Feast of Tabernacles Celebration - September 27, 2015

Wow. So much to say about this experience, but words are difficult to come by. How can one find words to describe thousands of Christians from 70 to 80 nations from all over the world coming to Jerusalem to worship the Lord during the Feast of Tabernacles? Breathtaking, humbling, exciting, heart pounding, joyful.... Well, you get the idea. This was my third time to be blessed to attend the ICEJ Feast of Tabernacles Celebration in the Judean Desert at the Ein Gedi by the Dead Sea.

Pastors Ivan and Gladys Seahorn of City of Refuge Global Outreach Ministries, along with Janice Sturkie, could not have planned this part of the trip better. The celebration took place in the Judean Desert by the Dead Sea. We stayed at a kibbutz called Ein Gedi. Ein Gedi is an oasis and a nature reserve in Israel, located west of the Dead Sea, near Masada and the Qumran Caves. You can see it in the distance in some of the pictures below.

 

The following information I got from ICEJ's website. It explains why Christians should celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles:

 

"AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS THAT EVERYONE WHO IS LEFT OF ALL NATIONS WHICH CAME AGAINST JERUSALEM SHALL GO UP FROM YEAR TO YEAR TO WORSHIP THE KING, THE LORD OF HOSTS, AND TO KEEP THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES." ZECHARIAH 14:16

Some may ask why are thousands of Christians coming up to Jerusalem each year to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles? After all, isn't this a "Jewish holiday"?

The answer lies in the unique universal significance of this ancient biblical festival and its past, present and future relevance for all nations.

Every biblical holiday given to the Jewish people has these three aspects. Israel was commanded to observe the holiday in the present in order to remember something God had done in the past, and because of some future prophetic purpose hidden within each festival.

Thus Jews begin Shabbat each week by lighting of two candles, which stand for "Keep" and "Remember". In so doing, they remember how God rested on the seventh day of Creation while also looking forward to the Millennial rest promised for the whole earth.

Likewise, Passover and Pentecost look back on the great Exodus from Egypt and the giving of the law at Sinai, while their hidden prophetic purposes were fulfilled in the death and resurrection of Jesus and the birth of the Church fifty days later.

The Feast of Tabernacles, or Sukkot, is the third great annual pilgrimage festival when the Jewish people gather together in Jerusalem not only to remember God's provision in the Wilderness but also to look ahead to that promised Messianic age when all nations will flow to Jerusalem to worship the Lord.

A Feast for All People

Tabernacles is unique, however, in that the nations also were invited in ancient times to come up to Jerusalem at this season to worship the Lord alongside the Jewish people. This tradition first arose from the command given to Moses that Israel should sacrifice seventy bulls at Sukkot, which were offered for the seventy nations descended from Noah (see Numbers 29:12-35).

When Solomon later dedicated his Temple at Sukkot, he also called on the Lord to hear the prayers of all the foreigners that would come there to pray (2 Chronicles 6:32-33). Thus, Jerusalem and the Temple itself were destined from the start to be a "house of prayer for all nations" (Isaiah 56:7; Matthew 21:13).

A second unique aspect of Sukkot is that it is a feast of joy. It is a fall harvest feast to be marked with great rejoicing in the ingathering of the fruit of the land. Israel also was called to instruct the nations in the laws of God and the people were to take joy in this task. Thus, Sukkot also serves as a harbinger of the joyous last-days ingathering of the nations.

The Past: Remembering the God of Provision

The most visible symbol of Sukkot is the small hut or booth which the Israelites were commanded to dwell in for the eight days of the Feast of Tabernacles (Leviticus 23:33-43). Jewish families across Israel build these booths on their patios and balconies, and decorate them with colourful fruit, ribbons and pictures. Some families eat their meals in the sukkah and even sleep there at night.

These flimsy booths serve as a reminder to Israel that they once dwelled in makeshift huts during the forty years of wanderings in the Wilderness. It was a harsh environment and they were totally dependent on the Lord. Yet during that time, God was ever faithful to provide water, manna, quail and every other thing they needed to sustain them in the barren desert. He even was a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night - a shade from the noon-day sun and then warmth and light in the darkness.

Indeed He is Jehovah Jireh, the "Lord who Provides", and who even provided Himself a sacrifice for our salvation (Genesis 22:14). So there is every reason for Christians to also celebrate the faithful provision of the Lord in our lives at Sukkot.

The Present: Celebrating His Presence Today

Sukkot also marks the ingathering of the harvest at the end of the summer season, providing sustenance for the coming winter. There is also at present a great harvest of souls from every corner of the world into the Kingdom of God. This too gives us reason to celebrate, as Christians from around the globe gather to worship the Lord together in Jerusalem at Sukkot.

It may surprise some, but Jesus also celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles. The Book of John, in chapter 7, tells us that one year the disciples went up to Jerusalem for Sukkot but Jesus stayed behind and then came up secretly. Then on the last "great day of the feast", he stood in the Temple courts and cried out: "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” (John 7:37-38)

So Sukkot is a time for Christians to rejoice in the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit in our earthen vessels.

