It's time to pray

 

Pray for those involved with evil activities. Pray that Jesus give them conviction of their sins that leads to repentance and a way of escape for those involved.  

Pray that Jesus open their minds so they can see the light of the mercy of Jesus and find repentance and forgiveness of all of their sins by the powerful name of Jesus, being baptized in His name – and that they seek the power of a holy, loving, merciful God by the infilling of His Spirit. (Acts 2:38

Jesus can save those in the deepest of sin!

"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." - Ephesians 6:12

"And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds. Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed." - Acts 19:18-20

Halloween?

 

The Mighty God in Christ (Exploring God's Word Bible Study)

 

I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes

David the psalmist, shepherd, giant killer, king of Israel and man of God wrote, "I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes:" (Psalm 101:3).

We must guard our eyes by what we choose to look at, for through our eyes the world has access to our mind.

The rest of the verse is: “I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.” Another translation, “I hate the work of those who fall away; It shall not fasten its grip on me.” And another, “I hate doing evil; I will have no part of it.”

Those that we keep company with can affect us. If we choose the company of “those that fall away,” getting involved with ungodly activities can wreck our walk with God. The psalmist writes, “I hate what faithless people do; I will have no part in it.” “It shall not fasten its grip on me.” 

Ultimately, we cannot blame our actions on anyone else. We make the choices of what we will look at, what we will think, where we will go, and what we will do.

"But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." - James 1:14-15 KJV

What we set before our eyes can also stir up the lust of the flesh. With any temptation, whether it be a thought, what you look at, or what you listen to, it is vitally important to make an immediate U-turn from what is ungodly to spare us from a downfall. Jesus is faithful to us. We must stay faithful to Jesus. 

"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." - 1 Corinthians 10:13 KJV

"For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever." - 1 John 2:16-17 KJV

And you are complete in HIM

We must beware of false doctrines, such as the trinity. The Bible tells us that all the fulness of the Godhead is in Christ. (Colossians 2:8-10).

We are complete in Jesus. It is Jesus, our Heavenly Father that robed Himself in a holy human body, born of a woman, so that He could pay the price of death for OUR sins. (John 14:6-19, 1Peter 1:18-19, John 1:29, Hebrews 2:14-15).

Jesus died, He was buried, and on the third day He rose from the dead. We were dead in our sins, but Jesus gives us Life. (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). This is the Gospel.

Jesus gives us Life when we put off the sins of our flesh by repentance, we bury our sins by water baptism in JESUS name, (washing them away by the blood that Jesus shed), and we are filled with His Life giving Spirit, the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:38, John 6:63).

Colossians 2:8-15  "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

"In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

"And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened [made alive] together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

"And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it."

Peter preaches Christ - God's Plan for Us

 "But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: for these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:" - Acts 2:14-17 KJV

"Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ." - Acts 2:36 KJV

What shall we do?

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." - Acts 2:38-39 KJV

3000 converts!

"Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls." - Acts 2:41 KJV

"And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers." - Acts 2:42 KJV

*From Exploring God's Word Home Bible Study

Sunday - The first day of the week

 

Sunday is the first day of the week.

What happened in the Bible on the first day of the week?

"And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. ... And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day." - Genesis 1:3, 5 KJV

When God was manifest in flesh to die for the sins of the world, He brought mercy and came as the light.

“In him was life; and the life was the light of men.” – John 1:4

"Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." - John 8:12 KJV

It was on the first day of the week that Jesus was resurrected.

"Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils." - Mark 16:9 KJV

It was on the first day of the week that Jesus first appeared to His disciples after He was resurrected.

"Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you." - John 20:19 KJV

The disciples assembled together on the first day of the week.

"And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight." - Acts 20:7 KJV

"Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come." - 1 Corinthians 16:2 KJV

Church!

Baptism in Jesus Name - Faith in Action

 

Behold the days come, saith the Lord GOD

 

This verse is a reminder that the Word of God – both written and preached – is a treasure to be cherished.

Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith...

