Archives for July 7 and 21 and October 27, 2012, March 9,16, 23, and 30th, 2013 and April 6.
Sabbath July 7, 2012 or Tammuz 17, 2012 - scroll down the page for other lessons
Attempts will be made to offer readers a fairly regular Sabbath Lesson when there is time on Saturdays (Saturday being the weekly Sabbath). Various subjects will be dealt with as we go along. This is to provide people with the spiritual nourishment they need.
Today we shall deal with God's Laws and Commandments
The Bible does not teach that the Law has been done away, and now the only Law we have is to love one another. You have to be careful not to isolate certain parts of the Bible, and then blow them out of proportion and then take certain scriptures out of the Biblical context. Many people (churches included) have misinterpreted the Apostle Paul's teachings on the subject in the New Testament, and have concluded that all Christians need do to be saved is believe in Jesus, since Paul writes - by grace are we saved through faith - not of works (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Please allow me to clear this up - it is really very simple.
The Bible does not teach that Christ nailed the Law to the cross. What the Bible teaches is that we cannot through our efforts to keep the Law gain salvation. That does not exempt us from obeying God's laws that are still in effect. It is just that our own righteousness is not good enough for God the Father.
It is very important to understand that we cannot earn our salvation through our own efforts to keep the law. Salvation is a free gift of God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Only through Christ and our faith in Him, can we be saved from sin and death. This is because sin is the transgression of the law (1 John 3:4), and the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23), and all except Christ have sinned (Hebrews 4:14-16) (2 Corinthians 5:21) (Romans 3:23) (Galatians 3:22) (1 John 1:7-10).
So all we earn through our own feeble efforts to gain salvation through our good works and our own righteousness of keeping the law is death, because we cannot keep the law perfectly - we make mistakes and we sin. And to make matters worse all human beings have inherited the death penalty, because of the sins and rebellion of our ancient ancestors Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:15-17 and 3:17-24) (Romans 5:12-21) (1 Corinthians 15:21).
We cannot save ourselves on our own - that is why we need a Saviour and that person is Jesus Christ. He is our Living Mediator and Living High Priest in heaven - Christ is not dead He is very much alive. We are saved through faith, but that must be a living faith not a dead faith. We need to add to our faith works - that confirm our faith, because faith without works is dead (James 2:14-26).
Genuine Christians who have followed carefully the proper procedure required for salvation that is mentioned in the Bible have had their sins forgiven through Christ's shed blood - and are no longer under the Law, but under grace (Romans 6:14). Their master is no longer the Law. Instead their Master is Jesus Christ, and they are under grace, and no longer under the Law (that is no longer under the death penalty for breaking the Law). Christ has freed them from slavery to sin and death - not freed them from the necessity of repentance and obedience to God.
Christ has freed them from slavery to sin and death - which are the consequences of sin. Christ has paid the penalty of sin (which is death) in their place. However, He did not do away with the Law. We are not free to do whatever, we please. We have no authority to turn the grace of God into lasciviousness or lawlessness.
We cannot earn our own salvation through our own efforts to keep the Laws of God, because all have sinned (except Christ), and sin is the breaking of God's Law, and the wages you earn for sin is death. Therefore all are under the Law, until they have repented and accepted Christ as their Savior and have faith in Christ to wash away their sins.
Your own righteousness, which is through the Law is not good enough for God the Father. He will only accept you if you come to His Throne of Grace through the Mediator of the New Covenant - Jesus Christ, and you have a repentant attitude. There is no other way to salvation - Jesus Christ is the Way and the Truth and the Life. God the Father will then accept you - not because of your good works, but because of your faith in Christ to wash away your sins. However, there are conditions for receiving forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:37-38 and Mark 16:16).
This does not mean the Law has been done away (Romans 6:15). You can read my article on The Law and how Christ didn't nail the Laws of God to the cross by going to http://www.raydw.com/lies.htm#Law
Many people don't understand the Apostle Paul's writing on the subject. You have to look at the context and study a little into the life of Paul before He became a servant of Christ. You need to know a little about the background of Paul, and where he is coming from and his history. Saul before his name was changed to Paul - was of the tribe of Benjamin, and he was trained as a Pharisee under the famous teacher Gamaliel.
Philippians 3: 4-6 " Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. "
Acts 22:1-8 " Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defence which I make now unto you. And when they heard that he spake in the Hebrew tongue to them, they kept the more silence: and he saith,
I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.
And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women. As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished. And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me. And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest. "
Acts 23:6 " But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question. "
Acts 26:4-5 " My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews; Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. "
Before his conversion Saul thought he could earn salvation through the keeping of the Law strictly. After he came to know Jesus - he realized that his own efforts to gain salvation through his own righteousness (by keeping the Law as a Pharisee) was not good enough, and He needed Christ to wash away his sins.
So Paul really put a lot of emphasis in his writings on the fact we cannot earn our salvation through our own righteousness, which is through obedience to the Laws and Commands of God as explained in the Bible. This is because of his own background as a Pharisee, where he had been taught salvation was through obedience to the Law. That sort of righteousness is not good enough for God the Father for salvation. It is Christ's righteousness and our faith in Him that saves us, since we cannot earn our own salvation through our own works of righteousness, since we have sinned, and the wages of sin is death.
Paul never taught that God's laws were done away. He taught that the Law was holy, just and good.
The Bible teaches the importance of keeping God's Commandments.
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 " Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether [it be] good, or whether it be evil. "
Jesus Christ Himself said that He did not come to destroy the Law.
Matthew 5:17-19 " Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. "
Romans 2:13 " For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. "
Romans 7:12 " Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. "
The problem is that most people are in rebellion against God, and will not accept God's standards of what is right and wrong - good and evil as explained in the Bible. They for the most part have a rebellious attitude and individually and collectively will not follow God's ways and Laws as explained in the Scriptures. So they create their own standards of what they believe in right and wrong - good and evil. God tells us in the Bible that those ways lead to death ( Genesis 2: 15-17).
They create their own churches and their own religions. Most people follow the standards of the society they grow up in - not God's ways and laws as explained in the Bible.
Before you can become a genuine Christian and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit - you must have a repentant attitude. You have to be willing to repent of your sins, and be willing to admit errors. You have to put God and Christ first in your life, and repent of your false god and idolatry. God the Father and God the Son will not play second fiddle to anything or anyone.
