The Sound of Going

When the children of Israel came out of the wilderness they were ready to possess the land God had promised them. They were ready, even though the land was filled with enemies that would fight to keep them out. Likewise, the church is full of false prophets and antagonists who war against the truth. These evil men and women are usually very influential in the Body. They have the money, the zeal and political power needed to offer all types of contradictions to the truth. But by the time the Israelites got to the Jordan, they had seen the mighty hand of God in chastisement for their failure to obey.

They were at the Jordan River ready to cross over. The church has reached its Jordan River. There are some Joshua’s and Caleb’s that have already crossed over. They have spied out the land and declare that it is just as the Father promised. The enemies of the gospel are there. The lost are entrenched in strongholds of perversions designed by Satan. They have also captured the minds and hearts of the people of God. But there are a few who have escaped the temptations of the enemy and are ready to reach back for those who are still dangling in despair.

The nations of the world can be brought to Christ; but the church must come back to him first. Let us go to the schoolmaster and see the heart and mind of God regarding such a situation as the church finds itself in.

Deuteronomy 16:13-17

13 Thou shalt observe the feast of tabernacles seven days, after that thou hast gathered in thy corn and thy wine:

14 And thou shalt rejoice in thy feast, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite, the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are within thy gates.

15 Seven days shalt thou keep a solemn feast unto the LORD thy God in the place which the LORD shall choose: because the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thine increase, and in all the works of thine hands, therefore thou shalt surely two rejoice.

The feast of tabernacles was a celebration commemorating the end of the Hebrews' journey in the wilderness, in which they wandered for 40 years. Those of us who have been delivered from sin and iniquities should be rejoicing and celebrating our victory over sin, instead of complaining about the condition of the world or the church for that matter. We have been delivered and are not ignorant of the devices of the devil. We know the truth about walking in the Spirit. We understand what it means to be perfect. Therefore, the Body of Christ should be moving in global evangelism, instead of sitting around waiting for some great move of God.

This is the dispensation of the church. The gospel was committed to men to preach and teach. The Church is the great move of God. When the sons of God stop waiting on God and begin to do that which we were commissioned to do nearly two thousand years ago, every nation will hear the truth. Rejoicing in what the Lord has done is the order of the day. The sadness and depressive state of the church is an insult to our God. The Body of Christ is standing still; hiding behind a lack of money or personnel; when the truth is, the only lack is that of contentment and love for the people of God. The Body can’t rejoice because it is not satisfied with the way God is running things. It wants too much. It is not content with whatever the Father provides. It wants its aspirations and dreams fulfilled before it will commit to any form of global evangelism. But that mindset has departed from us. We are willing to rejoice in the midst of hard trials, suffering and persecution. We are free from sin and the liberty of the Spirit belongs to us. Our meat is to serve the Lord.

Let us look a little closer at this festival of rain (as it is sometimes referred to):

Numbers 29:12-39 (KJV)

12 And on the fifteenth day of the seventh month ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work, and ye shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven days:

13 And ye shall offer a burnt offering, a sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD; thirteen young bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year; they shall be without blemish:

14 And their meat offering shall be of flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals unto every bullock of the thirteen bullocks, two tenth deals to each ram of the two rams,

15 And a several tenth deal to each lamb of the fourteen lambs:

16 And one kid of the goats for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, his meat offering, and his drink offering.

17 And on the second day ye shall offer twelve young bullocks, two rams, fourteen lambs of the first year without spot:

18 And their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner:

19 And one kid of the goats for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, and the meat offering thereof, and their drink offerings.

20 And on the third day eleven bullocks, two rams, fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish;

21 And their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner:

22 And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, and his meat offering, and his drink offering.

23 And on the fourth day ten bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish:

24 Their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner:

25 And one kid of the goats for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, his meat offering, and his drink offering.

26 And on the fifth day nine bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without spot:

27 And their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner:

28 And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, and his meat offering, and his drink offering.

29 And on the sixth day eight bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish:

30 And their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner:

31 And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, his meat offering, and his drink offering.

32 And on the seventh day seven bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish:

33 And their meat offering and their drink offerings for the of the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner:

34 And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, his meat offering, and his drink offering.

35 On the eighth day ye shall have a solemn assembly: ye shall do no servile work therein:

36 But ye shall offer a burnt offering, a sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD: one bullock, one ram, seven lambs of the first year without blemish:

37 Their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullock, for the ram, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner:

38 And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, and his meat offering, and his drink offering.

39 These things ye shall do unto the LORD in your set feasts, beside your vows, and your freewill offerings, for your burnt offerings, and for your meat offerings, and for your drink offerings, and for your peace offerings.

THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES

· Verse 13: DAY 1 - 13 bullocks - drink offering

· Verse 17: DAY 2 - 12 bullocks - drink offering

· Verse 20: DAY 3 - 11 bullocks - drink offering

· Verse 23: DAY 4 - 10 bullocks - drink offering

· Verse 26: DAY 5 - 9 bullocks - drink offering

· Verse 29: DAY 6 - 8 bullocks - drink offering

· Verse 30: DAY 7 - 7 bullocks - drink offering

· Verse 35: DAY 8 - 1 bullock - drink offering

70 Animals were offered up; representing the seventy nations the Hebrews passed through on their journey in the wilderness.

This is the mind of God. When the people of God encounter those who know him not, the sacrifice of intercession should automatically be offered for them. The drink offering was a mixture of the water and the wine that was poured out before the Lord. This symbolizes the two elements that came down from heaven; the Word and the Spirit. They are poured out before the Lord, as a type of the rain that will be poured out from heaven. Water was a very scarce commodity in the desert. However, the Lord provided water for his people in every nation in which they journeyed. So, the drink offering was also offered on behalf of each nation in which the children of Israel passed through drinking that nation’s water. If we would but go to the nations of the world, the Lord will provide the water or Word that would satisfy the thirst, which they are never able to quench.

The eighth day only one bullock was offered up. He is the symbol of Christ who is the fulfillment of all the previous offerings. It is God coming back to the people saying, “I want to make a promise to My people”. This is when Jesus stands up on the eighth day of the feast of the Tabernacles and proclaims that if any man thirst, let them come to me. I am the rain that God promised you. That rain has come down from above. But if the people of the earth are to be partakers of it, the sons of God must move into the nations so that out of their bellies the living water will flow.

Get up Body of Christ! Wake up you sleeping giant. You are the called and chosen of God. You have the latter rain in earthen vessels. Go to the nations and let it pour out of you as is ordained by God. We are using every resource and opportunity to share this great gospel. We must stop complaining about what we don’t have and use whatever the Father has provided. We are faithful and we will evangelize the world. We are called to the nations and we will go.

Deuteronomy 16:18-22

18 Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, throughout thy tribes: and they shall judge the people with just judgment.

19 Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous.

20 That which is altogether just shalt thou follow, that thou mayest live, and inherit the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

21 Thou shalt not plant thee a grove of any trees near unto the altar of the LORD thy God, which thou shalt make thee.

22 Neither shalt thou set thee up any image; which the LORD thy God hateth. We have heard your speech and we will obey.