 

"Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith…" - 2 Corinthians 13:5 KJV

"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever." - 1 John 2:15-17 KJV

"Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.  Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?" - James 4:4-5 KJV

We covenant with God when we turn our back on the world and sin and are baptized in Jesus name for the remission of our sins. When we receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, we are filled with God’s Spirit and joined to Him. If we look back to the world and sin, we are like an adulterer or an adulteress; we are unfaithful to God that bought us with His blood. God’s Spirit within us becomes jealous of the love we have for the world.

"But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded [for your loyalty is divided between God and the world]." - James 4:6-8 KJV

"Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up." - James 4:10 KJV

"Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." - 2 Corinthians 7:1 KJV

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." - Philippians 4:13 KJV

Church!

                                              

Acts 2:38 The Original New Testament Plan of Salvation

 

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." - Acts 2:38

Peace and Reconciliation

In the Bible, many times numbers have symbolic meanings. For example, it is said that the number seven represents completion, or perfection. God created the world in seven days. There are seven colors of the rainbow and seven musical notes. Naaman the leper became clean after dipping in the river Jordan seven times.

Three represents peace and reconciliation. Three times in the year Jewish males appeared before the LORD at the temple in Jerusalem making peace with sacrifices to God. Jonah was reconciled back to God when he was in the belly of the whale for three days. Joseph interpreted the dream of the butler: the vine of three branches was three days, and the butler was restored to his position as butler.

The question may be asked, why did Moses strike the rock in the wilderness three times?

The first time Moses struck the rock, he struck it one time and at God’s commandment. This was in Rephidim which Moses called Massah, and Meribah (which means “striving” or “arguing.”) This was at the beginning of the forty years in the wilderness.

The second time Moses struck the rock, he struck it two times, in disobedience to God’s command to speak to the rock. This was at the very end of the forty years in the wilderness. This brings the total times the rock was struck to three times. This place was called the waters of Meribah, because the children of Israel again strove with the LORD.

Why would the rock be struck three times?

The Bible says that the rock was Christ. The number three represents peace and reconciliation. By Christ being smitten, the smitten rock, by His death, burial, and resurrection, Jesus brought peace and reconciliation between Himself and the world.

"And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven." - Colossians 1:20 KJV

"And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:" - Colossians 1:21-22 KJV

"To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation." - 2 Corinthians 5:19 KJV

Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me

"Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink." - Numbers 20:8 KJV

God told Moses and Aaron that the water would come forth when they spoke to the rock.

"And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock? And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also." - Numbers 20:10-11 KJV

The LORD told Moses and Aaron that their action of striking the rock showed they did not believe Him. The LORD had said, if you speak to the rock, you will bring the water out of the rock. By striking the rock in their unbelief, they did not sanctify Him. To sanctify means, “to honour, to treat as sacred.”

"And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them." - Numbers 20:12 KJV

The Bible says that that rock that Moses struck was Christ. (1 Corinthians 10:1-4). Moses striking the rock was a type and shadow of Christ being smitten. Christ suffered and died at the hands of His people because they didn’t believe that Jesus is God. They did not sanctify their Savior.

"He came unto his own, and his own received him not." - John 1:11 KJV

"I and my Father are one. Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God." - John 10:30-33 KJV

"If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him. Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand," - John 10:37-39 KJV

"Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by." - John 8:58-59 KJV

"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." - John 1:12-13 KJV (Acts 2:38-39).

Believing and Speaking - The Second Time Water Came Forth From the Rock

There are two times the Bible records God causing water to flow out of the rock in the wilderness. The first time was when the children of Israel first entered the wilderness. Moses was to strike the rock with the rod that turned the river Nile to blood. This appears to represent Christ the rock smitten on the cross. This also appears to represent our water baptism in Jesus name. (See previous post).

The second time God caused water to flow from the rock was at the end of their 40 years in the wilderness. Again, the children of Israel had no water to drink. God told Moses to take the rod, but this time God instructed Moses to speak to the rock for the waters to come forth. (Numbers 20:1-8).