The problem is that most people have a rebellious attitude towards God and so do not have a repentant attitude. You must be willing to admit your sins and be willing to give them up and be willing to follow Christ.
You have to be willing to grow spiritually and repent of your sins. It is a growing process. You must remain faithful to Christ, and keep God the Father and God the Son first in your life....forever. It is a lifetime commitment, and something one must take very seriously and think through carefully.
There is only one way to salvation - Jesus Christ. God the Father will not accept you unless you come to Him for forgiveness of sins through Jesus Christ.
John 14:6 " Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. "
Sabbath Service Lesson July 21, 2012 or Ab 1, 2012
Theme of todays Sabbath Lesson - God Never Changes
Malachi 3:6 " For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. "
Hebrews 13:8 " Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for ever.
Would you like to meet Jesus Christ and invite Him into your home and talk to Him ? Would you like to talk to God the Father personally ? Would you like to ask God some questions and have God provide you with answers to this life and where we are going ? Would you like to know what Jesus Christ thinks about matters, like sex, politics, government, life style issues and current events ? What might God the Son and God the Father tell you and think ?
Well God never changes. Jesus Christ, who was God in the flesh, and who now lives in heaven and is also God - never changes too. So all you need do is read the words of God from God's book - the Bible. Make sure, however, that you read a properly and accurately translated version, like the Authorized King James version.
You can also talk directly to God the Father through prayer.
The very words of Jesus Christ are recorded for you in the Bible - red letter Bible translations have Christ's words in the Gospels typed out in red. So just read them, and realize that Jesus Christ has not changed. So what He stood for and believed back then are the same things He will stand for and believe in today.
The Bible is the inspired word of God. However, make sure you have an accurate translation, if you don't know Greek and Hebrew.
In the Garden of Eden - God gave the man and woman a choice. They could leave it up to God to decide the standards of what is right and wrong and good and evil, or they could rebel against God and decide for themselves what is right and wrong - good and evil, but God warned them that if they chose their own way - that way would lead to death (Genesis 2:15-17) (Genesis 3:2-3).
Mankind was given free moral agency by God. They are free to reject God's standards and God's ways, and create their own standards and their own churches and their own religions and their own false gods, but God has told them that those ways lead to death.
The vast, vast overwhelming majority of mankind have followed their ancient ancestors Adam and Eve in this rebellion. They simply are in rebellion against God, and absolutely will not have God telling them how to live individually and collectively. They are part of Satan's world, and in rebellion against God (Colossians 1:12-14) In fact very many people (especially so-called educated persons) don't even believe there ever were an Adam and Eve, and many don't even believe God exists let alone that the Bible is the inspired word of God.
The problem is that most people are in rebellion against their Creator and have a hostility toward God, and so don't want to even hear what He has to say. Most people are stubborn and rebellious and refuse to have God tell them how to live their individual and collective lives. They create their own religions and churches and then expect God to follow them.
Well God won't follow you or your own man made churches or religions. You have to follow Him. And God tells you how to follow Him in His book the Bible. The true Church of God (which is a spiritual organism consisting of those with the Holy Spirit living in them Romans 8:9) belongs to God - it does not belong to human beings. It is the Church of God - not the Church of Men.
If you want to know God you need to have a repentant attitude, and be willing to admit mistakes and admit sins, and be willing to turn around and stop going that way, and instead start following God's ways and laws as explained in the Bible.
God only reveals Himself to those who love Him, and you show your love for God by obeying Him (John 14:21-24) (1 John 2:3-6).
Romans 1:21-32 " Because that, when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
" Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
" Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
" For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
" And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. "
Sabbath Services October 27, 2012 (Bul 27/12)
The New Man Created in the Image of God
We are under the New Covenant, or New Testament. Moses was the Mediator of the Old Covenant, which was made between God and the children of Israel exclusively. Jesus Christ is the Mediator of the New Covenant, which is made between God and the Church (Hebrews 12:24) (Hebrews 9:15). The Church is described as spiritual Israel and is built upon the foundation of Prophets and Apostles, with Jesus Christ being the chief cornerstone (Ephesians 2:19-20)
The Old Covenant was physical and material in nature, and the promises only pertained to earthly, physical matters. God promised to make Israel the greatest nation on earth, and bless them with prosperity and power, if they kept their part of the contract, by remaining faithful to God, and keeping God's laws, statutes and judgments (Exodus 24:1-8) (Deuteronomy 26:16-19) (Deuteronomy Chapters 27 and 28)
Israel did not keep their part of the contract, which was a marriage contract (Jeremiah 3:14), so God divorced them. The Book of Hosea is God's divorce document against Israel - the unfaithful wife, who committed spiritual adultery with all their various false gods. They were unfaithful to God, and went to bed with all their idols. They worshipped and bowed down to idols like the Sun, Moon, Stars, Baal, Astoreth, the two calves, and more yet.
The New Covenant has to do with the spiritual. The promises are spiritual, like forgiveness of sins, spiritual salvation, and the coming Kingdom of God. We must remain faithful to Christ until the end. We must always put God and Christ first in our lives.
The essential component of the New Covenant is the creation of a new man through Jesus Christ our Lord. This new man is being created in the spiritual image of God (1 Corinthians 15:49) (Roman 8:29) (1 John 3:1-2).
God the Father and God the Son are creating a family, and doing so through the Church. It is a family relationship.
When you truly repent, truly believe in Christ and are baptized then God gives you the Holy Spirit, and becomes your spiritual Heavenly Father. You are then a begotten child of God. Not yet born into God's Kingdom as a spiritual being, but begotten. You then need to grow spiritually. It is a spiritual relationship, and God and Christ will work with you and help you to grow up spiritually. If you remain faithful to God and Christ to the end, and keep overcoming to the end, and produce spiritual fruits, and work to overcome your sins and spiritual faults, then God promises to give you eternal salvation in His Kingdom.
When you truly repent and truly believe in Jesus Christ, and are baptized then your sins are washed clean, and you are given the gift of the Holy Spirit. You then become engaged to Jesus Christ ( 2 Corinthians 11:2) ( Matthew 25:1-13). If you remain faithful to Christ during your engagement, overcome and produce fruits for God, then you will resurrected to eternal salvation when Jesus returns, and you will then be officially married to Jesus Christ at the wedding supper (Revelation 19: 7-9). You will be the Bride of Christ. You will be His wife forever, and He will be your husband forever (Revelation 21:9-10).This is a family relationship.
