07 / 01 / 06
(Comments in parentheses and emphasis are mine)

FIRST THOUGHTS:

• As many of you know … we honor and keep the Sabbath on the seventh day, based upon God’s command and the fact that our Savior did, as well as those who followed Him. Because of this, I have been asked many times … what do you do on the Sabbath? (Many seemed to be confused, due to the rigid laws the Jews added, over time, to protect the day … these added laws were rebuked by the Son of God, however.)
• We know one thing … our Savior never broke the Sabbath (The Jews thought that He did because of all the rules they added had added (over time, they thought that they were from God … they were not). These are the laws that were “nailed to the cross” (dogma laws).

• Things that you may find us doing on the Sabbath:
- Of course, the cell phone and everything about work is stopped. It ceases for one 24 hour day (sunset on Friday to sunset on Saturday). We shut down the company, as well (as commanded … so they, too, can enjoy a day of rest)
- We may write letters to those who are left behind (maybe in jail or the lonely).
- Dishes? Not on this day of rest … they are simply left for another day. As too the vacuum. It is kept in the closet; The T.V. is left as a dark box tucked away in the cabinet (it usually is that way during the week, as well).
- All our decisions for this day are based upon: Are we trying to satisfy our flesh or God?
- We spend a lot of time with the Lord (first and foremost).
o We see Him in all that we do during this day.
o Our family talks about, laughs with, and spend much time with God.
o We pray together as a family.
o We take turns reading scripture … this is the day the family searches for verses to go along with these devotions.
- We do not go shopping … all money transactions are stopped (This too is based upon Scripture … Amos 8:5a, Nehemiah 13:15, 19-21, and 31a). Why would we want to pollute this day by spending time satisfying our flesh?
- Yes … Lisa prepares meals for two days (or make enough of Friday’s dinner for two days). Since we look forward to this day … we plan ahead. (This too is Scriptural … Exodus 16:23). I will fill up the gas tanks and take care of anything that may hinder this day (Cutting the grass is not a Kingdom thing to do on a Sabbath, of course). We are to do all we can to protect this day. It is a holy day … unto the Lord!
- We may go for walks in the park, or along a path in the woods or simply try to relax with each other and spend the day with each other
- We occasionally sing as a family.
- We may even take a nap at mid-day (ahhhh …. Simply nothing to worry about on the Sabbath!!! To actually sleep like only a baby sleeps!)
- Yes, this is the day we gather together as a congregation as God commands us.
- Of course, we help others often. (Only if it concerns life (physically or spiritually) … as our Master illustrated.)

• If you really think about it … our flesh desires to be caught up with finishing projects, with satisfying our own desires, and with pleasing self. Many think: “How can we make ends meet and get the odd jobs around the house done if we give up one full day and do nothing?” Those comments are from the flesh. What we deem as “needs” are really “wants.” So, yes, in order to truly enjoy the Sabbath, one must let go of His life and desires of the flesh. Let us remember, the ONLY things we need are food and clothing for the day … we do not even need a roof over our head (That is a want, as well. Our Savior did not have a place to lay His head, right?)

• “If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the LORD’s holy day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words, then you will find your joy in the Lord, and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of our father Jacob.” The mouth of the Lord has spoken.” (Isaiah 58:13-14)

• All I ask is … just think about it!

DEVOTION
10 / 08 / 04

(Comments in parentheses and emphasis are mine)

FIRST THOUGHTS:
• Have you ever heard the saying: When in Rome, do as the Romans do.?
• If you were to live in another country, after a year there, you would start to talk and act the country in which you lived. You would know their culture and ways of life. Wouldn’t you? You would start to understand their past and traditions. There is NO difference between that and when we read the Bible. This is why the Bible is SOOOO miss-understood! People have resolved to simply “agree to disagree” OR what ever one person thinks is okay before God as correct. It is NOT okay, if it is NOT according to God’s true intention. There is only ONE truth and I want to know what that truth is with my very life!
• I have found that the more I understand the Hebrew and Greek word meanings and how they, the believers at the time of the Scriptures lived, the more God’s Word makes sense. What did God’s people do BEFORE Israel was set aside as God’s children? We (the “church”) have been concentrating on “that’s for the Jews” and “that’s for us” SO much, that we have often forgotten that it was GOD that gave them (… us, His children)the name Israel! It was GOD that gave them their very heritage and who HE is, by giving them the Law. The Law is His Word!! The book of Moses, the prophets, and Scripture is ALL Law!
• For too long, we have been taught by men who have been taught by men (taught in the seminaries and Bible colleges!) The New Covenant says that NO MORE will man teach another man to know the Lord. I, through these devotions, cannot teach you anything about God. It is only by His Spirit that truth is revealed. (HEBREWS 8:11 and JOHN 14:26) Now, these devotions may very well be one of the tools used to show someone. For by hearing and reading, others believe (ROMANS 10:14-15). What we say is not what is teaching them, we are simply tools used by God’s Spirit.
• The fact is, much of God’s Law was revealed to God’s children BEFORE Israel was called out from among the nations! Many keep using “that was for the Jews” as an excuse for disobedience!! But the fact is, it existed BEFORE “the Jews”!! Many assume that God changes with man’s changing desires. This is a lie. When one realizes that God’s Sabbath may be on another day than what is being celebrated, does not mean it is okay to remain in the wrong day. To change to the correct day would be walking by FAITH (That is faith … “Obeying because God said to do it”. You would be walking by faith, NOT sight.). Do we remain in the lie, or sin, and say God understands, or do we walk by faith and change to please God? If we find out we are eating unclean food simply because God’s children are still commanded to eat certain foods, do we remain in the lie, or sin, and say God no longer cares? Or are we to walk by FAITH and change our eating habits? This list goes on and on. You see, THAT is the mercy and grace we were given. While we were in the wrong day, and eating the wrong food, and celebrating the wrong days, and sinning in other areas, God waits patiently! That is mercy! Do NOT take advantage of His grace! But now if the Spirit has revealed the truth … what do you do? Who do you fear?

The blood of His Son was our atonement, but NOT our excuse!

