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Discovering God’s Purposes by Relating with Him
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God created you for a unique purpose. The very first chapter of Genesis says you were made in His image—His likeness. His primary purpose, therefore, is for you to know Him and relate with Him so He will be glorified. Messiah Jesus revealed that “God is spirit.” (John 4:24) He added, “those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." On the very day His disciples were celebrating the Biblical feast of Shavuot—thereafter known as Pentecost—God did something amazing: He released into their hearts His Spirit—the Holy Spirit. Truly, His Spirit gives you the capacity to connect and relate with Him on a personal basis. Old Testament characters experienced His Spirit from time to time. Believing in Messiah Jesus, though, offers you permanent access to His wonderful Spirit residing in the heart. How to tap into His Spirit, relate with God and discover your greatest purposes in life? One way God did prescribe as a way to relate and interact with Him was through the seven appointed Feasts of the Lord. Messiah Jesus came to reveal the full meaning, relevance and purposes of these feasts. The more you engage and relate with Him and see what He accomplished on your behalf, the more you will discover your greatest purposes in life in Him! |
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Passover Meal Sacrificial Lamb |
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.
More than simply telling a story, however, this special celebration models a Hebraic way of fathering families. As fathers, we do more than instruct by speaking to or at our children: we engage them in active discussion which includes a question-and-answer approach aimed at helping them process and reflect upon thoughts; coming to an understanding of why and how things happen, or cause and effect. By explaining what happened, why and how God did what He did, and discussing the fruits of the experience, we are able to impart a way of relating with God and getting to know Him—His ways and character.
This in fact was how Messiah Jesus taught and nurtured His disciples. He helped them connect and relate the stories of the Scriptures—the Law and Prophets—in a meaningful and relevant way to real life.
The Amplified Bible does a great job relating this in Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3:18-19. He prayed that people would fully grasp the love of God and apprehend “what is the breadth and length and height and depth [of it]; [That you may really come] to know [practically, through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]!”The LORD celebrated this feast at what is referred to as “the last supper.” He surprised His disciples by adding a new element to the celebration. When it was time to say the blessing over the bread, He said, "Take, eat; this is My body." Over the wine He said, "Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” (Matthew 26:26-28 NKJV )
The LORD 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)
The more we become interested in and focused on the interests and needs of others—and how we can contribute to their lives—the more we will discover our greater purposes in life. It is out of our giving and serving others that we truly experience the joy of the LORD—which is our strength.
Life Application Questions
How do you look for ways to express God’s love, and live in a sacrificial manner, looking out for the interests of others?
What things do you reflect upon, wondering why things happen how they do, and how things might be able to be changed?
Scripture References
1 John 3:16-24; Ephesians 5:1-2; Titus 2:6; 3:14; James 3:13-18
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Removing Leaven
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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 and falsehood. As it spreads, it compromises and destroys what is true, good and otherwise pure.
The LORD’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 the LORD 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)
God wants us to walk in integrity—values based on what is sound, true and right. That’s why Paul reasoned; “Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” (1 Corinthians 5:8)
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 do you hurt yourself by harboring wrong attitudes of the heart?
Are there any things you do on a regular basis that may cause harmful attitudes to persist?
What falsehoods might you be holding onto or trusting in that could be preventing you from receiving truth from God?
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
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Expressing Gratefulness |
Summary
The Feast of First-fruits marks the expression of gratefulness to God for His provision. It fosters a way to express gratitude for God’s grace by giving back to God—or giving forward to others—a portion of the first crops harvested—or fruits of our labors. It serves to remind us of our dependence on God and need to trust Him for more. It also helps us practice good stewardship and faithfulness, and suppress tendencies to hoard out of greed, lust or fear of lack.
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, the LORD 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?
What are some ways you can bless others as God blesses you?
How do you demonstrate your trust in God’s provision for the future?
Scripture References
Matthew 19:21; 25:37; Luke 3:11; Acts 20:35
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Fullness of the Harvest Revelation of Truth God’s Covenant |
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 Torah; otherwise known as God’s Law or better yet, divine instruction. More than representing God’s divine instruction from a legalistic standpoint, Torah in essence represents God’s truth and revealed wisdom.
As Moses 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 the LORD 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 do you refresh your thoughts and opinions?
How open are you to new revelations of truth God would offer you?
Are there any areas of your life where your frame of reference may be somewhat legalistic?
Are there any opinions that you have that might be a bit too dogmatic?
Scripture References
Joshua 1:8; Colossians 2; Galatians 5:1-6; Romans 8;
Philippians 4:8-9; 1Timothy 4:12-16
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Sound the 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 Messiah Jesus, the LORD 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?
How do you allow the Holy Spirit to convict your heart so you can receive the grace of His mercy?
In what ways do you allow the Holy Spirit to change your inner attitudes so you can come into compliance with God’s ways and by God’s grace, change outward behaviors?
Scripture References
Psalm 51:7-10; Galatians 6:4; James 4:7-8
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Affliction of Soul Confession Discipline |
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)
The LORD’s atonement is settled forever! He has wiped away all the spiritual requirements for righteousness that were—and could ever be—set against us. In union with Him, we are set 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)
Upon confession of revealed sins or ways we have fallen short of God’s best, and then receiving the LORD’s atonement and reconciliation, we also have the opportunity to adopt new measures of discipline to help us walk in the new light we have received.
Life Application Questions
How do you appropriate the LORD’s atonement in your life?
Do you know in your heart that the LORD has performed total atonement for you, exchanging His life for your death to sin?
Are there some areas where you still condemn yourself?
Have you allowed the Holy Spirit to wholly set you free, and receive the LORD’s work and word discharging you from the debts and penalties of sin?
What measures of discipline do you think you can apply and implement in your life to help you walk in the new light you have received?
Scripture References
Psalm 119:57-176; Romans 1-6
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Rehearse Rest and Relate |
Summary
The Feast of Sukkot (Tabernacles) is the most joyful celebration, lasting eight days. 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 the LORD’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. 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 the LORD’s return; and permanent fellowship at His banquet table in heaven. We, therefore, have an opportunity to celebrate with great joy—or rehearse the time of Messiah’s return and glorious eternal reign.
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
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