The Feast of Tabernacles

One of the largest and most involved festivals is The Feast of
Tabernacles, followed by The Last Great Day. This comprises eight
consecutive days and involves two special annual Sabbaths. We are
required to dwell in booths, or temporary dwellings, and fellowship
together. It is the biggest opportunity for us to recharge our spiritual
batteries and only occurs once each year. How well we energize our
spirit will improve our ability to gain a closer relationship with God
and “make it through” another year. With this in mind, we should
try to get the most out of the Feast. The following are some of the
things that I have found effective in maximizing spiritual energy
during this time.

Start with the requirements originally given to God’s people.
Leviticus 23 tells us the first and the eighth days are sacred and
we are to do no work. This was easier in the past as most of us
took vacation time from work to keep the Feast. Today there are
many electronic devices available to keep us
“connected” to our jobs. Keep the laptops and
Blackberries off during these two days and try
to limit your connection to work during the rest
of the Feast. I have a hard time with this one
and have to constantly remind myself God will
provide. God also instructs us to assemble. This
is extremely important for us as we build our
relationship with God by loving and caring for
one another. Fellowship allows us to continue the
learning and discussion of God, far beyond the
sermons and Bible studies. We build a support
network in addition to allowing God to dwell
with us. “For where two or three come together
in my name, there am I with them” (Matthew
18:20). Meet as many people and fellowship
as often as you can. We are also told to give
offerings to God. He tells us to give freely in
celebration and thanksgiving for our harvest.
Before Jesus became our sacrificial lamb, the
offerings involved animals, grain, oils, and wine.
Today our “harvest” is the money we make from
our work. Tithing places God first and helps us
to remember the One who blesses us with our
bounty.

Prepare

The Feast of Tabernacles requires
preparation. How well we prepare to observe
the Feast will improve our ability to gain the
maximum spiritual energy. To get a glimpse
of what life may have been like during the Old
Testament preparing for the Holy Days, read
Numbers, chapter 28 and 29. Everyone had to
grow their food and raise their meat. There was
a large amount of animals used for offerings
to God. This had to be done while, at the same
time, providing food for your family. The offerings
could deplete your entire stock if you did not
carefully plan the entire year. Imagine the festival
journey with your family and all of the livestock
needed for the Feast! To put it in today’s terms,
make sure your funding is in order and arrange
for your temporary dwelling as early as you can.
I have always found when my arrangements are
made and organized; an excitement builds as we
anticipate the Feast.

Enjoy the Ride

I have always enjoyed my ride to the Feast
site. It is precious to spend time together
traveling to the Feast as a family. In addition
we love sharing in each others’ excitement.
Remember our spiritual ancestors and how
difficult it must have been to gather all the
families, animals, and everything else involved
in observing the Feast. The daily routine in our
lives, along with stress, can take our focus off
the importance of the Feast. Compared to our
ancestors in the Bible, we really do have it easy.
Praise God and enjoy the ride.

Volunteer

Earlier I discussed the requirement to
assemble and the importance of fellowship.
Another way to meet people, learn more about
God, and give of yourself, is to volunteer. I have
met numerous people at the Feast by helping.
The people who plan and organize the Feast
work very hard and there is always a need and
a way to helpful. I assist in our local Sabbath
School and have also participated in the festival
Sabbath School. As we go through the lessons,
I am always amazed at how much of the Bible
I don’t know. Thus, by volunteering, I am also
learning.

Study, Learn, Grow

With sermons every day, Bible studies, and
Infuse services, there are many opportunities
to study God’s Word. Attend as many as you
can while reflecting on your life. Internalize
each message and try to look for ways in
which you can grow or change. Taking some
notes or highlighting scripture can help you to
stay focused and retain the information. Also,
discussing the message afterwards can promote
further understanding in addition to increasing
fellowship.

Rejoice

Enjoy this time with your family as you
keep the Feast. God designed the Feast to be
a celebration and He enjoys the Feast through
our happiness. Remember God is with us always
and shares our joy as we partake in all of our
activities.

Our Batteries Will Keep Going

The Bible often uses the symbolism of
farming to help us understand the importance
of caring for ourselves spiritually. How well we
take care of our spirit will impact our closeness
to God. Think of the Feast of Tabernacles as a
spiritual harvest in which we have an opportunity
to feast upon the Word of God and dwell with
Him. The amount we gain will be the amount we
supercharge our spiritual battery. What we gain
from the world stays with the world and dies with
our physical body. What we gain in our spiritual
battery will stay with us into our immortal bodies.
Jesus tells us the road is narrow, the workers are
few, and He has the key. Get to know Him at the
Feast by plugging in to His energy.

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So what happens when we carry our heads
too high? Just how important is it for us to
remain small in our own eyes? Does God think it
important?

In the dictionary the word small means minor
in influence, power, or rank: operating on a limited
scale: lacking in strength: of little consequence.
The word humble means not proud or haughty:
not arrogant or assertive: reflecting, expressing,
or offered in a spirit of deference or submission
<a humble apology>: ranking low in a hierarchy or
scale.

