July 13, 2024 • 17 mins
In the latest episode of the "Living Words" podcast, host Charles Vance dives deep into the significance of the Feast of Tabernacles as part of the "In His Footsteps" devotional series. This episode stands out as it unpacks the biblical and spiritual context of the feast, emphasizing its role in the Jewish calendar and its implications for understanding the timing and actions of God.
Charles begins by explaining the biblical basis for the day beginning at sunset, rooted in Genesis, and how the Hebrew calendar marks time, particularly noting the agricultural and lunar elements that define the beginning of the year in Exodus. He clarifies common misconceptions about Rosh Hashanah and its traditional association with the Feast of Tabernacles, instead placing it in the spring as the Bible describes.
As he moves into the devotional content, Charles uses the setting of the Feast of Tabernacles to frame a discussion on John chapters 7 and 8, where Jesus’ teachings at the Temple during the feast reveal his divine authority and wisdom. He highlights key moments like Jesus proclaiming himself as the source of living water and the light of the world, symbolic of the Holy Spirit and spiritual enlightenment.
The narrative also explores Jesus' teachings on truth and freedom, emphasizing that true freedom comes from living in accordance with Jesus' teachings, which liberate from the bondage of sin. Charles encourages listeners to reflect on their spiritual lives and consider how they embody the truths Jesus taught.
The episode wraps up with thought-provoking reflections on divine timing, spiritual fulfillment, and the essence of true worship beyond physical and traditional confines. It invites listeners to internalize the deep spiritual lessons embedded in the Feast of Tabernacles and apply them to their daily lives.
Listeners are left with questions for further reflection and suggested prayers that focus on trusting in God's timing, seeking spiritual fulfillment in Jesus, and living out the truths of his teachings in everyday life. Charles closes with an invitation to explore these themes further and continue the journey of faith, week by week.
Get a copy of the In His Footsteps devotional here.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Good morning and happy Sabbath.
I'm Charles Vance and I'm thehost for Living Words podcast
and right now we're goingthrough a series from the In His
Footsteps devotional.
And this week we're on week 15,which is Feast of Tabernacles,
and the format's going to beslightly different this week.
I'll go through the devotionalbriefly Again.
(00:25):
These devotionals are briefanyway, but this is Feast of
Tabernacles and it has aspiritual significance.
First off, this is the lastfeast in the cycle.
There are three feasts and I'mjust going to briefly go through
the Hebrew understanding of theCreator's time.
I try to keep it brief.
(00:46):
I'm just going to briefly gothrough the Hebrew understanding
of the Creator's time.
Try to keep it brief.
But essentially there's somekey things you have to
understand to be able to followthe Hebrew understanding of the
Creator, and one is the time.
Time is the Creator's time.
Let's start with the time.
(01:06):
Time is the creator's time.
Let's start with the day.
So the creator's day begins atsunset.
And it begins at sunset basedon Genesis 1.5.
It says in the morning and theevening were the first day.
So we believe that the daybegins as the sun sets.
How do you get that straight?
Now, in Exodus is where webelieve the beginning of the
(01:29):
year is, because it says inExodus, this will be the
beginning of months for you, andhe's talking about the month of
Aviv.
When they came out of Egypt forthe Passover, the barley was
smitten with the hail.
The barley was smitten with thehail and so there's an
agricultural and an astrologicalcomponent, a lunar component.
(01:55):
So when the barley is of Eveand the moon is at its first
sliver, first noticeable, that'sthe head of the year.
The head of the year in Hebrewis Rosh Hashanah.
Rosh Hashanah, some people sayRosh Hashanah, and it's the
Jewish New Year.
(02:15):
However, in Babylon the Jewschanged the understanding of
Rosh Hashanah from spring inExodus, where it came out of
Egypt for the Passover, to theFeast of Tabernacles, actually
for Yom Teruah, the Day ofTrumpets, which is the first
(02:35):
sliver of the new moon, for thelast month of the year, and then
15 days later is the Feast ofTabernacles, month of the year,
and then 15 days later is theFeast of Tabernacles.
