The Feast of Tabernacles

 

Leviticus 23:34-43 (KJV)

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. 35 On the first day shall be an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. 36 Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord: on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord: it is a solemn assembly; and ye shall do no servile work therein. 37 These are the feasts of the Lord, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord, a burnt offering, and a meat offering, a sacrifice, and drink offerings, every thing upon his day: 38 Beside the sabbaths of the Lord, and beside your gifts, and beside all your vows, and beside all your freewill offerings, which ye give unto the Lord. 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. 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. 41 And ye shall keep it a feast unto the Lord seven days in the year. It shall be a statute for ever in your generations: ye shall celebrate it in the seventh month. 42 Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths: 43 That your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.

 

John 7:2-10 (KJV)

2 Now the Jew’s feast of tabernacles was at hand. 3 His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest. 4 For there is no man that doeth any thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these things, shew thyself to the world. 5 For neither did his brethren believe in him. 6 Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but your time is alway ready. 7 The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.

8 Go ye up unto this feast: I go not up yet unto this feast: for my time is not yet full come. 9 When he had said these words unto them, he abode still in Galilee. 10 But when his brethren were gone up, then went he also up unto the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret.

 

John 7:2-10 (KJV)

2 Now the Jew’s feast of tabernacles was at hand. 3 His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest. 4 For there is no man that doeth any thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these things, shew thyself to the world. 5 For neither did his brethren believe in him. 6 Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but your time is alway ready. 7 The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil. 8 Go ye up unto this feast: I go not up yet unto this feast: for my time is not yet full come. 9 When he had said these words unto them, he abode still in Galilee. 10 But when his brethren were gone up, then went he also up unto the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret.

 

The First of Seven feasts of Israel, listed in Leviticus 23, is the Passover. All of us have heard preaching about Christ being our Passover. He died on the cross as our sacrifice for sins during this feat in Israel. We can look to the story of Exodus and note that the Lamb’s death and blood that saved Israel from bondage represents Jesus’ Christ’s death and blood that saves us from bondage to sin! We know that on the day of the feast of Pentecost, God filled His people with the Baptism of the Holy Ghost. That was another feast of Israel. Passover occurred with the three feasts: Passover, Unleavened bread, and First fruits. Then came the fourth feast, Pentecost. Yet there are still more feasts! We don’t hear much about the other three feasts of Israel; Trumpets, Atonement, and Tabernacles.

 

We’ve spent so much time going from Passover to Pentecost, we’ve spoke so much about the Holy Ghost baptism on the day of Pentecost, that we have rarely checked into the remaining three feasts.

 

They speak of the church and Jesus Christ as much as the first four do. We need to get past Pentecost now and find out what God is trying to say about the others.

 

Since Passover is the first feast, and it corresponds to the work of the cross, we easily see how the two correlate and how the cross is the work that started everything.

The cross is where Christianity begins. Pentecost applies that work to our lives as individuals. The people of Jerusalem were told to repent and be baptized in Jesus’ name for remission of sins, and to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost on the day of Pentecost.

 

So, if the cross begins the work, as Passover started the series of feasts, then the final feast, the feast of tabernacles, obviously teaches something about the completion of what God is doing in the church.

 

We are going to concentrate on the completion tonight, the feast of tabernacles.

 

We know that the goal for the church is represented by the cross. We know that there is a Heaven and an eternity waiting for us after this life. However, we have eternal life already since we have God’s spirit in us. Then there is the place that the Lord wants us to come to, which is represented by the feast of Tabernacles.

 

But we are going to have to go beyond what we know about Pentecost and Spirit infilling; we need to look into inflowing and outflowing.

 

God took Israel through the wilderness from Egypt to the Promised land to build a city and a temple. After the temple was built and God blessed it with His presence, He said these words…

 

2 Chronicles 6:5-6 (KJV)

5 Since the day that I brought forth my people out of the land of Egypt I chose no city among all the tribes of Israel to build an house in, that my name might be there; neither chose I any man to be a ruler over my people Israel: 6 But I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there; and have chosen David to be over my people Israel.

 

Notice that God used to put His name on cities, but now He puts His name on people. Although James mentions gentiles, we know that the church is both Jewish and Gentile.

