<![CDATA[Light of Messiah Ministries Canada

<![CDATA[Light of Messiah Ministries Canada - Appointed Times]]>Sat, 06 Apr 2024 22:47:26 -0400Weebly<![CDATA[Hanukkah: Feast of Dedication]]>Wed, 14 Feb 2018 17:15:02 GMThttps://www.lightofmessiah.ca/appointed-times/hanukkah-feast-of-dedicationBY RICHARD SISON | 2017

INTRODUCTION
The name "Hanukkah" derives from the Hebrew verb "חנך", meaning “to dedicate".

Ḥanukkah is a Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple (the Second Temple) in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire. Hanukkah is observed for eight nights and days, starting on the 25th day of Kislev according to the Hebrew calendar. It is also known as the Festival of Lights and the Feast of Dedication.

The festival is observed by lighting the candles of a candelabrum with nine branches, called a Hanukkah menorah (or hanukkiah). One branch is typically placed above or below the others and its candle is used to light the other eight candles. This unique candle is called the shamash (Hebrew: שמש, "attendant"). Each night, one additional candle is lit by the shamash until all eight candles are lit together on the final night of the holiday.

Then came Hanukkah in Yerushalayim. It was winter, and Yeshua was walking around inside the Temple area, in Shlomo’s Colonnade. So the Judeans surrounded him and said to him, “How much longer are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us publicly!” Yeshua answered them, “I have already told you, and you don’t trust me."

| John 10:22-25

H: Historical Account. When the Second Temple in Jerusalem was looted and services stopped, Judaism was outlawed. In 167 BCE, Antiochus ordered an altar to Zeus erected in the Temple. He banned brit milah (circumcision) and ordered pigs to be sacrificed at the altar of the temple.
By 165 BCE the Jewish revolt against the Seleucid monarchy was successful. The Temple was liberated and rededicated. The festival of Hanukkah was instituted to celebrate this event.

A: Appointed Time. The Moedim or the Appointed Feasts of Elohim as stipulated in Leviticus 23 and in all the Torah have superior distinctions compared to pagan Feasts or christianized pagan practices for they represent a lot of spiritual truths manifested in physical realm, to wit:

It is written in the Bible;
It points to a monumental event in the past;
It shows types and shadows of the Messiah;
It reveals the characteristics of the Messiah;
It provides G-D’s time-table for man’s salvation;
The L-RD speaks to His people during Appointed Feasts
It is a shadow of what is to come.

N: New Beginning. "Now Judas celebrated the festival of the restoration of the sacrifices of the temple for eight days, and omitted no sort of pleasures thereon; but he feasted them upon very rich and splendid sacrifices; and he honored God, and delighted them by hymns and psalms. And from that time to this we celebrate this festival, and call it Lights….”

U: Understanding the Time. The Antiochus event led to the celebration of Hanukkah thus the future event referred to by Yeshua would point out to a future victory of the Jewish people that would lead to the future celebration of the Hanukkah once again. After all, the Appointed Feasts and other important days in the Jewish calendar repeats itself in the history time and time again. The classic example out side the Moed (G-D’s Feasts) is the 9th of Av, which reflects the destruction of the first and the second Temple on the same day, one was in 586 BCE and the other one in 70 CE.

K: Kindling the Fire. Josephus called this festivities as the Feast of lights. Yeshua called His people as light of this world. Mat 5:14-16, “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

K: Kick Start to Build the Temple. At the time of the writing, between late first century and early second century (bet 95-105 CE), the Temple was long gone. The three gospels were written while the Temple was still in place. When John wrote about the event of the Feast of Dedication in John 10:22-23, he is remembering the events surrounding the Maccabean rededication of the Temple and at the same time he narrated Yeshua’s deity in this account alluding to the hope that one day He will rebuild the Temple.

A: Advent of His Coming. The whole story of Hanukkah evolves on the fact that one day, the children of Israel will be freed from her enemies and the Temple system will once again be restored in the midst of G-D’s people and that the Temple mount will be rededicated and will be freed from its current abominable state. Only the Messiah can redeem it and can cleanse it. Every time we celebrate Hanukkah, we are hoping to see that the Temple will once again stand where it has been and this will happen at the advent of Yeshua’s coming.

