Reformation:  the Celebration Continues

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

            On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther posted 95 theses on the door of  a church in Wittenberg, Germany.  The reaction sparked the Protestant Reformation and the counter-reformation within the Roman Catholic Church itself.  In short, God intervened and cleaned His house. 

            Unfortunately, we have allowed the practice of Halloween to obscure the significance of the Reformation.   While some congregations recognize its history on Reformation Sunday, most Christians are unaware of the impact that the Reformation made, not only within the family of God, but within Western Civilization as a whole.  

            Reformation should not be considered as just a historical event.  Reformation should be a continuing experience in our Christian lives.  Scripture tells us that we are to grow from faith to faith and glory to glory:

▪ For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” ( Rom 1:17 NKJV)

▪ But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. (2 Cor 3:18 NKJV)

            Paul wrote to the Roman Church declaring that the reformation experience results from the transformation of our thinking: 

▪ And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (Romans 12:2 NKJV)

            Many believers struggle with a flawed concept of good vs. evil.  This is an area where we can be transformed by the renewing of our mind. Part of the problem is that we have determined that good is the opposite of evil and have, thereby, equated the power of good with the power of evil.  The next step in that erroneous thinking process is equating the power of God with the power of satan.  Transformation of our minds about this perception can lead us into deeper reformation and further growth in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 

 Evil is not the opposite of good.  Evil is the absence of good. In like manner, darkness is not the opposite of light.  Darkness is the absence of light.  Hatred is not the opposite of love. Hatred is the absence of love.  Just as light dispels darkness, love dispels hate and good dispels evil. 

     Remember the words of the beloved apostle John, “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4 NKJV)  

We need not fear the enemy of our souls.  We need not ascribe power to the one who was made powerless by the blood of Jesus.  “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:37-39 NKJV)

May we continue our reformation through the transformation of our minds until we live and move and have our being in Him.

 

Celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles

The Last Great Day

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

Leviticus 23:33-36 (NKJV)

³³ Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, ³⁴  "Speak to the children of Israel, saying: 'The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the Feast of Tabernacles for seven days to the LORD. ³⁵  On the first day there shall be a holy convocation. You shall do no customary work on it. ³⁶  For seven days you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD. On the eighth day you shall have a holy convocation, and you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD. It is a sacred assembly, and you shall do no customary work on it.”

Today, Christians who celebrate the Lord’s Appointed Times often refer to the celebration of the eighth day as “The Last Great Day”  in reference to  John 7:37-38 (NKJV) “³⁷  On the last day, that great day of the feast. . . .”  While seven in scripture is a reference to fullness, to completeness, eight is the number of new beginnings.  

In the days of Jesus, God’s people celebrated the eighth day by lighting the temple courtyards with lampstands and torches until it truly shown forth as a city on a hill that could not be hidden.  With much pageantry, the people praised the Lord in song and dance.  Even today, the eighth day is a celebration of light.  The process of creation in Genesis began when the Lord said, “Let there be light.” New beginnings are birthed in light.

During the time of Moses, the Israelites followed the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night.  The wise men followed the light of the star to Bethlehem to worship the Christ child. 

 On the great day of the feast, after the Temple Mount in Jerusalem had been lighted for all to see, Jesus proclaimed, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.", “John 8:12 (NKJV).  (John 7 takes place at after sunset, the beginning of the last day of the feast.  The events of John 8 take place starting early the next morning.  Some would argue that John 8 takes place after the last great day.  However, the biblical day begins at sunset.  In biblical timing, the next morning is still the same day. )

At another time, Jesus spoke to us saying, “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. ¹⁶  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16 (NKJV)

Just as Jesus is the light of the world, as His ambassadors, we, too, are to be shining lights for the Kingdom of God. 

Another event of the celebration included an offering of water.  The high priest, with the other priests and thousands of worshipers, marched from the Temple to the Pool of Siloam.  The pool of Siloam was a renowned place of healing.  At the pool, the priests filled a pitcher with water and went back to the Temple.  The high priest then poured the water onto the altar. By offering the water, the people were praying for healing for themselves and their land.   The healing of the blind man who washed in the waters of Siloam occurred on the last great day. (John 9: 7-11).  

New beginnings in Scripture often begin with water.  In Genesis 1:1, the Holy Spirit hovered over the waters as the process of creation began.  In the days of Noah, the Lord sent the floodwaters upon the earth, and the earth was recreated.  (Genesis 6) When the Israelites left Egypt under the leadership of Moses, they passed through the Red Sea.  Later, when Joshua led them into the Promised Land, they crossed over the Jordan. Jesus was baptized before He began His earthly ministry.  We are “buried with Him in baptism, in which we also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead” (Colossians 2:12.)

Knowing the need for new beginnings in all our lives, ^“On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. ³⁸  He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water."  John 7:37-38 (NKJV). 

New beginnings start with drinking from the well of the water of life. The result of that experience should be evident in our lives. 

The last great day was also a time for celebrating the Word of God.  Psalm 119 (the longest chapter in the Bible) is all about praising God for His Word, for His statutes and commandments that bring us life, peace and joy. The greatest part of our praise should be for the Word who became flesh and dwelt among us.  Let’s behold and proclaim His glory. (John 1:14)

.  Take a few moments and celebrate Jesus who is the light of the world, the living water and the incarnate, life-giving Word of God. Then step forward into a new beginning in Him.

 Celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles:   

The 7 Fruits of Israel:  Olive Oil 

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe 

 

Deuteronomy 8: 7-8 "For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, that flow out of valleys and hills; a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and date honey.” 