After baptism and the receiving of the Holy Spirit you become the spiritual child of God the Father. He literally becomes your Father in heaven. God the Father then begins to train and teach you spiritual lessons. He is your Father. And He will correct and teach you (Hebrews 12:5-11).
Jesus Christ while here on earth continually referred to God as His Father (Luke 249) (John 10:9) (John 10:32) . He called Himself the Son of God (John 10:36-38). He also called Himself the Son of Man (John 3:13).
The New Covenant has nothing much to do with the physical, fleshly material existence. Yes there are some parts that are physical, like God's promise to heal our physical afflictions through Christ's stripes ( 1 Peter 2:24). God does promise to heal us. Also God promise to supply your needs for the body (Matthew 6:31-33). There is also the promise God has made to bless the tither (Malachi 3:8-11).
However, basically the New Covenant deals with the spiritual. Christ Himself said that the flesh profits nothing. Christ said we are to " seek first the Kingdom of God and its righteousness, and the rest will be added to us. "
Genuine servants of God are in a spiritual struggle. The struggle in within. The struggle is to put down the works of the carnal mind, and instead to follow the lead of the Holy Spirit.
We have been given a new nature (the Holy Spirit) after repentance and baptism, but that new nature does not drive us - rather we are to follow the lead of the Holy Spirit. The old carnal mind does not go away after baptism. It will get gradually weaker and weaker over time as we work to grow spiritually and overcome.
The old human nature, which loves to sin, and which is basically motivated by things like lust, greed, selfishness, vanity, and envy does not go away after baptism. However, now we have a new dimension to our lives - the Holy Spirit - and God and Christ will help us through faith to follow that new nature, and put down the works of the old carnal mind. It is a lifetime struggle, but we should get better at it as we go along and as we overcome our sins and spiritual faults. It is a work of faith. The just shall live by faith, because it would be impossible without God.
Thus God the Father and God the Son are creating a new man in their spiritual image. They are creating a family for themselves. God is our Father, and children become like their parents. God is a spirit and we will be spirits in the Kingdom of God, and live forever with God.
However, we ain't there yet. So realize where our feet are, but concentrate on the spiritual.
God is well aware of our physical needs. However, He knows very well that the spiritual life will last forever, while the lives we live here on the earth are only temporary.
Galatians 5:16-26 " This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
" Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these]; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told [you] in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
" But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
" And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. "
Lesson for Sabbath March 9, 2013
Today's lesson has to do with preparations we need to make for the Passover, and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Passover will be on Sunday evening March 24, 2013. God starts and begins days at sunset. So even though Passover Day is on Monday March 25, 2013 - you need to keep the Passover ceremonies after sunset on Sunday, since God's days end and begin at sunset. So when the sun sets on Sunday late afternoon - and once the night begins then Passover begins.
Passover Day is not a rest day. The Passover ceremonies are held on the evening of the Passover. This is where genuine Christians partake of the bread and wine, and when we have the Passover meal and a Bible lesson. It is customary to keep it around midnight, but that isn't essential, since you may have some people who need to get up early the next morning. Just make sure to keep it on the evening of Passover.
On Passover Day you just go about your regular business. The day after is an Annual Sabbath - since that is the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which runs for 7 days. The first and last days of the Feast of Unleavened Bread are annual Sabbaths. The other days are just regular days for people's regular work, or personal affairs.
I and my family suffered a huge embarrassment last year in 2012, since we forgot about how God counts days, and missed keeping the Passover. I just lost track of time, and my family didn't provide any active feedback. We were going to keep it on the wrong time - one day late, but discovered our error before we started. So we had to postpone keeping it, and instead kept it on the Second Passover, which is one month after Abib 14.
The Passover is the most important of God's annual Holy Days. It is very important, so please keep it in the right spirit. You can find more information on how to keep these annual Holy Days and the dates by going to my article on the subject at http://www.raydw.ca/holydays.html
God's Annual Holy Days 2013 - God's days begin and end at sunset.
1. Passover.................................March 25 - kept the evening before
2. Feast of Unleavened Bread ...Mar. 26 - Apr.1- first and last days are Sabbaths
3. Day of Pentecost ................... May 19
4. Feast of Trumpets ................. September 5
5. Day of Atonement ................. September 14
6. Feast of Tabernacles ............ September 19 - 25 first day is a Sabbath
7. Last Great Day .......................September 26
Jesus Christ is the head of the true spirit led Church of God. One of Christ's jobs in the Church is to purge The Church of sin. Christ had to die because of sin, so He takes sin seriously, and wants it removed from the church.
I have always said and will say it again - if you pray for God to show you your sins on the Days of Unleavened Bread - this prayer is almost 100 % guaranteed to be answered. That is if you keep these Holy Days in the right spirit, and of course pray for God to help you be aware of your major sins. You may to shocked at how swiftly and powerfully God will answer such a prayer.
So be prepared for an answer, and be prepared to work on your sins, and to clean them out of your life. Be prepared - because it is never pleasant when someone points out our mistakes. However, don't try to justify your sins, or hide yourself from them. God wants you to get rid of your sins, for your own good. Sin causes pain and suffering for you and others. God wants His servants to have a repentant attitude, and be willing to work on and overcome their sins through faith. We can't do it ourselves. We need God's help. It is a work of faith. And Christ is there for the forgiveness and help you need.
Christ died because of sin, since the wages of sin is death. He died on the cross right on Passover Day. He paid the penalty for sin in our place, so we can have forgiveness of sin (if we sincerely repent of our sins), and the salvation God has promised to all of His servants, who work to overcome our sins.
So make the preparations for Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The major preparations have to do with us repenting of our sins.
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Sabbath Lesson March 16, 2013 or Abib 5, 2013
This lesson deals with some contemporary issues, and Bible prophecy. We are admonished by Christ to Watch. So we should be following Current Events, but naturally not being a part of this corrupt and Godless world. We need to live in this world as genuine Christians, but not be part of the sin and idolatry that is all around us.
Matthew 24:42 " Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. "
Just click on the following link for the lesson.
