Be There

Well, good morning again, brethren. It's wonderful to see everyone. I know all of you have attended more church in the last couple of weeks than most people generally do in a couple of weeks' period of time. Wonderful, wonderful for you. Wonderful for all of us to be able to celebrate and to worship God in the way that He asks us to do. And I know that all of us are returning from what I think we could say is a wonderful and, I hope, very blessed and uplifting feast.

There are a lot of things, certainly, to be very pleased with, with the way that God directs us and the way He gives us something that is so uplifting, so encouraging. And I wondered what I could possibly cover today that we haven't. I thought that it would be best to go over, you know, things that we, in a sense, have been covering at the feast. Not only what I know was covered everywhere with the webcast, but to be able to give you a little insight about what it is that we covered at the feast up there in Canada. But I wanted to begin with a section here in Nehemiah. Nehemiah chapter 8 is a chapter that we often go to whenever you think about it. There are numerous places that you could go to in the Old Testament that would discuss the keeping of the Holy Days. In this case, chapter 8 of Nehemiah, of course, is a description of the people of Judah coming back from having been in captivity, and in a sense kind of rediscovering, rediscovering the law. Rediscovering what it is that God wants for them to know and certainly for us to know.

And I won't take time to read it, but the first part of it in verse 2 it says, this is regarding the first day of the seventh month. And in verse 3 it says, the people, at the very end of the verse, were attended to the book of the law. And it talks about a feast of trumpets, which would be the first day of the seventh month, a feast of trumpet servants. It talks about what they were doing. You know, they were reading the law, they were learning, they were worshiping, they were moved. In verse 10 it says, the day is holy to our Lord, so don't be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength. And so it says in verse 12, the people went their way to eat and drink and send portions, and so to, in a sense, give gifts to each other, or not that they were exchanging gifts, but looking out for others and sharing, and making great rejoicing because they had understood the words that were declared to them.

See, that is, I think, in many ways an uplifting way to look at what we do when we keep the holy days. When we observe, and this is talking about day of trumpets, but if we drop on down, it says in verse 14, they found written in the law that the God had commanded Moses that the people of Israel should live in booths. So it's clearly talking about the Feast of Tabernacles during the Festival of the Seventh Month. They should publish and proclaim in all their towns, go out to the hills, bring in branches, make booths. And let's see, it talks about in verse 17, the assembly of those who had returned from captivity. They made booths, and they lived in them. For from the day of Joshua to that day, the people had not done so, or at least they had not done so in this same way, perhaps not done so with this same zeal, the same excitement, the same thrill. You know, year to year we go to the Feast. In some ways, it could be very similar from one year to the next, because we may go to a similar site. We can, of course, go to different sites if we would like. But here in this case, they were having in their memory revived what it was that God wanted them to do. And it says in verse 17, there was very great rejoicing. And day by day, from the first day to the last, they read from the book of the law of God, and they kept the festival seven days. And then on the eighth day, they had a solemn assembly, according to the ordinance. And so that clearly is what all of us have been participating in over the last couple of weeks. We have been attending a festival that's designed to be a festival of joy.

And what I want to point out is, and I'm sure all of you have read Nehemiah 8 before, and you realize that that's what it's talking about, what we see in chapter 9 is, in a sense, what you might say is a much more sobering chapter. Chapter 8's pretty joyous, pretty uplifting, pretty exciting. And I think what we need to think of as we look into the months ahead of us, you know, after we've celebrated this glorious festival of God, how can we continue to grow in these months in front of us?

What can we do? There are things that we can do, things that we should do, even as we come off what we might say is a high from the Feast of Tabernacles. Here in chapter 9, you see a much more sobering picture. Here we find, let's start reading in verse 1, 24th day of the month, the people of Israel assembled with fasting and sackcloth, and with earth on their heads. Those of the Israelites, descent, separated them, they stood in the place, they made confession in verse 3 and worshiped their God. Now you see a certain amount of introspection. You see a concern that they had that they had not. And in verse 6 it says, Ezra says, and then you go on and see what it is that Ezra says about the people of Israel. You know, they had been in captivity, they had come back out of captivity, and they were now beginning to start rebuilding in Jerusalem. And so they could be excited about that. They could be learning about the Holy Days again, and they could be rejoicing. But you see this whole chapter, almost being a chapter of repentance, national repentance, and a desire to draw closer to God. And in verse 6, you see Ezra is saying, you are the Lord, you alone are the Lord, you have made the heavens, and the heavens of heavens with all their hosts, the earth, and all that is in them, the seas, and all that is in them. And to all of them you give life, and the host of heaven worships you.