"And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock? And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also." - Numbers 20:10-11 KJV

While the first time God brought water out of the rock it appears to represent Christ being smitten on the cross, the second time God brought water out of the rock appears to represent Christ pouring out His Spirit.

The feast of tabernacles commemorates the miraculous provision of God for the children of Israel in the wilderness, including the rock supplying water. During the feast, water was poured over the altar in a special ceremony.

"In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)" - John 7:37-39 KJV

"And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them." - Numbers 20:12 KJV

This appears to be a type of the gift of the Holy Ghost, for it is by BELIEVING AND SPEAKING that we receive the Holy Ghost. Jesus said, “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive:” (John 8:24, John 10:38, John 13:19, John 20:25, 1 Thessalonians 4:14, Mark 16:15-16, 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, Acts 2:4, Acts 10:45-48, Acts 19:5-6, Isaiah 28:11-12).

To be continued…

The Smitten Rock

 

Jesus our Rock said, "If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)" - John 7:37-39 KJV

In order for the “rivers of living water” to be poured out (the Holy Ghost), Jesus had to be smitten, just as the rock in the wilderness was smitten in order for the waters to pour out.

The Lord told Moses to take the rod “wherewith thou smotest the river” and to “smite the rock.” (Exodus 17:5-6).

The rod that God told Moses to take is the rod that Moses smote the Nile river with. When he smote the Nile river, the water turned to blood. (Exodus 7:20).

When God told Moses to take the rod that he had smote the river with, God was making a connection with the water turning to blood. Thus, when Moses struck the rock and the water came forth, there was the remembrance of a river of blood.

The rock in the wilderness that was smitten was a type of Christ the rock when He was smitten and died on the cross. Out of Christ’s side there came blood and water.

"But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water." - John 19:34 KJV

The smitten rock that water came out of with the remembrance of blood is also a type of water baptism.

When we are water baptized in the name of Jesus, there is the remembrance of Jesus’ blood in the water. (Romans 6:3-4, Acts 20:28, Matthew 26:28, Acts 2:38, Hebrews 9:22, 1 John 5:6, Revelation 1:5, Revelation 7:14).

And that Rock was Christ

 

God shows His power, salvation, deliverance, and strength as our Rock.

Jesus is our Rock. (2Corinthians 5:19, Colossians 2:9, John 14:9-10, Psalm 18:31, 1 Samuel 2:2, Psalm 92:15, Psalm 95:1, Psalm 62:6-7, Psalm 78:16.)

"Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and did all eat the same spiritual meat; and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ." - 1 Corinthians 10:1-4 KJV

In the wilderness, the Rock gave the thirsty children of Israel water to drink.

"And they thirsted not when he led them through the deserts: he caused the waters to flow out of the rock for them: he clave the rock also, and the waters gushed out." - Isaiah 48:21 KJV

Just as the Rock in the wilderness gave water to the thirsty children of Israel, Jesus, the Rock in this world gives water to thirsty souls.

"Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water." - John 4:10 KJV

"Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." - John 4:13-14 KJV

The water that Jesus gives the thirsty soul is His Spirit.

"In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)" - John 7:37-39 KJV

To be continued…

Church!

 

Built on the Rock

 

"Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it." - Matthew 7:24-27 KJV

"And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." - Matthew 16:18 KJV

“Peter” is the Greek word ‘petros,’ while “rock” is the Greek word ‘petra.’  Thayer’s Greek Lexicon states, “Matthew 16:18 (some interpretations regard the distinction… between πέτρα, the massive living rock, and πέτρος, a detached but large fragment, as important for the correct understanding of this passage…)”

When Jesus said, “upon this rock I will build my church;” He was speaking of building it upon Himself, ‘rock’ being a metaphor and described as ‘the massive living rock.’ The metaphor for Peter is, ‘a detached but large fragment.’

Because the church as a whole, and us as individuals in particular are built on Jesus our Rock, storms can come and we will not fall. Not only will we not fall, but the gates of hell shall not prevail against us. By the gospel of Jesus, souls are set free, saved and delivered from hell. (Acts 2:38-42).