Much of the Bible consists of prophecy and most Bible Prophecies have yet to be fulfilled as of 2013. This page looks into current events in the light of Bible Prophecy, and ties this in with the prophesied return of Jesus Christ and the setting up of the Kingdom of God.
Sabbath Lesson March 23, 2013 or Abib 12, 2013
The Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread are coming up very soon. I do not know how many people are following my lessons, and reading this lesson today. If you want to keep the Passover, and Days of Unleavened Bread, and do not have anyone to fellowship with or any organization to join up with and keep it with - don't worry. The true Church of God is a spiritual organization. Just keep these days by yourself, and God and Christ will be with you through the power of the Holy Spirit.
You do not need to join up with others. It is especially important to avoid getting involved in keeping Easter ceremonies, since Easter is not one of God's annual Holydays. Go to my article on Easter.
The Passover is always on Abib 14th in the evening. This corresponds to March 25, 2013 in the Gregorian Calendar.
God's Annual Holy Days 2013
1. Passover................................. March 25 or Abib 14
2. Feast of Unleavened Bread ..March 26 - April 1 or Abib 15 to Abib 21, 2013
3. Day of Pentecost ................... May 19
4. Feast of Trumpets ................. September 5
5. Day of Atonement ................. September 14
6. Feast of Tabernacles ............ September 19 - 25
7. Last Great Day ....................... September 26
The way God counts time here on earth is days begin and end at sunset. Therefore the Passover begins when the sun sets on Sunday March 24, and ends when the sun sets on Monday March 25.
It is quite easy to get confused because of the different way God and most of mankind counts time. Most human societies consider the day to end and begin officially at midnight. God ends and begins days at sunset. So if you don't factor this, and follow man instead of God you will end up keeping the Passover at the wrong time. I and my family made that mistake last year in 2012 - it was embarrassing. So we were unable to keep in on Abib 14 - instead we kept in on the Second Passover - one month later in the month of Ivar on the 14th.
The next day after the Passover is over is the first day of God's annual Holydays the seven day Feast of Unleavened Bread. The first and last days of the Feast of Unleavened Bread are Sabbaths. So there is a Sabbath on Tuesday March 26 and on Monday April 1, 2013. Remember again that God's days begin and end at sunset.
Jesus Christ was crucified right on Passover Day. He is our Passover Lamb - slain for our sins. He and His disciples ate the Passover meal in the evening. After the meal Christ went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. Judas betrayed Jesus and the soldiers came with torches blazing and arrested Him. Before the rooster crowed Peter had denied Christ three times. Roosters crow at sunrise. It was now daylight and Jesus was put on trial and brought before the Sanhedrin and Pilate and King Herod. Pilate went along with the mob, and consented to his death. Jesus was scourged, and taken to be crucified on Golgotha.
The Jewish leaders did not want the bodies of Christ and the two thieves crucified with him to remain on the crosses, since the next day (which began at sunset) was a High Sabbath - that is specifically it was the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which is a Sabbath. So they asked the soldiers to break the legs of those crucified to speed up their deaths, so they could take them down before sunset. Christ was already dead, so the soldiers did not break his legs, but to insure He was dead a soldier stuck a spear into Christ's side and blood and water gushed out. This was a fulfillment of prophecy.
It was now close to sunset, so in haste Christ was taken down and buried in a rich man's tomb, since it was close to where He had been crucified. Sunset comes - Christ is buried, and the Feast of Unleavened Bread begins.
How to keep the Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread in the proper way and in the right spirit ? Let me explain.
Passover
Passover is very, very important and there are very, very few circumstances that would absolutely prevent us from keeping it). The Passover is by far the most important of all of God's annual Holy Days. It is always on the 14th of Abib.
Leviticus 23:5 " In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD'S Passover. "
Exodus 12:14 " And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever. "
Passover day is not a special rest day. One just goes about their regular business, unless the day happens to fall on the weekly Sabbath (from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset).
The important aspect of the Passover, is naturally remembering Christ and His sacrifice for our sins. " This do in remembrance of me " Jesus said. Of course this also includes keeping the Passover ceremony, and eating the Passover meal. What is important is for us to renew our commitment to Christ, and honour Christ on this day. To think about His death, and to have a Bible lesson on this matter. It is a time to pray privately and renew our relationship with Christ. This is to be taken seriously. Keeping the Passover is a solemn time, and a serious time, but also joyous, because Christ has freed us from slavery to sin and death. It is not a time to just think about eating and drinking and fellowshipping. It is a serious time, but a happy time too.
There are two parts to keeping the Passover. The first part is for baptized Christians only - that is the partaking of the wine and bread. This may be done prior to the eating of the Passover meal. It is not for children, and not for anyone who hasn't been baptized. It is a very special moment of remembering how Christ died for our sins, and therefore those who have not been baptized are not to be part of this, and should not even be in the same room.
Basically this ceremony consists of reading briefly the account of how Christ said we should remember Him and His sacrifice yearly by drinking the wine, and breaking and eating the unleavened bread on the Passover. The wine needs to be a red wine, and the bread needs to be unleavened bread.
A short sermon is given and then baptized believers partake of the wine and bread. This is symbolic of Jesus Christ. The wine symbolizes Christ's blood, which was shed for our sins. The bread and the breaking of the bread symbolizes Christ's body which was broken. Christ is the bread of life.
Luke 22:17-20 " And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come. And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you. "
The Passover meal is prepared on the Passover - it doesn't really take very long. Some people may eat this meal at mid-night, since it was at midnight when God killed the firstborn in Egypt but passed over the homes of the Israelis, who had the blood of the Lamb on the lintels of their front doors. But having the meal at midnight is not a requirement, especially considering you may have smaller children (Exodus 12:29-42 note verses 42 and 43 regarding the " night to be much observed). " As long as the meal is prepared and eaten on the evening of the Passover.
This meal is not restricted to baptized believers, but is open to the whole congregation and to all your family, and basically anyone who respectfully wants to be part of it, and remember Jesus and His sacrifice. This meal will consist of the following:
1. Lamb - this can be either from a goat or sheep. It needs to be roasted. Just a piece of mutton or goat meat will do, and it need not matter whether the animal is male or female. You can buy a good and appropriate piece of lamb in the supermarket.
