Greetings
everyone, welcome to the Feast of Unleavened Bread, 2010. It certainly has been
a very eventful year and many things have taken place and a lot of things have
happened around the world. We see prophecy marching on, yet we need to
understand the most important thing that is taking place is what the people of
God are doing, because we are the ones who keep the commandments of God. We are
the ones who truly love God and follow Him and walk in the footsteps of Jesus
Christ.
Let’s come to
Leviticus 23:4—we’ve already covered many of the other subjects leading
up to the Holy Days, so we won’t go through those again. But it says here:
“These are the appointed Feasts of the LORD, Holy convocations which you shall proclaim in their appointed
seasons…. [so God is the One Who’s appointed them. It is His Feast.] …In the
fourteenth day of the first month, between the two evenings, is the
LORD’S Passover” (vs 4-5).
Remember that it is God’s. It’s not the Jews; it’s not
the church’s; it is God’s! And if you want to define it today, it
would be properly defined the Christian Passover for the New Covenant,
because that’s what we do, and we do what Jesus said. And as I’ve mentioned
many times before, we are Scripturalists. We’ve all had the Night to be Much
Observed, which God says you shall remember that and do that. That’s not an
invention of men. That’s an invention of God! He wants us to remember the event
of coming out Egypt. We will see that’s the theme for the First Day of Feast of
Unleavened Bread: coming out of Egypt. They came out of Egypt physically. In today’s world, we need to
come out of Egypt spiritually. Just like they had to go where God led them,
we have to walk in the way of the Lord.
Verse 6: “…on the
fifteenth day of the same month is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the
LORD. You must eat unleavened bread seven days. On the first day you shall have
a Holy convocation. You shall not do
any servile work therein, but you shall offer a fire offering to the
LORD seven days…. [Now, those are all the offerings listed in Num. 28,
concerning the offerings for the Feast of Unleavened Bread, but the priests
were to offer. We will see where He also tells us what we are to do as personal
offerings, in just a minute.] … In the seventh day is a Holy
convocation. You shall do no servile work therein.” So, there’s the
command of God for the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
We’ve seen in
Exo. 23 & 34 how important the Feast of Unleavened Bread is, and it’s
listed even among some of the Ten Commandments as it’s reiterated in Exo. 34.
Now, let’s come to Deuteronomy 16, and let’s see where God talks about the
offering that we, as individuals, are to bring: the circumstances behind that,
what we are to do, how we are to do it, what attitude we need to have and what
we need to remember. Everything that we have comes from God. We have nothing
that we didn’t received. We have nothing of ourselves except God gave it to us,
whether it’s our physical body, the physical things, the air we breathe, the
water we drink the planet we live on, etc.—it all comes from the Lord.
Deuteronomy
16:16: “Three times in a year shall all your males appear before the LORD your God in the place which He shall
choose… [Why did God say ‘all the males’? Because there are times when women
are giving birth and they are not able to come. But it is required of all
the males, the heads of the households.] …in the place which He shall choose…
[Where does God choose today? Well, the New Testament tells us wherever
‘two or three are gathered in My name, there I am in the midst of you, or among
you.’ So wherever we come together in the name of God, that is the place that
He has chosen, because He has put His Spirit in us. So it’s not a physical place,
although since we’re still physical, we have to meet in a physical place.] …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… [We’re not to come to God and say, ‘Oh, I have to
give something to God?’ You need to understand what it is. You need to
understand what you need to do. You need to prepare for it.] …every man shall
give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD your God, which He has given you” (vs
16-17).
So, every
offering that we give on the Holy Days, we’re to count our blessings! We are to
look and see how God has dealt with us:
physically
spiritually
mentally
emotionally
educating
us
teaching
us
learning
of His Word
—all of those things are
what we need to consider when we bring an offering to God.
That’s what
we’re told to do here. We have several other Scriptures we need to look at.
Let’s come to Mark 12:41, and let’s see how Jesus looks upon our hearts as we
are giving an offering; as He also looked upon the hearts of those who were
coming to the temple and putting their offerings in the treasury.
Mark 12:41:
“And after sitting down opposite the temple treasury, He observed how
the people were casting money into the treasury; and many rich ones were
putting in much. And one poor widow came and dropped in two tiny coins… [these are called mites] …which is equal to one copper
coin. Then He called His disciples to Him and said to them… [Here’s the
lesson for us. Are we disciples of Christ? Yes! Is He the One Who is the
Teacher? Yes! Are we to become like the Teacher? That’s the whole
purpose of the New Covenant—isn’t it? Yes, indeed!] …‘Truly I
say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all of those who are
casting money into the treasury…. [Not only was it the amount, but it
was her circumstances and it was her heart and attitude.] …For everyone else contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her destitution put in as much as she had, giving all her living’” (vs 41-44). That wasn’t all
her living for the rest of her life, but probably for the rest of that day.
Then we
have in 2-Cor. 9, that God is able, through His grace, ‘to make us abound to
all sufficiency in all things’ if we do what God wants us to do, and how we are
to do it, and the way we are to do it.
(At this time, we’ll take a pause
and we will take up the offering)
Let’s see
what God tells us, because there are some special things that we need to
learn—the reason of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Let’s understand
something:
There
are physical things that we need to do
There
are spiritual things that we need to do.
There
are also spiritual lessons for us who are in the New Covenant
—because
there is the letter of the law and there is the spirit of the law, and also
there is the function of using God’s way and God’s Holy Days as He lays out His
plan for us. We know we’re the first fruits; we know that we are the Church of
the Firstborn.
As we read
this in Exodus 13, let’s understand what it’s telling us, and let’s look at the spiritual lesson. Let’s understand how these things apply to us, not
only what we are to do physically, but what we are to do spiritually. In
keeping the Sabbath there’s a physical aspect of it: not working.
There’s a spiritual aspect of it—learning God’s way:
- praying
to God
- studying
His Word
- loving
each other
- loving
the brethren
- loving
God.
