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The Feast of Trumpets
Finding Significance by Relating with God through the Lord’s Feast of TrumpetsSummary The primary purpose of the Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah; Head of the Year) is to call us to prepare our hearts for the coming solemn Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). It begins a period of reconciliation with God; specifically “Ten Days of Repentance” or “Days of Awe” which culminate in Yom Kippur. The trumpet (ram’s horn, or shofar) was also used to alarm the people and prepare them for battle. It is therefore a day to arise in spiritual awakening. 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. John the Immerser—or Baptist—came immersing people in water to “prepare the way of the Lord.” The LORD, therefore, fulfilled this feast by coming as King of Kings. In His resurrection, He conquered the power of evil and spiritual death by defeating the enemy of our souls, Satan, the devil and spiritual adversary. Paul was diligent to remind the community of faith that we fight a very real spiritual battle, and to therefore, continue to “fight the good fight of the faith.” (1Timothy 6:12 JNT) We, therefore, continuously celebrate the inherent meaning of Trumpets as we allow the Holy Spirit to convict our hearts, confess revealed sins, and prepare our heart to wage spiritual warfare; fighting against temptations to sin, standing on God’s Word in faith, and receiving the LORD’s victory over the power of sin and death.
Life Application Questions Our worship prepares the way for God to minister to our heart through His Word and Holy Spirit. In what ways do you prepare your heart to receive God’s truth and love?
Scripture References Leviticus 23:23-25; Joel 2:1; Matthew 3:3, 5:24; Romans 5:10,
Discovering God’s Purposes by Relating with Him through the Lord’s Feast of TrumpetsSummary 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
Receiving God’s Amazing Grace by Relating with Him through the Lord’s Feast of TrumpetsSummary On one notable occasion, the Angel of the LORD instructed Joshua to have the priests sound the trumpets seven times—which would call the army of the Lord to fight the spiritual battle which would result in the walls of Jericho falling. The LORD was crucified, taking our sin upon Himself. He was buried and resurrected from the dead—arising with the keys of hell and death—to serve as our High Priest and triumphant King of Glory—who always goes before us and leads us into His victory! “But thanks be to God, who in the Messiah constantly leads us in a triumphal procession and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of what it means to know him!” (2 Corinthians 2:14 JNT) We celebrate His glorious triumph with genuine heartfelt praise and worship expressed from a truly grateful heart. We also celebrate His victory when we walk in the grace of His liberty, having been delivered from the power of sin and death. We affirm over and over His triumph as we believe in our heart and are fully convinced of His eternal victory.
Furthermore, we celebrate His triumph as we walk as free children of God exhibiting the fruits and gifts of the Spirit in serving one another in love and in His name.
Life Application Questions In what ways do you actively celebrate the LORD’s triumph? Are there additional ways you believe you can appropriate His victory in your life and celebrate His triumph?
Scripture References
Responding in Faith to God’s Invitation of Life and Peace by Relating with Him through the Lord’s Feast of TrumpetsSummary Trumpets were also blown to acknowledge the presence of a king; and as a military practice, to send an alarm to the troops to prepare for battle. Our Messiah-King certainly deserves the honor of our high praises! “With trumpets and the sound of a horn; Shout joyfully before the LORD, the King.” (Psalm 98:6 NKJV) In Daniel 10:10-21, Scripture reveals an element of spiritual warfare. An angel was sent to Daniel as an answer to his prayer. He told Daniel about a war in the heavenly places that was being waged, and how it related to earthly events. Paul taught the disciples more about waging spiritual warfare. He proclaimed, “For although we do live in the world, we do not wage war in a worldly way; 4 because the weapons we use to wage war are not worldly. On the contrary, they have God’s power for demolishing strongholds. We demolish arguments 5 and every arrogance that raises itself up against the knowledge of God; we take every thought captive and make it obey the Messiah.” (2 Corinthians 10:3-5 JNT) What are spiritual strongholds? They are spiritual fortresses founded on lies. They give place to demonic opposition of God’s truth and kingdom purposes. We, therefore, confess lies we have believed, renounce them, and pull our minds and thoughts into compliance with God’s truth, obeying His Word in faith. Peter spoke more about the issue of demonic opposition, and provided this exhortation. “Stay sober, stay alert! Your enemy, the Adversary, stalks about like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Stand against him, firm in your trust, knowing that your brothers throughout the world are going through the same kinds of suffering.” (1 Peter 5:8-9 JNT) James added more on the subject. “Come close to God, and he will come close to you. Clean your hands, sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded people!” (James 4:8 JNT) The LORD defeated Satan and the authority of the powers of darkness on Calvary’s Cross. Satan, and his host of demons, however, are sore losers! They regain limited power as people agree with and subscribe to lies against the knowledge of God’s truth by maintaining prideful attitudes, pursuing lustful desires, and exalting vain images—the worship of idols. Revelation 12:11-12 addresses the issue and final outcome. “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time."
