Do What?

Do this in remembrance of me. Do what?

Luke 22:19  And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.

1 Corinthians 11:24  And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.

1 Corinthians 11:25  After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 

Remembrance - G364 - From G363; recollection: - remembrance (again).

• G363 - From G303 and G3403; to remind; reflexively to recollect: - call to mind, (bring to, call to, put in), remember (-brance).
• G303 - A primary preposition and adverb; properly up; but (by extension) used (distributively) severally, or (locally) at (etc.): - and, apiece, by, each, every (man), in, through. In compounds (as a prefix) it often means (by implication) repetition, intensity, reversal, etc.
• G3403 - A prolonged form of G3415 (from which some of the tenses are borrowed); to remind, that is, (middle voice) to recall to mind: - be mindful, remember.
• G3415 - Middle voice of a derivative of G3306 or perhaps of the base of G3145 (through the idea of fixture in the mind or of mental grasp); to bear in mind, that is, recollect; by implication to reward or punish: - be mindful, remember, come (have) in remembrance. Compare G3403.

This - G5124 - Neuter, singular, nomitive or accusative of G3778; that thing: - here [-unto], it, partly, self [-same], so, that (intent), the same, there [-fore, -unto], this, thus, where [-fore].

Father, by His son is explicit what we are to do in remembrance of Him.  To partake of the bread and wine, as representative of His body and blood (not literal).

Why Christianity has absorbed and/or promotes a day to remember His birth is baffling to me.  No where in Scripture are we given any indication that Father wants this day known and/or set aside.

Additionally, it is perplexing to me that those who cry Scripture Alone - in refutation to the harlot, Roman Catholicism - adopt that which 'she' has designated as a holy day to celebrate the 'mass' of Christ.

If one wanted to have a festival, the Feast of Tabernacles would be an appropriate (weather wise as well) festival to reflect upon God coming to 'dwell' with man by becoming one of us.

Search the Scriptures - test the spirits - be instant in season and out.  Let us not be found dallying with the devil, rather desiring to be a pure Bride, wholly intent upon Him and desiring to give a proper estimate of our Lord and Savior.

Malachi 3:16  Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.

Day 63-11

V From the Exodus to the Crossing into Canaan - 1462-1422 B.C. ~ cont.

(1462 - 982 480 years of 1 Kings 6:1)

D. From Kadesh-Barnea to crossing of Jordan ~ cont.

5. Settling down in plains of Moab, east of Jordan ~ cont.

g. Diverse laws given or reviewed ~ cont.

(2) Passover (Apr 14-21) - Numbers 28:1-31

(3) Feast of Trumpets and Tabernacles (Oct) - Numbers 29:1-40

(4) Laws about vows - Numbers 30:1-16

{pages 279-283}

Passover ~ Feast of Trumpets ~ Tabernacles

The above graphic taken from the Seven Feasts of Israel.

Every time I come across one of the Feasts (usually Passover), I review and study, research and pray, seek and ask.  :-D

I will eventually get to where I am going, which is to know, with certainty whether or not participating in the Feasts is honoring to Him.  If they are an ongoing memorialization of the work of Jesus Christ which the Bride is and/or should recognize.

I particularly liked this article by Awareness Ministry about Why Christians Celebrate Biblical Memorial Days.

I have browsed other sites and while the list below is in no way exhaustive, gives those who want to research a few avenues of exploration.  Some are for, some against...some middle of the ground.  I have read some of the articles in their entirety, browsed others, hopped, skipped and jumped around on some of the other pages.

Praying that those who are seeking to know more about the Feasts of the Lord will find HIS answers in and through their search.  Blessings!

In no particular order, my 'offerings':

Focus on Jerusalem

How did Jesus fulfill the meanings of the Jewish Feasts?

3 Feasts of Israel

Should New Testament Christians Keep the Passover?

Should Christians Keep the Passover (this one is brief)

Why don't Christians celebrate Passover (without the lamb sacrifice because Jesus did it once and for all) like the Messianic Jews do?  (I briefly) skimmed through this one...seems more of a forum posting site.

Why I Keep the Biblical Feasts - I liked this one, as it gives the person's perspective on why they are holding their position/practice.

Why Should You and I Keep the Feast Days? - another person position.

Are Christians required to observe the feasts of the Old Testament?

I will note, some of the articles focus on either Israel or Jewish feasts.  However, Scripture (and some of the articles) substantiate that God calls them MY feasts.  They are HIS, to this I would hardily agree.

Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts.  (Leviticus 23:2)

and

Behold, I build an house to the name of the LORD my God, to dedicate it to him, and to burn before him sweet incense, and for the continual shewbread, and for the burnt offerings morning and evening, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts of the LORD our God. This is an ordinance for ever to Israel.   (2 Chronicles 2:4)

Day 51-11

V From the Exodus to the Crossing into Canaan - 1462-1422 B.C. ~ cont.

