Good day or evening, wherever you are, in the name of the Lord. I’m Ty Alexander Huynh, Elder Minister and Teacher of Mashiach Yeshua – Christ Jesus. A wonderful Yom Kippur [“yohm kip-poor”]/Day of Atonement to you, and welcome to today’s holiday service, the second in this series for the High Holidays or High Holy Days, which in Hebrew is called “The Days of Awe.”
Last week I covered Yom Teruah, the Day of Trumpets or Shouting, or what most people call Rosh Hashana. Some of you may wonder why I do Christian services for holidays that most consider to be only for Judaism, but I want to remind you that in Christ, there is no longer Jew or Gentile; we are baptized into one body, made to drink of one Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:13); “There is neither Jew nor Greek, neither slave nor free man, nor male or female; for we are all one in Mashiach Yeshua - Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Him, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise,” (Galatians 3:28-29) just as the Jews remain heirs of promise.
And so, we inherit the ancestry and traditions that God gave our Jewish brethren to steward, and in fact we have taken over stewardship of most of God’s kingdom responsibilities, which include looking after the history and holidays handed down through Moses and the throne of Judah. Remember too, most Christian brethren were wild olive branches grafted into the natural olive tree that God nurtured for His kingdom through the Jews (Romans 11:17-18). In fact, Paul said it is the natural olive roots that support the ingrafted branches, and so we should remember our Hebrew roots. This is also why I use God’s original Hebrew names and other Hebrew words.
God used His personal names and titles when He spoke through the prophets in the Old Testament. In fact, He used His Hebrew name Yahovah, or what others pronounce Yahweh, over 6000 times in the Old Testament. Your knowledge of God and His kingdom will not be complete if you do not know the names God gave and used for Himself in scripture.
Old Testament holidays should have been better preserved by the church, as well, but because of scripture saying that holidays are “a mere shadow of what is to come” (Colossians 2:17), and Paul rebuked believers, saying, “But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elemental things, to which you desire to be enslaved all over again? You observe days and months and seasons and years. I fear for you, that perhaps I labored over you in vain” (Galatians 4:10).
These things seem to say we should not be concerned with celebrating holidays at all, though the church holds up many Christian holidays and left behind the holidays we inherited through Christ’s Hebrew lineage. If we look closer at what Paul is actually saying about holidays, he is not condemning all holidays or even Jewish ones.
In Galatians 4, he is rebuking believers who went back to celebrating pagan traditions and festivals, because he told them before he condemns them for observing days, months, and seasons, “You were slaves to those which by nature are no gods” (Galatians 4:8). He is rebuking them for observing traditions from their idol worshipping past.
Furthermore, when Paul said holidays, sabbaths, etc. are only shadows of what is to come, he was not condemning the observance of Old Testament holidays or traditions. If you see his complete statement, he only stated we cannot be judged for observing or not observing them – “No one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day - things which are a mere shadow of what is to come” (Colossians 2:16).
So there actually is nothing in the New Testament stating we should forget or reject the Jewish holidays we inherited as a People of God. We are only not obligated to observe them anymore under a yoke of slavery. Still, Paul said these things are a shadow of what is to come, which suggests they have no importance. However, his reference to “what is to come” refers to a new age when observing traditions would be replaced with something else.
For today, though, and even in the next age after the Lord’s return, holidays are still important. We can see that in Zechariah 14, where the festival of Sukkot or Tabernacles is observed and even mandated after the Lord’s return. “The Lord Yahovah will be king over all the earth; in that day Yahovah will be the only one, and His name the only one… Then it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, Yahovah of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles” (Zechariah 14:9, 14:16).
So when the Lord returns, some Jewish traditions will come back and be enforced. Zechariah 14 says that families and nations that do not worship the Lord or celebrate Sukkot or Tabernacles will be cursed with drought (Zechariah 14:17-19). Strict enforcement of God’s statutes is why Christ’s Millennial Reign is ruled with rods of iron, which is stated three times in Revelation (Revelation 2:26-28, 12:5, 19:15).
Today we observe Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, which like Yom Teruah, a feast is not mandated in scripture, but it is tradition to have a festive meal for all holidays, so may you have a nice meal after service to celebrate. Let it be blessed and have you remember the Lord’s renewal after difficulties and trials.
