27 June 2025
“…the first fruits of the Spirit…” (Romans 8:23, CSB)
Your longing for something more is not a sign of weakness. It is evidence that God has already started something in you. Paul says we have “the firstfruits of the Spirit.” That is not poetic language. It is a declaration of spiritual reality. As Mark said, “The Spirit in you is God’s down payment for you.”
The word Paul uses—ἀπαρχή—comes from farming. “Farmers in Nero’s Rome knew the first ripe fig guaranteed the full harvest.” The first bite meant more was coming. Mark tells a story: “Liezl and I have a tenant—an agricultural economist—who walks peanut and tomato fields, projecting yields.” That’s what the Spirit does in your life. He walks through the dry places, the aching places, and declares, “This is not the end. Glory is coming.”
And not just any glory. Bodily resurrection. Eternal life. Your cancer-free, sin-free, death-free body. Mark says, “He’s God’s irreversible installment of your resurrection.” The Spirit is not a symbol. He is a guarantee. When you feel His presence during a worship song, or when Scripture lifts your eyes, or when conviction humbles you—that is a taste of the harvest. That is a reminder: you’ve already tasted the future.
Mark puts it plainly: “Your groans aren’t death throes; they’re birth pangs of eternal life.” The ache in your soul for something better is not emptiness. It is the Spirit saying, “You belong to Christ. The best is still ahead.” You are not just enduring life. You are leaning into eternity.
Parenting twist: The next time you pick fruit with your children or serve a meal at the table, pause. Tell them, “This first bite means more is coming.” Explain that the Spirit is like that in our hearts—reminding us that Jesus has promised a better world.
So open your heart to the Spirit today. Notice His nudges. Respond with gratitude. He is not only your helper in pain. He is your reminder that the resurrection harvest has already begun.
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for the Spirit who reminds me that I’ve tasted the future. Help me live today in light of the glory that is still to come. Amen.
Read the sermon notes here.
Watch the sermon here.
This devotional content is not penned by the preacher. It is derived from the sermon notes. We aim to provide bite-sized reflections throughout the week for devotion and reflection.