Why We Keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread

We learn obedience from the trials and sufferings that we go through

Fred R. Coulter—April 1, 2017

- Video |  - PDF | Audio | [Up]

Greetings, everyone! Welcome to Sabbath services! Today, April 1st  is a very important day for a certain group of people. There was an atheist who sued and went to court saying, 'All these religions are prejudice because they have holidays, but us atheists don't.' The judge says, 'Yes, you do, it's even in the Bible, Psa. 53.' This is a special Psalm for the atheists and this is their day!

Psalm 53:1: "The fool has said in his heart, 'There is no God.' They are corrupt, and have worked out abominable wickedness; there is no one who does good."

Here's an interesting verse, and figure out how God does this, v 2: "God looked down from heaven upon the children of men to see if there were any who understand, who are seeking after God." How does God do that? If you read Rev. 1, 3, 4 & 5, you find out that God has seven special spiritual eyes that are constantly searching the earth!

Verse 3: "Everyone has turned away; they have altogether become corrupt; no one is doing good, no, not even one." Sounds like the world today! Washington, D.C., especially. I think it's a swamp that Donald has to drain; it's an ocean! Living in this world we're making preparations for something entirely different.

We're going to have the Passover soon and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, so we find that Paul tells us quite a few things that the Feast stands for and what we need to do. 1-Cor. 5 talks about two kinds of leaven: physically and spiritually! We're commanded to put all leaven out of our houses; we've already covered that in great detail.

Because of the sins that the Corinthians were having in the Church, Paul told them: 1-Corinthians 5:7: "Therefore, purge out the old leaven, so that you may become a new lump…" This is talking about:

• conversion
• renewing our mind
• having Christ in us
• having the mind of Christ
• Christ being formed in us

which is the whole spiritual plan of God that is unseen by the world! Only those in the Church of God and those who have the Spirit of God are doing this:

"…even as you are unleavened…." (v 7). What Paul is telling us is that if you unleaven your homes and your property but don't understand the lesson of becoming unleavened in your standing before God, it's not very valuable at all!

Here's the reason for everything that we do; "…For Christ our Passover was sacrificed for us" (v 7). That means for the Church! Yes, it will apply to the world in time, but not now! Right now it's for the Church, the firstfruits, the Church of the Firstborn!

Because Christ was sacrificed for us, v 8: "For this reason, let us keep the Feast…" Quite an interesting thing!

If you get into a discussion with someone about Easter, and so forth, and you tell them about the Feast of Unleavened Bread, just ask them: Would you like to see a couple of Scriptures that tells us about the Feast of Unleavened Bread?' Then you turn here and show a command.

Verse 8: "For this reason… [for the very fact that Jesus was crucified for us] …let us keep the Feast, not with old leaven…" That's very clear, because we are to be renewed!

Verse 7: "…so that you may become a new lump, even as you are unleavened…. [in your homes; so the two go hand-in-hand] …For Christ our Passover… [He's the Lamb of God to take away the sin of the world] …was sacrificed for us"—crucified on the Passover Day.

"…nor with the leaven…" (v 7). Here's what leaven pictures during the Feast of Unleavened Bread; Pentecost pictures a good use of leaven, which is a different story. But in order to get to Pentecost you must do everything that it says here concerning unleavened bread.

The whole Christian world says that they believe in Christ. But what did Jesus say about those who don't? Even though they do great works and have done things in His name, 'because you're not doing the will of My Father Who is in heaven.' That's pretty profound!

Remember, Jesus said, 'I do nothing of Myself. As the Father has commanded Me, I speak. What I see Him do, I do.' All of this goes back to the Father.

Leaven, normally speaking, is sourdough. You let it ferment naturally, and that's how they get the leaven in the bread. When it's sour and it leavens that's a good type of human nature.

"…the leaven of malice and wickedness…" (v 8). That covers an awful lot; all kinds of human behavior.

"…but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and Truth" (v 8). Think about that! What we study concerning John 6? Jesus is the Bread of Life, and His name is the Word of God! What we do, we combine that together with feeding our mind and thoughts so that our actions will be like the Word of God, the Truth of God.

Let's see some examples of leaven and why the world does not know. Leaven pictures:

• vanity
• false ways
• false teachings
• anything contrary to the pure Truth of God

Matthew 15:1: "Then the scribes and Pharisees from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, 'Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.' But He answered and said to them, 'Why do you also transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?'"(vs 1-3).

