~ A pledge or token, serious and intense, binding of a bargain, with determination ~

Let’s take a moment and consider a little more closely the meaning of the word, Earnest.  At the on-set of purchasing a house or property as a general rule, the lender requires Earnest Money, a percentage of the sale price of the house or property as a promise that the purchaser truly intends to go through with the purchase.  This money is held and applied to the purchase at the Closing of the Transaction.  In a way the Earnest Money is a Seal to the Intent of the Transaction.

In like manner God has given His children a Seal of His intent to accept all that confess their sins to Him through the Precious Blood and Name of His Holy Son, Jesus.  This Seal is in the Holy Ghost.

The Holy Ghost is the source that keeps the Saints till the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus.

In 2nd Corinthians 5:1-5 the Apostle Paul said, “For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. *For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:  *If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. *For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.  *Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.”

God has given His Children that which they need to keep them till they inherit the Kingdom of God ~

The Earnest that God has given them not only shows His intent to do what He said He will do; But this Earnest strengthens and empowers the Believer, leads, guides and instructs the Believer in ALL things that His Children will need in order to keep His promise with them at the time appointed.

The Apostle Paul said it like in Ephesians 1:13-14,  "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,  *Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory."

Romans 8:18-23, "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.   *For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.  *For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,  *Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.  *For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.  *And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body."

Have you ever anxiously waited for anything?  Adults, as a general rule are less excitable in waiting for a particular thing than children are.  We, as Children of the Most High God get a little excited while anxiously waiting for the Second Coming of Jesus.  I am thankful for the Holy Ghost that keeps me holding on.

In 2nd Corinthians 1:21-22 we read, "Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;  *Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts."

Do you know anyone that has ever canned or preserved food?  If the process is not properly done, the food being canned will spoil.   There are some people that say they have the Earnest of the Spirit of God but the spirit that they have is a false spirit.  A false spirit will not keep you or help you in the day of trouble.  Thus, it is very important to make sure what you have is in fact from God and not a counter-fit.

In Philippians 1:18-20 the Apostle Paul said, “What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.  *For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,  *According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.”

Let’s take a moment here to mention something about the phrase, “whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached.”  Christ, like a seed of corn brings forth the desired fruit / results.  It doesn’t matter whether a child or a Professional Farmer plants the seed of corn because the desired product comes from the seed not the one planting the seed.  Jesus is the righteous seed that brings about Salvation thus, beginning the process of the Earnest of the Spirit.

King David in Psalms 86:17 said, “Show me a token for good; that they which hate me may see it, and be ashamed: because thou, LORD, hast holpen me, and comforted me.”

The writer of the Book of Hebrews said, “Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.  *For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward;  *How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;  *God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?”   Hebrews 2:1-4

Note: We therefore, ought to pledge a serious, intense, determining heed to the things which we have heard from God’s Holy Word. 

Praise His Holy Name!

Derwood A. Stewart, Minister
House of Prayer Sabbath Ministries
Comments? Email us: hope@preachersteacher.org