—that’s all
part of our relationship with God the Father and Jesus Christ.
Too many people in
the world say, ‘Well, this is the Old Testament, so we don’t have to do that.’
You know, that has been such a powerful thing in world ‘Christianity.’ I got an
e-mail the other day from a very staunch believer in Catholicism. He said, ‘All
other translations besides what the Catholics do is null and void.’ So, my
answer back to him was: The truth is, we’re not dealing with what the Catholics
have done because they didn’t begin until 325 A.D. under the pagan
emperor Constantine. We are restoring original Christianity which then goes
back to what did Jesus do? What did the disciples do? What did the apostles do?
That’s what we are focused in on.
So, let’s read
Exodus 13 from the point of view of what was required then, and then what’s
required of us today spiritually. Exo. 12:51 really should be the first verse.
In the original order Bible we have that as the first verse before Exo. 13:1
Exodus 12:51:
“12:51: “And it came to pass the very same day, when the LORD brought
the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their armies, [13:1]: then
the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Sanctify all the firstborn to Me…’” There’s a
lesson for us. Let’s start with the lesson of Jesus Christ: He was the
firstborn of Mary—correct? Yes! He was also the firstborn from
among the dead—correct? Yes! Now, we come into the Church and we
are in the Church of the Firstborn. We’ll talk more about that when we come
down to Pentecost—we’re also the firstfruits. They all belong to God!
That’s the thing that’s important to understand.
Just like
with us, brethren, we’re not our own to do what we want, to do what we will. We
belong to God. And the very fact, as we will see on the Sabbath during the
Feast of Unleavened Bread, that you’re going to be amazed how expansive the
grace of God really, really is. Not in the sense that the Protestants have,
because they have a lawless grace. One thing we need to understand: The
Protestants understand very few things in the Bible. They really more like
Catholics.
Verse 3: “And
Moses said to the people, ‘Remember this day… [Doesn’t that sound an awful lot
like the Sabbath? What did God say concerning the weekly Sabbath? Remember
the Sabbath Day to keep it Holy. Just like with the Holy Days, first thing
people in the world forget about is the Sabbath. And, unfortunately, too many
in the Church treat it very slight, too. The next thing they forget—or
maybe it’s in reverse order—the first thing they forget are the Holy
Days.] (But this is): …‘Remember this day… [which is what? The first day of
the Feast of Unleavened Bread!] …in which you came out of Egypt, out
of the house of bondage; for the LORD brought you out from this place by the
strength of His hand. There shall be no leavened bread eaten. On this day you
are going out, in the month Abib’” (vs 3-4). Later, that month was renamed Nisan, which is the first month.
Then he talks
about when they went into the land, that they were to keep this. Verse 6: “‘You
shall eat unleavened bread seven days, and in the seventh day there shall be a Feast to the LORD. Unleavened bread shall be eaten seven days. And there
shall be no leavened bread seen with you, nor shall there be leaven seen with
you in all your borders’” (vs 6-7). Today, what we do, we unleaven our homes
and get it off our property. But back then, when they came into the land, they
had to unleaven the whole country—everything! So that was a larger task
that was to be done than what we are faced today.
Now, what are
we to tell our children? Why do we keep this Feast? We will see. We are to tell
our children. They are to learn and understand what the Feast of Unleavened
Bread means. Verse 8. “‘And you shall tell your son in that day, saying, “This
is because of what the LORD did for me when I came out from Egypt.”’” All
right, have we been called out of the world? Yes! Jesus said, ‘Sanctify
them with Your Word, Your Word is Truth. And I pray for them, not that You take
them out of the world, but that You protect them from the evil one.’
We’re not taken out of the world, brethren. We have to live in the
world, but we have to come out of Egypt spiritually. And the Feast of
Unleavened Bread pictures our spiritual journey of coming out of sin and out of
Egypt, just like it pictured the actual physical leaving of Egypt by the
children of Israel. Notice what this is to be. We need to compare this with Heb.
10 where it says that we are going to have His ‘laws and commandments written
in our minds and in our hearts.’ Let’s understand something: That is with the
Spirit of God.
Also, let’s understand this—I’ll just give you a little hint for
the sermon for the Sabbath during Unleavened Bread—to
keep the commandments of God in the spirit and to have the Spirit of God in us
and to have the laws and commandments of God written in our hearts and in our
minds is an act of grace by God the Father and Jesus Christ. Now, you think on
that! I’ll show you where it tells us in the New Testament.
“‘And it
shall be a sign to you upon your hand, and for a memorial between your eyes,
that the LORD’S law may be in your mouth, for with a strong hand the LORD has
brought you out of Egypt. You shall therefore keep this law in its season from
year to year.’” (vs 9-10). Here’s something special having to do with the
firstborn, again. And this also, when you get to Deut. 16, helps explain all
the offerings that were to be given ‘from the flock and from the herd’ and all
of the extra things that were done in preparation for the Night to Be Much
Observed, as we have already covered.
Verse 11:
“‘And it shall be, when the LORD brings you into the land of the Canaanites, as
He swore to you and to your fathers, and shall give it to you, you shall set
apart to the LORD all that opens the womb, and every firstborn that comes of
any animal which you have; the males shall be the LORD’S”
(vs 11-12). There were wholly dedicated to God. Well, what if the firstborn was
a female? That was to be used in observing the Feasts. That’s what it
talks about in Deut. 14, that you shall ‘eat the firstborn.’ Have to be only
the females. The males belong to God!
Notice what
else: “‘And every firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb…. [That
requires an offering.] …And if you will not redeem it, then you shall break its
neck. And all the firstborn of man among your sons you shall redeem…. [that’s a
picture of the Church. We are the Church of the Firstborn. We are redeemed from
the world. Christ has paid the penalty for our sins. Christ is bringing us out
of spiritual Egypt.] …And it shall be when your son asks you in time to
come, saying, “What does this mean?” you shall say to him, “The LORD
brought us out of Egypt by the strength of His hand, from the house of
bondage. And it came to pass when Pharaoh would hardly let us go, the LORD
killed all the firstborn of the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man, and
the firstborn of animals. Therefore I sacrifice to the LORD all that opens the
womb, that are males. But all the firstborn of my sons I redeem.”’” (vs 13-15).
