These are the notes taken live during services as captioning for the deaf and hard of hearing. This is not a word for word transcript. For the exact wording, please consult the audio recording.

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What is your most favorite memory of your childhood? Maybe something in your high school or college days? Or maybe much later as you had kids? For me, I grew up in Cincinnati. We actually had snow. It doesn’t snow any more there. We got snow from Thanksgiving to May. We had snow days. I had stomper trucks. They had a single AA battery. I interchanged the engines. I took them into the back yard and built a city of snow. Ramps. I would play with my stomper trucks. I was the only boy at home. We had 5 acres. I had to mow several times a week. I had a Walkman. I would jam to rock while mowing. I went on to AC. RaeAnn and I had some contact. She would ask how my folks were. Memories show us where we have been. Without them, we lose track of our past. African proverb: Until lions have their historians, tales of the hunt will always glorify the hunters. Memories are a good thing. Deuteronomy 16:3 Deuteronomy 16:3You shall eat no leavened bread with it; seven days shall you eat unleavened bread therewith, even the bread of affliction; for you came forth out of the land of Egypt in haste: that you may remember the day when you came forth out of the land of Egypt all the days of your life.
American King James Version×, 9-12 Why does God tell us to remember things? Most of the commandments and the holy days follow up with “remember this.” Why does He tell us to remember things? Memory transports us back to a previous time and to relive history. We talk about wedding anniversaries. It is a great time to relive that wonderful day long ago. The tuxedo. The beautiful white dress. Friends getting together. Stories like, “I was so nervous I threw up.” You relive that day. Why did God say remember?

Exodus 13:14-16 Exodus 13:14-16 [14] And it shall be when your son asks you in time to come, saying, What is this? that you shall say to him, By strength of hand the LORD brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage: [15] And it came to pass, when Pharaoh would hardly let us go, that the LORD slew all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man, and the firstborn of beast: therefore I sacrifice to the LORD all that opens the matrix, being males; but all the firstborn of my children I redeem. [16] And it shall be for a token on your hand, and for frontlets between your eyes: for by strength of hand the LORD brought us forth out of Egypt.
American King James Version×We know from Chapter 12 that this is the story of the Israelites coming out of Egypt. God wanted the Israelites to remember so they could pass the stories down from generation to generation. When the kid asks what happened when grandpa was in Egypt? They would know. One week out, they were already forgetting. They were blocked by the Red Sea. Why did you bring us? There were graves in Egypt. Then they saw the destruction of the Egyptian Army. A month later, they grumbled. God gave them quail. God gave them water. It is believed that it was Pentecost when God gave the Ten Commandments on Mt. Sinai. While Moses was on the mount, Aaron made an idol. Some 3000 died that day. Israel has a long history of forgetting God. A generation would be faithful, and then the next would forget. An enemy would come in, and they would turn back to God. God would send a strong leader that could remind them of the great miracles He had performed. How often do we forget the wonderful things God has done for us? The healings? The blessings? The bosses that don’t hassle us about the Sabbath? How often do we forget the wonderful God we worship? We are commanded to proclaim this feast. We are here proclaiming it. We are dressed up celebrating God. The law was given on Pentecost in Exodus 20.

The next several chapters have laws that were given to them to administer a nation. That is what the Sinai Covenant was. What a great country it would be that followed those laws. They were perfect laws. If they had followed them, they would have been great and unstoppable. Let’s review our great future we have because of our covenant with God. What is a covenant? The New Covenant Booklet: “Inherent in any covenant is the concept of a lasting commitment to a clearly defined relationship. Generally speaking, a covenant is a long-term agreement between two or more parties that formalizes a binding relationship between them. It defines their essential obligation and commitments to each other.” A covenant is something between two parties. It is long lasting. It defines the obligations and expectations on both individual’s part. If we enter a covenant with a bank to buy a house there are obligations. They give us money. We agree to pay it back so much a month. Those who are baptized have entered a relationship and a covenant with God. This feast celebrates that covenant. We are in a commitment; a relationship. Joshua 4:20-23 Joshua 4:20-23 [20] And those twelve stones, which they took out of Jordan, did Joshua pitch in Gilgal. [21] And he spoke to the children of Israel, saying, When your children shall ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean these stones? [22] Then you shall let your children know, saying, Israel came over this Jordan on dry land. [23] For the LORD your God dried up the waters of Jordan from before you, until you were passed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red sea, which he dried up from before us, until we were gone over:
American King James Version×Israel had just crossed the Jordan on dry ground. Vs. 20 – These weren’t pebbles. They were gigantic. Vs. 21 – These stones were erected. Joshua tells them that they are to be a memorial. They were to remind them of the past stories and the power of God. We have memorials. Most are in Washington, DC. The Lincoln Memorial; the Washington Memorial. The Holocaust Museum. These are mostly reminders of what the founders did. Joshua set up such a memorial. Vs. 23 – This was to be a reminder of what God had done for them. A reminder of their commitment and covenant with God. Did they remember? Did these twelve stones work?