Remember when we first came into the
Church when called by God. For some of us, that
may have been a long time ago. The scales were
ripped from our eyes—we glimpsed the pearl of
great price. As we arose out of the baptismal tank,
the Babylonian culture dripping from our skin, our
bodies still smarting from the pummeling brought
about by a loving God that had brought us to this
time and this place; we were ripe and ready to
change and repent as advised in Romans 2:4. In
other words, we were brought low, where we felt
small in our own eyes. God knew we were ready
to begin the long road of conversion. We were
now babes in truth, young, inexperienced, fresh,
eager, and willing to listen. We didn’t feel like Bible
scholars or spiritual giants. We were small in our
own eyes, looking to God to carry us through.
We’re all familiar with the story of David,
called by God, the youngest of seven brothers:
a ruddy, handsome fellow, a keeper of sheep,
small in his own eyes. “Pity me, O Lord, for I am
weak. Heal me…” (Psalm 6:2, The Living Bible
throughout). “Save me, O God, because I have
come to you for refuge…I have no other help
but yours …” Psalm 16:1-2). “In my distress I
screamed to the Lord for His help. And He heard
me from heaven…” (Psalm 18:6). “Lead me; teach
me; for you are the God who gives me salvation…”
(Psalm 25:5).

We, too, as babes in Christ knew we needed
God. We, too, cried out to God to save us. We
were still walking low. But what happens over
time. We lose that freshness, that urgency. We
who have been in the Church for many years may
come to think we know the Scriptures pretty well,
lead a “Christian” lifestyle; in fact we might think
we’re all-around good people; going about doing
our good deeds, saying our prayers, serving the
brethren… we become not quite so small in our
own eyes.

Have we become complacent in our need to
cry out to God? Maybe we have forgotten Satan’s
devices. Oh, we may have convinced ourselves by
rote that we know them. We may admit there is
a devil, that he is doing evil in the world and that
he is deceiving others, but we’ve got ourselves
convinced we’re okay, we’re close to God. It can’t
happen to me, we might say! But maybe we’ve not
had Satan right in our face where there’s no denying he’s out
to destroy us personally. When we are deceived by Satan, we
don’t know we are deceived.

Let’s see what happened to King David when he was
middle aged. He had been walking with God since a teenager—
at least 35 or 40 years; just like some of us in the Church. I
am sure David was well versed; he knew the commandment,
“Thou shall not commit adultery.” So what happened? He
was now King over Israel; maybe he was feeling pretty good
about himself, convinced he was a godly man. Let’s face it, he
must not have been relying on God as he should have been,
otherwise he wouldn’t have fallen into that trap—committing
adultery, then committing murder to cover it up.

He did repent and had physical consequences for his
actions, but apparently this incidence with Bathsheba and
Uriah hadn’t taught him the full lesson of staying humble.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have later numbered the fighting men
in Israel. The scripture tells us, “Then Satan brought disaster
upon Israel, for he made David decide to take a census. ‘Take
a complete census throughout the land and bring me the
totals,’ he told Joab and the other leaders. But Joab objected.
‘If the Lord were to multiply his people a hundred times, would
they not all be yours? So why are you asking us to do this? Why
must you cause Israel to sin?’ But the king won the argument,
and Joab did as he was told…” (1 Chronicles 21:1-4). Was
David not aware of Satan’s devices? Perhaps he was, for in his
own words David tells us he knows the need for humility: “The
Lord is good and glad to teach the proper path to all who go
astray; he will teach the ways that are right and best to those
who humbly turn to him” (Psalms 25:8-9). David also knew
what it was like when the Spirit of the Lord departs from a
person. He had seen that with Saul (1 Samuel 16:14, 23).
Why then was he such an easy target, that Satan could, in
fact, deceive him. Hadn’t he been walking with God for most
of his life by now? We have to address the question—Is there
more danger when one has been walking with God over a long
period of time? Had David forgotten to stoop low when walking
this walk? Or had he held his head too high?

Where would we be today if Jesus had held His head too
high; had refused to stoop, or hadn’t taken seriously the very
real danger from the god of this world? We see from Jesus’
example that “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of
sorrows, and acquainted with grief” (Isaiah 53:3-5). What did
Jesus have to do in order to endure His rendezvous with the
devil? (See Matthew 4:1-10.) Now if our Savior and Lord had
to humble Himself in order to overcome the devil and then
die upon the cross, what must we do? For a basic guide, see
Philippians 2:1-8. Not only did Jesus have to cry out to the
Father continually “with strong crying and tears” (Hebrews
5:7-9), He also had to humble himself by fasting. Jesus knew
He did not have the strength to overcome the devil on His own.
Should we expect to do anything less?

We too, in our long walk with God, may have forgotten
why humility is so very important to our eternal life. It was the
one characteristic lacking in the great archangel Lucifer; it
led to his downfall. It could be the one characteristic that we
lack also. Maybe that is why God reminds us: “Yet I will look
with pity on the man who is humble and of a contrite heart…”
(Isaiah 66:2). For as long as we are small in our own eyes we
will remain close to God. We will know we cannot get by for a
single day without crying out for His help against Satan (this
master manipulator of our minds and hearts). Humility keeps
us from being puffed up in our own eyes; thus it keeps us from
sinning against God. I bet Satan goes around looking for those
who are not stooping low. So, let’s remember to stoop low and
avoid getting our heads knocked off!

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We are all weak in certain areas of our lives, and when we let our guards
down, Satan is there, lurking; tempting us in our weakest points. If we are
not close to God, the Devil will lead us into temptation and into sin. Satan
tempts us when we are down and discouraged and when we don’t take the
time to pray and stay in close contact with God every moment of our lives.
Be careful not to be caught in his snare. Anytime we feel in our hearts that
something is sin, it usually is, and this is God’s Spirit interceding on our
behalf. Psalm 96:9 tells us “Worship the Lord in his splendor and holiness;
tremble before him, all the earth”.