"The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler [shield], and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower." - Psalm 18:2 KJV

God is our Rock

God is our Rock

"For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God?" - Psalm 18:31 KJV

"The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower." - Psalm 18:2 KJV

"He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved." - Psalm 62:6 KJV

To be continued…

Acts 2:38 The Original Plan of Salvation is Jesus

 

There is only one God - Jesus is His name!

 There is only one God. (Deuteronomy 6:4). He is our Heavenly Father and Creator of the universe. He is our Savior. He is our Healer and our Deliverer. He is a just God and a God of mercy. His name is Jesus.

He formed man from the dust of the earth, made in His image, and breathed into him the breath of life. He named him Adam. From Adam's side, He formed woman and named her Eve.

While at first there was communion between God and man, because of Adam's sin, there was separation.

Because of God's great love for man, He humbled Himself and took on the form of man so that He could through death of His flesh, reconcile humanity back to Himself. (John 3:16, 2 Corinthians 5:19). 

God came to dwell among His creation in His name that is above every name and by which all mankind might be saved. His name is Jesus. (John 1:1,10-14, John 3:5, Philippians 2:8-11, John 5:43, John 14:7-11, Matthew 1:21).

How does God's name save us?

Jesus suffered and died for our sins. He was buried, yet on the third day He rose again. (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).

When we turn our back on sin and give our life to Jesus by repentance, are buried with Him by baptism in His name Jesus, and receive the gift of His Holy Ghost, we are recognizing that Jesus is God. Only a holy God, born in human flesh that was without sin, could pay the price for our sins.  We are saved from our sins through the name of Jesus when we are baptized in Jesus name. (Acts 2:38, Acts 4:12).

The world could see that Jesus is God because the grave couldn't hold him. On the third day, Jesus rose from the grave and was a witness of His resurrection for forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God to many witnesses. (Acts 1:3, 1 Corinthians 15:5-8). His disciples then watched Him ascend into heaven. (Acts 1:9).

In obedience to Jesus’ command, Peter preached the gospel on the Day of Pentecost. He then preached how to be saved by the gospel.

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." - Acts 2:38-39 KJV

The Feast of Tabernacles and the Joy of the Holy Ghost

It was in the last day, that great day of the Feast of Tabernacles that Jesus stood and cried, calling for those that thirst to come to Him, speaking of the outpouring of His Spirit that believers should receive. 

The Feast of Tabernacles is a festival of rejoicing. Three times the Bible repeats to rejoice and bring others to rejoice.

"Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the LORD...and ye shall rejoice before the LORD your God seven days." - Leviticus 23:34, 40 KJV

"Thou shalt observe the feast of tabernacles seven days…And thou shalt rejoice in thy feast, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite, the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are within thy gates…because the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thine increase, and in all the works of thine hands, therefore thou shalt surely rejoice." - Deuteronomy 16:13-15 KJV

On the last day of the feast Jesus chose to prophecy of His Spirit, the Holy Ghost, which He would pour out.

There is joy and rejoicing in the Holy Ghost!

"And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost." - Acts 13:52 KJV

"And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing." - Acts 8:39 KJV

"And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house." - Acts 16:34 KJV

"For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." - Romans 14:17 KJV

"And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:" - 1 Thessalonians 1:6 KJV

"Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:" - 1 Peter 1:8 KJV

In the Last Day, that Great Day of the Feast

 

Is the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) mentioned in the New Testament? What does Jesus say?

"After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him. Now the Jews' feast of tabernacles was at hand." - John 7:1-2 KJV

When the Temple stood in Jerusalem, starting with the second night of the feast, there was a nightly “Water Drawing Celebration.” The Feast of Tabernacles has a commandment to offer a water offering on the altar that the other feasts do not have, in addition to the wine offering that accompanied all the sacrifices throughout the year. The water would be drawn the evening before. At this event there was great fanfare, singing, and celebration.

The seventh day of the Feast of Tabernacles is called Hoshana Rabbah ("Great Salvation"). This is the day that Jesus stood and cried to the people:

"In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)" - John 7:37-39 KJV

The Talmud states that "one who has not witnessed the Festival of the Water Drawing has not seen joy in his lifetime!"