Joshua 24:2 Joshua 24:2And Joshua said to all the people, Thus said the LORD God of Israel, Your fathers dwelled on the other side of the flood in old time, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor: and they served other gods.
American King James Version×, 13-15 Vs. 14 – Don’t serve the other gods! Remember the stone and your commitment to God. Vs. 15 – This visionary leader reminded the Israelites to not forget God. So it is with us today. We have to remember the purpose of why we are here. Why are we looking snazzy on a Sunday morning? The great miracles God has performed in our lives we must never forget. All of them. Judges 2:7 Judges 2:7And the people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the LORD, that he did for Israel.
American King James Version×, 10 As long as the leaders lived who had seen these things, all went well. Vs. 10 – The third generation, they didn’t know God. They had forgotten God. The stories lost their importance. The fathers failed to tell them to the children. Vs. 12 – They forgot their covenant with God. They turned their backs. With tremendous stories of their forefathers, they forgot. They turned away. We have our own memorial of stones. This holy day. The feast of Pentecost. This is our memorial of stones. This is the day the New Testament church began with the powerful preaching of Peter. This holy day is for us. Have you ever thought about that? Trumpets is a great time when Christ will return. Atonement is about putting away Satan. The Feast of Tabernacles is a time of millennial rest. None of it really applies to us today. Trumpets is a great step in God’s plan, but not for us. Atonement. Tabernacles. Last Great Day. Not for us. We rehearse them every year so we don’t forget what God will do for mankind. But this is our holy day. This reminds us of our commitment to God.

Do you remember the commitment you made at baptism? The baptism ceremony: “Have you repented of your sins? (Yes) Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior? (Yes) Since you, (person’s full name) have repented of your sins, which are contrary to and against God’s holy, righteous and perfect law, and since you have accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, your Lord and Master, your High Priest and soon-coming King, I now baptize you, not into any sect or denomination of this world, but into the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. I do this in, by and through the name and authority of Jesus Christ for the remission of all your sins. Amen.” What is your baptism story? You realized God was working with you. You sent for booklets. You visited a minister. Some of you are first generation. Some are not. My boys are fifth generation on my wife’s side. Review your baptism story. What were the triggers that sparked light bulbs in your head? What trials were you facing when you realized you needed to make this commitment to God. I know you have had miracles. Talk about them at lunch. We are under a new covenant. Does that mean that the old covenant was flawed? Was it just a draft? Was it a work in progress? Some think Christ had to come to abolish the old covenant and the clean up the mess. Let’s let the Bible answer the question: Was the old covenant bad? Was it flawed?

Hebrews 8:7-12 Hebrews 8:7-12 [7] For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. [8] For finding fault with them, he said, Behold, the days come, said the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: [9] Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, said the Lord. [10] For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, said the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: [11] And they shall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. [12] For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
American King James Version×Vs. 7 – So, there was some problem with the first covenant. Vs. 8 – There was a weakness with the old covenant. The New Covenant Booklet: “The primary weakness was not in the laws, but in the people’s lack of a willing heart to obey them. Because they were not given the HS, Israel’s citizens were incapable of understanding and performing the full intent and purpose of God’s teachings.” Israel couldn’t grasp the full value of the spiritual teachings God gave to Moses. Does that make the covenant bad? Where was the fault? It was in the people themselves. Why did God want the kings to write the laws for themselves? How many remember their school days and having to write “I will not do…” hundreds of time? 500 times later, you turn it in and she says don’t do it again. A month later you do it again, and you get 500 more. Writing it out is a great study technique. Write out the scriptures you study. Something about connecting the hand to the brain that ingrains the principle. It makes you think twice about what you are studying. 1 Corinthians 2:14 1 Corinthians 2:14But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness to him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
American King James Version×We have the spirit in us that allows us to understand the holy days, the Sabbaths, and God’s plan. How many of your coworkers understand God’s plan? They even question keeping the Sabbath. To us it is plain as day. Society reads it and thinks it means Sunday. I can do what I want. We don’t understand why they can’t see it. We assume that since we have access to the new covenant that we will always remember God.

