(All scripture from the World English Bible, ebible.org, all rights reserved)
“Therefore tell the house of Israel, ‘The Lord Yahweh says: “I don’t do this for your sake, house of Israel, but for my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you went. I will sanctify my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am Yahweh,” says the Lord Yahweh, “when I am proven holy in you before their eyes. “‘“For I will take you from among the nations and gather you out of all the countries, and will bring you into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. I will also give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit within you. I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes. You will keep my ordinances and do them. You will dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers. You will be my people, and I will be your God. I will save you from all your uncleanness. I will call for the grain and will multiply it, and lay no famine on you. I will multiply the fruit of the tree and the increase of the field, that you may receive no more the reproach of famine among the nations. “‘“Then you will remember your evil ways, and your deeds that were not good; and you will loathe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations. I don’t do this for your sake,” says the Lord Yahweh. “Let it be known to you. Be ashamed and confounded for your ways, house of Israel.””
(Ezekiel 36:22-32)
“Now when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all with one accord in one place. Suddenly there came from the sky a sound like the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. Tongues like fire appeared and were distributed to them, and one sat on each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak. Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under the sky. When this sound was heard, the multitude came together and were bewildered, because everyone heard them speaking in his own language. They were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Behold, aren’t all these who speak Galileans? How do we hear, everyone in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, the parts of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them speaking in our languages the mighty works of God!” They were all amazed and were perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” Others, mocking, said, “They are filled with new wine.” But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice and spoke out to them, “You men of Judea and all you who dwell at Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to my words. For these aren’t drunken, as you suppose, seeing it is only the third hour of the day.”
(Acts 2:1-15)
God wasn’t doing because of their efforts. God wasn’t doing it because they were obedient or faithful or anything like that. God was making a promise to do something because HE wanted to. Out of HIS love for them. He would turn it ALL around. Cleanse them. Give them new hearts, soft hearts. He would put His Spirit into them. The same God whose glory appeared with cloud and wind and fire. It would be a revival of righteousness.
Suddenly in Jerusalem, MANY years later, something happened. Thousands of Jewish worshippers from all over the known world had arrived in the city for Pentecost (Shavu’ot) – the festival of revival. They were there to praise the Lord for the first-fruits, knowing they guaranteed the later harvest. What did they witness? Wind. Fire. His very Spirit being placed inside men and women. For the first time in nearly six hundred years there was a visible, noticeable manifestation of His Sh’khinah glory! The same glory that had been present at the giving of the Law was there at the giving of Holy Spirit. The fulfillment of God’s promise had begun.
Summary
Not all the promise has arrived, but we surely are walking in the first-fruits. More is still to come. More for Israel. More for all who trust in Jesus (Jews and Gentiles both). It is not finished, but it has begun. As time passes more and more people walk in the first-fruits. And each of us who do are walking with the promise of the later harvest. We may live to see it here on this earth, we may see it in Heaven first. No one knows. But we DO know that the promise is true. The promise is real. The promise WILL manifest and manifest FULLY. The Lord God is MERCIFUL and He is a GOOD God!
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