Living Water, Lasting Love
A Sabbath report from our study of the Eighth Day and a look back at the Feast of Tabernacles
We gathered for worship, study, prayer, and fellowship as we continued reflecting on the Feast of Tabernacles. Skip Martin led the morning online group, Fellowship of the Word, in a study of the Eighth Day and the Bible’s imagery of living water. Michael Deering’s main message returned to the Feast and the love that binds the body of believers together.
Our worship included “Jesus Messiah,” “Almost Home,” “I’ll Fly Away,” and “Thrive.”
Morning Study: The Water of Life
Skip’s study connected the Feast of Tabernacles with the water-drawing and water-libation ceremony described in Jewish tradition. During the seven days of the feast, water was drawn from the Pool of Siloam in a golden vessel and carried in procession up to the Temple, where it was poured out at the altar. The ceremony was associated with prayer for rain and with rejoicing. The study recalled Yeshua’s healing at the Pool of Siloam: he sent a man born blind to wash there, and the man returned seeing. The Gospel of John describes a separate healing at the Pool of Bethesda, where a man who had been ill for thirty-eight years was made well.
John 9:6–7 · KJV
“When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.”
John 5:2–9 · KJV
“Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had. And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me. Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.”
The procession’s celebration—with branches, singing, and expectation—gave the people a vivid picture of hope. On the final day, the water was poured out as Isaiah’s words were recited. The lesson drew a spiritual connection between this image and the Holy Spirit, and between the people’s longing for the Messiah and Yeshua’s invitation to receive living water.
Leviticus 23:34–36 · KJV
“Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the LORD. On the first day shall be an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: it is a solemn assembly; and ye shall do no servile work therein.”
The Eighth Day is named as a sacred assembly following the seven days of the feast. Skip’s visual chart noted the water libation on each of the seven feast days and a separate assembly on the Eighth Day.
Isaiah’s song and the invitation to living water
Isaiah 12:3–4 · KJV
“Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted.”
John 7:37–38 · KJV
“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. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.”
Jeremiah describes the LORD as the source of living water, while Yeshua speaks of water that becomes a spring within those who receive it. The study followed this image from the prophets and the Gospels to the hope of restoration in Revelation.
Jeremiah 2:13 · KJV
“For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.”
Jeremiah 17:13 · KJV
“O LORD, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be ashamed, and they that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living waters.”
John 4:10–14 · KJV
“Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water? Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle? Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.”
Revelation 7:17 · KJV
“For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.”
Revelation 22:1–2 · KJV
“And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.”
Revelation 22:17 · KJV
“And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”
Zechariah 14:4, 8 · KJV
“And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.”
“And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be.”
Ezekiel 47:1–5 · KJV
“Afterward he brought me again unto the door of the house; and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward: for the forefront of the house stood toward the east, and the waters came down from under from the right side of the house, at the south side of the altar. Then brought he me out of the way of the gate northward, and led me about the way without unto the utter gate by the way that looketh eastward; and, behold, there ran out waters on the right side. And when the man that had the line in his hand went forth eastward, he measured a thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the waters were to the ankles. Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through the waters; the waters were to the knees. Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through; the waters were to the loins. Afterward he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not pass over: for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over.”
Ezekiel 47:8–10 · KJV
“Then said he unto me, These waters issue out toward the east country, and go down into the desert, and go into the sea: which being brought forth into the sea, the waters shall be healed. And it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither the river cometh. And it shall come to pass, that the fishers shall stand upon it from En-gedi even unto Eneglaim; they shall be a place to spread forth nets; their fish shall be according to their kinds, as the fish of the great sea, exceeding many.”
Ezekiel 47:12 · KJV
“And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine.”
2 Peter 3:9 · KJV
“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
Main Message: A Look Back at the Feast
Michael Deering revisited the welcoming message he shared on the first night of the Feast, including greetings from our brothers and sisters in India. He remembered a comment from Larry Loftus about the Feast shirts and the spirit he saw among the people:
“Well, I don’t agree with everything here, but man there is sure a whole lot of love.”
That observation captured the message: our relationship with God grows as we serve one another. Yeshua said that love among his disciples would be the sign by which others recognize them. We are called to gather, encourage one another, and stir one another toward love and good works.
John 13:35 · KJV
“By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”
Hebrews 10:24–25 · KJV
“And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”
1 Corinthians 13:4–5 · KJV
“Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil.”
Michael reminded us that love is made visible through patience, service, and bearing one another’s burdens. Trials can become places where endurance forms character and faith. We are called to be servants—Yahweh’s foot washers—and to carry the good news into the world.
John 13:14–15 · KJV
“If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.”
