Spring Holy Days—2007

Tape #3

Sabbath During the Feast of Unleavened Bread

Fred R. Coulter – April 7, 2007

And greetings brethren, welcome to the Sabbath during the Feast of Unleavened Bread—and it’s really quite a situation for us with the, the Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread. And as we’re going to see, that it is a whole, complete unit for us.

Beginning with the Passover: Christ died for our sins. Sacrificed for the sins of the world. And His one sacrifice takes away all sin for those who repent, forever!

Then we have the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The first day begins with the Night Much to be Observed. And that’s when the children of Israel left Egypt. But it also is the day, the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which God told Moses to tell the children of Israel to remember—because that was a day of dedication of the firstborn. Because of slaying of the firstborn of the children of Egyptians and sparing the firstborn of the children of Israel.

Now we come, we come to the Sabbath during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And this year it’s different than the sequence when you have the Passover in the middle of the week, where then there are three days and three nights up to the end of the Sabbath during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. So let’s concentrate on a couple of other things and the meaning and the whole package for us concerning the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

Now, let’s come to Romans, the eighth chapter. Now, Romans 8 is a very important chapter because it, it talks about the operation of the Spirit of God. And what we’re going to see today is this: God, through His Spirit and with our full knowledgeable cooperation, is re-creating in us that spiritual character that comes from Him.

Let’s see how He does this. Let’s pick it up here in Romans 8:1. "Consequently, there is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who are not walking according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit" (Rom. 8:1, FV).

Now, that tells us an awful lot. Not walking according to the flesh is this: you’re not living your life the way that you think, the way you think is best, the way that you feel is best—rather you are living your life according to the commandments of God, the laws of God as led by the Spirit of God. Because God, as we’re going to see, is dealing with us and is forming in us that spiritual character. And in order to do that, there has to be an elimination of sin. Sin is eliminated first by repentance, and God wipes the slate clean as we’ll see, as we’ve already seen. And then He begins dealing with us in a special way. And we have our part.

Now, this is called, as we will see, "the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus." And another thing that you could put down there, which I have in my notes. That what we are attending, what we are doing—it’s not a religion, it is, it is not (how should we say) a movement—rather, you are attending with the Sabbath and Holy Days, and constant prayer and constant Bible study, you are registered, not only in the "book of life," but in the University of Eternal Life—if you could put it that way. Because God is teaching you. God is leading you.

And that’s the whole thing that’s important. That’s why it’s so necessary for us to understand. And always remember, you have direct connection between you and God the Father through Jesus Christ—and no man should ever place himself in between.

Now let’s go on here. "…but according to the Spirit…" That means you’re walking in the laws of God, the commandments of God, as led by the Spirit, in the Spirit of the law. Not just in the letter. And that you are being molded into perfect character. And of course, that perfection of character will be finalized at the resurrection. "But according to the spirit…" (v 1).

Now, if you’re baptized and you’re still walking according to the flesh, well then, you’re, you’re not growing in grace and knowledge. And the whole purposed of the Feast of Unleavened Bread is to get rid of sin. You have you’re part, God has His part, and that is why there is no condemnation, because then, you are under the grace of God.

Now, here’s what has happened. Now, we read this so we’ll just review it. "Because the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has delivered me from the law of sin and death" (v 2)—which means this: Without the Spirit of God, you cannot please God, you cannot keep the commandments of God, you cannot have a relationship with God. That’s important.

The "law of sin and death" motivates and leads your life and, as we will see for the last Holy Day, Satan the devil is right there leading and guiding and directing all of those who walk according to the flesh. In one way or another, one degree or another, and that people choose his way.

Now notice, verse 3: "For what was impossible for the law to do…"

Now, this is referring to the, to the Old Covenant—not the laws of God, because, as we saw last time, the laws of God convert the mind, change the heart. They’re to be written in our hearts and our minds, so this has nothing to do with keeping the law in the Spirit, motivated by the Spirit. But, this has to do with the Old Covenant.

