Good morning,

This week we will look at devotions by J.C. Ryle.

Pithy gems from J.C. Ryle

LISTEN to Audio!  Download Audio
    ~  ~  ~  ~
It costs something to be a true Christian.
It will cost us . . .
  our sins,
  our self-righteousness,
  our ease and
  our worldliness!
  ~  ~  ~  ~
According to the men of the world, few are going to Hell.
According to the Bible, few are going to Heaven.
    ~  ~  ~  ~
By affliction, Christ . . .
  shows us our emptiness and weakness,
  draws us to the throne of grace,
  purifies our affections,
  weans us from the world,
  and makes us long for Heaven.
  ~  ~  ~  ~
Nothing is so offensive to Christ as lukewarmness in religion!
“So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold,
I am going to vomit you out of My mouth!” Revelation 3:16 

    ~  ~  ~  ~

Pride is the oldest and most common of sins.
Humility is the rarest and most beautiful of graces.
  ~  ~  ~  ~
Look to the cross,
  think of the cross,
    meditate on the cross,
and then go and set your affections on the world if you can!
  ~  ~  ~  ~
A crucified Savior will never be content to have a self-pleasing, self-indulging, worldly-minded people!
  ~  ~  ~  ~
The Gospel was not meant merely to reside in our intellect, memories, and tongues–but to be seen in our lives.
  ~  ~  ~  ~
Happiness and contentment do not depend on outward circumstances, but on the state of the heart.
  ~  ~  ~  ~
 

Health is a good thing, but sickness is far better–if it leads us to God.
  ~  ~  ~  ~
The beginning of the way to Heaven, is to feel that we are on the way to Hell.
  ~  ~  ~  ~
There is a common, worldly kind of Christianity in this day, which many have, and think they have enough. But a cheap Christianity which offends nobody, and requires no sacrifice, which costs nothing–is worth nothing!
  ~  ~  ~  ~
Christian! Your trials, crosses and conflicts are all temporary.
    ~  ~  ~  ~
I am one of those old-fashioned ministers who believe the whole Bible, and everything that it contains.
  ~  ~  ~  ~
There are no lessons so useful, as those learned in the school of affliction.
  ~  ~  ~  ~
Christ is never fully valued, until sin is clearly seen. We must know the depth and malignity of our disease, in order to appreciate the Great Physician.
  ~  ~  ~  ~
Our Lord has . . .
  many weak children in His family,
  many dull pupils in His school,
  many raw soldiers in His army,
  many lame sheep in His flock.
Yet He bears with them all, and casts none away.
Blessed is that Christian who has learned to do likewise with his brethren.
  ~  ~  ~  ~
That preaching is sadly defective, which dwells exclusively on the mercies of God and the joys of Heaven–yet never sets forth the terrors of the Lord and the miseries of Hell.
  ~  ~  ~  ~
Sin forsaken, is one of the best evidences of sin forgiven.
    ~  ~  ~  ~
There is no such thing as ‘chance’, ‘luck’, or ‘accident’ in the Christian journey through this world. All is arranged and appointed by God, who works all things together for the believer’s eternal good.
    ~  ~  ~  ~
The standard of the world, and the standard of the Lord Jesus–are indeed widely different. They are more than different, they are flatly contradictory one to the other. Never be satisfied with the world’s standard of Christianity!
  ~  ~  ~  ~
Hell is truth known too late!
  ~  ~  ~  ~
That Bible is read best, which is practiced most!
  ~  ~  ~  ~
God’s eternal election is the first link in that chain of a sinner’s salvation, of which heavenly glory is the end!
    ~  ~  ~  ~
A tree may always be known by its fruit. Just so, a true Christian may always be discovered by their habits, tastes, and affections.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning,

This week we will look at devotions by J.C. Ryle.

Choked by life’s  worries, riches and pleasures!

(J.C. Ryle, “The Gospel of Luke” 1858)  LISTEN to audio! Download Audio

(You will find it helpful to listen to the audio above, as you read the text below.)

“The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature.” Luke 8:14

The things of this life form one of the greatest dangers which beset a Christian’s path. The money, the pleasures, the daily business of the world–these are so many traps to catch souls.

Scandalous and loathsome sins are not the only thing that damn souls! Thousands of things, which in themselves are innocent–when followed to excess, become idols, and are little better than soul-poisons and helps to Hell!

In the midst of our families, and in the pursuit of our lawful callings–we have need to be on our guard. Unless we watch and pray, these temporal things may rob us of Heaven, and choke out every sermon we hear.