 

Acts 15:14 (KJV) Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.

 

The church is like Jerusalem, where He put His name. That city is where the temple was situated. The temple, and more precisely, the ark of the covenant, represented His name.

 

Hebrews 12:22-23 (KJV)

22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, 23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

 

Here we read that the church is the city, Heavenly Jerusalem! This thought is further confirmed by…

 

Revelation 3:12 (KJV) Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

 

Wouldn’t you like to be a pillar in the temple that does not go out and in all the time? Some Christians are so undependable to God’s Kingdom, because they go in and out all the time. However, the ones who overcome are made into pillars.

 

They not only stay committed to God, but support the Church as pillars! God said that He puts His name on these people, and the name of the New Jerusalem on their lives. That means the people are the city!

 

Jesus’s name is about more than baptism, it’s a lifestyle. True followers are people who’ve past the feast of Pentecost, and come of the feast of Tabernacles, where they allow His spirit to flow in ministry.

 

We can’t call ourselves redeemed and not minister forth ‘life.’ At the end of Revelation, we read of a city flowing forth the rivers of life. We are that city.

 

God wants us to come to a place where we are a house for Him to dwell in.

 

 

 

1 Peter 2:1-5 (KJV)

1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, 2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. 4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, 5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

 

As though the wilderness is a place of squabbling and fussing, from which we need to come out and be built up as the house we were intended to be, God is leading His church into that place today.

 

Darthan and Abiram fought and argued with Moses over position. Miriam and Aarom fought with Moses about his wife. How can God use us to dear down Satan’s work if we squabble with one another? We must lay aside all these carnal fussings and allow God to build us up into a house!

 

Think about junkyard dogs protecting piles of bricks in a junkyard. Since the bricks are not cemented together, but are rather fashioned in a pile, someone can easily steam them. But that’s where the dogs come in; they guard these piles of bricks.

 

That’s the way it is in many congregations. Instead of being built up into a house, cemented together, these lively stones of people are in a big pile every Sunday in church.

 

No real praise or worship happens, no Spirit ministry. The preacher is forced to act like a junkyard dog to keep his people together as a congregation. We need to be built up into a spiritual house.

 

Peter is implying that fussing and so forth inhibits us from being built up as a house.

 

Instead of coming to watch a traditional ritual, we need to come and lift up God in praise and worship. God builds up His house when we do that.

 

Revelation 22:1 (KJV) And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.

And we read this about the river…

 

Revelation 22:17 (KJV) And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

 

Jesus said identical words about the Holy Ghost.

 

John 7:37-39 (KJV)

37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. 38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

 

Something else… Notice that the river is flowing from the throne of God and the lamb in Revelation 22. Since the river is the Spirit, let’s see what Peter spoke about the spirit while also explaining how Jesus went to the throne.

 

Acts 2:29-36 (KJV)

29 Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. 30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; 31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. 32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. 33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. 34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, 35 Until I make thy foes thy footstool. 36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

 

Jesus is on the throne of David right now.

 

The Spirit is shed forth, because He is on the right-hand throne. Shed forth is ‘river’ terminology. Since He is on the throne, the Spirit is shed forth. Just like the Spirit flowing like a river from the throne in Revelation 22.

 

Paul preached of flowing forth life in his ministry.

 

2 Corinthians 4:10-11 (KJV)

10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. 11 For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.

 

Notice Paul’s use of the term ministering ‘life.’ The life of Jesus. It’s a river of life that comes from the City’s throne where Jesus sits. It gives life…

 

Ezekiel 47:1 (KJV) Afterward he brought me again unto the door of the house; and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward: for the forefront of the house stood toward the east, and the waters came down from under from the right side of the house, at the south side of the altar.

 

What is so significant about this is that instead of the throne of God and the Lamb, the river flows from the temple.

 

But we read:

 

Revelation 21:22 (KJV) And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.

 

So, it makes perfectly good sense. Ezekiel saw the river come from a temple, and John saw it come from the throne of God and the lamb. But John was told there is not a temple in the city, because God and the Lamb are the temple.

 

So, Ezekiel saw the shadow being the temple, but John saw more perfectly; he saw God and the lamb as the temple.

