Southern Baptist Messianic Fellowship

Sukkot Is Here

Chag Sukkot

This is year, 5767 in the Hebrew calendar.  The Feast of Sukkot starts October 6, 2006 and ends 8 days later.

Have a good day in His house

Sukkot is a special holiday.  This is a time when we dwell in temporary booths like the children of Israel did in the wilderness.  This was a time when the children of Israel needed to count on G-d for all their supply.  Sukkot began on the 15^th of Tishri ( October 6^th at sundown) and lasts for one week.  The eighth day added a closing convocation (Lev 23:36).  This is a joyous celebration.  Sukkot is called the Feast of Tabernacles.  It is a harvest festival and a time of thanksgiving for all the L-rd’s supply.  This is a time of praise to G-d for His protection and provision during the time when the children of Israel were in the wilderness.  This feast will continue to be celebrated in the millennial Kingdom (Zechariah 14:16). 

[ Leviticus 23:33-44  NASU]                         Again the L-RD spoke to Moses, saying, "Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, 'On the fifteenth of this seventh month is the Feast of Booths for seven days to the L-RD. 'On the first day is a holy convocation; you shall do no laborious work of any kind. ' For seven days you shall present an offering by fire to the L-RD. On the eighth day you shall have a holy convocation and present an offering by fire to the L-RD; it is an assembly. You shall do no laborious work.  'These are the appointed times of the L-RD which you shall proclaim as holy convocations, to present offerings by fire to the L-RD — burnt offerings and grain offerings, sacrifices and drink offerings, each day's matter on its own day —  besides those of the Sabbaths of the L-RD, and besides your gifts and besides all your votive and freewill offerings, which you give to the L-RD.  'On exactly the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the crops of the land, you shall celebrate the feast of the L-RD for seven days, with a rest on the first day and a rest on the eighth day. 'Now on the first day you shall take for yourselves the foliage of beautiful trees, palm branches and boughs of leafy trees and willows of the brook, and you shall rejoice before the L-RD your G-d for seven days. 'You shall thus celebrate it as a feast to the L-RD for seven days in the year. It shall be a perpetual statute throughout your generations; you shall celebrate it in the seventh month. 'You shall live in booths for seven days; all the native-born in Israel shall live in booths,  so that your generations may know that I had the sons of Israel live in booths when I brought them out from the land of Egypt. I am the L-RD your G-d.'" 44 So Moses declared to the sons of Israel the appointed times of the L-RD.  

[Deuteronomy 16:13-17 NASU]                     "You shall celebrate the Feast of Booths seven days after you have gathered in from your threshing floor and your wine vat; and you shall rejoice in your feast, you and your son and your daughter and your male and female servants and the Levite and the stranger and the orphan and the widow who are in your towns. "Seven days you shall celebrate a feast to the L-RD your G-d in the place which the L-RD chooses, because the L-RD your G-d will bless you in all your produce and in all the work of your hands, so that you will be altogether joyful.   " Three times in a year all your males shall appear before the L-RD your G-d in the place which He chooses, at the Feast of Unleavened Bread and at the Feast of Weeks and at the Feast of Booths, and they shall not appear before the L-RD empty-handed.  "Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the L-RD your G-d which He has given you.

[Ezra 3:4-5 NASU]                                         They celebrated the Feast of Booths, as it is written, and offered  the fixed number of burnt offerings daily, according to the ordinance, as each day required;  and afterward there was a continual burnt offering, also for the new moons and for all the fixed festivals of the L-RD that were consecrated, and from everyone who offered a freewill offering to the L-RD.

[Nehemiah 8:14-18 NASU]                           They found written in the law how the L-RD had commanded through Moses that the sons of Israel should live in booths during the feast of the seventh month. So they proclaimed and circulated a proclamation in all their cities and in Jerusalem, saying, " Go out to the hills, and bring olive branches and wild olive branches, myrtle branches, palm branches and branches of other leafy trees, to make booths, as it is written." So the people went out and brought them and made booths for themselves, each on his roof, and in their courts and in the courts of the house of G-d, and in the square at the Water Gate and in the square at the Gate of Ephraim. The entire assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and lived in them. The sons of Israel had indeed not done so from the days of Joshua the son of Nun to that day. And there was great rejoicing. He read from the book of the law of G-d daily, from the first day to the last day. And they celebrated the feast seven days, and on the eighth day there was a solemn assembly according to the ordinance.

[Zechariah 14:16-19 NASU]                         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 L-RD of hosts, and to celebrate the Feast of Booths. And it will be that whichever of the families of the earth does not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the L-RD of hosts, there will be no rain on them. If the family of Egypt does not go up or enter, then no rain will fall on them; it will be the plague with which the L-RD smites the nations who do not go up to celebrate the Feast of Booths. This will be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all the nations who do not go up to celebrate the Feast of Booths.

