Psalm 118 We’re Invited to a Barbeque! By Sharon Killion E-mail, sparrow557@aol.com Website, cherubimnetwork.com/brokenbread
	In the Old Testament, men (man-child company of Rev.12:5) were required to go up to Jerusalem three times a year to worship the Lord. They went up for Passover, Pentecost, and the Feast of Tabernacles. In our day, the time of the New Testament era, it’s really no different. We must experience all three feasts in order to come into full salvation. Salvation is full deliverance from the curse. (See Deut. 28) We have been saved (if we’re truly born of the Spirit), we are being saved and we shall be saved. Salvation is a progressive process! We have seen the first two feasts fulfilled in the earth. Passover was fulfilled when Jesus came and became our spotless Lamb. His sacrifice took away the sins of the whole world. We must receive Him as our savior in order to really appropriate the power of this feast and be “saved.” In tabernacle terms, we have then entered the Outer Court in the Tabernacle of Moses. The second feast fulfilled in the earth was Pentecost, which was 40 days after Passover. Forty days after Jesus was crucified, buried and resurrected from the dead, Pentecost was fulfilled in the earth. The Holy Spirit was sent to the 120 believers gathered in the upper room. Experientially we must receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit in order to appropriate the virtue of this feast and be empowered to be witnesses (“martyrs” in Greek). In tabernacle terms, we have then entered the Holy Place in the Tabernacle of Moses. Now we’ve waited nearly 2000 years, longing and looking for the fulfillment of Tabernacles, the THIRD feast. This brings us into the Third Day…the three thousandth year from Jesus (“a day with the Lord is as a thousand years”). Tabernacles is a time when we can go into the Holiest of Holies (Remember the Day of Atonement?). Experientially we will come into union with God. We will be filled with all the fullness of God Eph. 3:17-19 Amp: 17 May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love, 18 That you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints [God’s devoted people, the experience of that love] what is the breadth and length and height and depth [of it]; 19 [That you may really come] to know [practically, through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and   become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]! We will see Eph. 4:13 (Amp) come to pass: [That it might develop] until we all attain oneness in the faith and in the comprehension of the [full and accurate] knowledge of the Son of God, that [we might arrive] at really mature manhood (the completeness of personality which is nothing less than the standard height of Christ’s own perfection), the measure of the stature of the fullness of the Christ and the completeness found in Him. Psalm 118 is an awesome song concerning the Feast of Tabernacles (the Third Day). Tabernacles was literally celebrated in the fall of the year (Sept-Oct). Could this be the year for it’s fulfillment in the earth? I personally believe that this generation will see the manifestation of a people, living in the earth, who have experienced this feast. Verse 2-4 speaks of three groups of people who are rejoicing in God. I submit that “Israel” (vs. 2) represents Outer Court Christians and “priests” (vs. 3) represent Holy Place Christians. In verse 4 we see a people who “reverently and worshipfully fear the Lord”. These are the people who in vs. 5 have cried out to the Lord and He Has answered them and set them free and in a large place. These are Third Day believers who are living, experientially, seated with Him in heavenly places. They are in the Holiest of Holies: free from self and empowered to rule the nations (Rev.2:26-27). Isaiah 54: 2-3 (Amp): 2 Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; spare not; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes, 3 For you will spread abroad to the right hand and to the left; and your offspring will possess the nations and make the desolate cities to be inhabited. Twice we see in Ps. 118, “the Lord is on my side.” Twice we see, “it is better to trust and take refuge in the Lord.” Two is the number of witness. This third day people have a testimony. They claim no more fear in vs. 6: have overcome their enemies in vs. 7: are no longer man-pleasers in vs. 8: and don’t follow men (leaders) blindly in vs. 9. Wow! These folks have been processed! Only the Holy Spirit can impart His life in men! Three times we hear them say of their enemies that, “in the name of the Lord I will cut them off.” This is a people who know their God, have authority to use His name, and get results! To know His name is to understand His character, His power, His promises, and His very nature. To know Him in an intimate relationship. Psalm 91:14 (Amp) says “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him; I will set him on high, because he knows and understands My name [has a personal knowledge of My mercy, love, and kindness—trusts and relies on Me, knowing I will never forsake him, no, never]” Who are these enemies? …not people, but anything that takes His place in our lives! Second Corinthians 10:5-6 (Amp) tells us that “we refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the (true) knowledge of God: and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ, being