All of the holidays of the world are traditions going clear back to ancient Babylon. If you haven't read the book The Two Babylons by Alexander Hislop… I think too many people today are very lazy in really trying to study and doing what they need to do. These things are so that we know:

• that we have proof
• that we have understanding
• that we know what we are talking about

That's exactly what they do with the holidays of this world and the Holy Days of God, and the Jews, even with the Feasts of God. As we pointed out concerning the 14th/15th Passover, and the Jews keeping the 15th, it's interesting that Jews almost universally reject Jesus Christ Who was crucified as the Passover on the 14th. Their traditional Passover, based on the reason that they had to be exiled, is a clear statement that they don't believe in Christ.

So, everything else that they do is just strictly from their traditions, and very little from God. I found that true with the Messianic Jews, as well.

Verse 4: "For God commanded, saying, 'Honor your father and your mother'; and, "The one who speaks evil of father or mother, let him die the death.' But you say, 'Whoever shall say to father or mother, "Whatever benefit you might receive from me is being given as a gift to the temple," he is not at all obligated to honor his father or his mother.' And you have made void the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition" (vs 4-6).
Is that not what modern 'Christianity' has done to the Word of God today? Yes, indeed! Even the Catholics brag that they don't have to use the Bible.

So, Jesus says that here it is the way with the world. We'll give one caveat for the ministers and teachers and Christianity in the world for part of them: those that preach the Word of God to help people God says that He will honor that (Jer. 23).

But here's what happens when you do these things hypocritically, v 7: "Hypocrites! Isaiah has prophesied well concerning you, saying, 'These people have drawn near to Me with their mouths, and with their lips they honor Me; but their hearts are far away from Me'" (vs 7-8)—because God wants your heart, and the Feast of Unleavened Bread is all about your heart, mind and thoughts in relationship to God.

Mark 8:8—here's where Jesus fed the 4,000: "And they all ate and were satisfied. Then they took up over seven baskets of fragments that were left. Now, those who had eaten were about four thousand; and He sent them away. And immediately afterwards, He went aboard the ship with His disciples, and they came to the district of Dalmanutha. And the Pharisees came out and began to dispute with Him, tempting Him and seeking from Him a sign from heaven. But after sighing deeply in His spirit, He said, 'Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly I say to you, there shall no sign be given to this generation.' Then He left them; and after going aboard the ship again, He departed for the other side. But they had forgotten to take bread; and they did not have any with them, except one loaf in the ship. Then He charged them, saying… [here is another leaven]: …'Watch out! Be on guard against the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod'" (vs 8-15).

So, this is religious and political!

Verse 16: "And they were reasoning with one another, saying, 'It is because we do not have any bread.' But Jesus knew it and said to them, 'Why do you reason that I said this because you do not have any bread? Do you still not perceive or understand? Are your hearts still hardened? Don't you see with your eyes? Don't you hear with your ears? And don't you remember?'" (vs 16-18). Then He reiterates what He did in feeding the masses.

It says in another place, then they understood that He was talking about the doctrine of the scribes and Pharisees!

All of this is in vain! Stop and think about it: All human activity that is related to God, if it is not according to the Word of God, or the instructions of God, it becomes vain! Unless! Worthless! Idols are called vanity!

Psa. 39—here we find the nature of man, exactly what it is. This is also a lesson for Unleavened Bread, because this is what we are to do. With the Spirit of God and the Word of God, we are to direct:

• our thoughts
• our actions
• our reactions
• everything that we do

This is how we are training our mind with the Word of God, which is going to be the key thing in the resurrection.

Psalm 39:1: "I said, 'I will take heed to my ways so that I do not sin with my tongue; I will keep my mouth with a bridle while the wicked are before me.'…. [sometimes that's very hard] …I became dumb, keeping silent; I said nothing good, and yet, my sorrow grew worse. My heart was hot within me; while I was musing, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue: 'O LORD, make me to know my end and the measure of my days, what it is, that I may know how short lived I am. Behold, You have made my days as a handbreadth, and the span of my days is as nothing before You. Surely every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah'" (vs 1-5).

We live, we die, we brought nothing in, and we take nothing out! If we haven't done what God wants us to do, it's vain indeed, except for the love of God and the second resurrection.

Verse 6: "Surely every man walks about in a vain show! Surely they are in an uproar in vain…. [sounds like Washington, D.C.] …He heaps up riches and does not know who shall gather them. And now, LORD, what do I wait for? My hope… [that's what the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread picture] …is in You. Deliver me from all my transgressions; make me not the reproach of the fool" (vs 6-8).