So I just wanted to get thatstraight, that Rosh Hashanah is
not in the fall, in coordinationwith Feast of Tabernacles.
Rosh Hashanah is at the spring,in the beginning of the cycle,
(02:59):
so Passover then is the in theFeast of Unleavened Bread, is
the first feast in the cycle,and then you have seven Sabbaths
.
Later you have the Shavuot.
Shavuot is 77th, so it's theseventh Sabbath and that's the
(03:24):
time whenever the Holy Spiritcame.
You count the Omer, there's 50days, and on the 50th day, which
is the Pentecost Penta meaning50, it's the coming of the Holy
Spirit.
And that was also the same timewhenever you get the word the
Torah, on the mountain withMoses.
So those are the three cycles,those are the three feasts that
(03:44):
every male-aged Hebrew wasrequired to go up to the temple
and worship.
So, having laid that groundwork,now that you understand the
significance of the Feast ofTabernacles and the Feast of
Tabernacles in John has asignificance as well, because
(04:08):
that's the verse where he saysthat he came and tabernacled
among us.
The word became in thebeginning of the John 1, 1,.
The beginning, excuse me, inthe beginning was the word.
The word was God, the word waswith God and the word came and
became flesh and tabernacledamong us or dwelt among us.
So the Feast of Tabernacles isthe true birth of Christ Yeshua,
(04:35):
the, not Christmas, not.
So it's Passover and Feast ofTabernacles for the birth and
death.
Okay, and as distinct fromEaster, good Friday Easter which
(04:58):
is the pagan understanding ofthe birth and resurrection of
Christ, of the birth andresurrection of Christ, to the
pagan Greek Jesus, as opposed tothe Hebrew Yeshua, which is
tabernacles for birth andPassover, for death and
resurrection.
They may seem subtle and theymay even seem something.
(05:21):
People would say, well, itdoesn't really matter, but
that's everything.
Seem subtle and they may evenseem something but say, well, it
doesn't really matter, butthat's everything.
It's everything, because ifyou're going with a Greek
understanding of the Messiah,then you're going to be led
right back to the pantheon ofthe gods and Zeus and Apollo and
worshiping entities who are notworthy of worship, like Mary,
(05:45):
the mother of God.
Mary is not a deity.
Mary should not be prayed to orworshiped.
The only deity that we know inthe Hebrew faith is Yeshua
HaMashiach, yahweh Yisra'el, hisfather and the spirit, the
(06:05):
Ruach HaKadosh.
Now I'm going to go ahead andget into this, the brief
devotional, now that I've madethat statement, but the text for
the week is coming out of John7 and 8.
And it's a complex narrativeset against the backdrop of the
Feast of Tabernacles or Booths,which is a Hebrew festival
celebrating the wildernessperiod and God's provision.
(06:27):
Throughout these chapters,jesus teaches in the temple,
engaging in deep theologicaldiscourse and confrontation,
revealing both his divine wisdomand increasing tension with the
Jewish leaders.
Here's a breakdown of the keythemes and events.
So from John 7, the Feast ofTabernacles, and what's notable
(06:48):
is his own brother's unbelief.
The narrative begins with thebrothers of Jesus urging him to
go to Judea for the feast,showcasing their unbelief and
misunderstanding of his mission.
He responds in his timing,highlighting the contrast
between worldly acclaim anddivine purpose, highlighting the
contrast between worldlyacclaim and divine purpose.
Jesus at the festival.
So Jesus goes to the festivalsecretly and then openly teaches
(07:10):
in the temple, amazing crowdswith his understanding.
His teachings provoke divisionamong the people and leaders,
with debates about his identityand origin.
A living water.
On the last day of the feast,he stands and cries out offering
living water to anyone whobelieves in him, symbolizing the
Holy Spirit.
This declaration ties back tothemes from earlier in John, the
(07:33):
conversation with the Samaritanwoman, and points forward to
the spirits or outpouring InJohn 8, the light of the world.
