Our Calling and the Feast of Trumpets

Well, good afternoon, everyone. Happy Feast of Trumpets. I had to make sure I'd say Trumpets. I've been bouncing back and forth saying tabernacles in my mind a couple times. These T words are throwing me off this close together, but it is the Feast of Trumpets, and it's wonderful to be here with everyone today. Welcome to any guests and visitors that we have with us. Welcome to our congregation. Thank you to the choir. That was outstanding. I just so much appreciate the gifts that God gives us. Not only did He give some of us the ability to maybe speak and to be good at business, to do different tasks in life, but I think one of His greatest gifts that He gave mankind was the ability to have music in our lives, to be able to sing praises not only to Him, but to share in those praises with one another.

So thank you for the choir, for the work, and for sharing that with us today. Just before I get into the sermon, though, I did want to ask for one prayer request. Some may have noticed Larry and Beth Taylor had to leave services today. They received a phone call that Larry's brother, Dennis Taylor, was in the midst of a heart attack. I understand that his brother is currently was already at the hospital, which is a good sign because they were able to call them and say, what do you want us to do?

And so they begin to resuscitate his heart and to bring him back around, and I just heard that he is back around and doing okay at this time. But of course, Larry's brother, Dennis, could definitely use our prayers, and so I wanted to pass that along. As we know from our study and in keeping God's holy days, each of these festivals represent an important aspect of God's plan for all of humanity. This Feast of Trumpets pictures two vital steps in this plan, the first being the triumphant return of Jesus Christ to put down the kingdoms of this world and to establish the kingdom of God on the earth.

Can you even picture that? I struggle at times even wrapping my mind around that. The second aspect, though, is equally powerful to each one of us here today and to many who have gone before us. The second part is the resurrection of God's first fruits, those who committed their lives to God's way and faithfully endured to the end of their lives. Intertwined with the symbolism of this day is a wonderful aspect of the deep relationship that God has with his people. As just mentioned on the day of Christ's return, God's people who have diligently followed him will be resurrected in that first resurrection.

And this isn't a resurrection to join him in the sky and the clouds and to sit on clouds and play harps for all of eternity or some believe to stare into the face of God for all of time. I try to wrap my mind around some of those beliefs, where they came from, and to me it's just God's Word makes so much more sense, doesn't it? We know that this is a resurrection to join Jesus in establishing the kingdom of God on this very earth.

We will have jobs and roles given to us to help in the establishment of this kingdom and to spread God's laws and his teachings and to assist in this powerful work. As Revelation 20 states, we will be given roles as kings and priests to serve in teaching those living God's desired way of life.

It's always good to start the Holy Days with the review of the Scriptures, speaking to why we're here today. So let's first begin to look in to Leviticus 23 and verse 23, which describes this day that we are observing today. Leviticus 23 and verse 23. Here in Leviticus 23 and starting in verse 23, then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, Speak to the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a Sabbath rest, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation.

You shall do no customary work on it, and you shall offer an offering made by fire to the Lord. And let's look at the other passage in Numbers 29 and verse 1. One book ahead, Numbers 29 and verse 1.

Here in Numbers 29 verse 1, we get a similar passage. It says, In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a holy convocation. You shall do no customary work. For you, it is a day of blowing the trumpets. For you, it is a day of blowing the trumpets. Both of these passages represent or has described here something different from the other holy days, and that is the inclusion of a trumpet and the memorial of blowing of such trumpets. The word trumpets comes from the Hebrew word terra'u, which is T-E-R-U-W-A-H, and this word means a clamor, that is an acclamation of joy or a battle cry. It can also be described as an alarm or a joy, a jubilee, a loud noise, rejoicing or shouting. These are all different ways that this word trumpet can be described and be used. In ancient days, a shofar or a trumpet was used to produce a loud piercing type of sound that could be heard for miles. The shofar was a hollow ram's horn that was tapered on one end and used as a mouthpiece. I've never tried blowing on one. I've seen many a pastor try, and more times than not, it doesn't go over too well. So I've never purchased one because I figure I just embarrass myself. I do that enough in other ways. I'll save the shofar for someone else. But this instrument could produce a unique sound that could again be heard very far away. The metal trumpet or the shofar was used by Israel for many different things, some of which were called a war, a call for leaders together together if needed. It could also be used to call for all of Israel together together. So the whole group of God's people to draw together. It could be used as a warning or of a danger or an alarm.

