Welcome to Delight in Grace. The Teaching Ministry of Rich Powell. pastor of Grace Bible Church in Winston-Salem. Deuteronomy 16 has a lot to say about feasts. These ancient celebrations instituted by God all those years ago.
Are infused with symbolism. of the one Messiah who would come, and what would be accomplished through him. Pastor Rich unpacks for us how these shadows pause. Point to our Lord Jesus. Let's listen in.
This is the final portion of the message originally preached on august eighteenth, twenty twenty four. To hear it in its entirety or to hear more messages in this series, visit www.delightingrace.com. And God promised them he would be near and he would bring them to rest. That's what the feast of booths. celebrates.
Now there's a foreshadowing in this and still today, you know, Hebrew people In Palestine. They will set up booths. They set up these tents and they're they're covered with cloth on the outside and on the top. They're all covered with palm leaves and all kinds of branches and they will stay out there for a while. It's a seven-week feast.
They will eat out there. And in the ancient feast, when there was a temple, and they still do today, there's a water element, the oblation it's called. And that and it comes every day of the week. And then you have Look with me in the foreshadowing now. Look with me at John chapter 7, verses 37 and 38.
It's up on the screen there. On the last day, of the feast. What feast is it talking about? This one, Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles, Feast of Booths. On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, If anyone thirst, let him come to me and drink.
Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. And John gives us an interpretive key to that in his text of the gospel. where he says Jesus was there speaking directly about the Holy Spirit. who would come. and indwell.
His people. Endless resource. Endless resource. There are those that believe, there are scholars that believe that Jesus was born during the feast of Sukkot. The Feast of Tabernacles.
That could make sense when John says, and the word became flesh, and dwelt Among us. You know what? That word dwelt. Is Tabernacle. The word Tabernacled among us.
And that's what Sukkot commemorates: the Feast of Tabernacles. That God's nearness is with us. God is with us. He came near. And he came near because he wants us to be near him.
Revelation chapter 7, verse 15: He who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. That's God's ultimate ambition for us. that we will enjoy his presence. presence. Forever.
What makes heaven heaven? Heaven. Is God. God. And I love this verse in Revelation chapter 23.
Again, part of the foreshadowing of this feast of Sukkot. Revelation 21, 3, and I heard a loud voice. from the throne saying, behold, The dwelling place of God is with man. And he will dwell with them. And they will be his people, and God Himself will be with them as their God.
Right there, folks, is the intent and the desire, the purpose of God. From the beginning. That's God's desire. Relationship. God made us to know Him and enjoy Him.
He didn't make us because he needed us. God is infinite. He has no need. But he made us because he loves us. And it is our benefit, it is our highest good, and our deepest satisfaction.
to be near him. This is what the feast of Sukkot Tabernacles. Celebrates. Revelation 22, verses 3 and 4. No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and the Lamb will be in it.
This is. The new heavens and the new earth. And his servants will worship him. And here it is. Watch this.
They will see him. Yeah. Face. Do you know how awesome of a statement that is? God made you to be near him.
And he made it possible. Because he came near. to us. Who is like the Lord our God? We should remember that.
We are called to remember that. He is our greatest joy. our highest good and our deepest satisfaction.
So I want to challenge you this morning. Can you identify the habits? of gratitude. In your life? Do you tend more to complain and criticize, or are you?
developing in Christ By the power of the Holy Spirit, are you developing the disposition of of gratitude. Because a complaining Christian is a contradiction in terms. What are your habits of gratitude? Not only should there be habits of gratitude, but there should also be moedim. Of gratitude, special appointed times of gratitude, which is why six times a year we come to the Lord's table next Sunday night, August 25th, right here.
Be here to say Thank you. Thank you that you came near. And forfeited your life so that I could be reconciled. to God. Thank you.
Special Appointed times. And I want to present this challenge to you personally. You personally, I want to present this challenge to you as families. in your household. And if it's just you, then it's me, myself and I, right?
But celebrate. Have those appointed times where you are particularly thankful to God. Because of who he is and what he's done, but also for us corporately. Be intentional. about being together with God's people when we make much of Him.
and thank him for who he is and what he has done. This is what Paul tells us. In Colossians chapter 3 and verse 17. Whatever you do, in word or deed. What does that include?
That includes your life. Whatever you do in word or deed. Do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus. What does that mean? Everything I do.
is consistent with God's character and purpose. Do all of it in the name of the Lord Jesus, and here it is. Giving thanks to God the Father. Through him. Colossians 3.17.
We're called to that. Because we are his people. And he is good. He is good. There's never a time that he is not good.
He is good. And we always have cause. to be grateful to him.
So let's be habitual. about our gratitude, but also let's be intentional at appointed times. to be together, to make much of God. and remember who he is and what he has done. Would you stand with me, please?
I want to give you an opportunity this morning as we. Draw to a conclusion the teaching time from God's Word. As we respond to him, we're going to respond. with song, but I would love us to respond right Now with our voices. And thank him for who he is.
Thank him for what he has done. It could be that God has brought something specific to your mind. It could be that you are yet once again overwhelmed at the con at the truth of of the grace of God and His sacrifice for you. the grace that He has lavished upon you. What are you thankful for this morning?
I encourage you to speak out loud. And thank God this morning as He hears the prayers of His people expressing our gratitude to Him. for his goodness. Let's pray together. Lord, I thank you that your mercies are new every morning.
Your chest will be. And here's this band that you're going to have these processes to say. Thank you for what you've taken care of. Thank you for sharing. Thank you for walking with us through.
hard times and Multiple times. Thank you for your provision. Thank you that you could not leave us alone, but gave us the Holy Spirit to hold us and enroll us in every moment. Thank you for the words. Thank you for your Yeah, okay.
Mm-hmm. Thank you for the promise then we'll wonder if you see. for the grace that you have lavished upon us. that you are a faithful God, that you have purposed. You have made promises.
And you keep those promises. and we can trust you. Because you are good. And so Father, find us to be a people. to lighting in In our moments of Prosperity in our seasons of Lament.
Find us, Father. Delighting. in you because you are good. And we will thank you for who you are. for what you have done.
and for what you will do. In Jesus' name. Amen. Thanks for joining us here at Delight in Grace. You've been listening to Rich Powell, the lead pastor at Grace Bible Church in Winston-Salem.
The Delight in Grace mission. To help you know that God designed you to realize your highest good. and your deepest satisfaction in Him. the one who is infinitely good. We hope you'll join us again on weekdays at 10 a.m.
