The Feast of Pentecost

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We can learn so much of the depth of God’s plan of salvation as we journey back to these feasts celebrated by the nation of Israel. This weekend the church remembers its birthday as we observe Pentecost. Many of us including myself did not realize the significance of this Jewish feast.

It was to be celebrated 50 days after the feast of First Fruits which followed Passover. We know that Jesus became our perfect Passover Lamb and was sacrificed for us on the Jewish Passover. Three days later was the glorious resurrection of our Lord on the Feast of First Fruits, for He was the first fruit of them that slept. Now how awesome is that for God’s planning and detail?

The following feast was 50 days later, 10 days after His Ascension, known to us as Pentecost. Travel with me for a few moments back in time to Mount Sinai. Rabbinic scholars believe that it was on this day that God visited His people after their exodus from Egypt after the first Passover and through Moses, brought the Law down from Mount Sinai. This earthshaking day of visitation, trembling, and betrothal was the first Pentecost 50 days after the Passover in Egypt and became  THE BIRTHDAY OF THE  NATION OF ISREAL. Moses brings down the Torah or Law for the nation. Because of sin 3,000 die under the Law. The Old Covenant was a national covenant between God and His covenant people. And so the nation of Israel was established. They agree to follow Him in devotion and obedience.

The fulfillment of this Feast of Pentecost witnesses God visiting His people this time by His Holy Spirit. This is another earthshaking day of visitation and betrothal. But on this occasion God’s Presence is not as unapproachable as on the former visitation back at Sinai. Moses had ordered 12 boundary markers placed around the foot of the mountain to hold back the people lest the fire of God flash out upon them. Amidst the thundering and lightning God came down as a consuming fire and blackened the entire summit. Only Moses could stand in God’s Presence. But this next Pentecostal visitation was quite different. Tongues of fire descended from heaven to rest upon consecrated individuals gathered to wait upon God. All of them had received Messiah and had come to know Him in a personal way in the New Covenant. And so just as Moses had seen the burning bush that was not consumed, the fire that came down and rested upon the 120 in the upper room, was not to consume them but to fill them with the Holy Spirit and with power. This was the beginning of the Holy Spirit outpouring. And Joel saw this coming to a peak at the 6th seal at the very end of the latter days. See Joel 2:28-32. Whereas 3,000 had died under the Law on the previous visitation 3,000 are now saved by Grace as the Apostle Peter preaches to the crowds. And so on this awesome day in holy history, the 7th day of Sivan on the Hebrew calendar, the Feast of Pentecost comes to its appointed New Covenant fulfillment. The Feast of Pentecost, the fourth of the Seven Feasts of Israel is taken up to the next level. It becomes THE BIRTHDAY OF THE CHURCH.

 

CHALLENGE: God is asking you through the words of the apostle Paul “Have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed” Acts 19:2

 

You may be like the believers in Ephesus in Acts 19 who answer Paul “We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.” Be watching for my video “The Baptism of the Holy Spirit” to answer questions and inspire you to seek your own Pentecost.

 

Blooming for Him in the Garden of the World

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Dear Father,

As I sit in silent contemplation and admire the beauty of the work of your hands, hear the birds sing your praises, feel the heat of the sun, and be covered by a cloudless sky, I am amazed, for surely these all declare your majesty and awesomeness!

As I reflect, I have to question who am I that you would be concerned with me? I will never fathom Your love and mercy and yet I believe it with all my heart.

Oh, Papa, may my life declare your majesty and grace as much as the creation of nature echoes your awesomeness!

Dear Child,

Creation just naturally fulfills the purpose it was created for. It doesn’t strive to do anything else! It never doubts My sovereignty but without effort awaits each season, knowing each season has a unique purpose.

But I cannot commune with nature, I cannot fellowship with nature. Only man was created in My image, to fellowship and commune with Me!

All of this beauty was created for man! And man was created to relate to Me!

As you commune and fellowship with Me, your life is declaring My majesty and mercy, for by faith in My mercy, you are trusting My sovereignty and majesty! You are a vessel to display that majesty and mercy, but you must allow Me to fill the vessel daily or you will run dry

                                                             Thus saith Papa

Psa 8:3 -4 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? 

Jer 18:2-4 Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words. Then I went down to the potter’s house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.

Just as creation brings glory to His name by simply fulfilling its purpose, even so, as we fellowship with Him we are fulfilling the reason He created us in His image; that we might have the capacity to commune with Him.

As we make that journey each day to the Potter’s house, we are yielding to His sovereign Hand, as He molds and shapes us into a vessel for His glory and honor to display His faithfulness and mercy on the earth.

CHALLENGE: Are you making that journey each day to the Potter’s house, and spending time on the wheel that He may mold your life that it might display, not only the signature of the Creator, but also His majesty and grace. 

Read more about this sweet communion and fellowship in “DEVELOPING A SECRET HISTORY WITH GOD”

This Book and accompanying Study Guide will revolutionize your quiet time with God. Available now at Amazon/ Barnes & Noble/ Walmart/Kindle Nook / Ibooks/ Lulu/ Rhema Publications/ Cl France or a bookstore near you.

Or you can order the book directly from me today and receive a personal signed copy. Thank you for your support of my ministry. Walk with the King and be a blessing! e-mail maggiebass@epix.net or message me on Facebook

 

 

What is A Hero?

