2026_04_05 Firstfruits

The bible tells us Jesus died in our place as our Passover lamb. John one verse 29. John the Baptist saw Jesus coming towards him and said, look, the lamb of god who takes away the sins of the world. Just as Israel was in slavery for four hundred years, so we were in slavery to sin, to death, and to the power of Satan. But Jesus shed his blood that we might be set free. Our Passover lamb died in our place. We should have died for our sins. He died in our place. And by that, he delivered us from death. [00:48:35] (49 seconds)  #LambOfGodSaves

Jesus rose, received a new body, an everlasting body, and he lives forever. And it's a promise. It's a foretaste that even as he came in as the first fruits of the harvest, we all someday will be given the same resurrection bodies. And, you know, when you plant a barley seed, what do you get? You get barley. And the first fruits of barley, the rest of the crop, it's barley. In the same way, we will be like the first fruit Jesus. We will receive resurrection bodies that will be like Jesus' body. Unlimited, fully healthy, but real and concrete. [00:52:57] (45 seconds)  #ResurrectionBodies

It was no coincidence that while the world was springing to life full of sunshine, full of warmth, full of beauty and green fields, budding trees, colorful flowers in Israel, not in Northern Michigan. But in Israel, these things were happening. It's no coincidence. Those things were happening when Jesus rose from the dead. See, God had a plan to bring many into new life through Jesus Christ, and he wants that plan to include you. He wants all of us to enter into his eternal springtime. [00:41:20] (46 seconds)  #EternalSpringtime

He created the springtime so we would understand the promise that new life will spring from that which is dead. Do you think it's a coincidence that Jesus rose from the dead when it was springtime in Israel? It wasn't. That was intentional. Nothing happens in God's cosmic plan by chance. He has purposely planned everything. From the beginning of creation, God had planned to send his son into the world as our savior to die for our sins and rise again in the springtime as a symbol of the new life that Jesus Christ was bringing. That's no coincidence. [00:39:57] (56 seconds)  #GodsPerfectPlan

God created that illustration. Everything that God created is an illustration. And in this illustration, he is teaching us to hope. He's teaching us that from the barrenness of winter, there will come springtime. Listen to the old testament description of god's plan for his people in Isaiah 35. The desert and the parched land will be glad. The wilderness will rejoice and blossom like the crocus. It will burst into bloom. It will rejoice greatly and shout for joy. All creation will be redeemed and renewed, and we as part of creation will be redeemed and renewed. [00:38:51] (50 seconds)  #CreationRedeemed

And so on this day, the bible teaches the truth that Jesus died on the cross to pay for the penalty for all of our sins. On the third day, on Easter Sunday, he rose again from the dead. He then ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of god, the father almighty, as we just said in the creed, and he will come again in power and glory. He rose again in a body that will never die, and he has risen to give an everlasting life to everyone who believes in him. [00:37:39] (37 seconds)  #HeIsRisenAlive

And be greatly encouraged for you are already a new creation in Christ Jesus. Now we're still struggling with the old creation, and we got battles in our lives, but you're a new creation within and have the first fruits of the spirit in your life. Oh lord, let that glory that is in us be revealed in our lives. And if you don't know Jesus today, you can only receive these benefits from Jesus. Jesus died in your place for your sins that you might be forgiven. He will give you the promise of everlasting life if you trust in him, and he gives you the promise that you can enjoy some of the joy, the peace, the wonder, the glory, the worship, the happiness of heaven now through the holy spirit. [01:05:45] (55 seconds)  #NewCreationInChrist

God established the Pentecost feast fifteen hundred years before the outpour of the spirit so we would understand that that outpour of the spirit was a foretaste of glory, of first fruits of what we would experience in heaven. You guys, we should expect that today. That heaven will come to earth into our lives, lord. Our father, you know, who are in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as is in heaven. Let the glory of heaven come to earth now. Proclaim it aloud right now. I am a new creation. A creation. I am a child of God. [01:03:50] (41 seconds)  #HeavenToEarth