Let's see what it's like on the world scene; Psalm 2:1: "Why do the nations rage and the people plot in vain?" They're trying to make the greatest world that there ever was. Today we live in a post-Christian world.

'We're past Christianity and we're so good.' We're entering into a post-human age, because now through technology and transhumanism we're going to graduate to near immortality through our efforts.' That's why it's good to see all the pyramids in Egypt; they're all dead! Have been, they took nothing and went nowhere!

Elon Musk has formed a new company to help people develop in transhumanism. Someone saw that they're experimenting and they're able to take some DNA material and create a heart muscle. They inject it into spinach and it replicates the heart. They take the stuff out of the spinach and put human DNA in it and it starts growing a heart.

Verse 2: "The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together against the LORD and against His Christ, saying…" What are they going to do in the last part of Revelation? Fight to the death!

Verse 3: "'Let us break Their bands asunder… [we don't need God] …and cast away Their… [God the Father and Jesus Christ] …cords from us.'" We're free moral agents, we'll do whatever we want.

Verse 4: "He who sits in the heavens laughs; the LORD scoffs at them. Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, and in His fury He terrifies them" (vs 4-5). Tie in the book of Revelation and the return of Christ.

To understand the character of God, the mind of God and so forth, and our relationship with Him, you get a lot of instruction out of the Psalms and Proverbs. I saw on the news that this young lady in college wrote a paper and she had the word 'mankind.' Since they're looking to make everything neuter-gender, she got deducted on her grade because that's sexist! But the instructor forgot that in the word 'woman' the last three letters spell 'man' because she came from man.

Psalm 52:1: "Why do you boast yourself in evil, O mighty man? The mercy of God endures forever. Your tongue devises destruction, like a sharp razor, working deceitfully. You love evil more than good, and lying more than to speak righteousness. Selah" (vs 1-3). Sounds like this was written for the nightly news.

Verse 4: "You love all devouring words, O deceitful tongue. God will likewise destroy you forever; He shall take you away, and pluck you out of your tent, and root you out of the land of the living. Selah. And the righteous shall see, and fear, and shall laugh at him, saying, 'Behold, the man who did not make God his stronghold, but trusted in the abundance of his riches. He strengthened himself in his wickedness.' But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever" (vs 4-8).

So, you see the difference, and isn't that interesting that it leads up to the verse for the fool; v 9: "I will praise You forever because You have done it; and I will wait on Your name, for it is good in the presence of Your saints."

Psalm 94:8: "Understand, you brutish ones among the people and you fools, when will you be wise? He who planted the ear, shall He not hear? He who formed the eye, shall He not see? He who chastens the nations, shall He not correct? He who teaches man knowledge, shall not He know? The LORD knows the thoughts of man, that they are vanity" (vs 8-11).

Stop and think! Look back through the course of history and everything that has gone on:

• every empire has crashed
• every mighty nation has fallen

But here we are, and today we have special problems and things of correction from God that they did not have a couple of centuries ago, because they didn't have the things that brings sin right into the lives of people as directly as it does today.

Verse 12: "Blessed is the man whom You chasten, O LORD to teach him out of Your Law that You may give him rest from the days of trouble until the pit is dug for the wicked, for the LORD will not cast off His people, nor will He forsake His inheritance. But judgment shall return unto righteousness; and all the upright in heart shall follow it" (vs 12-15). Then it tells us what we are to do.

Let's put this together with the things that we need to know. This is why we have the Feast days that we do. Here's what the Passover does for everyone who repents and accepts the sacrifice of Christ for the forgiveness of sin and then baptizing and receiving the Holy Spirit.

Colossians 1:20: "And having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things to Himself; by Him, whether the things on the earth, or the things in heaven. For you were once alienated and enemies in your minds by wicked works; but now He has reconciled you in the body of His flesh through death, to present you Holy and unblamable and unimpeachable before Him" (vs 20-22).

This is quite a thing! What God is doing for those who answer the call and repent, are baptized, grow in grace and knowledge is taking wicked human nature and purging it, cleansing it and then with His Spirit we are:

• learning about God
• learning about Christ
• learning about His Word

Today we have His Word in complete form. So, the things that we go through are different than what they have done in centuries past, because we are confronted with many different things today with all of the technology. But also, we have all the Word of God. This helps us to change, grow and overcome. Here's the catch and why we have the Passover and Unleavened Bread and the Sabbath and so forth:

Verse 23: "If indeed you continue in the faith grounded and steadfast… [not doubting or wavering] …and are not moved away from the hope of the Gospel, which you have heard, and which was proclaimed in all the creation that is under heaven; of which I, Paul, became a servant."