Life Application Questions How have you positioned yourself to wage spiritual warfare? How do you appropriate your “armor” daily in humility and faith, and engage in the LORD’s way of fighting spiritual battles? Do you have prayer and accountability partners to support you in fighting spiritual battles?
Scripture References
Walking in Spiritual Reality by Relating with God through the Lord’s Feast of TrumpetsSummary In surrendering to death on the cross, the LORD overcame the human sinful tendency to uphold self-righteousness. He then recovered the spiritual authority that Adam had lost to Satan in giving in to the lie of the serpent and disobeying God. He, therefore, declared in Revelation 1:18-19, “I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.” Peter’s life illustrates a great example of a life reclaimed and transformed. He was humbled, and allowed the LORD to impart in him a great grace gift. Extremely self-confident and often quick to talk, He thought he could never deny his friend and Savior. How quickly he did, though, just as the LORD had predicted. However, he allowed the Holy Spirit to convict his heart. He was then given the grace of redemption, and the opportunity to three times declare his true love for the LORD. After the LORD asked him three times, “do you love me,” Peter replied, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You." (John 21:17 NKJV) Peter learned that the LORD really knew his heart. He surrendered to the conviction by the Holy Spirit. He allowed the Holy Spirit to fill the gap in His heart. That empowered a real change in temperament and attitude: real transformation. He could, therefore, be entrusted with a large measure of authority and anointing of the Holy Spirit!
Life Application Questions Have you noticed situations arising in your life where you have faced having to defend, justify, or prove yourself? In those situations, how have you asked God for the strength to make it? How may you have kicked in your heels, and fought to win on your own strength? Are there times where you blame the devil or other people for your shortcomings, taking no responsibility for your own actions? Has the Holy Spirit been leading you to consider some things and beckoning you to settle the issue—and come to the understanding of God’s truth—which will make you free? Has the Holy Spirit been trying to convict you of any weaknesses or areas of pride or self indulgence? Has the Holy Spirit been leading you to repent for anything, and turn to God for His mercy—and way of grace?
Scripture References
Be Blessed by Embracing God’s Values and Relating with Him through the Lord’s Feast of TrumpetsSummary The LORD has become the eternal “horn of salvation.” He overcame the devil first when tempted in the wilderness; and finally through His death on the cross and resurrection, conquered all authority over evil, sin, and death.
Paul, like David, experienced the full spectrum of pain and joy. He knew suffering and shame, yet also knew the sweet taste of victory. He knew that experiencing victory and defeat worked to build character. He knew that in the LORD—either way—he lived in victory!
Embrace his exhortation regarding our triumph in the LORD, Messiah Jesus.
Life Application Questions In what real ways do you think you can appropriate the LORD’s victory? Generally speaking, do you feel that you are living a victorious life, or is life overcoming you? In what additional ways could you perhaps receive His victory? Have you asked God what it will take for you to gain victory in the areas you need victory?
Scripture References
Living Life in its Fullness by Relating with the Lord who is the Resurrection and the LifeThe primary purpose of the Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah; Head of the Year) is to call us to prepare our hearts for the coming solemn Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). It begins a period of reconciliation with God; specifically, “Ten Days of Repentance” or “Days of Awe” which culminate in Yom Kippur. The trumpet (ram’s horn, or shofar) was also used to alarm the people and prepare them for battle. It therefore, speaks of a day to arise in spiritual awakening. 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. The LORD came as the Messiah-King to be the final sacrifice and reconciliation for sin. Those placing faith in Him are justified before God in His righteousness. He has accomplished more through His sacrificial blood than a single day of confession could ever possibly do! He defeated the enemy of our soul and won the battle over the power of sin and death. By the power and authority of His resurrection, all those who put their faith in Him are justified before God and delivered from His judgment into eternal life. To illustrate this point, the LORD raised a man, Lazarus, who had been in a tomb for four days. He did this, “for God’s glory, so that the Son of God may receive glory through it.” (John 11:4 JNT) He, therefore, declared:
Placing our trust in the LORD, we become united with Him by faith, and our soul is justified before God to live for eternity. Truly, He has prepared a way and a place for those who place their faith in Him. In Him, we see El Chaiyai—The God of my life (Psalm 42:8) and El Yeshuati—The God of my salvation. (Isaiah 12:2) |
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