Or it could be used to cheer, to applaud, or to shout and triumph. It could be used to make a joyful noise. As a trumpet would be used by Israel to make a call, we have each symbolically received our own trumpet call by God. When talking about God opening our minds to the depth and understanding that exists in His Word, we generally call this God's calling. This calling is a wonderful event that dramatically impacted each of our lives as we begin to grow in the grace and knowledge and came to the realization that we must accept the atoning sacrifice of God's only Son and to commit our lives to living a new life in Christ. The same calling is being offered to our children who are here with us today as they are being worked with by God and worked with by each one of us as part of the family. We contemplate the calling that there is from God, and as I said at the beginning, there are really no words to really put into place what this calling represents. The importance of this calling to our lives. If we went around the room and just all shared stories of the impact that God's Word in His way has had on our life, this newness of life, this renewed life, a new direction, we'd be here all day. I think of just my own stories, my own parents' stories of changing, going down a path that was established by generations of living. His Father, His Father's Father. But then at some point, each one of us here and each of our lives made a decision to go a different path, a new route than maybe the one that we were on before, that maybe generations had been laid. Maybe that was the only path that we knew, but we made that decision that we must go a new way because God was calling us to this new way. This calling reached the very center of our hearts and our minds, and it became part of us. So today, as we celebrate this Feast of Trumpets, I'd like us to consider this day and how it relates to our Christian calling. How this special Feast of Trumpets relates to our Christian calling. So some like titles. The title for today's message is, Our Calling in the Feast of Trumpets. What is our Christian calling? It's a question that we may individually answer a bit differently. In fact, you may need a few minutes to even think about how you would define what is a Christian calling. For me, in its simplest form, my answer would be for each of us to become children of God. To become children of God. Now, the depth of this answer goes on and on. Kind of what Mr. Stewart was talking about when he's trying to describe and he's using some biblical examples and he says there's more. Same thing here. The depth to what it means to be called by God, we could go on and on, and we hear about this death in every holiday that we observe. We hear about it every Sabbath that we keep. It's our Christian calling. It's this walk that we you and I are about. It's wrapped up in the meeting of this Feast of Trumpets and it is the promise from God that His Saints will become spirit members of His family. Literal children of God. Let that ring for a moment. Literal children of God. Let's look at a few passages where this is described in this way. The first is in 2 Corinthians 6 and verse 17. Second Corinthians 6 and verse 17.

Here the Apostle Paul writes to the church in Corinth. In 2 Corinthians 6 verse 17 he says, Another passage a little bit later is 1 John 3 verse 1. 1 John 3 and verse 1.

1 John 3 and verse 1. Here the Apostle writes, Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us that we should be called children of God. Therefore the world does not know us because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. The third passage is in 1 Thessalonians chapter 2 and verse 11.

1 Thessalonians 2 and verse 11.

Here again the Apostle Paul says, As you know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you as a father does his own children that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory. Walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory. As I mentioned, let this sink in your mind for a moment. Just consider these passages and the promises that we have. I do struggle at times just wrapping my mind around why me? Why me?

