The Sabbath Called Feast of Harvest

The Feast of Harvest is called by other names. In Hebrew it’s shavu’ot. The Old Testament calls it the Feast of Weeks, a reminder to “count off seven full weeks” from the Feast of Firstfruits “the day you brought the sheaf of wave offering” (Leviticus 23:15). The New Testament calls it Day of Pentecost. Pentecost came from pentekonta Greek meaning fifty corresponding to “fifty days” from Abib 16 to Sivan 6 “the day after the Sabbath” (Leviticus 23:16). 

Its Old Covenant Significance

The Feast of Harvest celebrates Isra’el’s wheat harvest. 

²² Celebrate the Feast of Weeks with the firstfruits of the wheat harvest… ²⁶ Bring the best of the firstfruits of your soil to the house of the Lord. EXODUS 34

⁹ Count off seven weeks from the time you begin to put the sickle to the standing grain. ¹⁰ Then celebrate the Feast of Weeks to the Lord your God by giving a freewill offering in proportion to the blessings the Lord your God has given you. ¹¹ And rejoice before the Lord your God at the place He will choose as a dwelling for His name—you, your sons and daughters, your menservants and maidservants, the Levites in your towns, and the aliens, the fatherless and the widows living among you. DEUTERONOMY 16  

¹⁶ Present an offering of new grain to the Lord. ¹⁷ From wherever you live, bring two loaves made of two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour, baked with yeast, as a wave offering of firstfruits to the Lord. ¹⁸ Present with this bread seven male lambs, each a year old and without defect, one young bull and two rams. They will be a burnt offering to the Lord, together with their grain offerings and drink offerings—an offering made by fire, an aroma pleasing to the Lord. ¹⁹ Then sacrifice one male goat, for a sin offering and two lambs, each a year old, for a fellowship offering. ²⁰ The priest is to wave the two lambs before the Lord as a wave offering, together with the bread of the firstfruits. They are a sacred offering to the Lord for the priest. ²¹ On the same day you are to proclaim a sacred assembly and do no regular work. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live. LEVITICUS 23

Its New Covenant Significance

The Feast of Harvest reminds everyone of the baptism in the Spirit of the first Christians on the Pentecost of 31 ad.

¹ The festival of Shavu’ot arrived, and the believers all gathered together in one place. ² Suddenly there came a sound from the sky like the roar of a violent wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. ³ Then they saw what looked like tongues of fire, which separated and came to rest on each one of them. ⁴ They were all filled with Ruach HaKodesh [the Holy Spirit] and began to talk in different languages, as the Spirit enabled them to speak. ⁵ Now there were staying in Yerushalayim [Jerusalem] religious [God-fearing] Jews from every nation under heaven. ⁶ When they heard this sound, a crowd gathered; they were confused, because each one heard the believers speaking in his own language. ⁷ Totally amazed, they asked, “How is this possible? Aren’t all these people who are speaking from Galili? ¹¹ How is it that we hear them speaking in our languages about the great things God has done?” ¹² Amazed and confused, they all went on asking each other, “What can this mean?” ACTS 2 cjb

One hundred and twenty were baptized (Acts 1:15) among them the mother and brothers of Y’shua, Mary of Magdala and the other women (Acts 1:14), Peter and the Eleven (Acts 2:14) including Matthias who was voted to replace Judas Iscariot (Acts 1:26). The baptism was a fulfillment of the Word.

⁴ On one occasion, while He was eating with [His apostles], He gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem but wait for the gift My Father promised, which you have heard Me speak about. ⁵ For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” ACTS 1

¹¹ John the Baptist said, “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come One who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” MATTHEW 3

³³ [The Baptist said] “I would not have known Him, except that the One who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is He who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’” JOHN 1 

¹⁶ This is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: ¹⁷ In the last days, God says, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams… ³³ Exalted to the right hand of God, [the Messiah] has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you see now and hear. ACTS 2

Purpose of the Baptism

Baptism in the Spirit is indwelling expanded. In water baptism the Spirit envelopes and empowers the human spirit. In baptism in the Spirit the whole person is enveloped and empowered.

⁸ You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. ACTS 1

Received by Faith

Bob Fitts of Outreach Publishers, California, wrote that in order to receive baptism in the Spirit, it is important to understand the following:

1.    This experience is not just for missionaries, evangelists and pastors, but for every believer.

2.    It is a gift. We do not have to beg for it. We cannot work for it. We cannot make ourselves good enough to receive it. We must receive it like we would receive any gift.

