5 Reasons Believers Should Keep the Bible's Dietary Commandments

Are the Biblical instructions about food and eating for today?

Five reasons believers should keep the Bible's dietary commandments:

1. Scripture tells us to. The Bible devotes a fair amount of time to the food instructions, and I don't think that's for nothing. The Living God's word is not wasted. Like any loving parent he expects his children to listen to him when he is talking and to do what he says. The fact that Scripture mentions this and mentions it repeatedly tells us that we need to take note of it.

2. The Messiah expressly told us he did not come to change the commandments. While many believers would make a case that the Messiah did away with the dietary commandments or "made all foods clean," Yahusha went out of his way to say that he was not changing or doing away with Scripture's instructions (Matthew 5:17). That is a significant statement and something we need to seriously contemplate before we set aside any of the commandments, including those about what we eat.

3. New Testament believers kept them. Even in the New Testament, and even after the Messiah ascended into heaven we see that believers stuck to the Bible's parameters for clean eating. The Messiah served only clean foods such as bread, fish, and wine; Peter mentioned that he had never eaten anything unclean; the disciples were reprimanded by the Pharisees not for what they were eating, but for eating without washing their hands; Paul said that our eating should be done in a way that glorifies the Creator. There is simply no Biblical precedent for disregarding the dietary instructions of Scripture.

4. It is a tangible step of faith for others to see. Personally my faith changed a lot when I finally got tired of telling people that I was a believer and then explaining away why my life didn't reflect the teachings of the Bible. Maybe it doesn't seem like what we eat should be a big deal, but let me tell you for those outside of the faith it is confusing why most believers follow so little of Scripture. Live out of Scripture so that people can see you're not just cherry-picking the Bible to suit your own purposes. Showing that you are convicted enough to inconvenience yourself is powerful, and a testimony about the work of YHWH in your life.

5. We are blessed by doing so. Who couldn't use a little more of the Living God's blessings on their life? Scripture says that choosing to be obedient to the word brings good things to us and is a source of life. I know many people who would share with you that Biblically clean eating has caused their faith and their relationship with YHWH to grow. Many would also tell you that it has improved their health. What a gift from our Creator that he bestows so many good things on us when we follow his instructions.

More about the Bible's instructions for what we eat:
What is Biblically Clean Eating?
How to Eat Biblically Clean
Understanding Peter's Vision
Understanding Mark 7:19 and the Messiah Declaring All Foods Clean

Five Things Every Believer Should Know About Christmas

Here are five things every Believer should know about Christmas:

1. Christmas is not mentioned in the Bible. You can read the entirety of Scripture and you will not once come across 'Christmas.' Luke 2 and other places give some details of the birth of the Messiah, but without question this didn't happen on December 25 or even in December. You will not find the events of Christmas celebrations in Scripture, even by a different name (at least in a positive light). It just isn't there. Take a moment to consider the wisdom of basing a considerable block of your faith on something other than the word of God. What did the Messiah say about building your house on sand?

2. Many of its traditions are expressly prohibited by Scripture. This includes bringing a Christmas tree into your home to decorate (Jeremiah 10:2-4), the traditional Christmas ham (Leviticus 11:7), many nativity scenes (Exodus 20:4), and more. Does it make sense to try and worship YHWH by doing things he tells us not to? What does it say about us if we aren't willing to follow some basic instructions from him?

3. Scripture does not tell us to celebrate Christmas. Nowhere in the Bible are we instructed to celebrate Christmas or even the Messiah's birthday. If this had been something the Creator wanted us to do, he would have told us! Yahusha had many chances to throw himself birthday parties, but we don't see that. The Disciples could have preached on celebrating Christmas, but they didn't. However, Leviticus 23 gives us the details on seven set apart times of YHWH that we are to observe, and we can see these honored by both the Messiah and the Disciples.

4. Christmas predates the birth of the Messiah by centuries. There is a reason so many cultures and faiths celebrate Christmas, because it's not a holiday that is rooted in Scripture. The December 25 Christmas holiday has a long history of honoring the sun god or other pagan gods around the time of the winter solstice. So no, this isn't something that started out as a nice little way to honor the Messiah's birthday. This is something that originated from faiths against the Living God. While YHWH certainly could choose to redeem it, according to Scripture that is not how he handles things of pagan origin. One such example would be 2 Kings 10:27, when rather than 'redeeming' a perfectly usable temple of ba'al for his own glory he had it made into a public toilet. Here is a good article on Christmas predating the Messiah.