There is a saying that “Our job while we live is to recognize more and
more what is eternal in each moment and give ourselves away for the things
that last forever.” Becoming holy in our day to day lives can help bring others
to Christ, it might be one of our children, or a neighbor, or a stranger we
meet in a store, or an unbleiving mate; we never know. They can see that
we are different by the way we act, and some will want to know what makes
us full of joy and happiness. We are a reflection of God’s love. Psalm 99:1-4
reads “The lord reigns, let the nations tremble; he sits enthroned between
the cherubim, let the earth shake. Great is the lord in Zion; he is exalted over
all nations. Let them praise your great and awesome name-He is holy”. God
wants us to become holy as He is holy. We all falter and sin from time to time and
we need to recognize our sins and confess them to God letting our lights shine in
this dark world.

What about you? Are you willing to change and be the kind of woman God
expects you to be? Are you a woman of holiness? The word “Holy” means to be
separate, to be a cut above the norm. Does this describe you? Hebrews 12:1-4
sums it up perfectly. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud
of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders, and the sin that so easily
entangles , and let us run with perservance the race marked out for us. Let us
fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, and who for the joy
set before him endured the cross, scorning it’s shame, and sat down at the right
hand of the throne of God.”

Let us, as women of God try harder to be what God wants us to be, an
example to those who don’t yet have the priviledge of knowing Jesus and having
a constant relationship with him. Let us become Holy in all we say and do. We are
engaged to Royalty and our Prince is coming to take us home.

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Believers and non-believers alike find themselves in a
never-ending cycle of duties and responsibilities. It is almost
as if we exist only to engage in these activities and chores. In a
world of 24/7 activities, we are in danger of starving ourselves
of the necessary break we and our bodies need. I often wonder
whether our forefathers ever lived such busy and hectic lives
and still were able to live for many years. I don’t know about
you but I strongly believe that there is a co-relation between
how much we rest and how long we live here on earth. To find
out whether this statement is true, we need to go back to the
beginning of life.

In Scripture, it is recorded that the Patriarchs Abraham,
Isaac, and Jacob each lived until they were well advanced in
years. They lived in an era in which there were no blackberries,
Facebook, or other online social-networking tools that are
supposed to make our lives better. So why is it that we are
living more stressful lives even though we have all the “tools”
to make our lives better? I think it is because we have
gradually neglected an important ingredient our lives – REST.
And in order for us to fully appreciate this ingredient, it is
important to go back to where it all began and to the architect.

God – The creator of rest

In his infinite wisdom, God gave us this timeless and
precious commodity called rest. This was to help us live long
and fulfilled lives. Besides, as the creator of the human race,
He knew our abilities, capabilities, frailties, and limits. He
realized that at some point we would need to rest our bodies
and allow them to recuperate so that we can function at the
highest capacity.

And even as the all-knowing and all-powerful, He knew how
important rest was to the body and this is demonstrated in the
creation story:

“By the seventh day God had finished the work he had
been doing so on the seventh day, He rested from all his work”
(Genesis 2:2 NIV).

Not only did God rest after creating the universe but He
also recognised this day by “blessing the seventh day and
made it holy because on it, He rested from all the work of
creating that He had done” (Genesis 2:3). In other words, He
acknowledged from His experience that for man to live and
fulfil his years on earth, he will need to have rest; hence God
sanctified a week day as a holy day. So why have so many of us
human beings not been able to recognise this important day
in our lives? If the Creator put these days for our benefit, why
have we flouted these rules, the evidence of which is all around
for us to see?

Perhaps, we as a people are making a statement to the
effect that we no longer want to work with God. We may not
say it audibly but through our actions we are saying loud and
clear that we no longer need God. This is a very dangerous
place for us to be. There are literally hundreds of examples to
illustrate this point. When we decide to live life outside of God’s
protection, we are exposed to a lot of enemies both from within
and without. The question is; how can we solve this problem?
First of all, we have to repent and acknowledge God as the
ultimate source of everything we are and everything we hope
to be. This involves knowing and understanding His will for our
lives, that He is there for all of us.

Secondly, we also need to recognise that His laws and
ways of doing things are primarily there to help us live our lives
to the fullest and not to condemn us. Under the New Covenant,
His grace is the overriding factor in our lives, and if we are
prepared to see it that way and thus embrace everything He
has done for us, we will confidently be able to live fulfilled lives.
We will also have to accept the fact that the Holy Days and
Sabbath and are not there to constrain us. Rather, they are
there to help fulfil our responsibility of taking care of what He’s
entrusted to us. Then, we will see these days as precious and
thus observe them because of the benefits we get from them
rather than seeing them as hindrances.

Again, for us to fulfil our potential here on earth, it is
important to recognize these special days as being part of the
measures put in place by our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
He did this to keep our bodies in shape and help us realize the
purpose for which He placed us on earth. Anything short of that
will amount to wilful disobedience of the Lord Himself.

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In 1963 my mother, Angeline, was baptized (by Carn
Catherwood). At the time we were living on Bunker Hill Air
Force Base, a military facility north of Kokomo, Indiana. Like
so many young Hoosier boys, I was involved in school activities,
primarily track, football, and basketball. I vividly remember
my mother gathering her three children into the car before
bedtime. She drove us around the Air Force base, listening to
a radio evangelist. During this same time my grandmothers,
one living in rural Tennessee and the other living in California,
were exposed to the same truth my mother was discovering.
They were learning about the true Sabbath, the holy days, and
all sorts of other “new” things. Little did I realize that their
“discoveries” would eventually lead me and my two sisters to
becoming third generation believers.

