Therefore, my beloved ones, flee from idolatry.
Rampant Idolatry
Idolatry runs rampant in today’s world! People “worship the demons, and idols of gold, and of silver, and of brass, and of stone, and of wood,” according to Revelation (Chazon) 9:20. As we draw closer and closer to the end of this age, and as the sure prophetic Word unfolds, people will also worship Satan himself—some willingly and some by force on the threat of death. The Mark of the Beast is real, and the Scripture warns us against worshiping idols and receiving that evil mark upon the hand or forehead. How can people avoid receiving this evil mark? By staying true to our heavenly Father and receiving His seal upon our foreheads.
Worship the Creator
The time will soon come when, “And all those dwelling on the earth, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the slain Lamb, from the foundation of the world shall worship him (the image of the beast) (Revelation/Chazon 13:8).”
We need to heed the warnings in the book of Revelation. The first of the three messages brought by the malakim (heavenly messengers) of YAHUAH warns us against false worship. This warning is especially relevant in these last days. We are admonished to, “Fear Alahym and give esteem to Him, because the hour of His judgment has come. And worship Him who made the heaven and the earth, and sea, and fountains of water (Revelation/Chazon 14:7).”
THE FATHER IS SEEKING TRUE WORSHIPPERS! Those who will worship Him in Spirit and in Truth! The first four of the 10 Commandments are about worship: how we relate to the Creator as Supreme over all! The remaining ones have to do with how we relate to others. There is one theme that runs throughout these commandments and the Book of the Law, which YAHUAH gave to Mosheh (Moses): LOVE! The Messiah said, if you love me, guard my commands (Yahuchanan/John 14:15)! This is what always separates the sheep from the goat: His sheep hear His voice, and a stranger they do not follow (Yahuchanan/John 10:27)!
False Worship Will End
A time will come when YAH will put an end to all false worship. YAHUAH is giving us a chance to choose who we will serve and worship. Like in the days of AliYahu (Elijah), YAHUAH is giving us all an opportunity to make a choice. Today, is the day of deliverance. We know not what tomorrow will bring. We may not even live to see it! So why procrastinate on the biggest life decision you’ll ever make?
YAH is bringing this chapter of earth’s history to a close, and He will remove all evil influences, including false worship. He will restore the heavens and earth and restore true worship universally!
What We Need to Do Now
So, the choice is ours to make, and there is no time like the present to make it! We only need to answer the call from our Master and Savior.
“See, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I shall come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I shall give to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies.”
Ordained Celebrations of Worship
Across the world and within different religions, there are special celebrations. Some of the most well-known ones are Christmas and Easter. While growing up, I enjoyed some of these traditional celebrations, not knowing what they were about. At the time, I did not know that the Scriptural celebrations are different. However, as I began to learn the truth about the Word of YAH, He also revealed the Sabbath. I was always accustomed to going to church on a Sunday. This was all I knew until I came to the knowledge of truth. When I received the truth, it brought a fresh wave of blessings into my life! Today, Sabbath is my favorite time of the week.
Sabbath as a Sign
When YAH gave Moses the 10 commandments at Mount Sinai, He stressed that the Sabbath is the sign of the covenant between Him and the covenant people, Yashar’AL. It is the fourth of the ten commandments. The first four are about true worship.
Apart from the weekly Sabbath, the Father also outlined three annual feasts, each with annual Sabbaths upon which we should not do any customary work.
So while we get a day off every week to spend quality time with our Loving Father and each other; we also get seven annual Sabbaths every year, as part of our annual celebrations.
Three Annual Festivals
“Three times a year all your males appear before יהוה your Alahym in the place which He chooses: at the Festival of Matzot, and at the Festival of Shaḇuʽoth, and at the Festival of Sukkot. And none should appear before יהוה empty-handed…”
(1) Festival of Matzot:
This is the time of Passover and the Week of Unleavened Bread, when our Messiah gave up His life for our sins, so He can take it up again for our redemption. He died in the middle of the week and rose at the end of the Sabbath: three days and three nights, just like He said. There was an annual Sabbath before, and then a weekly Sabbath, so He rested in the tomb for both of those Sabbaths. (Learn more.)