5. The lies of Christmas undermine faith! In our culture, children are told stories of beings they don't see but who do nice things for them. Santa brings presents, the Easter bunny gives candy, and the tooth fairy leaves money under pillows. In time children are let down (Or devastated. These things can hurt.) with the truth...that these are just lies. How does that impact their faith in the Messiah, whom they also can't see, but supposedly loves them and will give them eternal life? I don't think we can emphasize enough how confusing and detrimental these lies are to faith. Even if your children know Santa isn't real, what are the implications for their faith when they find out Christmas isn't in the Bible? It's frustrating and confusing to realize that the Christian faith isn't based on following YHWH's commandments, and if we don't believe we should do as YHWH instructs in one area, why would we in another? 

Those are a few of the reasons why I decided to stop celebrating Christmas. 

More posts about Christmas:
Are Christmas Trees in the Bible?
Why I Stopped Celebrating Christmas as a Believer in Messiah
The Father Christmas Detail CS Lewis Had Wrong in the Chronicles of Narnia

Things I Love About the Sabbath

When I share with someone that I keep the Sabbath (honor YHWH's set apart day by resting on the seventh day of the week), they usually feel sorry for me. It's crazy, but many people treat the day of rest like it is some sort of huge burden. If you might be feeling that way yourself, let me tell you: it is anything but a burden. You know when you're feeling overloaded and say, "I need a vacation!" or wonder when you're next day off is? For me, that is never more than six days away. Isaiah 58:13 calls the Sabbath a delight, and once you've made it your lifestyle, it is so easy to do that. While there are many difficulties and heavy loads to carry in life, having a day to rest is not one of them.

A few things I love about the Sabbath:

1. It's a break. One of my favorite things about the Sabbath is always having an upcoming break from it all. No matter how busy things are with work, family commitments, seeing friends, home improvement projects, and whatever else I'm juggling I get to look forward to taking a step back to refresh. Before I started honoring Shabbat my calendar would often become overfilled and it would be overwhelming not to have a day off in site. No worries about that now as there is time to rest each week. That is such a gift to look forward to during busy times.

2. There's time to spend in the Word. Of course I make it a point to spend time reading Scripture, listening to teaching, and praying throughout the week but sometimes that's not as much as I would like. Honoring the Sabbath means no matter what the rest of the week was like, I have a set time for spiritual refreshment. And studying on Shabbat is so nice because you don't have that rush to finish your reading on your lunch break or in the carpool line.

3. Getting to see family. Even if my husband and I are both very busy we know for sure we will get to spend time together come the Sabbath day. We have also made a tradition of lunch with my parents and grandparents, and extended family on Shabbat so we are always able to have quality time as a family and to catch up during seasons that would otherwise be too busy.

4. No money is spent. While some might view not shopping on the Sabbath as an inconvenience, our bank account appreciates having a no-spend day each week. Honoring the Sabbath means we don't go out for a meal or go shopping or make an online purchase or buy coffee. That's a financial difference that adds up. Before you say that the same amount of money gets spent on the other days of the week let me give an example of the financial savings of the Sabbath. It's not unusual for us to think of something on Friday or Shabbat that we need or would like to have, but since we aren't able to purchase it right away we often find that the desire for that item fades or an opportunity to borrow what's needed or otherwise get it for less presents itself. Patience can save you a lot!

5. The stability of this compounds. Maybe the perks of financial savings or taking a break from it all don't sound life changing, but being able to look forward to the Sabbath each week compounds in an amazing way! The first time I observed the Sabbath I didn't feel much different, but now I can see what a huge impact this has had on my life. I am less stressed, and much less easily overwhelmed. Managing my life around keeping this commandment has brought incredible peace and contentment to my life.

There are many more benefits and joys that come with Sabbath keeping. If this is a new idea to you, which one of these things could you use the most in your life right now? If you keep Shabbat, what is your favorite part?

Want to learn more about the Sabbath? Here are fifteen things Scripture says about it and five things the Messiah taught the Sabbath.

