after the Sabbath, beginning with the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven Sabbaths shall be complete. The Hebrew means: seven complete weeks,

each ending with the seventh-day Sabbath.

        

·  16. Even unto the day after the seventh Sabbath you shall number fifty days. The fiftieth day is always the first day after the seventh Sabbath, which is also the first day of the eighth week. And you shall offer a new grain offering to the LORD. (A Faithful Version)

Jesus is the premier sheaf. Paul said He is the first to be raised from the dead (Acts 26:23).

Colossians 1:13-18

·  13. Who has personally rescued us from the power of darkness and has transferred

us unto the kingdom of the Son ofHis love;

        

·  14. In Whom we have redemption through His own blood, even the remission of sins;

        

·  15. Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation;

        

·  16. Because by Him were all things created,the things in heaven and the things

on earth, the visible and the invisible,whether they be thrones, or lordships, or

principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him and for Him.

        

·  17. And He is before all, and by Him allthings subsist.

        

·  18. And He is the Head of the body, thechurch; Who is the beginning, the firstborn

from among the dead, so that in all things He Himself might hold the preeminence. 

(A Faithful Version)

Now let’s see how Jesus was elevated and presented to the Father and accepted for us.

John 20:1-9, 15-17

·  1. Now on the first day of the weeks,while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene

came early to the tomb; and she saw that the stone had been taken away from the

tomb.

        

·  2. Then she ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus

loved, and said to them, "They have taken away the Lord from the tomb, and

we do not know where they have laid Him."

        

·  3. As a result, Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb.

        

·  4. Now the two ran together, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and

came to the tomb first;

        

·  5. And he stooped down and saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not

enter.

        

·  6. Then Simon Peter came following him, and he went into the tomb and saw

the linen cloths lying,

        

·  7. And the napkin that had been on His head, not lying with the linen cloths but

folded up in a place by itself.

        

·  8. Then the other disciple, who had come to the tomb first, also went in and saw

these things; and he believed.

        

·  9. For they did not yet understand the scripture which decreed that He must rise

from the dead. (A Faithful Version)

·  15. Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?"

Thinking that He was the gardener, she said to Him, "Sir, if you have carried

Him off, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away."

        

·  16. Jesus said to her, "Mary." Turning around, she said to Him, "Rabboni"; that

is to say, "Teacher."

        

·  17. Jesus said to her, "Do not touch Me, because I have not yet ascended to My

Father. But go to My brethren and tell them that I am ascending to My Father

and your Father, and My God and your God." (A Faithful Version)

That is when Jesus was presented to the Father. Becoming the first born from among the dead, the first of the firstfruits, the premier sheaf.

God’s harvest then continues for seven full weeks. Notice the similarities: Just as there are seven churches in revelation representing seven different eras of the Church of God there is an ongoing Harvest of God, because faithful saints have been dying from the beginning of the church and are just waiting for the resurrection on the last day.

John 4:28-38

·  28. Then the woman left her waterpot and went away into the city, and said to

the men,

        

·  29. "Come and see a Man Who told me everything that I have done. Can it be

that He is the Christ?"

        

·  30. Then they went out of the city and came to Him.

        

·  31. But in the meantime, the disciples were urging Him, saying, "Rabbi, eat."

        

·  32. And He said to them, "I have meat to eat that you are not aware of."

        

·  33. Then the disciples said to one another,"Did anyone bring Him something

to eat?"

        

·  34. Jesus said to them, "My meat is to do the will of Him Who sent Me, and to finish

His work.

        

·  35. Do not say that there are yet four months, and then the harvest comes. I

say to you, look around. Lift up your eyes and see the fields, for they are already

white to harvest.

        

·  36. And the one who reaps receives a reward, and gathers fruit unto eternal

life; so that the one who is sowing and the one who is reaping may both rejoice

together.

        

·  37. For in this the saying is true, that one sows and another reaps.

        

·  38. I sent you to reap that in which you have not labored; others have labored,

and you have entered into their labor." (A Faithful Version)

Matthew 13:24-30

·  24. And He put another parable before them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven is

compared to a man who was sowing good seed in his field;

        

·  25. But while men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed tares among the

wheat, and went away.

        

·  26. Now when the blades sprouted and produced fruit, then the tares also appeared.

        

·  27. And the servants came to the master of the house and said to him, 'Sir, did

you not sow good seed in your field? Then where did these tares come from?'

        

·  28. And he said to them, 'A man who is an enemy has done this.' Then the servants

said to him, 'Do you want us to go out and gather them?'

        

·  29. But he said, 'No, lest while you are gathering the tares, you also uproot the

wheat with them.