(1462 - 982 480 years of 1 Kings 6:1)

B. Time spent at Sinai (sometimes called Horeb) ~ cont.
26. Moral instructions
a. Nakedness and immorality- Leviticus 18:1-30
b. Familiar spirits - Leviticus 20:1-6, 27
27. National feast day instructions - Leviticus 23:1-3
a. Passover - Leviticus 23:4-5
b. Unleavened bread - Leviticus 23:6-8
c. First-fruits - Leviticus 23:9-14
d. Wave-loaves (Pentecost) - Leviticus 23:15-22
e. Trumpets - Leviticus 23:23-25
f.  Day of Atonement - Leviticus 23:26-32
g. Tabernacles - Leviticus 23:33-44

{pages 225-229}

And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul and will cut him off from among his people.  (Leviticus 20:6)

familiar spirits - H178 - From the same as H1 (apparently through the idea of prattling a father’s name); properly a mumble, that is, a water skin (from its hollow sound); hence a necromancer (ventriloquist, as from a jar).

Used 17x in 16 verses - first used in Leviticus 19:31, most often translated as familiar spirits, but in Job 32:19:

Behold, my belly is as wine which hath no vent; it is ready to burst like new bottles.

wizards - H3049 - From H3045; properly a knowing one; specifically a conjurer; (by implication) a ghost.

• H3049 - A primitive root; to know (properly to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation, care, recognition; and causatively instruction, designation, punishment, etc.).

Used 11x in 11 verses - also used first in Leviticus 19:31, always translated as wizard.

turneth - H6437 - A primitive root; to turn; by implication to face, that is, appear, look, etc.

Father is pretty adamant about turning away His face and cutting off the offender.  I got stuck here, trying to figure out how to say what I wanted without coming across with a holier than thou attitude, nor one that seems as if I am a Negative Nan.  :-D

The gist of my impression, after reading this day's passage and the next couple of days, and how Father expects obedience and to not give Him the full measure results in discipline, has to do with reverential fear, respect, honor.

He has a standard and I, as well as the church, fall woefully short.  Offering a minuscule amount of time to 'worship' or reading through some 5 minute devotion does not properly prepare our hearts and minds to reverence and honor the Master.  We, as the church, do not take our relationship with Him as seriously as we ought.  There is far too many 'programs' and 'ministries' and a lack of true study of the Word.  I say this not just to the Bride, but to myself as well.

Lord, forgive us for the times we 'play' church, or give the appearance of worship, when our hearts and minds are far from You.  Forgive us, Your people, Lord for not being diligent to study to show ourselves approved.  Lord, cleanse Your Bride, reveal those who are ear ticklers, and false prophets and teachers.  Quicken the mind and the discernment of Your people for such charlatans.  Help us, Your people, Lord NOT to have ears that are desirous of being tickled, but truly and honestly desire a deeper and more intimate relationship with You.

And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the feasts of the Lord, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts.  Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein; it is the sabbath of the Lord in all your dwellings.  (Leviticus 23:1-3)

Our pastor/teacher just covered this passage recently and brought to our attention that the Lord starts out detailing the feasts of Israel by emphasizing the 7th day.  I find that to be an interesting thought.  He further went on to add that Father had a significance to this day of rest, which would have been alien to the Israelites who had just come out of Egypt.  I can not even image working and working and working with no time off at all.  Everybody needs a down day.

I have been wrestling with this topic of a Sabbath for quite some time and whether it is applicable to the church.  There are numerous people posturing pro and con.  I found this article, The Sabbath Day, Moral Law or Ceremonial Law to be thought provoking and informative.

Passover:  I have, for quite some time, not been a participant in Easter, believing it to have no Scriptural warrant.

I was browsing for information regarding Passover vs Easter vs Resurrection, and came across two articles which also piqued my curiosity.  I had to re-read the paragraph below at least 3 times to make sure I had understood what was being stated.  From the article, Holidays or Holy Days, Does It Matter What Days We Observe?

"Although Christ's resurrection is an important basis of our hope that we, too, can be resurrected (1 Corinthians 15:17; Romans 5:10), and it was critical for God's plan of salvation to continue, neither God the Father, Christ nor Scripture has ever explicitly directed us to celebrate this event."

Many churches do not participate in Passover, and some have (thankfully) left off the practice of "Easter celebrations" and donned the practice of "Resurrection Sunday."

The question now, in my mind, is there any Biblical substantiation for having a day to remember the resurrection? To which did the early church give credence to the remembrance of? The resurrection or the death of our Savior? The resurrection, just as Jesus' birth, did not propitiate the wrath of God, only the sacrifice of a sinless Lamb could suffice. The birth and resurrection substantiated the divine nature of Christ and the acceptance of the sacrifice.

This article, The Resurrection-Appearances and the Origin of Sunday Observance had information on both the Resurrection and the Sabbath that I found thought provoking.  I am still fence sitting on the issue of the Sabbath, but will continue to seek the Lord in understanding what HE wants.  May each of you be blessed abundantly as you press into HIM, seeking and desiring to worship Him in spirit and in truth.