To say that my father was vehemently against my mother’s
new beliefs would be a gross understatement. His resistance
There’s Biblical reason to believe God works through
families. It’s also reasonable to believe the later
generations of believers are blessed through the
obedience of those who lived before. That is the case with
my family. My sisters and I have been blessed through my
mother’s faithfulness.

Those who lived through the 1960’s realize how
tumultuous a decade that was. (Remember the booklet,
“Hippies, Happiness, and Hypocrisy!?) It was also a remarkable
period of growth for the Church of God. My family was part of
the increase.

In 1963 my mother, Angeline, was baptized (by Carn
Catherwood). At the time we were living on Bunker Hill Air
Force Base, a military facility north of Kokomo, Indiana. Like
so many young Hoosier boys, I was involved in school activities,
primarily track, football, and basketball. I vividly remember
my mother gathering her three children into the car before
bedtime. She drove us around the Air Force base, listening to
a radio evangelist. During this same time my grandmothers,
one living in rural Tennessee and the other living in California,
were exposed to the same truth my mother was discovering.
They were learning about the true Sabbath, the holy days, and
all sorts of other “new” things. Little did I realize that their
“discoveries” would eventually lead me and my two sisters to
becoming third generation believers.

To say that my father was vehemently against my mother’s
new beliefs would be a gross understatement. His resistance
to my mother’s attraction to the church led to a break-up in our
family. Because of my age (15 yrs. old) the judge overseeing
child custody asked me to choose which parent I wanted to
live with. Which parent I wanted to live with?! He couldn’t
be serious! That was an impossible expectation. How do you
choose one parent over another? My decision was influenced
by my mother’s devotion. Knowing she loved her children more
than life itself and yet she was willing to give us up (if forced
by the law) to obey God convinced me that “whatever” she was
involved with had to be earth shaking. So, I chose to live with
my mother and moved away from everything that was central to
my life then – my father, our home, my school, my friends, and
sports.

We moved to Indianapolis where there was a Church of
God congregation. There were about three hundred attending
members and they warmly embraced my mother and us kids.
This new family of moms and dads (the Denman’s, Vincent’s,
Foster’s, Whitt’s, Pate’s, Shoe’s, Jones’, Daly’s, Truebloods,
Peyton’s, Thompson’s, Hoffman’s, Quackenbush’s, McCain’s,
Osborn’s, Sparks’, Rush’s, Phil Griffith, the Hampton sisters,
Don Atherton, and Mrs. McNeil – just to name a few) looked
after us, sharing their food and homes. Their hospitality
fit the description of the early new church in Acts 2:42 …
“they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and
fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayer.” There
were Spokesman Clubs, goat roasts, weekly Bible studies, trips
to Chicago and Cincinnati for Holy Day services, and Sunday
softball. It was a special time.

I will always be grateful to Mr. John Bald and his wife,
Nancy. He was the local church’s minister. For whatever
reason, it seemed the Bald’s had extra time for mentoring this
teen-age boy (me) with no father. They had me over to their
CGI ministry would be entirely different from the authoritative
exclusivity of the Worldwide. So, I said “yes” and moved to
Tyler, Texas in 1986. (Vance Stinson was hired at the same
time.) I found myself working along side four of the most gifted
men I have ever known – Benny Sharp, Vance Stinson, Garner
Ted Armstrong, and Ron Dart. It was a fantastic work/ministry
environment.

Through Mr. Ted Armstrong’s direction I was able to work
administratively with the growing ministry, travel with him
and Mr. Dart on personal appearances, facilitate Festival site
selection and help coordinate festival organization, answer
letters, respond to phone inquiries from around the world, and
organize the Church’s Youth Camp. All of these opportunities
contributed in some way to my current responsibilities.

Today, Benny, Vance and I are still working together at the
home office. How this came about is a truth stranger than
fiction. Sometimes I have to pinch myself to realize all that’s
happened. The events of the middle 90’s are well documented
and don’t need to be rehearsed, so long as we don’t forget
what we learned. Looking back it’s eye-opening to realize
how God guided so many to make right decisions for the right
reasons. This is certain. If it had not been for the spiritual
resolve of the Ministerial Council members and their wives,
along with the prayerful support of so many brethren, the
CGI would be totally different from what it has become. The
ongoing work of the CGI is a testimony to God’s grace.
I would be remiss if I didn’t take a moment to mention the
“gift from God” who serves shoulder to shoulder with me in
this life. That’s my energetic and wonderful wife, Betsy. She
is a remarkable woman and mother. She adds an indomitable
optimism to our marriage. She is a gifted fourth grade teacher
with a unique way of bringing out the best in each child. She
is a nurturer who loves without limits. We often talk about
how different our lives have been. She pretty much lived in
one city (Shreveport) all her life, my family moved all over. She
can remember all her grade school and elementary teachers;
I remember one. She graduated from LSU; I graduated from
Ambassador. (That’s a contrast for you!) Her upbringing was
completely different from mine. How she puts up with me
remains a mystery. As Proverbs says, “Strength and honor are
her clothing.”

