The Practice of the Feasts of Israel
 The Practice of Passover
Summary
In Bible times, during the Passover feast, a lamb without blemish was sacrificed to represent redemption from sin. God instructed us in Scripture to celebrate His deliverance from Egyptian bondage, and tell the story of all He did. We do this at Passover, celebrating the Passover meal—or Seder. Messiah celebrated this feast at what is referred to as “the last supper.” He surprised His disciples by adding a new element to the celebration.
While they were eating, Yeshua took a piece of matzah, made the b’rakhah, (blessing) broke it, gave it to the talmidim (disciples) and said, “Take! Eat! This is my body!” 27 Also he took a cup of wine, made the b’rakhah, and gave it to them, saying, “All of you, drink from it! 28 For this is my blood, which ratifies the New Covenant, my blood shed on behalf of many, so that they may have their sins forgiven. (Matthew 26:26-28 JNT)
Messiah became the Passover sacrifice. He sacrificed His life that we may have everlasting life. We participate in His sacrifice and resurrection by not only partaking in this celebration, but experiencing the joy of walking in His liberty and love—where our focus shifts from our self-centered interests to caring about the interests of others.
Paul, therefore, declared, “Do nothing out of rivalry or vanity; but, in humility, regard each other as better than yourselves — 4 look out for each other’s interests and not just for your own.” (Philippians 2:3-4 JNT)
This principle was also in view in exhorting believers to, “present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
(Romans 12:1-2 NKJV)
Life Application Questions
How do you look for ways to express the love of Messiah, and live in a sacrificial manner, looking out for the interests of others?
Scripture References
1 John 3:16-24; Ephesians 5:1-2; Titus 2:6; 3:14; James 3:13-18
Book References
Faith and Fables: p. 44-46; 98-100
Sons and Servants: p. 11-12; 20-22; 33-38; 82-83; 111-115; 120-122
 The Practice of The Feast of Unleavened Bread
Summary
In celebrating the Feast of Unleavened Bread, all leaven was to be removed from the home. Why leaven? It is a fermenting substance; a turbulent form of bacterium that is permeating and pervasive in nature. It spreads like a cancer or virus, contaminating, polluting and corrupting what it touches. It therefore, is used as a metaphor for sin. As it spreads, it compromises and destroys what is good and otherwise pure.
Messiah’s blood erased our slate from the handwriting of God’s judgment, “cleaning” our account from the debt of sin. We celebrate His cleaning of our “spiritual house,” our bodies, by keeping our hearts and minds clean, meditating on His words and noble and righteous thoughts, and resisting the temptations of the world—vain desires, pride and pulls of the world.
Beyond the external things that can destroy our physical bodies, we can allow our spiritual condition to deteriorate from the inside—by harboring destructive attitudes, like bitterness and judgment; and maintaining selfish motivations and pursuing self-centered interests and agendas. That’s why Messiah declared, “There is nothing outside a person which, by going into him, can make him unclean. Rather, it is the things that come out of a person which make a person unclean!”
(Mark 7:15 JNT)
Paul taught how our body is the temple of God’s Spirit. (1 Corinthians 6:19) It, therefore, behooves us to keep ourselves clean on the inside by reading, meditating, and digesting God’s Word, communing with Him by the Holy Spirit, and confessing and turning (or repenting) from revealed sins.
Life Application Questions
In what ways do you endeavor to keep your heart clean before God? In what ways may you fight against Messiah’s sanctifying work by harboring wrong attitudes of the heart? Are there any things you do on a regular basis that may cause harmful attitudes to persist?
Scripture References
Psalm 19:7-14; 24; 51; 119: 1-40; Matthew 5:8; 21-29; 12:33-37; 13:18-23; Mark 7:17-23; Ephesians 4:17-32
Book References
Faith and Fables: p. 18-21; 82-83; 88-94; 115-132
Sons and Servants: p. 11-12; 24-26; 99-104; 151-155
 The Practice of The Feast of First Fruits
Summary
The Feast of First-fruits marks the expression of gratefulness to God for the first crops harvested. David truly had a heart of gratefulness. He acknowledged God as sovereign, and therefore, His source and sufficiency. In Psalm 24, he declares, “The earth is the LORD's, and all its fullness.” (Psalm 24:1 NKJV)
On First-fruits we also dedicate ourselves to focusing on preparing our hearts and minds to receive new things of God and the fullness of the measure of new revelation God would offer us by His word and Spirit this season.
