Putting Christ in Our Hearts During the Feast of Tabernacles

Well, we can't deny it. Summer's wrapping up. All of our kids are now back in school. The trees are starting to become a little bit of a duller shade of green. I always hate to see that. I love the spring, how vibrant green everything is. And then you get towards fall and you can start to see it kind of dulling and you realize it's not too long until the leaves are going to start dropping. Actually, one of our trees has already started dropping leaves in our yard a little bit. Just a few, but it's enough to notice. This week is the annual Lansing Chili Cook-Off. If it's time for that, you know what time of the year it is. And Michigan and Michigan State are in week three of their football season for those fans out there. So you know if college football is going on, then it's fall time. And as we all know, with the end of summer, God's fall holy days are quickly approaching. There's going to be a little bit of crossover between the sermon and the sermon, as you can probably already tell. There are many outside of our walls that say that there is no need for Christians to observe God's holy days. Some say they are obsolete. They are only meant for Jews to observe. They have no relevance for our time today. They were done away with by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Or they say that us trying to keep them were just stuck on legalism. We're trying to earn salvation to do these things. But how wrong they are, and you and I know differently. We know how wonderful it is to observe these days. We know and understand how much meaning there is to them. They're not just simply we show up and we stamp our passport book that says we made it to Trumpets this year, and that's all we do. We know how much meaning there is. We understand how they picture and help us better understand the plan of God that he has for all of humanity. What better plan is there? What more important plan is there? We know how much we need each of these days and the meanings for each one being fulfilled. And we look so much forward to observing these days because of how important every single one of them is to our lives. It's truly wonderful to be able to celebrate God's annual feast days. One of the things that many are unable to see in these days is how Jesus Christ is at the center of each and every holy day. These days teach us a great deal about the role that Christ has already played, continues to play, and will play in the future as God's plan for all of humanity comes to fruition. Let's turn to Leviticus 23 as we start out today in verse 2. Leviticus 23 in verse 2.

In verse 1 of Leviticus 23, chapter 23, actually, verse 1, we see who these words come from. It says, And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, and now verse 2, Speak to the children of Israel and say to them, These feasts of the Lord, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are my feasts.

These feasts don't belong to you, they don't belong to me, they're not part of something that we have created or that we created. These are God's feasts. And each holy day and each feast day, again, points directly back to Jesus Christ. For example, the feasts of Trumpets. Let's turn forward to Leviticus, or actually just read verse 24. Same chapter to Leviticus 23. This time, let's just read verse 24.

Again, God says, 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. To complement this, we have recorded in Numbers chapter 10. Let's go ahead and turn there.

We're going to turn to some, we're going to skip some today, but Leviticus, or actually Numbers 10 verse 10. One chapter ahead, Numbers 10 and verse 10. Here God instructed Israel to build or to create silver trumpets, and he outlines the purpose of these trumpets and how they should be used for the gathering of people, to announce war and different things. Numbers 10 and verse 10, we see one of the purposes, which is specific to an aspect to this holy day and to all of God's holy days.

It says, Numbers 10 verse 10, it says, Also in the day of your gladness, in your appointed feasts, at the beginning of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings, and they shall be a memorial for you before your God. I am the Lord your God. And then in Matthew chapter 24 and verse 29, we're just kind of skimming the surface of this of this idea as we start out today. But Matthew 24 and verse 29, Jesus Christ spoke specifically about the blowing of trumpets or the trumpets being used when he would return.

Matthew 24 and verse 29, Christ said, Immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give it slight, the stars will fall from heaven and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. So great, this is speaking, of course, of the day of the Lord.

And then in verse 30, it says, Then the sign of the Son of man will appear in heaven and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn and they will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet and they will gather together his elect from the four winds from one end of heaven to the other.

So Christ will ultimately fulfill the symbolism of behind the Feast of Trumpets, and we'll learn more about that as we observe that Holy Day here in a little bit. But what about the Day of Atonement? We understand the Day of Atonement is the picture when mankind will be reconciled with God after the removal and the cause of sin, which, of course, is Satan the devil.

And this is only possible through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for the sins of humanity. Let's turn to Hebrews chapter 10 and verse 10. I'm building a case with you a little bit. You understand this and you know it's scriptural, but I'm building a case for you to see that Jesus Christ is at the center of all of God's Holy Days, because we're going to pivot on that a little bit later in the sermon.

Because if Christ is in the center of these days, what should our approach to these days be as well? But here in Hebrews 10 and verse 10, it says, by that we will have... excuse me... Hebrews 10 verse 10. By that we will have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

There is no more need for a sacrifice to atone for our sins. Jesus Christ was that perfect and complete sacrifice. Verse 12, but this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God from that time, waiting till his enemies are made his footstool. For by one offering, he has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. And in Revelation 20 verse 1, we see more insight to this day of atonement, what it pictures and what it will be, what will be fulfilled in the future, because it's under the authority of Jesus Christ that we'll see that we have a future event that we all look so forward to on this day of atonement being fulfilled completely and for all to be able to see.

