The Forgotten Feast - Daniel Goldstein ISRAEL TODAY

The Forgotten Feast

Wednesday, October 04, 2017 |  Daniel Goldstein  ISRAEL TODAY

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There has been much speculation during the past couple of years about the culmination of the end of times due to certain signs in the sun, moon, and stars: ranging from the recent cycle of the four “Blood Moons” to the alignment of the stars on September 23, 2017. Various prophets of doom have used the Bible along with science and astrology to try to prove their theories but have only shown once again that man is incapable of predicting the date and time of the end of the world.

The Bible is an amazing book that contains truths about the past, present, and future, however, we as human beings must continually be careful to not put ourselves in God’s place and attempt to assign dates to God’s timetable. While many Christians around the world are quickly drawn into the latest sign in the stars they often miss the more practical timetable that God has given us through the prophet Moses: “The Appointed Times of the LORD” (Lev. 23).

Sukkot - The Feast of Booths

On Wednesday evening, October 4, 2017, the Jewish people, together with Gentiles around the world, will celebrate one of the Appointed Times of the LORD, the Feast of Booths or its Hebrew name “Sukkot.” 

The Feast of Booths is unique among the seven Appointed Times of the LORD as the one feast which will certainly be celebrated during the reign of the Messiah on earth:

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 Booths. - Zech. 14:16

The Bible speaks about the past of the Feast of Booths and about its future. It seems wise for the people of God to know, understand, and celebrate this biblical Feast with a prophetic future.

The Significance of The Appointed Times of the LORD

We read in the pages of the New Testament that when Yeshua came to this earth 2000 years ago, He clearly fulfilled the Appointed Times of the LORD which fall in the spring season: Passover (1 Cor. 5:7-8), First Fruits (1 Cor. 15:20), and The Feast of Weeks or Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4). It is commonly believed amongst many evangelicals today, that just as Yeshua fulfilled the spring Appointed Times in His first coming, He will fulfill the fall Appointed Times at His second coming. 

Although God does use signs in the sun, moon, and stars to speak to those of us living on earth (Luke 21:25-28), He has also given us His Appointed Times (Lev. 23) which are continual reminders of who God is in relation to His people. These Appointed Times also help us to keep in step with the Creator of the universe as we observe these specific days.

The Forgotten Feast

The Appointed Times of the LORD, as found in Leviticus 23, are generally classified into the spring and fall Feasts, however, this only includes six of the seven Appointed Times. Unfortunately, there is one Appointed Time which is generally overlooked and forgotten by many evangelical Bible readers. This forgotten Appointed Time is called the Sabbath!

The irony of the Sabbath being the “forgotten Feast” is that it is actually the first Appointed Time mentioned in the list of seven (Lev. 23:1-3). The God of the Bible gave preeminence to the Sabbath in His list of Appointed Times for a reason. I believe that one of the reasons that God put the Sabbath first in His list of seven was in order to provide a basis to understand all of His Appointed Times. 

The Preeminence of the Sabbath

The Appointed Times of the LORD are specific days that God has commanded His people to remember and observe in order to properly worship Him. A fundamental practice of these days demands a cessation from work and the practice of a day of rest. This is the very essence of the weekly Sabbath practice.

Without becoming legalistic or putting ourselves under the Law, it would behoove each one of us to consider afresh the Appointed Times of the LORD, beginning with the Sabbath day. 

Learn more about Daniel Goldstein's teaching on the Sabbath by clicking here:
https://www.jewelsofjudaism.com/sample-page/the-sabbath-experience/

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Shabbat Shalom to our Israel and Jewish friends worldwide! - Steve & Laurie Martin, Love For His People, Inc.

Shabbat Shalom to Israel 

and our Jewish friends worldwide!

We stand with you.

Steve & Laurie Martin

Love For His People, Inc.

Charlotte, North Carolina, USA

Beginning Anew in the Land of Israel ✡ "The Tender Branch Thereof Will Not Cease" - ISRAEL365

For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease. Job 14:7 (The Israel Bible™)   כִּי יֵשׁ לָעֵץ תִּקְוָה אִם יִכָּרֵת וְעוֹד יַחֲלִיף וְיֹנַקְתּוֹ לֹא תֶחְדָּל איוב יד:ז kee yaysh la-AYTZ tik-VAH im yi-ka-RAYT v’-OD ya-kha-LEEF v’-yo-nak-TO lo tekh-DAL