So here Ezra is clearly praising God and acknowledging God as the creator. He then, in verse 7 and 8, talks about God being the God of their ancestors, of Abraham, of Isaac, of Jacob, of the children of Israel, of the fact that in whatever way people understood Israel to be special to God, it would always go back to Abraham. It would go back to God working with Abraham, and choosing to work with a certain group of people. And of course, today, as a part of the Church of God, we realize that God chose. He chose to draw us to Jesus Christ. And so the reference of being the children of Abraham, the children of the Father of the faithful, you know, that's the applicable factor to us. Ezra goes through and talks about how that God had delivered them from Egypt, how He had sustained them in the wilderness, how He had brought them into the Promised Land, but of course, you know, a lot of history had already happened, and you know, they had not received as many blessings as they could have received. Why was that? Well, it was because of verse 16.

It says, our ancestors, they and our ancestors acted presumptuously, and they stiffened their neck, and they did not obey your commands. They refused to obey, and they were not mindful of the wonders that you performed. They stiffened their neck and determined to return to their slavery in Egypt.

See, he says this was the reason why we went into captivity. In a sense, they were reflecting on the national calamity that the people in this grouping, back in Jerusalem, that they had lived through, having gone into captivity, having survived that, but then still having a certain level of oppression, even as they were back now rebuilding the temple. But it describes the fact that they were simply disobedient. But another thing that is pointed out here is absolutely fabulous about God. It says in verse 17, but you are a God who is ready to forgive, who is gracious and merciful, who is slow to anger, and who abounds in steadfast love, and you did not forsake them. See, even though God allowed them to go into captivity, He was still mindful of who the people were. He did not forsake them. And if we drop on down, it says in verse 27 that you did give them into the hands of their enemies.

And let's see, verse 31, nevertheless, in your great mercy, in your great mercy, you did not make an end of them, you did not forsake them. And it's because, not because of them, not because of their obedience or disobedience, which it's clear that that's what's highlighted here, their disobedience is being brought to their attention. But He says in verse 13, nevertheless, in your great mercy, you did not make an end of them or forsake them, for you are an extremely gracious and a very merciful God. And in verse 33, we find something else out about God. It says, you have been very just in all that has come upon us, and you have dealt with us faithfully because we acted wickedly. You know, our kings and officials simply did not keep your law or heed your commands and heed your warnings. See, this was the whole chapter here at chapter 9, and I don't mean to dwell on it more than necessary. But I want us to just simply be reminded that at this point, you know, they were recognizing that blessings, goodness, enjoyment, wonder, rejoicing comes from obedience. It comes from responsiveness to God.

And, you know, whenever we celebrate as we have at the feast, I think we want to be mindful that, as Ezra was doing in chapter 10, as a covenant that they were going to make with God or an agreement that they were all going to assign, that they were going to agree that we're going to do better. We're going to improve. We're going to put more emphasis on what's really important.

And I think when we analyze what it was that we focused on at the feast this year, I think you'd have to say the focus is on our spiritual development, our spiritual growth.

Because, as I know all of us listened to at least one sermon jointly, a sermon that was a webcast that all of us were able to hear, a sermon where Mr. Kubik went through Psalm 15, where he pointed out how it is. And Psalm 15 is a very significant psalm because it talks about who is it that will truly dwell on God's holy heel. Who is it that's going to be a part of the kingdom of God? Well, then you've got to see a whole list of verses of the qualities and the characteristics, almost every one of them that is describing spiritual development.

Spiritual growth based on an understanding of repentance, because that's where we always begin.

We begin with having a repentant and teachable mind, and then we're able to grow in those areas. And as he highlighted Psalm 15 with Matthew 5 and 6 and 7, clearly what Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount is the marching orders. It tells us what we are to do. And of course, the initial part of that is the beatitudes. It says, well, if we are repentant and if we have the attitudes of being poor in spirit, of being meek, of being more mourning or sensitive to others, hungering and thirsting for righteousness, and being merciful and wanting to have a pure heart, and being a peacemaker, those are the qualities that will allow us to dwell on God's holy heel. Another thing that we had highlighted in Canmore, and this was mentioned directly in one sermon, but it was kind of indirectly a part of almost every message. And it's simply that we have to resist pride, because pride will destroy us. Just like it destroyed Lucifer, just like it took him out of the role that he had been assigned by God, once he allowed his own self-reliance to override everything that God had given him. God had given him everything. He had given him everything except the throne, of course, except the rulership of being the creator.