This is Revelation 20 in verse 1. It says, Then I saw an angel coming down, and this is John who wrote the book of Revelation. This is what he was able to see. He says, Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of that dragon, that serpent of old, who was the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years.

Growing up in the church, this is always one of those exciting accounts that we read through Scripture, because we realize that Satan's influence over humanity, over me, over you, will finally be removed. And at this point, we will be spirit beings, because Christ's lead had returned. And what an amazing... I sometimes envision in my head, as a kid, being actually in the sky, and then Christ saying, Hey, Mike, go with him.

Go with this angel and help him, and I'll pick up the back of the chain or something. It's such an exciting time that we can visualize, of Satan finally being bound, and how awesome that would be, because it wouldn't be under my authority or an angel's authority, it would be under Jesus Christ's authority, that Satan will finally be bound, and his influence will not be felt anymore for a long time. And so, we see the importance, again, of Jesus Christ playing this dual role on the Day of Atonement.

One, for atoning for our sins, and so mankind can be reconciled. All of humanity can be reconciled with God, and also with the authority to remove that influence, that cause of sin, which is Satan the Devil. And then, if we look at the Feast of Tabernacles, let's turn back to Leviticus 23 and verse 41.

Leviticus 23 and verse 41, or 42, actually. God again instructing Israel on how to observe these holy days. In verse 42, he says, You shall dwell in boost for seven days. All who are native Israelites shall dwell in boost, that your generations may know that I made the children of Israel dwell in boost when I brought them out of the land of Egypt. I am the Lord your God. The Apostle Paul understood who it was that was with Israel in the wilderness, who was their God, who was the one that was leading them in the pillar of the cloud and the fire at night. This is in 1 Corinthians chapter 10 and verse 1. 1 Corinthians 10 and verse 1, as God led Israel through the wilderness, which symbolizes what these days picture, the future thousand-year reign of Jesus Christ still to happen. Christ was with them in the wilderness. Christ will be with us and with mankind who has lived through the tribulation on this earth. Paul understood that in 1 Corinthians 10 verse 1. He says, Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all of our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, speaking of the crossing of the Red Sea, all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, all ate the same spiritual food, all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual rock that followed them, and that rock was Christ. At Christ's second coming, he will again tabernacle with those who are the saints of God when he dwells with his people for a thousand years. You can put in your notes Revelation 20 verse 6. It says, Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ and shall reign with him a thousand years. So we see the symbolism in the Feast of Tabernacles and how Christ again is at the center of these days. Then, of course, we have the last great day or some refer to it as the eighth day. This is at the end of the Feast of Tabernacles. It's the last holy day, which is referred to that we see. And then we see this. We can go ahead and turn to Revelation 20 in verse 11.

We're hopping around a lot of scriptures at the beginning. We'll settle down. Don't get too nervous. Your hands aren't going to be cramping too much. We'll settle down here in a bit. But I'm wanting to build a case to help again for you to see that Jesus Christ is at the center of all of these holy days that we're going to observe here in just a few short weeks, because we're going to pivot and see how important it is that we allow Christ to be at the center of our observance of these days.

Revelation 20 in verse 11, speaking to this eighth day, then it says, standing before God and books were opened. This is referencing the books of the law, the books that we have in our labs. God's Word will be opened to all who have never had an opportunity to truly have a relationship with God or understand things as He has opened our minds to be able to understand. And then after a time of period at some point, it says, and another book was opened.

And so this is talking about a second book, which is the book of life. And that's where your my names are written into these books of life. And those who will have an opportunity to understand God will have an opportunity to have their names written into the book of life. And then it says, in the dead were judged according to their works by the things which were written in the books.

We know that Jesus Christ has been appointed to judge all of mankind. And this is a time when all of mankind will be resurrected and have an opportunity to know God in His teachings and be given an opportunity to choose His way or to not. So again, Christ is at the center role in this final holy day in the way that He mercifully and lovingly gives the opportunity for all of humanity to be part of God's family.

Again, there's an important aspect I'd like us to consider today. With this basis laid down that Christ is at the center of each of these holy days, there is the important aspect that we must each allow Christ to live in the center of our lives as we spiritually apply these holy days to our lives. We would simply miss the mark if all that we did was to go through these next holy days and only observe them in a physical way.

If we showed up and we got our spiritual passport stamped that we, in 2019, observed these holy days once again, if that's all that it was that we took away, there would be a much that we'd miss. There is such a powerful spiritual aspect to each of these days and as we focus and observe each one.