3.    It is administered by the Lord Y’shua (Luke 3:16) and received by faith.

4.    It is God’s will for us to be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18). Pray for it, believing that you will receive it the moment you ask, and then claim it by faith. Cooperate with God on this spiritual miracle: open your mouth and begin to praise God in a language unknown to you.

Disempowerment

Spirit-empowerment is component to winning our battles and coming out of the kingdom war triumphant and restored. It is vital for the Spirit-empowered not to grieve the Spirit. For if He departs, the empowerment baptism in the Spirit brings would turn impotent. There is no known remedy to make the Spirit return ever again.  

³⁰ Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. EPHESIANS 4

How to grieve the Spirit?

⁵ [In the time of Prophet Noah] the Lord saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. ⁶ The Lord was grieved… and His heart was filled with pain. GENESIS 6

The baptized is empowered to manifest himself into a living fruit of the Spirit.  

¹⁶ By their fruit you will recognize them. MATTHEW 7

²² The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. GALATIANS 5

Description of the Holy Spirit

You may be wondering how to describe the Holy Spirit to your neighbor. Listen. 

The Spirit has no flesh and bones (Luke 24:39). Human eyes cannot see Him; only spiritual eyes can.

¹⁷ The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. JOHN 14

³² Then John [the Baptist] gave this testimony: I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on Him. JOHN 1

³ [The apostles] saw what looked like tongues of fire, which separated and came to rest on each one of them. ACTS 2

The Spirit makes a gushing sound audible to the human ear. 

² Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. ACTS 2

⁸ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit. JOHN 3

³⁸ Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, streams [torrents] of living water will flow [gush} from within him. ³⁹ By this He meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were later to receive. JOHN 7

The Spirit speaks in a voice that is audible to the human ear.

¹⁹ The Spirit said to (Peter), “Simon, three men are looking for you. ²⁰ So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.” ACTS 10

Y’shua spoke of the Holy Spirit as a “He.”

¹³ When He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on His own… ¹⁴ He will bring glory to Me by taking from what is Mine and making it known to you. JOHN 16

Y’shua is the Spirit.

¹⁷ Now the Lord [Y’shua] is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. ¹⁸ And we, who with unveiled faces reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed [restored] into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 CORINTHIANS 3

⁹ You are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of the Messiah, he does not belong to the Messiah. ¹⁰ But if the Messiah is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. ROMANS 8

Functions of the Spirit

You may be wondering what the Holy Spirit can do for you. Again listen.

COUNSELOR

¹⁶ I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— ¹⁷ the Spirit of truth. JOHN 14

TEACHER

² I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear… ¹³ But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth. JOHN 16

²⁶ But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My Name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. JOHN 14

²⁷ As for you, the anointing you have received from Him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as His anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in Him. 1 JOHN 2

PROPHET

¹³ …and He will tell you what is yet to come. JOHN 16

²⁰ Do not treat [His] prophecies with contempt. 1 THESSALONIANS 5

Also, the Spirit inspires prophecies.

¹⁷ In the last days, God says, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. ACTS 2

WITNESS

¹⁶ The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. ROMANS 8 

⁸ But when He comes, He will convict the world with guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: ⁹ in regard to sin, because men do not believe in Me; ¹⁰ in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see Me no longer; ¹¹ and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned. JOHN 16

HELPER-INTERCESSOR

²⁴ Only by the power of [God’s] Spirit can people worship [God] as He really is. JOHN 4 tev

²⁶ The Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. ²⁷ And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints [the true worshipers] in accordance with God’s will. ROMANS 8

SANCTIFIER—The Spirit is sanctifying (1 Peter 1:2). He sets us apart from wickedness and draws us away from sin.

PROTECTOR—The Spirit will keep you safe from harm and the evil one (1 John 5:18, 19).