Matthew 19:29 says, “And every one that has forsaken
homes, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife,
or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive
an hundredfold…” I know how that works. As I already
mentioned, in 1963 my mother took me and my two sisters
to our first church activity in Indianapolis. We were a family
of four. My sisters and I met a lot of folks that evening. They
were having a dinner and talent show. I remember Ferrell
Vincent (present CGI minister) played a guitar and sang “My
Blue Suede Shoes.” When my mother first told me we were
going to the dinner I asked her what I should wear. She said,
“Wear the best you have.” So, I wore the one thing that meant
the most to me – my blue award sweater from Maconaquah
high school. On the sweater were a big “M” and a few pins
that reminded me of my achievements in track, football, and
basketball. (Do they still have award sweaters?) I don’t know
what happened to that sweater. But I do know that today my
home and office are filled with many, many reminders of a
different type. There are pictures, cards and gifts that remind
me of wonderful experiences and the dedicated members
that have been my family for so many years. Those reminders
mean the most to me now. I guess I had to give up one to
have the many.

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Introduction

If you’re like a lot of us, being a Sabbath/Feast Keeper is all new to you. Most of us have come from different religious backgrounds, so keeping the Sabbath and GOD’S Feast Days is a new learning experience for you. Why does GOD want us to observe His Feast Days?  Because GOD wants us to know about our future, He reveals to us His great plan and purpose for humanity.

The biblical Feast Days fall during three seasons of the year. The early spring harvest includes Passover, and Feast of Unleavened Bread. Pentecost falls during the early summer harvest. The early autumn harvest includes The Feast of Trumpets, The Day of Atonement, The Feast of Tabernacles, and The Last Great Day.

The theme of these Feast Days portrays and reflects GOD’S spiritual harvest of mankind to eternal life. These Feast Days reveal the unfolding of GOD’S plan for humanity and how He will establish His Kingdom on this Earth. This is the Good News or Gospel that we as baptized members of the body of Christ should share with others.

In Leviticus 23 we find a listing of the Feast Days. After discussing the weekly Sabbath, the Bible describes special observances with unusual names of which we may not be familiar. In giving these Feast Days, GOD instructed Moses to make it clear that “These are the Feasts of the LORD” (Leviticus 4 and 37).

The Bible teaches that eventually GOD will teach everyone to observe these days (Zechariah 14:16).  GOD’S Feast Days help us comprehend his master plan, the very purpose and plan of GOD, how we truly become His people. “Behold the tabernacle of GOD is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. GOD Himself will be with them and be their GOD”. (Revelation 21:3)  Step-by-Step, the Feast Days show us how this beautiful picture will become reality.

GOD’S Weekly Sabbath

The Sabbath rest was very important to GOD that He established it on the seventh day of creation. It was a part of His creation. GOD created the Sabbath.

The Sabbath was designed to be a weekly memorial of GOD’S physical as well as His spiritual creation. It is a continual reminder of the creator and His plan for mankind. GOD made the Sabbath Holy, just as He is Holy. “Remember the Sabbath Day, to keep it holy”. (Exodus 20:8)  “On the seventh day GOD ended His work which He had made and He rested on the seventh day from all his work. GOD blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it because that in it He had rested from all His work which GOD created and made” (Genesis 2:2).  The word ‘sanctified’ in this verse is very important. It means to consecrate, to set apart. GOD set this day apart from all other days to be Holy as He is Holy!

When speaking to the children of Israel, GOD declared that his Sabbath was a sign between Him and His people.  “Surely my Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generation” (Exodus 31:13).  The word ‘sign’ in this verse is used several times throughout the Bible when describing the Sabbath. It comes from the Hebrew word owth pronounced oath, and can be translated as Signal, Beacon, or Mark. GOD is saying that His Sabbath is a link between His people and their GOD.

GOD states that His Sabbath points to a remarkable Hope, GOD’S plan for mankind. That you may know that I AM the LORD who sanctifies you (Exodus 31:13). GOD is revealing that He made the Sabbath Holy because it is to stand as evidence that He intends to do the very same thing to His earthly family. GOD set apart the Sabbath so that man could know that He has also set apart His people.

How Jesus kept the Sabbath

For the Son of Man is LORD even of the Sabbath (Matthew 12:8).

Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?

“Then He said to them, ‘what man is there among you who has one sheep, and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out? (Matthew 12:11)  Of how much more value than is a man than a sheep? Therefore it is lawful to do GOOD on the Sabbath’ (Matthew 12:12).  Then He said to the man, ‘stretch out your hand’, and he stretched it out and it was restored as whole as the other” (Matthew 12:13).

Jesus healed people on the Sabbath. In doing this He was challenging the religious leaders to look beyond their rules to their true purpose which was to honor GOD by helping those in need!

?          Jesus assembled with other Jews in the Synagogue.

?          Jesus read from the Scripture.

?          Jesus healed the sick.

?          Jesus shared meals.

?          Jesus took walks with close friends.

?          Jesus criticizes self-righteous religious leaders.

?          Jesus inspired Hope in the weak.

?          Jesus stayed in constant contact with His Father.

How should we observe the weekly Sabbath?