We have the woman caught inadultery.
And although this passage John53 through 8, 11, is noted in
many manuscripts as a lateredition.
It's a powerful story of grace,forgiveness and his authority
(07:55):
to judge.
Jesus responds to thePharisees' trap with wisdom,
exposing their hypocrisy andoffering the woman mercy.
Jesus, the light of the world.
Now Jesus declares himself asthe light of the world,
promising that followers willnot walk in darkness.
This declaration at the Feast ofTabernacles, where large lamps
(08:16):
illuminated the temple,underscores his role as a source
of spiritual light and life,truth and freedom.
As a source of spiritual lightand life, truth and Freedom.
In a discussion with thePharisees, jesus contrasts the
freedom he offers with thebondage of sin.
He emphasizes that knowing thetruth his teachings will set
people free, challenging theirbelief in ancestry to Abraham as
(08:38):
the source of their freedom,the Father's Witness.
Jesus argues that his authorityand message come from the
Father who sent him.
Despite the miracles in histeachings, many refuse to
believe, leading to intensedebates about his identity and
claims.
These chapters underscore thedivinity and divine authority of
Jesus, his fulfillment ofJewish typology, such as the
(09:01):
living water and light, and thespiritual blindness of those who
oppose him.
They invite reflection onseveral themes the role of faith
in recognizing his divineidentity and mission, the
contrast between his spiritualteachings and the people's often
materialistic interpretations,the significance of the Holy
(09:21):
Spirit as living water providedby Christ to believers, and the
nature of true freedom asliberation from sin through the
truth of Christ.
His interactions in thesechapters challenge readers to
examine their own understandingof his teachings and to consider
the depth of their faith.
They call believers to live inthe light of his truth,
experiencing the freedom andlife he offers through a
(09:43):
relationship with Him guided bythe Spirit.
The lessons that can be derivedthis week are divine timing and
spiritual fulfillment in Jesus.
The life and ministry of Jesusexemplify the importance of
divine timing, teaching us totrust in His perfect plan rather
than our own expectations.
Furthermore, he offers Himselfas the source of living water,
(10:08):
quenching our deepest spiritualthirst and inviting us to find
our ultimate fulfillment andsatisfaction in Him rather than
the fleeting pleasures of theworld.
John 7, 6, and 37-38.
Therefore, jesus told them mytime is not yet here for you.
Any time will do.
On the last and greatest day ofthe festival, jesus stood and
(10:28):
said in a loud voice Let anyonewho is thirsty come to me and
drink Jesus as the light of theworld and the essence of true
freedom.
By declaring himself the lightof the world, he promises to
guide his followers out of thedarkness of sin and into the
light of truth.
He teaches that true freedom isfound in knowing and living
(10:50):
according to his word,liberating us from the bondage
of sin and leading us into thefreedom of his children.
And that's John 8, 12, 31 and32.
And when Jesus spoke again tothe people, he said I am the
light of the world.
Whoever follows me will neverwalk in darkness but will have
the light of life.
And to the Jews who hadbelieved him, jesus said if you
(11:13):
hold to my teaching, you arereally my disciples and then you
will know the truth and thetruth will set you free.
The nature of authentic worshipand identity in Christ Jesus
emphasizes that true worshiptranscends a physical location
and tradition, focusing onworshiping in spirit and truth.
This reflects a heart whollyaligned with His desires.
(11:36):
Additionally, he challengescultural and religious identity
markers, affirming that our trueidentity and freedom are rooted
in our relationship with Himand faith in His Word, offering
a new perspective on worship andidentity John 4, 23-24,.
John 8, 58.
Yet a time is coming, and hasnow come, when the true
(11:57):
worshipers will worship theFather in spirit and truth, for
they are the kind of worshipersthe Father seeks.
God is spirit and Hisworshipers must worship in
spirit and in truth.
And verily true, I tell you.
Jesus answered Before Abrahamwas I am.
Here's some questions forreflection and discussion this
week.
