The Holidays of God

This post was first published on ROOTSS on Wednesday, 27th February 2008

Last Sunday, as part of the sermon series on the Nicene Creed, Ps Reuben preached a sermon entitled "We Believe in the Coming of God's Realm and Reign to the World", which refers to eschatology or the end-times. The text for his sermon was Lev 23.  You can download the sermon at the following link:

http://www.box.net/shared/tn18ourmx0

I was extremely impressed because Ps Reuben is a relatively-young pastor and Leviticus is not an easy book to preach from. This was also the first time I had heard a Methodist pastor preach on the 7 Jewish feasts of the Lord, namely Passover, Unleaven Bread, Firstfruits, Pentecost, Trumpets, Atonement and Tabernacles.

I found his sermon to be very edifying and ministering because he was rightly dividing the Word -- by explaining how these 7 feasts are types and foreshadows that find fulfillment in the New Testament. In his sermon, he referred to 1 Cor 5:7 where Paul says that Christ is our Passover Lamb.

He also referred to 1 Cor 15:20 where Paul says that Christ by His resurrection, is the firstfruit of all who had died. Sure, Jairus' daughter and Lazarus were raised from the dead, but it was only prolonging their life on earth; they eventually died again. Jesus was the first one who was resurrected from the dead, never to see death again! And we who are Christians will follow suit to inherit eternal life.

So where does eschatology fit into this, one may ask? While the 1st 4 feasts have already been fulfilled by Jesus' first coming, the last 3 feasts will be fulfilled in the end-times by His second coming.

I had been meaning to blog about these 7 feasts in a future post, but since it has been preached upon, it would be more meaningful to listen to that sermon. This (as well as other anointed sermons of his) have been compiled here.

Yesterday, it so happened that my dad showed me a booklet by RBC Ministries entitled "The Holidays of God", which also talks about these 7 "holy" days. These booklets in PDF format can be read online at the following links:

The Holidays of God - The Spring Feasts
The Holidays of God - The Fall Feasts

Thank you Lord for sending Ps Reuben to PLMC! May You continue to bless and prosper his ministry here.