Really? I just can't understand the depth of this statement or really what it would be like to be a child of God. I've been a child to physical parents. It worked out okay most of the time. When my attitude... I'm not going to get into all stories on me today. I've had my own child and what a joy that's been. You've had children. You've had nephews and nieces. You've got family here, the kids in the congregation here, that's become family. You know what family means and you know what this statement from God means, but can we really wrap our minds around the God of the universe wanting us to be His children, to be cared for in that perfect way, that loving way? Never fails. I can't promise that I've always lived my life that way, but God has and He would treat us with that loving kindness that we always need. But this is a promise from God. It's ultimately what He desires that each of us become. So with this fact understood, we must each ask and consider what does our Christian calling require of us? What does our Christian calling require of us? And as we consider this question today, I have three points that we'll work through in today's message. The first point being, we must actively confess God as our Father and Christ as our Lord. We must actively confess God as our Father and Christ as our Lord. Some say that this will sound Protestant. Confessing can mean to admit something as in guilt, but it can also mean, and this is what my focus is today, this can also mean to acknowledge something, simply to acknowledge something, to acknowledge the authority that God has over our lives is one way that we can confess. To acknowledge that the authority that God has over lives, the other ways we can acknowledge that we are in agreement with God's standards, that we agree that His commandments are from Him and are holy and just and right. That these days picture His overall plan for working with humanity and that they are important for us to keep. So we can acknowledge that we are in agreement with God's standards. So this is how we can confess that God is our Father and Christ is our Lord. The wrong way to look at confession is to say, all we need to do, and notice what I just said, all we need to do is to confess our sins and or acknowledge God as being holy, right, and just, and then we're all good.

But that is only part of the picture, and that's where many have stopped, just in confessing that I believe, yep, Jesus Christ is real, and then they stop right there. But we have passages, one being Daniel 9 verse 4, which speaks in a different direct, goes in a different direction and adds more to this. Let's look at these. They're important for us to put our eyes on, not just to gloss over quickly. Daniel chapter 9 and verse 4.

Daniel 9 and verse 4.

Here Daniel says, And I prayed to the Lord my God, and I made confession, and said, O Lord, great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant and mercy with those who love him and with those who keep his commandments. So there is a belief component, but there is also, as we see here, a works component of following God, of letting him change us from the inside out. And of course, as we just saw here, with those who keep his commandments. But some will use Paul's words in Romans 10, though, to say that we only need to confess and believe to be saved. Let's look at Romans 10 verse 9 and see if that's all that it says there. If that's all that the Apostle Paul wanted us to believe and to understand. Romans 10 and verse 9.

Romans 10 and verse 9.

Here again, the Apostle Paul says that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you will be saved. It says right there, right? If you confess with your mouth and believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you will be saved. But what is missing with this line of thought is that Paul himself, in the same letter to the Romans, speaks to the all being holy, just, and good. Paul clarifies this back in Romans 4 verse 15. Let's look at that. Romans 4 and 15. We're just going to work through a few passages here in the same book. Romans 4 and verse 15.

Here, breaking into the thought, the Apostle Paul says, for where there is no law, there is no transgression. So without the law, we have no sin. We have nothing to be held accountable for, nothing to be to confess or to to acknowledge that we have done wrong in all of this. For where there is no law, there is no transgression. He says this in another passage too in Romans 5 verse 13, if you want to put that in your notes. So he says it on two different occasions. Then he continues later in Romans 7 verse 7, saying, let's flip ahead, Romans 7 and verse 7. And seeing this is where that passage, where all you have to do is just confess and believe, just gets left and pulled out by itself place someplace, and then everybody forgets that there's other passages in the same book that Paul wrote that says there's additional aspects to it as all. Belief is important. Without it, we can't be called a Christian, but there's other aspects that we must be following as well. Romans 7 verse 7.

Here again, Paul says, what shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not. On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. We see that it is the law which defines sin in our life as light illuminates a dark room. It's not that the law is evil or a burden, but indeed a blessing which provides us freedom. Some passages, it says liberty, we've read before, from the penalty of sin when we turn from our sinful ways. Paul adds just one chapter later in Romans 7 verse 12, or one just a few verses later, Romans 7 verse 12. Paul says, therefore the law is holy in the commandment holy and just and good. So we see that Paul sets the stage on where he stands in regards to God's law. So when he gets to Romans 10 verse 9, and that's where we started, the confession he references must mean to acknowledge that God is God and his ways and commandments to be part of our worship and our calling. This usage for confess is the same that Christ himself used in Matthew 10 verse 32. Let's look at that as well.