Reflect on the promise of Jesusof living water and how does
(12:22):
this imagery speak to yourspiritual life and experiences
with the Holy Spirit?
He said out of my belly willflow rivers of living water.
So where does the flow of watercome from?
It comes from the center, thecore of the being of Yeshua
HaMashiach, jesus Christ.
The living water is the Spiritof God and all of his followers
(12:42):
are quenched.
Our spiritual thirst isquenched with the water of the
Word, as the Holy Spirit bringsthe Word directly to our heart
and fulfills and quenches ourthirst.
Discuss the significance of hisclaim to be the light of the
world and in what ways doesfollowing him bring light into
your life?
Because light is oftenassociated with truth.
(13:06):
When you're speaking the truth,you're in the light.
When you're lying and cheatingand being corrupt, you're in the
darkness.
You're in the light.
When you're lying and cheatingand being corrupt, you're in the
darkness.
Everything about Yeshua Jesusis truth.
Everything he teaches is truth.
There is no deception in him.
There is no darkness in him.
So if we follow him and hisways, then we are in the light
(13:27):
and we walk in the light.
Consider the concept of truthand freedom as presented by
Jesus, and how doesunderstanding truth in him lead
to freedom in your personalexperiences?
Because truth is always goingto set you free.
You do not have to remember thetruth, but when you lie and when
you're deceptive, and when youdo, regardless of whether it's a
white lie or a black lie, youknow, for whatever reason.
(13:50):
Some people lie for all kindsof reasons.
We've all done it.
You know, for whatever reason.
Even people, some people,people lie for all kinds of
reasons.
We've all done it.
You know you.
You embellish because you wantto make a story sound better.
You tell a white lie becauseyou're uncomfortable and it's
better to do that than to facethe truth and to be.
You don't want to hurtsomebody's feelings sometimes.
So you don't say the truth.
So it doesn't.
A lie doesn't always have to beevil, but it's always in
(14:12):
comparative to the truth, it'sdarkness.
So if you always tell the truth, then you don't have to
remember anything, just tell thetruth.
The question of his authorityand identity is central to these
chapters.
And how do you respond to hisclaims about who he is and the
source of his teachings?
Well, there's only one way torespond to the claims of Jesus
(14:33):
and that's to follow him, tobelieve him, to accept his truth
into your heart and to covenantwith him and to follow him.
Jesus's teachings at the Feastof Tabernacles stirred various
reactions, and what challengesor encourages you in your own
faith journey when youencountered by diverse responses
(14:53):
of him today?
I mean it'll definitely makeyou think if you are not a
follower of Christ.
There's a lot of.
There's some hard concepts.
I mean the very fact that hesays eat my flesh and drink my
blood.
It was enough to turn many away, but what he's saying is I am
the bread of life, my body, thisis my body.
When you, when you partake ofthis bread, you're partaking of
(15:18):
me.
My blood is the covenant that Imade with you.
I shed my blood, my innocentblood, for you and to restore
the believer back to God.
So those are concepts.
There's some hard concepts, butwhen you follow them, when you
accept them and take them atface value and walk in them.
(15:39):
Then you will benefit from that.
So here's some suggested prayers.
Heavenly Father, in moments ofimpatience and uncertainty we
seek the grace to trust in yourperfect timing.
Help us to remember that yourplans unfold in ways and times
that are beyond ourunderstanding, but always for
(15:59):
our good and your glory.
Grant us patience to wait onyou, strength to endure the
waiting, and faith to believethat what you have in store is
worth every moment ofanticipation.
Align our hearts and actionswith your divine schedule,
trusting that you are never late, never early, but always
precisely on time.
(16:20):
Amen, lord Jesus, bread of lifeand living water.
We come to you acknowledgingour deep spiritual thirst and
hunger In a world suffering, ina world offering temporary and
unsatisfying solutions.
Remind us that true fulfillmentand eternal life are found only
in you.
(16:40):
Fill us anew with your livingwater, the Holy Spirit, that we
may overflow with your love, joyand peace.