First we prepare for it. Preparation Day, Thursday at sundown (Friday) is a time to prepare for the Sabbath. It’s preparation day, a time to get gas, go shopping if needed, and run your errands so on the Sabbath, you can devote yourself to your Creator, GOD!  The Sabbath is a day of rest, to grow closer to GOD. It’s also a physical rest for your body. So you will be well rested, ready to do your weekly labor, and also battle against the Evil one!  It takes discipline, dedication, and devotion to GOD! We as brethren need to be focused on that Crown that awaits us, if we remain steadfast and faithful! Satan is like a roaring lion, out to steal, kill, divide and destroy us. So we need to put on the whole armor of GOD that we may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil! (Ephesians 6:11)

GOD’S time is different from ours. The Sabbath begins at sundown on Friday evening. It is a time we as believers need to set apart for GOD, our Creator. It is not a time to do as we want, but a time to Worship and Praise our GOD. He only asks us to set apart one day a week for Him! It’s a time to study His Word, pray, watch and listen to sermons by men of GOD; it is not a time for shopping, going out to eat or doing what our pleasures are, but a time to prepare to hear Truth from our GOD!  He speaks to us through His holy Word and through ministers of GOD. It’s a time to shut out this evil world and draw closer to our Holy and Righteous GOD and learn more about the soon-coming Kingdom and the world tomorrow.

We as believers know the plan of GOD, we know what our purpose is in life, and that is to prepare for GOD’S soon-coming Kingdom – so we can rule and reign with Christ Jesus!  We’ve got the edge, so get yourself together spiritually so GOD can use you for His divine plan for mankind.  The Sabbath is a time to prepare us for the Kingdom to come. We as believers are being judged NOW for our GODLY conduct. What position do you want to hold in the Kingdom to come? GOD is watching us at ALL times. He knows how we observe His Sabbath and if we are keeping it holy as He is Holy.

There are times when the oxen are stuck in the ditches – things can’t be helped. But GOD looks upon the Heart of the believer. He knows if it’s a believer’s custom is to keep the Sabbath Holy, that it’s their habit to do so. We do serve a GOD of Grace who understands that there are times when the ox is stuck in the ditch. Showing GOD how we prepare for the Sabbath shows Him how we are preparing for His soon-coming Kingdom! It’s not a time to play games with GOD, but a time to prepare for Christ Jesus! So give GOD your best and He will do the rest!

Attend Sabbath services weekly, dress your best when you come to church. Always bring your Bible and be ready to feed on the manna from GOD’S holy Word. Sabbath services are also a time to worship. Praise and grow in your walk with your GOD and Creator. It’s also a time to fellowship with other believers of like mind. We need to edify and uplift our brothers and sisters in the LORD! We may be many members, but one body in Christ.

How should we observe GOD’S Feast days?

Some of God’s Feast Days have designated methods of observance. For example only Passover involves partaking of bread and wine as symbols of Christ’s death. The Days of Unleavened Bread are the only Feast days during which GOD tells us to remove leaven from our homes. The Day of Atonement also stands alone as the one Feast Day observed by fasting. Proper observance of these Feast Days includes acknowledging their distinctions, each of which is designed to teach us different spiritual lessons. We must remember that these days are Holy to GOD!  They are the Feast of the LORD, which you shall proclaim to be Holy convocations, says GOD (Leviticus 23:2).

When we dedicate time to GOD by observing His Feast Days, it is showing GOD honor and respect – That we are acknowledging His authority over our lives. Our Creator desires that his people willingly, not by force, choose by Faith to follow ALL of His instructions. GOD wants His people to have a humble attitude. Man looks on the outward appearance, but GOD looks upon the inward heart of His people.

GOD’S Feast Days are commanded times and a time when we fellowship with brethren of like mind; when we can edify and encourage each other to good works; when we assemble at the times of these annual Feast Days. We allow ourselves a wonderful opportunity to learn more about GOD’S plan of salvation. These Feast Days are meant to be enjoyed by the whole family.

To properly rejoice on GOD’S Feast Days, we are NOT to do our customary work (Leviticus 23:3, 7-8, 21, 25, 35-36).  Even though preparing food for the Feast Days does entail work, it’s not servile work.  We need to prepare the day before the Feast Day, so we can devote all out time to GOD and what he is trying to teach us. We demonstrate our obedience and commitment to GOD by prearranging time off from our jobs so we can observe GOD’S Feast Days. With proper planning and respectful communication with our employers, most people can work out the details required to be able to take these days off. There are times when our employers just don’t understand your commitment to GOD and needing time off to observe them. You can ask your local minister for a letter stating the days you need off. It’s a time to put your trust in GOD and walk by Faith so even if you have to quit your job to observe GOD’S Feast Days, GOD will reward you for your obedience to Him and His Holy word!  Responding to GOD’S instruction is a matter of Faith. “For we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7).   It is important for us to start keeping the Feast Days when we first learn about them. Even through we may not fully understand them yet, we will learn by observing them.

In summary, the annual Feast Days are a time for spiritual growth. Observing GOD’S Feast Days reminds us of GOD’S great LOVE for humanity. These Feast Days are GOD’S gifts to His people!

Unleavened recipes for your enjoyment during, The Days of Unleavened Bread.

If you enjoy these recipes, then please make extras and give some to the widows and the elderly brethren. GOD be with you until we meet in the Kingdom to come!

May GOD protect you and your family from the Evil One!

Your crown awaits you!

Almond Bread                                                                                 350°

Mix sugar, eggs and 1 cup of flour

Add oil or butter

Mix in remaining ingredients

Pour into bread pan; sprinkle extra almonds, cinnamon, and nutmeg on top before baking for extra flavor

Bake 55 minutes

Cool and remove from pan

Slice and enjoy!