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During Memorial weekend we have been honoring some of our greatest heroes who are paying and many who have paid the ultimate price that we all might enjoy our national freedom.You may be pondering “What is a hero?”

 A hero must live sacrificially for others and be a servant.

John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends

 A hero does not chase after honor, rather honor follows him like a shadow.

1 Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

Proverbs 25:27  It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.

 A hero must be willing to press on regardless of danger.“Failure is not an option.” /Apollo 13

2 Timothy1:12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

Phillipians.3: 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

A hero, regardless of age, must have a mature attitude instead of a childish attitude that only cares for self-preservation with a “ what’s in it for me” mentality. God is looking for mature children not childish adults!

1Timothy 4:12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

A hero does not only talk of his destiny but rather he lives his destiny.

1Timothy 4:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

A hero must be ready to cease the moment and rise to the occasion when the circumstances necessitate him to fulfill his destiny. “Carpe Diem”/ Dead Poets Society.

Esther 4:14 For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?

A hero must have convictions that he is willing to lay down his life for. “Every man dies, not every man really lives.” William Wallace /Braveheart

A hero’s walk and talk must coincide because he becomes a role model.

1Corinthians11:1  Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

Philllipians 3:17  Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.

 A hero is not shallow in character, but rather has a deep sense of commitment to a cause that constrains him to a character of authenticity and integrity.

2 Corinthians 5:14 For the love of Christ constraineth us;

A hero must stay focused on the bigger cause outside of himself.

Isaiah 50: 7 For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.

If education, wealth, talent, fame or even beauty do not make a hero, what produces heroism? IT IS CHARACTER! The inner man of the heart!

Proverbs 4:23  Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

So therefore hidden within the heart of every individual is a potential hero!

Yes truly it has a cost, a life of discipline, self-sacrificing, humility and courage.

But this life will inspire others to rise to their potential, when they witness qualities lived out in the life of the hero, qualities they admire and desire for their own lives.

It is worth it all when that life will hear from the greatest hero of all time

Matthew 25:21  His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

CHALLENGE: As we all walk this pilgrim life together, inspiring, encouraging, defending, and building each other up in the faith, let us all keep our eyes focused on the greatest hero and role model the world has ever known. Hebrews 12: 2  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

 

Bearing the Fruit of the Roots

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Dear Father,

What is the blossom, fragrance and fruit in my life?

Dear Child,

I am more concerned with what you are becoming than what you are doing! And therefore the fruit I am looking for in your life and time spent with me is character, growth and the fruit of My Spirit. As your spiritual roots are developed you will bear the fruit of the roots. Then when you lay down your life for others the seed from the fruit of your life will in due season bear the same fruit in the lives of others. Thus My Kingdom will grow!

The fruit of your life must contain spiritual seeds if they are to give life to others. Spiritual seeds can only be conceived in your time of intimacy with Me, lest you are only tickling ears, that bear the fruit of the flesh that can only satisfy the emotional soul man and not the spirit man.

                                                                  Thus saith Papa

Ephesians 3:17-19. That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love… May know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God

1 Corinthians: 4:15  For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.

These believers were the result of the seed planted from the fruit of the life of the apostle Paul.

Watchman Nee states it this way “True spirituality is based on birth not on preaching. Men are not changed by listening to doctrine or by following a course of instructive teaching, they are changed by birth! As in Abraham God chose one man who believed, and from him many were born, for Abraham is the father of all who believe. When an unbeliever meets a believer, he becomes aware that this man has something he doesn’t possess. That something is not just information, it is life! Those who have this seed of life in them should, like Abraham, be giving birth to others.”

CHALLENGE: We need to invest in the BECOMING’  and the ‘DOING’ will glorify God

We need to invest the ROOT STRUCTURE and the HARVEST will bring glory to God

Excerpt from “Developing a Secret history with God” page 176

This Book and accompanying Study Guide will revolutionize your quiet time with God. Available now at Amazon/ Barnes & Noble/ Walmart/Kindle Nook / Ibooks/ Lulu/ Rhema Publications/ Cl France or a bookstore near you.

 

Weeding your Spiritual Garden

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Dear Child,

Do not be deceived for I and My Word are not mocked, whatever you sow, you will reap in due season, whither it be good fruit or evil fruit.

Do not wait until harvest time, the choice is made at sowing time. You know the principle well from your own garden, sow what you want to reap. Weeds from this fallen world may grow and try to choke the harvest, be consistent in tending your crop, take care of it, sow only in good soil where I am working. Do not let weeds of discouragement choke and zap the life from the crop. When you see a weed appear, pull it up from the root, don’t just pull the head off,  you must cut off the root, that the crop will not be hindered but flourish!

Of all the weeds in the garden of your life, discouragement is the most destructive. Pull it up, and sprinkle your garden with a doze of faith. Weeds of discouragement belong to the family of doubt and cannot survive in a garden of faith.

Weeds of discouragement bear the fruit of low self- esteem, procrastination, depression, lack of focus, apathy, doubt, and will eventually extinguish your passion, suffocate your faith, thereby strangling that precious crop.

Attend not only to your flower garden but also the garden of your life, for the devil is like a roaring lion going about seeking whom he may devour.

                                                                   Thus saith Papa

Galatians 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

Hebrews 12:3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Heb 12:12-13 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees. And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.

Challenge: Are you feeding and pampering those weeds of discouragement or are you putting the ax to their root by encouraging yourself in the Lord?