That's an interesting statement. That's another one of those prophetic perfect prophecies. It's claiming to have been done, but not yet done, but will be done in the future. That brings us down to our time.

Remember how we covered that SpaceX is sending up satellites to cover the whole earth with Wi-Fi? How more and more people—even in the Church—have the Bible on their smart phones. There are nearly one-billion people—according to statistics—who have the Bible on their smart phones. How close can the Word of God get to you? That's something!

This prophecy is also in the end-time; Deuteronomy 30:1: "And it shall be when all these things have come on you, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before you, and when you shall call them to mind among all the nations where the LORD your God has driven you."

Who knows what's going to happen? I look at the UK and I think they are in desperate trouble. One reporter said, explaining about the things going on in the UK where they had that terrorist attack near Westminster Abbey, 'London is like Obama on steroids!' Remember, they have a Muslim mayor! The reporter mentioned that there are 83 Sharia districts in the UK. The UK is not very big! I wonder what's going to happen?

God says that when you're in captivity that's end-time prophecy! What's going to happen here in America? We don't know! Have you heard about the plan to split California—East and West running north and south. Of course, they're stupid in doing that because they're going to lose all of the electrical votes that in Eastern California, but they want to have a coastline narrow state coming down just above San Diego and then the rest of it is all Eastern. The Eastern would be conservative and he Western would be liberal.

There's also another report that this government in California is working with the Chinese and there are people who believe that its very possible that invasion from within—because of the immigrants that we have here—we could end up in the same situation being carried off into captivity somewhere. They could do that.

Verse 2: "And shall return to the LORD… [then He says, v 3]: …Then the LORD your God will turn away your captivity…."

Verse 4: "If you are driven out into the outermost parts of the heavens, the LORD your God will gather you from there, and He will bring you from there." How are they going to get there? They're not going to float; they have to be on some kind of rocket machine to get there.

Verse 5: "And the LORD your God will bring you into the land, which your fathers possessed…"

Verse 10: "If you shall obey the voice of the LORD your God to keep His commandments and His statutes, which are written in this Book of the Law, and if you turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul; for this commandment which I command you today is not hidden from you, neither is it far off" (vs 10-11).

That's how thoroughly God is going to make His Word known. Remember the sermon I gave on the group that is doing Faith comes by Hearing, for all those thousands of languages in the world that they don't have a written word? They're reading it and sending it to them!

Verse 12: "It is not in heaven that you should say, 'Who shall go up to heaven for us, and bring it to us, so that we may hear it and do it?' Neither is it beyond the sea that you should say, 'Who shall go over the sea for us to bring it to us, so that we may hear it and do it?' But the Word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, so that you may do it. Behold, I have set before you this day life and good, and death and evil" (vs 12-15).

Think about that! Paul said that, 'this Gospel is preached to all creation'—a prophecy of what God is going to do with His Word. There will not be a single language in this world where the Word of God will not have gotten to them before the return of Christ. Think of that! That's something!

Col. 1—Paul talks about the suffering that he's going through and he writing that he's going to do and so forth.

Colossians 1:25: "…in order to complete the Word of God; even the mystery that has been hidden from ages and from generations, but has now been revealed to His saints… [even much more for us today] …to whom God did will to make known…" (vs 25-27).

Think about how much God has given to us. That's why Christ was sacrificed for us.

"…what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory" (v 27). That's the whole complete process of being unleavened; Christ in you with God's Spirit so that God's Spirit:

• will lead you
• will guide you
• will correct you mentally
• will convict you when you sin

So that you can repent! This is what it's all about! Let's understand the warning that in Col. 2 and why it's good for us today.

I get things sent to me by e-mail and in the mail. I got a calendar from a man who produces the lunar calendar. That gets everything all messed up. So, I sent it back to him and said, 'Take me off your mailing list, and you'd better think about how God is going to judge you for setting up your own calendar going against the Calculated Hebrew Calendar.' That's why it's important that with the whole Word of God we have to put it all together.

Colossians 2:1: "Now, I want you to understand what great concern I have for you, and for those in Laodicea, and as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, unto the knowledge of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ… [for Trinitarians, the Spirit is not there] …in Whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Now, this I say so that no one may deceive you by persuasive speech. For though I am indeed absent in the flesh, yet, I am with you in spirit, rejoicing and beholding your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ…. [here is the admonishment]: …Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, be walking in Him" (vs 1-6).

Remember 1-John 2:6, that we are to be walking in the way that Jesus walked. We are obligating ourselves to do that.