That’s a very important thing for us to understand.
The Feast of
Unleavened Bread, just like everything else, the New Testament does not
do away with the Feasts of God. It brings a different aspect and
meaning of keeping the Feasts of God. Likewise with the Feast of Unleavened
Bread. Every year we come to 1-Corinthians 5, so let’s go there and let’s read
the spiritual things that we are to learn from the Feast of Unleavened Bread
and what it means in our lives, because just like Christ came
to
forgive us our sins—which He did
to
bring us the righteousness of God—which He did
We all have our part in
overcoming sin. He’s given us His Spirit so that we can overcome sin, so that
we can change. Notice how he [Paul] ties this in with the Feast of Unleavened
Bread, and the meaning of leaven during the Feast of Unleavened Bread spiritually—that leaven equates to sin! With the covenant with Israel that they had, the unleavened bread and the meal
that they were to eat with the Passover pictured the harsh bondage that they
were in. So, likewise, we have been brought out of the bondage of sin into the
liberty and the freedom of God. So there is a special meaning for it.
They [the Corinthians] had a problem and many churches have many
problems. Brethren, the truth really is (when you get down to it): How do you
solve those problems? Each and every person has to put sin out his or her
life. And each one really needs to remember the covenant of the
Passover that we have; that we are bought and paid for by Jesus Christ and we
are not our own. We belong to Him. We are the firstborn. With this problem,
Paul gives the lesson and we will see (as we have already
covered)—because we come to this many times leading up to and during the
Feast of Unleavened Bread.
1-Corinthians 5:6:
“Your glorying is not good. Don’t you know that a little leaven
leavens the whole lump?” That’s what happens if you don’t constantly
put leaven out of your lives
not
only during the Feast of Unleaven Bread to examine your lives and see where you
have sin
not
only in preparation for the Passover, which we’ve already kept
and
taken our week to examine our lives and to see how we are doing
We are to be constantly be putting sin out
of our lives. The whole purpose of the Feast of Unleaven Bread is to have us become
unleavened in Christ. In other words, to be perfected! And the goal of being perfected is what? Matt. 5:48: we are to ‘become
perfect as the Father in heaven is perfect.’ So that tells you the work of God
working in our lives and our cooperation with God to make it work. We need to
understand that as well.
Notice the
instructions. This is our part. It may seem like a small thing to people to put
leaven out of their homes. But let’s see where Paul shows the spiritual
application of it. Verse 7: “Therefore, purge out the old leaven, so that you
may become a new lump, even as you are unleavened…. [So, they were
unleavening their homes. There would be no reason for saying ‘as you are
unleavened’] …For Christ our Passover was sacrificed for us.” That’s the very
reason that we keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread. That’s quite the opposite of
what the world does. They celebrate Easter, and, as you know, there is no place
in the Bible where it talks about Easter as something to do for God. Everywhere
it is a feast to the ‘queen of heaven.’
There’s one place
in Acts 12 where they translated the Greek ‘pascha’—which is for
Passover—Easter, because the King
James translators on those
committees couldn’t stand it that there wasn’t anyplace where they could put
‘Easter’ in, except they thought, ‘we’ll do it in this one place, and aren’t we
good boys, we have Easter in the New Testament.’ You ought to read
some of the silly justifications for what they have on the reason for it being
there, when it’s just a plain, deliberate mistranslation to mislead.
Here is a New Testament command for us, as we’ve already covered, but
we need to reiterate it so we know why we are here is for a specific reason;
and why we are keeping the Feast of Unleavened Bread is for a specific reason;
and why we keep the Holy Days is for a specific reason, in addition to it being
the ‘appointed time’ that God has given to us to come before Him on these days.
Verse 8: “For
this reason, let us keep the Feast… [Is that plain enough? Is
that plain enough? Did Paul say don’t worry about the Feast, Jesus did
away with it? NO!] …not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of
malice and wickedness… [So leaven becomes a type of sin.] …but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and Truth.” What did Jesus say to His
disciples, on the Passover night, concerning Himself. They asked Him, ‘Where
are you going to go, Lord?’ and He said, ‘I am the way, the truth and the life
and no one comes to the Father except through Me.’ That eliminates all other religions. That eliminates all counterfeit
religions of ‘Christianity’ as well, because He said this on the Passover
night. We’ll see some other things concerning it.
Let’s come
back to John 13; let’s learn another lesson which we get from the Passover
night, and here’s something we need to know; we always need to keep this in
mind. Let’s learn the lesson of ‘foot washing.’ That’s another thing that they
forget. Some people do it, but you’ve got to do in the way and the time and the
manner and on the day and at the time that Jesus did it. He gave us an example
that we should ‘do as He did’ to the disciples. Tremendous lesson, not only for
the Passover, but in our relationship with God.
John 13:12: “Therefore,
when He had washed their feet, and had taken His garments, and had sat
down again, He said to them, ‘Do you know what I have done to you?…. [Do you
understand what I did. They’re sitting there, ‘Well, Lord, no! You washed our
feet.’] …So He gave them the answer): …You
call Me the Teacher and the Lord, and you speak rightly, because I am. Therefore, if I, the Lord and the Teacher, have washed your feet, you
also are duty-bound to wash one another’s feet; for I [Christ] have given
you an example, to show that you also should do exactly as I have done
to you’” (vs 12-15). We did this on the Passover night.
