Quotes:
“Faith is a living and unshakable confidence. A belief in God so assured that a man would die a thousand deaths for its sake.” -- Martin Luther
“Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase.” - Martin Luther King Jr.
"The beautiful thing about this adventure called faith is that we can count on Him never to lead us astray." - Chuck Swindoll
Leviticus 23:33-44
All Jewish holidays (holy-days) begin at sundown.
The Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot in Hebrew) also called Feast of Booths just occurred on this past September 18th - 25th, 2013 (15th day of the 7th month [Tishrei], 5774).
The Feast of Tabernacles is the 7th and final feast.
It is also associated with the fall harvest and is known as the “Festival of Ingathering”.
Extra Torah customs were added and observed, such as the waving of the “Four Species” (the lulav), circling the synagogue in a processional while singing hymns and decorating the sukkah (booth).
The 8th day Shmini Atzeret ("the assembly of the eighth (day).") and Simchat Torah ("Rejoicing in the Torah.").
The 8th day is a more solemn day; a day for spending time with the Lord. It is also was day for celebration of completion of reading through the Torah during the year. Jews danced and rejoiced in the streets holding Torah scrolls.
Also on this 8th day, they would offer in the temple the first fruits of their latte crops. During the feast, the 113th, 114th, 115th, 116th, 117th, 118th, and 119th Psalms were sung.
Another extra Torah observance was called the “Water Ceremony”.
On the 8th day a priest would draw some water out of the pool Siloam into a golden vessel, and then bring it into the temple with the High Priest leading the procession. As the priests approached the water gate, the shofar would be blown. This was accomplished during the time of the of the morning sacrifice, while the members of the sacrifice were on the altar; the priest would go up and pour the water mingled with wine upon the Altar. At the same time the people would all be singing with joy Isaiah 12:1-6 (especially verse 6).
Isaiah 12:1-6 “1- And in that day thou shalt say, O LORD, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me. 2- Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. 3- Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. 4- And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted. 5- Sing unto the LORD; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth. 6- Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee. 6- Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.”
(Between John chapter 6 and chapter 7, 6 months has passed and during that time we know that many things occurred and that Jesus had been to Galilee 4 or 5 times.)
Now we have the setting for John chapter 7.
John 7:1 “After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him.”
Jesus was no longer tolerated, and therefore could not preach publicly in Judea, except at the risk of His life. So it was that He found easier to minister in Galilee than Judea, since in Judea the chief priest and priests were always trying to kill Him.
John 7:2, 10, 14 “2- Now the Jews' feast of tabernacles was at hand. 10- … when his brethren were gone up, then went he also up unto the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret. 14- …about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught.”
John 7:37 “In the last[8th] day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried[emphatically], saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.”
There is no lasting earthly satisfaction whether it be in money, fame, or fortune.
Jesus cried out, “IF YOU ARE THIRSTY”… in need, lacking, empty, hurting… “COME UNTO ME”!
Our souls are predisposition-ed to thirst after God’s grace, mercy & love.
Matthew 5:6 “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.”
You were born for God’s love and you cannot ‘truly’ live without it.
Go to the Lord and drink freely of His grace, of His Mercy and His forgiveness.
Experience true joy and the significance that can only come through a relationship with Jesus Christ.
You’re Hope, joy, satisfaction, future and oh so much more depend on drinking the living water that flows from Jesus!
John 7:38 “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.”
Jesus is portrayed as both tabernacle (John 1:11) and the temple (John 2:13-25).
The following two passages were also read as part of the Water Ceremony:
Ezekiel 47:1, 48-49 “Afterward he brought me again unto the door of the house; and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward… [The waters just keeps getting deeper and deeper.] 48- Then said he unto me, These waters issue out toward the east country, and go down into the desert, and go into the sea [nations]: which being brought forth into the sea, the waters shall be healed. 49- And it shall come to pass, that everything that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live…”
Zechariah 14:16 “And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.”
Jesus stood up that day and loudly proclaimed that in Him were the words of the prophet’s fulfilled.
John 7:38-39 “38- He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 39- (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)”
John 14:18, 26 “18-I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. 26- … the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost…”
If Any Man Thirst Let him drink in the out pouring of God’s Spirit.
Acts 1:8 “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you…”
Acts 2:1-4 “1- And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2- And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3- And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4- And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
Acts 2:38-39 “38- Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39- For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.”
Galatians 4:6 “And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.”
If you thirst tonight for something better, won’t you come to this altar?