H: Happy Ending. The story of Hanukkah is a happy ending. It is a happy ending story. The people of Israel may have suffered persecution from their enemies, barred from practicing the Torah and has been subjected to too much injustices and hardship but in the end they were able to succeed. Every time we celebrate Hanukkah, we share that hope with them, we share their persecution, their hardship, their hope but in the process, we also share their happy ending.

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]]><![CDATA[Sukkot: The Feast of Tabernacles]]>Sun, 15 Oct 2017 03:57:48 GMThttps://www.lightofmessiah.ca/appointed-times/sukkot-the-feast-of-tabernaclesBY JONAH DOCTURA | 2017

INTRODUCTION
In Colossians 2:16-17, Paul writes that the festivals are "shadows of things to come." As a review, the Appointed Sabbath Days of Adonai Elohim provide an "overview" of history, each reflecting a specific event in the life and work of Messiah.

The Spring Festivals of Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits and Pentecost received a Messianic fulfillment within the events of the first coming of Messiah.
Because of this, either people missed or many believe that it is not unreasonable to think that the fall festivals speak to Messiah's return.

When Solomon built the first Temple, It was on Sukkot that the Spirit of G-d descended upon it. -Bro. Jonah Doctura, Elder-

Sukkot: Temporary dwellings. "It shall be a sabbath of rest unto you, and ye shall afflict your souls, by a statute for ever." Leviticus 16:29-34

The Ancient Celebration. On each day of Feast of Tabernacles, the people in the Temple courtyard would hold the cluster of branches, waving them before the L-RD, and make a circular procession around the altar. The first six days they would circle the altar once. On the seventh day, they would circle the altar seven times.

And I will circle. The circling seven times in the last day of the Feast is parallel to the seven times Joshua and his army circled the city of Jericho before capturing it.

Its Messianic Significance. Tabernacle is not only a celebration of the harvest, it also celebrates G-d's dwelling with humanity.
This is why we can determine from the Scriptures and other records that during Sukkot Yeshua was born.

The Evidences of His birth during Sukkot. Shepherds of the Levitical Temple servants were among the very first to know and they undoubtedly announced it in Jerusalem so that all who came to worship at the Temple would hear that the Messiah had been born.
Another interesting fact is that during the Feast of Tabernacles, there would be no rooms available, anywhere close to Jerusalem. Of course, there would be sukkah everywhere.

Who were the Magi? Daniel had been in Babylon and made head of the magicians, who were in reality astronomers/astrologers. He evidently taught them about YHWH's ways. The Magi passed these along for generation after generation, until the time came for Yeshua to be born.

A New Star in the Sky. The rabbis have a tradition that in the week in which the Messiah will be born, there will be a bright star in the east, which is the "star of the Messiah".

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]]><![CDATA[Yom Kippur: The Day of Atonement]]>Tue, 10 Oct 2017 14:59:23 GMThttps://www.lightofmessiah.ca/appointed-times/yom-kippur-the-day-of-atonementBY RICHARD SISON | 2017

INTRODUCTION
The Day of Atonement is considered as the holiest day in the calendar of the Jewish people. The Scripture calls this as Shabbat Shabbaton, the “Sabbath of the Sabbaths” (Lev 23:26-32). During this time of complete fasting, the Jewish people devote themselves to individual and communal repentance, teshuvah, returning to the right way. In Deut 30:15-16 Moses laid out before the children of Israel the two ways, “See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, and death and adversity; in that I command you today to love the L-RD your G-d, to walk in His ways and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments, that you may live and multiply, and that the L-RD your G-d may bless you in the land where you are entering to possess it.”

Because the Yom Kippur marks the end of this special forty-day period of repentance, it is characterized by a sense of urgency and solemnity. The phrase, "Write us in the Book of Life", which is recited throughout Yom Teruah which is recited throughout Rosh Hashanah, is changed to, "Seal us in the Book of Life". The day ends with a long blast of the shofar, sounding a final appeal for G-D`s forgiveness as well as proclaiming the hope of the messianic and redemption.