Here’s the meaning of it, because this becomes very
important, v 16: “‘Truly, truly I tell you, a servant is not greater than his
lord, nor a messenger greater than he who sent him. If you know these things,
blessed are you if you do them’” (vs 16-17). What is it concerning the Feast of
Unleavened Bread? ‘The messenger is not greater than the Lord. The Lord said,
‘Keep the Feast.’ Paul His apostles said, ‘Let us keep the Feast.’ And He gave
the spiritual application of it—‘the messenger is not greater than
he who sent him.’ Too many of those
who profess Christianity violate this every Sunday and say, ‘we’re greater than
the Lord. He did away with His law.’ That’s like asking God to cease to exist.
That’s totally nonsensical and it’s not Biblical!
Now let’s see
what the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread really mean? What is it spiritually for us? Let’s come to John, the sixth chapter. Let’s see what Jesus said; these
are His words. As Paul said, if anyone does not abide by the sound words,
even the words of Jesus Christ, get away from them! Amazing
statement—isn’t it?
As you have
heard in the series that we’ve been doing, Bible Answers to the
Evangelicals… Listen, brethren, don’t ever look at Protestants and think
they ‘just have a little different form of Christianity than we do, but
they meet on Sunday.’ Nonsense!
Here it gets
down to the nitty-gritty; this is the unleavenness or the truth of the
understanding of why God wants us to keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and
why it follows the Passover. We have our sins forgiven through the sacrifice of
Christ and His shed blood, which we know occurred on the Passover. So what do
we do then? Then we have a responsibility to get sins out of our lives. How do
we do that? Let’s see what Jesus said:
John 6:51:
“‘I am the living bread, which came down from heaven; if anyone eats of this
bread, he shall live forever; and the bread that I will give is even My flesh,
which I will give for the life of the world.’…. [But you have been called as
the firstborn of the firstfruits. God hasn’t called the rest of the world yet.
That’s why we need to keep all the Holy Days of God so we understand His plan.
That’s why we have the book, God’s Plan For Mankind Reveled by His Sabbath
and Holy Days.
Verse 52:
“…‘How is He able to give us His flesh to eat?’ Therefore, Jesus said to
them, ‘Truly, truly I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man,
and drink His blood, you do not have life in yourselves…. [In other words, you
don’t have eternal life.] …The one who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has
eternal life, and I will raise him up in the last day… [Pentecost, as we will
see when we get around to that] …For My flesh is truly food, and My blood is
truly drink. The one who eats My flesh and drinks My blood is dwelling in Me,
and I in him…. [Because you are in a covenant with God the Father and Jesus
Christ. That’s why any counterfeit or substitute for the Passover is null and
void. You need to think about that!] (here is the key; here is how we
become unleavened): …As the living Father has sent Me, and I live by
the Father; so also the one who eats Me shall live by Me’” (vs
52-57). Think about that! How do we live our lives? By Jesus Christ
with the Spirit of God!
with His Word!
with His Truth!
with His righteousness!
That’s what we are to do! Christ is the Light of the world, and He
shows us where to go and what to do and how to do it!
Let’s come back John, the third chapter, and let’s see
something about John 3 that carries on from v 16. Oh, yes, everyone likes to
quote John 3:16, and did you know that in the King James Version that it’s not translated correctly? John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave
His only begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish… [doesn’t say ‘should not’ perish, because this in the Greek is in the
subjunctive, meaning that there are conditions to it—right? Do we not
have to be faithful unto the end? Yes! Is that not a condition? Do we
not have to love God and keep His commandments? Are those not conditions? Yes! There are no conditions on God. It’s not saying that God may love the world He loves the world unconditionally.] (but when
He calls us we): …may not
perish, but may have everlasting life.”
Now, notice
how He explains it right here in the verses after, which are conveniently
overlooked by ‘Christianity’ in the world. Verse 17: “For God sent not His Son
into the world that He might judge the world, but that the world might be saved
through Him. The one who believes in Him is not judged, but the one who does
not believe has already been judged because he has not believed in the name of
the only begotten Son of God. And this is the judgment… [it happens automatic]
…that the light has come into the world, but men loved darkness rather than the
light because their works were evil’ (vs 17-19). Jesus is the Light of
the world! Do men want to follow Christ? No! They want the benefit
without obedience. But, you can’t have the benefit without obedience. That’s
why it is ‘may not perish’ but ‘may have
everlasting life’—according to the conditions that God has imposed upon
us. They don’t like to come to the Light because their works are evil.
“For everyone
who practices evil hates the light…” (v 20). Isn’t that interesting? Stop and
think about it for a minute. If you’re a good Protestant and you’re listening
to this and you’re kind of sitting there seething and wondering about this and
you hate the Holy Days of God and you hate what is preached… I get e-mails
saying, ‘you belong to a cult.’ No, a cult is where you have a religion that is
substituted for the Truth that’s in the Bible. That is a cult! The Catholic
Church, the Protestant Church, all the religions of the world are cults and they keep occult holidays—don’t they? Sometimes the truth is kind of
hard to take. Why is that Protestants hate the Sabbath? Hate the Holy Days? Because
they hate Christ! ‘Oh no, we love Christ.’ Jesus said, ‘Why do you call Me Lord,
Lord, and do not the things which I say? Why do you call Me Lord, Lord, and do not the will of the Father?’
“…and does not come to the light, so that his works
may not be exposed… [They don’t like to think about their wonderful Sunday as
sin; or their wonderful Easter as sin; or their wonderful Christmas and
Halloween—all of those things are sin! They are!] (here is how we are to
live): …but the one who practices the Truth comes to the light…
[this is what we’re doing; Christ is the Light of the world. We are coming to
the Light] …so that his works may be manifested, that they have been
accomplished by the power of God” (v 20-21). Not our works. Our
works will never save us. But the works which God the Father has given to us to
walk in, and the Holy Spirit of God, that will save us. They won’t come to the
Light.
Let’s come to
John 12:25—this tells us an awful lot. Here’s all a part of the Feast of
Unleavened Bread. We count the cost, we know what we need to do, we know where
we need to go, we know what we need to accomplish. As I read this let’s each
one of us ask ourselves, internally: Do I do this?