• So let us know what God’s children did, how did they live, what were they like, when was it REALLY commanded? In short, let us know God and what was the truth regarding some of the issues people were interested in learning about when asked (and still IS the truth):

When is a day (To God and the writers of His Word)?
A day is evening to evening. (As found in GENESIS …)
- GENESIS 1:5 gives the first day as from evening to evening.
- GENESIS 1:8 gives the second day as from evening to evening..
- GENESIS 1:13 gives the third day as from evening to evening..
- GENESIS 1:19 gives the fourth day as from evening to evening..
- GENESIS 1:23 gives the fifth day as from evening to evening..
- GENESIS 1:31 gives the sixth day as from evening to evening..
- Now, in GENESIS 2:3 God states that this is the day HE rested. He then continues and states that THIS is the day He blessed as the Sabbath. A question arises: Can God change the order of this now that it has been created? How about if man says it is changed, will God change this order?
• So, when we read a verse like ACTS 20:7 where it says, “On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight.” Most think that this is Sunday, and Paul is leaving Monday. It is actually Saturday night and Paul is leaving Sunday morning. But since many do not realize that God’s day goes from evening to evening they use this verse as one of the excuses to change the Sabbath to Sunday. (Ignorance is NOT a bad word … Paul, too, was ignorant, yet HE was changed! (1 TIMOTHY 1:13)). Once one receives the Spirit of God, though, ignorance is NOT acceptable (ACTS 17:30). For if one remains ignorant and unchanging, their lives are saying that God’s Spirit is NOT at work in them. For it is God’s Spirit that now teaches us, not man’s wisdom. God’s Spirit will produce a change in us that will result in us being alienated from those around us.
• So … a day is evening to evening STILL to God AND His children. I start my Sabbath on Friday evening and remain in this rest for 24 hours until Saturday evening. Am I ridiculed? Yes. God cannot change. Do I call this day a delight? Of course, and it IS! So it IS possible to obey? Yes it is, but the more one does, the more he is different. God does not change. (To say that God changed the Sabbath day, is to say that God is a liar) We are ALL sinners, but once we have been enlightened of the truth, yet remain in our sin, we have another problem. (1 JOHN 3:9)

What is food (To God and the writers of His Word)?
• We all think that the clean food “law” was given to “the Jews”. (I put “the Jews” in quotations because this is what most do to the them … since many believe “they” rejected Him … “they” were under the law … “they” were given those commands, etc… and etc… . When something is said in ignorance or out of context, I feel I have to put it in quotations, for the statement is NOT what I say. When they attack Israel, they are attacking ALL believers … both you and me, as clearly revealed in ROMANS 9:6-8.
• Now read GENESIS 7:2.
• Did you finish reading? Okay, then why would God tell Noah (who lived BEFORE the nation Israel and the law that was given at Mt. Sinai) to do this? Do not assume because “WE” stuff our faces with unclean foods daily (Did you notice that I put “WE” in quotations too?) Like Paul, I was ignorant, as well when I ate unclean food before. But now that I know that God does NOT change, His Word is endless and can be trusted … I changed. This truth was spoken WAAAAAAAY back then and WAS the Word of God. It is “STILL a sin” to eat unclean food. Let us repent and change. I did, and God forgave me … I was ignorant. We will always have blind guides who are saying that those who obey God are putting themselves “back under the Law” all over again. Really? If I am already saved, how am I doing this for salvation?

Do we sin when we obey?

• Food to God and His children is very clear and easy to obey:
- Edible meat: “Any animal that has split hoof completely divided AND that chews the cud” (grazes for food) – LEVITICUS 11:3
- Edible fish: “Of all the creatures living in the water of the seas and the streams, you may eat any that HAVE fins and scales.” – LEVITICUS 11:9
- Edible birds: (There is a long list of detestable birds … in short “scavenger birds, or birds of prey” who eat other animals are unclean) – starting in LEVITICUS 11:13
• With that being a fact and God’s commands are perfect and righteous, if I start eating my dog (one of the two family dogs we have, so I will still have a pet) and consider it good for food, am I sinning? Remember someone else who thought that the food looked good and pleasing … did she sin? (GENESIS 3:6) Just because we grew up with worldly wisdom regarding food and eat according to the world’s standards, does that mean that it is therefore “food”? If I invited you over for dinner, and my wife called you ahead of time to ask you what kind of meat you eat, what do you think about? Are you considering my dog as meat, as I do? Dog is meat in China!!! The point is, just because we like something and it tastes good TODAY, does NOT mean that it is what the writers of God’s Word were talking about then! When THEY spoke of meat and food … it was still ONLY the food and meat set before them by God. Just because “WE” might consider as “fair game” anything that moves, does NOT mean that Paul was in the same mindset. It is still a sin, as much as it was back then. (I believe that Paul and the other New Testament and Old Testament believers would be APPALLED to hear people claim THEY ate unclean meat and advocated it!) Verses which are often taken out of context in ignorance:
- MARK 7:19 (This is the verse many use to get out of obeying God’s food laws). The problem here, is many forget to look at what is being written about WAAAAAY before or after the verse they are using. In this passage, we will have to go ALLLLLLL the way up to verse 7:9 to find out what they were talking about! They were talking about the TRADITIONS handed down by man, that one had to wash their hands before touching the food or it was “unclean” to eat. In the end of the entire argument, our Messiah declared that the food was still clean. In the SAME breath, He also revealed the spiritual meaning of “what we DO will also make us clean and unclean”, as well!! Wow, it is becoming more and more clear to me that we still have Pharisees and teachers of the Word today … many are standing behind their pulpits leading others astray in ignorance. (MATTHEW 15:14 and 5:19).
- ROMANS 14:6 (This is a verse that others often quote to me … They say, “Do not judge us for eating what meat we want.” Did I say I was judging ones salvation. I am to reveal their sin, am I not? (JAMES 5:20) The passage in ROMANS says, “He who eats meat …” Again … what is meat? God has already set down the criteria to determine what can and cannot be called “meat”. So, what IS the passage talking about? Let us go back ALLLLLLL the way up to verses 1 and 2. They are talking about DISPUTABLE matters!! Is “what is meat” a disputable matter to THEM? By no means!! What meat was okay to eat was clear … “totally split hoofs and chews the cud”. So what was going on here? There were some among them who were saying that God commanded “us” only to eat vegetables, NOT meat at all. (They may have come up with this command because of God’s original command in GENESIS 3:18) We can “eat everything” is NOT saying we can not eat another human being, either! “Everything” is what God has said we can eat. Likewise with ROMANS 14:5. Some were saying that one of God’s Feasts was more important than another feast. This was the argument, NOT if days can be changed and “don’t judge us if we change it”.
- ACTS 10:15 (Let me ask you, “Did God ever call ALL animals clean?” NO. Did God use physical examples to reveal spiritual meanings? YES. Joseph and Pharaoh’s dream comes to mind, here. Was Pharaoh’s dream about fat and skinny cows? NO.) Again, God did NOT say that all animals were clean, but that He NEVER called the Gentiles UNclean … He loved us Gentiles just as much and sent His Son for us, as well. The Gentiles could ALWAYS enter His family, Israel (the name given to His children). Read how this “dream” in ACTS troubled Peter!! Remember that Peter was hungry when He fell into sleep (so he dreamt about food) and He knew there was a meaning behind it. He KNEW that it wasn’t about what food he could and could not eat. (ACTS 10:17 and 19 then Peter finally understood what God was revealing in verse 28). So this verse is NOT about food, but people!
• In conclusion about what is clean and unclean food, the Law remains! (Hey, I loved shrimp and sauce!!) God is unchanging and we will still have false preachers among us who preach disobedience to God’s Word. Our flesh and sinful nature desires that which is pleasing to the eye and good to eat … nothing changes. If we do not eat according to God’s command, it is still a sin. Again, it does NOT mean that we are NOT saved, but only that we are rebelling against God. The message is the same: repent, change and be forgiven. But once enlightened to the truth, yet unwilling to change, that act of disobedience “may” be proof that God’s Spirit is NOT writing His Law on your heart. (For PROVERBS 26:11 is still truth, as well)

