Shalom Dear Brothers and Sisters Rivers of Living Water John Chapter 7 talks about the feast of booths. Yeshua had been causing quite a kerfuffle the last three years many were beginning to believe He was Messiah and this was a problem for the Pharisees. It was on the last day of this great feast that Yeshua in verse 37 "... stood up and cried out if anyone is thirsty let him come to Me and drink, 39 he who believes in Me as the Scripture says "out of him will flow rivers of living water""! The reason this was such a powerful and profound statement was because it took place during the time of the celebration when the high priest was pouring water out from a pitcher that had been brought to the Temple from the pool of Siloam. By the time Yeshua came to dwell with us in human form many traditions had been added to the feasts and festivals of Adonai. One of these traditions was the water celebration. The high priest would enter the Temple carrying the pitcher of water from the pool of Siloam as he entered three blasts on the silver trumpets sounded from the Temple and the priests with one voice repeated the words of Isaiah "with joy you shall draw waters from the wells of salvation" Isaiah 12:3! What Yeshua was crying out was saying I am here I will save you! Can't you just feel His heart as He looked out at the crowd hungry and thirsty and all He wanted was to gather them in His arms a hen gathers her chicks Matthew 23:37. Yet He knew as difficult and horrifying it would be it would take His shed blood on a cruel Roman cross to truly redeem His people and the rest of the world! The ultimate purpose for the water ceremony was to remind Israel that is Adonai gives life to His people and it is Adonai who showers blessings down upon His people. That it is Adonai who refreshes His people just as He did when He brought them out of Egypt through the desert to the promised land providing water from a rock. Here is a reminder for us that life, in the past year and in the year to come, is in Adonai's hand and requires His presence in our lives. Many people are out there who are hungry and thirsty we need to let His light shine through us as we walk humbly and righteously before Him. We have the true Rock we have the wells of salvation we have the Ruach living within us so that we can overcome anything that may come at us! Yeshua is still crying out to us He commanded us to go out and make disciples of all men! As I shared in yesterday's message we need to listen to the Father and not only listen but also obey! This is also the celebration where they wave the branches and sing the hosannas this is where the people became confused and performed the ceremony as Yeshua was entering Jerusalem on a donkey. The last time Yeshua came on a lowly donkey and He came to bring deliverance and redemption. The next time He comes there will be a blast of the trumpet and He will set up His Kingdom and He will rule with judgment and justice! We are truly living in the last days oh Saints. Look at the economy people are beginning to panic they are losing life savings from investments they have put into this world system. Let us do what Yeshua taught us to store up treasure in heaven where no moth or worm can eat it! How do we do that by keeping our eyes and hearts open and set on the LORD! By following the appointed times and that includes the Shabbat the most important one of all in my opinion we will learn week by week how to walk His ways! In this way we will bring glory to our Father and Messiah Yeshua. As we walk out our faith before friends and family in love they will be drawn to us and want what we have! Yeshua walked in love and we need to follow in His footsteps! B'Shem Yeshua Hamashiach In His Love, Theresa |