John 12:25:
“The one who loves his life shall lose it, and the one who hates his life in
this world shall keep it unto eternal life…. [Do you understand that? The
‘life’ means the way you’re living!] …If anyone will serve Me, let him
follow Me… [Just like the children of Israel had to follow the light by night
and the pillar of cloud by day—to follow God into the wilderness and
later into the ‘promised land.’ We are to also follow Christ Who is the Light
of the world.] …and where I am, there shall My servant be also. And if anyone
serves Me, him shall the Father honor” (vs 25-26). That’s something—isn’t
it?
Let’s come
back to John 8:12 and see where Jesus calls Himself the light of the world.
“Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, ‘I am the light of the world;
the one who follows Me shall never walk in darkness, but shall have the light
of life.’”
Isn’t that
something! That’s what God wants to give us! That’s how we come out of spiritual Egypt!
we
follow the light of God’s Word
we keep
the commandments of God
we have
the Spirit of God
we are
overcoming human nature
we are
getting rid of the leaven of sin in our lives
and we are being perfected by the process of conversion. That’s what
Unleavened Bread is all about!
(go to the next track)
Let’s see
some other things that we can read to understand what it is to put out the
leaven. That is, to put out sin! Let’s come to the book of Proverbs, because
there are some things here that when we read the Proverbs, what we need to do
is read them through the eyes of the Spirit of God within us and apply it
spiritually.
Here’s
something really important to understand. Here’s how you resist temptation: You
don’t get close to it! And just like Paul said, we are to ‘bring every
thought into captivity, casting down vain imaginations that exalt themselves
against God and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Jesus
Christ’ (2-Cor. 10). That’s what we are to do! This is how we are to operate
mentally and spiritually living in this world, because around us is the world;
around us is the way of Satan. We are not out of the world, but we are
not to be part of the world. So, here in Proverbs 4 is some
instruction, what we need to do.
Proverbs
4:13: “Keep hold of instruction… [All the instruction of the New Testament,
keep hold of it. Don’t let the leaven of your human nature come along and say,
‘Well, you know, a little of this, a little of that, a little of the other
thing….’ Remember, when you think you don’t have time to pray, that’s when you
need to pray. Remember, when you think you don’t have time to study, that’s
when you need to study. Stop and think: Who is it that has called you? Who has
given you the Holy Spirit? And God expects you to exercise and use the Holy
Spirit so that it will lead you.] …Keep hold of instruction; do not let go;
keep her, for she is your life. Enter not into the path of the wicked…
[Don’t go their way! Stop! Turn! Go the other way! Get away from it! Cast the
thought of temptation out of your mind!] …and go not into the way of evil men”
(vs 13-14)—because a ‘little leaven leavens the whole lump’—right?
A little sin leads to more sin. Unless it’s repented of, then it will grow; it
will expand; the temptation will come, and then lust comes along and nourishes
the thought. And it’s really kind of a good thought. Then when it finally comes
to full fruition then sin takes place.
Here’s what
you do, v 15: “Avoid it; do not go in it; turn from it, and pass on! For they do not sleep except when they have done
mischief; and their sleep is taken away unless they cause some to fall,
for they eat the bread of wickedness… [and we eat the Bread of
Righteousness—and that is Christ—correct? Yes!] …and drink
the wine of violence” (vs 15-17). We drink the wine of God, which is the blood
of Christ. Quite a difference—isn’t it? That’s the way of the world. Here
is the way we are to walk in. Here is the path that God has called us to.
Verse 18:
“But the path of the just is as the shining light… [We are to follow
Christ Who is the light. We are to come to Him Who is the light] …that shines
more and more to the perfect day.” And what is that perfect day? The resurrection!
Let’s see what else we are to do—come to Psalm 34. Very
interesting, and also the Psalms are very spiritual and tell us what we need to
do and where we need to go. Let’s see what we’re taught here; quite instructive
for the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Let’s apply this, with the Spirit of God,
with the understanding that we have. This is a Psalm of David:
Psalm 34:1: “I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall always be in my mouth. My soul shall make its
boast in the LORD; the humble shall hear and be
glad…. [You boast in God! Not yourself. We’ll see this a little later in 1-Cor.
1 in just a minute.] …O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together…. [How do we exalt the name of God? By living the way that He wants us to. And we will see that. We will see
the perfection—that is talked about that is pictured by Unleavened
Bread—is to imitate God! That’s why we have the Bible.] …I sought the LORD…
[and that’s what we are to do! Seek the Lord! What did Jesus say? Seek
and you shall find! Knock and it shall be opened! Ask and you shall receive! And you do this every day continually.] …and
He answered me, and delivered me from all my fears” (vs 1-4).
Now, let me tell you something here, brethren:
There are a lot of people out there who live in fear. Even though all the
things that we know are coming at the end-time, don’t live in fear! Claim the
promise of Psa. 91. Don’t be afraid to love God! Don’t be afraid to claim the
promises of the grace of God!
Verse 5: “They looked to Him and were radiant;
and their faces were not ashamed. This poor man cried, and the LORD heard, and saved him out of all his troubles…. [That’s a promise we can claim.
Listen! You know and I know and we all know together—and we’ll admit this
together, it is true—we’re all going to be confronted with problems and
difficulties—correct? Is there anytime we don’t have something we need to
work on and overcome? No! But God delivers us out of all of them!
Notice what else; here’s a
blessing that comes: “The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him and
delivers them…. [God has His angels about you. You have His Spirit in
you. That’s tremendous, brethren. That is a great and marvelous thing.]
