On the day of Pentecost the children of Israel had to bring two loaves of the first fruit of wheat harvest to present them to the Lord.
The 144,000 are the first group of people to be prepared for deliverance during the time of the harvest or the latter days. The 144,000 are divided into 12 tribes. 12,000 people from each of the tribes are chosen. They are also divided into two groups like the two wave loaves.
When you read your history you will learn that the Lord always established leaders among his government and among the priesthood and the army. There were captains over thousands, and hundreds and fifties and tens. There were also princes over each tribe. The house of David was highly organized according to the kingdom of heaven. The 144,000 will also be organized.
The gifts of the Holy Spirit are also varied, and will be specific to the individual. Standing all together, the 144,000 is like the colors of the rainbow. They are like the music of an intricate and beautiful song. Yet each individual have their own separate colors, their own notes and melodies, their own gifts that they bring together to make a harmonious whole.
What is our first fruit? It is our best efforts that we give first to God. The first fruit was sanctified to the Lord. It never belonged to the individual, so that he could consume it upon himself. We are not farmers; neither do we have a temple or priesthood.
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33. We are taught this from the beginning and from the royal law, “Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” Deuteronomy 6:4-5. We cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven if we do less, and if we don’t give our all. Christ taught us in his parables and sayings how we must put God first if we want to enter into the kingdom of heaven. The things in this life can weigh us down.
If you give God his due he will take care of you. Obey God. Don’t make excuses. Your boss will not save you, he cannot. Your teachers cannot save you. Your mother and father or aunt cannot save you. Your spouse or children cannot save you. None of these people can save you, and they can’t save themselves. Money does not save you, neither does houses, clothes or possessions, or any fun or pleasure that you can have in the world. It is all vanity. You cannot even save yourself.
Only God can save us. God is the one needful thing. We must believe what Christ said. He said to seek the kingdom of heaven first, and he would give us all of the things that we need. Sometimes good things try to usurp itself over the most holy things. We must learn to distinguish between not only the evil and the good, but the good and the holy, and to always choose the holy thing first. Good things cannot substitute for holy things. Good works or acts cannot substitute for holy works. Let us study today about the time Christ taught Martha about the most needful thing, and also the example of Elijah and the widow. Remember that it was a time of famine with Elijah, just like it is a time of famine with us now, but the widow gave to Elijah first, an example of giving to God first, and she and her family was provided with food.
Please read----about the feast of Pentecost, Leviticus 23:9-21, about the 144,000, Revelations 14:1-4, and Revelations 7:1-8, about Martha and Mary, Luke 10:38-42, about Elijah and the widow, I Kings 17:1-16, Christ’s admonition, Matthew 6:19-34,