What is a sacrifice to God? What is an appointment? (Are they different?)?
• Remember when Satan tempted the Messiah? He gave the Word of God (out of context) and the Messiah fought back with, “And it is ALSO written …” (MATTHEW 4:7 and others). IF one verse sounds like, or appears to be leading us away from obedience to God or putting God on equal surface with us, WE have interpreted it WRONG. Many believe that the Messiah came and did away with everything that was laid down before His appearance in the flesh. That is a lie. HE, the CHRIST, is the one who actually gave the commandments in the Book of Moses! It is HE, the MESSIAH, who was throughout the Old Testament!! It was HE, the MESSIAH, who said the appointed feasts are HIS. He’s the one who gave them to Israel (US, HIS children). (LEVITICUS 23:2 and backed up by our Messiah, as well, in MATTHEW 26:18.) Let us NOT forget, Christ could do NOTHING without His Father’s approval. At the same time, HE and the FATHER are ONE (JOHN 10:30).
• Again, were there sacrifices BEFORE God called together the nation of Israel? YES. Why do so many think that the sacrifices are “of the Jews” and done away with? Let me ask you, again: Are the Feast days a sacrifice? NO! Do they point to the work of the Messiah and the future? YES! These are festivals given to us by God to show and remind us of His Son, the Messiah! Why were our forefathers told to put a pile of rocks at places of God’s intervention? TO REMIND THEM! Remember, God said we are forgetful people!! (JAMES 1:23-25) Why do we think that we can just pick any day (especially a day that was previously set aside for a pagan god) and call it holy? It was never acceptable to God before when they did that, so why do people think it is now (I did … until I realized and believed God is God, not man who changes? DEUTERONOMY 12:30-32!!! (Even in the New Testament, we are told to continue these appointments … HEBREWS 4:9-11 and again in 1 CORINTHIANS 5:8). These are reminders to His children. If they are done according to God’s Word, they WILL show the Messiah and God’s plan of salvation. If done according to God’s Word, they WILL provoke the natural children to jealousy! (ROMANS 11:13-14)
• So it is clear that a celebration is NOT a sacrifice, but a remembrance and an appointment with God. So what about the sacrifices, are they too done away with by the blood of the Messiah? I mean “it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.” (HEBREWS 10:4) So what was the purposes of the sacrifices? To REMIND them, us, of our sins. The blood THEY used only covered their sins (that is why they had to keep atoning for the same sins, year after year. Through the New Covenant, because of the blood of the perfect Lamb, the Holy Spirit will over time TAKE each sin away … not to be done again!!
• Were the sacrifices only for “them … the Jews”? I was always taught that the sacrifices saved them and that is why most perished. This too is a false teaching. Most perished back then, for the same reason most will perish now … un-belief. So did the blood of Messiah do away with the sacrifices?
• Let us first examine if sacrifices were done BEFORE Israel became a nation. Well, Cain and Able come to mind! (GENESIS 4:3-8 and HEBREWS 11:4). I am also reminded of Abraham’s sacrifice (He was even going to offer up His son as commanded by God!!! He was willing to do THAT and here most of us are, simply commanded to refrain from a piece of food, or set ourselves apart on the seventh day and keep it Holy and to celebrate HIS days and “we” say no to THAT!!!). (GENESIS 22:2 … 22:7 shows the burnt offering Abraham was told to do). How did he KNOW to sacrifice? I thought it was only for the “JEWS”. NO, even today … we continue the sacrifice, but with the offerings that last!
- Is there still a drink offering to be done? (PHILIPPIANS 2:17, 2 TIMOTHY 4:6)
- Are there still memorial offerings? (ACTS 10:4 sounds like it is still in effect)
- How about those fragrant offerings? They still around? (EPHESIANS 5:1-2 … The Messiah did, and the verse begins with “imitating God”. Again, in PHILIPPIANS 4:18 and that verse even calls it a sacrifice!)
- Of course there is NO need for another sin offering to be done. Bingo! That is the one that was completed fully. The law regarding sin and death is now met in Christ! Since there is a Law that says “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.” (GALATIANS 3:10). So, if we rely on obeying the Law to gain our salvation, we must do it perfectly. We cannot! Through faith, we now live in freedom from the condemnation of this law of sin and death. Is God’s Law done away with? By no means!! (ROMANS 7:7) We are still to desire to obey Him, but in the freedom of the curse!! (ROMANS 8:1-2)
- Here is the ultimate sacrifice we can do in return for what the Lord did for us … to give OUR life BACK to Him. Totally and unconditionally! (ROMANS 12:1-2) Not caring about what man says or thinks … for it is God we are to please, NOT man.
• Wow … did you ever think that we still had to do sacrifices today, as well?