May our souls be satisfied inyour presence and our lives
reflect the abundance of yourgrace to those still searching
for what only you can provide.
Amen, holy Spirit, guide andcounselor, illuminate our paths
(17:01):
with the light of Jesus' truth,enabling us to navigate the
complexities of this world withclarity and wisdom.
Help us to discern your will,resist the temptations of
darkness and walk in the freedomof Christ's light.
Empower us to be beacons ofyour truth in our communities,
reflecting the love and grace ofJesus in our words and actions.
(17:25):
Strengthen our resolve to livein the light that our lives may
be glorified God and lead othersto the truth that sets us free.
Amen.
I hope this has been a blessingto you this week and hope that
you can find something here thatwill give you some insight and
moment for the week as you movethrough it.
And again, if you want topurchase a copy of the In His
(17:50):
Footsteps devotional, I'll havea link to that in the show notes
and I'll see you again nextweek.
Good morning and happy Sabbath.
I'm Charles Vance and I'm thehost for Living Words podcast
and right now we're goingthrough a series from the In His
Footsteps devotional.
And this week we're on week 15,which is Feast of Tabernacles,
and the format's going to beslightly different this week.
I'll go through the devotionalbriefly Again.
(00:25):
These devotionals are briefanyway, but this is Feast of
Tabernacles and it has aspiritual significance.
First off, this is the lastfeast in the cycle.
There are three feasts and I'mjust going to briefly go through
the Hebrew understanding of theCreator's time.
I try to keep it brief.
(00:46):
I'm just going to briefly gothrough the Hebrew understanding
of the Creator's time.
Try to keep it brief.
But essentially there's somekey things you have to
understand to be able to followthe Hebrew understanding of the
Creator, and one is the time.
Time is the Creator's time.
Let's start with the time.
(01:06):
Time is the creator's time.
Let's start with the day.
So the creator's day begins atsunset.
And it begins at sunset basedon Genesis 1.5.
It says in the morning and theevening were the first day.
So we believe that the daybegins as the sun sets.
How do you get that straight?
Now, in Exodus is where webelieve the beginning of the
(01:29):
year is, because it says inExodus, this will be the
beginning of months for you, andhe's talking about the month of
Aviv.
When they came out of Egypt forthe Passover, the barley was
smitten with the hail.
The barley was smitten with thehail and so there's an
agricultural and an astrologicalcomponent, a lunar component.
(01:55):
So when the barley is of Eveand the moon is at its first
sliver, first noticeable, that'sthe head of the year.
The head of the year in Hebrewis Rosh Hashanah.
Rosh Hashanah, some people sayRosh Hashanah, and it's the
Jewish New Year.
(02:15):
However, in Babylon the Jewschanged the understanding of
Rosh Hashanah from spring inExodus, where it came out of
Egypt for the Passover, to theFeast of Tabernacles, actually
for Yom Teruah, the Day ofTrumpets, which is the first
(02:35):
sliver of the new moon, for thelast month of the year, and then
15 days later is the Feast ofTabernacles, month of the year,
and then 15 days later is theFeast of Tabernacles.
So I just wanted to get thatstraight, that Rosh Hashanah is
not in the fall, in coordinationwith Feast of Tabernacles.
Rosh Hashanah is at the spring,in the beginning of the cycle,
(02:59):
so Passover then is the in theFeast of Unleavened Bread, is
the first feast in the cycle,and then you have seven Sabbaths
.
Later you have the Shavuot.
Shavuot is 77th, so it's theseventh Sabbath and that's the
(03:24):
time whenever the Holy Spiritcame.
You count the Omer, there's 50days, and on the 50th day, which
is the Pentecost Penta meaning50, it's the coming of the Holy
Spirit.
And that was also the same timewhenever you get the word the
Torah, on the mountain withMoses.
So those are the three cycles,those are the three feasts that
(03:44):
every male-aged Hebrew wasrequired to go up to the temple
and worship.
