SERMONS & LESSONS
VISIONS
Celebrating a Holiday
For several years I struggled with the celebration on Christian holidays such as Easter and Christmas. This was due mainly because of a belief that these days were just like the Babylonian festivities where sacrifices and pagan rituals were observed. Much of the teachings of this belief were based on the writings of Ralph Woodrow's "Babylon Mystery Religion" which was based on Alexander Hislop's "The Two Babylons". Ralph Woodrow has recanted his book and its teachings after recent research and archeological findings. You can read more about that here, Message from Ralph Woodrow regarding the book BABYLON MYSTERY RELIGION. Ralph's recanting of his first book was not enough [...]
Sabbath
And to all those who receive salvation their awaits one last promise, a promise to enter into His rest, the highest of Sabbaths. The one spoken of, "another day", Hebrews 4:4-10. We see from Leviticus 23:3 that the Sabbath was included in the list of Holy days. If it is a Sabbath to the Lord, then we can easily see why Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath in Matthew 12:8. No work is to be done on the Sabbath. Perhaps it is to remind us that we are not saved by our works but by the Lord of the Sabbath only, by faith. And that we will [...]
The Day of Atonement
Dual fulfillments. Leviticus 23:26-32 This is Yom Kippur, our Jewish brethren celebrate this as a day for reflection upon deeds done during the past year and with that the hope of doing better in the next. The Day of Reckoning is a day in which all the accounts must be settled between God and His people for that year. This is where each individual soul has an obvious requirement to reflect and prepare him/herself for the day when each will give account for their deeds and receive what was promised to them on the Day of Judgment. The blast from the day before may be our call to [...]
Feast of Trumpets
The announcement, this is fulfilled by our responding (Leviticus 23:24-27) In the autumn of the year and on the first day of the Tishrei moon trumpets are blown to announce the Hebrew holiday of Rosh Hashanah. It is simply "Yom Teruah–the Day of Blowing." Since the blowing of the trumpets became the distinguishing characteristic of the day, it became known as the Feasts of the Trumpets: the feast that called people to prepare to stand before the judgment of God. The texts give no specific reason for observing the Feast of the Trumpet. This is surprising because the Bible usually gives the reason for the observance of the [...]
Feast of Pentecost
Fulfilled by the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost (Leviticus 23:15-22). 50 days from the day the firstfruits of the barley harvest was waved before the Lord, is Shavuot or the Day of Pentecost. Rabbinic scholars believe that it was on this day that God visited His people after their exodus from Egypt and through Moses, brought the Law down from Mount Sinai. This earthshaking day of visitation, trembling, and betrothal is the birthday of the nation of Israel. Here Moses brings down the Torah or Law for the nation. 50 days from the day the Firstfruits, the Day our Lord raised from the Dead (The Resurrection), [...]
Feast of Firstfruits
Fulfilled by Jesus at His Resurrection. Leviticus 23:10-11 On the 17th day of the month of Nisan the firstfruits of the barley harvest was gathered and waved before the Lord in celebration. On the 17th day of Nisan. Jesus rises up from the grave. He is the firstfruits from the dead. On that very day He fulfilled the feast. Jesus raised from the dead the firstfruits of the Resurrection of the dead. Those that were spiritually dead can now be born again, thou they perish yet they may live (1 Corinthians 15:20).