And so you see that very evident in Satan's demise. You see that evident that pride and arrogance is what led him to sin and defy God. And of course, that effect on human beings is an extremely powerful effect. And as again one sermon that we had pointed out, you know, you can read many, many verses that say how God hates pride, how he hates arrogance, how he hates the proud. And if you look at James 4, verse 6 through 8, you know, this is clearly what all of us recognize, because it says in James 4, verse 6, and it says God opposes the proud, but He gives grace. He gives mercy. He gives His benefits. He gives grace to the humble. And so in verse 7 it says, submit yourselves to God. God resist the devil, and he will flee from you, and draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

See, that section of James is pretty easy to remember, it's pretty easy to write down, even you can memorize it. It's a good thing to remember. Because, as I want to point out, pride, as it affects every one of us, it's hard to root out. It's kind of like something that's very difficult. One of the examples that was used was a Japanese knotweed. Don't hold me to that, I think that was what it was, but it was described as just being almost impossible to kill. Trying to minimize it in certain areas where it grows, trying to get rid of it, pull it up, poison it, everything, and then it still comes back.

That's kind of a, I think that's a good example, a good image of the way that pride is, because resisting pride is going to be a key, a key to being able to grow, being repentant, resisting pride, and then keeping our priorities straight.

Now, I thought it was delightful to listen to the sermons at the feast, and I wrote down kind of my thoughts of the different, in essence, topics. We had sermons that were about how it is that God wishes to give us. And of course, Luke 12, 32 says, fear not, little flock, it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. See, God so wants us to be in His divine family. He wants us to be in the kingdom of God. He wants us to grow, to be His children. And so, it's good to keep that in mind. Another one mentioned the connection that God starts out with dirt. He starts out with dust, created every one of us out of the dust of the ground. He gives us a physical existence. He breathed into us the breath of life. And He wants to give us an eternal existence, eternal life. See, that's the progression.

Dust, flesh, eternal spirit. Those are overview topics, I realize. And this is my summarizing what we covered in a number of hours. We had another very good sermon on how faithful God is. How incredibly faithful God is. And a part of that I read there in Nehemiah. Because even though Israel and in that case Judah had been disobedient and stiff-necked and rebellious, when they were in captivity and tried to seek God again, He always would remember. He would, if not forsake, or He did not forsake, He was continuing to work with them. He would continually revive. He would continually restore. And of course the same thing is true for us today. Whenever we turn to God in heartfelt repentance and we go to the same place, we have a very resistive pride that is so difficult to root out of our being. Knowing that we ought to resist pride and seek humility, that's one thing. I guess that would be the knowledge part. Actually doing it is another process. It's another step. And it's an ongoing step, one that we have to continue to do. Of course we had emphasis on the spiritual values of the kingdom of God, other topics excited about having a part of eternal life, how it is.

And of course this is a part of what was in the sermon that was webcast, how to be a perfect man with God's righteousness from the heart. See, that's what we are to be growing in.

That's a part of what maybe we could read that in Psalm 15. Psalm chapter 15, the summary of that was who would abide in the tent of God, who would dwell on His holy hill in verse 1. Psalm 15, it says, those who walk blamelessly, those who do what is right, those who speak the truth from the heart, those who do not slander with their tongue and do no evil to their friends and take up a reproach against their neighbors, or nor take up a reproach against their neighbors, in whose eyes the wicked are despised, but those who are not the wicked are despised, but those who honor those who fear the Lord, who stand by their oath even to their own hurt and who do not lend money at interest, but do not take a bribe and do not take a bribe against the innocent. See, that is the summary psalm of what we covered and went over and saw highlighted in Matthew 5 and 6 and 7. Jesus mentions all of those things as a part of growing in God's righteousness. That's not an accumulation of knowledge only. We do need to have knowledge, but that's not what God says. He wants our heart to be transformed. And of course, as I mentioned, pride is always going to be a point of mean that we are at enmity with God. See, that's the description you find in Romans 8 verse 7, how the carnal mind is enmity against God. It's hostile to God. It's hostile to God's law. That's why pride is an ever-constant situation we've got to be guarding against. And certainly, self-glory is the complete opposite of glorifying God. How can I possibly glorify God when I'm mostly just thinking about myself and how impressive I am? So we can become like a little child, as Jesus pointed out. We can be a child that is willing to grow and willing to be trained. I thought it was interesting. On the last day we had two different services and two sermons. One of them was about how much hope. Of course, the last great day is about hope. It's about hope for all of mankind. Hope for what we would assume would be billions. And that's what we would assume would be billions.