LAST THOUGHTS:
• When one is able to and starts to live according to God’s Word as intended by God, he or she will be persecuted and even put out of “the church”. In these, the last days, those persecuting the obedient children will even think that they are pleasing God by doing so. Why would they do such a thing? Because they did NOT know the Father or the Son. So I am not surprised when someone who calls themselves “brother” hates my obedience. It was not like I wasn’t warned ahead of time! (JOHN 16:1-4)
• We must offer our life to God. Living a sacrificial life by faith that His entire Word is truth and is in effect for us. (1 PETER 2:5) We must continue to celebrate the REAL holidays, the REAL Sabbath, and eat the REAL food … why? So that we do not forget what God did for us and so that our children will also know Him personally! Our children will know that we fear God and He is Holy, as well as forgiving if we live as if God is a God, not a man. So why would people stumble over this type of obedience? (1 PETER 2:8-10) I, for one, will NOT trample the Spirit of grace … just because I have mercy now!

DAY OF ATONEMENT

Original command: found in Leviticus 23:26: “…The tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. Hold a sacred assembly and deny yourselves, and present an offering made to the Lord by fire.” (Fire represents the spirit of God who is refining us. What offering are you going to be presenting to your Creator? What victories has He given you in your life that you can present to Him? I pray that none of us appear before Him empty handed.)

Spiritual meaning: This is judgment day. Although our sins have been atoned for, this day has not yet been fulfilled. This, indeed, is a solemn day … a day in which many will find out that they actually did not truly believe. It is on this day that our Lord may say to those who thought they were saved: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but ONLY he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evil doers!’” (Matthew 7:22-23) “That day” appears to be the Day of Atonement … Judgment Day. The original Greek meanings of “evil doers” is those who transgress the law. Read it again and think about it.

New Testament findings: What did Jesus do? Our Messiah celebrated this, as well as His followers … so why aren’t we?

- 1 Corinthians 13:12 (Like the people who said, “Lord, Lord” … We will see clearly who the Lord is!) … “Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.”
- Matthew 12:36-37 … “But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” (In other words, our actions and words show our heart: Matthew 12:34 … “You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.” This is right before Matthew 12:36-37!)
- Romans 14:11-12: “It is written: “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.’” So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.” (Yes, it is on this day that we will have to give an account to God! How humbling that is … even for the children of God. Both the wicked and righteous will give an account, for every knee will bow before me on that day.)
- Hebrews 9:7-15 … “But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still standing. This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper. They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings–external regulations applying until the time of the new order. When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance–now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.”
- Hebrews 4:13 … “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”
- 1 Peter 4:5: “But they will have to give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.”
- Ephesians 4:30 … “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”
- Acts 27:9: “Much time had been lost, and sailing had already become dangerous because by now it was after the Fast.” (The Day of Atonement was called “The Fast”. For we are commanded to fast at least one time each year and it is on this day. So this is very clear that even Paul was still celebrating the Feasts after the Messiah rose.)

What is it that God asks us to turn toward? What action does this require?

- Hosea 6:1-3 … “Come, let us return to YHWH. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence. Let us acknowledge YHWH; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.” (We must return to Him. We must acknowledge Him and CONINUE to press on to do so. Not being satisfied but continue to seek Him.)
- Hosea 12:6 … “But you must return to your God; maintain love and justice, and wait for your God always.” (Referred to in 1 Corinthians 5:8 … “Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth.”) (After returning, we must maintain love and justice.)
- Jeremiah 3:12-13 … “Go, proclaim this message toward the north: ‘Return, faithless Israel,’ declares YHWH, ‘I will frown on you no longer, for I am merciful,’ declares YHWH, ‘I will not be angry forever. Only acknowledge your guilt– you have rebelled against YHWH your God, you have scattered your favors to foreign gods under every spreading tree, and have not obeyed me,’ declares YHWH.” (acknowledge our sins and that we have rebelled against YHWH. That we were serving other gods and not obeying YHWH)
- Joel 2:12-13 … “’Even now,’ declares YHWH, ‘return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.’ Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to YHWH your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.” (This is what this day is all about. This is why we fast AND weep and mourn. I told my children … today, we deny our ENTIRE self. We will not shoot hoops, we will not do even those things that we normally do on a Sabbath. We are to reflect on our sins and that we have done wrong before YHWH. We must not just do the routines and motions!! They were doing the actions of repentance, but were not truly sorry for their sins. Just like many in the church today, they say it with their lips, but then they continue in their sins. “Rend” means tear. This is what is meant by many were circumcising their flesh, in obedience, but their hearts remained hardened: Deuteronomy 10:16 … “Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and do not be stiff-necked any longer.” It is what many do today, as well. They go through the actions but remain hardened in their hearts.)
- Hosea 14:1-2 … “Return, O Israel, to YHWH your God. Your sins have been your downfall! Take words with you and return to YHWH. Say to him: ‘Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously, that we may offer the fruit of our lips.’”
- Jeremiah 3:22-25 … “Return, faithless people; I will cure you of backsliding.” “Yes, we will come to you, for you are YHWH our God. Surely the idolatrous commotion on the hills and mountains is a deception; surely in YHWH our God is the salvation of Israel. From our youth shameful gods have consumed the fruits of our fathers’ labor– their flocks and herds, their sons and daughters. Let us lie down in our shame, and let our disgrace cover us. We have sinned against YHWH our God, both we and our fathers; from our youth till this day we have not obeyed YHWH our God.” (Read Ezekiel 37:23-24 carefully, as it, too is speaking of the same backsliding and who will save them from it. Read the end part, as well … “They will no longer defile themselves with their idols and vile images or with any of their offenses, for I will save them from all their sinful backsliding, and I will cleanse them. They will be my people, and I will be their God. “‘My servant David will be king over them, and they will all have one shepherd. They will follow my laws and be careful to keep my decrees.’”)