Many people fast for Yom Kippur, but it is not mentioned in the Law of Moses. For this holiday, the Hebrew uses the word, “anah [עָנָה ‘ah-nah’],” meaning to humble or afflict oneself, to go with this holiday’s sabbath rest and because atonement was made for the people’s sin (Leviticus 16:29-31).
“Anah” does not mean to fast from food or drink, specifically, but is a general afflicting, humbling, or to be occupied with something. There is actually no command in the Law of Moses to fast with any atonement rituals. Somewhere in history, the Jews picked up the tradition to fast for Yom Kippur, which seems to be mentioned as “the fast” in Acts 27:9 when the disciples were sailing late in the season.
The Hebrew word for fasting from food and water is tsum [צוּם “toom”], which is not used in scripture describing Yom Kippur. Because of this and because we should not be overly concerned with getting everything right for holidays under Christ’s light yoke, I consider fasting for Yom Kippur optional.
However, I asked you to fast for a day and night before this service if you have afflictions that you want prayed over today. This fasting is to help petition the Lord and was done by people in both the Old and New Testaments, including the apostles (Esther 4:15-16; also Judges 20:26; 1 Samuel 7:6; 2 Samuel 12:15-17-22; 2 Chronicles 20:1-4; Ezra 8:21-23; Nehemiah 1:1-11, 9:1; Psalm 35:13-14; Psalm 109:21-24; Isaiah 58:3-4; Jeremiah 14:10-12, 36:9; Daniel 9:3; Joel 1:14, 2:15-17; Jonah 3:4-9; Luke 2:37; Acts 13:2-3, 14:23).
I feel it was no accident the Lord aligned the Jewish fasting tradition with Yom Kippur to align with our purposes in asking for God’s temporal atonement and healing through Christ during this holiday. His works are truly amazing!
Last week I asked you to prepare for Yom Kippur and think about things done wrong, your sins, and what you wish to be healed and atoned of. During this service we will pray to bring healing, deliverance, and atonement for our sins and the curses or judgment God has brought upon us.
But wait! Some of you might say, God doesn’t bring curses or anything bad.
“God is always good!” is something I’ve heard a lot in the church, but that statement is most often used by people under false teachings of a God that only blesses His people and never brings anything bad. If you truly know God, then you know that is not true.
During the last service for Yom Teruah, I noted how much the Lord was reminding everyone of an alarm call to notice sin and that He is bringing judgment on everyone for it, including faithful, believing communities.
To have a complete and mature understanding of God, we must remember He is the One forming light and creating darkness, causing well-being and creating disaster; [He says,] I am Yahovah who does all these things (Isaiah 45:7; also Deuteronomy 32:39; 1 Samuel 2:5-7; Lamentations 3:38; Job 12:23; Jeremiah 31:28; Ecclesiastes 7:14; 2 Chronicles 25:8; Proverbs 22:2).
Scripture that connects joying through affliction obscures the full picture when the causes of hardships are omitted. Consider the following verses:
Peter noted in 1 Peter 4, “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you, but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing” (1 Peter 4:12-13)
And Paul proclaimed in Romans 5, “We also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Romans 5:3-5).
These verses mainly speak about afflictions that come from fighting the darkness of the world that comes against us for righteousness, not sin. Remember, most New Testament scripture talking about rejoicing in tribulations refer to afflictions and persecution brought by proclaiming the truth and the gospel (Matthew 5:10-12; Luke 5:22-23; Romans 5:3-5, 8:16-18; 2 Corinthians 1:5-7, 4:8-12, 6:4-10; Philippians 3:7-11; Colossians 1:24; 2 Timothy 3:10-12; 1 Peter 4:12-19). The verses 1 Peter 4 and Romans 5 include those righteous causes of affliction.