And you go back and read the Old Testament and what do you see? Sin, sin, sin, other gods, self-will, going against God, depravity, exile, captivity, punishment. Why?

"… in that it was weak through the flesh…" (v 3).

In other words, since God did not give them the Holy Spirit under the covenant that He gave to Israel, they had the weakness of the flesh. There is no way that they could please God. That’s why God said there in Deuteronomy 5:29. He said, "Oh, that there were such a heart in them that they would fear Me and keep my commandments always." See, because God had not given the Holy Spirit to them—only to those whom God had chosen before Christ came.

So, "… God, having sent His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh…" (v 3).

And as we saw, He had to have the law of sin and death in Him because the Greek there means: "in the likeness of sin of flesh." So He had to have the "law of sin and death" in Him so He could become the perfect sacrifice and only God in the flesh could take within Himself the "law and sin and death" and yet, never sin by choice.

See, because everything that we do is a choice. And we need to understand this. And I’m going to bring a sermon on it later. But, it, it’s this: No human being, anywhere in the world, at any time, is free from God! Now, you need to think on that.

Right? Yes!

Now, if you’re a sinner, you still can’t get away from God because there are the laws of God and the punishment automatically—just like the law of gravity—for sin. So, even though you say there’s no God, they are still, they are still not free from God!

Now we, who have the Holy Spirit of God, now that’s a different proposition, you see. Now then, God wants us to overcome the carnal mind, the hostility of the carnal mind, overcome sin and we have been set, we have been delivered from the "law of sin and death."

It hasn’t been removed from us. We still have things that we need to do. But let’s look at something here very, very important. Let’s come to the, let’s come to the Old Testament and let’s come to Micah, come to Micah 7—and remember this about your sins. Now tie this together with, with Hebrews, the tenth chapter, that "their sins and their unrighteousness I will remember no more." And tie this in with Psalm 103: "that He removes from us our sins as far as the east is from the west."

Now, those are all past sins. Now then, let’s see how it’s expressed here in Micah, the seventh chapter. And in going through and re-editing the things concerning the Old Testament, for the Old Testament project, this just jumped out at me when I came to Micah the seventh chapter—Micah 7, it’s the last chapter here, and let’s pick it up in verse 18—verse 18, Micah 7:

"Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage?… [Now, brethren, we are the remnant of the heritage of God. The Church of God is, wherever the Churches of God are, they all are those who are of spiritual Israel—and we’re the remnant of God] …he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy" (Micah 7:18, KJV).

And as I mentioned, concerning the series on prayer and what we have covered there, also leads up to and adds to what we are covering here during the Feast of Unleavened Bread, that the character of God, that the nature of God is love and forgiveness.

Now, notice this: "He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us… [and that’s true any time you repent] … he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea" (v 19).

Now, this is important for us to understand. Because we’re going to see today that there is still a lot of work that we need to do, and God needs to do, to get the sin out of our minds. Now, before His throne, He can cast them away. Just like when, when Balaam went to pronounce the curse against Israel, he got up there and he said of Israel, after all their sins that they had done in the wilderness, he said, "I see no sin in Israel." Now, think about that in relationship to us. If God gives us, through His mercy and kindness and goodness, in eliminating our sins, now what do we do? And that is answered by the Feast of Unleavened Bread, as we started to cover on the first Holy Day, so we’re continuing this now.

Now, let’s come back to 1 John, the third chapter, and let’s see something that is very important for us to understand in our relationship with God; and in our prayers to God; in our repentance; and in our yieldedness to God. Because, you see, the longer you have the Holy Spirit, and the more that you overcome sin, and the more that you—every year—keep the Passover and Unleavened Bread and Pentecost and all the rest of the Holy Days of God, the more that you grow in grace and knowledge. Now, you see. For those of us who teach, it’s very important, that as Paul said, preach in season and out of season. And there’s a reason for doing so—so that we can preach and teach the things that are necessary so we can grow closer to God.

