Leviticus, chapter 23

Father God, thank you for this is the day that You have made and we shall be glad and rejoice in it in the name of Jesus, Amen. Thank you LORD.

Leviticus 23:1-3 (NKJV)

1. And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

2. "Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: 'The feasts of the LORD, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are My feasts.

3. 'Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation. You shall do no work on it; it is the Sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings."

Amen, thank you LORD.

This chapter is full of feasts proclaimed by the LORD - God loves celebrations, holy celebrations for His people to enjoy, worship and rest in Him. We have been looking at different regulations that God required for the children of Israel to obey so they would be holy and for God's presence to dwell among them. In this chapter, the LORD is sharing on the different feasts the children of Israel had to observe and the LORD calls these holy convocations. Before the LORD gets into the rules governing these regulations, He speaks of a complusory rest called the Sabbath. The LORD God desired for His people to rest and on this day, no work would be done. This shows us that God's heart is for His children to be at rest in all things. After every instruction that Moses gave concerning the different offerings and sacrifices, the LORD God did not lay out a plan for the children of Israel on how to serve Him but He laid out a plan for them to rest, to feast and make holy celebrations unto Him. How we relate with God is also a form of service to Him.

In the new Testament, rest is not just something we do, it is a place, a spiritual positioning based on a personal relationship with God that we have been blessed with found in the finished works of Christ. In heaven, Jesus is seated as well from a place of rest. Psalm 110:1 (NKJV) shows us how God has appointed Jesus Christ a seat in heaven implying a place of rest "Sit at my right hand until I make Your enemies Your footstool." The earth is the footstool of the LORD (Isaiah 66:1). Now, this place the Lord Jesus has received is primarily for the benefit of every child of God. When you receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour of your life, Ephesians 2:6 (NKJV) says God has, "and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus." You and I are seated at that place of rest with Jesus where God has put every enemy under Jesus' footstool. Now this is what I call privileged, children of God are privileged, what a blessing, AMEN.

Prayer: Father God, thank you for that You have raised us up together with Jesus and made us sit in the heavenly places with Him so we celebrate with Him because all His enemies are under His footstool. Thank you that in all things, Your rest LORD is forever abiding in us and with us in the name of Jesus, amen.

I'll end with this Jeremiah 31:3 (NKJV)

"The LORD has appeared of old to me saying: "Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with loving kindness I have drawn you."

Zephaniah 3:17 (NKJV)

"The LORD your God is in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing."

Amen, thank you LORD.

Invitation to salvation: The best gift that Jesus gave us is receiving salvation and eternal life which is a personal relationship knowing God as our Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. 

If you would like to receive this free gift of God's salvation, please say this prayer with me:

"I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that God sent His One and only Son who died for my sins and was raised from the dead so that I could have eternal life." Amen

If you just said this prayer, GLORY TO GOD, you are now a new creation in Christ Jesus! In case you have not already, please prayerfully consider becoming a member of a church and get WATER BAPTIZED!