Peter further affirmed that God has given to us “everything we need for life and godliness, through our knowing the One who called us to his own glory and goodness.” (2 Peter 1:3 JNT) For this reason, Messiah taught about the blessings of giving to others from a heart of gratefulness; and in faith, believing that God would multiply whatever you give. “Give, and you will receive gifts — the full measure, compacted, shaken together and overflowing, will be put right in your lap. For the measure with which you measure out will be used to measure back to you!” (Luke 6:38 JNT)
Giving to others truly prepares the heart to receive back from God. Out of gratefulness and in faith, we therefore, dedicate a portion of the first fruits of what God has given to us back to Him; not in mere duty or obligation, but in love.
Life Application Questions
In what ways do you freely give back to God a portion of the first fruits of what He has given to you?
Scripture References
Matthew 19:21; 25:37; Luke 3:11; Acts 20:35
Book References
Faith and Fables: p. 21-22; 38-39
Sons and Servants: p. 92-94; 161-162
 The Practice of The Feast of Pentecost
Summary
Shavuot—the Feast of Weeks or Harvest (Pentecost in the Greek) was originally celebrated to mark the fullness of the harvest. It also has become the celebration of the giving of God’s Word, for Moses was given the law during this time. As he read to the people, they declared, “All that the LORD has said we will do, and be obedient.” (Exodus 24:7 NKJV) They, therefore, rededicated themselves to following God’s Word, and renewed their faith in God.
It was during this feast that the disciples were first filled with the Holy Spirit. As much as Messiah fulfilled the Feast of First-fruits by being the first fruits of those resurrected in the newness of life redeemed by His sacrificial blood, the infilling of the Holy Spirit represented the fullness of God’s new covenant revealed; and also marked the rededication of the believer’s life from a walk under the law of sin and death to a walk of the Spirit—under the law of the Spirit. (Romans 8:2)
For this reason, Paul declared, “But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.” (Galatians 5:18 NKJV) In other words, you are not in subjection to the system that results from perverting God’s law into legalism.
In order to maintain the vitality of the Spirit, Paul further exhorted the disciples to be continually filled with the Spirit. (Ephesians 5:18) This is accomplished by regular reading and meditation of God’s Word, and communing with God, praying in the Holy Spirit. It also involves reaching and releasing outward towards others—giving away what God has given to you, so He can refill His reservoirs within you with more of His substance!
Life Application Questions
In what ways do you continuously renew and rededicate yourself to God? How open are you to new revelations of truth God would offer you?
Scripture References
Joshua 1:8; Philippians 4:8-9; 1Timothy 4:12-16
Book References
Faith and Fables: p. 84; 151-161
Sons and Servants: p. 49-52; 72-76; 90-91; 99-102; 122-123
 The Practice of The Feast of Trumpets
Summary
In celebrating the Feast of Trumpets (celebrated as Rosh Hashanah; Head of the Year ) the ram’s horn (shofar) is blown to call us to alarm, arise in spiritual awakening, and raise the level of our consciousness to self-examination, in preparation for the coming Day of Atonement—Yom Kippur. It begins “Ten Days of Repentance” or “Days of Awe” which culminate in Yom Kippur.
In addition, trumpets were used to proclaim the entry of a king. Therefore, on this high-holiday, we also proclaim God King of the Universe, and honor His kingship and authority over all creation.
David kept a soft heart before God, and maintained a practice of self-examination to stay right with God. “Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; Try my mind and my heart.” (Psalm 26:2 NKJV)
For this same reason, Paul admonishes us to examine ourselves before participating in the Lord’s communion. “So let a person examine himself first, and then he may eat of the bread and drink from the cup; 29 for a person who eats and drinks without recognizing the body eats and drinks judgment upon himself.”