We do not need to have a live goat or sheep - and then kill it on the Passover. That was part of the Old Covenant ritual, and does not apply to us today. Of course if you have a lot of people keeping the Passover at your place, and you maybe live in the country and have access to a live goat or sheep - then sure you can kill and prepare the lamb on the Passover and roast the entire animal, but it is not necessary to do it that way. The Lamb is symbolic of Jesus Christ, who died for our sins - Christ the Lamb of God.
2. Red wine - this is symbolic of the blood of Jesus Christ, which cleanses us of sin. It is important to realize what the wine symbolizes, and to drink it with that thought in mind. This is not a time to party and get drunk. It is not an excuse to have a party - this is a serious celebration.
So it would be a good idea to have only enough wine on hand for the celebration that you need - where everyone can have some, but where no one has so much that they get drunk. So purchase only as much as you need. You will need some for the ceremony of the wine and bread, and you will need enough so everyone (including children) can have some during the Passover meal.
3. Unleavened bread - is symbolic of the body of Jesus Christ, which was broken for our sins. It is also symbolic of us leaving our sins behind us and following Jesus - just like the children of Israel left Egypt behind and followed God.
It is easy to make simple basic unleavened bread. You just take some flour - either white flour or whole wheat. Whole wheat flour works much better. You just mix it with water and put in some salt, if you want and knead it, roll it flat with a rolling pin, make some light knife imprints on top of it - so it won't puff up on you while baking - then put it on a flat baking pan and bake it. It usually takes up to maybe an hour at 400 degrees Fahrenheit, or maybe a little less - depending on how well baked you want it. This can be prepared before Passover day. You can be more elaborate, and made a more fancy sophisticated unleavened bread, but the basic simple bread will do just fine too.
4. Bitter herbs - this can be celery or horseradish and romaine lettuce may be also be eaten. You may use some other more stringent or bitter type herb if you want. The bitter herbs are symbolic of Christ's bitter sacrifice for our sins on the cross. He died a horrible death, and the bitter herbs symbolize this.
Prior to this meal there should be given a sermon, which explains the meaning and purpose for keeping the ceremony and how this all points to Jesus Christ.
It is very, very important in observing the Passover that we have the proper attitude, and we focus on Christ and what he has done for us. It is not a time for gluttony, revelry or drunkenness. It is a serious spiritual exercise where we focus on Christ, and renew our commitment to Him. It is also a joyous time, because we can give thanks to God for Christ, and thank Christ for all He has done for us. It is very important for us to have the proper attitude.
The Apostle Paul had some problems with the church at Corinth, because they were not keeping the Passover in the proper spirit. You can read his advice and admonition to the church, and this applies to us today as well.
1 Corinthians 11:20-30 " When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper. For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken. What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.
" For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
" For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
" But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. "
So remember to have the right attitude. Pray to God. And you can certainly pray to Jesus Christ and renew your relationship with Him.
This is a serious matter, and those in charge of the meal should not permit people to partake of it, if they are mockers, or if they have a very disrespectful attitude towards Christ. I have had my children eat this meal with me ever since they were very small, but now they are getting older where they are making their own decisions, and if they begin to have a disrespectful or hostile attitude towards Christ- then it is my responsibility to not permit them to partake of it.
Then you eat the Passover meal. And that is basically it for another year.
If You Are Unable To Keep The Passover On Abib 14th
Perhaps some unusual circumstances prevent you from keeping the Passover on Abib 14th - what then ?
The biblical rule is to then just keep the Passover on the 14th day of the second month.
Remember that God ends and begins new days at sunset.
Numbers 9:6-11 " And there were certain men, who were defiled by the dead body of a man, that they could not keep the Passover on that day: and they came before Moses and before Aaron on that day:
" And those men said unto him, We are defiled by the dead body of a man: wherefore are we kept back, that we may not offer an offering of the LORD in his appointed season among the children of Israel?
" And Moses said unto them, Stand still, and I will hear what the LORD will command concerning you.
" And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
" Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If any man of you or of your posterity shall be unclean by reason of a dead body, or be in a journey afar off, yet he shall keep the Passover unto the LORD.
" The fourteenth day of the second month at even they shall keep it, and eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. "
The Feast of Unleavened Bread
The first and last days of the feast of Unleavened Bread are annual Sabbaths. The Feast of Unleavened Bread always runs from Abib 15-21 in God's calendar.
This writer does not teach that it is essential for our salvation that we keep these two annual Sabbaths that are part of the Days of Unleavened Bread, strictly. If you can't get off work, or something like that - then forget it. It is a person who saves us - Jesus Christ - not the keeping of Sabbaths. But if we can keep them - it is a very useful custom, which points to Christ, and which will help us in our spiritual life, and help us put God first in our lives.
Christ kept these days, so why shouldn't we too, if we can get the time off ? But, if you can't then don't worry about it. I myself have missed keeping a good number of the annual Holy Days on quite a few occasions, and it is no big deal.
However, I do teach that keeping the Passover yearly and keeping the weekly Sabbath (from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset) are very important - and are not optional in nature.
I teach that keeping the other Holy Days (besides Passover and the weekly Sabbath), are not strictly commanded. They all point to Christ. A number of years I have not been able to get time off from my employer, so worked on the Holy Days (aside from Passover and the weekly Sabbath of course) - it is no big deal. Fortunately for me now - I have a really understanding employer, and so am able to keep all the Holy Days, and even the Feast of Tabernacles. So I am really grateful for that.
I also teach that it is quite important we observe God's annual Holy Days, and not pagan customs. There are only seven annual Holy Days listed in the Bible in Leviticus 23rd chapter - no other days are listed, like Hanukah, Christmas, Easter, and so on.
No man or religion has authority to create other days and say they are Holy Days. Only God has the right and authority to declare a certain day a Holy Day. God's presence in these days make the days Holy Days. And there are only seven listed, including the weekly Sabbath, and they are: Passover, Feast of Unleavened Bread, Pentecost, Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement, Feast of tabernacles and the Last Great Day.
Leviticus 23:6-8 " And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the LORD: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread. In the first day ye shall have an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. But ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD seven days: in the seventh day is an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. "
We are supposed to remove leaven from our homes, and leaven is symbolic of sin. This ceremony and exercise shows us that we need to leave our sins behind us, and follow Christ. We are supposed to - with Christ's help put away our sins. Christ is there to cleanse us of sin, but we ourselves have to take an active interest, and work to leave our sins behind. These Holy Days point to and are prophetic of Jesus Christ and what He did for us - so keep focused on Christ.
