ROSH CHODESN the 8th month

THE FINISHED HOUSE — Rosh Chodesh, Eighth Month THE FINISHED HOUSE THE SON BUILDS IT. THE FATHER DWELLS IN IT. Rosh Chodesh — The Eighth Month First Harvest Ministries International Rev. John Shane Vaughn Primary Text: 1 Kings 6:38 Prophetic Foundation: 1 Chronicles 22:9–10 | Zechariah 6:12–13 | 1 Corinthians 15:24–28 | Revelation 20:4–6 | Revelation 21:1–3, 22 INTRODUCTION — A HOUSE WAS BUILT FOR SOMEONE Shalom, House of Israel! Tonight we welcome the eighth month on YAHWEH's sacred calendar. But tonight, I want to do more than announce another month. I want to show you something hidden in plain sight in the account of Solomon's Temple. Something about the Father. Something about the Son. Something about the Kingdom. And something about the eternal purpose of YAHWEH. First Harvest Ministries International • 1 THE FINISHED HOUSE — Rosh Chodesh, Eighth Month We have just come through the seventh month, the season of Tabernacles, during which we rehearsed the great promise of YAHSHUA's coming Kingdom. For seven days, we dwelt in temporary tabernacles, looking forward to the thousand-year reign of Messiah. And then came the eighth-day assembly, directing our attention beyond the reign of Messiah to the eternal purpose of the Father. But now we enter the eighth month. And something extraordinary appears in Scripture. Listen to 1 Kings 6:38: "And in the eleventh year, in the month Bul, which is the eighth month, was the house finished throughout all the parts thereof, and according to all the fashion of it. So was he seven years in building it." Seven years of building. The eighth month of completion. And who built the house? THE SON OF DAVID! Solomon. But was Solomon the ultimate fulfillment of the promise given to David? No! There was another Son of David to come. A greater King. YAHSHUA Himself said it: First Harvest Ministries International • 2 THE FINISHED HOUSE — Rosh Chodesh, Eighth Month "...behold, a greater than Solomon is here." — Matthew 12:42 A King whose throne would be established forever. His name is YAHSHUA! And tonight, I want to show you that what Solomon accomplished in constructing the earthly house becomes a remarkable picture of what YAHSHUA is accomplishing in preparing the eternal dwelling of His Father. Because the story of redemption is not merely about the Son establishing a Kingdom. It is about the Son fulfilling the will of His Father. And the Father's ultimate purpose is not merely to rule over a people from a distance. IT IS TO DWELL AMONG THEM! Now watch how the Scriptures bring these two assignments together. PART ONE — THE FATHER'S DESIRE: I WANT TO DWELL AMONG MY PEOPLE Before we can understand the assignment of the Son, we must understand the desire of the Father. Go all the way back to Exodus 25:8. YAHWEH speaks to Moses and gives one of the most revealing statements in the entire Bible. "And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them." There it is. First Harvest Ministries International • 3 THE FINISHED HOUSE — Rosh Chodesh, Eighth Month Why a sanctuary? Why a Tabernacle? Why a priesthood? Why an altar? Why an Ark? Because YAHWEH desired to dwell among His people. That is the purpose! The Tabernacle was never simply an exercise in religious architecture. It was never merely a beautiful place for ceremonies. It was a dwelling place. And the purpose belonged to YAHWEH. THE FATHER DESIRED THE HOUSE BECAUSE THE FATHER DESIRED TO DWELL WITH HIS PEOPLE. Now I want you to carry that thought all the way through this message. Because if you miss the desire of the Father, you will misunderstand the assignment of the Son. The Son did not come to establish an independent Kingdom in competition with His Father. He did not come to build something for His own separate purpose. He came to accomplish the will of the One who sent Him. YAHSHUA said in John 4:34: First Harvest Ministries International • 4 THE FINISHED HOUSE — Rosh Chodesh, Eighth Month "My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work." That statement is the key to understanding