The Daily Word of Righteousness

Seven Steps to the Rest of God, #6

Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the LORD. Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals: they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with leaven; they are the firstfruits unto the LORD. (Leviticus 23:16,17)

Let us consider three aspects of the two loaves that were waved during the Jewish celebration of the feast of Weeks (Pentecost):

Holiness and power.

The two witnesses.

The double portion, the latter-rain outpouring of the Spirit.

The two loaves of the feast of Pentecost (feast of Weeks) typify the holiness and power of the true witness of God. Holiness alone does not yield a complete witness of God. Mighty miracles alone do not give a complete witness of God. In order for the Divine testimony to be complete there must be both holiness and power demonstrated in those who are bearing the witness.

A witness that is holy but not accompanied by some form of supernatural revelation or power is not coming from God. Where Jesus is the sick are healed, demons are cast out, the dead are raised, the forces of nature obey the word that is spoken.

A witness that manifests supernatural power but is not morally pure is of the spirit world but is unclean. No amount of spiritual power or success is accepted by the Lord Jesus if uncleanness or unrighteousness are present. Those who work iniquity always will be driven from the Presence of Christ no matter how much they seemingly have accomplished in the Kingdom of God (Matthew 7:22,23).

Only the Holy Spirit of God brings both the holiness and the power necessary for the bearing of the true witness of God. It is the Holy Spirit who assigns the gifts and ministries. It is the Holy Spirit who yields the fruit of holiness and righteousness in our lives. It is the power of the Spirit that makes us true witnesses of Jesus' atoning death and triumphant resurrection.

We overcome the accuser by the word of our testimony (Revelation 12:11), and only the Holy Spirit can enable us to speak the Word of God in power, and also to live by the Word of God. The flesh of man cannot produce the eternal witness of God. The mind of the flesh always is the enemy of God. In the Holy Spirit of God there is enough power to overcome the lusts of the flesh (Galatians 5:16).

In the Holy Spirit of God there is comfort and assistance as we determine to make the written Word of God our personal conviction and testimony, trusting in all God has stated.

Both holiness and power were revealed in the life of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the true and faithful Witness of the Father. If Jesus had been an unholy, unrighteous person, who would believe He is the Son of God? If the Apostle Paul had been an adulterer, who would place their faith in his words? Likewise, no one will believe an unholy church is speaking the true words of the living God.

To be continued.