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...[the world] hates me because I testify that what it does is evil.; (John 7:7)
...I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. (John 15:19)

The Feast of Tabernacles (Booths) – CAMPOUT!

Real Christian life on the way to Christ’s big reveal...

1. Experiencing life in Christ includes living with the enemy—when family or close friends aren’t in rhythm with God and can’t be trusted. (7:1-10)

Those not in sync with God simply cannot be allowed or trusted to give you mission (life) counsel

2. Being associated with Christ is constantly controversial and characterized by conflict. (7:11-36,40-52)

- Good man or deceiver?
- Where did He get His theological degree?
- Demon possessed, miracle-worker, Sabbath-breaker?
- Where is He from?
- Where is He going?

Our religious world is mostly organized around those who want Jesus to conform to their subjective image of Him—for Him to represent the religion they have created. They will shout you down.

Our secular world of power brokers considers truth and untruth and good and evil, moral equivalents, and are set up mostly against you.

3. The blessing of Christ is the spiritually thirst-quenching gift of the Holy Spirit. (7:37-39)

On the last and greatest day of the Feast...

—after 7 days of water processions, while water flowed from the sacrificial rock altar at the WATER GATE entrance to the Temple...

“Behold, God is my salvation...therefore you will joyously draw water from the springs of salvation.” (Is.12:2,3; Ps. 113-118)

“If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink, whoever believes in Me. As the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within H[h]im.” (7:37-38; Zech. 14:8)

Jesus, the New Temple from which life-giving water of salvation flows. He gives the Holy Spirit to His people in order to award believers the immediate presence of God and the only hope of holy living! (Ezek. 36:25-26; 47:1f; Ex.17; 1 Cor. 10:4; Jn 19:34)

The prophet, Christ? (7:40-52)

As truth was standing right in their midst and within their grasp, the religious elite allowed their prideful ignorance to allow the grace of God to pass them by. (7:45-52; Is. 9:1-3)

On what side of Christ do you stand?

Skeptic—attempting to find flaws, investigator--open, enemy—don’t like some of His words, a death grip on the life you are trying to salvage, or believer-being persecuted because of right choices?

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