Matthew 10 and verse 32. Matthew 10 and verse 32. Christ says, therefore whoever confesses before me before men, him I will also confess before my father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, again remember that word acknowledge can also be to acknowledge or confess, so therefore whoever acknowledges me before men, him I will also acknowledge before my father is who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, him I will also deny before my father who is in heaven.

So we must confess that the father and the son are God and that we have before us a right way and a wrong way to live our lives. We have been chosen by God. Again, John 6 verse 44. You can put in your notes. No one can come to me unless the father who sent me draws him and I will raise him up in the last day.

So it's very 100% clear that we are called, that God does the calling, and it's difficult again for us to comprehend. We know ourselves better than most people know us, and at times it's difficult to wrap our minds around that God wants me, but he knows us better than we know ourselves, and yet he desired and loved us first. We know that from 1 James 4 verse 19, where it says, we love him because he first loved us. God even knows our hidden sins. David referenced this in Psalms 19 and verse 12 when he said, who can understand his errors?

Cleanse me from secret faults. Yet even with this knowledge, God chose each one of us today. He chose each of us for his work today, to be an example today, to be a light to this world today. That's why we're not at work today. That's why we're not at school on this holy day. We're here, gathered as his people, because we are an example of him living powerfully in our lives, and we've had to take stands telling our teachers, telling our co-workers, telling our bosses that we're not going to be at work today, and then we get that look.

Why? It's a Monday. You're always at work on Mondays, so not this one. I remember having those conversations, and it wasn't too long ago I was still having those conversations. And now that school's back in swing, that's one of the first things a lot of you had to do, especially if you're a middle schooler or a teenager in high school. You have to go and bring that letter, maybe, to your teachers and explain that the Feast of Tabernacles is coming up. The Feast of what? As Jelly would say, what is it? Nabertacules? The Feast of Nabertacules? It's as confusing to them as for Jelly as it is for sometimes our teachers, but we do.

And that's what I mean to acknowledge, to confess that this is the way I'm going to live my life. I believe in this way. I've seen it work. I've been called to this way. And so, yes, I'm going to talk to you about the Feast of Tabernacles. I'm going to talk to you about the Feast of Trumpets.

I'm going to talk to you about the Day of Atonement, all these listed here, and why I won't be at work, why I won't be at school. It's a powerful calling that we have been given, and we have been being chosen by God, comes from the love that God has for us. So as you and I consider that we have been called by God, how do you and I respond? This leads us into the second point for today of how we how we're going to consider this day and how it relates to our Christian calling.

So point number two, we are to respond by making a focus of living a life to please the Father and Jesus Christ. And we're going to respond by maintaining a focus of living a life that pleases the Father and Jesus Christ. Let's look at 1 Peter chapter 1 and verse 13. 1 Peter 1 and verse 13.

Here Peter says, therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts as in your ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, be holy, for I am holy. The aspect of being chosen by God is what should motivate us to please him. Yet we have our nature that resides in our inner parts. Let's go back to Romans chapter 7 again.

Because Paul addresses our own nature, this nature that we've had with us forever, it seems like, and at times it continues to come back up.

Romans 7 and verse 23.

Here Paul says, But I see another law in my members, roaring against me, warring against me, the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin, which is in my members, O wretched man that I am, who will deliver me from this body of death? Previously to this, Paul even goes as far to say, we were enemies at one point with God. This is in Romans 5 verse 8. Since we're here in Romans, let's go ahead and flip two chapters back. Romans 5 and verse 8.

The apostle says here in Romans 5 verse 8, But God demonstrates his own love towards us, that while in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more than having now been justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his son, much more having been reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. Our own human nature calls out for us to ignore God.

Just as a child who chooses to ignore his parents, this is the same attitude that we display when we choose to ignore God. And we may say that we lost our focus, or that we weren't as attentive as we needed to be. I have to ask you a question, though, but did that cut it with your parents?