And with the fact that Jesus Christ is at the center of each one of these days, we must focus on how we are to internalize each of these days. As we live as Christians, our heart must diligently be seeking to become more like Jesus Christ.

We must continue to learn and to think as He thinks, to act as He acts, to love as He loves. The Apostle Paul talked about how each of us were crucified with Christ in Galatians chapter 2 and verse 20. Galatians 2 and verse 20. This event occurred in our life when we became baptized. We repented of our sins. We accepted Jesus Christ's sacrifice to cover those sins and that we were placed under the water and raised back up. At this moment, we had symbolically been crucified with Christ. Galatians 2 and verse 20. Here Paul says, I have been crucified with Christ.

It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. And the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain. In verse 27, for as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek. There is neither slave nor free. There is neither male nor female.

For you are all one in Christ Jesus. Since we have Christ in the spirit of God living inside of us, then we should want to walk as Christ walked. The Apostle John spoke to this in 1 John 2 and verse 3. 1 John 2 and verse 3. 2 John says, Now by this we know that we know him if we keep his commandments.

He who says, I know him and does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps his word and truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in him. He who says he abides in him ought himself to also walk just as he walked.

This emulation of Jesus Christ in behavior, in attitude, in sacrifice, in giving, in loving, in loving. It's so overwhelming when we consider who Christ truly was, his behavior, his attitude, and where to emulate that. Where to put that on as like a garment. When Paul talks about put on Christ, it's as if we put on our Sabbath clothes today. We didn't forget to do that, did we?

I'm looking around. Nobody forgot to do that today. That's a good thing. We put on our Sabbath clothes. That's that putting on of Christ that Paul is speaking of. It's just as if we put on a coat or put on our shirt. That's what we are to do. And then he says, and then John says, then we're to walk as Christ walked. This has to be that internal direction that we live our lives by.

So if, again, if Christ is at the center of these feast days, we must allow Christ to be in the center of our lives as we observe and celebrate these upcoming feast days. For the remainder of this message, I'd like to pivot just a bit and focus on the importance of allowing Christ to live in us as we celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. For the Feast of Trumpets and the Day of Atonement that are coming up, we'll hear specific messages about those days. But the Feast of Tabernacles is the longest feast that we'll observe. We have the Days of Unleavened Bread in the spring. That's a week long. But then you add on seven days of the Feast of Tabernacles and then the eighth day. Sometimes they seem like one because they're connected together by time. But this is the longest of the Holy Days that we will have the feast that we'll observe. And we put a considerable amount of time and effort into attending and celebrating this feast. Now, I recognize that not everyone sitting here or maybe those not everyone online will be able to attend the feast this year. They may not be able to travel or to make their way to a location. And for those of you who've had to make the decision and to make that determination to stay home, especially if this is the first time, that's incredibly difficult. I don't just say those words lightly. I honestly try to put myself in your shoes and reflect on that. It's a very difficult decision one has to make.

But I believe as we go through this message that you'll be able to see how these different aspects of observing the feast, whether we go to a location or we observe it while we're still at home, will apply to everyone. And it will help us all to be able to more properly and more intently focus on what can be drawn from the observance of the Feast of Tabernacles, even if we observe it here at home. So we'll work through a few examples that we can see in Scripture of how to let Christ live within us while we observe these days and how our attitude should reflect that aspect.

One of these examples is repeated several times in Scripture. Let's begin and turn to Deuteronomy 12, verse 17. This is where the sermonette and the sermon cross over a little bit. Deuteronomy 12, in verse 17.

Deuteronomy 12, in verse 17. Speaking of the second tie that we are to keep set aside, it says, So notice it says before God's presence that we must eat this tithe. So this isn't your home. This isn't here in our congregation. It says, So this opening passage is speaking of that second tithe that we're to put aside so that we can enjoy that and we can rejoice.

Turn a couple chapters ahead to Deuteronomy 14, verse 22. It continues, speaking of the tithe and of what we are to use it for. Deuteronomy 14 and verse 22. It says, It's a special aspect that we're going to look a little bit more into in a bit. This is as a kid growing up in the church. This is the fun part of the Holy Day. You shall spend that money for whatever your heart desires. Legos. God says, my parents could spend money on legos. Right there. You shall spend that money for whatever your heart desires. For oxen or sheep, for wine or similar drink.

For whatever your heart desires, you shall eat there before the Lord your God. And you shall rejoice, you and your household. It's another aspect that we're commanded again. You shall rejoice again. He repeats it. And he's not done repeating it. Let's turn to chapters 4, Deuteronomy 16 and verse 13. Deuteronomy 16 and verse 13. This is speaking specifically to God's Holy Days here in Deuteronomy 16.