No Bake Bars

Lightly grease 13 x 9 pan

In large sauce pan, combine sugar, cocoa, milk and butter

Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly

Remove from heat

Add peanut butter and vanilla

Mix well

Stir in rolled oats and coconut

Spread in greased pan

Refrigerate until set

Cut into bars

Store in refrigerator

Makes 36 bars

Brethren love them!

Enjoy!

Apple Crisp                                                                                      350°

Put apples in 9-inch pan, sprinkle with salt and cinnamon

Pour in water, drizzle with lemon juice

In separate bowl, combine flour, sugar and oats

Cut in butter until pea sized

Spread over apples and pat firmly for 1 hour

Enjoy!

Apple Sauce Loaf Cake                                                                   350°

Beat honey, oil, and egg together

Sift dry ingredients together

Lightly stir in raisins, nuts, and applesauce

Spoon batter into greased 9×5 loaf pan

Bake for 40 minutes

Enjoy!

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Whether it is work commitments, that promotion we’re working our socks off to achieve, or that degree for which we are aspiring, we seem busy all the time. These goals may be commendable; however, we may have lost sight of why we are achieving them. As a writer, I too have asked myself this question. Am I writing as a way of showing off how good I am in the English language? Why do we do all the things in which we are so engrossed? There are as many answers as there are motivations for doing the things we do. Whatever the reasons-have we asked ourselves whether God is the single most important factor in what we are striving to achieve?

At the beginning of creation, God intended for man to manage his earthly domain. To enable man to carry out this task, He infused into him the very characteristic nature of Himself- hence, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness and let them rule over the fish of the sea…” (Genesis 1:26). Thus, man was to receive power and authority to effectively carry out his responsibilities in accordance with God’s laws. Unfortunately, with Adam’s rejection of God’s rule over him, man lost sight of his purpose. What was the result of this sudden shift in relationship with God?

Mankind sought refuge in things other than God. We elevate materialism to the position once occupied by God. We find solace by inventing and evolving political systems, ideologies, philosophies, and knowledge. Solomon described these strivings as “vanity.” To prove this point, we seem lost without our ideologies, gadgets, and other things to which we have attached ourselves. It is almost as if these things are our lives. They were not meant to fill the void inside of us.

Solomon did all there is to enjoy “life” yet did not find satisfaction. David, his father and another great king, questioned the purpose of man:

“Show me, O LORD, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life…Each man’s life is but a breath. Man is a mere phantom as he goes to and fro…he heaps up wealth not knowing who will get it” (Psalms 39:4-6).

We work so hard to make money and get all the trappings of the world. What we often fail to notice is these trappings are meant only as a means to an end, rather than an end in themselves. Solomon expressed this sentiment clearly when he said:

“I hated all the things I had toiled for under the sun because I must leave them to the one who comes after me. And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool?..This too is meaningless” (Ecclesiastes 2:18-19).

the ‘economic’ issue

The central issue of economics is how to use prudently, the scarce resources at our disposal to satisfy our insatiable desires. In order to solve this problem, we often prioritise our needs putting them on a scale-with (what we consider) the most pressing need occupying the top spot. We then decide to forego the items that may not be very important in order to get what we most need. Similarly, the central issue with humanity is how to regain our salvation-something we lost as a result of disobedience.

In order to achieve this goal, we must again draw a scale of preferences putting God first and relegating the many things which have taken His place. The apostle Paul puts this into context in his letter to the church in Corinth:

“Everything is permissible (allowable and lawful) for me; but not all things are helpful (good for me to do, expedient and profitable when considered with other things). Everything is lawful for me, but I will not become the slave of anything or be brought under its power” (1 Corinthians 6:12 Amplified).

Although everything is permissible, there are things that, when allowed to dominate one’s life, would eventually take the place of God. This would be vanity. This may be avoided when we prioritize our lives and build into our lives “treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Matthew 6:19).

So what practical steps can we take to put God first in our lives?

• Understand the whole purpose and duties of man (Genesis 1:26-29) and walk in it.
• Put God first in the center of everything we do (Proverbs 3:5-60).
• Acknowledge God as the source of life, power, and authority, and seek His help.
• Avoid the vanities of this world and the incorrect focus on material wealth.
• Submit every thought, imagination, and idea to the Word of God (Psalm 37:5).
• In the words of Solomon, “fear God and obey His commandments for that is the whole duty of man.”

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I’ve read several articles, blogs, and commentaries about this verse and many writers suggest that Christ is telling His followers to “win souls for the kingdom” by using money to take care of people’s physical needs. They believe that in this verse, Christ is telling us to be charitable. By doing so the recipients would be converted and be in the Kingdom where they would welcome you there “into eternal dwellings.” This interpretation seems to fit a little closer to the other teachings of Jesus. Unfortunately, upon closer examination it appears that they are reading too much into what Christ says and not being honest with His simple statement.

To understand this verse we must first put it into the proper context. It is actually the end of a parable that Christ was telling His disciples. The Pharisees had been misusing the tithe-money they received from the people and the parable addressed this corruption in an interesting way. We know the verse is related to these religious leaders because of their response in verse 14: “The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus.”

Christ begins the parable by introducing a dishonest manager who was working for a rich man. The rich man accuses him of wasting his possessions. Seeing that he is about to be fired from his job, the dishonest manager formulates a plan for his survival. “The manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I’m not strong enough to dig, and I’m ashamed to beg—I know what I’ll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses’” (Luke 16:3-4).

