Commemorate the three feasts eternally
Exodus 23:14~17 Three times a year you are to celebrate a festival to me. (14)
♬ Hymn for scheduled worship: Korean/English Hymnal #540 I am Thine, o Lord, I Have Heard Thy Voice (#219 in previous version)
The Israelites suffered hard labor as Egyptian slaves, but they were not afflicted by poverty or diseases. The difficulties they had in the wilderness were extreme, and were related to their survival. Looking at this history, we must remember what is important as we walk through our own wilderness. God explained this through the three feasts, and ordered us to commemorate them forever.
1. Believe in the Passover!
Israel was powerless, and Egypt was powerful. The God of the enslaved Israelites looked powerless compared to the Egyptian god of the sun. Yet, God prepared Moses, who was to end the 400 years of slavery and explain the Gospel - the blood covenant. The eldest son of all the households that didn’t have the lamb’s blood on their door frames was killed that night. The one and only method to resolve our spiritual problems, change our destinies and crush the head of Satan is the blood covenant - the covenant of Jesus Christ. We must never forget the fulfillment of the Passover, which is the covenant of the cross.
2. Experience the power of the Pentecost!
Pentecost refers to the gathering of crops 50 days after the Passover. “When the day of Pentecost came,” (Acts 2:1) refers to the work of the Holy Spirit. We must experience the power of the Triune God, who always helps us to overcome the hardships we face in the wilderness. All those who received answers in the Bible experienced this power and were victorious in this world. Likewise, we need a separate strength in order to survive in this world. We must study with the power of the Holy Spirit, meet people within the Gospel, and prepare our future.
3. Look at the future through the Ingathering!
During the Feast of Ingathering, the crops were harvested and stored. Just like the crops are placed in the storehouse, our background is heaven. To be saved means that the kingdom of God has come upon us, that the kingdom of God will come where we go, and that ultimately we will go to heaven. This is the spiritual background of Christians. It is the promise of salvation, restoration and conquest that will be given when God’s kingdom comes upon our fields. This is the vision we must have.
° Forum Topic - We must keep these three feasts in our lives. Let’s raise a monument today in our lives to commemorate these feasts.
Immanuel Church Sunday Worship 1st Service / 2009.10.18