His entire mission. Whose will? THE FATHER'S! Whose work? THE FATHER'S! And what did the Son come to do with that work? FINISH IT! Whose Kingdom is ultimately being prepared? THE FATHER'S! And what has the Father desired from the beginning? A PEOPLE AMONG WHOM HE CAN DWELL! Remember that. Because now we are going to meet the son who built the house. PART TWO — DAVID'S SON WAS APPOINTED TO BUILD THE HOUSE Turn with me to 1 Chronicles 22:9–10. David had desired to build a house for YAHWEH. But that assignment was given to his son. The Scripture declares concerning Solomon: First Harvest Ministries International • 5 THE FINISHED HOUSE — Rosh Chodesh, Eighth Month "He shall build an house for my name; and he shall be my son, and I will be his father..." Notice the pattern. A father. A son. An appointed house. An assigned work. In the very same breath that YAHWEH appoints the builder, He declares the relationship. FATHER AND SON. David prepared, but Solomon was appointed to build. And Solomon took the throne and began the work that had been assigned to him. He was not building a house for Solomon. He was building a house for YAHWEH. Now think about that! Here is the son of David, sitting on the throne, carrying out a great building assignment. And all the while, the true purpose of the house was greater than the son who built it. The house belonged to YAHWEH. And the house was constructed for YAHWEH's presence among His covenant people. Now move forward to Luke 1:32. The angel declares concerning YAHSHUA: First Harvest Ministries International • 6 THE FINISHED HOUSE — Rosh Chodesh, Eighth Month "He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and YAHWEH Elohim shall give unto him the throne of his father David." Do you see the connection? Solomon was a son of David. YAHSHUA is the promised Son of David. Solomon sat upon a throne. YAHSHUA receives the promised Davidic throne. Solomon built a physical house for YAHWEH. YAHSHUA is preparing a spiritual house for His Father. And the prophet Zechariah saw it centuries before. Zechariah 6:12–13: "Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of YAHWEH: Even he shall build the temple of YAHWEH; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both." BEHOLD THE MAN! HE SHALL BUILD THE TEMPLE OF YAHWEH! THE COUNSEL OF PEACE SHALL BE BETWEEN THEM BOTH! Two Persons. One house. First Harvest Ministries International • 7 THE FINISHED HOUSE — Rosh Chodesh, Eighth Month One purpose. And perfect shalom between the Son who builds and the Father who sent Him. SOLOMON WAS THE TYPE. YAHSHUA IS THE GREATER SON OF DAVID. But the difference is extraordinary. Solomon assembled stones that had been cut from the earth. YAHSHUA is assembling living stones redeemed from among mankind. Solomon built a Temple that could eventually be destroyed. YAHSHUA is preparing a dwelling whose eternal purpose cannot be destroyed. Solomon constructed the house through human laborers. YAHSHUA is forming His people into a holy priesthood. Listen to 1 Peter 2:5: "Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood..." There is the house! Not merely a building. A PEOPLE! And Ephesians 2:22 tells us the purpose: "In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of Elohim through the Spirit." First Harvest Ministries International • 8 THE FINISHED HOUSE — Rosh Chodesh, Eighth Month An habitation! A dwelling place! And who is being prepared to inhabit this house in its eternal fullness? THE FATHER! Can you see it? The Son is not building a house without a purpose. He is preparing a people for the fulfillment of His Father's desire. PART THREE — THE SEVEN YEARS AND THE SEVENTH MILLENNIUM Now return to Solomon. First Kings 6:38 says something that should arrest our attention. "So was he seven years in building it." Seven years! And in the eighth month, the house was finished. For seven years, the son of David was occupied with the building of the house. And at the appointed completion, the work stood finished. Now, let us move from the type to the greater prophetic picture. Revelation 20:4–6 