The dishonest manager goes to all the people who owe his boss money and makes deals with them. He offers one debtor a debt settlement for fifty percent of what is owed and to another he offers to settle for eighty percent. With these deals he is swindling his boss so that he may have a place to sleep and eat after he loses his job. His motivations are clearly selfish.

We read in verse 8 the rich man’s reaction: “The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light.” Some people take this statement as an endorsement by Jesus that Christians need to act more shrewdly like the people of the world. However, by what He tells the Pharisees, this is not what He is saying: “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God” (Luke 16:15 NKJV). Just because the rich man commends the manager’s actions does not mean he justifies them. This parable is condemning these worldly activities that paralleled many practiced by the Pharisees. The “people of light” should not act like the dishonest manager.

Christ now ends the parable with the controversial verse 9. I believe the NKJV translation makes the meaning a little clearer: “And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon, that when you fail, they may receive you into an everlasting home.” This is Jesus punctuating the meaning of this parable by using hyperbole. He is in effect saying that if you are going to be dishonest like the manager and then fail, you’d better buy yourself some friends so you will have a place to stay. Some people get hung up over the “everlasting home” part of the verse. They believe it possibly represents the Kingdom of God. However, this interpretation is not supported by the context of the parable nor the explanation that He gives of it in the next few verses. A better conclusion is that it is simply an exaggerated use of language to make a point.

In the explanation of this parable Christ shows us how to truly approach monetary responsibilities in this life. “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?” (Luke 16:10-11). Here Jesus tells us that we need to be trustworthy in the things that we are given in this life. The dishonest manager was not trustworthy and is an example of behavior to avoid. In our jobs and dealings in this world concerning money, we should not try to be shrewd and dishonest; instead, we should be trustworthy. Jesus convicts the Pharisees because they were dishonest in how they dealt with the money they received from the people. That is why this parable made them so angry.

There are no contradictions in Christ’s teachings about money. As “people of the light” we should be known for our integrity. All our financial dealings should glorify Christ so that we may one day manage the “true riches” in His Kingdom.

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wall street

When you walk down Wall Street in New York City, it seems like just another big-city street. It is located in lower Manhattan, a very quaint and historic part of the city. When you pass by the New York Stock Exchange and begin to see all the people and financial institutions, you begin to realize how powerful this street is. In addition to being the epicenter of America’s wealth, the world also relies on the success and power of Wall Street. It is easy to understand why a job on Wall Street is stressful and has one of the highest rates of depression and suicide. Right now the financial markets are in a cycle of financial downturn, plunging along with the rest of the world. The largest countries of the world have rushed to spend billions and trillions of dollars. They are trying to stimulate growth and stop the markets from falling further. Our nation’s debt continues to rise and the value of the dollar continues to fall. I can’t help but wonder how long we can continue down this path. At what point will we be out of resources and completely dependent upon the rest of the world?

the seed of abraham

To have a better understanding of how we got to this point, we must go back to a biblical covenant. In it, God said to Abraham, “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on the earth will be blessed through you” (Genesis 12:2, 3). I believe God honored His promise as the people of Abraham, including the United States, has brought wealth and peace to the entire world. The blessing passed from Abraham on to Isaac, who had twin sons, Esau and Jacob. Esau was the first one born and deserving of the birthright. Jacob was envious of his brother and loved by his mom so she devised a plan to deceive Isaac in his old age and steal the birthright. Jacob followed her plan and was successful, but his lust for wealth cost him dearly as he never saw his mother again, his father was crushed emotionally, and his brother despised him. Jacob learned a very hard lesson about deceit and what happens when we allow material things to get in the way of our relationship with God and our fellow human beings. It is ironic that the beginning of the blessing started out this way. Today, most people fall into the same trap and act the same way as Jacob. America, in general, is focused on money and power. We have lost our respect for the one who blessed us and gave us this wealth and power.

main street

Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are among the most significant people in the Old Testament. They were not the perfect heroes we might expect; instead they were just like us, trying to please God, but often falling short. They were aware of their weaknesses and overcame them to become closely bonded to God. Their great wealth was never an issue with God; however, their actions because of the wealth and their response to God’s instructions were important. Today’s society is moving further away from God with no sign of remorse. The family unit has suffered terribly with divorce occurring at an alarming rate. Sexual deviations from God’s design have become commonplace in entertainment, the internet, and legislation. Abortion claims millions of victims every year, and disobedience, murder, violence, and greed top the headlines each day. Most of our leaders appear to be equally as sinful as the people they serve. So where do people turn to for help? Throughout the years, Satan has cunningly deceived mainstream religion and twisted it completely away from God. How can anyone seek answers and truly repent of their sins when the religions they turn to are based on false doctrine and pagan worship? This leads to despair, which can be tragic and often end violently.

church street

Even as good Christian soldiers, we can be deceived and fall victim to Satan. When we are blessed and wealth occurs we must be thankful to God rather than becoming greedy and a slave to the wealth. “Then Jesus said to His disciples, I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven” (Matthew 19:23). Jesus did not say it was impossible, just difficult. We must overcome the challenges and stay true to God. Further on in verse 26, Jesus tells us, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” We must constantly defend against Satan’s attacks and stay close to God by constantly praying, repenting, and fellowshipping with Him and fellow believers. Commit yourself to God by becoming baptized and studying your Bible, allowing God’s Spirit to grow and work inside you. Realize that everyone fails and comes short of the glory of God. As we can see so many times throughout the Bible, what is most important is how we respond to our sin. Matthew 6:25-34 tells us that we should not focus on our earthly needs and wants, “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

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