He says, You shall observe the feasts of tabernacles seven days, when you have gathered from your threshing floor and from your winepress. And you shall rejoice in your feast. You and your son and your daughter, your male servant, your female servant, the Levite, the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow who are within your gates. Seven days you shall keep a sacred feast to the Lord your God in the place which the Lord chooses. Because the Lord your God will bless you in all your produce, in all your work of your hands, so that you kind of rejoice.

Maybe rejoice. I love this aspect. So that you surely rejoice. God is very big about rejoicing, each of us rejoicing in these days. But what is rejoicing? What is joy again? We've talked about in the past differences between joy and happiness. We know that joy is that inward belief and trust that no matter what is going on in our life, no matter what is happening, good, bad, that God has got it all in his capable hands.

That it's not just a feeling of happiness. That's where, as a kid again, you read through these scriptures. Rejoicing to me was getting Legos. I mixed it up a little bit. To me, that's happiness, to be able to have those things. God does say there is a blending of rejoicing in the spiritual way, in the physical. We can rejoice by spending our money on a nice steak dinner, which brings us happiness.

Or rejoice in that way. There is that blending. But we can't confuse the matter that always, that everything has to go great during the feast. Our health has to be great. Our travel has to be great. Our ability to go has to be great. It doesn't mean that at all. We're not always in a state of happiness when challenges and trials hit. But challenge and trials should not rob us of that joy that we have in God. And this is that focus that he's saying when we rejoice, that's what our focus should be on.

This is paramount to consider as we observe the Feast of Tabernacles. Because for those who are in good health, those who have plenty of money, those who travel easy, and you can have pretty much whatever you want, then rejoicing at the feast is normally not a challenging thing to do. But what about, again, when illness hits at the feast? You show up, you did your part, everything's going great, and then blindsided by illness. What about when we've had a year of underemployment that we're dealing with and finances are thin? What about when we need to care for family members that have special needs during the feast?

If you spend more and more time in the church, and if you attend feast after feast, then eventually, by just time and life happening, you're going to have a challenging feast. I'm not sure I fully understood that until we had our first really challenging feast one year.

When you have to dig deep to maintain a state of mind that is able to still rejoice, even when things around us may not be going exactly as we'd like them to. Let's turn to 1 Peter 4 and verse 12. We're given insight by the Apostle Peter on how we are to handle ourselves and the mindset that we have to work towards having when challenge and trial arises. 1 Peter 4 and verse 12.

Peter says, Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you as though some strange thing happened to you. It's hard to read this sometimes because it's almost like he's laughing at us as he says this because he's like, as some strange thing happened to you, trials are part of life, he's saying.

We should expect them to come on it from time to time. He's saying, so don't think it's strange when they do, but he says in verse 13, but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings. Rejoice that we are able to suffer to some degree as Christ suffered, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceedingly joy.

That feast that really hit me, I think our whole family, between, squarely between our eyes, Kelsey got sick during that feast. And it's not some of those illnesses that last for a day and then you can make it back to church. This one lasted day after day and we were up at night, we weren't sleeping well, she would get into coughing fits, we'd jump out of bed. So I'm exhausted in the morning. We missed church or missed church. It's the feast that we missed, I think, the most days that we've ever missed. And you're praying, you're trying to do what you can do to salvage the day, you're listening to sermons, you're encouraging each other.

But when your daughter is sitting on the balcony in Florida for the feast, watching all of her friends swim in the ocean and swim in the pool, that just hurts your heart. And she knew she was old enough to understand why she couldn't be out there, why we couldn't be at church. But still, after a few of these days, you start to question just a lot of things going on in life.

Like, this is not fair. We did everything we're supposed to do. We're here. And we had to battle through those things. I did think it was strange that I was battling a trial at the feast, even though Paul says, don't think it's strange. It's hard not to think that at times.

And to rejoice? That was a challenge. That was a challenge that we had to at times we found ourselves kind of at the bottom of the well. We weren't really rejoicing. But God had to help us work through that. And by the end of the feast, we were able to find moments to rejoice in, including for Kelsey as well. As our Lord and Savior is in the middle of this feast, and as He suffered tremendously for each one of us, we are encouraged to rejoice when we face these fiery trials in our lives.

These trials can interfere with our Feast of Tabernacles or cause us not to be able to even attend the feast. This is when we must remember that joy, again, is a state of mind. Joy is a state of mind. And that we must refocus and move our state of mind to be able to rejoice, but not necessarily on the situations that we find ourselves in.

While having the ability to eat and enjoy different foods is fun. It's fun to be able to do all these different activities that are planned at so many of the sites. We must not confuse, though, the inner feelings of happiness with the joy that we are commanded to maintain. Again, as I mentioned a little bit ago, happiness and joy can blend together because part of the physical things we're able to enjoy does bring joy to our hearts, and it is fun to do.