So, having laid that groundwork,now that you understand the
significance of the Feast ofTabernacles and the Feast of
Tabernacles in John has asignificance as well, because
(04:08):
that's the verse where he saysthat he came and tabernacled
among us.
The word became in thebeginning of the John 1, 1,.
The beginning, excuse me, inthe beginning was the word.
The word was God, the word waswith God and the word came and
became flesh and tabernacledamong us or dwelt among us.
So the Feast of Tabernacles isthe true birth of Christ Yeshua,
(04:35):
the, not Christmas, not.
So it's Passover and Feast ofTabernacles for the birth and
death.
Okay, and as distinct fromEaster, good Friday Easter which
(04:58):
is the pagan understanding ofthe birth and resurrection of
Christ, of the birth andresurrection of Christ, to the
pagan Greek Jesus, as opposed tothe Hebrew Yeshua, which is
tabernacles for birth andPassover, for death and
resurrection.
They may seem subtle and theymay even seem something.
(05:21):
People would say, well, itdoesn't really matter, but
that's everything.
Seem subtle and they may evenseem something but say, well, it
doesn't really matter, butthat's everything.
It's everything, because ifyou're going with a Greek
understanding of the Messiah,then you're going to be led
right back to the pantheon ofthe gods and Zeus and Apollo and
worshiping entities who are notworthy of worship, like Mary,
(05:45):
the mother of God.
Mary is not a deity.
Mary should not be prayed to orworshiped.
The only deity that we know inthe Hebrew faith is Yeshua
HaMashiach, yahweh Yisra'el, hisfather and the spirit, the
(06:05):
Ruach HaKadosh.
Now I'm going to go ahead andget into this, the brief
devotional, now that I've madethat statement, but the text for
the week is coming out of John7 and 8.
And it's a complex narrativeset against the backdrop of the
Feast of Tabernacles or Booths,which is a Hebrew festival
celebrating the wildernessperiod and God's provision.
(06:27):
Throughout these chapters,jesus teaches in the temple,
engaging in deep theologicaldiscourse and confrontation,
revealing both his divine wisdomand increasing tension with the
Jewish leaders.
Here's a breakdown of the keythemes and events.
So from John 7, the Feast ofTabernacles, and what's notable
(06:48):
is his own brother's unbelief.
The narrative begins with thebrothers of Jesus urging him to
go to Judea for the feast,showcasing their unbelief and
misunderstanding of his mission.
He responds in his timing,highlighting the contrast
between worldly acclaim anddivine purpose, highlighting the
contrast between worldlyacclaim and divine purpose.
Jesus at the festival.
So Jesus goes to the festivalsecretly and then openly teaches
(07:10):
in the temple, amazing crowdswith his understanding.
His teachings provoke divisionamong the people and leaders,
with debates about his identityand origin.
A living water.
On the last day of the feast,he stands and cries out offering
living water to anyone whobelieves in him, symbolizing the
Holy Spirit.
This declaration ties back tothemes from earlier in John, the
(07:33):
conversation with the Samaritanwoman, and points forward to
the spirits or outpouring InJohn 8, the light of the world.
We have the woman caught inadultery.
And although this passage John53 through 8, 11, is noted in
many manuscripts as a lateredition.
It's a powerful story of grace,forgiveness and his authority
(07:55):
to judge.
Jesus responds to thePharisees' trap with wisdom,
exposing their hypocrisy andoffering the woman mercy.
Jesus, the light of the world.
Now Jesus declares himself asthe light of the world,
promising that followers willnot walk in darkness.
This declaration at the Feast ofTabernacles, where large lamps
(08:16):
illuminated the temple,underscores his role as a source
of spiritual light and life,truth and freedom.
As a source of spiritual lightand life, truth and Freedom.
In a discussion with thePharisees, jesus contrasts the
freedom he offers with thebondage of sin.
He emphasizes that knowing thetruth his teachings will set
people free, challenging theirbelief in ancestry to Abraham as
(08:38):
the source of their freedom,the Father's Witness.