Shabbat Inspiration Job contrasts the death of man to the death of a tree. Once a man has departed from this world, he can not be brought back to life. A tree, on the other hand, though seemingly lifeless, can be revived. Similarly, Isaiah writes that though a tree appears dead after it sheds its leaves in the fall, the trunk remains from which the tree will flower again in the spring. Isaiah compares the Children of Israel to the tree. Though at times it appears that they will be annihilated and cease to exist, a holy remnant always remains from which they will grow anew and flourish (Isaiah 6:13). There is no greater example of Jewish survival and renewal than our precious Holocaust survivors. Despite enduring unimaginable loss, pain, and suffering, many survivors of the Holocaust made their way to Israel where they began their life anew. Unfortunately, many of these elderly survivors in Israel are living below the poverty line and are in dire need of assistance procuring basic necessities such as food and medication.   Please help sustain these heroes who are living examples of Isaiah's words » Ambassador Haley Brought to Tears at Holocaust Memorial U.S. Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Nikki Haley, visited Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem today, June 9, 2017, where she toured the exhibits, laid a wreath at the Hall of Remembrance and signed the guest book. Watch here » Presenting a Restoration Ring to a Holocaust Survivor The concept of the restoration ring initially began with Bye who had imagined that people would donate old jewelry they no longer wanted nor needed, or even old trinkets which were broken or out of fashion to create  rings for Holocaust survivors. Read more » "Fear Not"- The most commonly used phrase in the Bible The words "fear not" appear 80 times in the Torah. This is more than any other phrase in the BIble. God says these words to all three patriarchs; Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as well as to all of the prophets. God also instructs the prophets to relay this message to the Jewish People. By repeating this phrase over and over, God is telling us that we have the power and the capacity to overcome any challenges which we may face in life.   Earn Double Points- Shop Now! » And out of the ground made Hashem God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” Genesis 2:9   PLANT NOW » Today's Israel Photo Photograph of a carob tree in Arbel (אַרְבֵּל) by Yehoshua Halevi. Arbel is a community in northern Israel located on Mount Arbel near Tiberias. Arbel was a Jewish town from antiquity and is mentioned in Hosea (10:14).  It is notable for the ruins of one of the oldest synagogues in the world from the 4th century CE.   See more photos by Yehoshua Halevi » If you enjoy your Israel365 daily email newsletter, please consider donating to one of our causes or buying products from our store and blessing the Land and the People of Israel.   Thank You to our Israel365 Store Customers "Todah Rabbah" to Diana H. from Virginia; Laureen R. from Canada; Carol L C. from New Mexico; Linda S. from Colorado. Shop the Israel365 Store »  Thank You to our latest Tree Donors "Todah Rabbah" to Don B. from California; Danny N. from Malaysia; Teresa T. from Taiwan; Pamela H. from Indiana. Stop the Land Grab! Plant a Tree in Israel »   Thank You to our to our Bride Campaign Donors "Todah Rabbah" to Daniel W. from Florida; La Vetta W. from Illinois; Lori C. from Washington; Senakpon D. from Colorado. Bring Joy to Needy Couples in Jerusalem »  Thank You Today's Scenes and Inspiration is sponsored by Keith Chilson from Nevada. Todah rabah!   Sponsor a day in honor of a loved one » “Thank You for the Newsletter Every Day” It’s great to hear from you and make new friends from all over the world. Please send me an email and let me know how you are enjoying Israel365 (don’t forget to say where you are from!).   Stay in Touch » Thank you for the newsletter every day it is such a blessing to learn more about Israel and staying up to date regarding what is going on in the Holy Land. Blessings and Shalom from South Africa --Ruan Pieters Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Tuly Weisz RabbiTuly@Israel365.com

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COMMENTARY: Are We Working Too Hard For God? | Brian Hennessy ISRAEL TODAY

COMMENTARY: Are We Working Too Hard For God?

Sunday, January 24, 2016 |  Brian Hennessy  ISRAEL TODAY

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Most have heard the expression, ‘Our arms are too short to box with God.” But it’s equally true that “our arms are too weak to work for God.” Which is why every time we tackle a work for Him in our own strength we become exhausted. Burned out. Both physically and spiritually.

To prevent that problem God gave us the Sabbath. He introduced the concept as a day of physical rest at the end of the week under the Mosaic Law. Six days of work followed by one day of complete inactivity. It was His signature piece of legislation upon which all His other precepts hinged. And He made sure everyone understood its importance by attaching the ultimate penalty for non-compliance. “Therefore you are to observe the Sabbath, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work on it, that person shall be cut off from among his people." (Ex. 31:14)

But as welcome and God-honoring as that day off was, it was the principle embedded in the commandment Father most wanted us to learn. Our 24-hour rest from physical work was simply a means to teach us about ceasing from unprofitable ‘works of the flesh.’ We became aware of those carnal works when we met the Savior and saw how our best efforts to save ourselves were, to quote Paul, “like dung” (Phil. 3:8 KJV). 

But once saved, many believers stop resting in Yeshua’s salvation. They return to living a divided life, seeing their career and family life as secular and separate from their spiritual life. They work as if everything depended upon them. And their spiritual life continues to be understood as participation in religious activities, even full time, without regard to the leading of the Holy Spirit. They do not yet see they have died in Messiah and are risen with him. That we are no longer our own, but are part of Yeshua’s body.  And in him we are summoned to rest in his completed work 24/7. “For the one who has entered God’s rest [in him] has himself rested from his works, as God did from His” (Heb. 4:9). 

Nor do they consider, that if death was the penalty for violating the Sabbath command given on Mt Sinai, how much more attentive should we be to honor God’s new covenant Sabbath sprinkled with Yeshua’s blood?  For those found working their own programs when Yeshua returns, it will be gut-wrenching anguish. “Many will say to me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name cast out demons, and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will say to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me you who practice lawlessness'” (Matt 7:22,23). Lawlessness? Yes, they broke the Sabbath!

How then should we live?

When the disciples asked Yeshua, “what shall we do, so that we may do the works of God?” he responded, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom He has sent” (John 4:28,29). In other words, if we want to walk with God, yoke yourself to Yeshua.  “I am the vine, you are the branches, apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). We are in him now! Exhaustion is the early warning signal we are working apart from him.

To each follower, Yeshua continues to call, “Come to me you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matt. 11:28-30).   

Yes, rest for our souls. But at the same time, obedience to God’s Sabbath command, as Isaiah declared: “Turn your foot from doing your own pleasure on My holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy day of the Lord honorable, and honor it, desisting from your own ways and seeking your own pleasure” (Isa. 58:13). 

I’m convinced we are well into the night of the sixth day. God’s full kingdom rest is about to dawn. Are we learning to rest in Yeshua now so “he may cleanse our conscience from dead works to serve the Living God?” (Heb. 9:14)

Or are we still straining and sweating away?

---

Brian Hennessy is the author of Valley of the Steeples, available at: ketchpublishing/BrianHennessyBooks.htm

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