reveals a thousand-year reign of Messiah with His saints. This is the Kingdom we have been preaching. First Harvest Ministries International • 9 THE FINISHED HOUSE — Rosh Chodesh, Eighth Month This is the reign toward which the Feast of Tabernacles directs our attention. The seventh millennium. The great Sabbath Kingdom. The thousand-year reign of YAHSHUA. But what is the King doing during that reign? Is He merely sitting upon a throne enjoying the recognition of His subjects? No! Paul gives us the answer. Turn to 1 Corinthians 15:25: "For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet." Listen carefully. HE MUST REIGN UNTIL! That word UNTIL is important. It identifies an appointed objective in the reign. There is something the Son must accomplish. There is an assignment that must be brought to fulfillment. He reigns until every enemy is subdued. And verse 26 declares: "The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death." Now we understand the purpose of that reign. The King is bringing the Father's purpose toward completion. First Harvest Ministries International • 10 THE FINISHED HOUSE — Rosh Chodesh, Eighth Month The Son is preparing the Kingdom for its final destiny. And in our prophetic understanding, the seven years of Solomon's building become a picture of the completed work of the greater Son of David. Solomon's seven years were literal years of construction. YAHSHUA's millennial reign is the climactic seventh-millennium phase of the Father's redemptive plan. The two time periods are not identical in length. But the relationship is what matters. THE SON OF DAVID HAS AN ASSIGNMENT. THE ASSIGNMENT MUST BE FINISHED. AND THE FINISHED WORK BELONGS TO THE FATHER. Solomon finished the house. YAHSHUA will bring His appointed Kingdom work to its fulfillment. WHY THE SON MUST REIGN UNTIL SOLOMON'S FALL REVEALS THE MYSTERY Now someone will ask, "Pastor, if Messiah's reign is perfect, why isn't the Millennium the final state? Why must there be an until?" Solomon answers that question for us. Solomon was the king of SHALOM. Peace on every side. First Harvest Ministries International • 11 THE FINISHED HOUSE — Rosh Chodesh, Eighth Month Every man under his vine and under his fig tree. The nations bringing their wealth. The Queen of Sheba coming to hear his wisdom. And yet — read First Kings chapter eleven. His heart was turned. And YAHWEH raised up adversaries against him. HADAD THE EDOMITE rose in the south. REZON OF DAMASCUS rose in the north. And from inside his own house — JEROBOAM, HIS OWN SERVANT, lifted up his hand against the king. The king of peace ended his reign surrounded by rebellion. Now hear me carefully. Solomon's failure does not picture YAHSHUA failing. Solomon was a mortal man. YAHSHUA does not fall. But Solomon's story exposes something we must not miss: PERFECT CONDITIONS DO NOT AUTOMATICALLY CREATE PERFECT HEARTS. And that is exactly what Revelation shows us at the end of the thousand years. Revelation 20:7–8: "And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, First Harvest Ministries International • 12 THE FINISHED HOUSE — Rosh Chodesh, Eighth Month And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea." Think about that! A thousand years of righteous government. A thousand years of peace. A thousand years of justice. A thousand years under Messiah's own rule. And still — rebellion can be found in the human heart. That is why the Millennium cannot be the eternal state. It is still the Son's working reign. The final rebellion must be exposed. The originator of rebellion must be removed. The final judgment must be completed. And death itself must be destroyed. THAT IS WHY HE MUST REIGN — UNTIL! Solomon built peace around Israel. YAHSHUA destroys the very cause of enmity. Solomon's kingdom fractured. YAHSHUA's Kingdom is delivered whole. Solomon died. YAHSHUA destroys death. First Harvest Ministries International • 13 THE FINISHED HOUSE — Rosh Chodesh, Eighth Month THAT IS WHY HE IS GREATER THAN SOLOMON! And when that work is finished, something extraordinary