What are we to turn away from?

- Jeremiah 35:15 … “Again and again I sent all my servants the prophets to you. They said, “Each of you must turn from your wicked ways and reform your actions; do not follow other gods to serve them. Then you will live in the land I have given to you and your fathers.” But you have not paid attention or listened to me.”
- Ezekiel 14:6 … “Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘This is what the Sovereign YHWH says: Repent! Turn from your idols and renounce all your detestable practices!’”
- Ezekiel 18:21-23 … “But if a wicked man turns away from all the sins he has committed and keeps all my decrees and does what is just and right, he will surely live; he will not die.” (We must turn away from our sins and do what is just and right)

What “idols” did Israel have, according to God’s instructions here?

- Numbers 15:38-40 … “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘Throughout the generations to come you are to make tassels on the corners of your garments, with a blue cord on each tassel. You will have these tassels to look at and so you will remember all the commands of YHWH, that you may obey them and not prostitute yourselves by going after the lusts of your own hearts and eyes. Then you will remember to obey all my commands and will be consecrated to your God.”
(Self! Going after the lusts of our own hearts AND eyes. )

Do you have the same idols? If so, how have you gone after them?

- Anything that takes the place of God (even His Laws / commands / Word) is an idol. When I did the Sabbath on Sunday, that was my idol since it was put ahead of God’s Laws. When I refused to obey any of His commands, my own flesh was my idol.
- Even in this movement toward the Laws of God, many are putting traditions ahead of obedience … we go after idols (those whose traditions are ahead of God’s Word … whether it is a Jewish tradition OR a Gentile church tradition. When there is no Scripture to back up what the Jews or Church is doing … and it clearly goes against His Word … that is an idol. Using terms like “it has always been that way” as the reason, OR we say for the sake of unity, we will continue in our ways … those are idols, as well.

What would you need to do to “turn away” from them?

- This is the struggle between our flesh and the Spirit of God. Who do we listen to. Do we fear ridicule and persecution? Do we fear loss of work or way of life by obeying the Sabbath? Do we fear loss of friends who do not understand our obedience? We may have to lose some friends; we may have to change our jobs/ we may have to change our life to turn away from our sins. Can we do what those who followed Yahsua did and leave everything. We have to approach His Word as the final authority … He says it, we do it … period.

Luke 15:11-24 … “Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.’ So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.”

We realize our error and humble ourselves to be able to return. Knowing that our Father is kind and loving … quick to forgive. Many have gone the hard way of taking our freedom and spending it on our flesh (I am one). (there is a song that says: Our freedom has bought us bondage (to sins))

The first step toward repentance is a change in heart.

What sort of change is required?

- 2 Chronicles 7:14 … “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
- 2 Chronicles 30:8 … “Do not be stiff-necked, as your fathers were; submit to YHWH. Come to the sanctuary, which he has consecrated forever. Serve YHWH your God, so that his fierce anger will turn away from you.”
- Psalm 34:18 … “YHWH is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
- Psalm 95:7-11 … “for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah, as you did that day at Massah in the desert, where your fathers tested and tried me, though they had seen what I did. For forty years I was angry with that generation; I said, “They are a people whose hearts go astray, and they have not known my ways.” So I declared on oath in my anger, “They shall never enter my rest.””
- Humility!! A humbled heart is a heart that submits to another (such as YHWH). Submissive is another word for Humility. Being able to say, I have sinned and I submit to your authority.

How is this change accomplished?

- Jeremiah 24:7 … “I will give them a heart to know me, that I am YHWH. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart.”
- Acts 5:31 … “God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.”
- Romans 2:4-5 … “Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance? But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed.”
- 2 Timothy 2:24-25 … “And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth,”
- I do not feel that these passages were suitable for the question asked. Only God can take away our sins (back then they were only covered). The question is: HOW is humility accomplished? It starts out by realizing WHO we are and WHO God is. So the passages, I feel, should be:
• Isaiah 45:9-12 … “Woe to him who quarrels with his Maker, to him who is but a potsherd among the potsherds on the ground. Does the clay say to the potter, ‘What are you making?’ Does your work say, ‘He has no hands’? Woe to him who says to his father, ‘What have you begotten?’ or to his mother, ‘What have you brought to birth?’ “This is what YHWH says– the Holy One of Israel, and its Maker: Concerning things to come, do you question me about my children, or give me orders about the work of my hands? It is I who made the earth and created mankind upon it. My own hands stretched out the heavens; I marshaled their starry hosts.”
• Psalm 103:13-14 … “As a father has compassion on his children, so YHWH has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.”
• John 8:23-24 … “But he continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins.””
• Psalm 111:10 … “The fear of YHWH is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.”
• Proverbs 1:7 … “The fear of YHWH is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.”
- This is what causes one to submit to another. The one who they are submitting and humbling themselves before is deserves it!!

Is true repentance possible without this change of heart?

- Luke 18:9-14 …. “To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men–robbers, evildoers, adulterers–or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.””
- Many put their faith in their obedience and look down at others who are not as “obedient” … this will be to their shame. We have all been there, “Why isn’t so and so obeying God. They must not have the Spirit of God.” We should all be like the servant who says after obeying, “I was just doing what I was told. How else can I serve you, Master?”

What sin is God speaking to your heart about?

- Learning to have greater faith. To trust Him as the disciples did (Now that we are in these troubled times)

Will you respond in pride or humility?

- I can either respond, “I must do something or it will all fall” OR “I can do nothing. Even those who call for our services are from God’s hand” Sometimes, I even trust in Ron’s wisdom and fail to realize that even Ron can do nothing to gain work.

The next step toward repentance is a change of mind.

How does our thinking affect our behavior?