The Future: Entering the Joy of the Lord

The prophet Zechariah foretells of a time when all nations will ascend to Jerusalem from year to year to "worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles” (14:16). Thus we keep Sukkot now because of that future prophetic purpose hidden in this unique festival which will soon be revealed - and it has to do with the second coming of the Lord.

Throughout the Messianic Age, the entire world will celebrate this feast because I believe it will mark the return of Jesus to the earth. For a thousand years, we will look back on the day of his appearing to take up the throne of David in Jerusalem and to judge the world in righteousness and peace.

At that time all nations will be required to join in this yearly gathering, but for now it is voluntary. Yet when Christians flock to Jerusalem now to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles, it serves as a powerful statement of faith that we believe that day is coming when the earth will finally be at rest in Messiah, the King of Israel.

For the past thirty-five years, thousands of Christians from all over the world have come up to Jerusalem each fall to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles, sponsored by the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem. They come with much expectancy to take part in a dynamic worship experience, knowing the One we worship will soon be sitting on His throne in this great city. Indeed, celebrating Sukkot now gives us a foretaste of the joy of the age to come.

The following are photos from the celebration. Enjoy!

 

 

 

Ein Gedi can be seen in the upper right side of picture. It is the cluster of palm tree at the foot of the mountain.

Picture from inside Ein Gedi. This is a real desert Oasis we stayed in. Only in Israel!

With Juha Ketola, International Director for International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ). I had the pleasure of spending some time with Jula in Houston earlier in the year. I was able to help him around town for a day...and what a day in the Lord we had! I told him I would look for him in Israel during the feast. It was so good to see him again and to meet his family.

 

 

 

 

I seriously encourage everyone to go to Israel at least once in your lifetime. You will not regret it. Ask the Lord if it is His will. I will speak for Him....YES, it is His will for you to go!

Next year in Jerusalem!

Receive this blessing and so shall you prosper:

May the Lord bless you and keep you,
May the Lord make His face shine upon you;
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.

His best to you,

Samuel - Smashing Pillars...raising sons

 

Smashing Pillars International is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Your financial donations are all tax deductible. Thank you in advance.

Donations can be made online at: www.smashingpillarsinternational.org

If you would like to mail in a donation, please mail to:

Smashing Pillars International
14403 Walters Rd., #681601
Houston, Texas 77014

Be sure to include your prayer requests. 

 



Ministry Report: Alvin South Coast Ministries 12-16-15

Visited Alvin South Coast Ministries Wednesday night in Alvin, Texas! Pastor Mike Gomez (pictured above on left) along with his wife Janie have been in ministry for 13 years. They have a heart for people, especially the outcast, and a heart for their city to be touched by the love of God, which is through His Son Jesus Christ.

The ministry consist of a church with services on Tuesday nights and Sunday mornings. They also have a resident ministry program to assist men who are transitioning from incarceration or drug addiction back into the community as a productive witness for Christ. There are several success stories you can read about on their Facebook page at Alvin South Coast Ministries Facebook Page. They are making it happen in Alvin, Texas. If you are ever in the area look them up!

I had the opportunity to just sit in congregation and be blessed by special guest Minister Raymond Duran. He brought a powerful word about holiness. How to be holy and not just act, think or portray holiness, but to actually be holy. We do it through God's word, which addresses every aspect of life and godliness, relationship with God, worship, etc.

After sitting in the congregation for a while and watching the ministry team, volunteers and congregation it was not hard to see that Pastor Mike & Janie did not build a church, but they have a raise a family. A family of believers who truly love God by the way they displayed love for God toward each other. No one wanted to leave after service. They were in the lobby enjoying food and each other's company. That's what's up!!!!

Smashing Pillars International and Alvin South Coast Ministries will be working together in the near future to keep us in your prayers. The season of addition has begun.

Receive this blessing:

May the Lord bless you and keep you,
May the Lord make His face shine upon you;
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.

His best to you,
Samuel - Smashing Pillars...raising sons

 

Smashing Pillars International is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Your financial donations are all tax deductible. Thank you in advance.

Donations can be made online at: www.smashingpillarsinternational.org

If you would like to mail in a donation, please mail to:

Smashing Pillars International
14403 Walters Rd., #681601
Houston, Texas 77014

Be sure to include your prayer requests.

SPI Ministry met at new location - Saturday, December 5th

Wow! That's all I can say is....WOW!

Saturday we met at the Hilton Garden Inn for the first time. It was an amazing time in the presence of the Lord. When G-d does something, He does it right! I have been saying for a couple of weeks that we are all in a new place...all things are new. It dawned on me while speaking at the meeting that all things truly were new. The meeting location was new. The sound equipment is top of the line equipment and it is all new...paid in full! Thank you L-rd! The hotel is in the final stages of being completely renovated....made like new again!