So we remove anything (from our homes only) that has leavening in it, prior to the Passover. This naturally includes yeast packages, or other breads or products with yeast in them. We take these away and throw them in the garbage, or give them away. This exercise is symbolic of us leaving our sin behind, and following Christ - just like the children of Israel left Egypt (which is symbolic of sin) and followed God. It shows us that we are not passive actors in this exercise - we must step out in living faith - leave our old lives of sin behind and follow God and His ways.
Exodus 12:15 " Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: ...............
Exodus 12:17 " And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance for ever. "
The following scriptures show us that we are supposed to put away leavening from our homes and start eating unleavened bread on the Passover and then we are to continue putting away leaven and eating unleavened bread right through to the end of Days of Unleavened Bread at sunset.
Exodus 12:18 " In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even. "
This is eight days, so obviously we are to not eat unleavened bread starting on Passover.
Exodus 12:19-20 " Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: ........ Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread. "
This is referring to the actual seven days of the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
The Feast of Unleavened Bread has to be one of the Holy Days where God the Father and Jesus Christ intervene in our lives more than almost any other Holy Day. This has been my experience. Why is that ? Because Jesus Christ had to die for our sins, and He is intent on cleansing His servants of sin. It is one of His jobs, and He takes it seriously. So He wants to show us our sins during this time, and He wants us to leave our sins behind. God the Father and Jesus Christ hate sin - sin goes against God's will.
Malachi 3:2-3 " But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap: And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness. "
Luke 3:17 " Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thourouly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable. "
1 Corinthians 5:7-8 " Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. "
Titus 2:14 " Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. "
James 4:8 " Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. "
God the Father teaches, corrects and punishes His children. God the Father is intent on creating righteous character in us, and He is eager to show us our sins, so we can put them away and stop doing them. God will show us our sins on the Feast of Unleavened Bread, if we ask Him to, and if we are willing to learn, and have a repentant attitude.
Hebrews 12: 1-11 " Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
" Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
" For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
" Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
" And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
" For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
" If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
" But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
" Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
" For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
" Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. "
This is a time when Jesus Christ shows us our sins. Jesus had to die a horrible death on the cross, so we could have forgiveness of our sins through His blood.
So, if you keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread in the right spirit, and focus on Christ and His sacrifice for your sins - then you should expect God to show you some of your sins - especially the more major sins of yours. You should expect God to intervene in your life during this time - unless you are sinless and perfect, and therefore have no sins to repent of. However, we know that none of us is perfect, and there is always some sins around, and there is always room for spiritual improvement.
I remember years back while living in Edmonton. This was after being baptized. Used to drink beer, wine and other spirits. Come from a family of heavy drinkers - on both sides. Some of them were alcoholics - but they still worked and functioned. So there is a genetic tendency toward drink in our family, and a weakness towards booze. Some of my relatives drank beer, like you would drink water.
Could put away a lot of alcohol myself, but still work, and it never caused trouble, and I never got into any car accidents while under the influence, or any kind of problems as such. Well one year the Feast of Unleavened Bread came along, and I was keeping it as usual. Got this very severe fever - right during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. It just came up suddenly. It was so severe that it affected my balance - and I sort of stumbled and was dizzy like someone who had drank too much. This was quite serious, and it frightened me.
Called up the Pastor, and he came over and anointed me with oil and prayed for my healing. I thanked him, and then next asked him to drive me to the hospital. I look to Christ for healing, but I also look to the Doctor to help in the healing. We need to see a Doctor, if we are serious ill. So go to the Doctor please - they can prescribe some medication to aid in your healing. Anyways they gave me fluids intravenously at the hospital, and then later sent me home with some medication.
Was very weak for the next few days, but eventually recovered 100 %.
The lesson sunk in very clearly. God was warning me about this drinking. Too much drinking of booze can lead to drunkenness, and my Bible says that no drunkard shall enter into the Kingdom of God.
1 Corinthians 6:9 " Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? ............
1Corinthians 6:10 " Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. "
The high fever (and this was a very high fever believe me) was symbolic of my fate, if I let this drinking business turn me into a drunk. The fate of an unrepentant, incorrigible drunkard is to be burned up in the Lake of Fire - which the high fever symbolized. My dizziness was confirmation to me from God that it was this drinking business that He was telling me about, and He wanted me to keep it in check.
So I got the message, but the problem was not overcome right away. Eventually it was solved, but it took a long time. We are supposed to work to overcome our weaknesses, and we are supposed to be overcomers until the end. This doesn't mean we will be able to overcome absolutely all of our sins and weaknesses, but we need to work on them. With God's and Christ's help we can overcome.
This is just one example of being punished, and my sins being shown to me right on the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Amazing isn't it ?
These are Holy Days and they belong to God. God will speak to you on these days, if you keep them in the right spirit. God wants us to get rid of our sins for our own good and profit. God sent Christ to this earth to die for our sins. God is very eager to show us our sins - not to humiliate us, but to help us. So all you need do is pray and ask God to show you your sins - especially the more serious ones - and you can ask in complete faith, because you are asking God to do something that He already wants to do. So, all you are doing is asking God to give you something He and Christ are already very willing to do - so you can have 100 % confidence that this is God's will, and so have complete faith that it will be answered - answered naturally in God's own way and time.
So you can expect God to show you your sins during the Feast of Unleavened Bread, - not all of them naturally, but probably the really big and serious one, or ones - that is if you pray for God to do this and you keep the Holy Days properly, and in the right spirit. Such a prayer (for God to show you your sin) during the Feast of Unleavened Bread is almost 100 % guaranteed to be answered. You may be shocked at how swiftly God will answer such a prayer. But such prayers must be offered up in faith, and we must have the right and proper respectful attitude towards God and Jesus Christ
Month of Abib 2013 March 12, 2013 to April 10, 2013.
| Sunday |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
Sabbath |
| * |
* |
1Mar.12 New Year |
2 Mar.13 |
3 Mar.14 |
4 Mar.15 |
5 Mar.16 |
| 6 Mar. 17 |
7 Mar. 18 |
8 Mar. 19 |
9 Mar. 20 |
10 Mar. 21 |
11 Mar. 22 |
12 Mar.23 |
| 13 Mar.24 |
14 Mar.25Passover |
15Feast of Unleavened Bread |
16Feast of Unleavened Bread |
17Feast of Unleavened Bread |
18Feast of Unleavened Bread |
19Feast of Unleavened Bread |
| 20Feast of Unleavened Bread |
21Feast of Unleavened Bread |
22 Apr.2 |
23 Apr.3 |
24 Apr.4 |
25 Apr.5 |
26 Apr.6 |
| 27 Apr. 7 |
28 Apr. 8 |
29 Apr. 9 |
30 Apr.10 |
* |
* |
*
|
Sabbath Lesson March 30, 2013 or Abib 19, 2013
Today's lesson mainly has to do with words, and how to use words so we don't sin with our lips. Also how to use words correctly to communicate effectively and in harmony with the scriptures and in harmony with God's Laws and Commandments. One of the names of Jesus Christ is The Word.