But the physical can never replace the spiritual rejoicing that we are to focus on during the Feast of Tabernacles. I'm not sure I always appreciated that fact when a lot of times the feasts I had gone to previously to that were pretty easy feasts. You had to do your little challenges here and there, but to have an actual weighty trial hit, I'm not sure I always appreciated that.

For those who will not be able to travel to the feast this year, you still have the command to rejoice. Sorry, it's not my words, it's God's words. If you're unable to go, you still have the command to rejoice. But the truth be told, we can redirect our focus so that it's not on what we're unable to do. Often we talk to our teens about that because we've gotten really good at looking at all the things that we can't do in this world.

You can't work on the Sabbath. You can't play Friday Night Football. You can't have a ham sandwich. We've gotten really good at looking at all the things we can't do, but sometimes we lose focus of all the things we can do, all the blessings that we do have in life. And we try to encourage our teens because I grew up hearing all these things that I can't do, and at times that's looking at it from the negative side of life.

But when we look at the things that we can do, so even if you're unable to go to the feast, we can redirect our focus so it's not on what we're unable to do or partake in, but what we can.

There are still plenty of messages, wonderful messages to hear. With the modern use of technology, we can connect in live and get the full service some of us can, where you get the hymns, you get the special music, all those things. There are still amazing things to do in the area. Lots of restaurants. One of the best feasts we had was when we stayed locally in Cincinnati because we could eat at restaurants that we can't normally afford to eat at.

We could do activities that we'd never been able to do for all those years living there because the money was available to do those types of things. Our local areas are rich and abundant and great opportunities to do things, to eat at restaurants. We have to remember that. And then there's always other people who can't go to the feast.

I've heard of many brethren who get together for the Holy Days in one another's homes. So they can listen to a message, they can share in a potluck meal, or get together at a restaurant after for that one day. Maybe it's a small group. Maybe it's not in Florida. But there's ways that we can still observe and have joy and to rejoice in this feast that we're commanded to do. Another example that we'll look at of Christ being at the center of the Feast of Tabernacles is in the focus that we need to maintain on the spiritual aspects of the feast.

While we're commanded to rejoice, that's the part that we often think of first when we think about the Feast of Tabernacles. There's also that second aspect, as we are observing the feast, that we read in Deuteronomy 14, verse 23. It says, That you may learn to fear the Lord your God always. This is that second critical spiritual element that we must make sure is part of our feast observance. I know personally, again, I have not always done the best in this part of observing God's feast days.

There's been times where I allowed the physical side of the site, the activities, the fellowship, to take a higher priority to the focus that God has said that I should keep. And when this has happened in those years, I came back on empty. That's how I knew something wasn't right. I came back on empty. I didn't have the full heart. I didn't have the spiritual high that God wants me to have. Again, I'm not saying that we can't enjoy the physical things that God has blessed us to enjoy, but the Feast of Tabernacles is one of those highlights of our year, where we must not overlook that we are to keep it in a way that you may learn to fear the Lord your God always.

That fear, that awe, that respect, that admiration, that putting God in His proper place, recognizing who God is, that's that fear that we're talking about, that it's being talked to here. There is a focus that God expects us to maintain while observing the feast. We are to remember this isn't just a vacation. Although I understand this is probably the longest period of time that you will be away from home. It's a time where you actually have the money to spend on a hotel, restaurants. To me, though, I respect that because I've been in your shoes many times working, where this was the only time I really got an amount of time like this off from work.

But this isn't just a vacation. This isn't just time away from work and from home. There is a reason God has commanded us to observe these days. There's the importance of study time, both in and outside of church services. There's the importance of prayer time. We must not neglect our prayer time with God. There's that sleep or that quiet time that we must remember as well. If we're burning the candle at both ends, it will eventually catch up with us impacting our prayer time and impacting our ability to focus on the messages each day.

How does this tie into Jesus Christ and His example while He was man and God in the flesh? Let's look at John 5 and verse 30. John 5 and verse 30. As we read the Scripture here in John 5 and verse 30, keep in mind, was everything about Jesus Christ? His mission, His goal in life, was it all about Him? Was it ever about Him? We read here it wasn't about Him personally. What He was doing was a focus. He had to maintain a focus in a direction on what He was to do. And we read here in John 5 verse 30 what Christ was sent to do and that He was self-disciplined and He was always about the Father's work.

John 5 verse 30 says, Using this as our example and internalizing this means that we work to maintain a focus on the important things of the feast. Christ always maintained a focus on the important things of the work that He was to do. He didn't move sight of that. Sometimes when we make plans to go to the feast, we're excited about it, we're looking forward to it, all of a sudden what we want to do rises to maybe the top of our list instead of what God wants us to do.