However, Yom Kippur and our prayers today, are not for atonement and deliverance of afflictions from doing righteousness. We are addressing afflictions that come from sin, but because the church often only focuses on joy and sweet truths, she forgets the whole picture and God’s whole character - that He brings both the bad and good (Deuteronomy 32:39; 1 Samuel 2:5-7; Isaiah 45:7; Lamentations 3:38; Job 12:23; Jeremiah 31:28; Ecclesiastes 7:14; 2 Chronicles 25:8; Proverbs 22:2). She forgets that He being Judge of all, also means that judgment comes from Him. “‘Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both good and ill go forth?” (Lamentations 3:38), and did He not say? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord Yahovah. Nor faint when you are reproved by Him; For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, and He scourges every son and daughter whom He receives” (Hebrews 12:5-6; Proverbs 3:11-12).
Yet the church often blames only the devil for bringing bad things. They often forget Who allows the enemy to afflict and reign. They can only attack and work in our lives as the Lord wills, for the Lord Yahovah said, “See now that I, I am He, and there is no God besides Me; It is I who brings to death and give life. I have wounded and it is I who heal, and there is no one who can deliver from My hand” (Deuteronomy 32:39).
This was wisdom given to Hannah, who thousands of years ago was childless for many years because the Lord closed her womb (1 Samuel 1:6), but she petitioned the Lord in tears, and soon after she bore a boy who would be Samuel the prophet. In Hannah’s praise of the Lord she said, “The Lord Yahovah kills and makes alive; He brings down to the grave and raises up. Yahovah makes poor and rich; He brings low, He also exalts. He raises the poor from the dust, He lifts the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with nobles, and inherit a seat of honor; For the pillars of the earth are Yahovah’s, and He set the world on them” (1 Samuel 2:6-8).
Proverbs 22 says, “The rich and the poor have a common bond, the Lord Yahovah is the maker of them all. The prudent sees the evil and hides himself, but the naive go on, and are punished for it. The reward of humility and the fear of Yahovah are riches, honor, and life” (Proverbs 22:2-4).
Now consider the last line more, “The reward of humility and the fear of Yahovah are riches, honor, and life” (Proverbs 22:4). We need humility to admit our sins and try to reconcile or correct them. This process is called repentance, and is very important to get healing and deliverance, for “the eyes of Yahovah are toward the righteous and His ears are open to their cry. The face of Yahovah is against the wicked” (Psalm 34:15-16; also Psalm 97:10).
Prayers often go unheard because of unrepentance and the continuing of sin, so if you have petitions for the Lord’s healing and deliverance today, be sure to turn your heart to change and correct your sins. And if you have not given faith to Mashiach - Christ yet, then that too is an important step in getting atonement and salvation from the Lord, both eternally and now in this life.
So if you believe in Yeshua – Jesus and His act of sacrifice on the cross for us, but never admitted it, then turn to someone and say, “The Lord Yeshua – Jesus is my Savior.” If you are alone, then tell someone by phone, text, or online. Feel free to send me your statement of faith as well. This public acknowledgement of faith is very important to truly belong to the Lord, so don’t neglect it and never deny your faith and loyalty in Christ. These are aspects of the New Covenant I will speak more about at another time.
Today, we ask for the Lord’s forgiveness, and He reminds us walk in sin no more, because even if the Lord grants a miracle out of His lovingkindness, you will only suffer again if you continue in sin. This is why Yeshua – Jesus said, “stop sinning or something worse may happen to you” after He healed a crippled man (John 5:14).
Another untruth that is spread in the church is that Christians can’t be cursed. People don’t seem to understand why a blessed people of God should or could be cursed, but this viewpoint is fueled by overly sweetened teaching of God’s promises that omit the whole picture. Curses are not some negative power that only affects pagans. They are simply judgment for sin, and since everyone sins (Romans 3:9-10, 3:23; 1 Kings 8:46; Psalm 14:1-3, 53:1-3), everyone, including blessed people of God can have curses.
This is a big reason much judgment has fallen on the Jews. They are a blessed people of God, yet also cursed with judgment because of sin. The church is no different.
Many seem to believe that having eternal salvation in Christ also gets rid of all judgment and curses in this life. However, the New Covenant never negated judgment during this life, and therefore curses affecting us in this life. The New Covenant is all about negating our sin and judgment for the next life – it guarantees our names in the Book of Life. As long as we keep faith and public loyalty to Christ, we will make it to heaven.
But in this life, we can continue to suffer judgment for our sins, so, “In the day of prosperity be happy, but in the day of adversity consider - God has made the one as well as the other” (Ecclesiastes 7:14).
