First Fruits is an appointed feast the Most High Father introduced to the Israelites through Moses. We are celebrating this feast tomorrow, Sunday 4th April.
"The LORD said to Moses, "Say to the people of Israel: 'When you come into the land which I give you and reap its harvest, you shall bring the sheaf of the first fruit of your harvest to the priest; and he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, that you may find acceptance; on the morrow after the Sabbath the priest shall wave it" (Lev.23:9-11).
The Feast of First Fruits is a celebration of hope. By presenting the best of their first fruits to the Father, the Israelites gave back to AHAYAH what He has blessed them with and in doing so they found His acceptance, that is, forgiveness of their sins and the blessing of the rest of the harvest.
By studying the concept of first fruits as used in the Bible we find that Israel (the descents of Abraham) was Holy unto God and the first fruit of His harvest (Jer.2:3). We remember Yah's promise to Abraham, saying; "and by your descendants shall all the nations of the earth be blessed themselves because you have obeyed my voice" (Gen.22:18).
YashaYah, born through the line of David, a descendant of Abraham, was crucified on the day of Passover. He died and was buried. However, on the morning after the Sabbath his followers found His tomb empty. He had risen from the dead as He told His disciples, after three days and three nights in the tomb. By His raising from the dead, YashaYah's became the first fruit wave offering unto Father AHAYAH. This is what YashaYah said to Mary after she recognised him in the garden where He was buried: "Do not touch me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, 'I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God"(John 20:17).
The Word gives us this promise, "And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise" (Gal.3:29). We therefore have reason to celebrate the Feast of First Fruits with great joy for not only have we received the promise Father AHAYAH gave to Abraham through Blood of Christ, but also through Christ, our first fruit wave offering, we have found acceptance. This is what is meant by acceptance by the Father: "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, that you may declare the wonderful deeds of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light" (Pet.2:9).
In the same way that YashaYah became the first fruit of the Father, those who have received Him and made themselves ready are the first fruits of YashaYah whom He will gather to present to the Father. Paul said that we as believers of YashaYah who have "the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved" (Rom.8:23-24). The Spirit who raised YashaYah from the dead is within us, His followers. Therefore, the resurrection of YashaYah gives us the assurance that that same Spirit will also give LIFE to our mortal bodies and transform us. "And we all, with unveiled face, behold the glory of the Lord, are being changed into His likeness from one degree of glory to another, for this comes from Yah who is the Spirit" (2Cor.3:18).
Manifestation of the hope of the redemption of the first fruits is recorded in the vision reported by John in revelation: "And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty-four thousand which were redeemed from the earth. These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goes. These were redeemed from among men, being the first fruits unto AHAYAH and to the Lamb. And in their mouths was found no guile; for they are without fault before the throne of AHAYAH" (Rev.14:3-5).
"Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good endowment and every perfect gift are from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures" (Jam.1:16-18).
My Prayer
Father AYAHAY, we rejoice in the plans You have for us. Thank you Father, for the Feast of First Fruits that gives us hope that you will gather those who have made themselves ready as Your First Fruits. Father thank you for blessing the rest of the Harvest through the work You are, and will be doing though Your First Fruit Harvest Workers. Hallelujah! Aman.