We may live and die, as thorny ground hearers.

“The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature.” Luke 8:14

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning,

This week we will look at devotions by J.C. Ryle.

Reading the Bible

by J.C. Ryle

(You will find it helpful to Listen to the Audio, as you read the text below.)

2 Timothy 3:16-17, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

1. Read the Bible with an earnest desire to understand it.
Do not be content to just read the words of Scripture.
Seek to grasp the message they contain.

2. Read the Scriptures with a simple, childlike faith and humility.
Believe what God reveals.
Our reason must bow to God’s revelation.

3. Read the Word with a spirit of obedience and self-application.
Apply what God says to yourself, and obey His will in all things.

4. Read the Holy Scriptures every day.
We quickly lose the nourishment and strength of yesterday’s food.
We must feed our souls daily upon the manna God has given to us.

5. Read the whole Bible and read it in an orderly way.
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable.”
I know of no better way to read the Bible than to start at the beginning and read straight through to the end, a portion every day, comparing Scripture with Scripture.

6. Read the Word of God fairly and honestly.
As a general rule, any passage of Scripture means what it appears to mean.
Interpret every passage in this simple manner, in its context.

7. Read the Scriptures prayerfully, ever asking the Holy Spirit to illumine the Word.

“Then He opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.” Luke 24:45

“Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.” Psalm 119:18

8. Read the Bible with Christ constantly in view.
The whole Book is about Him. Look for Him on every page.
He is there. If you fail to see Him there, you need to read that page again.

“And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning Himself.” Luke 24:27

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning,

This week we will look at devotions by J.C. Ryle.

J.C. Ryle’s conversion

(You will find it helpful to Listen to the Audio, as you read the text below.)

Writing of his conversion, J.C. Ryle states:

Nothing I can remember to this day, appeared to me so clear and distinct as . . .
  my own sinfulness,
  Christ’s preciousness,
  the value of Scripture,
  the need of being born again, and
  the absolute necessity of coming out of the world!

All these things seemed to flash upon me like a sunbeam in the winter of 1837, and have stuck in my mind from that time to the present moment. Others may account for such a change as they like. My own belief, is that it was what the Bible calls “Regeneration” or the “New Birth”.

Before that time, I was dead in sins and on the high road to Hell!

From that time, I am spiritually alive, converted from a slave of sin and Satan–to a willing slave of the adorable Savior, with an assured hope of Heaven! Nothing to my mind can account for this, but the free and sovereign grace of God, to a Hell-deserving sinner!

“By the grace of God, I am what I am!” 1 Corinthians 15:9-10

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning, 

The Feast of Tabernacles/Sukkot/Feast of Booths/Feast of Ingathering begins on the evening of 29 September 2023 and runs through the evening of 6 October 2023. This is one holiday with four different names and meanings. This week we will explore these events. 

What will the Messiah Yeshua be doing during the Millennial reign over the Earth? 

Micah 4:2 “And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and HE (the Mashiach) will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law (Torah) shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.” 

Isaiah 2:3 says the exact same thing. HE, the Messiah, will teach us His ways. I doubt Yeshua will be teaching replacement theology or modern church doctrine that speaks against the Torah and the feasts of the LORD. There will still be Gentiles or nations outside of the New Jerusalem that will be required to go up and keep the feast of Tabernacles or Sukkot or they will face famines and plagues as punishment. Does this sound like modern Christian doctrine? This is not a matter of liberty or grace but a righteous requirement. This isn’t the “well I don’t fully understand this feast stuff so God understands my heart and will be ok with it.” Read for yourself! The scriptures speak it clearly and overwhelmingly, leaving no shadow of doubt or question. 

Zechariah 14:11,16-18 “And men shall dwell in it, and there shall be no more utter destruction; but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited… And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles… And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain… the LORD will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles… and the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.”  

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com 

Good morning, 

The Feast of Tabernacles/Sukkot/Feast of Booths/Feast of Ingathering begins on the evening of Wednesday 16 October 2024 and runs through the evening of Wednesday 23 October 2024. This is one holiday with four different names and meanings. This week we will explore these events. 