It is better that we judge ourselves now that to be judged with the ungodly in the final
judgment. -Bro. Richard Sison, Elder-

The Decree to Follow. "It shall be a sabbath of rest unto you, and ye shall afflict your souls, by a statute for ever." Leviticus 16:29-34

The Distinct Quality. In Leviticus 23:32 the Bible called Yom Kippur as Shabbat Shabbaton (written in original Hebrew) or the Sabbath of Sabbaths. Because of this, the Jewish people consider this as the holiest of all the appointed "moed" (Heb: Feasts) of Elohim.
This is an appointed Feast that has a severe punishment if violated.

The Dawn of the Practice. For this reason it is ordained for the children of Israel that they should afflict themselves on the tenth of the seventh month - on the day that the news which made Jacob weep for Joseph - that they should make atonement for themselves thereon with a young goat on the tenth of the seventh month, once a year, for their sins; for they had grieved the affection of their father regarding Joseph his son. And this day has been ordained that they should grieve thereon for their sins and for all their transgression and for all their errors, so that they might cleanse themselves on that day once a year. (Jubilee 34:10-19)

The Drill in Temple Times. We have to take note that process to be done by the high priest as commanded by the L-RD is the same process that Yeshua took when He ascended to Heaven except that He did not need to atone for Himself because He is sinless and He need not use the blood of the animals but rather use His own blood, which is perfect for the atonement of mankind (v 14). However, this passage does not say that believers should not observe Yom Kippur anymore.

The Day of Visitation. The replacement of the Ten Commandments was presented again to the children of Israel on Yom Kippur. We celebrate the re-given of the Commandments when we observe Yom Kippur.

The Diary of the Events. The Day of Visitation is a day when the L-RD judges the people and it is always equated with Yom Kippur. Apostle Paul confidently declared that one day, all Israel will be saved (Rom 11:26).

The Deliverance of the People. When the L-RD will come on Yom Teruah, the Jews will be in Ten Days of Awe and on Yom Kippur, Yeshua will be the "covering" or shield of His people (Ps 115:9).

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]]><![CDATA[Yom Teruah: The Shadow of Our Blessed Hope]]>Tue, 03 Oct 2017 16:41:29 GMThttps://www.lightofmessiah.ca/appointed-times/yom-teruah-the-shadow-of-our-blessed-hopeBY RICHARD SISON | 2017

INTRODUCTION
Apostle Paul in his epistles to the Colossians says, “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body [is] of Christ.” (Col 2:16-17). This is one of the most misunderstood passage about Paul.

The misinterpretation of this passage started with the wrong translation biased on the abrogation of the Torah. However, the Greek word “de” is a primary particle that can be used either as an “adversative” or “continuative.”
Adversative is used for contrasting while continuative is to bridge and support what
was and what is. Translators err in this matter for choosing adversative word - “but” - to differentiate Christ against the Torah and in the process have to add another word “is” making the passage appear to be in contrary to the Law of G-D.
Paul was very clear that the Feasts, New Moon and Sabbaths are typology and shadow or reflection of what is real similar to what was shown by G-D to Moses in the mountain.

The Scripture cannot contradict the Scripture. -Bro. Richard Sison, Elder-

Your Texts.
1. Leviticus 23:23-25; Numbers 29:1-6
2. Psalms 81:3-4
3. Nehemiah 7:73 - 8:12
4. Isaiah 27:13
5. Zeph 1:14-17; Zechariah 9:14
6. Matt 24:31
7. 1 Cor 15:52; 1 Thes 4:16

Yearly Theme.
Yom Teruah emphasizes several central themes:
1. Divine judgment
2. Awakening
3. Repentance
4. Renewal
5. Remembrance
6. Crowning of King
7. New Beginning

Yiddish Traditions. Many Jewish customs have arisen to commemorate this feast. As believers, we understand better when we practice those who are biblical and help us remember the purpose of the Feasts.