Now, let’s pick it up here, let’s pick it up here in verse fourteen, 1 John, the third chapter, because this is a very important section for us to understand. And one thing God does not want you to be worried about, which is this: Will you make it to the resurrection? The answer is YES! If you love God with all your heart, mind, soul and being. If you keep His commandments, and if you keep them in the Spirit. And if you are led by the Spirit of God, YES, you will make it. That’s important for to understand.

To commit the unpardonable sin is a choice that people make in rejecting God. So, when we sin, we will see this: God gives us, through our conscience and His Spirit, He gives us what you could call a "guilt feeling." And He does it for a special purpose. Now let’s see why He does it.

Now verse 13, 1 John 3, FV: "My brethren, do not be amazed if the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death into life because we love the brethren…. [And you can’t love the brethren unless you love God first.] … The one who does not love his brother is dwelling in death" (vs 13-14).

And that’s why it’s so important all the times that Jesus said, "Forgive that you may be forgiven."

"Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, [so now we are dealing with what is in our hearts and our minds, you see] … and you know that no murderer has eternal life dwelling within him. By this very act… [that is the act of the forgiveness of our sins] … we have known the love of God because He laid down His life for us: and we ourselves are to lay down our lives for the brethren" (15-16).

How do we do that? In prayer, in service, in tithes, in offerings and making sure that we help people—that we encourage them, you see, in every way.

Verse 17: "But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his feelings of compassion from him, how can the love of God be dwelling in him?"

See, because as I mentioned in a, in a sermon earlier: the greatest tool for overcoming is the love of God. That’s the greatest tool. Now, notice what he says here:

Verse 18: "My little children, we should not love in word, nor with our tongues; rather, we should love in deed and in truth." Toward God and toward the brethren.

"And in this way we know that we are of the truth, [and here’s what it does:] and shall assure our hearts before Him…" (v 19). Because when you come to pray before God, and you get on your knees and He’s given you that direct access into the Holy of holies and heaven above:

Verse 20—very important key: "That if our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts, and knows all things." Now, why do our hearts condemn us from time-to-time? Because, when we sin, the Spirit of God in us convicts our conscience—so that we can be led to repentance. Now, that’s how God leads us to repentance. Didn’t we cover that? That God, in His mercy and graciousness, leads us to repentance. That’s how He does it.

Now notice, this is important: "If our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart and knows all things." So remember this, as I’ve said before, if and when you sin, don’t wait to try and make yourself right with God before you go repent, because the only way that you’re made right is through Jesus Christ and repentance. It’s an oxymoron—or a moryoxon—to try and do it yourself!

Now verse 21 is a key: "Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, then we have confidence toward God. And whatever we may ask we receive from Him because we keep His commandments and practice those things that are pleasing in His sight" (vs 21-22).

And let me tell you something. If you have a contrite and humble spirit, you’re striving to serve God, you’re loving God, you’re loving the brethren, you’re loving your neighbor as yourself, that’s pleasing to God. You can please God! Not on your own, not in your own way, but through Christ in you as led by the Holy Spirit.

"And this is His commandment: that we believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and that we love one another, exactly as He gave commandment to us" (v 23).

Now, here’s the key, here is what we need to understand, because building Godly character is a joint project between you and God as you are led by the Spirit of God and the Word of God. And we will see how this is to be done then.

"And the one who keeps His commandments is dwelling in Him, [that is Christ] and He in him [Christ is dwelling in us]; and by this we know that He is dwelling in us: by the Spirit which He has given to us" (v 24).

Now that’s, that’s the key, important thing to really understand. Using, be led by the Spirit of God—and letting God mold you. Now, let’s first of all, before we get into the molding of God in our life and in our character, let’s first of all what we are to do.

Now, let’s come back here to Proverbs 16, because you see, the whole Feast of Unleavened Bread is this: put out sin, put in righteousness. Or you can say another way: put out carnality; put in spirituality; put out hate and put in love.