happens. PART FOUR — WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE SON FINISHES? Now, House of Israel, I want you to pay close attention. Because here is where the entire message begins to come together. First Corinthians 15:24 declares: "Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to Elohim, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power." Read that again. WHO DELIVERS THE KINGDOM? The Son! TO WHOM? The Father! WHEN? When He has put down all rule and all authority and power. Now look at verse 28: First Harvest Ministries International • 14 THE FINISHED HOUSE — Rosh Chodesh, Eighth Month "And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that Elohim may be all in all." THAT ELOHIM MAY BE ALL IN ALL! What a declaration! The Son reigns. The enemies are subdued. Death is destroyed. The Kingdom is delivered to the Father. And YAHWEH becomes all in all. Now ask yourself a simple question. Why does the Son deliver the Kingdom to the Father? Because the Kingdom was never meant to become independent of the Father's ultimate purpose. The Father entrusted the Son with the royal assignment. The Son faithfully fulfills that assignment. And the finished Kingdom is presented to the Father. Here is the pattern in its simplest form. THE FATHER PURPOSES. THE SON PREPARES. THE SON REIGNS. THE SON COMPLETES. First Harvest Ministries International • 15 THE FINISHED HOUSE — Rosh Chodesh, Eighth Month THE SON DELIVERS. THE FATHER BECOMES ALL IN ALL. And this is what makes the relationship between seven and eight so meaningful in our teaching. The seventh millennium represents the appointed reign of YAHSHUA. The eighth day directs our attention beyond that reign. To what? Not to another temporary kingdom. Not to another age of preparation. But to the eternal fullness of the Father's purpose. THE SEVENTH MILLENNIUM IS THE REIGN OF THE SON. THE ETERNAL EIGHTH DAY IS THE FULLNESS OF THE FATHER'S DWELLING. And now we must return to Solomon, because the Temple account reveals something remarkable. PART FIVE — THE HOUSE WAS FINISHED BEFORE THE GLORY FILLED IT First Kings 6:38 tells us that Solomon completed the Temple in the eighth month. But the story does not end with the completion of the building. Keep reading into chapter eight. First Harvest Ministries International • 16 THE FINISHED HOUSE — Rosh Chodesh, Eighth Month Solomon gathers the elders of Israel. The priests take up the Ark of the Covenant. And the Ark is brought into the Most Holy Place. First Kings 8:6: "And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of YAHWEH unto his place, into the oracle of the house, to the most holy place..." There is something I want you to notice. The house had been constructed. The place had been prepared. But now the Ark was being brought into its appointed dwelling. The Ark represented YAHWEH's covenant presence and His throne among Israel. He had told Moses in Exodus 25:22: "And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat..." And now, in Solomon's completed Temple, the Ark enters the Most Holy Place. But watch what happens next! First Kings 8:10–11: "And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of YAHWEH, So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of YAHWEH had filled the house of YAHWEH." First Harvest Ministries International • 17 THE FINISHED HOUSE — Rosh Chodesh, Eighth Month THERE IT IS! THE HOUSE WAS BUILT! THE ARK WAS BROUGHT IN! THE GLORY FILLED THE HOUSE! And suddenly, the purpose of all those years of construction becomes clear. Solomon had not been building merely for the sake of construction. He had been preparing a dwelling for YAHWEH! Now let me be precise. The house was finished in the eighth month. But the Ark was brought in at the feast of the seventh month that followed — First Kings 8:2 calls it "the feast in the month Ethanim, which is the seventh month." We are not claiming the Ark entered in the eighth month. But listen to how that feast ended. Second Chronicles 7:9–10: "And in the eighth day they made a solemn assembly: for they kept the dedication