It makes me wonder, as I read a lot of these things. Through the years you study the Bible and you come back to it, and it makes me wonder how much of this really was written for us today, though it did apply in a lesser degree to everyone down through time. But for us today! Look at all the things that we have.

(go to the next track)

The ads on television for movies today are all demonic, all war. There's a game for X-Box where Arnold Schwarzenegger is a general, it's more demonic than ever before. Here are some of the things that help us understand how we need to really react to God.

Colossians 2:8: "Be on guard so that no one takes you captive through philosophy and vain deceit…" Isn't that exactly what happened to the Church? Yes, indeed!

"…according to the traditions of men… [beware of the leaven of the Pharisees] …according to the elements of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily" (vs 8-9). With the complete Bible today, this next verse is even all that more important.

Verse 10: "And you are complete in Him, Who is the Head of all principality and power… [you don't need any more of these demonic sources of power] …in Whom you have also been circumcised with the circumcision not made by hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ" (vs 10-11).

Verse 15: "After stripping the principalities and the powers…" You need to understand that demons have no power over us! But we have to be on guard, and in certain cases rebuke things in the name of Christ, because we don't want to be caught weak and be subject to the temptations of Satan the devil and succumb to them.

"…He made a public spectacle of them… [in the crucifixion] …and has triumphed over them in it. Therefore, do not allow anyone to judge you…" (vs 15-16)—in anything you are doing in loving and obeying God in keeping the Feasts of God. Those are the correct ones, the right ones.

Verse 18: "Do not allow anyone to defraud you of the prize by doing his will in self-abasement and the worship of angels, intruding into things that he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his own carnal mind." This is how the religion in the world is going to develop even more.

There are some brethren that I have heard of, and some I even know, that have gone off the deep end and have gone into satanism and demonism. The human will is what we have to exercise by choice to do the will of God for the Spirit of God to lead us and help us. These are not some things that we can fight ourselves alone. It won't work! Again, it's with the commandments of men.

As we come to the Passover, let's understand what God did and what Christ did in order to redeem us from the world, as well as all the brethren that have been called down through time, so that we can be part of the Family of God and be in the first resurrection.

Having the grace of God means that we have direct connection to God through prayer and study. We don't need the teachings of men piled in on top of that. We don't need the ideas and things that others come up with. We need to be looking to Christ!This way we will have the strength.
Remember that we don't know how long we have to go. We are told that it's going to be the worst time from the creation of the world. What does that mean? We need all of the Word of God to stand against all of the challenges that are in the world, physical and spiritual! That's why the sacrifice of Christ is so important. The Holy Spirit of God gives us the power, and we need to be faithful everyday!

Remember that if you did well today, that's fine. Be thankful and grateful. Tomorrow is another day. You can't take what you've done today and transfer it over to tomorrow.

• every day is new
• every day is fresh
• every day we have to come to God

The reason that we have the Sabbath every seven days is because spiritual knowledge does not stay very long in the human mind. It needs to be:

• renewed
• taught
• reinforced
• educated
• exercised
• developed

This is what Paul is talking about here in the book of Hebrews, and notice how he starts out:

Hebrews 1:1: "God… [everything starts with God] …Who spoke to the fathers at different times in the past and in many ways by the prophets, has spoken to us in these last days by His Son."

Now then, you have to go back through the things that we've done. How did God do that? That is send Christ the way that He did?

Verse 2: "Whom He has appointed heir of all things…" This why we are to have hope. This is why we are to keep our mind on what we need to do. We are joint heirs with Christ, and all things means the universe. That's astonishing!

So, all of this stuff about how men are going to become transhuman and improve everything, God's plan is even greater. We will be the very sons and daughters of God.

"…by Whom also He made the ages; Who, being the brightness of His glory and the exact image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His own power… (vs 2-3). Remember that Jesus said, 'All power in heaven and earth has been given to Me!' That is to carry out the plan of God.

"…when He had by Himself purged our sins…" (v 3). He said, 'No one takes My life from Me, but I lay it down for the sheep. And I have commandment from the Father to receive it back.' That's why that when He was crucified He was alone. That's why the words are 'Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani': My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?' He had to do it alone!

Christ created all human life beginning with Adam and Eve, and subsequently through human pro-creation. Therefore, He alone in justice and in love took upon Himself the judgment for what He gave all human beings in order to save them from their sins IF they repent. That's the amazing whole story of the Bible!

He "…sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high; having been made so much greater than any of the angels, inasmuch as He has inherited a name exceedingly superior to them. For to which of the angels did He ever say, 'You are My Son; this day I have begotten You'?…." (vs 3-5).