Luke 22:33-34 Luke 22:33-34 [33] And he said to him, Lord, I am ready to go with you, both into prison, and to death. [34] And he said, I tell you, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that you shall thrice deny that you know me.
American King James Version×, 54-69 Vs. 58 – I am not. It was my twin brother. It was not me! Vs. 60 – How many times do we rehearse this? Someone asks us a question and we try to blend into society. God says you won’t remember. Do we assume that because we have the Holy Spirit we will always remember? Peter didn’t have the spirit yet, but he had spent years with Christ. Even he turned away and said he didn’t know Him. We can’t just assume that because we have God’s spirit and the new covenant we will always remember. Acts 3:2-10 Acts 3:2-10 [2] And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; [3] Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. [4] And Peter, fastening his eyes on him with John, said, Look on us. [5] And he gave heed to them, expecting to receive something of them. [6] Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. [7] And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. [8] And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. [9] And all the people saw him walking and praising God: [10] And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened to him.
American King James Version×, 12, 19-21 Vs. 12 – He goes into this rehearsal. You have forgotten about our past. Peter reminded them of what God wanted for them as a people. We are here on Pentecost. We have God’s spirit. We are able to have a relationship with God that is far deeper than those at Sinai, or those with Joshua. Ezekiel 11:19-20 Ezekiel 11:19-20 [19] And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh: [20] That they may walk in my statutes, and keep my ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.
American King James Version×The new covenant is about us being God’s people. He wants us to be His people. He wants us in His eternal family. He wants us as God beings. He wants us to overcome sins. Israel rejected God. So God went to the gentiles. Without God’s spirit we couldn’t have a relationship with God. But because of Christ’s death, resurrection and ascension, we can have a relationship with God. These two chapters are filled with blessings for obedience and cursing for disobedience: Deuteronomy 30:1-20 Deuteronomy 30:1-20 [1] And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come on you, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before you, and you shall call them to mind among all the nations, where the LORD your God has driven you, [2] And shall return to the LORD your God, and shall obey his voice according to all that I command you this day, you and your children, with all your heart, and with all your soul; [3] That then the LORD your God will turn your captivity, and have compassion on you, and will return and gather you from all the nations, where the LORD your God has scattered you. [4] If any of your be driven out to the outmost parts of heaven, from there will the LORD your God gather you, and from there will he fetch you: [5] And the LORD your God will bring you into the land which your fathers possessed, and you shall possess it; and he will do you good, and multiply you above your fathers. [6] And the LORD your God will circumcise your heart, and the heart of your seed, to love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, that you may live. [7] And the LORD your God will put all these curses on your enemies, and on them that hate you, which persecuted you. [8] And you shall return and obey the voice of the LORD, and do all his commandments which I command you this day. [9] And the LORD your God will make you plenteous in every work of your hand, in the fruit of your body, and in the fruit of your cattle, and in the fruit of your land, for good: for the LORD will again rejoice over you for good, as he rejoiced over your fathers: [10] If you shall listen to the voice of the LORD your God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of the law, and if you turn to the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul. [11] For this commandment which I command you this day, it is not hidden from you, neither is it far off. [12] It is not in heaven, that you should say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it to us, that we may hear it, and do it? [13] Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it to us, that we may hear it, and do it? [14] But the word is very near to you, in your mouth, and in your heart, that you may do it. [15] See, I have set before you this day life and good, and death and evil; [16] In that I command you this day to love the LORD your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that you may live and multiply: and the LORD your God shall bless you in the land where you go to possess it. [17] But if your heart turn away, so that you will not hear, but shall be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them; [18] I denounce to you this day, that you shall surely perish, and that you shall not prolong your days on the land, where you pass over Jordan to go to possess it. [19] I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both you and your seed may live: [20] That you may love the LORD your God, and that you may obey his voice, and that you may hold to him: for he is your life, and the length of your days: that you may dwell in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.
American King James Version×Leviticus 26:3-46 Leviticus 26:3-46 [3] If you walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them; [4] Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. [5] And your threshing shall reach to the vintage, and the vintage shall reach to the sowing time: and you shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely. [6] And I will give peace in the land, and you shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid: and I will rid evil beasts out of the land, neither shall the sword go through your land. [7] And you shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword. [8] And five of you shall chase an hundred, and an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight: and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword. [9] For I will have respect to you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, and establish my covenant with you. [10] And you shall eat old store, and bring forth the old because of the new. [11] And I set my tabernacle among you: and my soul shall not abhor you. [12] And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and you shall be my people. [13] I am the LORD your God, which brought you forth out of the land of Egypt, that you should not be their slaves; and I have broken the bands of your yoke, and made you go upright. [14] But if you will not listen to me, and will not do all these commandments; [15] And if you shall despise my statutes, or if your soul abhor my judgments, so that you will not do all my commandments, but that you break my covenant: [16] I also will do this to you; I will even appoint over you terror, consumption, and the burning ague, that shall consume the eyes, and cause sorrow of heart: and you shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it. [17] And I will set my face against you, and you shall be slain before your enemies: they that hate you shall reign over you; and you shall flee when none pursues you. [18] And if you will not yet for all this listen to me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins. [19] And I will break the pride of your power; and I will make your heaven as iron, and your earth as brass: [20] And your strength shall be spent in vain: for your land shall not yield her increase, neither shall the trees of the land yield their fruits. [21] And if you walk contrary to me, and will not listen to me; I will bring seven times more plagues on you according to your sins. [22] I will also send wild beasts among you, which shall rob you of your children, and destroy your cattle, and make you few in number; and your high ways shall be desolate. [23] And if you will not be reformed by me by these things, but will walk contrary to me; [24] Then will I also walk contrary to you, and will punish you yet seven times for your sins. [25] And I will bring a sword on you, that shall avenge the quarrel of my covenant: and when you are gathered together within your cities, I will send the pestilence among you; and you shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy. [26] And when I have broken the staff of your bread, ten women shall bake your bread in one oven, and they shall deliver you your bread again by weight: and you shall eat, and not be satisfied. [27] And if you will not for all this listen to me, but walk contrary to me; [28] Then I will walk contrary to you also in fury; and I, even I, will chastise you seven times for your sins. [29] And you shall eat the flesh of your sons, and the flesh of your daughters shall you eat. [30] And I will destroy your high places, and cut down your images, and cast your carcasses on the carcasses of your idols, and my soul shall abhor you. [31] And I will make your cities waste, and bring your sanctuaries to desolation, and I will not smell the smell of your sweet odors. [32] And I will bring the land into desolation: and your enemies which dwell therein shall be astonished at it. [33] And I will scatter you among the heathen, and will draw out a sword after you: and your land shall be desolate, and your cities waste. [34] Then shall the land enjoy her sabbaths, as long as it lies desolate, and you be in your enemies' land; even then shall the land rest, and enjoy her sabbaths. [35] As long as it lies desolate it shall rest; because it did not rest in your sabbaths, when you dwelled on it. [36] And on them that are left alive of you I will send a faintness into their hearts in the lands of their enemies; and the sound of a shaken leaf shall chase them; and they shall flee, as fleeing from a sword; and they shall fall when none pursues. [37] And they shall fall one on another, as it were before a sword, when none pursues: and you shall have no power to stand before your enemies. [38] And you shall perish among the heathen, and the land of your enemies shall eat you up. [39] And they that are left of you shall pine away in their iniquity in your enemies' lands; and also in the iniquities of their fathers shall they pine away with them. [40] If they shall confess their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers, with their trespass which they trespassed against me, and that also they have walked contrary to me; [41] And that I also have walked contrary to them, and have brought them into the land of their enemies; if then their uncircumcised hearts be humbled, and they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity: [42] Then will I remember my covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember; and I will remember the land. [43] The land also shall be left of them, and shall enjoy her sabbaths, while she lies desolate without them: and they shall accept of the punishment of their iniquity: because, even because they despised my judgments, and because their soul abhorred my statutes. [44] And yet for all that, when they be in the land of their enemies, I will not cast them away, neither will I abhor them, to destroy them utterly, and to break my covenant with them: for I am the LORD their God. [45] But I will for their sakes remember the covenant of their ancestors, whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the heathen, that I might be their God: I am the LORD. [46] These are the statutes and judgments and laws, which the LORD made between him and the children of Israel in mount Sinai by the hand of Moses.
American King James Version×There is one thing missing from these lists. Not once is there a promise of eternal life. We do have that promise.