Now the second part of Proverbs 22:2-4 refers to fear of the Lord. What is that exactly? King David said, “Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord Yahovah. Who is the man who desires life and loves length of days that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it. The eyes of Yahovah are toward the righteous and His ears are open to their cry. The face of Yahovah is against the wicked” (Psalm 34:11-16; also Psalm 97:10).
We see the fear of the Lord is the fear that He will bring judgment against sin, because the Lord is against those who do evil. This should bring us to have reverence and respect for God, because not even the angels are exempt from judgment, for the Lord “did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to pits of darkness, reserved for judgment” (2 Peter 2:4; also Jude 1:6-7).
So when we get deliverance and healing through our prayers, keep the fear of the Lord, so that you will consider the consequences of doing wrong and stay away from sin.
Today’s holiday, Yom Kippur, is all about atonement for sin. It was when the high priest would go behind the veil in the temple or tabernacle, once a year (Exodus 30:10; Leviticus 16:29-34; also Leviticus 23:26-32), and enter into the chamber of the Holy of Holies, where the ark of the covenant sat, and the blood of sin offering would be sprinkled on the mercy seat or gold cover of the ark to atone for the sins of the people, because “almost all things by the law are purged with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” (Hebrews 9:22), for God put the life of the flesh in the blood and ordained it to be put on the altar to make atonement for our souls (Leviticus 17:11).
Atonement was also made on Yom Kippur for the tent of meeting or temple and altar where the ritual sacrifices and offerings were conducted (Leviticus 16:33). This seems unusual since God’s presence was there, yet these things still needed atonement for sin. This is because the sin of the people contaminated the tabernacle and other items, so we can see that sin can linger in physical things and the environment.
Sin lingers in us as well, through judgment or curses that give us afflictions, like illness, infirmity, and addictions, or they can change our being, such as having excessive anger or fear. It’s these afflictions that we petition the Lord for and work to have atoned today.
Last week, in the service for Yom Teruah, I connected that holiday with the birth of Yeshua – Jesus, so the natural progression with Yom Kippur is to link it to Christ’s atonement on the cross, which fulfilled the requirement of blood atonement for the New Covenant to cover the sin for all of mankind.
This progression in the first two High Holy Days coincides with the first two major milestones in Christ’s life that are documented in the New Testament – His birth and His ministry and sacrifice to bring and fulfill the New Covenant.
The New Covenant, though, atones for our sins for the next life, as I said. It does not take away the consequences of sin in this life. In the Law of Moses for the Jews, their sins were atoned for on Yom Kippur every year and also when individual circumstances called for it, such as when a person sinned, he would have to make a ritual sacrifice (Leviticus 4:3-12, 4:27-35, 5:1-6:7), or when leaders or the whole nation sinned, different sacrifices needed to be made (Leviticus 4:13-26).
Under Christ, we no longer perform these ritual sacrifices to atone for sin. Now we acknowledge our wrongs by confessing them to God or each other (James 5:16), we ask the Lord’s forgiveness and repent or change to keep away from sin, and, if needed, we reconcile our wrongs. Then it is up to the Lord to determine how the sin affects us and/or our families and associations, because sin can affect family members, organizations, communities, and nations.
In Leviticus 4, it says a priest who sins, also brings guilt on the people (Leviticus 4:3). In Numbers 13, the whole nation of Israel was sentenced to wander the desert for 40 years after a few scouts brought dismay, doubt, and fear to counter God’s plan to take the Promised Land (Numbers 13:1-14:45). And in 2 Samuel 24 and 1 Chronicles 21, God brought judgment on the nation and killed 70,000 people after King David sinned when he made a census of the fighting men because he lost faith in God’s protection (2 Samuel 24:1-25; 1 Chronicles 21:1-30).
This brings to mind another misconception spread by the church – that generational curses no longer exist and that children cannot suffer for parents’ or ancestors’ sins. This is not true, but can be seen in all the inherited curses, like genetic disorders and predispositions to cancer, illness, idolatry, divination, anger, addiction, etc. It is also seen in the suffering of children from curses, like cancer, serious illness, abduction, premature death, and other bad events.