First of all allow me to list some specific commandments from God's Word the Bible that have to do with how we are to use our tongues.
The ninth command in the Ten Commandments is as follows:
Exodus 20:16 " Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. "
Deuteronomy 5 :20 " Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbour. "
The Living Bible translation puts it in modern English.
Exodus 20:16 (from the Living Bible) " You must not lie. "
Deuteronomy 5 :20 (from the Living Bible) " You must not tell lies. "
Exodus 23:1 " Thou shalt not raise a false report: put not thine hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness. "
Exodus 23:1 (from the Living Bible) " Do not pass along untrue reports. Do not cooperate with an evil man by affirming on the witness stand something you know is false. "
Psalms 101:5 " Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: "
Psalms 101 :5 (from Living Bible) I will not tolerate anyone who secretly slanders his neighbours........."
Proverbs 6:16-19 " These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto Him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. "
Psalms 120:2 " Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue. "
Psalms 120:2 (from Living Bible) " Deliver me O Lord, from liars. "
Revelation 21:8 " But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. "
James the 3:1-12 " My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth ! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter ? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. "
Isaiah 6: 5-7 " Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. "
Isaiah 6: 5-7 ( New Living Translation) " Then I said, " It's all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the King, the LORD of Heaven's Armies. " Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal he had taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. He touched my lips with it and said, "See, this coal has touched your lips. Now your guilt is removed, and your sins are forgiven."
Isaiah 59: 1- 4 (New Living Translation) " Listen! The LORD's arm is not too weak to save you, nor is his ear too deaf to hear you call. It's your sins that have cut you off from God. Because of your sins, he has turned away and will not listen anymore. Your hands are the hands of murderers, and your fingers are filthy with sin. Your lips are full of lies, and your mouth spews corruption. No one cares about being fair and honest. The people's lawsuits are based on lies. They conceive evil deeds and then give birth to sin. "
Isaiah 59: 12-15 (New Living Translation) " For our sins are piled up before God and testify against us. Yes, we know what sinners we are. We know we have rebelled and have denied the LORD. We have turned our backs on our God. We know how unfair and oppressive we have been, carefully planning our deceitful lies. Our courts oppose the righteous, and justice is nowhere to be found. Truth stumbles in the streets, and honesty has been outlawed. Yes, truth is gone, and anyone who renounces evil is attacked. The LORD looked and was displeased to find there was no justice. "
2 Timothy 3: 1-7 " This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. "
Jesus had a confrontation with the Pharisees. They falsely accused Christ of being demon possessed - after Jesus had healed a man who was blind and dumb due to demon possession. So Christ cast out the demon and the man was healed. The Pharisees claimed Christ did this by and through the power of the devil and was demonic Himself. You can read the account of the confrontation in Matthew 12:22-37. It is extremely important to not accuse someone of being demonic, when actually the Holy Spirit is working through them. God will not forgive this blasphemy against the very spirit of God - the Holy Spirit. So be very careful with your words.
Matthew 12:31-37 " Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come. Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. "
So we need to weigh our words carefully - think before we speak, and make sure not to judge others. Instead speak to the situation, not to the personality or character of the person.
Matthew 7:1-5 " (from the New International Version) " "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye. "
Let me give an illustration of this principle of speaking, which works like a charm when we actually practice it.
Let us say a man has been to work all day and comes home very tired. He had asked his wife before going to work to make supper for him, because he was going to have an especially hard day at work, and have to work overtime. So he gets home exhausted and finds the wife has gone out, and has done nothing at home and there are only left overs for her husband.
Now if he judges her and calls her " lazy and good for nothing " and uses some abusive swear words this is the wrong approach. Instead speak to the situation. He could say something like, " I am very tired and hungry and had asked you to have supper ready, but now there is nothing except these two day old left-overs. I am very disappointed. What is going on ? "
Now let us pretend to be in the wife's shoes. If she too judges others with her words like her husband did - she might reaction to his criticism with her own judgmental words. She might accuse him of being selfish and domineering and abusive. She might say that she isn't a slave or a dog to be ordered around. She might threaten to leave home if he keeps calling her names. She might retaliate with her own abusive language.
However, if she speaks to the situation - she could use words something like this. I realize you are upset, and tired and hungry. But I had to attend to my sick Mother today (or whatever other legitimate excuse she has for not helping her husband) and tried to call you and leave a message, but could not get ahold of you. I realize you are tired. So could you wait while I prepare something, or could we go to the restaurant or order some food for delivery ?
Or maybe she just forgot about her husband's request. In that case an apology is due.
You can probably think of various scenarios as to how the players might react. If they speak to the situation and not to the personality and character - this will smooth things out and a serious confrontation with all its attached hurt feelings can be avoided in most cases. If only one of the parties uses non-judgmental words, and the other is abusive and judgmental - then this is hard, and the non-judgmental person may have to exercise some longsuffering and patience. Hopefully the abusive partner will catch on and your non-judgmental words will help smooth over the situation.