Now, let’s come back here to Proverbs 16, because this tells us what we are to do, and how we are to do it. And here is a guarantee. Now, I want, I want you to think. All of those of you who have gone through very traumatic experiences. Now, there are many people who have been in combat in war, and they’ve seeing killing, they’ve seen death, they’ve seen wretchedness. And people have been through experiences with drugs and sex and perversion, and satanism, and all of these things. And these have left and indelible, and indelible, mark upon your mind.

Now, let’s understand something important. Since God has removed these from you spiritually, before Him. Now, you have your part to cooperate with God and His Spirit to let those things be erased from your mind. So, whatever your past experience has been—now, there have been a lot of people who have been in the Catholic Church and other churches, and Buddhism or where there is rampant sexual abuse and it leaves a mark on the mind.

Now, you see, only God can erase that. You have your part to do, too. Now, you can’t go back and be thinking on those things and let them continue come up in your mind, you see. You have to do like we covered last time, that you have to "cast down every vain imagination and evil thought" that comes into your mind and "bring it into captivity to the obedience of Christ." Now, that’s what you have to do with these things. You have to pray and say, "Oh, God, please erase this from my mind. Oh, God, please eliminate this horrible trauma that I have been through and give me a new heart and give me a new mind. And give me peace of mind." That way then, as we’re going to see, you don’t end up with bitterness and bad memories and so forth.

Now, Proverbs 16:1, KJV: "The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD…. [So, God has given you the ability. Verse 2:] … All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes… [So, that’s why we constantly need the Word of God and the Spirit of God to lead us and direct us so that we don’t go our own way in our own eyes. And there are a lot of things that people can do that are, that really seem good and nice and right and fine, but they are the ways that lead to death. But, remember this, as I said:] … but the LORD weigheth the spirits."

In other words, there’s no way that anyone is going to be free from God. Absolute impossibility! So here is what you do:

"Commit thy works unto the LORD…" (v 3).

What works are we to do?

And notice: "… and thy thoughts shall be established" (v 3).

Now, that’s how you have these things erased from your mind. And it’s a process. And some of the things are in there so deep that it takes an operation of many, many erasings. And we’ll see a little later on, that’s called "the washing of the water of the Word."

Now, verse 6: "By mercy and truth iniquity is purged…" Now, that’s how you get it out, get it out of your, your mind:

Now, that’s how you purge iniquity. It’s a process. That’s why Psalm 19 says it "converts the mind."

"… and by the fear of the LORD… [you can also put in there, ‘the love of God’] … men depart from evil" (v 6)..

Now notice, verse 7 picks right up where we left off in 1 John 3: "When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him." In other words, He’s going to give you peace of mind, as well. So, that’s important to understand, see. Now, this is part of our part.

Now, let’s come back here to Proverbs, the third chapter and let’s put this in full operation. Proverbs 3:1—now, this is a very key, important, important chapter. And let’s pick it up beginning right here in verse one:

"My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments…" (Prov. 3:1, KJV). See, because everything that God has done is for our good.

"For length of days, and long life… [we can say, for us, eternal life—is that not long life?] … and peace… [we have peace with God, right?] … shall they add to thee. Let not mercy and truth forsake thee… [and what did we just read back there in Proverbs 16: ‘by mercy and truth, iniquity is purged.’] … bind them about thy neck… [so here, you let mercy and truth purge it, but then you begin putting in] … write them upon the table of thine heart… [Now, when you do this, you’re rewriting, you are reprogramming your mind. That’s what God wants. He wants it to be programmed with the mind of Christ, by the Spirit of God.] … So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man" (vs 2-4).

Now, here’s another aspect that you do which is an extension of faith. You believe in Jesus Christ. You believe in God. Now what do you do?