- Isaiah 65:2 … “All day long I have held out my hands to an obstinate people, who walk in ways not good, pursuing their own imaginations”
- Hosea 4:1-6 … “Hear the word of YHWH, you Israelites, because YHWH has a charge to bring against you who live in the land: “There is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgment of God in the land. There is only cursing, lying and murder, stealing and adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed. Because of this the land mourns, and all who live in it waste away; the beasts of the field and the birds of the air and the fish of the sea are dying. “But let no man bring a charge, let no man accuse another, for your people are like those who bring charges against a priest. You stumble day and night, and the prophets stumble with you. So I will destroy your mother– my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. “Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children.”
- Luke 6:43-45 … “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.”
- Many think, “God will not see me” or say, “Where is their God?” or even “that God is please because He is silent” … so they continue in their evil ways. So what we think about God affects our behavior. If I think that God no longer cares that we sin … I will continue in my sins. This is what the church feels. So their thinking affects their behavior. They do not submit to God.

How can we avoid wrong thinking?

- Jeremiah 6:16-19 … “This is what YHWH says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’ I appointed watchmen over you and said, ‘Listen to the sound of the trumpet!’ But you said, ‘We will not listen.’ Therefore hear, O nations; observe, O witnesses, what will happen to them. Hear, O earth: I am bringing disaster on this people, the fruit of their schemes, because they have not listened to my words and have rejected my law.”
- Seek God’s wisdom. He gave us examples to learn by. Let us look and hear what happened to those who did not believe. Let us look and hear what someone looks like who do not love God and humble themselves! because they have not listened to my words and have rejected my law

What sort of mind are we to have?

- Isaiah 55:6-9 … “Seek YHWH while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to YHWH, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares YHWH. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.””
- 2 Corinthians 10:5 … “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
- Again, we are to realize that the ways of man is NOT God’s ways. We are to realize WHO we are and WHO He is. He only calls us friends IF we act like His Son did … John 15:14-15 … “You are my friends if you do what I command….”
- Please turn to Romans 8:6 for the answer to the question asked: “The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace;”

How can our thinking be changed?

- Job 42:4-6 … “You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.’ My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.”
- Romans 12:2 … “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
- John 16:7-15 … “But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned. “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.”
- ONLY when our thinking is in line with His (This is why it is written to the TRUE children … who has given their minds over to Him: “You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” (John 14:14). Our mind IS His mind and we want what HE wants. But we can see how religions are started by the flesh …. Ask for material wealth and He will give it to you if you have faith.)

What steps do you need to take to change your thinking regarding the things God has spoken to you about?

- My will is not necessarily His will. We must turn to His Word and the examples He gave to find out His will for man.

2 Kings 22:8-11 and 19 … “Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law in the temple of YHWH.” He gave it to Shaphan, who read it. Then Shaphan the secretary went to the king and reported to him: “Your officials have paid out the money that was in the temple of YHWH and have entrusted it to the workers and supervisors at the temple.” Then Shaphan the secretary informed the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read from it in the presence of the king. When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his robes. – - – Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before YHWH when you heard what I have spoken against this place and its people, that they would become accursed and laid waste, and because you tore your robes and wept in my presence, I have heard you, declares YHWH.”

2 Kings 23:1-3 … “Then the king called together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. He went up to the temple of YHWH with the men of Judah, the people of Jerusalem, the priests and the prophets–all the people from the least to the greatest. He read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant, which had been found in the temple of YHWH. The king stood by the pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of YHWH –to follow YHWH and keep his commands, regulations and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, thus confirming the words of the covenant written in this book. Then all the people pledged themselves to the covenant.”

(It is a dreadful thing to pledge your allegiance to God and not pursue it!)

Repentance not only requires that we turn in a certain direction, but also that we then walk in that direction. In other words, we need to change our behavior, not just what we say we believe.

Why isn’t it enough to just say “I am sorry” to God for our sin?

- Matthew 7:21-27 … “”Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.””
- Matthew 21:28-32 … “”Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.””
- 2 Corinthians 7:10 … “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.”
- God knows the heart and if one is truly repented of their sins (or is just mouthing some words):
• Psalm 44:21 … “would not God have discovered it, since he knows the secrets of the heart?”
• Acts 15:8 !! … “God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us.”

What should a change in behavior look like?

- Psalm 34:14 … “Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.”
- Jeremiah 50:4 … “”In those days, at that time,” declares YHWH, “the people of Israel and the people of Judah together will go in tears to seek YHWH their God.”
- Ezekiel 37:23 … “They will no longer defile themselves with their idols and vile images or with any of their offenses, for I will save them from all their sinful backsliding, and I will cleanse them. They will be my people, and I will be their God.”
- Hosea 12:6 … “But you must return to your God; maintain love and justice, and wait for your God always.”
- May I add:
- James 2:18 … “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”
- James 1:22 … “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”

The concept of living consistently with your belief is called “faithfulness”

What is the source of faithfulness?

- Galatians 5:22 … “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,”

How does this become part of our lives?

- Romans 8:5-13 … “Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you. Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation–but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live,”
- The fruits of the Spirit are only possible if we do not reject the “Sap” or knowledge of God written on our hearts:
• Hebrews 10:26 (we must not reject the knowledge that the Spirit has given us regarding God’s Laws) … “If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left,”
• Romans 11:16-18 … “If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches. If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, do not boast over those branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you.” (Can you see that we are to realize WHO He is and WHO we are? We do NOT support Him, but He supports US.) This is how faithfulness becomes part of our lives. Do not quench the One who gives it – His Spirit.

What change in behavior is God requiring of you?
Ask God to show you specific things that you need to do to demonstrate your repentance.

- Be more joyful in the trials.

Acts 9:1-22 … “Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything. In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord,” he answered. The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.” “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.” But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord–Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here–has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?” Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ.”

1 Timothy 1:12-15 … “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners–of whom I am the worst.”

- We no longer live to serve ourselves and its desires … but God. We become HIS servants not desiring things of this world.