The Feast of Ingathering 

Another name given in scripture for the feast of Sukkot is the feast of Ingathering and also the feast of harvest. This is the end of the year in the fall when the fruit harvest was being collected. Three times a year males are to go up and pilgrimage to Jerusalem to keep the three “harvest feasts.” They are not to be empty handed because they are to produce the first fruits of their harvest as tithes to the LORD. The first harvest feast is Passover which is the barley harvest. The second harvest feast is Shavuot (Pentecost) which is the wheat harvest, and the third harvest feast is Sukkot for the fruit harvest. Notice that there are three harvest feasts to report to Jerusalem and there are three resurrections recorded in scripture. 

1. When Yeshua raised from the dead and those that raised with him called the first fruits of the resurrection (Matt. 27:53, 1 Cor. 15:20,23). 
2. The “first resurrection” or the resurrection of the just (Luke 14:14) before the millennial reign of the Messiah (Rev. 20:4-6). 
3. The “second resurrection” after the millennial reign of the Messiah (Rev. 20:12) which has been titled the Great White Throne Judgment by many teachers. 

It is interesting to note that these were pilgrimage feasts symbolizing the resurrections into the Kingdom of Heaven or the New Jerusalem. It is also symbolized in scripture in various places as being the reaping of the harvest. 

Exodus 23:16 “And the feast of harvest, the first fruits of thy labors, which thou hast sown in the field: and the feast of ingathering, which is in the end of the year, when thou hast gathered in thy labors out of the field.” 

Mark 4:29 “But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.” 

Revelation 14:15 “And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.” 
Remember that the “first resurrection” is called up at the feast of Trumpets (Yom Teruah) and those that are Atoned for under the blood of Yeshua (Yom Kippur) will be gathered together and made priests and judges in the Millennial kingdom, while tabernacling with the Messiah for 1,000 years. 

Isaiah 27:12-13 “And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall beat off from the channel of the river unto the stream of Egypt, and ye shall be gathered one by one, O ye children of Israel. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the great trumpet shall be blown, and they shall come which were ready to perish in the land of Assyria, and the outcasts in the land of Egypt, and shall worship the LORD in the holy mount at Jerusalem.” 

Zechariah 14:9 “And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day (the millennium of the Lord) shall there be one LORD, and his name one.” 

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning, 

The Feast of Tabernacles/Sukkot/Feast of Booths/Feast of Ingathering begins on the evening of Wednesday 16 October 2024 and runs through the evening of Wednesday 23 October 2024. This is one holiday with four different names and meanings. This week we will explore these events. 

The Feast of Tabernacles/Sukkot/Feast of Booths/Feast of Ingathering 

The Facts: 

What do the Scriptures say about it? 

Lev 23:34 “Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the Lord.” 
Lev 23:35 “On the first day shall be an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.” 
Lev 23:36 “Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto YHVH: on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto YHVH: it is a solemn assembly; and ye shall do no servile work therein.” 
Lev 23:39 “Also in the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when ye have gathered in the fruit of the land, ye shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven days: on the first day shall be a sabbath, and on the eighth day shall be a sabbath.” 
Lev 23:40 “And ye shall take you on the first day the boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and ye shall rejoice before the LORD your God seven days.” 
Lev 23:42 “Ye shall dwell in booths seven days…” 
Deut 16:13 “Thou shalt observe the feast of tabernacles seven days, after that thou hast gathered in thy corn and thy wine:” 
Deut 16:14 “And thou shalt rejoice in thy feast, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite, the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are within thy gates.” 

When is it? 

Lev 23:34 “Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, the fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto YHVH.” 

What are we commanded to do? 

1. Keep it Holy as a regular Sabbath, doing no servile work or the things associated with the seventh day Sabbath on the first day and the eighth day of the feast. 
2. Keep it at its time and season on the fifteenth day of the seventh month. 
3. Have a holy convocation on the first day of the feast and on the eighth day of the feast. This is a calling of the assembly or community of like-minded believers to assemble together and celebrate Tabernacles. If no one is able to convocate then call together your own family or travel to where another group of believers are assembling and keeping this day Holy or set apart. 
4. We are to build “booths or sukkahs” out of various branches mentioned in Lev. 23:40. We are to dwell in booths or tents for seven days and rejoice before YHVH. This is one of the pilgrimage feasts where all of the males have to appear in Jerusalem before the Lord.  