I stayed in a room in the hotel the night before the meeting to be alone with the L-rd and to get His heart for the meeting. I released a two-part word on the season we are currently in called Stability, which will be a short season. Then immediately after the season of Stability is over the season of Addition will begin. The L-rd said to tell the people not to harden their hearts during this season of Stability when He is commanding us to yield every area of our lives wholeheartedly to Him once and for all. As we do this, it will bring Stability into our lives we never knew existed or even believed was possible. The season of Addition represents the outpouring of G-d coming our way, which is represented in the following verse:

Matthew 7:24-29 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: a man of stability “and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: a man of instability “and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.” And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

The blessings are symbolically represented by the rain, flood and winds. I will share more on this in a later post where I will include the entire notes from the meeting, but I do want to share this one last thing with you. As I left the hotel room Saturday morning, I gathered my keys and wallet from the desk. The last thing I picked up was the little sleeve the hotel gives you your room keys in. On the front were the words - OPEN DOORS...YOU NEVER KNEW EXISTED. Wow!

So if you yield everything in your life to G-d, now...in this season, you will be like a man who built his house on the rock and when the outpouring comes you will be able to contain it and doors you never knew existed will be open to you! Hint: the keys to open these doors are in your mouth.

One more last, last thing. I think it is interesting that Saturday a door was opened to me and the ministry that I never knew existed. I didn't know it existed. What I think is even more interesting is the very next day, Sunday, was the beginning of Hanukkah. Which is the story of the rededicating of the Holy Temple of G-d after the Maccabean revolt. The people were corrupt and backslidden, but they didn't have anyone to blame except themselves because it started from with within. They knew better, but allowed the world in anyway and the paid for it dearly. The miracle was that G-d used one man who decided to rise and bring stability back to the Jewish people. He stirred others to rise with him to stand for righteousness. The miracle about the story is G-d used a small band of men to overthrow the most evil empire of the world. Then they first got all the rubbish out of the Holy Temple, repaired the doors and rededicated it. They only had one small vial of oil, enough to light the menorah in the Holy Temple for one day, but it burned for eight days miraculously. Today, we are the temple of the living G-d. We must get out all the rubbish in our lives and rededicate ourselves to G-d once again. G-d has hidden a small vial of oil in us all and we are to find that vial and release it to burn bright in this ever increasingly dark world. The oil is the Holy Spirit of G-d. You are the vial. Allow your self to be broken under the mighty hand of G-d so that He may exalt you to burn bright for Him.  

Let your light so shine...

 

 

Receive this blessing:

May the Lord bless you and keep you,
May the Lord make His face shine upon you;
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.

His best to you,
Samuel - Smashing Pillars...raising sons


Smashing Pillars International is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Your financial donations are all tax deductible. Thank you in advance.

Donations can be made online at: www.smashingpillarsinternational.org

If you would like to mail in a donation, please mail to:

Smashing Pillars International
14403 Walters Rd., #681601
Houston, Texas 77014

Be sure to include your prayer requests.

Innerfaith Disciple House - December 3rd

Ministered at Innerfaith Disciple House in Conroe, Texas last Thursday night. Thursday night is family night. The families of the men in the program come for potluck dinner with a worship service following after dinner. A guest is also invited to come share their personal testimony with the men to encourage and strengthen their faith. It was my third time to visit, but my first time to share with the guys. It was an honor to have my younger brother Jesse with me. We were even asked by the men to stay after everyone left so we could join the men in their time of prayer before they called it a night. Wow. We were very honored to a part of that. We look forward to our next visit.

I met the director of Innerfaith, Chris Follet, through a mutual friend. Chris himself is low hanging fruit produced by Innerfaith Disciple House in Central Texas. After he completed the program he heard the call of God to open his own IDH location. He came to Conroe, Texas nearly 5 years ago, put his hands to the plow and never looked back. His story is truly amazing and inspiring, as is, the stories of the many who have come through his doors in Conroe. Visit the ministry website at www.innerfaithdisciplehouse.com. 

The following about IDH is from their webpage:

Innerfaith Disciple House is a character building program designed to help men, 18 years and older, overcome life's addictions, hurts, habits and hang-ups.   Through discipleship, we reach out to men who have struggled with drugs and alcohol. We are first and foremost a discipleship program where  men are taught to walk faithfully with God in the same manner as Jesus walked through Surrender, Obedience and Service (SOS). When a man has come to the end of himself; when he has hit rock bottom and his spirit is truly broken - whether through drugs, alcohol or other hurts, habits and hang-ups - he must be completely ready and willing to dedicate at least 6 months of his immediate future in order to busy his former self and become a new creation through Christ Jesus.

Remember Chris, his staff, volunteers and the men in the program in your prayers. A couple of pics from the night.

 

Receive this blessing:

May the Lord bless you and keep you,
May the Lord make His face shine upon you;
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.

His best to you,
Samuel - Smashing Pillars...raising sons


Smashing Pillars International is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Your financial donations are all tax deductible. Thank you in advance.

Donations can be made online at: www.smashingpillarsinternational.org

If you would like to mail in a donation, please mail to:

Smashing Pillars International
14403 Walters Rd., #681601
Houston, Texas 77014

Be sure to include your prayer requests.