We are commanded to rejoice during the feast of Tabernacles.
I am going to whine for a moment. We are one week from closing down the company, the economy is being compared to the great recession, and the two presidential choices to run our country are … well you get the point … and I am told to stop crying and am commanded to rejoice. It is odd, but even my wife, Lisa, reminded me that it is usually every year about this time, if not ON this feast, that we have looked bleakest and most dismal and without hope.
Think about this: Some years, this feels like one of those times at family reunion or gathering of friends where one of our children act up. We take our child behind closed doors or in another room and discipline the child. We then tell them to put a smile on their face and wipe the tears from their eyes as we exit and go back to the gathering of people.
I think of Jeremiah 12:1-5 … “You are always righteous, YHVH, when I bring a case before you. Yet I would speak with you about your justice: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease? You have planted them, and they have taken root; they grow and bear fruit. You are always on their lips but far from their hearts. Yet you know me, YHVH; you see me and test my thoughts about you. Drag them off like sheep to be butchered! Set them apart for the day of slaughter! How long will the land lie parched and the grass in every field be withered? Because those who live in it are wicked, the animals and birds have perished. Moreover, the people are saying, “He will not see what happens to us.” (YHVH replies) “If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?””
This is my study. The Feast of Tabernacles … no matter what, I am to rejoice even though I groan within. God promises rain for those who come up to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles.
Yehsua came and tabernacled with us according to John 1:14 … “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. “ (the word dwelled is Strongs #4637 is to tabernacle in a tent or to dwell as YHVH did in the Tabernacle. It is temporary.)
My spirit is the one who is groaning. My tent, my flesh or housing for my spirit is getting worn out and used (I am getting old). The war has taken the toil on my dwelling and I long to be home in my permanent structure. Our response in the flesh should be like that of our forefathers:
• 2 Corinthians 5:1-9 … “ Now we know that if the earthly tent (bodies) we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. We live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.”
• Philippians 1:21-24 … “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.” (It is not speaking about it is good for YOU that I remain, but for each of our missions and those we are a testimony to. It is good for THEM that we remain here, in these earthly tents!)
• Hebrews 11:8-10 … “By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.” (I too, get caught up in the flesh. I long to live like everyone else and the customers that I work for. I must keep reminding myself, “This is not my home. I am a foreigner in a foreign country.” I am to be content in ANY dwelling while at war.)
We are commanded to rejoice!! Even while we groan … even while our flesh is in pain … even while we long to be with our Savior and Husband: we are to rejoice:
• Isaiah 9:2-3 … “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as men rejoice when dividing the plunder.”
• Isaiah 29:18-19 … “In that day the deaf will hear the words of the scroll, and out of gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind will see. Once more the humble will rejoice in YHVH; the needy will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.”
• Philippians 4:4-7 … “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Messiah Yeshua (Christ Jesus).”
So … I rejoice when my flesh does not want to rejoice. That shows who is in control! My family knows the difference between me during the Sabbath and me during the week. “You have to find another job” is their cry many times. It is NOT the job that is the problem. I figure that I will feel this way in my flesh no matter where I work! I am longing to be with Him, I long to be intimate with Him and I cannot as the world around me closes in. My flesh finds comfort, though, that God separates the righteous from the wicked; separates the light from the darkness; separates the wheat from the chaff; and distinguishes between Israel and Egypt during the plagues. Many have taken this next passage to say what a blessing it is when it rains during the Feast of Tabernacles because it represents His promise of the coming rain (blessings):
Zechariah 14:16-19 … “Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, YHWH Almighty, and to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. If any of the peoples of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, YHWH Almighty, they will have no rain. If the Egyptian people do not go up and take part, they will have no rain. YHWH will bring on them the plague he inflicts on the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. This will be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles.”
Rain. A promise for those who come and celebrate. But it rains on both the wicked and the righteous (Matthew 5:45 … “He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”). We also know that some rain is a blessing: Ezekiel 34:26 … “I will bless them and the places surrounding my hill. I will send down showers in season; there will be showers of blessing.”
H1293 (blessing)

berāḵāh: A feminine noun meaning blessing. The general idea of this word is one of good favor bestowed on another. This may be expressed in the giving of a tangible gift (Gen_33:11; 1Sa_25:27) or in the pronouncing of a verbal blessing (Gen_27:36; Gen_49:28). Most often, however, this word speaks of God’s favor on the righteous (Gen_12:2; Mal_3:10). It is related to the common verb bāraḵ (H1288), meaning to bless and is often used to contrast God’s blessing and His curse.

So, I will celebrate with joy and rejoicing and wait for the rain to come. In order to rain, there must be a cloud overhead and at times, a storm.

THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES (Which, we are told in Zechariah 14:16-19, that ALL of God’s children will be celebrating in the end):

Leviticus 23:34-36 and 39-44 … “Say to the Israelites: ‘On the fifteenth day of the seventh month the Lord’s Feast of Tabernacles begins, and it lasts for seven days. The first day is a sacred assembly; do no regular work. For seven days present offerings made to YHVH by fire, and on the eighth day hold a sacred assembly and present an offering made to YHVH by fire. It is the closing assembly; do no regular work. “‘So beginning with the fifteenth day of the seventh month, after you have gathered the crops of the land, celebrate the festival to YHVH for seven days; the first day is a day of rest, and the eighth day also is a day of rest. On the first day you are to take choice fruit from the trees, and palm fronds, leafy branches and poplars, and rejoice before YHVH your God for seven days. Celebrate this as a festival to YHVH for seven days each year. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come; celebrate it in the seventh month. Live in booths for seven days: All native-born Israelites are to live in booths so your descendants will know that I had the Israelites live in booths when I brought them out of Egypt. I am YHVH your God.’” So Moses announced to the Israelites the appointed feasts of YHVH.”

H249 (native-born)
’ezrāḥ: A masculine noun indicating a native-born person of a land (Eze_47:22) as opposed to a stranger (gēr) or settler (tôšaḇ). These persons had full rights to take part in Israel’s rites and festivals (Exo_12:19, Exo_12:48-49; Lev_16:29; Jos_8:33). Strangers could be treated as natives in some cases (Exo_12:48) and were to have, in general, respect and humanitarian treatment just as the natives (Lev_19:34). They were to be loved. It is used figuratively to describe native soil (Psa_37:35).