Christ had all the ability through the power of the Father to do wonderful miracles and He did them countless times. But the focus wasn't on Him. It wasn't about so He could get the praise or the glory, so He could get the recognition. It was so that the Father would be revealed through the works and the miracles that He performed. Again, He says, I did not seek my own will, but the will of the Father who sent me. Throughout the Gospel accounts, with this focus and this mindset in front of us, throughout the Gospel accounts, we see that Jesus always worked to maintain a prayerful focus on God.

He took private time away from others multiple times that we see. And this is just what we have recorded in some of the Gospels, and I can't go through them all. But you can put in your notes because this is going to kind of come quick.

You can...there's not a lot to some of these Scriptures, but just look how many times that we see this. First in Luke 5 verse 16, He says, and this is speaking of Christ and His prayer life, says, so He often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed. This was often...this was something He did. Luke 6 and verse 12, it says, Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. Luke 9 verse 18 says, And it happened, as He was alone praying, that His disciples joined Him, and He asked them, saying, Well, who do the crowds say that I am?

So He was praying, and the disciples joined Him. Luke 11 and verse 1, Now it came to pass when He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of disciples said to Him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught His disciples. And then we would see where He gives them the model prayer at this point.

You want to emulate me? This is how you should pray as well. And the last one I'll share, and there's more in Scripture, but Mark 1 verse 35, it says, Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight... Okay, that's not fun for me, I'll admit. Rising before daylight, Mrs. Shafer mentioned that she saw the moon before it was sunny out. That's tough for me. Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, says He went out and departed to a solitary place, and there He prayed.

If we know that Jesus Christ is at the center of these holy days, and we want to emulate Him in our life, this is an important aspect about the Feast of Tabernacles, that we must not let slip is our prayer time with God. Christ made it a frequent action to withdraw from other events and activities going on around Him so He could focus.

He didn't have distractions going on and to be able to spend time in prayer. There was always work to be done. There was always people to teach. There were always people to heal. But Christ constantly showed that focus and self-discipline to maintain a prayerful relationship with the Father. For those who may be staying here locally for the Feast, you may have the benefit of being in your home, of being in a comfortable place, of having a routine.

Part of leaving home and you get out of your routine, whether it's food, it's eating times, it's your favorite prayer place, for those who are here, that might actually help you in that way to maintain a prayerful relationship. You may also maintain a focus about talking about the sermons that you hear online. If you do get together with other people and share a meal, you can talk about what you've studied or what sermon you listen to, or maybe that you both listen to it and then you can talk about what you were able to glean from it over a dinner maybe or another time.

We must all work hard to maintain the proper focus on why God has called us to observe the Feast of Tabernacles and to remember the example that we have of focus that we see in our elder brother.

Yes, God does want us to enjoy whatever our hearts desire, but as with everything in life, we must remember to maintain a proper balance and remember the important spiritual aspects of the special Feast. Another example of Christ being at the center of our Feast is through our service to others. Growing up, I had plenty of Feasts where I was able to go and just enjoy and have other people serve me. Hopefully that was when I was pretty little, when I couldn't do a lot, but over time, as each of us have done, we've invested ourselves more into the Feast and become more of those who have been able to help. Let's look at an account from Mark chapter 10 and verse 35 next.

Mark 10 and verse 35.

As we read through this section, you'll have to give me a little bit of liberty because I'm going to kind of portray this at one point a little bit different than the Scripture says. It's just to kind of help it relate to what we're talking about today. I'm not changing Scripture or going off track, but as we read through this, consider the aspect and the importance that Christ always had on his service and the way that he carried himself, but then see how the disciples kind of come into this from a different angle that was not of God, not of Christ. It was an attitude that missed the mark. And relate that to maybe sometimes how we go to the Feast and our service to one another. Mark 10 and verse 35. It says, Then James and John, the son of Zebedee, came to him, saying, Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask. That's a pretty bold statement to make. Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask. And he said to them, What do you want me to do for you? And notice this is about them, all about them. He says, Then he said to them, Grant us that we may sit, one on your right hand and the other on your left, in your glory. It's a powerful statement for somebody to say, give us what we're going to ask you. Again, if you'll give me a bit of liberty, this is kind of like if they came to Christ before the Feast of Tabernacles and said, Can you tell me who the speakers will be at each feast site so I can decide which one I want to go to, where the best speakers will be? Or maybe, Can you save me the best seat up front in the room, Jesus? Because I love to make eye contact with the speakers and I'm just more engaged there. I'm not really worried about who else needs a sit-up, maybe the heart of hearing. I want to sit in the front.

Or, Can you allow me to go through the buffet line? Because I first, because I really enjoy being able to pick the piece of meat or the fruit. Because you know what's left over at the end if you're one of the last people to go through. Now, of course, this isn't what is being talked of here, but these are situations that come up with ourselves sometimes when we go to the feast.

