As I have been starting to think about the upcoming Feast of Tabernacles, I remember how often Satan has tried us in an attempt to take away our joy of celebrating before YHWH. Whether it is financial, spiritual, relationships or health issues, Satan will always try and prevent us from attending and enjoying the feast. We must overcome these assaults!
Possibly the greatest weapon he uses against us is ourselves. It always grieves me when I think back to the number of feast sites I have attended over the years where we allowed Satan to take away our joy through our own poor behavior.
In all these cases, the damage we caused to ourselves and the brethren at the feast was due to our own carnal natures being uncontrolled. Gossiping, back biting, tattle telling and divisive disputes over debatable doctrines were all causes of disruption and hurt.
If we are going to successfully come together in the unity of the faith as the Bride and Body of Messiah – THIS MUST STOP!
We have no control over our environment. What happens around us will always happen. But, we have total control over how we react to our environment! Gandhi said, “If we could change ourselves, the tendencies of this world would also change. As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him. … We need not wait to see what others do.”
This is often paraphrased as “Be the change you want to see in the world!” Either way the message is clear – we are the ones who need to change!
If we are going to bring peace and unity into our assemblies and our Feast sites we need to change. We must put off our carnal nature. We must bridle our tongues and accept that we may be slighted instead of continuing the arguments and gossip which cause division among our brethren.
Y’HoWShUA instructed us, “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven:” (Mt 5:44-45a)
This weeks message. “Live peaceably with all” covers this subject in more detail.