Issue 3

Festivals

- John McGoram

With John Beaumont's permission we have taken excerpts from Ch 12 of his book, 'The Church of My Dreams". We have chosen this particular chapter as John shares important revelation in regard to the preparation of God's people as they plan to come together for special occasions. We believe John shares principles that are close to God's heart. Principles that may guide us at Camp-time. (The bold emphasises and comments in italics are ours.)

"Funerals followed by festivals. Doesn't that sound great? But what are festivals?

When God gave Moses instructions for the spiritual well-being of His people He set out special seasons, sometimes a week in duration and sometimes just a day, that were to be feasts to the Lord. These were periodic and spaced well apart.

The English words "feast" and "festival" come from the Latin word "festus', meaning "joyful." "Festival" conveys the thought of combining in joyful expression, including the sharing of sumptuous meals.

The Bible term "Feasts of the LORD" (1) conveys two special thoughts. The first is of God being among His people and satisfying Himself fully through their offerings of love, fellowship and commitment to Him. What exceeding joy there could be if a people gathered for a special season of ministering to the Lord's desires in such measure that He could feast to His full on what flowed from their hearts!"

Though we may not be ready at Rocky Valley Camp for much expression in public meetings, let's at least join together believing God Himself will get most satisfaction from the love, fellowship and commitment each of us may give Him. Let this occasion be for Him.

'This term also conveys the thought of a spiritual banquet for the people of God, in which they "feast on the abundance of [the Lord's] house;/ [and] drink from [His] river of delights." (2) Imagine the most lavish banquet possible, with great abundance of every delicacy, and a boundless supply of refreshing beverages. Then transfer the thought from the natural realm to the realm of the Spirit. That would be a festival indeed!

Doesn't your heart cry out for a festival like that, where heaven's abundant banquet is your portion in addition to appetising and satisfying meals, and where there is a "fountain of life" (3) flowing, as well as naturally thirst-slaking drinks being available?

A festival invokes leaving aside activities and involvement's that are normally an integral part of our lives, and it involves our separating ourselves to a short period of full involvement with the Lord and with one another. A week set aside like that from time to time would be a lovely deterrent to our becoming too engrossed in earthly things. It would also cause a deeper linking of hearts among the people of God. Surely we have known retreats or conferences where we have experienced such things."

It is good to come apart just to have a 'fuller involvement with both the Lord and each other.'

"The phrase "feast with you" includes the thought of "being one with you" This raises the thought of something much deeper than a superficial agreement to be doing the same thing at the same time. It suggests heart harmony and mutual eagerness to sit together at the Mas-ter's feet in submission and love, recognising that He alone can nourish and satisfy our in-ner beings. "

And believe it or not it doesn't mean we have to "get into meetings" to sit together at the Master's feet. Isn't He wonderful!

"Preparation for a Festival

Prior preparation is a theme that wends it's way through scripture, being applied to many aspects of life. An angel of the Lord announced to Zechariah that he and Elizabeth would have a son who would "make ready a people prepared for the Lord" (4) What a precious ministry! John referred to "the day of Preparation of Passover Week." (5) The times of preparation for the Easter gatherings in Dublin, which we have referred to earlier in this book, were themselves a significant season in our lives. In fact so deeply did the Holy Spirit touch our lives and reveal the Father to us, that we could have been completely satisfied had the conference not been held after all!"

Preparation in the Presence of God can mean much more than having emotional times in 'exciting' meetings.

"It was at that time that God gave me deep dissatisfaction with routine meetings, which may well be defined as gatherings without previously given direction and without adequate spiritual preparation. About a month later there was to be a "celebration" meeting, just before leaving Ireland. I dreaded the thought of just another celebration, and told friends, "If there isn't a fuller dimension to celebration in this gathering, then I think I will delete that word from my vocabulary." It would have been so easy for most people to drift into such a meeting, counting on a leader or two and a guest speaker to undertake whatever preparation was necessary. Thank God that it was another very special evening because adequate preparation had been made.

Surely weeks of special times of seeking God and hearing from Him should precede a spiritual festival.

What blessing there would be in that! There was a brother in Ireland who was freed from years-long bondage to tobacco the day before the Easter conference began. He had heard of the preparation and expectation others were involved with, and so began reaching out to His Lord ahead of time as well. There was a woman whose life was transformed as the Holy Spirit dealt deeply with her before the start of a meeting. There had been prior preparation! There have been occasions in meetings when I have felt that the first thirty minutes or more have been involved with personal heart dealing and aspects of seeking God which should have taken place well before the gathering. When people are absorbed with things of work and family most of the week, and even right up to meeting time, it is impossible for them to come in at the level of grace and experience that ought to be the norm.

To be aware of God's presence and as sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit as we ought, prior preparation is absolutely essential."

If we would learn to abide in the Vine and walk in the Spirit - we would be prepared.

"Festival Rest

One of the precious ingredients God gave Moses for festivals was rest. The Feast of Tabernacles began and ended with a day of rest. The Sabbath was a day of rest. God even instructed that the land should rest for a year every seventh year.

How different from so many conferences and crusades we have attended! How often people return to their homes exhausted to a point where it is difficult not to "flop' physically, emotionally, and spiritually as well. How different it would be to return home relaxed, refreshed and inspired. Why not have a festival in which the overall emphasis is to rejoice in the Lord, for say, seven days, which is what happened at the Feast of Tabernacles? Why does there have to be so much preaching? Why do there have to he so many formal meetings? Why are we pressured to do so many things? If we come together just to honour the Lord, and to allow Him to speak as and when He chooses, it will he very different.

The main reason for so much preaching and teaching is that in the modern Western world the church has elevated reason above revelation, activity above communing with God, and reliance upon human ability above having confidence in the Lord.

There is a rest for the people of God, and we should make every effort to enter into it. (6) Hardness of heart and unbelief keep us from the rest of God. It is not of course a rest of idleness, but it is a rest of confidence in God, and a rest from activity other than that which is clearly selected and directed by the Holy Spirit."

Bless you John. It has cost you - I know - to have religion wrung out of you to where you can see such simple, clear revelation. I got excited just now - underlining some of the above truths. Especially those last two lines.

"The New Testament

Paul instructed the Corinthian Christians, "get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast - as you really are. For Christ our Passover lamb has been sacrificed. Therefore let us keep the festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with the bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth. "

Obviously Paul recognised that there were aspects of the feasts God gave to Moses for the children of Israel that have no place in the New Testament church. He did seem to encourage, however, that a Passover festival be held, but with Jesus the Lamb of God at the center of it"

Let's get back to the bread of "sincerity and truth" Unless our actions are based on "sincerity" and "truth" let's be done with those activities.

"In the church of my dreams there are amazing festivals! They are occasions when God manifests Himself in, among and upon His people. They are seasons when at times His boundless love and amazing power cause us all to he silently prostrate before God, and at other times we will be joyously praising Him with all of our hearts and with all of our strength. They are festivals where there are no undercurrents of people wanting their own way / of leadership wanting to manipulate and dominate, / or of human planning placing restriction what the Holy Spirit desires for the people of God.
They are seasons following which people will be declaring with awe and amazement, "I saw the Lord," and, "I heard the Lord."

Space does not allow to complete this chapter: John Beaumont's "The Church of My Dreams" speaks of the true nature of the church. We fully endorse its message and hope what is written will be an inspiration to many.