Growing up, if you were just to tell your mom or your dad, I just wasn't paying attention to what you were saying. How'd that go over?

It didn't cut it for me as a child, but we've all seen adults that sometimes behave like children.

They don't get their way, so they pout. No, nothing is wrong. I just don't want to talk about it right now. We've seen adults handle that, say that. Or things in their perfect world has moved around a bit, and you think their world was ending. Who moved my stuff? I like it where it was at. That's where I put it, and that's where I want it to be. Or if something gets in their way, they lose their mind. Can you believe the way this person is driving right now? Can you believe how long this person is taking in the grocery line? This is ridiculous. Do they not see the line behind them? And what do we think when we see someone display this behavior? Grow up. Grow up.

But what do we think when it's us displaying this behavior? Do we say, grow up to ourselves?

It wasn't too long ago my own mother has said this to me, as an adult. You want to be humbled? Have your own mother as an adult tell you to grow up, Michael. And often when she would say these things, I didn't have a response because what she was saying was right. I knew it. An attitude was coming out. An idea. Words. Frustrations. Selfishness. Grow up, Michael. And you know when mom uses your full name, Michael, then you know you're in trouble. We must mature. We must grow. We're not allowed to remain as children. As we respond to God's calling by living in a way that pleases the Father and Jesus Christ, it naturally leads us to the last point. And that last point in how we tie this day of trumpets, this feast of trumpets, to our Christian calling, the last point is that we must share the gospel message with others. We must share the gospel message with others.

We do have a job to do. As a trumpet would signal a warning, we need to also send an alarm to this nation and ultimately the world. That continuing in this path of going after our own selfishness, our own desires in life, of rejecting God's authority, this will only lead to a time of turmoil this world has never seen. And while we can't stop the course of this world, our calling requires that we are to live a life towards righteousness and to share this truth with those around us in the hope that some will turn from following their own heart and turn towards God.

And as we do this, we should also share in the hope that is in us and why we have committed ourselves to this way of life. Again, let's look forward to 1 Peter 3 and verse 15.

1 Peter 3 and verse 15.

1 Peter 3 and verse 15. 1 Peter 3 and verse 15.

The Apostle Peter says, 2 But sanctify the Lord in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, and to do it, as he says here, with meekness and fear.

To always be ready to give a defense. This gets to the heart because to have an answer, it must be from the heart. I've said before when somebody would ask me, well, my church teaches this, or my, let me get you a booklet that tells why we're keeping this day.

Or do you want to talk to the pastor? He's right over here. Let me introduce you. He'll tell you what we do as a church. How does that work? How does that go over? If you were talking with a colleague at work and they were trying to really motivate you to see something from their own way, do they point to a lot of external resources? Or do they tell you, this is because I believe in it, and they get passionate about it, and they start talking to you about it. Maybe they want you to join the track team, and they tell you how awesome the track coach is because he changed my life. He was there when I needed him. They tell you personal stories. They don't just tell you the facts that you'll get in better health by running track. Or, this project will go better at work if you will just implement this theory or do it this way. But they tell you from past experience. He tells you because they believe it. And so when somebody, and this is what the scripture gets down to, to be ready to give a defense to everyone, why are you here today? Why are you missing out in classes at school?

You're going to have homework that you missed getting taught how to do today. You're going to have to work harder to back up and figure out what do you have to learn so that you can now get it right on the test. But be able to do it with meekness and in fear, as the Apostle Peter says here. Part of the gospel message that many do not acknowledge today is the condition that our world will be in just prior to Christ's return. In this message that Christ gave his disciples, he shared with them. Let's go ahead and start turning to Matthew 24. Because this is a passage that directly ties into this day that we're keeping here today, Matthew 24.

Jesus Christ shared this passage with his disciples, and in doing so, it's shared with us the difficulties that his saints will have to endure through.

You think it's difficult maybe to tell your colleagues or your managers what the feasts the trumpets represent and why you do it?