Where we may make certain requests. Remember the disciples, John and James, they went to Christ saying, Give us this thing? Not even really knowing what they were asking for here. They're saying, Can I have, can I be on your right and on your left? They're making a request of Christ and it was all about them. And that's what I'm trying to get at with this passage here. Is the feast all about me? Or is it outward concern for others? Christ went on to answer them in verse 38. So, they made this request. Let us sit at your right and your left. But Jesus said to them, You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? And they said to him, We are able. So Jesus said to them, You will indeed drink the cup that I drink and with the baptism I am baptized, You will be baptized. But to sit on my right hand on my left is not mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared. And when the ten heard it, they began to be greatly displeased with James and John. But Jesus called them to himself and said to them, You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles, lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. Remember, those who are doing that, we're making it about them. Yet it shall not, Christ says in verse 43, Yet it shall not be so among you, but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. And whoever desires to be first shall be a slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life a ransom for many. Again, what is the focus of our heart during the feast? Is it about everything that I can receive from others? When I want it? How I want it?

Or do we come with a heart focused and aware of the situations of others around us? Do we sense other people's needs and look for ways to help others have the feasted tabernacles that we would want to have ourselves? Or, as I kind of played out a little bit, do we want to be the first in the line? Do we want to have the best seat? Do we have that attitude that the disciples did? I want to be at the left and the right hand of you. I want to be partakers of your glory.

They were asking for some mighty things. Sometimes we can go to the feast and ask for mighty things as well. Let's again turn to 1 John 4 and verse 7. Or turn to 1 John, this time in chapter 4 and verse 7.

Here we have John capturing the heart and attitude of our Father and of Jesus Christ in 1 John 4 and verse 7.

This is the attitude, the heart, that we are to have as we come before God always, but we can't let this kind of get pushed to the side as we go to the feasted tabernacles and as we should be serving one another. 1 John 4 verse 7, he says, Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God, and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. In this is love. Not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the perpetuation for our sins.

Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

It's a pretty bold statement that we have here from John. If God so loved us, and let's stop there and put ourselves into the feast, we must serve our brothers and sisters at the feast. We must serve them as ways that we can find to do it. It must not be an afterthought. It must be a forethought.

And he says, so we also ought to love one another. Let's turn to Philippians 2 and verse 5, to again be reminded of the heart that Jesus Christ and the attitude that Jesus Christ had when he came to this earth as man, as God in the flesh, as human, as a physical form. Philippians 2 and verse 5. Again, as we observe this holy day, this feast of tabernacles, as we internalize that Christ is at the center of the feast, and therefore we want Christ to be the center of our lives, and then we want our actions and our attitude to emulate Christ living in us. Think about this as we consider that as we read Philippians 2 verse 5. Let this mind be in you. He's saying, let the mind of Christ be in you. He's saying, let this mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made himself of no reputation. Christ wasn't the one saying, I want to go first in the buffet line, because I know that's where the best food is at. He said, but made himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant and coming in the likeness of men, and being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

As part of his service to others, Jesus prayed for those around him, just as we already looked at the importance of prayer. He prayed for the children that were brought to him. He prayed that the Father would look after those that he gave to him. Christ was always on the lookout for the needs of others, whether it be physical needs or spiritual needs. And now we know how many different ways, we each know how many different ways there are to serve at the feast.

Often these opportunities are on your registration forms, areas you can serve, maybe on the ushering crew, or the mother's room, or teaching Sabbath school. Often these are lists that we can sign up for. I don't want to spend time talking about that. I want to switch gears to a deeper level of service, because there are a level of service below the surface that a person can serve tremendously.

What about picking up trash or things on the floor? Have you ever seen a mother grab her screaming child in haste and the Cheerio container goes flying through the air, lands on the floor, and Cheerios scatter everywhere? I not only have seen it, I think that's happened to us before. You can go over and help after church of just collecting the few Cheerios that are every witch away. What about inviting someone you've never met before to dinner so you can enjoy getting to know somebody in the body of Christ that you didn't know before?

Maybe that person will even be the the eyeball of the body or of the nose, that cute little nose of the body. Maybe that's somebody you will have an opportunity to meet. What about if you actively look for someone who is sitting by themselves and appears to be lonely? This could be that person's first ever feast, or it could be their first feast without their spouse.

That happens to a lot of the members in the church. That first feast after losing a spouse. You could have your child adopt a grandparent for the feast, or your child would seek out that person each day to give them a hug, or to write them a note, or to cover a drawing and to give it to them.

What about finding a single mom or dad who has children that he or she is working to get the services each day? They are doing their best to keep their eye on their children as they walk in the door. They've got their stroller, their bags. Maybe all they need is someone to go over and say, your children look really nicely dressed today. For you mothers, you know how much that would warm your heart, especially if you struggled all morning getting them ready for church.