Acts 4:12 Acts 4:12Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
American King James Version×This is after Peter healed that man. Peter and John were arrested. This promise of eternal life is available to us. We have access to it. God wants to give it to us. In Old Testament times, the Messiah had not come. There was no option of eternal life. But not, He had come. He lived. He died. He was resurrected. He made it possible for us to live and rule and reign with Him. Hebrews 9:11-15 Hebrews 9:11-15 [11] But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; [12] Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. [13] For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies to the purifying of the flesh: [14] How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? [15] And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
American King James Version×This is the awesome part of the new covenant. The addition of the chance to live forever. To be in God’s family. To serve each other in a most perfect way. That is the glorious part of the new covenant. This is our promise. If we hold up our end of the deal, this is our reward. Our part is overcoming sin, building godliness. If we hold up our end, God wants to give it to us. Romans 8:12-17 Romans 8:12-17 [12] Therefore, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. [13] For if you live after the flesh, you shall die: but if you through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, you shall live. [14] For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. [15] For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but you have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. [16] The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: [17] And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
American King James Version×Vs. 14 – Do you trust God? We probably say, yes. Who wouldn’t? But do you truly trust God? Can you be led by Him? Those that are willing to be led by God are the sons of God. Leading is the complete opposite of independence. Independence is the freedom from others; self governing. God’s spirit leads us. It doesn’t push us around. It won’t prevent us from sinning. It just encourages us to do what is right. There has to be that spirit of being willing to be led.