Galatians 6:2 · KJV
“Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”
Romans 5:3–5 · KJV
“And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”
Matthew 28:16–20 · KJV
“Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
He spoke about the risks our brothers and sisters in India take as they put this commission into practice, including the need to seek government permission for baptisms. Michael recalled an attack in 2010 in which a Hindu leader stormed a house of worship and beat men, women, children, and an infant; his son was arrested and imprisoned. After enduring two beatings, that son chose to become a pastor, believing God was calling him to full-time ministry. Their courage reminded us that faithfulness does not mean we are promised a life without danger.
The message also urged us to use our time wisely and not sleepwalk through the present. Michael connected biblical warnings about covenant unfaithfulness and its consequences with patterns he sees in America today. He said believers should not allow petty divisions to consume the time and love entrusted to us. The saints in India, he said, understand the cost of the warning Yeshua gave about betrayal and hatred.
Ephesians 5:15–16 · KJV
“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”
Matthew 24:9–10 · KJV
“Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.”
At the Feast, we are commanded to rejoice together. Michael encouraged us not to take that gift for granted and to make the most of the time we are given to build relationships, strengthen one another, and serve with joy.
Deuteronomy 16:14–17 · KJV
“And thou shalt rejoice in thy feast, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite, the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are within thy gates. Seven days shalt thou keep a solemn feast unto the LORD thy God in the place which the LORD shall choose: because the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thine increase, and in all the works of thine hands, therefore thou shalt surely rejoice. Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the LORD empty: Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which he hath given thee.”
Michael closed with the hope of the Messiah’s return to put evil down and restore the tree and river of life. Until then, we are to remain faithful, serve, and care for those around us—to occupy faithfully until he comes.
Revelation 19:11, 14–16 · KJV
“And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.”
“And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”
Luke 19:13 · KJV
“And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.”
Matthew 25:40 · KJV
“And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”
Greetings and Sukkot Report from India
Michael shared a letter from Evangelist Prasad Deering and videos from the Feast in India. Prasad’s report describes baptisms, children serving through songs and presentations, joyful celebration, and the strength God gave through personal trials.
Watch the Feast of Tabernacles video from India
Sukkot Report from India
HalleluYAH! Praise and glory to YAHWEH, our ABBA Father!
With a heart full of gratitude and joy, I want to share how wonderfully YAHWEH blessed us during this Feast of Tabernacles.
This Feast was not just a celebration—it was a beautiful reminder that YAHWEH desires to dwell among His people and lead us into His truth.
One of the greatest blessings was witnessing souls taking the step of baptism. It was deeply touching to see Sabbath school youngster and dear brothers and sisters publicly declare their faith and desire to follow YAHWEH. We give all glory to Him because every changed heart and every new beginning comes from Him.
Another special blessing was seeing our Sabbath School children participate and perform. Their joy, confidence, songs, and presentations brought so much happiness to everyone. It reminded us that our children are not only the future—they are also young servants who can glorify YAHWEH today.
And our Sukkot dance was especially joyful! It was wonderful to see everyone celebrating together with gladness.
This Feast also reminded me of the deeper meaning of the Sukkah. Just as the sukkah reminds us that our earthly dwelling is temporary, it points our hearts toward the eternal dwelling and Kingdom of YAHWEH.
Even through personal trials, weakness, and difficult circumstances, YAHWEH gave me strength to rejoice and participate in His appointed times. I can truly say:
“When I was weak, He became my strength.
When I was tired, He carried me.
When I was going through difficulties, He became my shelter.”
I am so thankful for every person who served, every child who participated, every person who worshipped, every family who gathered, and especially for every soul who took a step closer to YAHWEH.
May the joy of this Feast not end when the celebration ends.
May we carry the Word in our hearts, the joy in our homes, the love in our relationships and the presence of YAHWEH in our daily lives.
Above all, I give all glory, honour, and praise to YAHWEH ELOHIM for allowing us to experience such a beautiful Feast together.
“Thou shalt rejoice before the LORD thy God…” — Deuteronomy 16:11 (KJV)
With Love and Peace,
Evangelist Prasad Deering
Prayer & Praise Wall
We are grateful for the prayers and praises shared during our gathering. Please continue to remember these needs and give thanks for the good reports.
- Steve and Lisa — prayer request shared.
- Darrel — for improved health and strength.
- Matthew Ansley’s dad — prayer request.
- Ericka — lifting her up in prayer.
- Bryce — medical needs and financial help.
- Families affected by the hurricane — comfort, safety, and provision.
- Praise — for a joyful Feast, safe travels home, and the fellowship shared together.
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