The Lord's Appointed Times in the Spring of the Year

The Lord's Appointed Times in the Spring of the Year

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NKJV)
^“To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.”

Ecclesiastes 3:14  
¹⁴ I know that whatever God does, It shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, And nothing taken from it. God does it, that men should be in awe before Him.

God has appointed special times for His people to worship Him.  When we come to Him to celebrate His special occasions, we draw closer to Him and learn from Him. The invitation has been extended in Leviticus 23:4 "These are the feasts (celebrations) of the Lord, holy convocations which you shall proclaim at their appointed times."

This passage in Leviticus continues with descriptions of the Lord's appointed times:  Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits, Pentecost, Trumpets, Day of Atonement and Tabernacles.  Many times we refer to these sacred times as Jewish holidays.  However, because each feast pictures some aspect of the ministry of Yeshua HaMashaich (Jesus, our Messiah), acknowledging them will enable Christians to understand more fully our relationship with our Redeemer. 

The spring feasts, Passover, Unleavened Bread and First Fruits depict the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. 

Because the temple in Jerusalem no longer exists, the celebration of the Feast Days cannot be the same as in the days of the Bible.  Jewish people now celebrate the Feasts using traditions handed down in the Talmud.  Today, more and more Christians are remembering the Feasts.  Some celebrate with adaptations of Jewish traditions.  Some have designed their own celebrations.  Some simply remember the days in their hearts. 

Celebrating the Feast Days is not required, but a powerful blessing can come to us when we more fully understand what has been accomplished in our lives and in the Kingdom of Heaven because of the atoning, redemptive ministry of Jesus, our Messiah.

Whether our celebration is elaborate or simple, our remembrance should include thanksgiving, worship and joy. 

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Let’s come together and exult in our redemption by celebrating the Lord’s appointed times in during this season of new life.