[John 7:2-9 NASU]                                      Now the feast of the Jews, the Feast of Booths, was near.  Therefore His brothers said to Him, "Leave here and go into Judea, so that Your disciples also may see Your works which You are doing.  "For no one does anything in secret when he himself seeks to be known publicly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world."  For not even His brothers were believing in Him. 6 So Jesus said to them, " My time is not yet here, but your time is always opportune.  "The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it, that its deeds are evil.  "Go up to the feast yourselves; I do not go up to this feast because My time has not yet fully come."   Having said these things to them, He stayed in Galilee.

[John 14:1-6 NASU]                                  "Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in G-d, believe also in Me.  "In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.  "If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.  "And you know the way where I am going."  Thomas said to Him, "L-rd, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?" Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

[Heb 10:23-25  KJV]                                Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)  And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. 

The above verses are about G-d being the supply in the wilderness of life.  Sukkot is a time when we dwell with G-d in booths.  This is a celebration of His supply.

[Psalms 23 NASU]                                 The L-RD is my shepherd, I shall not want.  He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.  He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake.  Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.  You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows.  Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the L-RD  forever.

To dwell in His house we must be His child, His possession and under His Headship.

I now speak of the place in us where G-d can dwell.  Man has a spirit.  G-d gave man a spirit.  This spirit is a the part of man where G-d can dwell.  We have the choice to have Him dwell in us.  Ask and ye shall receive.  Ask that the Ruach HaKodesh to dwell in you.  Ask that your spirit be continually filled with the Ruach HaKodesh.  Ask Adonai Yeshua to dwell in you.  Yeshua and Ha’Aba (The Father) are Echad (one).  Sukkot is a time when we remember G-d dwelling with us. 

[Zechariah 12:1 NASU]                       Thus declares the LORD who stretches out the heavens, lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him,

Remember, all of the sacrificial offerings of this feast are to take place in the Jerusalem Temple.  This Temple is no longer standing and these offerings have all been fulfilled in Mashiach Yeshua.  Any sacrifice outside G-ds Temple are against the Word of G-d.   That is why He came in the form of Yeshua to be the eternal sacrifice for sin to those who believe in Him.  In other words, no Temple, no accepted sacrifice.  His desire is to dwell in us and us in Him.

G-d looks forward to the day when He dwells in us and us in Him.  G-d has prepared a place in each of us where He can dwell.  He has given man a spirit.

When we repent our sin, ask forgiveness and receive His Son as our Messiah, He gives us a gift.  He gives us the Ruach HaKodesh.  He occupies our spirit with His Holy Spirit.  Remember G-d is Light.  Light disperses the darkness.  He fills a dark and empty spirit of man with the Light and Life of His Spirit.  If we truly receive His offer of Salvation in Mashiach Yeshua, no power can remove G-d from His dwelling place in us.  Hence the words eternal salvation apply.

Salvation comes by faith.  Once we ask Yeshua to be our savior, believe in Him as Mashiach, repent our sin, we are saved.  This is salvation.  At this point He enters us in the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit).  This is an eternal promise given by G-d.  This eternal Salvation is not about correcting our physical situation in life, but an eternal promise of Salvation from dwelling without G-d for eternity.  With the Sacrifice of Yeshua, offered for our sins we are now acceptable to G-d.

Have faith in G-d.  Ask Him to show you the truth.

[Hebrews 11:1 NASU]                   Now faith is the assurance of things  hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

[Romans 10:17 NKJV]                   So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the Word of G-d.

Think of it this way.  Here is a short illustration.  You have been charged with a felony theft.  You are guilty of this offence.  You come before the judge in court.  The judge acts righteously in finding you guilty.  You repent this wrong doing.  You know that you will not survive the incarceration in jail.  You know that you should receive any judgment the judge offers.  Just as the judge is about to sentence you, a friend (someone who really loves you) comes forward and tells the judge that he will serve your sentence, pay your fines and suffer the verdict of the judge for you.  The judge seeing this act of love releases you as your friend will serve your sentence.  That is what Yeshua can do for you.

Now that we understand how to get there, we can move on.  Once we return to a relationship with G-d cleansed in the blood offering that He has supplied, He wants us to grow in Him and to be filled with His Ruach HaKodesh.  This part is about growth after Salvation.  It is up to us to remain filled to overflowing.  Being continually filled is a matter of faith and fellowship, not a work of Salvation.  There is one ministry of the Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh) that is not a one time event in our walk with G-d.  This is not a work to gain favor.  It is His work in us.  This one supplies a continual filling or continually being filled.  This is called the filling of the spirit.  This is a moment-by moment ministry of the Ruach HaKodesh that is continually deposited into our spirit by a submissive will and an aggressive faith.

[Romans 8:1-4 NASU]                        Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.   For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, G-d did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

We must be filled with the Spirit of life in Mashicah Yeshua (Jesus Christ).  To grow in our relationship with Christ we need to continually receive the Spirit of His life.  The Spirit guides us in our every day walk.  The Spirit is the Truth of the Law.  The Law becomes part of our life and nature.

