Good morning,

This week we will explore the Feast of Tabernacles/Sukkot/Feast of Booths/Feast of Ingathering. One gathering with several different meanings.

Spiritual and Prophetic Significance of Sukkot

Sukkot is significant of many things:
1. The Israelites were led through the wilderness, being delivered from the bondage of Egypt and dwelt in booths and tents. YHVH provided everything they needed and protected them throughout their wanderings.
2. Yeshua is believed to have been born on the first day of Sukkot (not on December 25th) and was the Word made flesh and dwelt (tabernacle/sukkoted) among us and was circumcised according to the covenant of Abraham on the eighth day (Hoshana Rabbah).
3. Sukkot could also speak of a future exodus out of Babylon as scattered Israel and those nations that are grafted in journey through the Great Wilderness of the Tribulation and ultimately tabernacle with the Messiah in the New Jerusalem for 1,000 years.

The Messiah in Sukkot
Bible scholars believe that it was during the feast of Sukkot that Yeshua the Messiah was born upon this earth. Specifically, the first day of Sukkot the Son of God put on temporary flesh and dwelt among men. John the disciple alluded to this fact when he wrote where the Messiah came from. Matthew starts out showing the lineage of Joseph, while Luke eludes to the lineage of Miriam (Mary) through the family connection of Zechariah and Elizabeth but John spoke of the Heavenly DNA, linking Yeshua of Nazareth with the Word of God.

John 1:1-2,14 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God…And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us…” The word used for dwelt in this passage literally means “tabernacled.” The feast of Sukkot is a 7 day feast with a special 8th day observance called Hoshana Rabba (the last great day or the last great praise) and Yeshua was circumcised on this 8th day (of the feast) and it is recorded in Luke 2:21.

Later on in the life of Yeshua we see another mention of Sukkot and it is a powerful demonstrative teaching that causes much stir in the temple ceremonies. It is during the Feast of Sukkot that a temple ritual would take place called the water libation ceremony. A priest was dispatched from the temple mount out through the southern steps down to the pool of Shiloach (which means sent) and the priest fills a vessel with water and returns up the steps into the temple. This is the only time that water (mixed with a little wine) is placed upon the altar. As water is poured out down one side of a trough that led down to the altar, wine was poured down another trough leading to the altar and together they would meet together on the altar that was red hot at this point. As the mixture of wine and water splashed upon the altar it hissed and steamed as everyone huddled around praying for rain in the coming season, praying for the Messiah to come and the indwelling of the Ruach Hakodesh (Holy Spirit). It is at this moment that Yeshua stood up and proclaimed, “If anyone is thirsty, let him keep coming to me and drinking! Whoever puts his trust in me, as the Scripture says, rivers of living water will flow from his inmost being!’” (John 7:37-38). It is at this moment that everyone started putting together the pieces of the puzzle. The waters carried up from the pool of Shiloach were called the “waters of salvation” or quite literally the waters of Yeshua. Here they have the Messiah who was named Yeshua which meant salvation and he stands at this moment and makes this claim as the mixture of wine and water, which symbolized the blood and water that flowed from his side was spilled upon the altar. Some argued with him and some believed while others pondered these things further. On Hoshana Rabbah, the last day of the feast four 75 foot tall Menorahs were lit in the temple courts and Yeshua continued his teaching by using the symbolism of the bright lights around him:

John 8:12 “I am the light of the world: whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light which gives life.”

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

This week we will explore the Feast of Tabernacles/Sukkot/Feast of Booths/Feast of Ingathering. One gathering with several different meanings.

The Facts:

What do the Scriptures say about it?

Lev 23:34 “Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the Lord.”
Lev 23:35 “On the first day shall be an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.”
Lev 23:36 “Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto YHVH: on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto YHVH: it is a solemn assembly; and ye shall do no servile work therein.”
Lev 23:39 “Also in the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when ye have gathered in the fruit of the land, ye shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven days: on the first day shall be a sabbath, and on the eighth day shall be a sabbath.”
Lev 23:40 “And ye shall take you on the first day the boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and ye shall rejoice before the LORD your God seven days.”
Lev 23:42 “ Ye shall dwell in booths seven days…”
Deut 16:13 “Thou shalt observe the feast of tabernacles seven days, after that thou hast gathered in thy corn and thy wine:”
Deut 16:14 “And thou shalt rejoice in thy feast, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite, the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are within thy gates.”