Angels are called sons of God in the book of Job. But that does not mean like Christ. He's the only Begotten!

"…And again, 'I will be a Father to Him, and He will be a Son to Me'? And again, when He brought the Firstborn into the world, He said, 'Let all the angels of God worship Him.'" (vs 5-6).

Didn't that happen when Jesus was born of the virgin Mary? Remember the two shepherds out in the field, what did they hear? They heard a host off angels saying, 'Glory to God! Glory to God in the highest!

Verse 7: "Now, on the one hand, of the angels He says, 'Who makes His angels spirits, and His ministers a flame of fire.' But on the other hand, of the Son He says, 'Your throne, O God…'" (vs 7-8). That's a verse that shows that Jesus was God and is God, and this goes back to Psa. 40

"…is into the ages of eternity; a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. You loved righteousness and hated lawlessness… [that's what's pervading the world today] …because of this, God, even Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness above Your companions" (vs 8-9). Then it talks about how great Christ is as the coming King.

Hebrews 2:1—good instruction for us today: "For this reason, it is imperative that we give much greater attention to the things, which we have heard, lest at any time we should slip away." Not that they should slip away, but that weshould slip away!

Verse 2: "For if the word spoken by angels was enforced without fail, and every transgression and disobedience received just recompense, how shall we escape, if we have neglected so great a salvation…" (vs 2-3).

Think about that. Sometimes we need to just sit down and say, 'What a fantastic thing it is that God's plan is what it is, and that we are going to be the children of God in His Family, and all that that involves. Think of all the complicated things that are involved in that. Just think about the complications of our bodies and our mind and thoughts, and everything like that. Yet, all the nations of the world are like 'a drop in a bucket' compared to God! What a great calling!

"…which was first received when it was spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him; God also bearing witness with them by both signs and wonders, and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?" (vs 3-4).

Here is where Paul contemplates what I just said, v 6: "But in a certain place one fully testified, saying, 'What is man, that You are mindful of him, or the son of man, that You visit him? You did make him a little lower than the angels…" ( vs 6-7)—than God (Psa. 8)—made in the image and likeness of God; what a fantastic thing that that is!

• God is the One Who has called us!
• God is the One Who has given us His Holy Spirit!
• God is the One Who has given us His Word!

This is so great! This is why the Feast of Unleavened Bread, after the sacrifice of Christ, is so important. That we focus in on doing all of these things in sincerity and in Truth!

"…You did crown him with glory and honor, and You did set him over the works of Your hands" (v 7). What a gift to all mankind! He gave to mankind the world! That's something! He gave us a mind very similar to His:

• we can think
• we can plan
• we can do
• we can work
• we can reproduce

Amazing!

Verse 8—here's a prophecy for the future; not yet happened: "'You did put all things in subjection under his feet.' For in subjecting all things to him, He left nothing that was not subjected to him. But now we do not yet see all things subjected to him." Not yet! All things is amazing!

Just struggling with this life, and the way the Church is today, a lot of us are getting older. I don't think anyone is not getting older, I don't care how young you are. A lot of us are heading for the last roundup! I could happen at any time. You don't know! I don't know!

I look back at everything in my life and it seems so short. It seems like a flash! It's stunning to me of what God has done, and is doing, for all of us! Think of that!

Sidebar: Pentecost and the last day. If you count from Trumpets, Pentecost is the last day. That's when we'll be resurrected. It can't be the Last Great Day after the Feast of Tabernacles. If it's the last day it cannot be Trumpets. Why? Because Trumpets is the first when you count from Trumpets! When you count from Passover, it's the fourth Holy Day. So, it's not the last day.

All those Churches of God who still believe the teachings of a man who said, because the last trumpet is going to be blown that that has to be the Feast of Trumpets. NO! A trumpet is blown on every single Feast!

All things are not yet subjected to us, though man is trying to do it—isn't he?

Verse 9: "But we see Jesus, Who was made a little lower than the angels, crowned with glory and honor on account of suffering the death…" That's the way it  is in the Greek; there's no other death that can substitute for that!

"…in order that by the grace of God He Himself might taste death for everyone; because it was fitting for Him, for Whom all things were created, and by Whom all things exist, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the Author of their salvation perfect through sufferings" (vs 9-10).

As long as Jesus was in the flesh, having 'the law of sin and death' in Him, yet never sinning, He was not totally perfect.

Hebrews 5:7: "Who, in the days of His flesh, offered up both prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears to Him Who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because He feared God." That's something! He feared!