Scripture Reading for the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot)

Here is a list of Scriptures to read during and in the time leading up to the Festival of Sukkot. This set apart time is also known as the Feast of Tabernacles or Booths, the Festival of Ingathering, and the Season of Joy, so there are certainly lots of Scriptures that would be appropriate for this time of year! This time is a reminder that YHWH dwells with us, and calls to mind both Yahusha's life and also his return when he will once again be physically present with us.

Scriptures to read for Sukkot:

Exodus 23:16 - the first mention of Sukkot in Scripture, before the Israelites even got to the Promised Land.
Leviticus 23:34 - details on Sukkot.
Deuteronomy 16:13-15 - talks about rejoicing during the Festival of Booths.
Psalm 27:5 - a promise that YHWH will secure us in his sukkah.
Ecclesiastes - this is a traditionally read during Sukkot.
Ezra 3:4 - the celebration of Sukkot after the Temple was rebuilt.
Nehemiah 8:14-18 - the Torah is read after many years of neglect and the people see the instructions on keeping the feast.
Zechariah 14:16-20 - a prophecy of the feast of Sukkot being celebrated in the millennium.
Luke 2 - the story of the birth of the Messiah, which is evidenced to have happened at this time of year.
John 7 - Yahusha's time at the festival of Sukkot.
Revelation 21:3-5 - when the sukkah of YHWH comes and dwells with us.

More on Tabernacles:
The Feast of Tabernacles: Everything You Should Know
8 Things Scripture Says About the Feast of Tabernacles
Activities for Tabernacles

There Remains a Sabbath Rest

"So there remains a Sabbath keeping for the people of YHWH." -Hebrews 4:9 BYNV

This passage in Hebrews, written several decades after the ascension of the Messiah, has a simple reminder for us: Sabbath remains. Many translations of Scripture even say, "there remains a Sabbath keeping duty for the people of YHWH." This is something he expects us to do, honor the fourth commandment. Many people teach that if you believe in the Messiah you don't need to do this, but Scripture says otherwise. And it says otherwise, in this passage specifically, around 30 years after Yahusha left this world.

This shouldn't be viewed as a burden, but rest that is needed for the hard work of living and creating and making and doing. Earlier in the passage we are reminded that YHWH himself rested on the seventh day from all his works (Hebrews 4:4). This verse is permission to rest and breathe and relax; actually it is a commandment given to us by YHWH himself.

Sabbath keeping is for you, today. 

How To Stop Working on Shabbat

 
So you've realized that the Sabbath is on the seventh day and that honoring it is a good idea. But...you work on Shabbat. How can you change that? It is challenging to do holy things in a culture that does otherwise. It can take time to find a way to set apart the Sabbath day. It can be hard, but not too hard. It is possible to have a work schedule that allows you to rest on the Sabbath. Here are some ideas to get there.

-Pray about it.
This is step one! If you believe that YHWH desires you to honor his Shabbat by having a day off of work, pray for guidance about the route you should take to get there. He will provide a way for you to honor his commandment.

-And then do something.
I am reminded of the story in Nehemiah 4 when those working to rebuild the wall prayed for protection and organized a watch for safety. If money is tight do you pray for YHWH to meet your needs? Of course. But do you just sit back on the couch hoping for an unexpected check to show up or do you go to work, put in overtime, delay a shopping trip, search the couch cushions for change, etc. to scrape up enough money for your bills? Faith goes with action!

-Be a great employee.
If you want your employer to accommodate your desire to rest on the Sabbath, it helps to be great at what you do. Honing your professional skill set, working hard, following directions and protocol, having a positive attitude, going the extra mile, being friendly and considerate to coworkers and clients, intentionally working towards getting better at what you do, showing up on time - these are things that companies value. If you show up at work with a poor attitude, slack off from your duties, complain and gossip why would anyone go out of their way to have you work for them? Being hard working and reliable means that your place of business will be more likely to go out of their way to keep you around.

-Talk to your boss about changing your availability. 
Your supervisor is not going to change your schedule unless you talk to them about it. It might not be the most comfortable conversation, but if honoring Shabbat is important to you then it's necessary. You don't need to give a ton of details if you don't want to. You could start the conversation with something like, "I've decided to start observing the Biblical Sabbath day which is Saturday and I'd like to talk with you about options for me to have that day off." If being direct is difficult, consider putting it in writing.