(This is why he says, v 8, and this ties in with what Jesus said that you ‘eat
My flesh and drink My blood’ You don’t do it literally. It is the way of
Christ): …O taste and see that the LORD is good… [No one’s going to run up and
‘chomp’; clump a chunk out of God. This means His way, taste and see by
experiencing, by doing, by obeying, by loving] …that the LORD is good… [and
remember this, never forget this in whatever difficulties you are in, that all
things work together for good for those who are called according to His purpose
and love God! Everything! Don’t forget that!] …blessed is the man who
takes refuge in Him. O fear the LORD,
all you saints, for there is nothing lacking to those who fear Him” (vs 8-9).
Isn’t that something?
Verse 12: “Who
is the man that desires life… [Who is the one that desires eternal life?
Everyone would say, ‘Yea, that’s me, I want eternal life.’] …and loves many
days, that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from
speaking guile. Depart from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it”
(vs 12-14). And that’s the peace that comes from God.
What did Jesus say on the Passover night? Peace
I give you. Not as the world gives to you do I give it to you; I give My peace to you. So, in the midst of all troubles and difficulties and trials
you can still have peace of mind because it comes from God and His Spirit.
Notice what else, v 15: “The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous… [We are righteous through the blood and sacrifice of
Jesus Christ. And having God’s Spirit in us, don’t you think that God’s eyes
are upon us? God’s eyes are upon us. His angels are about us. That’s why we
have nothing to fear. That’s why God has called us. It’s a tremendous thing,
brethren. And that’s why the Feast of Unleavened Bread.] …and His ears are open
to their cry.” That’s why it all gets back to what you’ve heard, how many times
through the years? Prayer and Bible study and living God’s way—that’s
it, isn’t it? Yes, indeed!
Let’s see how we are to walk. Let’s come to the
Epistle of 1-John. This is really very instructive; very inspiring, brethren.
And let me tell you what also is important. Your relationship with God the
Father and Jesus Christ—through prayer, through study, through living and
through growing and overcoming—is the most precious thing that there is.
There is nothing greater than that fellowship. There is nothing greater than
that relationship. And what you need to realize is this: It comes from God the
Father and Jesus Christ Who have lived through all eternity and God is dealing
with you (as you will see for the sermon on the Sabbath during Unleavened
Bread). God is looking upon us. We are the center of His activity on the earth
(in case you didn’t understand that).
Notice how far back this goes. 1-John 1:1: “That which was from the beginning,
that which we have heard, that which we have seen with our own eyes, that which
we observed for ourselves and our own hands handled, concerning the Word of
life…” Remember, John ‘handled Him’; the apostles ‘touched’ Him after He was
resurrected. Can you imagine the amazing experience of that!? John is writing
here is so that you can understand and that same kind of understanding and
feeling can come to you through God’s Spirit; because God’s Spirit is eternal
and this is how we come out of spiritual Egypt. This is how we walk in
the way that is true. This is how we become unleavened and become perfect
before God. That’s what the Feast is all about.
Verse 2:
“…and are reporting to you the eternal life, which was with the Father, and was
manifested to us)…” This is a tremendous thing! An eyewitness report by John to
us down through all ages. Think of that! We are to share in that. We are to
understand it. And that’s what the Feast of Unleavened Bread is all about:
that we
put away the world
we put away
our lusts
we put
away our sins
through Jesus Christ
we grow
we
change
we
overcome
we build the character of God,
through a personal relationship with God, called fellowship! And
fellowship also means partnership.
Verse 3:
“…that which we have seen and have heard we are reporting to you in order that
you also may have fellowship with us; for the fellowship… [the
central point of our relationship with God—THE fellowship!]
…—indeed, our fellowship—is with the Father and with His own
Son Jesus Christ.” Isn’t that amazing?! Yes! You need to realize it! We
need to keep this in mind always.
Verse 4:
“These things we are also writing to you, so that your joy may be completely
full…. [and that’s how you feel when you’re growing and overcoming the way God
wants you to.] …These things we… [whoever was with John at this time: Andrew,
Philip and maybe Mark] …are also writing to you, so that your joy may be
completely full And this is the message that we have heard from Him and are
declaring to you: that God is light, and there is no darkness at all in Him. If we proclaim that we have fellowship with Him,
but we are walking in the darkness, we are lying to ourselves, and we are not
practicing the Truth” (vs 4-6). Isn’t that interesting and profound? You
can’t claim Jesus Christ and live in sin! You can’t claim Jesus Christ, Who is
to be our light and lead us and guide us, and practice wickedness. An
impossibility!
Verse 7:
“However, if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, then we have
fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, His own Son,
cleanses us from all sin.” Continually, every day!
That’s
why every day we ask for forgiveness.
That’s
why every day we yield ourselves to God.
That’s
why every day we do the things that we need to do.
So, keep that in mind.
Now, let’s come over here to 1-John 2;
let’s see something. Talks about keeping the commandments, but I want to
emphasize vs 5 & 6—this is real important! Though we’ve heard this
many times before, let’s understand it more fully with the spiritual
understanding concerning the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
1-John 2:3: “And by this standard we know that we know Him… [We’ve got to know and understand that we know God!]
…if we keep His commandments…. [That’s how it is. And part of His commandments
is what? The Sabbath and the Holy Days. And what did He say about the
first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread? Remember this day! Yes,
indeed!] …The one who says, ‘I know
Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the Truth is not in
him. On the other hand… [This is what we need to emphasize and understand.] …if anyone is keeping His Word, truly in this one the love of God is being
perfected…. [Because, brethren, that’s why the Feast of Unleavened Bread; that
we become perfected in Christ
through the
Spirit of God
through
growing
through
changing
through
overcoming
through
repenting
through
yielding to God in every way!
…By this means we know that we are in Him. Anyone who claims to dwell in Him is obligating himself also to walk even
as He Himself walked” (vs 3-6). We’ll see that in just a little bit. We
have that obligation. Do you do that? When was the last time you studied
through the Gospels to see how we are to live the way Jesus said? You might
go back and do that.
Let’s come to the second Epistle of John and
let’s see how he clarifies this. this is really quite something when we
understand it; when we put it together; when we realize what it’s telling us.