of the altar seven days, and the feast seven days. And on the three and twentieth day of the seventh month he sent the people away into their tents, glad and merry in heart for the goodness that YAHWEH had shewed unto David, and to Solomon, and to Israel his people." House of Israel, do you see it? The house was finished in the EIGHTH MONTH. First Harvest Ministries International • 18 THE FINISHED HOUSE — Rosh Chodesh, Eighth Month The glory filled it during a feast of SEVEN DAYS. And the dedication reached its climax on the EIGHTH DAY. SEVEN DAYS — THEN THE EIGHTH! THE FEAST — THEN THE SOLEMN ASSEMBLY! THE BUILDING — THEN THE GLADNESS! The same pattern we just kept at Tabernacles is written into the dedication of Solomon's house. And when we carry that relationship into the greater fulfillment, the picture becomes magnificent. Solomon, the son of David, finishes the earthly house. YAHSHUA, the greater Son of David, brings the spiritual house to completion. The glory fills Solomon's prepared house. And following the fulfillment of the Son's appointed reign, Revelation announces the fullness of the Father's dwelling among His people. THE HOUSE WAS PREPARED FOR THE PRESENCE. THE KINGDOM IS PREPARED FOR THE FATHER. PART SIX — THE EIGHTH DAY: BEHOLD, THE FATHER IS HOME! Now turn to Revelation chapter twenty-one. First Harvest Ministries International • 19 THE FINISHED HOUSE — Rosh Chodesh, Eighth Month But before we read it, remember what has happened in chapter twenty. The thousand-year reign has been described. The final rebellion has been defeated. The last judgment has taken place. Death and Hades have been cast into the lake of fire. The former order has reached its judgment. Now John looks again. Revelation 21:1: "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away..." And then John sees the holy city, New Jerusalem. Prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And now listen to the announcement! Revelation 21:3: "And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of Elohim is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and Elohim himself shall be with them, and be their Elohim." STOP RIGHT THERE! DID YOU HEAR IT? THE TABERNACLE OF ELOHIM IS WITH MEN! HE WILL DWELL WITH THEM! HE HIMSELF SHALL BE WITH THEM! First Harvest Ministries International • 20 THE FINISHED HOUSE — Rosh Chodesh, Eighth Month HOUSE OF ISRAEL — THE FATHER IS HOME! This is what Exodus 25:8 was pointing toward! "Let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them." Do you see the beginning and the end? In Exodus, YAHWEH says, "I want a sanctuary so I may dwell among them." In Revelation, the voice declares, "The tabernacle of Elohim is with men!" What began as a promise reaches its eternal fulfillment. What began in types and shadows becomes the reality. What began with a Tabernacle in the wilderness culminates in the fullness of the divine dwelling. And the Son of David has fulfilled His assignment! The Kingdom has been brought to its appointed completion. The enemies have been subdued. Death has been destroyed. The Kingdom has been delivered to the Father. And YAHWEH is ALL IN ALL! Now hear me. The eternal eighth day is not being presented as another ordinary day on the calendar. It is the prophetic expression of what comes after the seventh-millennium reign. The great eternal day. First Harvest Ministries International • 21 THE FINISHED HOUSE — Rosh Chodesh, Eighth Month The fullness beyond the temporary arrangements of this age. And what characterizes that eternal day? Not another construction project! Not another thousand years of overcoming death! Not another age in which the Kingdom waits for its final completion! But the everlasting dwelling of YAHWEH among His people. THE SON HAS FINISHED THE WORK. THE FATHER HAS RECEIVED THE KINGDOM. AND THE HOUSE HAS BECOME THE ETERNAL DWELLING OF YAHWEH! PART SEVEN — WHY THERE IS NO TEMPLE IN THE ETERNAL CITY Now I want to show you one final Scripture. Revelation 21:22. John declares: "And I saw no temple therein: for YAHWEH Elohim Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it." No