-What if your supervisor questions your sincerity?
Many people have been questioned by their employer about their beliefs, and it usually goes along the lines of, I thought you were always religious, why would this be an issue now? or It sounds like you just don't want to work Saturdays. Employers are allowed to ask some questions on your faith, and how and when you present your request will have some affect on how it is received. If the company has just announced it will no longer pay time and a half on Saturdays and that's when you say you can't work then for religious reasons...well, you can see how that would look suspicious. Otherwise, just honestly tell them that your beliefs have changed. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (they enforce the non discrimination laws) has pointed out that religious beliefs and practices do change over time, so what you've done in the past should not determine your present beliefs.

Make it a point to show the sincerity of your beliefs at other times as well. Would coworkers be surprised that you're a believer based on your workplace behavior? Is your boss able to drive by your home and see you mowing the grass on your 'day of rest'? There are countless ways you can show that your faith is important to you, which is an excellent testimony to others, and should go a long way with your workplace accommodating your desire to honor Shabbat.

-Sign up for other shifts.
When I first started observing the Sabbath day I worked for a radio station where I made promotional appearances on the weekend and in the evenings. Because our schedule of events was always different we signed up for what we could cover each week. So I stopped signing up for Saturday events but I made up for it by working more at other times. Sunday I was there. Friday morning, Wednesday night? Yep, any time that was not the Sabbath I would do. Had I just crossed Saturday events off the calendar I wouldn't have fulfilled the requirements of my job; working above and beyond the minimum for the rest of the week made it possible to get that day off though. And by making myself available so much the rest of the week I stayed on my boss' good side which didn't hurt either.

Similarly, a friend was able to get out of working at a grocery store from Friday night - Saturday night (notoriously busy times for retailers), by agreeing to work the hard-to-fill overnight shift Saturday night/Sunday morning. He had never worked thirds before, and didn't really fancy the idea of it it but it was worth it to him to have the Sabbath off.

-Find someone to switch shifts with.
Ask around to see if someone would be willing to trade shifts with you. Someone else might actually prefer the hours you are trying to give up, but you probably won't know unless you ask. You can sweeten the pot by offering to work on Christmas, Easter, etc. - covering those can help you to get off for the Biblical holidays. Be sure to clear any shift trades with your boss if necessary.

-The legal stuff.
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act is a federal law that prohibits employers from discriminating based on religion (as well as sex, race, color, and national origin), so it is a crime for your workplace to discriminate against you because you are a Sabbath keeper. This means that federal law requires companies to reasonably accommodate the religious practices of their employees except if doing so would create an "undue hardship" on the employer. "Undue hardship" gets defined as something beyond minimal cost or burden to the employer. Basically, how difficult would it be for your employer to change your schedule? Typically an example is that if you not working on the Sabbath would cause your employer to force someone else to come in or cause them to pay someone overtime to work for you that would be undue hardship, whereas switching shifts with a willing coworker would not. Title VII also says that your employer cannot retaliate against you for exercising your rights to religious accommodation. Obviously the water gets a little murky with the terms reasonable accommodation or undue hardship, but if you feel like you are being discriminated against consider consulting with a lawyer. There are free legal chatlines where you can ask questions, so you can get a better idea of the specifics in your situation. 

-Look for other jobs.
What if your employer is not accommodating or the nature of your job demands work on the Sabbath? Rather than throwing your hands up in the air, grab the classified section. See what's out there. Ask around. Send in your resume. Start exploring your options and you may be surprised at what comes up.

-If you're self-employed.
Obviously being self employed gives you the freedom to set your own schedule but facing a drop in business can be daunting. Be encouraged by many stories from self-employed hairstylists, photographers, etc. who have stopped working on Saturdays and have actually seen an increase in business. This might require some changes, like focusing more on family portraits and less on weddings for photographers, for example. But it is most certainly an option for entrepreneurs! As with being a great employee, being excellent at what you do and providing great customer service means customers and clients will work with your schedule.

-What about emergency workers?
In our society there are many jobs that require someone to be there 24/7. I get that. I'm glad that healthcare and help from the police is always available. Caregivers for the elderly or disabled are needed every day of the week. There is also the occasional need for things like snow clearing services, radio and news workers (during natural disasters or storm warnings, for example), and people on call to fix power and phone lines. Does that mean people in these fields have a free pass from observing the Sabbath? 