Can you imagine having human nature, the law of sin and death, and not sinning? That's something!

Verse 8: "Although He was a Son, yet, He learned obedience from the things that He suffered." Let's take another look at the trials and difficulties that we go through and suffer. Understand that we learn obedience from those things.

Especially in today's world there are so many things bombarding us from everywhere. A lot of them we're not even aware of. A lot of them may or may not affect us. For example:

• How many radio signals are passing through this room?
• How many television signals are passing through this room?

We know that smart phones are, because you're using it with the Bible on it to be here for services. We don't see any power coming through the ceiling or roof, but it's there.

Think about Christ's suffering and He had to suffer because the result of the curses upon mankind for sin was suffering, death, brutality and war. I wonder what it's going to be, I can hardly wait for the second resurrection and we can all see all the Muslims raised and they're told that they're in paradise, however, there are no 72 virgins for you all, and Jesus Christ is God and Lord and not Allah.

'You have a chance to repent, so here are all your teachers.' Can you imagine what that's going to be like. Everything you ever learned in your first life you're going to have to get rid of, and you're going to learn one thing you do not know: the love of God!

Verse 9: "And having been perfected…" That's the whole word that describes what God is doing for us, to perfect us! Everything that we do it and go through is adding to that perfection. We learn from the things we suffer and the things we suffer come upon us from other people, because of what we do to ourselves, whether in thought, deed or whatever it is.

The famous thing that everyone says when things are going wrong and you discover it: Why did I do that? Have you ever have that happen. Some things you try exactly not to do.

I've told you about how I was trying o build a fence one time and I had the hammer in my hand and told myself don't hit your thumb and BOOM! the next stroke I hit the thumb! I didn't mean to do, and did I suffer! I had a big fat thumb. You know what happens when you get the blood clot beneath your fingernail! But it's okay now.

What is it going to be like in the second resurrection when all of those who drowned in the Flood?

"…He became the Author of eternal salvation to all those who obey Him" (v 9). A good verse to show some of the orthodox Christians: you need to obey God!

Verse 10: "After He had been designated by God as High Priest according to the order of Melchisedec."

That's why we have a superior resurrection—the first resurrection.

Hebrews 2:11: "For both He Who is sanctifying and those who are sanctified are all of one; for which cause He is not ashamed to call them brethren." We are the brethren! What did He tell Mary Magdalene to tell the disciples? Jesus said, 'You go tell the disciples that I'm going to My God and your God, and My Father and your Father. That's a fantastic statement.

But here we are even hearing these words, and I think that in trying to understand and comprehend in a more realistic way, we're kind of like children in the womb hearing parents talk, but don't know what's going on.

Verse 12: "Saying, 'I will declare Your name to My brethren; in the midst of the Church I will sing praise to You.' And again, 'I will be trusting in Him.'…." (vs 12-13). That's what the Feast of Unleavened Bread is all about:

• trusting in God
• trusting in the sacrifice of Christ
• trusting in His shed blood

"…And again, 'Behold, I and the children whom God has given Me'" (v 13). When will He say that? I believe at the resurrection!

Verse 14: "Therefore, since the children are partakers of flesh and blood, in like manner He also took part in the same, in order that through death… [He had to die] …He might annul him who has the power of death—that is, the devil." Annul everything that the devil has done and that means to make it as if it never happened! That's what annul means.

I know the King James says to destroy the devil, but that another whole topic. The devil is a spirit being and spirit cannot be destroyed.

Verse 15: "And that He might deliver those who were subject to bondage all through their lives by their fear of death." Think of this with every human being that has ever been, and for us as well.

Verse 16: "For surely, He is not taking upon Himself to help the angels; but He is taking upon Himself to help the seed of Abraham." Those are not just the physical descendants of Abraham, but if we are Christ's then we are Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise.

So, he's taking it on to help us! The help of God is always there, through Christ, through prayer. That's what's so fantastic. Even if it's a real difficult thing that's come upon you, God is there.

Verse 17: "For this reason, it was obligatory…" That means necessary. If He didn't come in the flesh with the human nature that He had, which He received from His mother and live a perfect life without sinning, that's something! "…it was obligatory…"

In other words, God did it this way, not sparing anything, in order to perfect His Family. That's the ultimate result of Unleavened Bread!

"…for Him to be made like His brethren in everything that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, in order to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because He Himself has suffered, having been tempted in like manner, He is able to help those who are being tempted" (vs 17-18).

