Page 131 - Prophetic Word Newsletter Archive 2010

(GOD-CENTERED) OF THWE ORD 131

THE

THE PHILOSOPHY BEHIND CELEBRATING GOD-CENTERED HOLY DAYS

THE SEVEN GOD-GIVEN FEASTS OF THE LORD – Lev. 23

DEATH BURIAL RESURRECTION HOLY SPIRIT RAPTURE RETURN REIGN
OF CHRIST OF CHRIST OF CHRIST SENT BY CHRIST BY CHRIST OF CHRIST OF CHRIST

“HIM WE PREACH, WARNING EVER MAN AND TEACHING EVERY MAN IN ALL WISDOM, THAT WE MIGHT
PRESENT EVERY MAN PERFECT IN CHRIST. TO THIS END I ALSO LABOR…” Col. 1:28-29

“…WITH REGARD TO A FEAST DAY… SUCH THINGS ARE ONLY THE SHADOW OF THINGS THAT ARE TO COME,
AND THEY HAVE ONLY A SYMBOLIC VALUE. BUT THE REALITY, THE SUBSTANCE,

THE SOLID FACT OF WHAT IS FORESHADOWED, THE BODY OF IT, BELONGS TO CHRIST.” Col. 2:16-17 Amplified

“Him we preach” was Paul’s banner cry. As stated earlier, Paul used the Feasts to preach Christ to Gentile believers
at Corinth. Above Paul clearly states that what is foreshadowed in the Feasts belong to Christ. You will not find Paul
using some pagan-based Holiday of his day to preach the things of Christ, and neither should we. I do not believe that
God has changed His mind in giving this original charge to all spiritual leaders:

"AND THEY SHALL TEACH MY PEOPLE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE HOLY AND THE UNHOLY,
AND CAUSE THEM TO DISCERN BETWEEN THE UNCLEAN AND THE CLEAN.

IN CONTROVERSY THEY SHALL STAND AS JUDGES…THEY SHALL KEEP MY LAWS AND MY STATUTES
IN ALL MY APPOINTED MEETINGS, AND THEY SHALL HALLOW MY SABBATHS.”

Ezek 44:23-24

My purpose in writing this newsletter is simply to make an appeal to God’s people to choose to forsake the obvious
pagan-based Holidays in favor of honoring Jesus Christ by celebrating His “appointed meetings” and by “hallowing
His Sabbaths.” The Feasts of the Lord are part of His appointed Sabbaths. Look again at what He has done, is doing
and will do on those very days appointed in Leviticus 23! I am not asking you to return to the letter of the Law but
rather give honor to whom honor is due (Rom. 14:7, 1 Pet. 2:17). How much more can we honor Christ than by celebrating
His death on Passover, His burial on Unleavened Bread, His resurrection on Firstfruits, the sending of the Holy Spirit
on Pentecost, and then looking forward to the rapture by Christ on Trumpets, the second coming of Christ on the Day
of Atonement, and the Millennial reign of Christ on Tabernacles (as well as proclaiming His birth on the first day of
Tabernacles).

Unlike worldly holidays that cause us to focus on man-centered events, the Feasts focus us on the past, present and
future events centered in the work of Christ on earth and therefore can be used as constant reminders for God’s
people to “Set their mind on things above, not on things on the earth” (Col. 3:2). Celebrating the Feasts can stir us up
so that “ …we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells…” (2
Pet. 3:13). The Feasts will continually remind us to “…confess (to be) strangers and pilgrims on the earth” (Heb.
11:13). Celebrating the Feasts will cultivate a vision that “…here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to
come” (Heb. 13:14), ever reminding us that “ …our citizenship is in heaven…” (Phil. 3:20). Celebrating the Feasts will
teach our children the difference between “the holy and the unholy” and to discern between “the unclean and the
clean.”

“BLESSED…ARE THE PEOPLE WHO KNOW THE JOYFUL SOUND
WHO UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE THE SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS SYMBOLIZED BY THE FEASTS,
THEY WALK IN THE LIGHT AND FAVOR OF YOUR COUNTENANCE! IN YOUR NAME THEY REJOICE ALL THE DAY…”

Psm. 89:15-17 Amp.

Pastor Randy Shupe