Surely, you cannot blame most young children for sin serious enough to bring these judgments on them, nor should you say they are simply accidental events when you know the Lord is Judge and looks after the righteous, but is against the wicked (Psalm 34:15-16, 97:10). But because the church often does not understand the complete view of things, she misunderstands scripture and thinks God did away with generational curses, like when Jeremiah and Ezekiel prophesied, days are coming when Israel will no longer say, “The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge” (Jeremiah 31:29; Ezekiel 18:2) or when the disciples of Yeshua – Jesus asked, “Who sinned, the man or his parents, that he was born blind?” and He answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned” (John 9:1-3).
If you look closer at things, Jeremiah and Ezekiel were prophesying that certain curses in the Law of Moses that affect descendants (Deuteronomy 28:18; Leviticus 26:39), were coming to an end with the New Covenant. God did not mean to say all generational curses would be gone. There are also statements of generational curses applying outside the law for the Jews, such as for idolatry in the Ten Commandments, which is for all of mankind, and can curse up to four generations (Exodus 20:5; Deuteronomy 5:9).
Jeremiah knew God’s ways and made a general statement about His judgments, which include generational curses, when he said, “Ah Lord Yahovah! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You, who shows lovingkindness to thousands, but repays the iniquity of [the parents] into the bosom of their children after them, O great and mighty God” (Jeremiah 32:17-18).
And as for Yeshua – Jesus’s statement, He said the man was born blind “so that the works of God might be displayed in him” (John 9:3). No one sinned so that the man was blind, but he was born that way so that Christ could show the work of God through a miracle. This was only for that individual’s case and does not support generational curses being abolished. The disciples would not have asked who sinned to bring his blindness if generational curses were not a reality to them.
So now I hope you see the true reality of how sin and curses work. Those who commit sin can bring judgment on others, which should remind you of the fear of the Lord all the more. But, as creatures that often err, we must deal with judgment and affliction in our lives that is caused by sin, so we will turn now to getting healing and deliverance – temporal salvation for sin.
Though judgment may have to come to us, and we suffer for years, the Lord remains faithful and full of mercy. He will often remove curses that we’ve long suffered in, because they served as our punishment for sin, but this deliverance is not always automatic. Sometimes we need to petition the Lord, but that may also not be enough. Some sin and curses need to be handled differently, so if you do not see a significant change or deliverance for your petition after today’s service, feel free to contact me for individual consultation.
Know also that sometimes it is not the Lord’s will to remove an affliction. The apostle Paul knew this well when a demon, a messenger of Satan, was sent to torment him so that he would not exalt himself (2 Corinthians 12:7). Paul begged the Lord to take away the spirit three times, but He replied, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).
And so, Paul had to accept his discipline, and turned instead to boast of his weaknesses and be content with them, and with insults, distress, persecutions, and difficulties, for the sake of his work in Christ and so the Lord’s power would dwell in him (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).
So if you find the Lord will not remove an affliction from you, rejoice still and continue the good fight, because “we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love Him, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). He will work even the bad for our good, so keep faith and hope in the Lord, our Comforter, and Prince of Peace.
Before making our petitions for healing and deliverance. First, we need to take care of any unforgiveness that may be preventing healing or deliverance. The Lord said, “If you do not forgive others their sins, Your Father will not forgive your sins" (Matthew 6:15). He was not speaking of eternal salvation in this forgiveness, but temporal salvation, like healing and deliverance, so if you hold unforgiveness for anyone, truly forgive them in your heart, and speak it out now… [pause]
In the name of Mashiach Yeshua – Christ Jesus, your forgiveness and peace go before you, all curses from the unforgiveness be broken. Amen.
Later, you may wish to also speak your forgiveness to whomever you resented. It can release guilt upon them and give healing to all parties.
Now let us worship and get in the spirit of humility and reverence. Remember how the Lord atoned for our sins eternally with His sacrifice on the cross, and that He is merciful to atone and deliver us from afflictions in this life as well. Stand now and sing.
