People Who Enjoy the Blessing of the Feast of Tabernacles (Deut.16:13-17)
Actualization of 1st, 2nd, 3rd RUTC: 11/24/2019
People Who Enjoy the Blessing of the Feast of Tabernacles (Deut.16:13-17)
Today is Thanksgiving Sunday in the United States as well as the Sunday celebrating the Feast of Ingathering, which is also known as the Feast of Tabernacles in the Bible. The reason why it was called the Feast of Ingathering is because it represents the time when you harvest and store the borne fruit from the seeds sown in the spring. The reason why it was called the Feast of Tabernacles is because you had to build a tent outside your house and stay in there for a week. What is the meaning of Thanksgiving in the United States? Why did the Bible say to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles? Inside of this there is an important covenant that the saved people of God must hold on to and enjoy. I bless you that this may be the greatest week of holding on to the three covenants within.
- The covenant of the harvest and fruits that God gives.
In verse 15, it says, “Be joyful and be thankful for God will bless you in all your harvest and in all the work of your hands.” It is rightful to be thankful for the harvest (fruit) we were able to reap from the seeds we sowed and the labor we put in this year.
1) It is not just to that extent. Going further, it says to believe that He will bless you in everything that you do with your hands and rejoice.
This is the gratitude that the Puritans gave when they came to this land in 1620. It was a gratitude of faith. Records show that among the first 102 Puritans who came, only 53 people survived the cold and diseases. During that time, they had tears of gratitude as they invited the Native Americans, who taught them how to farm and helped them, and celebrated Thanksgiving. Since then, the tradition of hunting and catching turkey, and eating corn that was food for a day began.
2) Was it a difficult year and a year without much fruit?
That is why some people lose strength and get discouraged. At that time, there are also those who give thanks for their faith and share the little things they have been given. One of the most important elements in our walk of faith is this faith of thanksgiving and the blessing of sharing that comes from this. That is why it is not just my family, but also inviting Levites who had no businesses, wayfarers, orphans, widows when celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles and sharing this blessing (verse 14). This is when you must bring gifts according to how much God has blessed you and by that strength.
3) Is it true that you are saved children of God? Restore your faith, restore thanksgiving and restore the blessing of sharing.
If you are thankful even for the smallest things and share them, they will grow. This is Biblical and it becomes a greater source of blessings (1 Thessalonians 5:18, Luke 6:38). The anxiety, worries, complaints, resentment within me is my current spiritual state and my future. It will happen just as is (Job 3:25). Be thankful that I can hear and see (Helen Keller’s thanksgiving) and be thankful for being alive today (Robinson Crusoe’s thanksgiving). Believe that within today’s problem and crises, everything will turn into evidence and give thanks (Daniel’s thanksgiving in Daniel 6:10). Are there any believers who are ill? Before my body can heal, my spiritual state must heal. And before I receive any answers or blessings, I must first restore faith of thanksgiving within me. At that time, you live as you share the little things with others.
- When you think about the spiritual meaning of the Feast of Tabernacles, these three things – faith, thanksgiving, and sharing – are everything.
1) What is the faith that I must hold on to? It is the faith of our spiritual identity.
Who are we? Christ gave up His own life and allowed us to receive salvation (1 John 5:11-12), and no one can snatch that life away (요10:28).
① That life was the “holy seed” that God chose and planted in this world. He called them “Remnants” (Isaiah 6:13).
When farmers plant seeds, they do not just plant any seed. This means that God chose us before creation (Ephesians 1:3-5). I myself say that I am nothing so that is why I really am not anything. When a problem comes, I get discouraged, and when I look at the world, I become so small, so the devil gets excited and continues to bring problems and conflicts to me.
② We are like the branches on a vine (John 15:1-5).
Because Christ is the true vine and my Father is the gardener, as long as I remain inside of Christ, fruits will bear. This means He will harvest the fruits and store them in heaven (meaning of Feast of Ingathering).
③ God called us as his children who will enjoy all His blessings (Romans 8:15-17).
Even though a slave does ten thousand out of ten thousand things well, he is still a servant. However, even if a child does ten thousand out of ten thousand things wrong, He will wait and save the child.
2) What is it that we must be truly thankful for? It is being thankful for our future, our conclusion, and our eternal background.
Why was it named the Feast of Tabernacles and what is the reason why they had to build a tent and live inside of it for a week?
① Even though there were circumstances for the Israelites to live without homes and in tents they built when they were in the wilderness, it is so that they do not forget that God held on to them in the end.
Those who are saved go knowing the conclusion and the future (Acts 1:8). For that reason, He is with us through the heavenly background (Philippians 3:20). When we truly pray, He will move angels to guard and answer us. When Daniel prayed with thanksgiving in crisis, He sent an angel to the lions’ den. When Peter was captured in prison, his fellow believers earnestly prayed, and an angel was sent and allowed Peter to come out. When Paul held on to the covenant and prayed during the storm, even that storm became an opportunity for him. Angels were sent and spoke to him.
② Furthermore, the world is like a tent that you will live in temporarily; do not forget the blessings you will enjoy in heaven.
If there is no eternal heaven for us, then life is meaningless. The true answers and blessings that we must enjoy are in heaven. That is why He told them not to store up treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal but store up treasures in heaven. The tears that we shed for the gospel, the things we lost for the sake of the gospel, and all the hard work we have done will not be in vain. Be thankful that eternal blessings and answers are being piled up (Marks 10:29-30).
3) What is it that we must truly share in this land?
It is the gospel of Christ who promised me a true identity, my future and conclusion, and a heavenly background.
① It is to help souls with life not only physically, but also spiritually.
Peter who could have given coins to the crippled man who begged at the temple gate, instead saved his soul and allowed his entire life to be healed (Acts 3:6-8). That man became someone who praised God and went out and proclaimed the gospel.
② Those people who we evangelize are all important fruits who will be with us in heaven and we will become people who will enjoy the heavenly background.
On that day, there will no longer be any pain, tears, or disputes needed. This is the blessing that an evangelist must share. Next week, hold on to the covenant of the 33 nations of Latin America and really pray for the Spanish Evangelism Festival, and evangelize.
Conclusion – I bless you that you may hold on to the covenant of the Feast of Tabernacles and Feast of Ingathering this week and restore the greatest faith, thanksgiving and blessing of sharing.