Spiritual/Prophetic Significance: 

Sukkot is significant of many things: 

1. The Israelites were led through the wilderness, being delivered from the bondage of Egypt and dwelt in booths and tents. YHVH provided everything they needed and protected them throughout their wanderings. 
2. Yeshua is believed to have been born on the first day of Sukkot (not on December 25th) and was the Word made flesh and dwelt (tabernacle/sukkoted) among us and was circumcised according to the covenant of Abraham on the eighth day (Hoshana Rabbah). 
3. Sukkot could also speak of a future exodus out of Babylon as scattered Israel and those nations that are grafted in journey through the Great Wilderness of the Tribulation and ultimately tabernacle with the Messiah in the New Jerusalem for 1,000 years. 

The Messiah in Sukkot 

Bible scholars believe that it was during the feast of Sukkot that Yeshua the Messiah was born upon this earth. Specifically, the first day of Sukkot the Son of God put on temporary flesh and dwelt among men. John the disciple alluded to this fact when he wrote where the Messiah came from. Matthew starts out showing the lineage of Joseph, while Luke eludes to the lineage of Miriam (Mary) through the family connection of Zechariah and Elizabeth but John spoke of the Heavenly DNA, linking Yeshua of Nazareth with the Word of God. 

John 1:1-2,14 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God…And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us…” The word used for dwelt in this passage literally means “tabernacled.”  

The feast of Sukkot is a 7-day feast with a special 8th day observance called Hoshana Rabba (the last great day or the last great praise) and Yeshua was circumcised on this 8th day (of the feast), and it is recorded in Luke 2:21. 

Later on, in the life of Yeshua we see another mention of Sukkot and it is a powerful demonstrative teaching that causes much stir in the temple ceremonies. It is during the Feast of Sukkot that a temple ritual would take place called the water libation ceremony. A priest was dispatched from the temple mount out through the southern steps down to the pool of Shi loach (which means sent) and the priest fills a vessel with water and returns up the steps into the temple. This is the only time that water (mixed with a little wine) is placed upon the altar. As water is poured out down one side of a trough that led down to the altar, wine was poured down another trough leading to the altar and together they would meet together on the altar that was red hot at this point. As the mixture of wine and water splashed upon the altar it hissed and steamed as everyone huddled around praying for rain in the coming season, praying for the Messiah to come and the indwelling of the Ruach Hakodesh (Holy Spirit). It is at this moment that Yeshua stood up and proclaimed, “If anyone is thirsty, let him keep coming to me and drinking! Whoever puts his trust in me, as the Scripture says, rivers of living water will flow from his inmost being!’” (John 7:37-38). It is at this moment that everyone started putting together the pieces of the puzzle. The waters carried up from the pool of Shiloach were called the “waters of salvation” or quite literally the waters of Yeshua. Here they have the Messiah who was named Yeshua which meant salvation and he stands at this moment and makes this claim as the mixture of wine and water, which symbolized the blood and water that flowed from his side was spilled upon the altar. Some argued with him, and some believed while others pondered these things further. On Hoshana Rabbah, the last day of the feast four 75 foot tall Menorahs were lit in the temple courts and Yeshua continued his teaching by using the symbolism of the bright lights around him: 

John 8:12 “I am the light of the world: whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light which gives life.” 

The Feast of Ingathering 

Another name given in scripture for the feast of Sukkot is the feast of Ingathering and also the feast of harvest. This is the end of the year in the fall when the fruit harvest was being collected. Three times a year males are to go up and pilgrimage to Jerusalem to keep the three “harvest feasts.” They are not to be empty handed because they are to produce the first fruits of their harvest as tithes to the LORD. The first harvest feast is Passover which is the barley harvest. The second harvest feast is Shavuot (Pentecost) which is the wheat harvest, and the third harvest feast is Sukkot for the fruit harvest. Notice that there are three harvest feasts to report to Jerusalem and there are three resurrections recorded in scripture. 

1. When Yeshua raised from the dead and those that raised with him called the first fruits of the resurrection (Matt. 27:53, 1 Cor. 15:20,23). 
2. The “first resurrection” or the resurrection of the just (Luke 14:14) before the millennial reign of the Messiah (Rev. 20:4-6). 
3. The “second resurrection” after the millennial reign of the Messiah (Rev. 20:12) which has been titled the Great White Throne Judgment by many teachers. 

It is interesting to note that these were pilgrimage feasts symbolizing the resurrections into the Kingdom of Heaven or the New Jerusalem. It is also symbolized in scripture in various places as being the reaping of the harvest. 

Exodus 23:16 “And the feast of harvest, the first fruits of thy labors, which thou hast sown in the field: and the feast of ingathering, which is in the end of the year, when thou hast gathered in thy labors out of the field.” 

Mark 4:29 “But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.” 