If you're in a field like this, definitely pray about what YHWH wants you to do. While emergencies come up, I don't think this means YHWH wants someone regularly missing out on his set apart day. There is a big difference between a doctor getting called in for life-saving emergency surgery or to help a woman in labor, versus scheduling a routine appointment on Shabbat. I would add that right now there are plenty of people who don't honor the Sabbath day, so it's not like people aren't available to cover your hours. I believe that as we see a shift towards more and more people honoring Shabbat there will be less of a need for many of these services. For example, if sporting events aren't on the Sabbath and factories and job sites are closed, there will be fewer injuries and hence less need for medical services.

As the priests rotated duties in the Temple, I think rotation and taking turns is absolutely essential for jobs like this. For jobs that require round the clock services or someone on call, see about rotating and taking turns so that everyone is able to honor at least some Shabbats.

-If you're interviewing for a job.
Be up front about what schedule would work for you. Don't tell a company that your availability is completely open and then expect them to accommodate you later. We have found that clarifying that you don't mind working overtime or inconvenient shifts, just not the Sabbath for religious reasons, is a good way to clarify your expectations to a would be employer.

-Get creative.
Is a job that pays less offering weekends off? Maybe downsizing your home or vehicles would make a pay decrease a feasible option. Could you start a side hustle to make up for income lost from Saturday overtime? Could one spouse pick up another job so they can afford for the other to have the Sabbath off? Is going into business for yourself a possibility?

What's been your biggest challenge in stopping work on the Sabbath day? For those of you who have been able to do so, what helped you to free up the day? What advice would you give to someone that wants to stop working on Shabbat?

Keeping the Law - A Covenant with God

The argument goes like this, "But we can't keep the law perfectly." 

Have you ever heard this? Or thought this yourself? Many times hearing of someone who is attempting to follow Scripture's less popular instructions like not eating certain animals or recognizing that the Sabbath day is actually the seventh day of the week and not the first, calls to mind the words from James 2:10.

"Anyone who guards the Torah, and yet stumbles in one point, he is guilty of breaking it all."

Mostly we've heard this and thought, "Eh, there's no way I could do this 100% perfectly, so why even try?" Or, "I know I'm going to break it in this area so why go out of my way to keep it in another?" And that's been an incredibly unfortunate and incorrect way to view this passage.

Imagine if we carried this same logic to our wedding day, would we admit that we won't be able to love our spouse perfectly so we're not going to bother making an effort?

Despite our best intentions with our marriage there will be slip ups. Frustrations can lead to harsh words. Communication won't always be clear. Requests are easily forgotten. Actions can be hurtful. Frustration is inevitable in marriage and that's okay. I don't expect perfection from my husband and he extends that same kindness to me. It's okay that we aren't perfect spouses. Does that mean we should say, "Well I can't love you perfectly so it doesn't matter if I am faithful to you,"? Of course not! Realizing we are not perfect does not let us off the hook of the basics of how to treat your partner. Is a frustration from an honest mistake from your husband or wife different than he or she intentionally doing something you asked them not to? That's how it is for our Creator as well. Like in a healthy marriage, we should do our best to love and honor YHWH to the best of our ability.

Similarly, a business owner doesn't hire someone for a job expecting a flawless performance every week. But that doesn't mean the employee is off the hook with his work duties either. The employer holds the employee accountable to show up on time, have a good attitude and complete the tasks required of the job. Not being perfect doesn't mean we should neglect what is asked of us.

To go back to the verse from James, the point isn't that there's no point in trying. The point is that no matter how seemingly insignificant the instruction is to us, it matters to the one who gave it to us. Don't give yourself permission to break even the lesser commandments. Yes, slip ups happen sometimes. But as in relationships and job situations we are still expected to do our best. As with the guideline of marriage vows for how to treat our spouse, the commandments are given so that we can know how to live. Like with marriage, it takes effort on our part to have the best relationship possible with the Creator.

Hebrew School: What is sin?