[Healing In His Name]
Let us now acknowledge other sins. Ask God’s forgiveness, speak them out specifically, and ask to be freed from curses brought by them. You may do this out loud or in silence. Take a moment to do this now… [pause]
Now pray with me:
Abba Ya, Yeshua - Heavenly Father, We have sat in darkness, and suffered in the shadow of death. Remember us now and let us see Your light (Matthew 4:16; Luke 1:79; Isaiah 9:2). Take away the curses we have paid our sin through, and remove unclean spirits from us and let them never return. Their chains upon us be broken through all generations. Let us rejoice in your mercy, deliverance, and blessings. Keep us from falling to temptation and remember our righteousness and suffering. Grant us deliverance, healing, and success, and guide us into the way of peace, by Your mercy and lovingkindness, all these things be in the name of Mashiach Yeshua (Christ Jesus). Amen and amen.
Thank you, Lord, for your lovingkindness and a place in your kingdom. All power belongs to you. Let your name be blessed, forever and ever, in the Father Yahovah, the Son, Mashiach Yeshua (Christ Jesus), and the Ruach Kodesh – Holy Spirit. Amen.
Now continue in life striving to keep from sin. Remember the way to peace, honor, and life includes the fear of the Lord, and He said, “Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you” (John 5:14). And if you belong to the Lord, be certain that He will reprove and chasten those He loves, and remember it is for the good work of discipline and virtuous character that you endure your afflictions, because God deals with you as with sons and daughters, for what child is there whom their father does not discipline for righteousness? (Hebrews 12:7).
But if you claim to be with no afflictions at all, then you must have already endured your judgments and attained virtue, otherwise you may not even belong to the Lord, because if you are without the Lord’s chastening or afflictions coming from righteousness, then you are not legitimate children of God (Hebrews 12:8).
For those who acknowledged their sins, be glad the Lord continues to love you as His own, and remember the discipline brought upon you to teach you from falling again, “For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries. [For the Jews,] anyone who set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. [And for us,] how much more severe punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.’ And again, ‘The Lord will judge His people.’ It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:26-31).
Please stand now and worship the Lord with two more songs. Don’t go away afterwards. The service will continue after worship.
[King of Psalm 2]
[Great Is The Lord]
Praise the Lord. He is my shepherd, I shall not want.He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul;
He guides me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil, for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup overflows.
Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Yahovah forever.
(Psalm 23)
The next service will be for the first day of Sukkot/Tabernacles, Monday, October 10th. It is the last holiday in this series, but will be covered with two services at the beginning and end, because it’s an eight-day festival with a holy gathering on the first and last days. To plan for the festival week, there are supposed to be feasts for all eight days, but generally it is the first and last days that have larger meals, while the meals for the middle feast days are more modest, so don’t worry about spending a lot of time or money on grand feasts for the week of Sukkot.
Some people also make a temporary sukkah or tent/tabernacle, like a gazebo or pop-up canopy, where the festival meals are eaten and to sleep under during Sukkot. The Lord told the Jews to do this during the first seven days of Sukkot so the years of wandering the desert and living in temporary shelters would be remembered (Leviticus 23:42-43).
Unleavened bread or flat bread is also usually eaten during the first seven days, to remind of the affliction and hard times living in the desert. It is called the “bread of affliction” because of its ties to Passover, when the Lord had the Jews flee Egypt in haste (Deuteronomy 16:3). However, unleavened bread is not mandated for Sukkot in scripture, so it is up to you to use it.
Jews often buy matzo for their unleavened bread during the holidays, but its necessity as a kosher item is overexaggerated. Matzo is simply a wheat cracker and was not what the Jews made for their unleavened bread when they left Egypt or in the centuries afterwards, so I prefer to make my own flat bread. Making your own unleavened bread is a good way to get in the spirit of the what God’s people went through in ancient times.
A link to the recipe I use is on the page for this service. Feel free to use it or simply buy any flat bread without yeast in its ingredients.
Thank you all for taking part today. Before you sign off, I’d like to remind you to support our work for God’s kingdom and help the needy with a donation. [QR F11] You may use the QR code on the screen or go to 3rdCompass.org/donate. There is a link on the page for this service. Your help will be much appreciated with gratitude and blessings in the name of Mashiach Yeshua – Christ Jesus. Amen.
If you have questions about anything, please feel free to comment on the YouTube page for this service or send a message through the 3rdCompass.org website. Thank you again and your Yom Kippur be most blessed. Amen.
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