Imagine these things. But we will be a light to the world in how we carry ourselves, how we defend our faith, how we share the hope that lies within us. And here in Matthew 24, and we'll see the difficulty that is set before us. Matthew 24 verse 3, Now as he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age? And Jesus answered and said to them, Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, saying, I am the Christ, and will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled, for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines, pestilence, and earthquakes in various places. And these are the beginning of sorrows, and they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake.

And then many will be offended and betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many, and because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. Again, this is symbolized by what this Feast of Trumpets represents. We have this calling to not only stand fast against Satan, to make changes in our life, to overcome our own nature, but to stand fast preaching and sharing also in the gospel of Jesus Christ, which is being able to give a defense of the hope that lies in you, to be able to talk to your colleagues, to be able to talk to others at the Feast of Tabernacles while we're there. Why are you taking a vacation in October?

Well, this year it's September, isn't it? It's almost always in October. Why are you taking a vacation in September? Aren't your kids supposed to be in school? They're supposed to be, but not according to God. Our kids are supposed to be right here this week, and to be able to share that. And I know it's difficult. Trust me, I've given the explanation of pilgrimage. I've given the explanation of saying that we're on a retreat. I've used this before at different times because I try to maybe soften it so that they don't ask any more questions. But I'll also tell you the feedback I've gotten from people when you answer it as God has opened our hearts to be able to answer. And then they get that look, that wondering. And maybe it stops right there. It does sometimes. But then there's other questions. Sometimes they'll ask, I don't understand. Where's this at?

Is this in God's Word? And then a door is starting to be open. That person may not be getting called today, but you're being a light to this world. You're sharing with that hope that lies in you. What about sharing the gospel message here with others who God has called today?

We each hit roadblocks in our journey of life. Sometimes they're physical roadblocks. Sometimes they're physical weaknesses. I think of Barb Blackwell with her stroke. She's got a physical struggle that's ahead of her now. But others have spiritual struggles that hold them back, spiritual problems they must overcome. God has brought us together as His holy people, set apart to follow and serve Him as we live our lives. Because of the commonality that we each share, we each know what we need daily to continue our struggle against the slide that this world wants us to follow them in. We need to love each other as God loves us. We need to know what it is that God wants us to do. And this is a tall order to love one another as God loves us, but it's still part of living and sharing in the gospel of Jesus Christ. This is a goal that we must press towards to love others as God loves us. Let's look at John 13 verse 34. John 13 verse 34. John 13 verse 34. A new commandment I give to you that you love one another as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another. Let's also look at 1 Corinthians chapter 13. This is something I won't dive into too much with you today other than to read through it. 1 Corinthians 13. Any of you who are going to snowshoe for the feast, you'll get a little bit more in-depth dive into this. I plan to share part of this in my sermon in a little more detail, but 1 Corinthians chapter 13 verse 1. Think about the aspect of how God loves us as we read through this passage. And am I expressing this type of love to others? He says, though I speak with the tongues of men of angels, but have not love, I've become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. The Apostle Paul starts out this passage saying, I can do amazing things because Christ is working amazingly in me, but if I don't do it with a heart of love, it's nothing. It's not just a little bit okay, it's nothing. And then the Apostle dives in in verse 4. What is love? Love suffers long and is kind. Love does not envy.

Love does not parade itself, is not puffed up, does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil, does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth. I'm going to add a love word in here as we go through chapter 7, so it's not in our Bibles, but love bears all things. Love believes all things. Love hopes all things. Love endures all things.

And then verse 8, love never fails. It's a passage that's powerful to speak to, to speak to us. If you want to dive into it and just let it resonate, I encourage you to print off these verses. Take it to your knees with God in prayer. As you're in the midst of your prayer, take pause and read through chapter 13 verses 1 through 8. Pray over it with God. Let him build this within. Let his love come through us, because this is the love that he says we must have with one another, because God shared all this with us first. He loved us first. We must love one another as God has loved us. Another thing we do is to remind each other of God's promises.