[1 Cor 15:45 NASU]                              So also it is written, "The first MAN, Adam, BECAME A LIVING SOUL." The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.

[Galations 3:1-5 NASU]                        You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Did you suffer so many things in vain —  if indeed it was in vain? So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?

The Spirit is given to us as a gift from Christ.  When we receive Him as our Savior, He begins a work of the Spirit in each of us.  Christ dwells in us in the Spirit.  G-d dwells in us in the Spirit.  When G-d begins a work in us He will finish what He has started.  His intention is to fill us with Him so that we take on His appearance like a mirror reflecting an image.  [ Soon I will be teaching about the three parts of man that are mentioned in the Torah.]

[Phil 1:6 NASU]                                    For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

[Galatians 5:16-18 NASU]                     But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.

Paul tells us in Galatians to walk by the Spirit.  His intention is to get us to turn to the Spirit for guidance in all things.  If the Holy Spirit is guiding us, we are in other words not condemned under the Law, but filled with the Spirit of the Law. 

[Ephesians 5:15-21 NASU]                       Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the L-rd is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the L-rd; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our L-rd Jesus Christ to G-d, even the Father; and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.

Being filled with the Holy Spirit is about growth in our relationship with G-d.  Being filled with the Spirit is about being filled with His life and nature.  Being filled with the Spirit is about Christ and reflecting the Christ within us to others.  Remember our salvation is sealed with His promise of the gift of grace by faith.  Being filled with the Spirit is part of that new life that we are given at the time of Salvation.  Being filled with the Spirit is how we continue to walk the walk of life that brings a good testimony of His life in us. 

David speaks about eternally dwelling in the house of the L-rd, in Psalms 23.  G-d is looking for a man after his own heart in each one of us, male and female alike.  G-d has promised that he will send a Redeemer to us.  He has promised a New Covenant with us in that Redeemer our Messiah.  The Redeemer will be the bridge that will bring us back to Him.  The redeemer will bring us new life and intersession for our sins.  These promises are all foretold in the Tanach (Old Testament) G-d has never told a lie.

[John 3:1-21 NASU]                                Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; this man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, " Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him."  Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God."   Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born, can he?" Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.   " That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.   "Do not be amazed that I said to you, 'You must be born again.'   " The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit."   Nicodemus said to Him, "How can these things be?"  Jesus answered and said to him, "Are you the teacher of Israel and do not understand these things?   "Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know and testify of what we have seen, and you do not accept our testimony.   "If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?   " No one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man.   "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.   "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.   "For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.  " He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.  "This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.   " For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.  "But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God."

[John 15:1-11 NASU]                           I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.  "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.  " You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.  " Abide in Me, and I in you . As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.  "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.  "If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned.  "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.  "My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so  prove to be My disciples.  "Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love.  "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love.  "These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.

Salvation starts in the Heart of man (The Spirit), filling up like a vessel overflowing from the inner vessel outward to the Soul and then again out to the Body.  This makes us a new being who overflows the Holy Spirit to others.  We receive, fill up, overflow and spill out this Water Of Life to others.  We act as Yeshua would act, illustrating His Love and proclaiming His promise to all that will hear.  We, who are found in Mashiach, are the harvesters, planting seeds and watering with the water He supplies.

To shema (hear and receive) what G-d has for us we must submit and surrender to His will. 

[Phil 3:7-11  NASV]                            But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ.  More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my L-rd, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from G-d on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

The Shepherd knows His sheep and His sheep know Him.  He provides for His sheep. 

[Psalms 100 NASU]                             Shout joyfully to the L-RD, all the earth.  Serve the L-RD with gladness;  Come before Him with joyful singing.  Know that the L-RD  Himself is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are  His people and the sheep of His pasture.  Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise.  Give thanks to Him, bless His name.  For the L-RD is good;  His lovingkindness is everlasting And His faithfulness to all generations.

Dwell with Him every day 24-7-365.  Choose Yeshua as Savior and you will dwell in His house for ever and ever.  Remember to give thanks to G-d for all that He has provided to you.  When he calls to you hear His voice.  

[Rev 3:20-22 NASU]                             'Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.  'He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

The one who is knocking is Mashiach Yeshua.  Will you dwell with G-d?  Sukkot is about dwelling with G-d and having Him dwell in you.  Choose Life - Call Upon Yeshua as Mashiach.  Call upon His Name (Qir'oo Bi'shmo).

Shema  ---  Hear

He is worthy of all honor glory and praise

Study Compiled by:

Rabbi Ric Worshill

SBMF Member Sukkot Celebrations 

Be safe, be healthy, be blessed, be found in Yeshua.

Chag Sameach Sukkot / Lashanah Tovah

Shalom Alechem

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