When is it?
Lev 23:34 “Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, the fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto YHVH.”

What are we commanded to do?
1. Keep it Holy as a regular Sabbath, doing no servile work or the things associated with the seventh day Sabbath on the first day and the eighth day of the feast.
2. Keep it at its time and season on the fifteenth day of the seventh month.
3. Have a holy convocation on the first day of the feast and on the eighth day of the feast. This is a calling of the assembly or community of like-minded believers to assemble together and celebrate Tabernacles. If no one is able to convocate then call together your own family or travel to where another group of believers are assembling and keeping this day Holy or set apart.
4. We are to build “booths or sukkahs” out of various branches mentioned in Lev. 23:40. We are to dwell in booths or tents for seven days and rejoice before YHVH. This is one of the pilgrimage feasts where all of the males have to appear in Jerusalem before the Lord.

Tomorrow we will explain the spiritual and prophetic significance of Sukkot.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

Good morning,

The process of renewal has taken place, so now we should be ready to praise God for His wonderful works.

Psalm 92 tells us of God’s goodness. This should cause us to rejoice and be thankful.

Does it? Do we really comprehend all that God has done for us? We are absolutely nothing without God’s intervention on our behalf. Had God not sent Jesus to pay our sin debt, we would be lost and headed for eternity in hell. Step back for a moment and think of all the ways God has impacted your life. Then thank God and rejoice.

“It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O Most High:² To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night,³ Upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon the psaltery; upon the harp with a solemn sound.⁴ For thou, Lord, hast made me glad through thy work: I will triumph in the works of thy hands.⁵ O Lord, how great are thy works! and thy thoughts are very deep.⁶ A brutish man knoweth not; neither doth a fool understand this. ⁷ When the wicked spring as the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity do flourish; it is that they shall be destroyed for ever:⁸ But thou, Lord, art most high for evermore.⁹ For, lo, thine enemies, O Lord, for, lo, thine enemies shall perish; all the workers of iniquity shall be scattered.¹⁰ But my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of an unicorn: I shall be anointed with fresh oil.¹¹ Mine eye also shall see my desire on mine enemies, and mine ears shall hear my desire of the wicked that rise up against me.¹² The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.¹³ Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God.¹⁴ They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing;¹⁵ To shew that the Lord is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.”

There is nothing better in this world or the world to come than God. This should cause us to worship and praise the Lord.

“Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.” (Philippians 4:4)

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

Good morning,

Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement is over. The yearly process of seeking God, identifying and repenting of sin completed, the sacrifice made by the High Priest has been accomplished, so now comes the process of renewal.

The Bible speaks of several areas of renewal.

Mind

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:2)

And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; (Ephesians 4:23)

Spirit

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. (Psalm 51:10)

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; (Titus 3:5)

Knowledge

And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: (Colossians 3:10)

Strength

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31)

Keep silence before me, O islands; and let the people renew their strength: let them come near; then let them speak: let us come near together to judgment. (Isaiah 41:1)

Youth

Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s. (Psalm 103:5)

Allow God to renew you today.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

The evening of  18 September begins Yom Kippur, the day of atonement.

We will study this important Jewish holiday today.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Download (Yom-Kippur.docx, DOCX, 19KB)

Good morning,

Yesterday, I referenced the Shofar and asked the question, “What does the blowing of the trumpet mean to believers in Yeshua (Jesus)?” The answer is it signals the Rapture of the Church. Verse 16 references the ”…trump of God…”

Paul explains the Rapture to the Church at Thessalonica.

Comfort in light of the Rapture (13-18) This is the most extended and most important description of the Rapture in all of Scripture.

The Hope of the Rapture (13)

¹³ But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

The Confidence of the Rapture (14)

¹⁴ For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

The Order of the Rapture (15)

¹⁵ For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

 The Person of the Rapture (16a)

¹⁶ For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout,

The Resurrection of the Rapture (16b)

with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

The Catching up of the Rapture (17a)

¹⁷ Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up

The Intimacy of the Rapture (17b)

together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

The Encouragement of the Rapture (18)

¹⁸ Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Ultimately the Rapture is a comfort to a needy people. We are to serve God till He returns. We are to watch expectantly and persistently.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Yesterday began the observance of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.

