Messianic Report Blog w/Don Meecha September 15th 2009

Introduction to the Feasts, Stop their Abrogation

Don Meecha

The Bible tells us that God has ordained certain and specific days of the week and months on which He is to be approached, honored and worshipped by those who say they are His people.  However, over the past centuries much of what God has said in the “Old Testament” has been treated just as it sounds,  as an old, outdated testament.  This I believe is due to some very poor study methods which overlook most things the Bible has to say on a topic by taking one verse out of context and hinging an entire theology on it.  Case in point, Hebrews 8:13: “When He said, ‘A New Covenant,’ He has made the first obsolete(this word “obsolete” is the same word as “growing old” which follows next follow and literally means the “aged one”).  But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear.” This passage in no way states that the “Old Covenant” has disappeared.  It merely states that it is “ready” to disappear, or literally fade away at some point.  But, for now it is the “Older” one, or more accurately an “aged one.”  However, in this case we must remember it is the Older Covenant which substanciates the Newer by supporting its substance with documented fact and truth.  We must becaful as to what we are going to throw out and remember picking and choosing which commandments you obey is playing God.  The Older Covenant is the literal foundational superstructure which supports the Newer Covenant’s proclaimation of Yeshua’s Messiah-ship. This “Older Covenant” has not faded away at all.  Instead we should be viewing it as out “Tutor” and “Mentor” is to teach us about Messiah, it gives us the Messianic prophecies, which we would never disreguard as absolete because they identify Yeshua.  So, why is it that most of Christianity ignore God’s Appointed Times?  God’s Appointed Times, from the Shabbat, to the Feast of Booths should not be ignored.  I believe if an individual wants to know about Yeshua then they will always be learning more about Him and the fulness of His Person.  I also believe that former Gentiles (Ephesians 2:12 states all Gentiles believe in Yeshua are now “former Gentiles”) who have come into the New Covenant, have come mainly through the promise of Joel 2:28 must begin to learn about the whole counsel of God and not just an isolated part of the Bible.  With the sending of the Ruach HaKodesh and the inagruation of the “Newer Covenant” in Acts 2 (having the entrance for Gentiles in Acts 10 with the household of Cornillius) Gentiles are now attached to the Commonwealth of Israel (Ephesians 2:12) and I believe with this new attachment former Gentiles need to be good citizens and learn about the “Super-Structure of the Older Covenant which holds up the Newer Covenant by which they entered into this relationship with God.The Older Covenant has not faded away, nor will it for some time to come in future.  Yeshua said, “Not one jot or tittle shall fade away until it is all fulfilled (Matthew 5:17).  It is not alll yet fulfilled, because Yeshua has not returned. And as of the writing of this article I still await.  So, until He returns and all of this fades away, the Newer Covenant can not stand alone without the Older Covenant and therefore, until then I believe that the direction Sha’ul pointed us in is the best way to go, as he said, “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Messiah.”  So, we need to go by what the Bible has say about something, not by men, or habit, or instinct. But rather find it in the Bible and do not be afraid to read it and take seriously.  What God said in the Older Covenant is still relevent today.  Maybe even more so.  You just might find out it is not the Jewish thing” to do, but a Biblical one instead. Introduction to the Fall Feasts, Stop their AbrogationA Final Thought According to Leviticus 23 the days of observance which God commanded should be seem eternal an undated.  There does not seem to be one place that I can find in the Bible where God ever said these Appointed Times would cease while man was on earth.  As a matter of fact, it is quite the opposite!  All believers should look for is the return of the Messiah and recognize that when He does return He will re-institute the very Festivals they deny.  This is because I personally think that most of Christianity practices abrogation of the Law.  They do this because they are afraid to wrestle with God’s commands as Jacob did with the Angel of the Lord.  They blessing will never come if we continue collectively like in this manner.  I believe it is proven among believers that Yeshua is the representation of God on this earth and Yeshua doesn’t change (Hebrews 13:8).  So, it would stand to reason all things will be “On Earth as it is in Heaven” (Matthew 6:10) someday as God reconciled us back to Him for this very purpose (2 Corinthians 5:19). So, my question to those who believe the Appointented Times are not necessary, “Why do you say the Feasts are not necessary to celebrate?  And, By what Scripture do you base your evidence?”  In my view the Feasts and Appointed Times are necessary to understand Who God is and His Messiah.  This is because as one learns about the Feasts and as one incorporates them into their life they learn more about God and His plan of salvation for mankind.  They also begin  to see the differnet Types and Shadows of Yeshua and His work.  This is the basis for discipleship.  Therefore, the bottom line for me is that if anyone wants to say these Appointed Times are not for today then they stand guilty, condemded by the Written Word.  And, for those who do not celebrate them because they “feel” it is not necessary and for those who just plainly outright abrogate them, they will be guilty of Matthew 5:19, where Yeshua said, “Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”Therefore, the Feasts, or God’s Appointed Times are a serious matter.  They are far more important to God and Yeshua then the traditions of men.  Sha’ul warns us in Clossians 2:8, “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Messiah.” This passage speaks of how men follow traditions according to the “wrong” eleents and/or going by their feelings.  People must remember that their feelings are not the Holy Spirit and it does not ultimatrely matter if we “feel” something is right or wrong, but rather, what does the Bible and God say about the subject matter at hand.