2 To have a holy convocation
The second rationale of the main reason for having a holy convocation is to have fellowship and rejoice
together before Him. For thus says the Lord; “These are My appointed feasts, the appointed feasts of the Lord,
which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies.” Again; thus says the Lord; “These are the Lords appointed feasts, the sacred assemblies you
are to proclaim at their appointed times” (Leviticus 23:2, 4).
And so, God
has ordained specific times for His people to have fellowship with one another and
this fellowship is also with the Father and the Son and by so doing one is
ascribing to the Lord the glory due to His name because every appointed time is
a memorial of what the Lord did for humanity on that particular day.
Therefore,
appearing before the Lord on a day He has not ordained is an abomination, for
thus says the Lord; “To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to
Me?" Says the LORD. "I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and
the fat of fed cattle. I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs or
goats. "When you come to appear before Me, Who has required this from your
hand, to trample My courts? Bring no more futile sacrifices; Incense (prayer)
is an abomination to Me. The New Moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of
assemblies --- I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting. Your New Moons
and your appointed feasts My soul hates; They are a trouble to Me, I am weary
of bearing them. When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you;
Even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of
blood” (Isaiah 1:12-15).
We are not
under law but under grace: Therefore, no one is under any compulsion to observe
or not to observe the Lord’s Sabbaths as clearly illustrated by the apostle
Paul who wrote: “One person esteems one day above another; another esteems
every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes
the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the
Lord he does not observe it” (Romans
14:5-6).
Nevertheless,
the way one shows and expresses reverence and love towards God s by observing His
Sabbaths. For thus says the Lord; “You shall keep My Sabbaths and reverence My
sanctuary: I am the LORD.” And, Jesus stated clearly, “If you love Me, keep My
commandments.” And according to the apostle Paul: “What then? Shall we sin (transgress
the law) because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! (Leviticus 19: 30; 26: 2; John 14:15; Romans 6: 15)
Therefore, the
observance of the Lord’s Sabbaths I repeat, is not because of legalism, coercion
or compulsion but in reverence, adoration, thanksgiving and commemoration for
what the Lord did on that particular day on behalf of humanity and perpetuating
them for future generations.
To be continued
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With brotherly love
Lucius Joseph
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