Yearning Thought. Three books are opened [in heaven] on New Year, one for the thoroughly wicked, one for the thoroughly righteous, and one for the intermediate. The thoroughly righteous are inscribed in the book of life; the thoroughly wicked are inscribed in the book of death; the
doom of the intermediate is suspended from New Year till the Day of Atonement; if they deserved well, they are inscribed in the book of life; if they do not deserve well, they are inscribed in the book of death.

Yodel Tone. "When there's judgment from below, there's no need for judgment from above." What this means is that if we take the time to construct a sincere, realistic model of how we've fallen short in the past, and what we expect to change in the future, then G-D doesn't need to "wake us up" to what we already know.
Teruah in Hebrew means not only a certain unique sound. It also connotes "to break", denoting breaking something and/or causing damage.

Yelling Toot. And then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. Matthew 24:30-31

Yonder Time. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be. Mat 24:32-39

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]]><![CDATA[STATEMENT OF FAITH]]>Mon, 14 Aug 2017 03:57:06 GMThttps://www.lightofmessiah.ca/appointed-times/statement-of-faithWe are a group of Messianic believers who adhere to both the older and newer covenants. We believe that Yeshua (Jesus) is the Messiah and that He existed in the form of God (Phil 2:6), being the Word of God from the beginning, was with God from eternity past and all things came to being through Him (John 1:1-3). We believe that He is the image of the invisible God and by Him all things were created in the heavens and on earth and He is before all things and in Him all things hold together (Col. 1:15-17). We believe that Yeshua stepped out of eternity and became man in human flesh and dwelt among His people (John 1:14). We believe that He was born of a virgin (Luke 1:26-35) in the line of king David, his servant (Matt 1:1-16; Luke 3:23-38).

We believed that Yeshua kept the Law (Torah) and all God’s commandments and He is the embodiment of the whole Torah, the Living Word of God. We believe that He came not to destroy the Law but to fulfill (Matt 5:17-19). We believe that He is the promised Messiah, the Saviour of the world. We believe that He is the only way to the Father (John 14:6) and that salvation can only be attained through Him by faith alone (Eph 2:8-9) as there is no other name under heaven that we can be save except through Him (Acts 3:12). In Him was life and the life was the light of men (John 1:4).

We believe that Yeshua suffered and died in the cross for our sins (Matt 27:27-50) and He was buried (Matt 27:57-66) and was raised into life on the third day according the Scriptures (Matt 28:1-20; 1 Cor 15:1-4) and was seen by the apostles and over 500 witnesses (1 Cor 15:5-8). We believe that He ascended to Heaven after resurrection in the presence of many witnesses (Acts 1:9-10) and seated with the Father in glory (Acts 7:56; Heb 1:13) and that He will come back again in the same way He ascended to Heaven (Acts 1:11) at the time that only the Father knows (Acts 1:7) but when He comes back, He will judge the living and the dead (Matt 24:29-31; 25:31-46).

We believe that Yeshua sent the Ruach Hakodesh (Holy Spirit) the Helper, the Councilor, from the Father (John 16:5-15; Acts 2:1-12). We believe that the Ruach Hakodesh is our seal and was given as a pledge of our inheritance and redemption (Eph 1:13-14) and that He (the Holy Spirit) will teach us all things and bring into remembrance all that Yeshua said (John 14:26).

We believe that all Scriptures (the Bible) is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work (2 Tim 3:16-17; Rom 15:4). We believe that the word of God does not change and Torah (Law) was not done away with (Matt 5:17-19; Luke 16:17) and that we are to keep His commandments (1 John 2:3-7). We believe that there is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and destroy (James 4:12; Acts 7:28; Mal 3:1) and we believe that Yeshua is the giver of the 10 commandments and the whole Torah to Moses. We believe that Yeshua is the same yesterday, today and forever (Heb 13:8; Rev 22:13). We believe that the believers should keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Yeshua (Rev 12:17; 14:12) and if we truly love Yeshua (Jesus), we should keep His commandments (John 14:15; 15:10). We believe in the two greatest commandments that is to love our Lord God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength and to love our neighbors as ourselves. These two commandments summarized who whole Law.