Revelation 14:15 “And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.” 
Remember that the “first resurrection” is called up at the feast of Trumpets (Yom Teruah) and those that are Atoned for under the blood of Yeshua (Yom Kippur) will be gathered together and made priests and judges in the Millennial kingdom, while tabernacling with the Messiah for 1,000 years. 

Isaiah 27:12-13 “And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall beat off from the channel of the river unto the stream of Egypt, and ye shall be gathered one by one, O ye children of Israel. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the great trumpet shall be blown, and they shall come which were ready to perish in the land of Assyria, and the outcasts in the land of Egypt, and shall worship the LORD in the holy mount at Jerusalem.” 

Zechariah 14:9 “And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day (the millennium of the Lord) shall there be one LORD, and his name one.” 

What will the Messiah Yeshua be doing during the Millennial reign over the Earth? 

Micah 4:2 “And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and HE (the Mashiach) will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law (Torah) shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.” 

Isaiah 2:3 says the exact same thing. HE, the Messiah, will teach us His ways. I doubt Yeshua will be teaching replacement theology or modern church doctrine that speaks against the Torah and the feasts of the LORD. There will still be Gentiles or nations outside of the New Jerusalem that will be required to go up and keep the feast of Tabernacles or Sukkot or they will face famines and plagues as punishment. Does this sound like modern Christian doctrine? This is not a matter of liberty or grace but a righteous requirement. This isn’t the “well I don’t fully understand this feast stuff so God understands my heart and will be ok with it.” Read for yourself! The scriptures speak it clearly and overwhelmingly, leaving no shadow of doubt or question. 

Zechariah 14:11,16-18 “And men shall dwell in it, and there shall be no more utter destruction; but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited… And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles… And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain… the LORD will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles… and the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.”  

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com 

Good morning, 

The Feast of Tabernacles/Sukkot/Feast of Booths/Feast of Ingathering begins on the evening of Wednesday 16 October 2024 and runs through the evening of Wednesday 23 October 2024. This is one holiday with four different names and meanings. This week we will explore these events. 

Spiritual/Prophetic Significance: 

Sukkot is significant of many things: 

1. The Israelites were led through the wilderness, being delivered from the bondage of Egypt and dwelt in booths and tents. YHVH provided everything they needed and protected them throughout their wanderings. 
2. Yeshua is believed to have been born on the first day of Sukkot (not on December 25th) and was the Word made flesh and dwelt (tabernacle/sukkoted) among us and was circumcised according to the covenant of Abraham on the eighth day (Hoshana Rabbah). 
3. Sukkot could also speak of a future exodus out of Babylon as scattered Israel and those nations that are grafted in journey through the Great Wilderness of the Tribulation and ultimately tabernacle with the Messiah in the New Jerusalem for 1,000 years. 

The Messiah in Sukkot 

Bible scholars believe that it was during the feast of Sukkot that Yeshua the Messiah was born upon this earth. Specifically, the first day of Sukkot the Son of God put on temporary flesh and dwelt among men. John the disciple alluded to this fact when he wrote where the Messiah came from. Matthew starts out showing the lineage of Joseph, while Luke eludes to the lineage of Miriam (Mary) through the family connection of Zechariah and Elizabeth but John spoke of the Heavenly DNA, linking Yeshua of Nazareth with the Word of God. 

John 1:1-2,14 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God…And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us…” The word used for dwelt in this passage literally means “tabernacled.”  

The feast of Sukkot is a 7-day feast with a special 8th day observance called Hoshana Rabba (the last great day or the last great praise) and Yeshua was circumcised on this 8th day (of the feast), and it is recorded in Luke 2:21. 