It’s telling us an awful lot, even in these 13 verses.
2-John 1: “The elder to the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in
Truth… [this is symbolic of the Truth, because we are the ‘chosen
lady.’] …and not I alone, but also all those who have known the Truth.” I want
you to understand how many times he mentions ‘Truth.’ What is Truth? Jesus
said, ‘I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.’ Jesus said, ‘Your way is Truth,
sanctify them in Your Truth.’ Psa. 119 says ‘Your law is Truth, Your
commandments are Truth; all Your precepts concerning all things are true. That’s
the way we are to be walking.
Verse 2: “For the sake of the Truth that is
dwelling in us… [we have the Spirit of Truth. You combine all of those things
together, and through the power of that we are to put away sin; we are to
become unleavened in Christ.] …and shall be with us forever. Grace,
mercy, and peace shall be with us from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love” (vs 1-3).
Notice, one,
two, three, four times he mentions ‘truth’ right there. How important is it? What was happening then to these people? They were
beginning not to walk in the Truth. But here the faithful ones he’s
commending.
Verse 4: “I rejoiced exceedingly that I have found among your children those who
are walking in Truth, exactly as we received commandment from the Father.” And
if God’s Word is Truth, the Passover is Truth, the Days of
Unleavened Bread are Truth, Pentecost, Trumpets, Atonement, Feast of
Tabernacles are Truth—right? And those are all the things that the
world rejects!
Verse 5: “And now I beseech you, lady, not as though I
am writing a new commandment to you, but that which we have observed from the beginning, that we love one another. And this is the love of
God… [defines it again] …that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, exactly as you heard from the beginning, that
you might walk in it… [notice the conflict that they had; the same conflict
that we have today]: …because many deceivers have entered into the
world—those who do not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the
flesh. This is the spirit of the deceiver and the antichrist” (vs 5-7). There are a lot of people who don’t believe
that Jesus was God manifested in the flesh. They are antichrist. They may look
nice; they may sound nice; they may act nice; they may behave nice; but they’re
not of God. We need to understand that. “…This is the spirit of the
deceiver and the antichrist.”
Verse 8:
“Watch out for yourselves… [That’s what the Feast if Unleavened Bread is all
about. Take stock of yourself, see where you fall short, see what sins you
still have to overcome and put out.] …in order that we may not lose the things
we have accomplished, but that we may receive a full reward.”
Now, let’s
see what the Apostle Paul wrote for us concerning how we need to live.
Let’s, first of all, come back here to Galatians, the sixth chapter, and let’s
see how Paul considered himself toward the world. When you understand, the
whole operation of baptism is we
are conjoined to the sacrifice of Christ. And this is why Christ inspired Paul to write it this way.
Galatians 6:14: “But as
for me, MAY IT NEVER BE that I boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus
Christ, through Whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the
world.” Do you count yourself that way, crucified to the world?
Galatians
2:20—Let’s see what he says about being crucified and what it is
concerning the way of God. “I have been crucified with Christ,
yet I live. Indeed, it is no longer I; but Christ lives in me…. [That’s
the true whole spirit of the Feast of Unleavened Bread: Christ living in
us!] …For the life that I am now living in the flesh, I
live by faith—that very faith of the Son of God, Who loved me and
gave Himself for me.” That’s something!
Now let’s see
how we are to live; let’s see what we are to do. So, take this as a model for
the whole Feast of Unleavened Bread. Let’s come to Ephesians 4; let’s see what
it tells us what to do. We’ve already seen that we are to put out leaven. But
leaven is a type of sin and we are to keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread ‘in
sincerity and in truth; not with the old leaven of malice and wickedness.’ Here
are the instructions that follow right along with the Feast of Unleavened Bread
spiritually:
Ephesians
4:22: “That concerning your former conduct, you put off the old man… [the old
man is crucified. Christ said that He died for us. Paul said that when he was
baptized he died. Paul said that when he was baptized, he was crucified to the
world, and the world to him.] which is corrupt according to deceitful lusts…
[we have the change; we have to grow; we have to overcome] …and that you be
renewed in the spirit of your mind” (vs 22-23). That’s where conversion takes
place: in the mind, the heart, which then motivates us to live God’s way.
Let’s come to Romans, the twelfth chapter, and let’s
see how we are to be renewed in our minds. It says there ‘in the righteousness
and the true spiritual Holiness.’ Romans
12:1: “I exhort you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your
bodies a living sacrifice, Holy and well pleasing to God, which is your
spiritual service…. [That is to love God; have a relationship with God; keep
His commandments in the spirit and so forth.] (just like he wrote to the
Ephesians): …Do not conform yourselves to this world… [though we live in the
world, we’re not of the world] …but be transformed by the renewing of your mind in order that you may prove what is well pleasing and good, and
the perfect will of God” (vs 1-2). So, yes, we can do the things that please
God. How many people are trying to overcome and change like those who have the
Holy Spirit of God, Who know the Truth of the Passover, Who know the Truth of
the Holy Days and the Feasts of God? Not very many! Is God pleased that
we do so? Yes, indeed!
Now, come
back here to Ephesians 4:23, again: “And that you be renewed in the spirit of
your mind; and that you put on the new man… [that ‘new man’ is Christ. You
learn from the Word of God. You practice the things of God, the things that
Jesus has taught.] …which according to God… [according to God’s way, God’s
Spirit, God’s Word, God’s Truth, Jesus Christ in us; the Father in us]: …is
created… [the reason that we keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread is to let God
create in us the character qualities that we need to have. And we’ll see how we
do that in just a bit.] ..in righteousness and Holiness of the Truth” (vs
23-24). That’s quite a profound thing—isn’t it?
Now, here’s
what we are to do. We are to overcome! And you say, ‘Boy! I’ve got a long way
to go.’ So does everyone. That’s why we have the Passover and the Feast of
Unleavened Bread every year. That’s why we need to be renewed every year.