Verse 5: "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding." That’s why you need to study the Word of God. That’s why you need to pray to God. That’s why you need to ask God’s will to be done in your life, you see.

"In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths" (v 6).

Verse 7—we’ve already covered about having a humble heart, a contrite spirit and this is the one that God looks to. Now, in line with that, verse 7: "Be not wise in thine own eyes… [Now, that’s quite and important one, isn’t it? No, don’t be a smart-aleck, don’t be a show-off, you see, just be thankful and grateful—and, and let’s all understand this, see: What we understand and what God has revealed to us, that’s fantastic, that’s marvelous. But, let’s also understand this: We still don’t nothing as we really do and we still "look through a veil darkly," don’t we? Yes!

So, whatever we have, whatever we do, whatever God has given us, that’s marvelous, that’s wonderful, because we have nothing we, we haven’t received. And give God all the glory and honor.

"… fear the LORD, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel… [that is your inward parts] … and marrow to thy bones… [because marrow is what develops and builds the blood in the system]. …Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine" (vs 7-10).

Now you can take this same thing here and just realize how spiritually we can apply it, and grow and change and overcome.

Now, let’s come to Psalm 92—now, Psalm 92:5, KJV—I want you to notice this verse and let’s expand this out now as to what God is going to do spiritually: "O LORD, how great are thy works!… [They are. God has created the heaven and the earth and everything that there is—and all human beings. And it’s a marvelous and fantastic creation that God has done and, as we know through the sequence of the Holy Days, that God is going to save the vast majority of human beings that choose eternal life in the final analysis. Now, notice the second part of this verse:] … and thy thoughts are very deep."

And, as we read before, God says, "My thoughts are not your thoughts, and My ways are not your ways." So you see, when we come to God and start going His way, and it’s called "the way of the Lord," isn’t it? Yes! "Guide me in the way that I should walk, help me in the way that I should think."

All of these things all have to do with it and are very important for us to realize and understand.

All right, now, let’s, let’s come here and see what is God’s part. What is God’s part?

Since we’re here in the Psalms, let’s come to Psalm 10:17, then we’ll go to the book of Ephesians. Psalm 10:17—Let’s see what God’s part is for us in here.

"LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble… [He will here us—pray, ask God for His Spirit, for His love, for His truth, for understanding.] ...thou wilt prepare their heart… [God is going to prepare our hearts. And we’re going to see how does God do this, because it is a tremendous thing indeed. See, because it’s the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus. Through His Holy Spirit that is working in us.] … thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear" (Psa. 10:17, KJV).

Now, let’s come back to Ephesians, the second chapter, and let’s see how God does this. Ephesians 2—very important for us to realize. God really has a tremendous plan in doing it. Now, let’s come here to Ephesians, the second chapter and let’s, let’s see this here. Okay, let’s pick it up in, let’s pick it up in verse four.

Ephesians 2:4, FV: "But God, Who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, Even when we were dead in our trespasses, has made us alive together with Christ. (For you have been saved by grace.)" (vs 2-5).

And God’s grace is just like a covering of an umbrella, from which comes:

Now, let’s pick it up here in verse 8: "For by grace you have been saved… [and that’s what it is in the Greek—and this means saved from Satan the devil, who’s the ‘prince of the power of the air’ (vs 1-3). We’ve been saved from our sins. But we also know that salvation is a process, and salvation is creation. Because Paul also said in 1 Corinthians 15 and 1 Corinthians, the first chapter, that we are ‘being saved’ if we stand in the gospel. That is: stand in the way of God and the gospel of Jesus Christ. So it is a process of salvation.

So there’s initial salvation, there’s a process of salvation and then, the finality of salvation is the resurrection—when we’re changed from flesh to spirit.

Now notice: "By grace you have been saved through faith, and this especially is not of your own selves; it is the gift of God, Not of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship…" (vs 8-10).

Now, I want you to really key in on this verse, because this verse then defines what God is doing with us.

