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God Wants to Dwell in You

God Wants to Dwell in You – From a Temporary Tent to a Permanent Presence

Pastor Phil Derstine 9-20-26

The Feast of Tabernacles – What is it and what does it mean?

    • Feast (Heb: Moadim) – Means an Appointed Time, A Divine Appointment with God.  
  • Tabernacles (Heb: Sukkot) – Temporary booths, huts, shelters.            
  • Leviticus 23:34 “Say to the Israelites: On the fifteenth day of the seventh month the LORD’s Feast of Tabernacles begins, and it lasts for seven days. (36) For seven days present offerings made to the LORD by fire, and on the eighth day hold a sacred assembly and present an offering made to the LORD by fire.” 
  • Historically: Commemorates 40 years Israel spent in wilderness, living in makeshift shelters. 
  • Today: Jews build booths, roofed with branches, commemorating wilderness-life and provision of God.
  • The Feast of Tabernacles is ultimately about God's desire to dwell with His people.       
  1. Dwelling in Booths – Hebrew word for tabernacles is Sukkot, meaning booths.
  • Leviticus 23:42“All native-born Israelites are to live in booths (43) so your descendants will know that I had the Israelites live in booths when I brought them out of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.”
  • The temporary booth symbolizes the need to depend upon God for His provision of food, water, shelter.
  • Matthew 27:51 – The curtain in the Temple was torn from top to bottom, giving access into God’s Presence to everyone who believes.
  • Hebrews 10:19 “Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, (20) by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain… (22) Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings…”       
  • God wants to "Tabernacle" with us (dwell permanently in our hearts)
  • John 1:14 “The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.” (Gr) Skenoo: tent or encamp temporarily. 
  • Ephesians 3:16-17 “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.” (Gr) Katoikeo: to house or inhabit permanently.
    • II Corinthians 4:7 “We have this treasure (Holy Spirit) in earthen vessels (temporary sukkahs) to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”
  • We are journeying in this fragile, earthly Tabernacle with the Power of God inside!
    • Psalm 91:9-11 “IF you make the Lord, the Most High, your dwelling, Then no evil will befall you, neither shall any plague come nigh your dwelling. For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.”
  • God wants His Presence to become your Permanent Dwelling Place!
  1. Rejoicing before the Lord – Singing, dancing, clapping, processionals, pageantry  
  • Deuteronomy 16:14 “Be joyful at your Feast – you, your sons and daughters, your menservants and maidservants, and the Levites, the aliens, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns." 
  • Nehemiah 8:10 “…For the joy of the LORD is your strength.”                                      
  1. Celebrating the Harvest – Feast of Ingathering - Unusual number of sacrifices (offerings)
  • Deuteronomy 16:15 (NIV) For seven days celebrate the Feast to the LORD your God at the place the LORD will chose.  For the LORD your God will bless you in all your harvest and in all the work of your hands, and your joy will be complete. (16) No man should appear before the LORD emptyhanded: (17) Each of you must bring a gift in proportion to the way the LORD your God has blessed you.”
  • John 7:37 “In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.  (38) He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (39) (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Spirit was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)”