Leviticus 23:1-4 NLT: "1 The Lord said to Moses, 2 'Give the following instructions to the people of Israel. These are the Lord's appointed festivals, which you are to proclaim as official days for holy assembly. 3 You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of complete rest, an official day for holy assembly. It is the Lord's Sabbath day, and it must be observed wherever you live. 4 In addition to the Sabbath, these are the Lord's appointed festivals, the official days for holy assembly that are to be celebrated at their proper times each year.'"

Colossians 2:16-17 NLT: "16 So don't let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths. 17 For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality."

Three Seasons of Celebrating God

First month - celebrating the SON

1 Corinthians 5:7-8 NLT: "7 Get rid of the old 'yeast' by removing this wicked person from among you. Then you will be like a fresh batch of dough made without yeast, which is what you really are. Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed for us. 8 So let us celebrate the festival, not with the old bread of wickedness and evil, but with the new bread of sincerity and truth."

• Passover - His blood purchases our freedom.
• Festival of Unleavened Bread - His purity is our example.
• Firstfruits offering - His resurrection is our future.
  • 1 Corinthians 15:20, 23 NLT: "20 But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died... 23 But there is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised as the first of the harvest; then all who belong to Christ will be raised when he comes back."
  • We have great hope for the future because He has proven that we will rise again.

Third month - celebrating the SPIRIT

Acts 2:1-4 NLT: "1 On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. 2 Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. 3 Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. 4 And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability."

Pentecost represents:

• The Spirit replaces the Law - Both were given on Pentecost.
• The Spirit produces worship to God - They lifted up the two loaves and gave thanks.
• The Spirit produces goodness toward people - They left the remnants of their fields to be harvested by the poor.

Seventh month - celebrating the FATHER

Acts 1:6-8 NLT: "6 So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, 'Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?' 7 He replied, 'The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know.'"

• Feast of Trumpets - He is sovereign over time and changes seasons as He wills.
• Day of Atonement - He is the judge of all humanity.
• Festival of Shelters - He has invited us into His rest!