Now, I want you to recall what I covered on the first Holy day: "Create in me a clean heart, oh God!"—that’s what David said: "create." It’s got to be created so that you gradually become a new creature in Christ, by being changed through God’s Spirit:

"… [We are] created in Christ Jesus unto the good works…" The works of love and faith and joy and hope and peace and longsuffering, you see. The works of loving God, loving each other ‘unto good works.

And you go back and read in Revelation 2 & 3, that Jesus said: "I’m going to give to everyone according to what his works shall be." So if Christ is working you, the Father is working in you, and developing the very character of God—this is how He does it, see.

"…. creating in Christ Jesus unto the good works that God ordained beforehand in order that we might walk in them" (v 10).

Now, let’s come to Ephesians, the second chapter—oh, we’re here, second chapter—fifth chapter, beg your pardon. Here is the operation by how, the way, that God does it. He wants to take us from being evil and carnal to being spiritual and holy. From having a mind of sin to having a mind of Christ. And this has to be the operation of God within you.

We saw the part that we need to do:

All right, now let’s carry this one step further, ok. Now, here’s what He is doing. Let’s pick it up here in verse 25: "Husbands, love your own wives, in the same way that Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it; So that He might sanctify it…" (Eph. 5:25-26, FV). Now, "sanctify it" means to be made Holy. To be made Holy. And the whole process that I’m talking about here is being made Holy.

Now—just hold your place—and come back here to Ephesians, the first chapter, because this is really very, very inspiring and uplifting. Now, let’s come back here, Ephesians, the first chapter, and let’s pick it up here in verse four.

"According as He has personally chosen us for Himself…" (Eph. 1:4, FV). That is, God the Father has personally chosen you for Himself.

Now, I know I have mentioned this, and repeated and repeated and repeated this, but sometimes, because we get so down on ourselves and sometimes we feel so alone we need to understand that God loves you, God has called you, He has personally done it—and that is to inspire us. And God hasn’t made any mistakes. He knows your weakness. He knows your sins. He knows the problems you’ve gone through. Yet He’s chosen you.

Now notice: "… chosen us before the foundation of the world… [that means He had His plan in order] … in order that we might be holy and blameless before Him in love… [And that’s what it means, "that He might sanctify it.’ That you’re] … holy and blameless before Him in love. Having predestinated us for sonship to Himself through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His own will…" (vs 4-5).

So, that’s what it means back here—let’s come to Ephesians, the fifth chapter again—"to sanctify it." To sanctify everyone. Now what does, what does Paul call us—in the New Testament? We are what? We are "Holy brethren," right?

What is another word that is used in the New Testament for us. We are called "saints." Now what is a saint? A saint is someone who has been put into this Holy position before God.

Now, let’s continue on here: "Having cleansed it… [Now, we’ve already covered the ‘cleansing’—purging, cleansing, getting rid of our sins] …with the washing of water by the Word" (Eph. 5:26, FV). So this is a continual washing, a continual cleaning, a continual giving us of His Spirit. And of course, the Holy Spirit is likened unto water, right? Because Jesus said, when they receive the Holy Spirit, it’s like "rivers of living water" coming out of His belly.

Well, the Holy Spirit coming from God continually cleanses us, washes us, takes away the sin.

Now, I want to expand this a little bit further, and say that you need to let the Holy Spirit wash your mind and all of your traumatic, evil experiences that you have had in life—and ask God to give you the forgetfulness of it. Don’t let that haunt you! Don’t let anything, regardless of how traumatic it may be: loss of loved one, being, seeing someone shot or murdered or blown up, or being in war, or being kidnapped, or being sexually abused, or having given yourself over to drugs and God was merciful to call you out of it, you see.

Let God help you erase that out of your mind by the "washing of the water of the Word." Because, when He does, then He can replace it with His Spirit, with His character, with His love, with His kindness, with His goodness, and that’s what God wants. And this is God’s part with the "washing of the water of the Word."

(Break)

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