In today's lesson I want to focus on understanding what sin actually is according to Scripture. Too often the definition gets muddled and people are left thinking that 'sin' is just having a bad attitude or in general "falling short" or that being a 'sinner' is just a vague sense of not being good enough. There is a lot of confusion about what sin is and if we don't stop to define it we can't end up with some very incorrect ideas about Scripture.

In John 8, the Messiah tells the woman who was caught in adultery to, "Go and sin no more." This tells us that the definition of sin to Yahusha is clear cut and easily understandable. This is not like an encounter with an upset boss who tells you not to disappoint him again when you're not sure what he is upset about in the first place. That doesn't leave you with any tangible ways of how to please your superior. But when the Messiah said it, the woman understood that she really could stop sinning because she understood what that was.

What is sin according to Scripture?

1 John 3:4 tells us.

Anyone who commits sin violates Torah, for sin is the transgression of the Torah. RSTNE

Everyone who keeps sinning is violating Torah - indeed, sin is violation of Torah. CJB

Everyone doing sin also does lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. BYNV

Everyone who sins breaks God's law, because sin is the same as breaking God's law. CEV

Scripture defines sin as disobeying the commandments of YHWH. This particular sentence was penned by John, who of course as one of the disciples spent a lot of time with the Messiah. If Yahusha had taught that it was okay to disobey the instructions of YHWH John would have heard him, but he didn't!

Is this just talking about commandments in the New Testament?

First of all, when John wrote this there was no 'New Testament.' At the time the Scriptures consisted of the Tanakh, or what many would call the 'Old' Testament. All of John's basis for commandments would have come from the Tanakh, as did all the Messiah's teachings on the instructions.

Second, when instructions are given in the 'New Testament' they stem from the commandments in the Torah. We see the Messiah do this many times like in Matthew 5:27-28 when he talked about adultery. He acknowledged the commandment to not commit adultery, and then clarified that you shouldn't even think about it. He gave us a better understanding of the commandments, he never did away with them.

What does this mean?

It means we don't have to wonder what sin is or if we're doing it. By studying Scripture we learn the commandments of YHWH and that tells us how we should live. By keeping the commands we are obedient to YHWH. He does not want us to be in the dark, blindly guessing at every decision what his will would be. Understanding what sin is empowers us to walk with confidence in our faith.

Read these passages with a better understanding of sin.

"If you don't do what is right, violating the Torah is crouching at the door - it wants you, but you can rule over it." -Genesis 4:7

"If we confess we have violated his commands he is faithful and just to forgive us." -1 John 1:9

"He bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to Torah violations and live for righteousness." -1 Peter 2:24

"Forgive others when they violate the commandments against you, and YHWH will also forgive you." -Matthew 6:14

"Should we violate the Torah because we have the favor of YHWH? Of course not." -Romans 6:15

"Direct my footsteps with your word. Don't let violating the commandments rule over me." -Psalm 119:133

"We have violated the Torah and done wrong." -Daniel 9:5

Yahusha said, "I tell you that everyone who violates the Torah is a slave." -John 8:34

"I have hidden your word in my heart, that I wouldn't disobey your commands." -Psalm 119:11

"He did not violate the Torah." -Hebrews 4:15

More Hebrew School:
What a Hebrew is
The Set Apart Times of Scripture
Keeping the Law...even if we can't do so perfectly
What a 'no-work day' is
The Northern and Southern Kingdoms
Syncretism!
Why We Don't Sacrifice Animals

Six Things You Can Do Now to Get Ready for the Spring Feasts

What can we do to start preparing for the Bible holidays of Passover, Unleavened Bread, and First Fruits?

When you're new to celebrating the Bible holidays, it can be hard to know what to do or how to spend this time. Take some time to consider what your goals are for this year's feast days. Maybe that's doing something for Passover for the first time ever. Maybe that's putting up decorations around your home. Maybe that's taking the week off from work. That could be be traveling to celebrate with a group of believers or inviting friends over to learn about these special times. Whatever your hopes, now is the time to prepare to make that happen.

Six things you can do now to get ready for the Spring feasts:

Prepare your calendar. Different groups use different calendars, but Passover is coming up around the beginning of April. Decide on which calendar you're using and then be sure to clear your schedule then! Put in for time off work, don't schedule any appointments or major home projects then, clear other commitments from your schedule if need be. Let your children's teachers know if they'll be missing any school, etc.