 

These seven fruits make up the Bikkurim, the first fruits offered in thanksgiving to the Lord at the Temple in Jerusalem during the Appointed Times of the Lord: Passover (Pesach), Pentecost (Shavuot) and Tabernacles (Sukkoth). 

 

In scripture, oil often represents the Holy Spirit.  While the Holy Spirit indwells all believers, we do not always avail ourselves of His power and direction in our lives.  He is our Helper (John 14:16). He is the one who leads us into all truth (John 16:13).  He imparts to us the spiritual gifts as described in 1 Corinthians 12.  His presence allows the fruit of the spirit to enrich our lives (Galatians 5:22-23).  He empowers us to do the work of the Kingdom (Acts 1:8). 

 

Everything olive oil is used for in the natural has a spiritual significance.  Olive oil is used for light, sustenance, healing, preservation, and anointing.  The Holy Spirit works in our innermost being in the same way.   

 

Consider the parable of the wise and the foolish virgins. Matthew 25:1-13 (NKJV) "Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. 

And at midnight a cry was heard: 'Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!' 
Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' 
But the wise answered, saying, 'No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.' And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. 
Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open to us!' But he answered and said, 'Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.' Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.” 

 

One of the many lessons of this parable is about missed opportunities to serve and to fellowship with our Lord because we are unprepared. 

 

All ten virgins had been invited to meet the bridegroom.  All ten had lamps.  All ten slumbered and slept.  The difference lay in their preparedness.  Five had oil and five had none.  

 

Attempting to do the Lord’s work with no oil in our lamps leads to frustration, despair, missed opportunities and burn out.  It is imperative that we keep our lamps full.  

 

In 1 Kings 17, we read the story of Elijah and the widow.  Her flour and oil were continually replenished as she used them to feed her family and the prophet.  Obedience to the Lord kept her supply replenished.  In our obedience, He will supply our need (Philippians 4:19). 

 

Prayerful meditation on the Word will also keep us ready and willing to serve as the Lord would have us serve. The psalmist wrote, “I have more understanding than all my teachers, For Your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the ancients, Because I keep Your precepts. I have restrained my feet from every evil way, That I may keep Your word” (Psalm 119:99-101 NKJV).   

   

Worship will cause our cups of oil to overflow.  Declaring to the Lord His glory, majesty and power lifts us to higher ground. Living on that higher ground empowers us to meet our Bridegroom in every circumstance of our lives. 

 

An old favorite song is “Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning.”  The biblical truth is that in the Holy Spirit we do have oil for our lamps.  It is up to us to replenish that oil through obedience, service, meditation, worship and fellowship with our Lord. 

Celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles  

7 Fruits of Israel: Pomegranates 

Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe 

 

Deuteronomy 8: 7-8 "For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, that flow out of valleys and hills; a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and date honey.” 

 

These seven fruits make up the Bikkurim, the first fruits offered in thanksgiving to the Lord at the Temple in Jerusalem during the Appointed Times of the Lord: Passover (Pesach), Pentecost (Shavuot) and Tabernacles (Sukkoth). 

 

Pomegranates ripen in Israel in time to be offered during the Feast of Tabernacles or Sukkoth. Pomegranates are a symbol of righteousness. Many Jews believe that the fruit contains 613 seeds representing the 613 commandments of the Torah. The number of seeds per pomegranate varies, but the thought remains that righteousness comes when we walk in the paths of the Lord in every area of our lives. God has given us, in His Word, instructions for walking out those paths. 

 

On Rosh Hashanah, Jews eat this fruit one seed at a time to emphasize that the pathway through life is one step, one day at a time.  

 

Pomegranates are first mentioned in the Bible when the 12 spies bring them back into the Israelite camp as evidence of the fruitfulness of the land. (Numbers 13:23) “Then they came to the Valley of Eshcol, and there cut down a branch with one cluster of grapes; they carried it between two of them on a pole. They also brought some of the pomegranates and figs.” 

 

Pomegranates, according to Exodus 28:31-35 were part of the design for the priestly garments. “You shall make the robe of the ephod all of blue. There shall be an opening for his head in the middle of it; it shall have a woven binding all around its opening, like the opening in a coat of mail, so that it does not tear. And upon its hem you shall make pomegranates of blue , purple, and scarlet, all around its hem, and bells of gold between them all around: a golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, upon the hem of the robe all around. And it shall be upon Aaron when he ministers, and its sound will be heard when he goes into the holy place before the Lord and when he comes out, that he may not die.” 

 

As with many traditions, a Hebrew blessing is spoken over the pomegranate: “May it be Your will, God and the God of our ancestors, that we be filled with blessings as the pomegranate is filled with seeds.”  

 

The blessing affirms that as the pomegranate is a symbol of righteousness. Blessings come from living righteously.  

 

In the Song of Solomon, the bride's temples are compared to a piece of the pomegranate. Song of Solomon 4: 3. “Your lips are like a strand of scarlet, and your mouth is lovely. Your temples behind your veil are like a piece of pomegranate.” 

 

In other words, the beauty of the bride is in her righteousness. 

 

The bride in the Song of Solomon is a picture of the Church. For Christians the pomegranate has become a symbol of resurrection and life everlasting. The pomegranate with its many seeds symbolizes the Church united in righteousness. 

 

Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane for His disciples, not just for the disciples in His earthly days but for all of us: John 17:14-23: "I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.  

And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.”  

 

"I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.” 

 

In the pomegranate, we see the many individuals operating as one in righteousness and truth. 

 

A Christian blessing over the pomegranate: Oh, Lord our God, through the power of the Holy Spirit in our hearts, may Your people be united in the righteousness given to us by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ so the world will see You in our lives. 

In thanksgiving, we give all honor, praise and glory to You. Amen.