Let's see what our attitude needs to be, and in Psa. 57 is the mindset that we need to have. This is how we need to exercise our free moral agency. All of this is by the grace of God.

Psalm 57:1: "Be gracious unto me, O God, be gracious unto me; for my soul trusts in You…" Notice how this works. We have to:

• believe God
• trust God
• live His way
• keep His commandments
• use His Spirit

All of that combined together.

"…yea, in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge until these great troubles pass by" (v 1). I just on an MP3 the 91st Psalm and it shows that in the shadow of His wings and then there's a picture showing a big swan with her little swanlings under her wing swimming in the water! They were up on her. That was perfect. Think how touching that is.

He will take us through the great troubles, v 2: "I will cry to God Most High, to God who fulfills His purpose for me." That's what God wants to do with each one of us.

• Why did He call us?
• Where are we going?
• What are we doing?
• How are we going to arrive at it?

Verse 3: "He shall send from heaven and save me… [either by His power or send an angel] …He rebukes him who would swallow me up. Selah…." Let the enemies be caught in their own traps.

Sidebar: That's my prayer for what's happing in Washington, D.C. Let the slime be caught in their own traps!

"…God shall send forth His mercy and His Truth. My soul is among lions; I lie among those who breathe out fire, the sons of men whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword" (vs 3-4). We may face something like that in the future, who knows?

Verse 5: "Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let Your glory be above all the earth. They have prepared a net for my steps; my soul is bowed down; they have dug a pit before me; into the midst of it they have fallen themselves. Selah…. [the attitude]: …My heart is fixed… [that also means steadfast] …O God, my heart is fixed…" (vs 5-7).

• with the Spirit of God
• with the Truth of God
• with the love of God
• with the Word of God

"…I will sing and give praise. Awake, my glory! Awake, harp and lyre! I myself will awake the dawn. I will praise You, O LORD, among the people; I will sing of You among the nations, for Your steadfast mercy is great even unto the heavens and Your Truth to the clouds. Be exalted above the heavens, O God; let Your glory be above all the earth" (vs 8-11).

This is why we keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread and love God and do the things He wants! Note: Heb. 12:2[transcriber's correction]—that we have to have our mind fixed on Christ.

Psalm 108:1: "O God, my heart is fixed… [immovable] …I will sing and I will give praise, even with my glory."

Verse 6: "So that Your beloved may be delivered; save with Your right hand, and answer me. God has spoken in His Holiness: 'I will rejoice…'" (vs 6-7).

Verse 12: "Give us help from trouble, for vain is the deliverance of man. Through God we shall do mighty things, for it is He who will tread down our enemies" (vs 12-13).

Isn't it amazing how much New Testament doctrine is found in the Old Testament? Remember when the apostles went out preaching about Jesus Christ, what Scriptures did they use? The Old Testament!

Deuteronomy 32:44: "And Moses came and spoke all the words of this song in the ears of the people, he and Joshua the son of Nun. And Moses made an end of speaking all these words to all Israel. And he said to them… [take this to us] …'Set your hearts to all the words which I testify among you today… [let's apply that to the whole Word of God] …which you shall command your children to observe and to do, all the words of this law. For it is no vain thing for you because it is your life. And by this word you shall prolong your days in the land where you go over Jordan, there to possess it'" (vs 44-47). And ours is the Kingdom of God forever!

This is why we look forward to keeping the Feast of Unleavened Bread!

Scriptural References:

• Psalm 53:1-3
• 1 Corinthians 5:7-8
• Matthew 15:1-8
• Mark 8:8-18
• Psalm 39:1-8
• Psalm 2:1-5
• Psalm 52:1-9
• Psalm 94:8-15
• Colossians 1:20-23
• Deuteronomy 30:1-5, 10-15
• Colossians 1:25-27
• Colossians 2:8-11, 15-16, 18
• Hebrews 1:1-9
• Hebrews 2:1-4, 6-10
• Hebrews 5:7-10
• Hebrews 2:11-18
• Psalm 57:1-11
• Psalm 108:1, 6-7, 12-13
• Deuteronomy 32:44

Scriptures referenced, not quoted:

• John 6
• Jeremiah 23
• 1 John 2:6
• Psalm 40; 8
• Psalm 91
• Hebrews 12:2

Also referenced: Book: The Two Babylons by Alexander Hislop

FRC: bo
Transcribed: 4/27/17

Copyright 2017—All rights reserved. Except for brief excerpts for review purposes, no part of this publication may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means without the written permission of the copyright owner. This includes electronic and mechanical photocopying or recording, as well as the use of information storage and retrieval systems.