God's promises are rock solid. He does not change, nor does he forget what he said, even if it's a thousand years ago that he made these promises. You and I may forget what we had for breakfast yesterday, but God doesn't forget his promises. These promises are part of our hope that what God says is going to happen will happen. We need this encouragement to be reminded, because when we're caught up amidst challenges, sometimes the challenges blur our thoughts, because the challenges is all that we can think about. When others share their hope with us and remind us of his promises, we then bring back to memory ourselves the promises that we need at that time. Now, this doesn't just make our challenges disappear, but it does allow us to view the challenge from the correct mindset, recognizing that God is continually in charge, that our hope is still intact.

Sharing the gospel message is part of the way that God allows us to interact with both those called today and those not yet called by God. It's personal, and it reflects the way that we are allowing God to live in our lives. We must be willing to reach out and love the way that God loves. We must comfort those without hope, because another aspect of this day is the real hope that is coming to this world. You and I can be part of the process today when we share our hope with others. We must share our hope in the gospel in thought and in word and in deed. We stand in that prophesied time when the church continues its commission of proclaiming the gospel and making and teaching disciples, being reminded of our calling in Matthew 28. Let's turn there. Matthew 28, verse 18.

Matthew 28 and verse 18.

You and I have this as our personal calling, part of that responsibility that you and I have.

And it ties so closely to this day that we're observing this feast of trumpets.

Here, Christ says, and as Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you. So as we get from Christ's own words, it's not just belief in Him. Belief is powerful and it must be part of our Christian calling. But what does Christ say here? Teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen. This is our continual calling as a church and individually as God's people. Let's remember this as we continue through the remembrance of this day. The Feast of Trumpets points us to the great day when Jesus Christ will return to the earth as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. But it also points us to that wonderful time when all of God's saints will receive eternal life in the first resurrection. Therefore, we must remember that our Christian calling today, we must remember that our Christian calling today, acknowledging that God is a source of truth and life and not only live it in our lives, but be willing to share it with others.

And when Christ returns, the saints will be resurrected at that moment to eternal life.

And those saints still alive will be immediately changed from a physical existence to a spiritual eternal life. This is one of those promises that we can stand on, as I mentioned before.

God will not waver from this great promise as he seeks to build a family and as he works to make us all children of God. Let's read a passage from 1 Corinthians 15. As we're reminded of this on this day, this Feast of Trumpets. 1 Corinthians 15, it's a passage that we often share in funerals, reminding those that are of the body of Christ of this promise and sharing it with maybe family and friends who may not be in Christ's fold at this time, but to share with them this truth that comes from his word that the Apostle Paul was inspired to write here. 1 Corinthians 15 and verse 51.

1 Corinthians 15, 51, Behold, I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye at the last trumpet, for the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised incorruptible and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory? The sting of death is sin and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. It's a powerful passage. Our labor is definitely not in vain. We have a hope that is eternal, that is steadfast, that is unmovable. Do we endure difficulties and challenges?

Almost daily, don't we? If not daily, it's definitely weekly. We endure through the physical challenge. We endure through the spiritual challenges, but we endure. We endure never quitting, never wavering, because God has not quit and He has not wavered on us. So, on this feast of Trumpets, let's remember that Jesus Christ is going to return to this earth. He will return as the conquering King, bringing with Him the kingdom of God, and the saints of God will be resurrected, and will accompany Him to this earth. We each have a great and awesome calling that we must always remember. So, we close. There's one final passage that we'll read through in 2 Peter 3, verse 1. 2 Peter 3, verse 1.

Hear, the Apostle Peter says in 2 Peter 3, verse 1, Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle, in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder, that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets and of the commandments of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, knowing this first, that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, Where is this promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation. Verse 8. But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord, one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promises, as some count slackness, but is long suffering towards us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat. Both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness?

Looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat. Nevertheless, we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. And then in verse 18, but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and forever. Amen.