Make plans. Do you want to have your family over for a Passover supper? Invite them and start thinking about a menu. Do you want to celebrate with a group of believers? If so, see about finding a group you can join, and find out when they'll be gathering. Could you invite friends over for a Bible study or see about having your small group have a time of communion and foot washing?

Study to learn about Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Whether this is your first year celebrating or fiftieth, there is something new to be learned this year. Read through the stories of Exodus and the crucifixion. You could also read books on the feasts by Eddie Chumney or Anne Elliott, among others. Studying Scripture always gives me fresh ideas and motivation for honoring YHWH's set apart times.

Do your shopping. Do you want to deck your house in crepe paper and balloons? Or give a Passover themed gift to family members? Do you need to order matzah? Are you hoping to find Passover shirts or signs? Do you need supplies to make Passover craft projects with your kids? Make a list of what you'll need for Passover and Unleavened Bread and get your times ordered or make it a point to go to the store so you don't have to rush at the last minute.

Start getting the leaven out of your house. Go through your cupboards and freezer and see what leavened items you have to use by Passover. Get those used up or donate anything you can't use to a food pantry. Leavened items are mostly breads, and things with breadcrumbs in them such as meatballs or breaded chicken. If you're not familiar with leavening, start learning now!

Take time to spiritually prepare. Removing the natural leaven from our homes is a picture of removing the spiritual leaven from our hearts. Has YHWH been speaking to you to let go of something or an area that hasn't been fully surrendered to him? Pray and ask to see what he wants to do and is doing in your life. Spend time worshipping and studying his word.

Preparing for any of the Biblical holidays is a special thing, but if you're reading this smack in the middle of the week of Unleavened Bread, don't despair! The Bible's directions for these holidays are simple enough so that anyone can participate in them. Start now and do what you can to join in the holidays the Creator made for us and to remember the amazing works of the Messiah that happened during these days!

More posts to help get ready for the Bible holidays:
Preparing Spiritually and Emotionally for Passover
The Beginner's Guide to Unleavened Bread
Kids Crafts for Passover, Unleavened Bread, and First Fruits

An Introduction to the Set Apart Times of YHWH

Have you ever wondered what the set apart times are in the Bible? In addition to the weekly Sabbath, there are seven times of the year that YHWH tells us to set apart. These times are special, and not only because we are told to celebrate them. Each holiday has significance historically, prophetically, and in the life of the Messiah. Paul wrote in Colossians that these times are a shadow of things to come. That means we have a lot to learn from these holidays.

The set apart times are:

Passover
Matzah Week / The Feast of Unleavened Bread
First Fruits

Shavuot / Pentecost / The Feast of Weeks

Yom Teruah / Feast of Trumpets

Yom Kippur / Day of Atonement

Sukkot / Feast of Tabernacles

While specific dates are given in Scripture, the Biblical calendar doesn't mesh perfectly with the Gregorian so the dates move a bit each year. 

Needing clarification is the truth that these are not "Jewish holidays." No, no, no. These are part of Scripture, so if you are a Bible believer these are yours, regardless of nationality or bloodline or family traditions. While these have largely only been kept by Jewish people, YHWH never, ever says that only part of his people should celebrate them. Deuteronomy 16:14 expressly tells us that foreigners who join the community of YHWH's people should celebrate these days too, so no matter your background the Creator invites you to these times. He made them for his honor, but also for our enjoyment and erudition. Two of the greatest gifts ever bestowed on humanity - YHWH's instructions for living and the Holy Spirit - were given at Shavuot. The Messiah was born during the Fall Feasts and of course crucified on Passover and resurrected during Matzah Week. Perhaps the most joyous time in history will be on Yom Teruah at the returning of Yahusha. These times are stunning in their significance.

A brief overview of the set apart times:

Passover: In the Biblical year Passover is the very first feast. We see the Israelites keep Passover just before the Egyptian exodus. They were instructed to brush the doors of their homes with blood from a lamb, we are reminded that the Messiah was the perfect sacrificial lamb. That's not just an allegory either, Yahusha was killed on Passover. 

The Feast of Unleavened Bread: This is a week long celebration that starts the day after Passover. Leavened/yeast bread and other products are forbidden this week. As yeast is a very small ingredient that rabidly transforms all the dough, we are reminded that the small things in our life make a huge impact. It was during this week when the Messiah rose from the dead.