        

·  30. Allow both to grow together until the harvest; and at the time of the harvest, I

will say to the reapers, "Gather the tares  first, and bind them into bundles to burn

them; but gather the wheat into my granary." (A Faithful Version)

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

·  13. But I do not wish you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have

fallen asleep, that you be not grieved, even as others, who have no hope.

        

·  14. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, in exactly the same way also,

those who have fallen asleep in Jesus will God bring with Him.

        

·  15. For this we say to you by the Word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain

unto the coming of the Lord shall in no wise precede those who have fallen asleep

        

·  16. Because the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout of command,

with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in

Christ shall rise first;

        

·  17. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in

the clouds for the meeting with the Lord in the air; and so shall we always be with

the Lord.

        

·  18. Therefore, encourage one another with these words. (A Faithful Version)

1 Corinthians 15:12-23, 28-32, 35-37, 50-58

·  12. But if Christ is being preached, that He rose from the dead, how is it that

some among you are saying that there is no resurrection of the dead?

        

·  13. For if there is no resurrection from the dead, neither has Christ been raised.

        

·  14. And if Christ has not been raised,then our preaching is in vain, and your

faith is also in vain.

        

·  15. And we are also found to be false witnesses of God; because we have testified

of God that He raised Christ, Whom He did not raise, if indeed the dead are

not raised.

        

·  16. For if the dead are not raised, neither has Christ been raised.

        

·  17. But if Christ has not been raised, your faith is vain; you are still in your sins,

        

·  18. And those who have fallen asleep in Christ have then perished.

        

·  19. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most miserable.

        

·  20. But now Christ has been raised from the dead; He has become the Firstfruit of

those who have fallen asleep.

        

·  21. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead.

        

·  22. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.

        

·  23. But each in his own order: Christ the Firstfruit; then, those who are Christ's at

His coming.

        

·  24. Afterwards the end comes, when He shall have delivered up the kingdom to

Him Who is God and Father, when He shall have put an end to all rule and all

authority and power.

        

·  25. For it is ordained that He reign until He has put all enemies under His feet.

        

·  26. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

        

·  27. For He has put all things in subjection under His feet. But when it is said

that all things have been put in subjection, it is clearly evident that it does not

include Him Who put all things in subjection under Him.

        

·  28. But when He has put all things in subjection to Him, then shall the Son

Himself also be subject to Him Who put all things in subjection to Him, so that

God may be all in all.

        

·  29. Otherwise, what shall they do who have been baptized for the resurrection

 of the dead, if the dead are not raised at all? Why then are they baptized for the

resurrection of the dead?

        

·  30. Why are we also in danger every hour?

        

·  31. I die daily by our boasting which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord.

        

·  32. If I fought as a man with beasts in Ephesus, what did it profit me, if the

dead are not raised? Let us eat and drink,for tomorrow we die.

        

·  33. Do not be deceived; evil companionship corrupts good behavior.

        

·  34. Awake to righteousness, and do not sin, for some of you do not have the knowledge

of God. I say this to your shame.

        

·  35. Nevertheless, someone will say,"How are the dead raised? And with

what body do they come?"

        

·  36. Fool! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies.

        

·  37. And what you sow is not the body that shall be; rather, it is bare grain—it may be

of wheat, or one of the other grains;

        

·  38. And God gives it a body according to His will, and to each of the seeds its own

body.

        

·  39. Likewise, not all flesh is the same flesh. Rather, there is one flesh of men,

and another flesh of beasts, and another of fish, and another of birds.

        

·  40. And there are heavenly bodies, and earthly bodies; but the glory of the heavenly

is different, and the glory of the earthly is different.

        

·  41. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another

glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory.

        

·  42. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised

in incorruption.

        

·  43. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised

in power.

        

·  44. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body,

and there is a spiritual body;

        

·  45. Accordingly, it is written, "The first man, Adam, became a living soul; the

last Adam became an ever-living Spirit."

        

·  46. However, the spiritual was not first, but the natural—then the spiritual.

        

·  47. The first man is of the earth—made of dust. The second Man is the Lord

from heaven.

        

·  48. As is the one made of dust, so also are all those who are made of dust; and

as is the heavenly one, so also are all those who are heavenly.

        

·  49. And as we have borne the image of the one made of dust, we shall also bear

the image of the heavenly One.

        

·  50. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of

God, nor does corruption inherit incorruption.

        

·  51. Behold, I show you a mystery: we shall not all fall asleep, but we shall all

be changed,

        

·  52. In an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet

shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

THIS HAPPENS AT THE 7^TH TRUMPET. REVELATION 11:15!

