 |
|
 |
| Happy Sukkot! |
The appointments which arrive in the Fall are the most important in the Jewish calendar. They are called the High Holy Days and include both the Feast of Trumpets, also known as the Jewish New Year, as well as the Day of Atonement.
Next month, we will take a deeper look at these important Biblical observances, but this month, let us consider together this traditional time of spiritual preparation preceding the High Holy Days and the Fall Feasts. Read more...
As the seventh feast in the seventh month, the Feast of Tabernacles culminates God's redemptive program. Each year, according to Leviticus 23:39-43, we celebrate the Harvest Feast of Tabernacles to rejoice in His sufficiency. We wave the lulav branches to the four corners of the earth, acknowledging God's centrality and sovereignty as the King of Kings who is reigning over all the earth.
 Another important aspect of this yearly festival celebration is recognizing His secure protection over us as we build the three sided tabernacles (booths, or Sukkot) from those same branches referenced in Leviticus 23:40. These flimsy 'sukkahs' testify that like the Israelis in the wilderness, we, too, know that our safety and stability come from His ongoing care for us. In Psalm 140:7, David also declares that GOD is the One who is his "sukkah" (covering) in the day of battle.
REJOICE- THE BEST IS YET TO COME
As meaningful and joyous as our annual celebrations are for us, the best is yet to come, because the Feast of Tabernacles points to more than our present provision and protection. Yeshua used the unusual Temple ceremonies, which were established by the religious leaders of Israel, to reflect the biblical prophesies about Sukkot and to declare that these traditions spoke of Him. Zechariah 14 foretells that during the Millennial Kingdom, the Feast of Tabernacles will be an annual celebration for all nations to testify that the LORD Himself is the source of all the bountiful blessings we enjoy.
A NEW ORIENTATION
This yearly celebration gives a new orientation to the nations. Zechariah 14:16 "Then it will come about that any who are left of all the nations that went against Jerusalem will go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles."
After the slaughter of the nations who fought against Jerusalem, the submission of those nations who are left will be demonstrated in their worship of the King of kings, Yeshua the Messiah. These very nations will go up to Jerusalem - not to make war but to worship the LORD of hosts. As prophesied in Isaiah 2:2-3 "In the last days …all the nations will stream to Jerusalem. And many peoples will come and say, 'Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; that He may teach us concerning His ways and that we may walk in His paths.'" This also testifies of that future change for the nations.
All the nations will have a new orientation around God's Will and Word as they worship Him annually in Jerusalem at the Feast of Tabernacles. Their annual schedule will then be aligned with the LORD's biblical calendar, as His priorities will be seen in their new confession to worship (Zechariah 14:16 b). Those nations who survive are by that same grace no longer God's foes but followers of the King, the LORD of hosts. Prefigured in the annual harvest festival, the Feast of Tabernacles anticipates the greater Harvest of GOD, when all nations are yielded to the Messiah as the King of Israel who is established on His glorious throne in Jerusalem, His Kingdom's capital (see Matthew 25:31).
It's interesting to note that Zechariah states that the nations will "worship the King" as they "celebrate the feast." The celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles is the future setting for the true worship of the King of kings. As it points to a certain future, so also today, believers find this feast to be a significant testimony that annually honors Yeshua and anticipates His royal return. Yes, we rejoice in Yeshua's complete provision and protection as He presently reigns over our yielded lives. As we recognize the centrality of Yeshua in the Biblical calendar, we will thereby orient our lives around His authority and thereby find our full sufficiency and security in Him; thus, we become His witness to His future Jerusalem-centered reign over all the nations.
WHAT IF I DON'T CELEBRATE THE FEAST
 The Feast of Tabernacles is not only the culmination of all the Feasts of Israel, but the purpose of this very feast is to see God as central and reigning over His whole creation. In Zechariah 14:17-19, there is a clear indication that God knows there will be resistance to His rule seen in the nations that refuse to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles in worship to the LORD of hosts. Zechariah clearly states that there is punishment for failing to "celebrate the Feast."