in readiness to punish every (insubordinate for his) disobedience, when your own submission and obedience (as a church) are fully secured and complete.” Twice we’re told that “He is become our Salvation”. He has fully delivered us from the curse (Deut. 28). Salvation is actually mentioned four times…seems an important issue to our God. He is waiting for His enemies to be made His footstool. We are His feet because we are “the body of Christ.” He is the “Head” of the body. When this Third Day people experientially appropriates all that our Lord died and rose again to purchase for us, we will have put all of our enemies (even death) under His feet. I love what the Lord spoke to my son, Joel, a few months ago. He said, “What is it about ‘it is finished’ that you don’t understand?” This people is really the overcomer of Revelation 2. They will eat of the tree of Life…no more death. Hallelujah! Psalm 118:17, 18 says it better than I can, “I shall not die but live, and shall declare the works and recount the illustrious acts of the Lord. The Lord has chastened me sorely, but He has not given me over to death.” From verse 19-26 there is rejoicing over the wonders of our Lord. He’s made us the righteousness of God in Christ! He has brought us into this awesome Third Day (the Kingdom Age) in which we cannot help but rejoice and be exceedingly glad! The Feast of Tabernacles is unveiled in verse 27 (Amp). “The Lord is God, Who has shown and given us light [He has illuminated us with grace, freedom, and joy]. Decorate the festival with leafy boughs and bind the sacrifices to be offered with thick cords [all over the priest’s court, right up] to the horns of the altar.” To be illuminated is to have the light go on…to understand. Our enlightenment begins with grace (the power of the Holy Spirit to help us overcome every evil tendency). This overcoming brings freedom. And then joy comes that brings with it His strength! And where are we when we receive such joy?...in His presence of course! For this is where we find fullness of joy! Hallelujah! The Feast of Tabernacles or Booths (festival with leafy boughs) was a celebration in October at harvest time. The Day of Atonement started the eight day celebration. A sacrifice was made….a whole burnt offering (“Olah”-Hebrew). Who could this offering possibly be? Jesus was offered at Passover, right? As this Third Feast, Third Day, and Third Court come into reality we will see a people who have become a whole burnt offering unto God! Totally offered up to God! Wow! Their Head (Jesus) paid the ultimate price by laying His life down for His friends and so shall His body also gladly lay down their lives. We must bind ourselves to the altar! Offer ourselves unconditionally to God! That’s the only thing we can do. Then Malachi 3:1-3 will come into play. Our God will send the fire, consume the sacrifice, and “purify” the priesthood! Remember, we are “kings and priests unto our God !” CONSIDER 1 Co 6:19-20 (Amp): 19 “Do you not know that your body is the temple (the very sanctuary) of the Holy Spirit Who lives within you, Whom you have received [as a Gift] from God? You are not your own, 20 “You were bought with a price [purchased with a preciousness and paid for, made His own]. So then, honor God and bring glory to Him in your body.” CONSIDER Romans 12:1-2 (Amp) 1 “I APPEAL to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you]. ALSO CONSIDER “Colossians 3:1-4 (Amp) 1 If then you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, thus sharing His resurrection from the dead], aim at and seek the [rich, eternal treasures] that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. [Ps. 110:1.] 2 And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth. 3 For [as far as this world is concerned] you have died, and your [new, real] life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, Who is our life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in [the splendor of His] glory.” FINALLY BRETHREN…Galatians 2:20 (Amp) “I have been crucified with Christ [in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me; and the life I now live in the body I live by faith in (by adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in) the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” Will we take the one we love most (our Isaac) to Mt. Moriah and offer him there? Only then can we really love the Lord our God with all of our heart, all of our mind, all of our soul and all of our strength. Who’s our Isaac? He is us! Self must die! Then we will truly laugh (Isaac). “O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good: and His mercy and lovingkindness endure forever.” (vs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 29). Five times we are reminded to give Him thanks! This speaks of His grace and faith, awake in our lives, empowering us to press in to Him. We are truly a grateful people, O Lord! Twice in Ps. 118:15 and 16 it says “the right hand of the Lord does valiantly and achieves strength,” and once says “the right hand of the Lord is exalted.” Jesus is the One at the right hand of God the Father and His overcomers will be seated there with Him. “Through our God we shall do valiantly for it is He who has tread down our adversaries.”(Ps.60:12 Amp) Selah!! Jesus is worthy of all glory and blessing and power and praise! In Him we do rejoice!! Wholly devoted to the Lamb of God…sharon