Temple! After all the centuries of building, Tabernacles, priesthoods, and sanctuaries, John sees no separate Temple building in the eternal city. First Harvest Ministries International • 22 THE FINISHED HOUSE — Rosh Chodesh, Eighth Month Why? Because YAHWEH Almighty and the Lamb are its Temple. The purpose of the sanctuary has reached its fullness. The separation between a holy building and the people who approach YAHWEH through its appointed order is no longer the defining arrangement. YAHWEH is present. The Lamb is present. And the dwelling promised from the beginning has reached its eternal reality. Notice that Revelation does not erase the Son. The Lamb remains. And one chapter later, John tells us where He is: "...but the throne of Elohim and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him." — Revelation 22:3 THE THRONE OF ELOHIM — AND OF THE LAMB! Delivering the Kingdom is not stepping down from the throne. It is presenting the finished work to the One who assigned it. The Son's faithful fulfillment of the Father's purpose does not make Him disappear. Rather, the Son and the Father are presented together in the consummation of the purpose for which the Son was sent. First Harvest Ministries International • 23 THE FINISHED HOUSE — Rosh Chodesh, Eighth Month The Father becomes all in all. And the Lamb is there. What a beautiful fulfillment of the relationship between the Father and the Son! The Son did not come to replace the Father. He came to reveal Him. He did not come to establish a rival purpose. He came to accomplish the Father's will. And He did not reign merely to perpetuate an unfinished assignment. He reigns until the Father's great purpose reaches its appointed fulfillment. THE SON BRINGS THE HOUSE TO COMPLETION. THE FATHER BRINGS THE HOUSE TO ITS ETERNAL PURPOSE. THE FINAL CRESCENDO — THE FATHER IS COMING HOME Now, House of Israel, come with me one final time. Walk with me through the story. A long time ago, David had a desire to build a house for YAHWEH. But David was told that his son would build it. So David gathered the materials. And Solomon took the throne. First Harvest Ministries International • 24 THE FINISHED HOUSE — Rosh Chodesh, Eighth Month He took what his father had prepared. He followed the pattern. He built the house. Seven years of construction. And in the eighth month, the house was finished. But the house was not the final purpose! THE PRESENCE WAS THE PURPOSE! And when the Ark was brought into its appointed place, the glory of YAHWEH filled the house! Now move forward. Another Son of David appears. Not Solomon. YAHSHUA! The One who declares that His meat is to do the will of His Father and to finish His work. The One who builds His congregation. The One who prepares a holy priesthood. The One who gathers the living stones. The One who will sit upon David's throne. The One who will reign with His saints for a thousand years. And what does Paul say? HE MUST REIGN UNTIL! Until what? UNTIL EVERY ENEMY IS PUT UNDER HIS FEET! First Harvest Ministries International • 25 THE FINISHED HOUSE — Rosh Chodesh, Eighth Month Until death itself is destroyed! And when the royal assignment is completed, what does He do? HE DELIVERS THE KINGDOM TO THE FATHER! Why? BECAUSE THE HOUSE WAS ALWAYS FOR THE FATHER! And suddenly we understand what the Father has been doing through all the ages. He was not merely constructing religious institutions. He was not merely raising up earthly kingdoms. He was preparing a people! A people who would become His dwelling! A people formed through the work of His Son! A people brought into the fullness of His eternal purpose! And after the reign, after the judgment, after death itself is destroyed, John hears the announcement! BEHOLD! THE TABERNACLE OF ELOHIM IS WITH MEN! HE WILL DWELL WITH THEM! THEY SHALL BE HIS PEOPLE! AND ELOHIM HIMSELF SHALL BE WITH THEM! First Harvest Ministries International • 26 THE FINISHED HOUSE — Rosh Chodesh, Eighth Month OH, HOUSE OF ISRAEL! DO YOU SEE IT NOW? THE SEVENTH MILLENNIUM IS NOT THE END