·  15. Then the seventh angel sounded his trumpet; and there were great voices in

heaven, saying, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our

Lord and His Christ, and He shall reign into the ages of eternity."

        

·  16. And the twenty-four elders, who sit before God on their thrones, fell on their

faces and worshiped God,

        

·  17. Saying, "We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, Who is, and Who

was, and Who is to come; for You have taken to Yourself Your great power, and

have reigned.

        

·  18. For the nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, and the time for the

dead to be judged, and to give reward to Your servants the prophets, and to the

saints, and to all those who fear Your name, the small and the great; and to destroy

those who destroy the earth."

        

·  19. And the temple of God in heaven was opened, and the ark of His covenant was

seen in His temple; and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunders, and an

earthquake and great hail. (A Faithful Version)

BACK TO 1 CORINTHIANS 15:53

        

·  53. For this corruptible must put on incorruptibility, and this mortal must put

on immortality.

        

·  54. Now when this corruptible shall have put on incorruptibility, and this mortal

shall have put on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:

"Death is swallowed up in victory."

        

·  55. O death, where is your sting? O grave, where is your victory?

        

·  56. Now the sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.

        

·  57. But thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus

Christ.

        

·  58. So then, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding

in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. (A Faithful Version)

John 6

·  32. Then Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly I say to you, Moses did not give you the

bread from heaven; but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven.

        

·  33. For the bread of God is He Who comes down from heaven and gives life

to the world."

        

·  34. Therefore, they said to Him, "Lord,give this bread to us always."

        

·  35. Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; the one who comes to Me shall

never hunger; and the one who believes in Me shall never thirst at any time.

        

·  36. But as I said to you, you also have

seen Me, yet you do not believe.

        

·  37. All whom the Father gives Me shall come to Me, and the one who comes to

Me I will in no wise cast out.

        

·  38. For I did not come down from heaven to do My own will, but the will

of Him Who sent Me.

        

·  39. And this is the will of the Father Who sent Me: that of all whom He has

given Me, I should not lose any, but should raise them up in the last day.

        

·  40. And this is the will of Him Who sent Me: that everyone who sees the Son, and

believes in Him, may have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day." (A Faithful Version)

Now, this is what will happen at the LAST DAY…

Hebrews 12:18-23

·  18. For you have not come to the mount that could be touched and that burned

with fire, nor to gloominess, and fearful darkness, and the whirlwind;

        

·  19. And to the sound of the trumpet, and to the voice of the words, which those

who heard, begged that the word not be spoken directly to them.

        

·  20. (For they could not endure what was being commanded: "And if even an animal

touches the mountain, it shall be stoned, or shot through with an arrow";

        

·  21. And so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, "I am greatly afraid and

trembling".)

        

·  22. But you have come to Mount Sion, and to the city of the living God, heavenly

Jerusalem; and to an innumerable company of angels;

        

·  23. To the joyous festival gathering; and to the church of the firstborn, registered

in the book of life in heaven; and to God, the Judge of all; and to the spirits of the

just who have been perfected; (A Faithful Version)

Exodus 19:16-20

·  16. And it came to pass on the third day in the morning that there were thunders 

and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mountain. And the sound of the trumpet ram's 

horn was exceedingly loud so that all the people in the camp trembled.

        

·  17. And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God. And they stood at the base of the mountain.

        

·  18. And Mount Sinai was smoking, all of it because the LORD came down upon it in fire. And the smoke of it went up like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly.

        

·  19. And when the sound of the trumpet ram's horn sounded long, and became very strong, Moses spoke, and God answered him by voice. (A Faithful Version)

At Pentecost the people of Israel were given God’s Law. People could not stand the voice of God. We have been given His Holy Spirit (Acts 2) so that we may have a relationship with Him. Salvation has been freely offered to us through Jesus Christ. Maybe we are preaching to the 1/10 of 1 percent! But we have a lot of work to do. WE HAVE TO REMAIN IN CHRIST AND KEEP GROWING AND OVERCOMING.

1 Peter 1:1-7

·  1. Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the elect strangers scattered in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia;

·  2. Who have been chosen according to the predetermined knowledge of God the Father, by sanctification through the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied to you.

·  3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who, according to His abundant mercy, has begotten us again unto a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead;

·  4. Unto an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and unfading, reserved in heaven for us,

·  5. Who are being safeguarded by the power of God through faith, for salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

·  6. In this you yourselves greatly rejoice; though for the present, if it is necessary, you are in distress for a little while by various trials;

·  7. In order that the proving of your faith, which is much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is being tested by fire, may be found unto praise and honor and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ; (A Faithful Version)