Jesus argues that his authorityand message come from the
Father who sent him.
Despite the miracles in histeachings, many refuse to
believe, leading to intensedebates about his identity and
claims.
These chapters underscore thedivinity and divine authority of
Jesus, his fulfillment ofJewish typology, such as the
(09:01):
living water and light, and thespiritual blindness of those who
oppose him.
They invite reflection onseveral themes the role of faith
in recognizing his divineidentity and mission, the
contrast between his spiritualteachings and the people's often
materialistic interpretations,the significance of the Holy
(09:21):
Spirit as living water providedby Christ to believers, and the
nature of true freedom asliberation from sin through the
truth of Christ.
His interactions in thesechapters challenge readers to
examine their own understandingof his teachings and to consider
the depth of their faith.
They call believers to live inthe light of his truth,
experiencing the freedom andlife he offers through a
(09:43):
relationship with Him guided bythe Spirit.
The lessons that can be derivedthis week are divine timing and
spiritual fulfillment in Jesus.
The life and ministry of Jesusexemplify the importance of
divine timing, teaching us totrust in His perfect plan rather
than our own expectations.
Furthermore, he offers Himselfas the source of living water,
(10:08):
quenching our deepest spiritualthirst and inviting us to find
our ultimate fulfillment andsatisfaction in Him rather than
the fleeting pleasures of theworld.
John 7, 6, and 37-38.
Therefore, jesus told them mytime is not yet here for you.
Any time will do.
On the last and greatest day ofthe festival, jesus stood and
(10:28):
said in a loud voice Let anyonewho is thirsty come to me and
drink Jesus as the light of theworld and the essence of true
freedom.
By declaring himself the lightof the world, he promises to
guide his followers out of thedarkness of sin and into the
light of truth.
He teaches that true freedom isfound in knowing and living
(10:50):
according to his word,liberating us from the bondage
of sin and leading us into thefreedom of his children.
And that's John 8, 12, 31 and32.
And when Jesus spoke again tothe people, he said I am the
light of the world.
Whoever follows me will neverwalk in darkness but will have
the light of life.
And to the Jews who hadbelieved him, jesus said if you
(11:13):
hold to my teaching, you arereally my disciples and then you
will know the truth and thetruth will set you free.
The nature of authentic worshipand identity in Christ Jesus
emphasizes that true worshiptranscends a physical location
and tradition, focusing onworshiping in spirit and truth.
This reflects a heart whollyaligned with His desires.
(11:36):
Additionally, he challengescultural and religious identity
markers, affirming that our trueidentity and freedom are rooted
in our relationship with Himand faith in His Word, offering
a new perspective on worship andidentity John 4, 23-24,.
John 8, 58.
Yet a time is coming, and hasnow come, when the true
(11:57):
worshipers will worship theFather in spirit and truth, for
they are the kind of worshipersthe Father seeks.
God is spirit and Hisworshipers must worship in
spirit and in truth.
And verily true, I tell you.
Jesus answered Before Abrahamwas I am.
Here's some questions forreflection and discussion this
week.
Reflect on the promise of Jesusof living water and how does
(12:22):
this imagery speak to yourspiritual life and experiences
with the Holy Spirit?
He said out of my belly willflow rivers of living water.
So where does the flow of watercome from?
It comes from the center, thecore of the being of Yeshua
HaMashiach, jesus Christ.
The living water is the Spiritof God and all of his followers
(12:42):
are quenched.
Our spiritual thirst isquenched with the water of the
Word, as the Holy Spirit bringsthe Word directly to our heart
and fulfills and quenches ourthirst.
Discuss the significance of hisclaim to be the light of the
world and in what ways doesfollowing him bring light into
your life?
Because light is oftenassociated with truth.
(13:06):
When you're speaking the truth,you're in the light.
When you're lying and cheatingand being corrupt, you're in the
darkness.
You're in the light.
When you're lying and cheatingand being corrupt, you're in the
darkness.
Everything about Yeshua Jesusis truth.