This time of year is so fulfilling and joyful. We build a “booth” (or sukkah – a temporary dwelling) in our back yard (sometimes on the side of our house). We decorate the sukkah and then we eat in it, as well as spend much time in it. During the week of celebration we “sukkah hop” and go to others who are doing the same. We enjoy fellowshipping and games. The first day of the Feast of Tabernacles is a Sabbath, as well as the day after the seven days of Tabernacles (the Eight Day) is a Sabbath. When doing any of God’s Feasts or anything else to do with God’s timetable, we must realize that it is HIS seventh month (Not July). This is easy to accept and know once you plug into others doing the same.

Numbers 29:12 … “‘On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work. Celebrate a festival to YHVH for seven days.” AND verse 35 … “‘On the eighth day hold an assembly and do no regular work.”

Deuteronomy 16:13-16 … “Celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles for seven days after you have gathered the produce of your threshing floor and your winepress. Be joyful at your Feast–you, your sons and daughters, your menservants and maidservants, and the Levites, the aliens, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns. For seven days celebrate the Feast to YHVH your God at the place YHVH will choose. For YHVH your God will bless you in all your harvest and in all the work of your hands, and your joy will be complete. Three times a year all your men must appear before YHVH your God at the place he will choose: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks and the Feast of Tabernacles. No man should appear before YHVH empty-handed:”

Nehemiah 8:14-18 … “They found written in the Law, which YHVH had commanded through Moses, that the Israelites were to live in booths during the feast of the seventh month and that they should proclaim this word and spread it throughout their towns and in Jerusalem: “Go out into the hill country and bring back branches from olive and wild olive trees, and from myrtles, palms and shade trees, to make booths”–as it is written. So the people went out and brought back branches and built themselves booths on their own roofs, in their courtyards, in the courts of the house of God and in the square by the Water Gate and the one by the Gate of Ephraim. The whole company that had returned from exile built booths and lived in them. From the days of Joshua son of Nun until that day, the Israelites had not celebrated it like this. And their joy was very great. Day after day, from the first day to the last, Ezra read from the Book of the Law of God. They celebrated the feast for seven days, and on the eighth day, in accordance with the regulation, there was an assembly.”

H6116 (word for assembly … since NASB and KJV has “solemn assembly”)
From H6113; an assembly, especially on a festival or holiday: – (solemn) assembly (meeting).

THE FIRST FEAST DAY GOD COMMANDED: THE WEEKLY SABBATH

WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, HOW, AND WHY??!!

Leviticus 23:3 “There are six days when you may work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of rest, a day of sacred assembly. You are not to do any work: wherever you live, it is a Sabbath to the LORD.” Remember, God does not change!

God set the precedent for the weekly Sabbath rest when He rested after the six days of creation (Genesis 2:2-3)

God then commanded His people to also observe this seventh day rest as part of the “10 Commandments” (Exodus 20:8-11)

Notice that “the alien within your gates” is also commanded to honor the Sabbath! The LORD repeated this command many times (Exodus 23:12, 31:12-17, 32:12-17, 34:21, and 35:2)

We also see the Gentiles who loved the LORD included in the Sabbath and feasts in Isaiah 56:3-8 Remember, God does not change!

So far, we see that the seventh day Sabbath is for all true believers in God. We are to do no work, rest, and it is to be a day of sacred assembly.

Amos 8:5a further tells us we are not to be buying and selling on the Sabbath, “saying, “When will the New Moon be over that we may sell grain, and the Sabbath be ended that we may market wheat?”

Isaiah 58:13 -14 describes the blessing of honoring the Sabbath and that what we do and say must be focused on Him, “If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the LORD’S holy day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words, then you will find your joy in the LORD, and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob.” The mouth of the LORD has spoken.”

Many verses in Acts show Believers, following the resurrection and ascension of Jesus, meeting in the Synagogues on the Sabbath

“From Perga they went on to Pisidian Antioch. On the Sabbath they entered the synagogue and sat down. After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the synagogue rulers sent word to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have a message of encouragement for the people, please speak. Standing up, Paul motioned with his hand and said: “Men of Israel and you Gentiles who worship God, listen to me!” (Acts 13:14-16)

“As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people invited them to speak further about these things on the next Sabbath. When the congregation was dismissed, he Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who talked with them and urged them to continue in the grace of God. On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord.” (Acts 13:42-44)

“For Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.” (Acts 15:21)

Also, the following verses show the same type of occurrences: (Acts 13:27, 16:13, 17:2-4, and 18:4) Remember, God does not change!

We know from Scripture that Jesus and the disciples and the early “Christian Church” all honored the Sabbath. Paul even clarified the validity of honoring the Sabbath in Hebrews 4:9-11, “There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience.”

Acts 1:12 says, “Then they returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city.”

Mark 2:27-28 shows that Jesus declares Himself to be the Lord of the Sabbath. He often healed on the Sabbath and was often questioned about what was and was not lawful to be done on the Sabbath. He often had an open forum on the subject to explain that this day would soon be changed or unnecessary or done away with. He did no such thing! Instead, He clarified what the Lord’s true meaning of the Sabbath was! He taught for the Scriptures, healed, and helped, all on the Sabbath.

We must heed the warning given in Colossians 2:8, “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.”

REMEMBER, GOD DOES NOT CHANGE!

SO WHY DO WE GO TO CHURCH ON SUNDAY???

So, what did you find out this week???????????

My investigations found that around 132 A.D. the Jews were forbidden to enter Jerusalem which was renamed Palestine. 50% of the people in Judea were killed. It was so very dangerous to be associated with the Jews. So, in order to distance themselves from the Jews for safety, many Christians changed their day of worship to Sunday. Years later, in 364 A.D., the Church of Rome (Catholic) declared Sunday as the new Sabbath. “Christians shall not Judaize and be idle on Saturday, the Sabbath, but shall work on that day; but the Lord’s day (Sunday) they shall honor, and as being Christians, shall if possible, do no work on that day. If, however, they are found Judaizing, they shall be shut out from Christ.” (Cannon 29, Council of Laodicea, 364 A.D.) The Convert’s Catechism of Catholic Doctrine says, “Sunday observance is from when the Catholic Church transferred the solemnity from Saturday to Sunday.”