(1 Corinthians 11:28-29 JNT)
Life Application Questions
How do you maintain the discipline of self-examination? Do you allow the Holy Spirit to convict your heart? Do you let the Holy Spirit change your inner attitudes, and comply by changing outward behaviors?
Scripture References
Psalm 51:7-10; Galatians 6:4; James 4:7-8
Book References
Faith and Fables: p. 83; 88-89; 100-102; 121-122; 133-134
Sons and Servants: p. 156-159
 The Practice of The Feast of Atonement
Summary
The Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) is celebrated by afflicting one’s soul by fasting, confessing sins, and repenting before God. This provides for making amends with God, and reconciling one’s standing before God.
Yeshua the Messiah, Jesus Christ, became our atonement. He is the atonement. We receive the grace of His redemption by appropriating His atonement. Paul provides instruction on this subject.
In the same way, consider yourselves to be dead to sin but alive for God, by your union with the Messiah Yeshua. 12 Therefore, do not let sin rule in your mortal bodies, so that it makes you obey its desires; 13 and do not offer any part of yourselves to sin as an instrument for wickedness. On the contrary, offer yourselves to God as people alive from the dead, and your various parts to God as instruments for righteousness. 14 For sin will not have authority over you; because you are not under legalism but under grace. (Romans 6:11-14 JNT)
Messiah’s atonement is settled forever! He has wiped away all the spiritual and legal requirements and charges that were—and could ever be—set against us. In union with Him, we are free from all traces of guilt and condemnation!
Also it was in union with him that you were circumcised with a circumcision not done by human hands, but accomplished by stripping away the old nature’s control over the body. In this circumcision done by the Messiah, 12 you were buried along with him by being immersed; and in union with him, you were also raised up along with him by God’s faithfulness that worked when he raised Yeshua from the dead. 13 You were dead because of your sins, that is, because of your “foreskin,” your old nature. But God made you alive along with the Messiah by forgiving you all your sins. 14 He wiped away the bill of charges against us. Because of the regulations, it stood as a testimony against us; but he removed it by nailing it to the execution-stake (cross). (Colossians 2:11-14 JNT)
Life Application Questions
How do you appropriate Messiah’s atonement in your life? Do you know in your heart that Messiah has performed total atonement for you?
Scripture References
Psalm 119:57-176; Romans 1-6
Book References
Faith and Fables: p. 29-30; 88-90; 95-110; 123-132
Sons and Servants: p. 33-38; 119-126; 156-159
 The Practice of The Feast of Tabernacles
Summary
The Feast of Sukkot (Tabernacles) is the most joyful celebration, lasting a whole week. It commemorates the children of Israel dwelling in booths—small temporary shelters—during the low state of their wilderness journey.
It marks a time of rest from the work of gathering in the harvest—toils of our labor. It also marks a time to relate to one another about God’s goodness, and reflect upon His grace and mercy. At the same time, Tabernacles serves to remind us that our earthly life is just temporary. A permanent life with God will be our eternal Promised Land. We should, therefore, guard ourselves from materialism and maintain a life of balance.
Those who have received Messiah’s redemption have entered into His permanent and eternal rest—peace with God! For, He has redeemed us from the curse of dead works that cannot justify us before God. The blood of Messiah has accomplished that. We, therefore, celebrate His fulfillment of this feast by gathering in fellowship with other believers, reflecting on His amazing grace, and relating with one another the testimonies of His interaction in our lives. We also look forward to a time of celebrating fellowship with Messiah at His return; and permanently in heaven at His banquet table.
Life Application Questions
How do you celebrate your peace with God? With whom do you rest and reflect on God’s goodness, His grace and mercy, and share testimonies of His interaction in the lives of fellow believers?
Scripture References
Leviticus 23:33-44; Acts 2:46, Colossians 2-3
Book References
Faith and Fables: p. 29-34; 54-60; 82-83; 90-93; 133-135; 183-187
Sons and Servants: p. 38; 99-104; 156-161
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