(2) Festival of Shaḇuʽoth:
This is seven weeks after Passover. Messiah spent 40 days with His followers, then ascended after instructing them to go to Yarushalayim to wait for “the promise of the Father” — which is the gift of the Spirit, which they received on the 50th day.
(3) Festival of Sukkot:
This represents the miraculous birth of the Son of YAH. He came to tabernacle with us in the flesh. It also represents the time when all the children of YAH will tabernacle with Him in the new kingdom. He will dwell with us; He will be our Alahym and we will be His people. This is the final conclusion of the matter.
Seven Annual Sabbaths
During the Week of Unleavened Bread, we observe two annual Sabbaths; then we observe one at Shabu’ot, one on the Day of Trumpets, one on the Day of Atonement, and two at Sukkot. This makes a total of seven. Four of the seven annual Sabbaths fall in the seventh month.
The purpose of these weekly and annual sabbaths is clear: this ensures that we block time to spend with our Loving Father, without the distraction of work, as YAH expressly forbids us to work on these set-apart days.
Focus on Shabu’ot & The Giving of the Spirit
Shabu’ot is the name of the celebration that commemorates the giving of the laws at Mount Sinai. Moshe was given two tablets of stone, and the writings on them were done by the Father Himself! YAH also gave Him Words to write, which Moshe wrote on a scroll that was later placed beside the ark of the covenant. The laws of YAHUAH are central to His covenant. However, no one can keep the laws of YAH without being empowered by His Spirit. That is why Messiah promised to send His Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, as our Helper!
The Spirit is Our Helper
“And I shall ask the Father, and He shall give you another Helper, to stay with you forever…”
“But the Helper, the Set-apart Spirit, whom the Father shall send in My Name, He shall teach you all, and remind you of all that I said to you.”
“And when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of the Truth, who comes from the Father, He shall bear witness of Me…”
“But I say the truth to you. It is better for you that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper shall not come to you at all, but if I go, I shall send Him to you.”
Warnings against Grieving the Spirit
Through the giving of the Spirit of Truth as a pledge upon our hearts, YAHUAH establishes and seals us (2 Co 1:21-22). Since we have received His Spirit, we are warned not to grieve His Spirit, by living in rebellion, as we are sealed for the Day of Redemption. That day is coming sooner than you think!
Ephesians 4:30 And do not grieve the Set-apart Spirit of Elohim, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
The Gift of the Spirit
So, YAHUAH poured out the Set-Apart Spirit on the followers of Messiah at the first Festival of Shabu’ot after Messiah’s resurrection and 10 days after Messiah’s ascencion.
And when the Day of the Festival of Shabu’ot had come, they were all with one mind in one place. Suddenly, there came a sound from the heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and settled on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Set-apart Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them to speak.
Shabu’ot
Shabu’ot, also called the Feast of Weeks, comes 7 weeks after the Week of Unleavened Bread. It reinforces the weekly Seventh Day Sabbath, as each year, seven weekly Sabbaths are counted to determine when this feast will occur. The Scripture commands that we observe Shabu’ot, which literally means weeks, on the day after the Seventh Sabbath.
Here is another thing… The Scriptural day does not begin at mid-night. It begins as the day transitions from light to dark. As we read in the book of Genesis, evening comes before morning in a day. Sabbath actually starts as it changes from light to dark, so the celebration of Shabu’ot actually starts when it begins to get dark.
Imagine the great anticipation of the followers of Messiah, when they went to the Upper Room, the festival day began and they continued, not feasting on treats and eats, but in solemn prayer, as they waited for the Great Promise: the outpouring of the Set-Apart Spirit. They received the Spirit raining down upon each and every faithful believer in the fullness of power! This empowered each and everyone who obeyed the command to wait diligently and prayerfully, to go forward even in the face of stiff persecution.
Power for These Last Days
We need that power from on high like never before. Living in this world will not become any easier! In fact, perilous times are coming up the world, and indeed, the only way we can survive is through the power of the Set-Apart Spirit… Not by might, nor by power, but by the Spirit!
And he answered and said to me, “This is the word of יהוה to Zerubbaḇel, ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’” said יהוה of hosts. Zec 4:6
Shabuo’t Booklet and Prayers
Below are two free downloads, including Scriptures and Prayers for Shabu’ot.
Have a great festival! Chag Sameach Shabu’ot!