Galatians 5:18 Galatians 5:18But if you be led of the Spirit, you are not under the law.
American King James Version×Romans 8:17 Romans 8:17And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
American King James Version×Vs. 17 – It is an awesome future we have. We hold up our bargain; there is tremendous payoff in the future. This feast celebrates that momentous occasion. Without the Holy Spirit, none of it would be possible. Some 60% of the laws in the old covenant protect the family unit. God is building a family. It makes sense that 60% of His laws protect the family. God sent Jesus Christ to open the door to His family. God is excited about all of His family. Faithful members who have died; faithful members who will come after us. Revelation 5:8-10 Revelation 5:8-10 [8] And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odors, which are the prayers of saints. [9] And they sung a new song, saying, You are worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for you were slain, and have redeemed us to God by your blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; [10] And have made us to our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
American King James Version×This is the prayer of the saints. Our job in the future will be kings and priests. We will reign on earth. Sometimes we think if God will just let me in the kingdom, I’ll be the designated toilet scrubbers. We will not be doorkeepers and chair setter-uppers. God wants us to be kings and priests to live and reign with Christ. That is what we will become. We won’t be some lackey that carries the briefcase or runs off copies. We are to be kings and priests. What a fabulous covenant we are under. We are going to help billions of people in the ultimate humanitarian effort. We need to keep our focus on this goal? Will trials come? Yes. Will Satan try to mess it up? Yes. If you aren’t suffering trials, you are doing something wrong. We are told to count the cost. We are under the new covenant. We have the spirit – the power and essence of God Himself. It helps us to this goal in vs. 10. That help was given on the day of Pentecost thousands of years ago. Happy anniversary on our holy day. This day celebrates the faithful firstfruits. Have a great feast of firstfruits. Keep the light of God burning bright. And don’t let anything take your crown.