OF THE STORY! IT IS THE KING'S FINAL GREAT REIGN BEFORE THE ETERNAL FULLNESS! THE SON HAS AN ASSIGNMENT! THE FATHER HAS A PURPOSE! AND THE ASSIGNMENT OF THE SON SERVES THE ETERNAL PURPOSE OF THE FATHER! THE SON REIGNS! THE SON SUBDUES! THE SON COMPLETES! THE SON DELIVERS! AND THE FATHER BECOMES ALL IN ALL! AND WHAT DID WE DISCOVER AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS MESSAGE? SOLOMON BUILT FOR SEVEN YEARS! THE HOUSE WAS FINISHED IN THE EIGHTH MONTH! THE DEDICATION ENDED ON THE EIGHTH DAY! AND THE HOUSE WAS PREPARED FOR THE PRESENCE OF YAHWEH! First Harvest Ministries International • 27 THE FINISHED HOUSE — Rosh Chodesh, Eighth Month THAT IS WHY TONIGHT'S ROSH CHODESH IS SO MEANINGFUL! We have entered the eighth month. We have just rehearsed the Kingdom in the Feast of Tabernacles. And now, the Scriptures call our attention to the completed house. Not merely the house Solomon built. But the greater house being prepared through YAHSHUA Messiah. The House of Israel restored. The saints prepared. The priesthood made ready. The Kingdom delivered. The eternal purpose fulfilled. And then comes the announcement for which the entire creation has been waiting! THE HOUSE IS FINISHED! THE KINGDOM IS DELIVERED! AND THE FATHER IS HOME! HalleluYAH! CLOSING EXHORTATION — ARE YOU PART OF THE HOUSE? Now, beloved, before we close, let me ask you a question. First Harvest Ministries International • 28 THE FINISHED HOUSE — Rosh Chodesh, Eighth Month If YAHSHUA is preparing a house for His Father, what does that make you? A spectator? A religious observer? Somebody simply waiting to see what happens? No! Peter says we are living stones. Paul says we are being built together into a dwelling place for YAHWEH. That means our calling is connected to the eternal purpose we have been discussing tonight. Our obedience matters. Our faithfulness matters. Our covenant relationship matters. Our preparation matters. Because the purpose of the Kingdom is not simply to reward individuals. It is to bring a covenant people into the fullness of YAHWEH's dwelling. And hear this, FHaMIly. The stones being prepared now do not stay stones forever. Those who overcome in this age will be raised to reign with Him — and they will put their own resurrected hands to the building of His Kingdom on this earth. TODAY THE MATERIAL. TOMORROW THE BUILDERS. First Harvest Ministries International • 29 THE FINISHED HOUSE — Rosh Chodesh, Eighth Month And tonight, as we welcome the eighth month, our prayer should be very simple. Father, finish Your work in us. Let Your Son bring us into the fullness of Your purpose. Prepare us for the Kingdom. Prepare us for the eternal day. Prepare us for the everlasting dwelling of YAHWEH among His people. And may we never forget: THE SON IS PREPARING THE HOUSE. THE FATHER IS THE PURPOSE OF THE HOUSE. Welcome to the eighth month! ROSH CHODESH SAMEACH! CLOSING PRAYER Father YAHWEH, Tonight we stand in awe of Your eternal purpose. From the Tabernacle in the wilderness to the promise of the New Jerusalem, You have revealed Your desire to dwell among Your people. We thank You for Your Son, YAHSHUA Messiah. We thank You for the King who came to accomplish Your will. For the Son who prepares the house. First Harvest Ministries International • 30 THE FINISHED HOUSE — Rosh Chodesh, Eighth Month For the Messiah who will reign until every enemy is subdued. For the King who will deliver the Kingdom into Your hands. We thank You that Your purpose does not end with the seventh millennium. It reaches into the eternal day, when death is no more and You dwell with Your people in fullness. As we enter this eighth month, prepare us as living stones. Purify our hearts. Establish us in covenant faithfulness. Teach us to understand our place in the house You are preparing. And may everything we do serve the great purpose of Your Kingdom. Until the day when the proclamation is fulfilled: The tabernacle of Elohim is with men. And YAHWEH is all in all. In the sacred name of YAHSHUA Messiah, Amen. First Harvest Ministries International • 31