Of people. After God, in whatever way He needs to reshapes the earth so that you could support a lot of people. And yet, clearly that offers hope, not only to us, but it offers hope even to those who do not know because there is still hope. There is hope in the resurrection.

There is hope in understanding the purpose and plan of God. But the other sermon that we had on that day pointed out how that, and I don't know if I ever thought about it in exactly this way, but that we're thinking about the growth during the millennium and many people who would rise at the end of the millennium, which it says the dead would live not again until the thousand years are ended and then they do rise in a physical resurrection and are taught from the books. And that would seem to include billions of people. But since that's the case, since that's going to happen, since God is the one who's going to be able to bring that about, He can do it. We can assist. But the fact is, the firstfruits are only a tiny fraction of God's family.

God wants us to be a part of His family. He wants to glorify us as the sons and daughters of God. He talks about this in Hebrews. Maybe we should look at that verse again. Hebrews chapter 2. Hebrews 2, in talking about Jesus, it was fitting that God, in verse 10, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many children, many sons and daughters to glory should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through suffering. And so He talks about us being the brothers and sisters of the glorified Jesus Christ.

See, that's clearly the spiritual focus that God wants us to have. He wants us to be mindful. And as I said, the firstfruits, whoever makes up that group, whenever you have, Mr. and Mrs. Barnett gave me some lastfruits today. At least that's what they called them. They said this was the end of the beans. You have some firstfruits, which are just the beginning, and then you've got the bulk of the crop, and then you've got some very lastfruits.

But again, usually we don't think about it because we don't consider the implications of firstfruits, I think. And firstfruits are only, you know, it doesn't say how much it is, it doesn't say what it is even, it doesn't say it's even the best fruits. Probably you're going to get some better beans throughout a different time throughout the summer than you might have had initially. And perhaps that's also the same way with us. God is able to help us, He's able to give us eternal life, He's able to make something out of nothing.

He is the Creator God. And He wants us, not only to be obedient, but He wants us to grow. But the firstfruits are simply a small fraction of the family of God. And of course we're looking into the future, we're looking into what God is yet to do, we're looking into how He wants us to grow. And so I hope that, you know, as we think about all these topics, that you can consider the fact that God has provided us a spiritual meal to focus our attention on the spiritual development that He wants each of us to be participating in.

He wants us choosing life. He's given us the knowledge of what He's doing. He's shown us the power of God, that He's going to be able to do it through us, with us, for us in a sense, because He's able to help us. And yet as we focus on these things, I want to point out three reminders. Three reminders or admonitions that we were given at the feast there and maybe these were given in Branson, maybe they were, you know, maybe given other places, maybe they weren't, but there are three reminders that I want to just point out to you that I would hope would help us keep in mind what we've been fed, what we've been given during this spiritual festival that God has provided us.

The first of these reminders, and again this was given at the very probably last five minutes of the feast up in Canmore. They were simply just mentioned. But of course, first of all, we want to encourage everyone to plan to be here next year. See, that's what all of us have to do. We have to intend and purpose not only to have gone to the feast this year, but intend to go next year, plan to go next year. And of course, that would involve saving our festival tie throughout the year and planning to attend. And yet it's obvious when you read Zachariah 14 that the people that are left, Zachariah 14-16, the people who are left and who are taught after Jesus is king over all the earth in verse 9, I believe.

Well, we can turn to it since I can't remember it. Zachariah 14 is of course an impressive chapter because it talks about Christ returning in verse 9. The Lord will become king over all the earth, and on that day the Lord will be one and His name one.

You know, He's going to be installed as the king on the earth. And in verse 16, those who are still alive, who survive, who come up against Jerusalem are going to go up when? Year after year after year after year after year. This is dealing with throughout the time of the millennium, people are going to be encouraged to worship the king, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.

See, that's going to be taught in the future, and of course that's taught to us today. But see, we have to plan. We have to intention to be a part of God's purpose in our lives, to be engaged in that purpose, and to be excited. To be excited about how it is that He lays out such a wonderful plan, such a wonderful purpose. I'd like us to turn over a page or so to Malachi 3, because in a sense, this is what we want to be doing as we plan to attend the Feast next year. In verse 16 of Malachi 3, it says, Those who revered the Lord spoke with one another, and the Lord took note and listened.

And a book of remembrance was written before him of those who revered the Lord and who thought on His name. It says in verse 17, They shall be mine, says the Lord of Hosts, My special possession on the day when I act, and I will spare them as parents spare the children who serve them. See, how much does God want us to think about Him, think about His plan, think about His purpose, think about His design, even in creating the Holy Days, and then wanting us to be excited about what His purpose is, about how much He desires to give the kingdom to this little flock that are first-roots of the kingdom right now.