These are ways that you and I can serve others that do tremendous work. It's great that we can sign up for lists. We all need people to serve in different ways that are from a list. But this is where we emulate Christ in us, is when we look for these special ways that we can serve our brothers and sisters. That feast that was so challenging when Kelsey was sick.

We got to the point the Sabbath came during the feast and a kind of a tradition we've had in our family. We like to have movie nights, some Saturday nights, and we've never done one during the feast because you've got activities, everything going on. But we had to recoup because we were all spent. We were all emotionally down and we said, you know what? We're going to rebound and we're going to have a fun family movie night. We're going to go rent one. We can't take you out, Kelsey. You're still sick, but we're going to watch a movie and we're going to have fun.

And somebody at church found out that this is what we were going to do. And we got a knock on the door and we went to answer it and there was a little gift basket outside the door with some foods in it, a little Lego set for Kelsey, and some flour, I think a balloon, and maybe some flowers. And what they later told us was how challenging they had, excuse me, they had such a challenging feast the year before.

They had what we were having and they wanted to give back in a powerful way. And as you can see, it's still, as I consider it and as I think about it, it still impacts me today because they had their tough feast and they were able to bring a little bit of joy to ours in a time when we were struggling.

Just like that single mom, just like that widow at her first feast, we were struggling. And these are the ways that when we let Christ live in us, as He is at the center of every one of these holy days, and we look for these avenues, we look for these opportunities, and then we seize them because our eyes are open and then God moves our heart and then we take that opportunity.

That's special. And it's not about us, it's not about how great of a thing we do, it's about what we do when we let God live in us and He gets the glory. These are those opportunities and those needs that fill the heart from one person to another. These are those ways that we serve. It takes thought and it takes seeking it out. Often it doesn't just, you don't just show up and these things just happen.

It takes usually us keeping our eyes open, but by serving in this way, we let Christ live in us and then through that love we can express and demonstrate Christ's love for us to others. For those who are unable to go to the feast, an amazing, awesome way that you can share this is through your prayer time with God.

By giving part of your prayer time to God for the benefit of others, you have friends and family that will be traveling, you can pray for their protection, you have you can pray for the speakers at the different sites that God will continue to inspire all the messages everywhere. You may even be able to pray for somebody you know is having a challenging feast, but they're going to go and they're able to go. You may not be able to, but you can pray for them. You can pray for specific situations that only you know about in another person's life.

You can also look for ways to serve others that you know are also like you unable to go to the feast, possibly getting together and spending time. Maybe you're the one that organizes or initiates that getting together, or maybe you send a note of encouragement to someone else who is unable to go to the feast to encourage them during your feast. Each of us have powerful ways that we can serve others, and our service should originate from a heart focused first and foremost on genuine concern for others as Christ served humanity and us personally.

As we looked at today when we observe each of God's holy days, we should focus on the deep meaning and importance in each of these days. God did not haphazardly throw these days together so he could just give us something to do at different times of the year.

These days are rich in meaning and importance. As we consider today, consider today, we must be looking for the spiritual importance of these days and how we can emulate Christ in our observance of these holy days and the feasts of tabernacles. Often, when we're able to travel to another site, we put a lot of prep, a lot of time, a lot of thought that we pour into our observance and what we're going to do. For many of us, it started all the way back in the spring holy days. Remember when the the booklets start coming out and you start getting them in the mail? Registration for the feast. We think about our travel plans. We think about what hotel or condo we want to stay at.

We think about some of the activities that will be at these different sites. We may even talk about some of the people we're going to get together with. Oh, you're going to be there? Let's get together. I'm excited to be here. We put a lot of thought and prep, don't we, when we can travel of all the things that we can do. Sometimes we just look forward to the downtime away from school, away from work. And so that's something that we're looking forward to doing. But regardless of how you do it, in all of this, we often plan and put a lot of thought into what we do. And even if you end up staying at home, I encourage you and I know you have put thought into how you're going to observe the Feast. We do this. We focus and we put a ton of effort. But as we focus and plan on the physical, let us not neglect the spiritual importance of these days and all that we should be putting into our lives as we celebrate God's Feast of Tabernacles. We must consider the example we have in Jesus Christ and the way that He lived His life when He was in physical form as a man.

When we live this example in our observance of the Feast, we will come back renewed, refreshed, and filled to the brim of all that God has commanded us to rejoice in.

What an amazing opportunity our loving Father has given us in these days.

And what an amazing direction He says, go to rejoice. Fill your hearts with food and with the things that you want to buy with that Lego set. But also, don't lose sight of the fear that you're to learn to build in of Me, God says. Don't lose sight of all these things, because when we go, and that's our attitude, when we allow Christ to live in us as we enjoy these days, your Feast will continue to flourish. You will continue to be filled, and you will be able to follow that command that God has given us and truly rejoice.