In Hebrew, Rosh Hashanah means, literally, “head of the year” or “first of the year.” Rosh Hashanah is commonly known as the Jewish New Year. The Jewish New Year is a time to begin introspection, looking back at the mistakes of the past year and planning the changes to make in the new year. The Bible refers to the holiday as Yom Ha-Zikkaron (the day of remembrance) or Yom Teruah (the day of the sounding of the shofar). The holiday is instituted in Leviticus 23:24-25.

“Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation. Ye shall do no servile work therein: but ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord.”

The shofar is a ram’s horn which is blown somewhat like a trumpet. One of the most important observances of this holiday is hearing the sounding of the shofar in the synagogue. No work is permitted on Rosh Hashanah. Religious services for the holiday focus on the concept of G-d’s sovereignty.

This would be a great time to wish all our Jewish friends a hearty Happy New Year. It would also be a good time to reflect on our own lives. Are we keeping short accounts with God? When He reveals sin in our lives, do we confess it (1 John 1:9) and move on serving God? What does the blowing of the trumpet mean to believers in Yeshua (Jesus)? (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18) What does it mean that God is sovereign?

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Helping others is important. Although not showy, it encourages, strengthens, and lifts up others.

We will look at four individuals who helped others. Ruth, Barnabas, Paul, and Barzillai. Their stories recall friendships, service, and commitment.

Barzillai and David: Physical help when needed

“And it came to pass, when David was come to Mahanaim, that Shobi the son of Nahash of Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and Machir the son of Ammiel of Lodebar, and Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim,²⁸ Brought beds, and basins, and earthen vessels, and wheat, and barley, and flour, and parched corn, and beans, and lentils, and parched pulse,²⁹ And honey, and butter, and sheep, and cheese of kine, for David, and for the people that were with him, to eat: for they said, The people is hungry, and weary, and thirsty, in the wilderness.” (Samuel 17:27-29)

“And Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim, and went over Jordan with the king, to conduct him over Jordan.³² Now Barzillai was a very aged man, even fourscore years old: and he had provided the king of sustenance while he lay at Mahanaim; for he was a very great man.”   (2 Samuel 19:31-32)

David was fleeing Jerusalem. Absalom rebelled against his father the King and had captured Jerusalem. David and his people were tired, hungry, and weary. They needed sustenance. Barzillai provided that for them.

Barzillai was a wealthy man who supported King David. Barzillai’s support allowed David and his people to escape.

Do we share our bounty with others? It is God that allows us to get wealth. It is our responsibility to use those resources to God’s honor and glory.

Do we? Barzillai did!

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

Good morning,

Helping others is important. Although not showy, it encourages, strengthens, and lifts up others.

We will look at four individuals who helped others. Ruth, Barnabas, Paul, and Barzillai. Their stories recall friendships, service, and commitment.

Barnabas and Saul: standing in the gap

“And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.²⁷ But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.²⁸ And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem.” (Acts 9:26-28)

Saul was out to arrest, kill, or jail as many Christians as possible. On his way to Damascus, he had an encounter with Jesus that changed his life. He now wanted to tell others about Jesus death, burial, and resurrection. He did and many believed.

When he came to Jerusalem and presented himself before the disciples, they did not believe his conversion, and were afraid of him.

Standing in the gap for Saul was Barnabas. He testified to Saul’s encounter with Jesus, changed life, and his bold preaching in Damascus. Acts 13:1-5, record for us the calling of Barnabas and Saul to God’s work. Barnabas encouraged, mentored, and helped Saul in his early years.

We need to be able to mentor other young believers in their faith. Discipleship is crucially important. That was what Jesus was doing for three years with His disciples. Young believers need to be taught the foundational truths of Scripture.

Will we stand in the gap for someone today?

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

Good morning,

Helping others is important. Although not showy, it encourages, strengthens, and lifts up others.

We will look at four individuals who helped others. Ruth, Barnabas, Paul, and Barzillai. Their stories recall friendships, service, and commitment.

Paul and Onesimus: Unprofitable to profitable

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Download (PHILEMON.docx, DOCX, 14KB)