⁴ The One who is in you is greater than [Lucifer] the one who is in the world. 1 JOHN 4

LIFE-GIVER

² Through the Messiah the law of the Spirit of life set me [Paul] free from the law of sin and death… ¹¹ And if the Spirit of Him who raised Y’shua from the dead is living in you, He who raised Y’shua from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you. ROMANS 8

¹¹ God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. ¹² He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 1 JOHN 5 

²⁵ The Spirit has given us life: He must also control our lives. GALATIANS 5 tev

POWER SOURCE

³ I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says “Y’shua be cursed,” and no one can say “Y’shua is Lord” except by the Holy Spirit… ⁶ There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. 1 CORINTHIANS 12

Spirit-Empowerment

¹ Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant. 1 CORINTHIANS 12

²⁹ God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable. ROMANS 11

⁴ There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. ⁵ There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord… 1 CORINTHIANS 12

The Holy Spirit decides who gets what spiritual gift; we cannot have all the same gift; and no one is inferior for not having certain gifts that are more spectacular, says 1 Corinthians 12:28-30.[1]

⁷ To each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. ⁸ To one there is given the message of wisdom; to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, ⁹ to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, ¹⁰ to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy; to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. ¹¹ All these are the work of one and the same Spirit; and He gives them to each one, just as He determines. 1 CORINTHIANS 12

⁶ We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. ⁷ If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; ⁸ if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. ROMANS 12

¹ Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy… ³ Everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort. 1 CORINTHIANS 14

1 Corinthians 13:1-3 names the gifts of the Spirit some more:

¹ If I [have the gift to] speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not [the gift of] love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. ² If I have the gift of prophecy and [the gifts of knowledge and understanding that] can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have [the gift of] faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. ³ If I [have the gift of charity to] give all I possess to the poor and [the gift of courage to] surrender my body to the flames [as a burnt offering], but have not love, I gain nothing. 1 CORINTHIANS 13

Practical Applications

¹⁰ Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. ¹¹ If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Y’shua the Messiah. 1 PETER 4

The first Christians used their gift of speaking in tongues to declare God’s love and power (Acts 2:11). Let us enumerate some other practical applications of the gifts:

The gift of distinguishing spirits will enable you to see the spiritual realm, particularly God and the angels, Lucifer and the demons. It will disprove the teaching that life is limited to the visible and the tangible.

⁷ Upright men will see His face. PSALM 11

The gift of discernment will enable you to distinguish between truth and error, whether a vision or teaching is of God or not

The gift of knowledge will enable you to know in an instant occurrences in past and present times, and to uncover occurrences hidden from human eyes.

The gift of understanding will answer questions of how and why—even the mysteries of the creation. It will broaden reflection and develop keen perception.

Both the gifts of knowledge and of understanding will allow less time for knowing and more time for doing. They will enable quick resolution of conflicts and confusions. Long court litigation can become history; Business and Government will have difficulty in hiding their manipulation and corruption; and human relationships—marriages, family ties, friendships, associations—can become more truthful and faithful.

The two gifts of speaking in tongues and of interpreting them will enable you to speak, understand and translate languages and dialects that are completely alien or strange to you. You will get to speak Solomania—the language exclusive to God, His children and angels, and which the demonic forces cannot decipher. Through the two gifts, communication lines can be cleared of misinterpretation and misunderstanding; you can have better insight of what your neighbor is trying to tell you.   

The gift of prophecy will enable you to know of things to come—to give you hope as well as warning. It will make room for anticipation, preparation, correction and repentance. 

The gifts of healing will enable you to cure afflictions and ailments—even cases declared by modern medicine to be terminal—the absence of the patient notwithstanding.

The gift of faith can move mountains, realize prayers, and re-assert your dominion over all creation.

The gift of leadership will enable you to inspire and motivate your neighbors in accomplishing the purposes of God, that is, in a joyful, reasonable, fair and harmonious fashion. It will give you an understanding of how an organization can function efficiently and effectively; the special ability to plan, execute procedures and translate set goals into reality; and the perseverance to go through it all, and come out a victor.

The Spirit’s gifts can be used to minister love, foster goodwill, quicken love-relationships, bless the Most Holy Name, and illuminate our path to perfection. Through them, we can hear God’s voice, converse with Him, receive direct instructions from Him, see His light, feel His loving embrace, get to know Him better. God will become less of a concept, more personal, and cease to be a distant object. In the kingdom war, we can see the enemy hands and restrain it. Our faith-knowledge will be firsthand, no longer limited to other people’s testimonies. Faith will become less promising, more fulfilling. The kingdom of wickedness will lose many of its patrons, workers and subscribers.

Trumpet Call

Spirit-empowerment will enable us, individually and as a collective whole, to walk with ease toward restoration and not to be devil-driven again.

¹⁸ Be filled with the Spirit. EPHESIANS 5

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[1] Hal Lindsey, Satan is Alive and Well on Planet Earth (Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, 1972), p. 143.