Later on, in the life of Yeshua we see another mention of Sukkot and it is a powerful demonstrative teaching that causes much stir in the temple ceremonies. It is during the Feast of Sukkot that a temple ritual would take place called the water libation ceremony. A priest was dispatched from the temple mount out through the southern steps down to the pool of Shi loach (which means sent) and the priest fills a vessel with water and returns up the steps into the temple. This is the only time that water (mixed with a little wine) is placed upon the altar. As water is poured out down one side of a trough that led down to the altar, wine was poured down another trough leading to the altar and together they would meet together on the altar that was red hot at this point. As the mixture of wine and water splashed upon the altar it hissed and steamed as everyone huddled around praying for rain in the coming season, praying for the Messiah to come and the indwelling of the Ruach Hakodesh (Holy Spirit). It is at this moment that Yeshua stood up and proclaimed, “If anyone is thirsty, let him keep coming to me and drinking! Whoever puts his trust in me, as the Scripture says, rivers of living water will flow from his inmost being!’” (John 7:37-38). It is at this moment that everyone started putting together the pieces of the puzzle. The waters carried up from the pool of Shiloach were called the “waters of salvation” or quite literally the waters of Yeshua. Here they have the Messiah who was named Yeshua which meant salvation and he stands at this moment and makes this claim as the mixture of wine and water, which symbolized the blood and water that flowed from his side was spilled upon the altar. Some argued with him, and some believed while others pondered these things further. On Hoshana Rabbah, the last day of the feast four 75 foot tall Menorahs were lit in the temple courts and Yeshua continued his teaching by using the symbolism of the bright lights around him: 

John 8:12 “I am the light of the world: whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light which gives life.” 

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com 

Good morning, 

The Feast of Tabernacles/Sukkot/Feast of Booths/Feast of Ingathering begins on the evening of Wednesday 16 October 2024 and runs through the evening of Wednesday 23 October 2024. This is one holiday with four different names and meanings. This week we will explore these events. 

The Feast of Tabernacles/Sukkot/Feast of Booths/Feast of Ingathering 

The Facts: 

What do the Scriptures say about it? 

Lev 23:34 “Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the Lord.” 
Lev 23:35 “On the first day shall be an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.” 
Lev 23:36 “Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto YHVH: on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto YHVH: it is a solemn assembly; and ye shall do no servile work therein.” 
Lev 23:39 “Also in the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when ye have gathered in the fruit of the land, ye shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven days: on the first day shall be a sabbath, and on the eighth day shall be a sabbath.” 
Lev 23:40 “And ye shall take you on the first day the boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and ye shall rejoice before the LORD your God seven days.” 
Lev 23:42 “ Ye shall dwell in booths seven days…” 
Deut 16:13 “Thou shalt observe the feast of tabernacles seven days, after that thou hast gathered in thy corn and thy wine:” 
Deut 16:14 “And thou shalt rejoice in thy feast, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite, the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are within thy gates.” 

When is it? 

Lev 23:34 “Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, the fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto YHVH.” 

What are we commanded to do? 

1. Keep it Holy as a regular Sabbath, doing no servile work or the things associated with the seventh day Sabbath on the first day and the eighth day of the feast. 
2. Keep it at its time and season on the fifteenth day of the seventh month. 
3. Have a holy convocation on the first day of the feast and on the eighth day of the feast. This is a calling of the assembly or community of like-minded believers to assemble together and celebrate Tabernacles. If no one is able to convocate then call together your own family or travel to where another group of believers are assembling and keeping this day Holy or set apart. 
4. We are to build “booths or sukkahs” out of various branches mentioned in Lev. 23:40. We are to dwell in booths or tents for seven days and rejoice before YHVH. This is one of the pilgrimage feasts where all of the males have to appear in Jerusalem before the Lord. 

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com 

Good morning, 

The Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur begins on Friday evening, 11 October 2024, at sunset. The Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16) is the most holy day on the Jewish calendar. This week we will see why. 

YOM KIPPUR 

THE DAY OF ATONEMENT 

Believers Perspective on Yom Kippur

Followers of Jesus the Messiah confidently look forward to eternal life, because our names are written in the Book of Life. When Jesus died, the veil of the Holy of Holies ripped in two, symbolically breaking a barrier between humans and the presence of God. Previously, only the High Priest had access to this room, and he only entered it once a year on Yom Kippur (Matt. 27:51). However, Jesus’ death gives believers access to God, because He entered into the Heavenly Holy of Holies to offer His blood for our redemption (Heb 9:11-12). Unlike the Israelites’ annual sacrifices on Yom Kippur, Jesus’ one sacrifice continues to provide atonement to this day. Yom Kippur, for followers of Jesus, reminds us of the certainty of our redemption through the blood of our Messiah and High Priest, Jesus. 

Yom Kippur also reminds us of the ultimate salvation of the Jewish people. The prophet Zechariah speaks of a day when the nation of Israel will recognize her Messiah and “they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son” (Zech. 12:10). When the Jewish people recognize Messiah, as Paul writes, “All Israel will be saved” (Rom. 11:26). The Day of Atonement thus reminds us of our own salvation and also looks forward to the salvation of Israel. 

Tomorrow, we will examine the elements of Yom Kippur. 

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com