Everything he teaches is truth.
There is no deception in him.
There is no darkness in him.
So if we follow him and hisways, then we are in the light
(13:27):
and we walk in the light.
Consider the concept of truthand freedom as presented by
Jesus, and how doesunderstanding truth in him lead
to freedom in your personalexperiences?
Because truth is always goingto set you free.
You do not have to remember thetruth, but when you lie and when
you're deceptive, and when youdo, regardless of whether it's a
white lie or a black lie, youknow, for whatever reason.
(13:50):
Some people lie for all kindsof reasons.
We've all done it.
You know, for whatever reason.
Even people, some people,people lie for all kinds of
reasons.
We've all done it.
You know you.
You embellish because you wantto make a story sound better.
You tell a white lie becauseyou're uncomfortable and it's
better to do that than to facethe truth and to be.
You don't want to hurtsomebody's feelings sometimes.
So you don't say the truth.
So it doesn't.
A lie doesn't always have to beevil, but it's always in
(14:12):
comparative to the truth, it'sdarkness.
So if you always tell the truth, then you don't have to
remember anything, just tell thetruth.
The question of his authorityand identity is central to these
chapters.
And how do you respond to hisclaims about who he is and the
source of his teachings?
Well, there's only one way torespond to the claims of Jesus
(14:33):
and that's to follow him, tobelieve him, to accept his truth
into your heart and to covenantwith him and to follow him.
Jesus's teachings at the Feastof Tabernacles stirred various
reactions, and what challengesor encourages you in your own
faith journey when youencountered by diverse responses
(14:53):
of him today?
I mean it'll definitely makeyou think if you are not a
follower of Christ.
There's a lot of.
There's some hard concepts.
I mean the very fact that hesays eat my flesh and drink my
blood.
It was enough to turn many away, but what he's saying is I am
the bread of life, my body, thisis my body.
When you, when you partake ofthis bread, you're partaking of
(15:18):
me.
My blood is the covenant that Imade with you.
I shed my blood, my innocentblood, for you and to restore
the believer back to God.
So those are concepts.
There's some hard concepts, butwhen you follow them, when you
accept them and take them atface value and walk in them.
(15:39):
Then you will benefit from that.
So here's some suggested prayers.
Heavenly Father, in moments ofimpatience and uncertainty we
seek the grace to trust in yourperfect timing.
Help us to remember that yourplans unfold in ways and times
that are beyond ourunderstanding, but always for
(15:59):
our good and your glory.
Grant us patience to wait onyou, strength to endure the
waiting, and faith to believethat what you have in store is
worth every moment ofanticipation.
Align our hearts and actionswith your divine schedule,
trusting that you are never late, never early, but always
precisely on time.
(16:20):
Amen, lord Jesus, bread of lifeand living water.
We come to you acknowledgingour deep spiritual thirst and
hunger In a world suffering, ina world offering temporary and
unsatisfying solutions.
Remind us that true fulfillmentand eternal life are found only
in you.
(16:40):
Fill us anew with your livingwater, the Holy Spirit, that we
may overflow with your love, joyand peace.
May our souls be satisfied inyour presence and our lives
reflect the abundance of yourgrace to those still searching
for what only you can provide.
Amen, holy Spirit, guide andcounselor, illuminate our paths
(17:01):
with the light of Jesus' truth,enabling us to navigate the
complexities of this world withclarity and wisdom.
Help us to discern your will,resist the temptations of
darkness and walk in the freedomof Christ's light.
Empower us to be beacons ofyour truth in our communities,
reflecting the love and grace ofJesus in our words and actions.
(17:25):
Strengthen our resolve to livein the light that our lives may
be glorified God and lead othersto the truth that sets us free.
Amen.
I hope this has been a blessingto you this week and hope that
you can find something here thatwill give you some insight and
moment for the week as you movethrough it.
And again, if you want topurchase a copy of the In His
(17:50):
Footsteps devotional, I'll havea link to that in the show notes
and I'll see you again nextweek.
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