On this, the first evening of Family Camp 2014, we welcomed Pastor Mark Van Valin from the Spring Arbor, Michigan Free Methodist Church as our Family Camp Evangelist. Pastor Van Valin will be speaking this week on the topic if holiness, more specifically "coming home" to our foundation as Free Methodists founded in and on holiness.
This evening message focused around John chapter 7 where Jesus goes - in secret - to the Feast of Tabernacles. The Feast if Tabernacles was an eight-day feast that followed the harvest, not only did it begin on the Sabbath, it also concluded on the Sabbath. Much like our week of Family Camp, as we begin on Sunday (our celebrated Sabbath) and we conclude on Saturday (the true Sabbath).
Throughout the Bible water is used as a metaphor frequently - water may be the primary metaphor used in the Bible.
Isaiah 55:10-11; For as the rain and the snow come down from heavenand do not return there but water the earth,making it bring forth and sprout,giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;it shall not return to me empty,but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
And wilderness was symbolic for a lack if water.
The Feast if Tabernacles was a celebration to help the Israelites remember God's hand if deliverance from the wilderness.
It was on the final day - the greatest day - of the Feast of Tabernacles that Jesus made himself known (John 7:37) with a statement that would have been quite odd. After eight straight days of feasting - gorging - thelmelves in food and drink Jesus stand before them and says; If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.
As we begin our week of Family Camp together, let us ask; is anyone still thirsty. Many of us come from our home churches where we regularly hear the Word of God spoken, we come from lives where we are committed to studying, believing, obeying, and depending on God's Word for our lives. And still, we are still thirsty.
Let us pray; Lord, I'm going to commit this week to You.
I'm thirsty and in need of the holiness that can only come from God.
Adam, you've struck on a great idea of posting a review of the message. Spot on! May we all pray for a fresh infilling of the Holy Spirit during these days and may the results reflect the day of Pentecost in the spread of the gospel in our venues of ministry and around the world. Thanks again, Adam.
ReplyDelete