Punishment? Yes, this is in reference to the kingdom period, not heaven. In the Millennial Kingdom there will be believers and unbelievers together. Therefore, the punishment is corrective to bring the nations back to true worship as the Lord's eternal love is demonstrated. For us today in the body of Messiah, we need to examine our attitudes in every aspect of our lives. For those with a yielded heart to Messiah, the celebration is filled with joy in sincere worship of King Messiah, the LORD of Hosts
During the Feast of Tabernacles, we must examine our attitudes. Do we worship Yeshua as the true King of our lives? How do we treat Yeshua's authority in our relationships, our activities and our finances? Yeshua is the King, the LORD of hosts! As you pray for Word of Messiah's Festival outreaches in late September through mid-October, let us all honor Him through this Feast of Tabernacles and rejoice in His eternal love! Come quickly, Lord Yeshua!
|
"Gentleman. This is a football," were the famous words of Vince Lombardi given to some of the most experienced players in the game from inside the team room of what would become the world champion Green Bay Packers. The phrase was a fitting illustration served up during this years Southeast Messianic Men's Conference by Sam Nadler that was themed "M'dor L'dor" (From Generation to Generation).
 For Lombardi, the challenge was to prepare and shape a group of young men into a football legacy by helping them to recover a shared understanding of and commitment to some core unchanging foundational principals of the game. For Sam and other Messianic leaders present at the conference, the ongoing stewardship challenge was to help disciple and equip a future generation of leaders to faithfully carry on the generationally recent recovery of the sacred calling of sharing Messiah to the Jew first and equally to the gentiles. What a training camp is to building a successful football franchise, the Messianic men's conference was for building and sustaining healthy Messianic congregations. Following are some observations from the perspective of being in the huddle under the teaching as we as men were being built up in the faith and reenergized with a passion to serve.
 While it may seem paradoxical, future generational Kingdom progress is only achieved through our deepening dependence upon our King's unchanging ancient game plan. We are the ones changing generation to generation not Him. Our Lord doesn't entertain a "plan B" option. What He has purposed and planned He promised in writing and His word will not come back void. The Lord's redemptive plan and blessing for the world, which spans from generation to generation until His return, was and still is rooted in and ultimately fulfilled through His promises given to Israel. What a privilege that He invites us all to participate in His progressive redemption of the world! God chooses to love Israel thru us. His personal, permanent and powerful love is available as our resource as we allow Him to reign even now in our hearts until we see the fullness of His Kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven.
Healthy Messianic congregations are really just a committed huddle of healthy Messianic families and homes. As men we were encouraged with practical ways to maintain a healthy Messianic family and home. Future congregations as well as future generations will both require men with humble hearts fully surrendered to Messiah's leadership (1 Timothy 3:5). As a participant in the conference it was exciting to be surrounded by committed men from different southeastern Messianic congregations who all share a common calling and through prayer and iron on iron discussions encouraged one another with grace and truth. Each year it is encouraging to see new men in attendance as well as a growing number of faces more and more familiar with each conference along with deepened relationships all encouraging one another in the ongoing work of Messiah.
While many may have heard of Lombardi’s more famous opening to the new huddle of men in training, most would not know the next words were “This season will be the start of something new.” A fitting illustration as well for the expectant men in attendance at M’dor L’dor who gathered as another generation seeking to pass the baton well. Same calling, same truth, same life in Messiah for another generation standing on the shoulders of the previous seeking to carry forward an effective witness in a new season. The timing of the conference falling in this season before Sukkot was ideal to help fix our mind and hearts on the ultimate fulfillment and Hope of our calling.
Older men and younger men alike from congregations including Sha’arei Shalom in Cary NC; Hope of Israel Roanoke Va; and Hope of Israel Charlotte as well as men committed to planting new congregations Hope of Israel, Monroe NC; and Hope of Israel Columbia SC have all now returned to their homes and congregations with refreshed hearts strengthened to serve M’dor L’dor, from generation to generation.
(for more info on the Messianc Men's conference please go to www.messianicmen.com)
|
Sam will be speaking:
To schedule a speaker click here or call 704.544.1948
|
|
 |
The Feasts of the Bible DVD kit
by Sam Nadler
This 6-Session DVD-based curriculum is for groups and individuals that wish to study the Feasts of the Bible as they relate to God's redemptive plan. It clearly shows how the Old Testament Feasts point the way to Messiah Jesus. The kits come with six 30-minute sessions, a leader guide, a participant guide, and more. How do the Old Testament Jewish feasts relate to believers today? Participants will discover how the Jewish feasts clearly point the way to Messiah Yeshua through God's redemptive plan. Participants will learn the sequence and purpose of each feast and how these each relate to God's plan. Beginning with the Sabbath, "The rest of the soul in the Messiah," and concluding with the Feast of Tabernacles "The culmination of the work of God and the gathering of the nations," Dr. Sam Nadler takes participants on a journey of discovery that will make your spiritual walk deeper.
|
| |
|
| |
|
No comments:
Post a Comment