Feasts and Worship

This sermon interprets Psalm 45 as a prophetic depiction of the relationship between Christ and the church, structured as a royal wedding narrative. The first half of the psalm describes the King, identifying Jesus as the morally beautiful, mighty warrior who reigns in righteousness and has been exalted by the Father for His perfect obedience. The second half addresses the Queen, the church, exhorting believers to forget the world and wait in holiness for the King's return. The text culminates in the imagery of the wedding feast, where the glorified church is presented to Christ without spot or wrinkle, entering His palace for eternal praise and fellowship.

Explore the final days of the Feast of Tabernacles, focusing on Jesus' invitation to the THIRSTY to come and drink of the living water. This is interpreted through the lens of Ezekiel's vision of water flowing from the temple and Isaiah's promise of the Spirit, identifying Jesus as the source of spiritual life and the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies. The message contrasts the political maneuvering and spiritual blindness of the Pharisees, who reject Jesus despite their claim to know the law, with the genuine faith of the common people and the humble inquiry of Nicodemus. It emphasizes that true understanding and rest are gifts of sovereign grace, not achieved through human effort or religious status. The preacher urges listeners to recognize their spiritual thirst as evidence of God's work in their hearts and to find complete rest and freedom in Christ's finished work.

John 7:1-24 shows why people who knew the Scriptures well still rejected Jesus. His brothers urged him to show his works at the Feast of Booths and win the world's notice, because they did not believe in him. The crowd muttered about him but feared the leaders, and the leaders asked where he had studied instead of whether he spoke the truth. Each group sought its own glory. Jesus sought the Father's glory, and he says that anyone whose will is to do God's will recognizes his teaching as from God. Knowledge alone leaves a heart unchanged, so the Holy Spirit must renew it. A renewed heart judges with right judgment, lets go of the praise of others, and finds joy in obeying the Father.

In the second half of John 7, everyone in Jerusalem has a theory about Jesus, and John lets readers watch them guess wrong. Jesus settles it by standing up and speaking for himself. He comes from the Father, though the crowd thinks it knows all about his hometown. He is returning to the One who sent him, so the time to seek him is short. On the great day of the Feast of Booths, when the priests poured out water at the altar, he cries, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink," and promises the Spirit as rivers of living water that flow through believers to others. The officers sent to arrest him come back saying, "No one ever spoke like this man." Each hearer must still answer who Jesus is.

Sermon | Esther 9:20-10:3 | Sunday Evening Service, October 25 2026. Preacher: Rocky Stevenson This sermon examines the concluding chapters of the book of Esther, identifying three witnesses to God's faithfulness: the feast of Purim, the written letters, and the figure of Mordecai. Ps Rocky argues that these elements testify to God's preservation of Israel during the diaspora, fulfilling promises made in Leviticus and Jeremiah that He would not reject His people even in exile. The message connects this historical deliverance to the broader theological narrative of Romans 9-11, asserting that God's covenants with Israel remain irrevocable and that the church, as grafted-in Gentiles, must maintain humility and pray for Israel's ultimate salvation. The sermon concludes by pointing to the future national turning of Israel to Jesus Christ, presenting Purim as a foreshadowing of the greater redemption and eternal reign of the Messiah. #holy #faith #esther #covenant #israel #faithfulness Visit Benoni Bible Church: www.benonibiblechurch.co.za Address: 149 President Brand Rd, Rynfield, Benoni - view on Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/oag383xq3U2b7RQN6 Copyright © 2026, Benoni Bible Church. All rights reserved.

In Matthew 25:1–13, our Lord calls us to watchfulness, readiness, and persevering faith. The parable of the ten virgins reminds us that outward profession is not enough; only those with the oil of true grace will enter the marriage feast of the King. As we hear this word, let us examine our hearts, cling to Christ alone, and live in hopeful expectation of his return, knowing the day and hour are hidden, but the Judge is near.

The sermon addresses the human tendency to romanticize the past by contrasting the diminished appearance of the rebuilt temple with the promise of future glory found in Haggai 2. It argues that believers should not fixate on 'glory days' that have passed, but rather find strength in the present reality of God's presence, as emphasized during the Feast of Booths. The text connects this prophetic promise to the New Testament revelation that Christ's death tore the veil, granting direct access to God and initiating a gathering of nations into His house. This perspective shifts the believer's hope from a nostalgic past to a future where God dwells with His people, thereby encouraging perseverance in the ordinary tasks of the present age. The message concludes with an invitation to the Lord's Table, affirming that Christ is currently with His people and that the ultimate glory of God's kingdom is yet to come.