Sid Roth

ROBERT: Now I think that’s why John described Jesus’ birth this way in his Gospel. In John 1:14: “The word became flesh and tabernacled among us and we beheld His glory.” It shed some new light on the Christmas story. In Luke chapter 2 we’re told Mary brought forth her child and laid Him, in most of our English translations say, laid Him in a manger. Now the Greek word there is “phatne” and it can be translated manger but it can also mean a stall or a stable or a temporary shelter. As a matter of fact “phatne” is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew word Sukkah. Genesis 33 Jacob made Sukkahs for his cattle. So during the Feast there were no rooms in the Inn but there were Sukkahs all over the place. In Luke 2:7 says “And she brought forth her firstborn Son and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a Sukkah. And on that Feast of Tabernacles the glory of God came into that Sukkah as Jesus the Messiah was born. Now Jesus gave a promise at Tabernacles. It says on the last day of the Feast He said in a loud voice “If anyone is thirsty let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, streams of living water will flow from his innermost being.” Now to understand what He was saying we need to understand the context. A key element of Tabernacles was the “Ceremony of Outpouring.” It was the high point of the entire cycle of appointed times. Every year at Tabernacles the high priest performed a prophetic act. He took the golden pitcher. Filled it with water from the Pool of Siloam. Carried it up to the Temple and poured it out at the altar. Huge crowds would accompany him. They would gather around. They wanted to hear the sound of the water pouring. It was an appeal to God for the “latter rain” in the natural realm. Also an appeal to God for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the spiritual realm. God had said I’ll pour out my Spirit on all people. This was repeated every day during the Feast. Each day the celebration was bigger. Everybody got more and more excited and that helps us understand John 7 when it says “On the last day, the Great Day of the Feast,” the priest would have brought water from Siloam. Carried it up to the altar. He would have lifted the pitcher high and prepared to pour it and a hush would have fallen on the crowd. And then just as the priest is about to pour the water Jesus cries out in a loud voice “If any man is thirsty let him come to me and drink. For he who believes in me from his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.” And see that is Jesus’ goal. Overflowing life. That is the goal of the whole cycle of feasts. As you go through these feasts you begin with redemption. You begin, you move into a celebration of God’s provision. You end up experiencing His glory and the Living Water of Jesus bubbles up from inside. That’s what the goal of the Feasts are. That’s what Tabernacles is all about. So this year at Tabernacles receive God’s river of life. Celebrate His glory and rejoice. Lord Jesus, we thank You. Lord, we thank You for Your Feasts—

AUDIENCE: (APPLAUSE) Whoo!

ROBERT: Lord, I thank You that even though they have been stolen away from us in the Dark Ages, Lord, You are restoring them to us. Lord, You are releasing a new level of blessing on Your people, Lord, that will help bring forth a last days revival. Lord, I pray for each one, Lord, that Your Spirit would quicken them as they celebrate the Feasts. That it would not just be a ritual, it would not just be a holiday, it would not just be a religious observance but Lord that You would meet with them individually as they celebrate and bring them to a new level in You. Lord, we thank You, Lord. I pray Your blessing on each one. In Yeshua’s name. Amen. Amen. Thank You, Lord! Thank You, Lord! Thank You, Lord!

AUDIENCE: (CLAPPING)

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