How can we observe the "three times a year" festivals in modern life? Scriptural Foundation Exodus 23:14: “Three times a year you are to celebrate a feast to Me.” What Israel Heard • Feast of Unleavened Bread (Passover week) – Exodus 12:14–20 • Feast of Harvest/Weeks (Pentecost) – Exodus 34:22 • Feast of Ingathering/Tabernacles – Leviticus 23:33-43 These were literal, national gatherings in Jerusalem (Deuteronomy 16:16). How Christ Fulfills the Three Feasts • Passover: “For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed” (1 Corinthians 5:7). • Pentecost: The Spirit descended on that very day (Acts 2:1-4). • Tabernacles: “The Word became flesh and tabernacled among us” (John 1:14), pointing ahead to God dwelling with us forever (Revelation 21:3). Practical Ways to Observe Today Feast of Unleavened Bread / Passover Week • Gather family or church for a special meal during the week before Resurrection Sunday. • Remove leavened bread for one day or the entire week as a tangible reminder of leaving sin behind (1 Corinthians 5:8). • Read Exodus 12 and the Gospel passion narratives aloud. • Celebrate the Lord’s Supper thoughtfully, linking the bread and cup to the Passover lamb (Luke 22:15-20). Feast of Weeks / Pentecost • Mark the fiftieth day after Resurrection Sunday with corporate worship centered on the Holy Spirit’s gift. • Read Acts 1–2, pray for fresh empowerment to witness (Acts 1:8). • Bring a “firstfruits” offering—support missionaries, local evangelism, or benevolence—to mirror the original grain offerings (Leviticus 23:17, 20). • Testify to answered prayers and new salvations, celebrating the harvest God is gathering. Feast of Ingathering / Tabernacles • Set up a simple outdoor booth, tent, or patio meal during the seventh biblical month (early fall). • Read Leviticus 23:33-43 and John 7:2, 37-39, focusing on God’s provision in the wilderness and Christ’s promise of living water. • Spend an evening under the stars recounting the Lord’s faithfulness through the year; invite neighbors for hospitality that points to the coming kingdom feast (Isaiah 25:6). • Close the week with songs of joy and thanksgiving, anticipating Christ’s return to “tabernacle” with us permanently. Family & Church Rhythm • Place these three observances on the annual calendar alongside traditional holidays; teach children the biblical story line that unites them. • Encourage small-group participation: shared meals, Scripture readings, service projects, outdoor gatherings. • Keep the focus on worship, remembrance, and witness rather than ritual perfection (Colossians 2:16-17). Guarding the Heart • Observe with sincerity and truth, not as mere ceremony (1 Corinthians 5:8). • Let each feast sharpen anticipation for the next redemptive milestone—the Lord’s return (Matthew 26:29). Looking Ahead • The past Exodus, the present outpouring of the Spirit, and the future dwelling of God with His people form one continuous story. • By keeping these three biblical appointments, believers testify that the same faithful God who delivered Israel is completing His salvation plan in Christ and will soon gather His people for the ultimate feast. |
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