And the joy of the Holy Ghost is greater than that!!

And on that day, the last day of the feast Jesus chose to prophecy of His Spirit, the Holy Ghost, which he would pour out! Like RIVERS of LIVING water!

And how significant that Jesus would choose the seventh day of the feast to stand and prophesy, the last day, that great day of the feast that is called "Great Salvation!"

To be continued…

Church!

 Church!

"And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding." - Jeremiah 3:15 KJV

Sukkot - the Feast of Tabernacles

 

The Feast of Tabernacles is one of three times in a year that all Jewish males are to appear before the Lord at the Temple in Jerusalem. (Because the Temple is destroyed, they no longer can keep this commandment.)

“Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the LORD empty:" - Deuteronomy 16:16 KJV

"Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which he hath given thee." - Deuteronomy 16:17 KJV

The Jews call the Feast of Tabernacles "Sukkot." This 7-day holiday began this year 2020 at sunset October 2.

Sukkot is described as the most joyous of the three Biblically mandated festivals. It is described as the 'Season of our Rejoicing."

"And thou shalt rejoice in thy feast, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite, the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are within thy gates…because the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thine increase, and in all the works of thine hands, therefore thou shalt surely rejoice." - Deuteronomy 16:14-15 KJV

It commemorates the miraculous protection God provided for the Israelites during the 40 days they were in the wilderness after God brought them out of Egyptian bondage and before God brought them into the Promised Land.

The feast of tabernacles also celebrates the gathering of the harvest. (Leviticus 23:39).

Every day of the feast (except the Sabbath) they are to take of the “Four Kinds.”

"And ye shall take you on the first day the boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and ye shall rejoice before the LORD your God seven days." - Leviticus 23:40 KJV

The name for the feast "Sukkot" comes from the word “sukkah.” A sukkah is a hut of temporary construction with a roof covering of branches. For 7 days and nights Jews celebrating the feast eat all their meals in the sukkah they build. They do this in obedience to the commandment in the Law:

"Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths: that your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God." - Leviticus 23:42-43 KJV

Dead to Sin

 

We repented of our sins and became dead to sin. When we were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of our sins, we were baptized into Jesus Christ and baptized into His death. 

What does it mean to be dead to sin? 

To be dead to sin means, “To become wholly alienated from a thing, and freed from all connection with it” (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon). 

"What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?" - Romans 6:1-2 KJV 

“True Christians are said simply as ‘you have died,’ having put off all sensibility to worldly things that draw them away from God:” (Thayer’s). 

"For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God." - Colossians 3:3 KJV 

"Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." - Romans 6:3-4 KJV 

"Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:" - Romans 6:8 KJV 

"But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you." - Romans 6:17 KJV 

What is that doctrine? 

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." - Acts 2:38 KJV 

"But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." - Romans 6:22-23 KJV

The Linen Clothes

 

On the Day of Atonement, the high priest would wear linen garments and a linen turban on his head while he went with the blood of the goat into the Holy place to make the offering for the sins of the people. (Leviticus 16:4, Leviticus 16:11,14-15).

On the day that Jesus died on the cross and was buried, Jesus, our high priest, entered that greater, more perfect tabernacle in heaven with His own blood—not the blood of goats and calves—and entered the Holy place once for all time securing our redemption forever. (Hebrews 9:11-12, Hebrews 2:17, Hebrews 9:24-26, Hebrews 7:26-27).

"And Aaron shall come into the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall put off the linen garments, which he put on when he went into the holy place, and shall leave them there:" - Leviticus 16:23 KJV

It appears that just as the high priest in the old testament put off the linen garments that he had on after he came out from behind the vail of the holy place on the Day of Atonement, Jesus our high priest also put off his linen garments after he came out from behind the vail of the holy place in the tabernacle in heaven when He made the final atonement for all humanity.

"So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, and the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself." - John 20:4-7 KJV

"Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass." - Luke 24:12 KJV