First Fruits: This day happens during Matzah Week, but there is a lot of debate as to when. This is when the first of the barely harvest was to be presented before YHWH. First Fruits is the day the Messiah resurrected from the dead and presented himself to the Father. It is also when we are to start counting fifty days.

Shavuot: Fifty days after First Fruits we are to celebrate Shavuot. This is a day of great significance as the instructions on how to live were given at Mount Sinai and then shortly after Yahusha's ascension into heaven, the Holy Spirit was given on the day of Shavuot.

Yom Teruah: The first of the fall feasts, Yom Teruah means something like Day of Sounding. All those verses that talk about a trumpet sounding when the Messiah returns? It will happen on that day.

Yom Kippur: Under the Levitical priesthood this was a very significant day because it's the day that the priests made atonement for all of Israel's sin with the two goats. Today we can celebrate that the Messiah has atoned for our sins. Prophetically, it is thought that this will be the day that the earth is judged and the people who have been atoned for by Messiah will be separated from those who have not.

Sukkot: This is a beautiful look ahead to when YHWH will dwell or camp with us. With that in mind, it's no surprise that it is believed the Messiah was born during this time. This eight day celebration usually looks like a camping trip, with the commandment being to dwell in tents. Others build a temporary structure on their property and spend time there throughout Sukkot.

Why should we be keeping the feasts?

-We are told to keep these set apart times forever (Exodus 12:14). And you know what? This isn't a bad thing. These are times of joy. Thinking otherwise illustrates a lack of trust in our Creator, that we could think so negatively about him to believe he is hosting parties just so we can be miserable during them. This is not the case at all. Each set apart time is a gift from him; a time for celebration, rest, joy, thanksgiving, time with family and friends, delicious foods, and fun memories. I refuse to treat that like a burden.

-We see the Messiah celebrating these times in Scripture. He even hosts a Passover meal (also known as the last supper). And he is supposed to be our example, right? So one of the answers to those WWJD bracelets is, "celebrate the feasts!"

-Paul exhorts us to keep the feasts (1 Corinthians 5:8). Even after the Messiah was ascended into heaven we are told to keep these festivals.

-Scripture tells us not to let anyone judge us for doing this (Colossians 2:16). In his all knowing, YHWH knew we would be facing some peer pressure to not keep the feasts. I think that's why in Colossians he reminded us to not let other's opinions make our decisions for us. It's not man's choice. It's YHWH's instruction.

Are there benefits to celebrating YHWH's set apart times?

To quote Paul, "Much in every way." Most people keeping the cultural holidays do so because they feel like they are beneficial. The benefit could be that it's something fun to look forward to, or that it's an excuse to spend time with family and friends or to take a break from work, or that it's a way to celebrate love or show people you care. And these are for times that are man made or have very dark origins. How much more then can the Biblical holidays bring goodness into our lives? Here are a few of the opportunities you will have in keeping celebrating the Biblical holidays.

-Deeper relationship with the Messiah. Everything about the festivals points to him. We are going to get a a better understanding of who he is when we start celebrating the feasts. It gives us a closer look at his life (we know what he was doing at these times of year), and we can prophetically see what his return will be like.

-Taking ownership for faith in a concrete way. Believing and trusting can feel a little abstract at times. It is nice to do something tangible to grow in faith and relationship with YHWH. These are regular times to slow down and refocus on faith.

-Understanding Scripture in much more depth! The festivals are a significant part of both Old and New Testament Scripture. We are going to miss a lot of details if we aren't at least somewhat familiar with what these are. And we know that all of Scripture is useful for teaching, correcting mistakes, and training in character.

-Sharing experiences that those in the Bible had. Keeping Passover is something Moses did. And Miriam and Joshua. And the Messiah and the disciples. King Josiah and Apostle Paul too. How cool is it that we can relate to them in this way? These set apart times bring members of our faith together over thousands of years, and can make Scripture come alive to us.

-Building relationships with other believers. A Passover meal or Sukkot celebration is a great time to journey to be with others in the faith. Sharing these special times together can foster lasting friendships and meaningful relationships.

This is just a brief introduction to the feasts. There is so much more richness to each one! For more on individual feasts, go here.