God
made us so we can be renewed.
God
made us so we can be redeemed.
God
made us so we can repent and yield to Him
—and get rid of those
sins. But we have our part.
Verse 25: “Therefore, let each one put away lies and speak the truth with his neighbor because we are members of one another…. [We
have to change our character!] …When you become angry, do not sin….
[That’s a hard one. Takes a long time to come to that.] …Do not let the sun go
down on your anger… [Why? Because it
causes you to not forgive! And
to relive and relive and relive something you need to put out of your mind and
let God handle it.] (Why?): …Neither give place to the devil” (vs
25-27). We are the devil’s enemy #1! You need to understand that! He wants to
come along with his subtleties and his niceties to try and get us. And if we
give an ‘opening’—because we’re sinning, and we’re going along with these
sins, and we’re enjoying these sins, and we’re not trying to cast them
out—the devil is right there saying, ‘Oh, yes, that’s okay, go right on.’
So don’t give place to the devil! It also tells us that if you’re angry all the time you’re giving
place to the devil. Who does that come from?
Verse 28: “Let the one who stole, steal no more;
rather, let him labor with his hands, working at what is good, so that he may impart something to the one who has need. Do not
let any corrupt communication come out of your mouth, but that which is good
and needful for edification… [‘edification’ is building up] …that it may
give grace to those who hear. And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God by which
you have been sealed for the day of redemption” (vs 28-30). How do we ‘grieve’ the Holy Spirit? By trying to go our ways! By trying to hold
on to just a little bit of sin, because you’re still comfortable with it!
“Let all
bitterness, and indignation, and wrath, and clamor, and evil speaking be
removed from you, together with all malice… [Now, here’s how we are to live.
Here is the ‘eating’ of Christ, and ‘eating’ of His flesh and ‘drinking’ of His
blood—so that we may develop the character of God. Here’s how we are to
live]: …and be kind and tenderhearted toward one another, forgiving one
another, even as God has also in Christ forgiven you” (vs 31-32).
Remember
this: You want forgiveness? Never say,
‘I’ll never forgive that person.’ That’s the one you need to forgive—even though it’s hard!And even though you’ve got to swallow a lot
of pride. And even though they haven’t come to you to ask forgiveness, you need
to forgive them before God and clean your slate. Put them in God’s hands. Let
Him take care of them.
Ephesians
5:1—here’s what we are to do; here’s how we are to walk; here is what we
are to follow: “Therefore, be imitators of God, as beloved children… [because
we’re His sons and daughters—correct? Yes! We’re called to eternal
life. Is that correct? Yes! We are called ‘the children of God!’ And
‘behold what glorious love the Father has given us, that we should be called
the children of God.’ We are to imitate God as beloved children] …and walk in
love, even as Christ also loved us, and gave Himself for us as an
offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savor” (vs 1-2).
Now notice,
putting out sin; don’t get involved in it—v 3: “But fornication and all
uncleanness or covetousness, do not permit it even to be named among you, as is
fitting for saints; nor filthiness, nor foolish talking or jesting, which are
not becoming; but instead, thanksgiving…. [Then he gives a warning; and we need
the warnings—don’t we? Yes!] … For this you know, that no
fornicator, or unclean person, or covetous person, who is an idolater,
has any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and of God” (vs 3-5). You want
eternal life, this shows us what to do and what to avoid.
Verse 6: “Do
not let anyone deceive you with vain words… [Prove all things by
the Scriptures; ‘hold fast to that which is good’; cleave to that which is good!]
…for because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of
disobedience. Therefore, do not be joint partakers with them. For you were once
darkness; but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of
light” (vs 6-8)—and develop the character of:
- love
- hope
- faith
- joy
- temperance
- goodness
- kindness
- meekness
—against
such there is no law. And, as Paul said that if you walk in the spirit, you
will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.
Let’s finish
right here, v 9: “(because the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness
and righteousness and Truth;) proving what is well pleasing to the Lord; and
have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness…” (vs 9-10).
Brethren,
this is how we come out of the world, which can be called spiritual Egypt! We are redeemed by the blood and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. We have been given
the Spirit of God. We have been given His grace to live His way. And now, this
is our part, as shown through the Feast of Unleavened Bread
To
grow, to
change, to
overcome, to
have that relationship with God to
walk in the light and the Truth of His Word
Scriptural
References:
- Leviticus 23:4-6
- Deuteronomy 16:16-17
- Mark 12:41-44
- Exodus 12:51
- Exodus 13:1-4, 6-15
- 1 Corinthians 5:6-8
- John 13:12-17
- John 6:51-57
- John 3:16-21
- John 12:25-26
- John 8:12
- Proverbs 4:13-18
- Psalm 34:1-9, 12-15
- 1 John 1:1-7
- 1 John 2:3-6
- 2 John 1-8
- Galatians 6:14
- Galatians 2:20
- Ephesians 4:22-23
- Romans 12:1-2
- Ephesians 4:23-32
- Ephesians 5:1-10
Scriptures
referenced, not quoted:
- Numbers 28
- Exodus 23; 34
- 2 Corinthians 9
- Hebrews 10
- Deuteronomy 14
- Matthew 5:48
- 2 Corinthians 10
- Psalm 91; 119
Also Referenced:
- Sermon Series: Bible Answers to Evangelicals
- Book: God’s Plan Revealed by His Sabbath and Holy
Days by Fred
R. Coulter
- Ephesians 4:23-32
- Ephesians 5:1-10
- Scriptures
referenced, not quoted:
- Numbers 28
- Exodus 23; 34
- 2 Corinthians 9
- Hebrews 10
- Deuteronomy 14
- Matthew 5:48
- 2 Corinthians 10
- Psalm 91; 119
Also Referenced:
- Sermon Series: Bible Answers to Evangelicals
- Book: God’s Plan Revealed by His Sabbath and Holy
Days by Fred
R. Coulter