We believe that we cannot be saved by good works but rather we were saved to do good works (Eph 2:10) and that we have to work our salvation with fear and trembling (Phil 2:12). We believe that believers can still sin and can be forgiven when we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us from our sins (1 John 1:9). We believe that salvation is permanent to those who are really saved (John 10:27-30; 1 John 5:13).

We believe in the Great Commission and evangelism and the Gospel of truth has to be propagated to all people (Matt 28:18-20). We believe that the Jewish people are the chosen people and that salvation will come to them in God’s time (Rom 11:25-29; Zech 13:8-9).

We believe in the seven years tribulation as mentioned in Matthew 24 and the book of Revelation. We believe in the snatching away of believers (Matt 24: 40-41; 1 Cor 15:51-53; 1 Thes 4:16-17) and we also believe in the resurrection of the believers being the first resurrection (Rev 20:4-6). We believe that Yeshua will reign as King in the Millennial Kingdom (Rev 20:4; Ezek 40-48).

We believe that angels are ministering spirits sent to render service for those who will inherit salvation (Heb 1:14). We believe that satan is the enemy of God and the devil is a roaring lion and is ready to steal, kill and destroy (1 Peter 5:8; John 10:10).

We believe that Sabbath is the day of worship, as it has been established from the beginning (Gen 2:3). Yeshua and His disiciples practiced them as mentioned in the 4 Gospels. Proper observance of Sabbath will be reinstituted in the Millennial kingdom (Ezek 40-48) and will be observed in the new heavens and new earth (Isa 66:22-23). We believe and adhere to the Appointed Times of God as stipulated in Leviticus 23 and keep the food commandments as identified in Leviticus 11. We, however, do not judge our fellow believers with regards to food or drink or Feasts, New Moon or Sabbath day for these are shadows of what is to come for the body of Christ (Col 2:16-17). We believe that these practices are not salvation issues and should not hinder the fellowship between brethren. We believe that love is supreme above all these things and we ought to love our neighbor fulfilling the royal law of Christ (James 2:8). We believe in the universal body of Messiah, among the brethren and we recognize that each believers and group of believers perform specific and unique tasks in building the kingdom of God.

We encourage you to join us in the discussion and we will answer your questions in the best we can in accordance to the word of God.]]><![CDATA[LOMMI OBJECTIVES AND GOALS]]>Mon, 14 Aug 2017 03:40:02 GMThttps://www.lightofmessiah.ca/appointed-times/lommi-objectives-and-goalsOBJECTIVES >

To keep and guard the Sabbath and the Seven Appointed Feasts as commanded in the Torah and to practice Biblical traditions.

2. To observe and obey all the commandments of the L-RD as stipulated in the Torah, repeated in the Tanakh and adhered in the Brit Chadasha.

3. To help the poor, the needy and sick especially those in the Body of Messiah through prayers, financial and moral support.

4. To support and help Israel and the Jewish people in every way we can.

5. To provide good teaching materials to help other believers grow in faith and knowledge of the L-RD.

6. To conduct outreach programs, preach the Gospel and to help others who are in need locally and internationally.

7. To unite with other Messianic congregations of the same beliefs and practices and establish relationship with the rest of the Body of Believers.

GOALS >

1. To bring glory, honour and praises and to serve the One True G-D Almighty and to His Son, Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus Christ), the Anointed One.

2. To diligently search out and implement the Hebraic and Jewish Roots of our faith.

3. To understand and carry out the true Biblical Teachings, as stipulated in the Torah, affirmed in the Tanakh and explained in the Brit Chadasha

4. To restore and adopt the Teachings and Practices of Yeshua, which were practiced and implemented by the 12 apostles and their followers in the first century.

5. To practice and propagate through good example the commandments of the L-RD to other people.

6. To preach the Gospel of salvation to all people.

7. To establish more Messianic congregations in Toronto and other parts of the world as the L-RD enables us.

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