2. Are we appearing before the Lord at His appointed [ordained] times?
The second close examination we should all take is to ask ourselves this simple question: Are we appearing before the Lord at His appointed times? Remember, the Lord said to Moses; “These are the Feasts of the Lord, holy convocations [sacred assemblies] which you shall proclaim at their appointed times.” Moses announced to the Israelites the appointed [ordained] Feasts of the Lord beginning with the Seventh Day weekly Sabbath, the Passover/Unleavened Bread, First fruits, Feast of Weeks/Pentecost, Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement, and Feast of Tabernacles including the Eighth day. (Leviticus 23:4-44).
You may have been deceived or misled in believing that these Festivals were designated only for the Jews, and are not relevant to the Gentiles, but I write and speak to sensible people; judge for yourselves what the scriptures say in regards to salvation for the Gentiles.
For this is what the Lord says: “Maintain justice and do what is right, for My salvation is close at hand and My righteousness will soon be revealed. Blessed is the man who does this, the man who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath without desecrating it, and keeps his hand from doing any evil.”
“Let no foreigner who has bound himself to the Lord say, ‘The Lord will surely exclude me from His people:” And this is how the Lord put to death the hostility between the Jews and Gentiles. He came and preached peace to you (Gentiles) who were far away and peace to those who were near (Jews). For through Him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit” (Ephesians 2:14-18).
It is unequivocally clear that the times which God ordained for sacred assemblies are still current and in force. The bible is replete with evidences where Jesus Christ who is the Lord of the Old Testament says: “To the eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths, who choose what pleases Me and hold fast to My covenant – to them I will give within My temple and its walls a memorial and a name better than that of sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that will not be cut off.’
‘And foreigners who bind themselves to the Lord to serve Him, to love the name of the Lord, and to worship Him, all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it and who hold fast to My covenant – these I will bring to My holy mountain [kingdom] and give them joy in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on My altar; for My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations” (Isaiah 56:1-7).
Gentiles are instructed to glorify God together with His people, and not in isolation. They have been instructed saying, “Accept one another then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, to confirm the promises made to the patriarchs so that the Gentiles may glorify God for His mercy, as it is written: ‘Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing hymns to your name.”
Again, it says, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people.” And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and sing praises to Him, all you peoples” (Romans 15:7-11).
Our God is not a God of confusion. “Jesus Christ is our peace, who has made the two (Jews and Gentiles) one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in His flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in Himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross.
So then, I beg to ask the question, the days we have set aside to celebrate as festivals in honor of God who authorized them? Are they the ones that were ordained by the Lord and classified by the Lord as My feasts! Or are they customs and traditions instituted by men and their religious organizations? If it is the latter, one should allow the word of God and their conscience to judge them in this matter.
To be continued
With brotherly love
Lucius Joseph
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