 

 

 

Ezekiel 47:7-12 (KJV)

7 Now when I had returned, behold, at the bank of the river were very many trees on the one side and on the other. 8 Then said he unto me, These waters issue out toward the east country, and go down into the desert, and go into the sea: which being brought forth into the sea, the waters shall be healed. 9 And it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither the river cometh. 10 And it shall come to pass, that the fishers shall stand upon it from Engedi even unto Eneglaim; they shall be a place to spread forth nets; their fish shall be according to their kinds, as the fish of the great sea, exceeding many. 11 But the miry places thereof and the marishes thereof shall not be healed; they shall be given to salt. 12 And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine.

 

Ezekiel 47 is a mirror of Revelation 22. Both mention the river, and trees, and leaves, and fruit from the trees. The river gives life.

 

Many fish come in, as souls are likened to fish in the thought that we are fishers of men. These fishers stand on the river as we must depend upon the flowing of the Holy Ghost to minister and reach these souls.

 

So, the river flowing in Revelation 22, that is the Spirit for thirsty souls to come and drink from, as noted by Jesus on the feast of Tabernacles in John 7.

 

Galatians 2:20 (KJV) I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

 

Jesus is living through Paul. That is how he ministered, Solomon dedicated His temple on the feast of Tabernacles. This same time when Jesus spoke of life flowing. The Spirit flowing that Peter said occurred because Jesus was on the throne.

2 Chronicles 5:3 (KJV) Wherefore all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto the king in the feast which was in the seventh month.

 

This is the feast of Tabernacles (Lev 23:34).

 

This was written in the chapter immediately preceding the following verses that we started with today.

 

2 Chronicles 6:5-6 (KJV)

5 Since the day that I brought forth my people out of the land of Egypt I chose no city among all the tribes of Israel to build an house in, that my name might be there; neither chose I any man to be a ruler over my people Israel: 6 But I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there; and have chosen David to be over my people Israel.

 

God speaks of a city for His name just after we read about these events in chapter 5.

 

2 Chronicles 5:7 (KJV) And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the Lord unto his place, to the oracle of the house, into the most holy place, even under the wings of the cherubims:

 

This picture above is like the events when Jesus went into Heaven and sat on the throne of David.

 

2 Chronicles 5:12-14 (KJV)

12 Also the Levites which were the singers, all of them of Asaph, of Heman, of Jeduthun, with their sons and their brethren, being arrayed in white linen, having cymbals and psalteries and harps, stood at the east end of the altar, and with them an hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets:) 13 It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the Lord, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the Lord; 14 So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of God.

120 Priests in white robes in unity! The day Peter preached of the Holy Ghost was the day the following occurred:

 

Acts 1:15 (KJV) And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)

 

120 people as well!

 

Acts 2:1-4 (KJV)

1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

 

The Spirit flows because Jesus is on the throne of David. Peter said that is why the Spirit was shed forth in this manner.

 

They were in one place and one accord when the Spirit was given. The feast of Tabernacles stresses a unity of voice and praise, and the Spirit filled the temple.

 

Notice what we read about the temple’s most holy place.

 

2 Chronicles 3:8 (KJV) And he made the most holy house, the length whereof was according to the breadth of the house, twenty cubits, and the breadth thereof twenty cubits: and he overlaid it with fine gold, amounting to six hundred talents.

 

This is significant as to the City in Revelation.

 

Revelation 21:16 (KJV) And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.

 

The City is one huge ‘Most Holy Place!’

 

Revelation 22 is a message saying that Solomon put the ark in the most holy place on the feast of Tabernacles and it filled the house. God desires the church, the City, to come to the experience of what the Feast of Tabernacles is teaching us, and flow forth God’s Spirit into this world of dry and thirsty souls.

 

That is Spirit Ministry!

 

Too many churches are caught up in dead and lifeless rituals. We need Spirit Ministry in our churches. This is ministry that you cannot do unless you have the baptism of the Holy Ghost, and learn to release it in the ministry God has called you to perform.

 

Let us pray that God would increase our understanding in this so we can come to the place that He ordained for us to come to as a Church in this world!