See, we're projected to be a part of the kingdom of God. We have that blessing and that wonderful privilege. So again, as these reminders, first of all, plan to be at the feast next year.

Secondly, don't get bitter. And that is, I think, a good reminder because in Hebrews 12, Hebrews 12, it talks about how, of course, this is a follow-up to chapter 11, where you see a listing of the people who are faithful and yet to receive the promise of God in a resurrection from the dead. But it says in Hebrews 12, verse 14, it says, pursue peace with everyone and the holiness without which no one is going to see the Lord.

And so we're to pursue peace and holiness. And see to it, verse 15, that no one fails to obtain the grace of God, that no root of bitterness spring up and causes trouble, and through it many become defiled. See to it that no one becomes like Esau. See, Esau didn't appreciate blessing that God had extended. He didn't understand it. He didn't comprehend it. It was something that he ignored, that he sold for, you know, just something that was essentially worthless. But he was hungry, of course. But see, this is talking about, you know, a root of bitterness that can, as it says in verse 15, cause trouble and actually defile. And so not only do we want to plan to be a part of the theists next year, plan to be obeying God on a year-to-year-to-year-to-year basis, but also, you know, not allow ourselves to be bitter. And then a final thing that I've already mentioned. Simply don't get caught up in pride. See, pride, as I said, was what, you know, ruined.

You know, Lucifer, it's what corrupted Adam and Eve. It's what is the downfall of every human, as far as leading us to sin and to be, you know, self-promoting instead of God-promoting.

And what we read in Proverbs 6 is simply that God hates it. See, God hates pride here in Proverbs, excuse me, Proverbs chapter 6 says in verse 16, there are six things that the Lord hates, and seven are abominable to Him. First one listed in verse 17 is a proud look.

Haught in eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are hurried to run to evil, a lying witness who testifies falsely, and one who sows discord among the brethren or in a family. See, what does God hate? Well, you know, He points out a proud look and intent to deceive. You know, He has certainly a great disdain for the pride of man.

And clearly, if you want to read about the pride of man, someone who was terribly impressive, someone who had everything going for him, you can read Daniel 4. Find out that Nebuchadnezzar was shown by God that you are not such hot stuff. You are not, you know, you're just dust. You're just dirt. You need to remember that. And it looks like Nebuchadnezzar got the message, at least for a short time, probably until he realized, oh, I'm okay. Ah! Then he's back into the demise of his own mental confusion. Because ultimately, if we don't see our pride, if we don't recognize that, you know, God says, resist the devil, resist pride, resist what will destroy us and draw close to God. See, that's what He wants us to do. So, plan to be there. Don't get better. Don't get caught up in pride. If we do those things, then we're going to be growing. We're going to be growing. And I thought I'd point out to you, we focused on Psalm 15, and that certainly is an excellent Psalm to read about who will be on God's holy hill. And I'd like for us to jump on over a few pages, because all of these Psalms in some ways are somewhat similar, and they're in a somewhat of a section that kind of ties together. But I want us to read Psalm chapter 24, because in contrast to Psalm 15, you see some very similar things, but you also see the things that I pointed out to you in James chapter 4. It says in Psalm 24, the earth of the Lord's and all that is in it, the world and those who live in it. He has founded it on the seas. He's established it on the rivers, on all the water. He's created the water. The water is life giving in some cases.

But it says in verse 3, who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? Very similar to chapter 15. Who shall stand in His holy place? See, that is again very similar to what we read in chapter 15 verse 1. He goes on to say, who is it? Well, it's in verse 4. Those who have clean hands, so be sure to wash your hands frequently, and those who have pure hearts, who do not lift up their soul to what is false, who do not swear deceitfully.

It says they will receive the blessing from the Lord and vindication from the God of their salvation. Such is the company of those who seek Him, who seek the face of the God of Israel, God of Jacob. See, that ties clearly together with James 4, where he says, cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. You know, the unity of the Bible is amazing because it was written by the Creator, by many, many people, and over long periods of time, but it clearly ties together. As chapter 15 and chapter 24 do of Psalms, we see what God wants for all of us. So I hope that as we look into the next few months, as dark as they may appear with the holidays that are, in essence, in the way, the next few months, we want to keep our eyes on the spiritual banquet that God has fed us, the focus on His family, the focus on His kingdom, and the focus on the righteousness of God, that He wants to cause to grow in our hearts as we continue to develop as His children.