Proverbs 26: 21-28 " (New Living Translation) A quarrelsome person starts fights as easily as hot embers light charcoal or fire lights wood. Rumors are dainty morsels that sink deep into one's heart. Smooth words may hide a wicked heart, just as a pretty glaze covers a clay pot. People may cover their hatred with pleasant words, but they're deceiving you. They pretend to be kind, but don't believe them. Their hearts are full of many evils. While their hatred may be concealed by trickery, their wrongdoing will be exposed in public. If you set a trap for others, you will get caught in it yourself. If you roll a boulder down on others, it will crush you instead. A lying tongue hates its victims, and flattering words cause ruin. "
Leviticus 19:16 (New Living Translation) " Do not spread slanderous gossip among your people........ "
Exodus 23:7-8 (New Living Translation) " Be sure never to charge anyone falsely with evil. Never sentence an innocent or blameless person to death, for I never declare a guilty person to be innocent. Take no bribes, for a bribe makes you ignore something that you clearly see. A bribe makes even a righteous person twist the truth. "
Ephesians 4:25 " Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. "
Zechariah 8:16-17 (New Living Translation) " But this is what you must do: Tell the truth to each other. Render verdicts in your courts that are just and that lead to peace. Don't scheme against each other. Stop your love of telling lies that you swear are the truth. I hate all these things, says the LORD."
John 14: 6 " Jesus said to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. "
John 8:31-36 ( English Standard Version) " So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. They answered him, We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, You will become free ? Jesus answered them, Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. "
If we believe in Christ and meet the other requirements of God for salvation - then Christ frees us from slavery to sin and death, and we are then no longer under the law, but under grace. The Law is no longer our Master - because Christ has paid the penalty for breaking the Law, which is death. Christ then becomes our Master, and frees us from slavery to death and sin - which is the result of sin. However, the Law is Holy just and good - Romans 7:12.
Romans 6:14-15 (English Standard Version) " For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! "
Just because we are under grace does not mean we have license to sin and break the Law. We cannot earn our own salvation through our efforts to keep the Law, since all (except Christ) have sinned, and the wages of sin is death. However, that does not mean the Law is done away, and we now have license to do whatever we please and sin as much as we want.
Romans 6:18 (English Standard Version) " and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. "
Romans 6:22-23 (English Standard Version) " But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. "
If we follow the truth and believe in Christ, and truly repent of our sins, put away out idolatry and false gods and put God first in our lives, and are baptized then you are freed from slavery to sin and death, and Christ becomes your Master. You then follow Christ. Just like the children of Israel were freed from their slavery in Egypt by God and who left Egypt and followed God.
I can help those who sincerely want to become part of the true body of Christ, and who are honest and willing to accept God's standards. You can receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, but it has to be done God's way as explained in the scriptures, and we have to be honest, and truly repent of our sins. I will be following up with this matter regarding salvation in further Sabbath Lessons.
It is time to rebuild God's true Church here in these corrupt last days. We need to work to prepare the way for the return of Christ. We need to follow the truth. We need to be careful with our words. We need to stop sinning with our tongues and lips. We need to be honest and be willing to admit error and sin and be willing to follow the truth. Christ is the way and the truth and the life.
Sabbath Lesson April 6, 2013 or Abib 26, 2013
The Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread are over for 2013. However, if you had forgotten, or been unable to keep the Passover on Abib 14th then you can still keep it on the 14th day of the second month, which this year is on Wednesday April 24 , 2013 or Ivar the 14th. Please click on Calendar, where God's Calendar and the Gregorian Calendar are combined.
You would keep it after sunset on Tuesday April 23, 2013, since God's days end and begin at sunset. You follow the same procedure on the Second Passover, as you would if you kept it on Abib 14th. You don't need to be with a group of people, if there are no others to fellowship with. God the Father and Jesus Christ will fellowship with you in spirit.
The true Church of God, of which I know 100 % that I am part of, is a spiritual organization consisting of those who have the Holy Spirit living in them. If you are being called into God's true church, and being led by the Holy Spirit, you are still part of the true church. The Holy Spirit is with you, but not yet in you.
John 14: 15-18 " If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. "
The Comforter here refers to the Holy Spirit - and the Holy Spirit is just the life and nature of God. God's Holy Spirit was with Christ's disciples opening their minds to understand the truth and the scriptures. They did not have the Holy Spirit living in them during all of the 3 ½ years of Christ's ministry, when Jesus was with them during all that time. However, the Holy Spirit was with them. So also if God is opening your mind through these lessons and web pages then you probably are being called into the true church. I am not the head of the true Church of God - Jesus Christ is.
John 7: 39 " But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Spirit was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.
So if you were unable to keep Passover on Abib 14th, then keep it on the Second Passover, and God the Father and Jesus Christ will be with you through the Holy Spirit.
The Feast of Unleavened Bread is also over for 2013, but if you are truly part of God's true church, or are being called into the church, and you kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread in the proper spirit - then it is almost certain Jesus has taught you some lessons. These lessons are good for us, and show us what Jesus wants us to work on. None of us is perfect, and Jesus understands that. If we were perfect Christ wouldn't have had to die for our sins on the cross.
I and my family kept the Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread once again this year as we have done for many years. I have been doing this for around 30 years already.
We were taught lessons about our sins - as usual. It is never pleasant to have your sins and spiritual faults pointed out to you. But we in God's church must have a repentant attitude and be willing to admit our sins and work to clean them out of our lives. It is an almost guarantee Christ and God the Father will show you some of your more serious sins on Feast of Unleavened Bread, since one of Christ's jobs is to purge the true church of sin, and He takes His job seriously, since He had to die for sin (Malachi 3:1-3) (Matthew 3:7-12) ( Hebrews 12 2-11) I had a couple pointed out, but I won't tell you about them. You don't have to share your sins with others or the general public. This is a matter between you and God the Father and the Mediator of the New Covenant - your High Priest in heaven Jesus Christ.
So what needs to be done is for us to work on the sins and spiritual faults pointed out to us by God. It is no good to just have Christ point out our sins that need correcting and then just go our merry way and forget about it. We need to work on them, and fix them, and with God's help overcome them, and with Christ's help and through faith rid them out of our lives. This is done so we can grow in grace and character. Pray about them and ask God to help you overcome them. If you are unclear of exactly what sin is go to my web page Commands and Sins.
It is not easy. Some sins are very hard to overcome. It may take years to overcome some tough ones, but we need to keep plugging away at them, and with God's help it can be done.
Remember also that God shows us our sins because He loves us. Sin hurts us and others. God hates sin, and wants what is best for us. God does this in love. He corrects and teaches us and yes even punishes us when we need it (and it is surprising how often we need it) - in love. God's correction is always good for us - it is not pleasant, but it is what we need. So don't resent it. And be thankful to Christ for the needed correction.
So work on those sins during the coming year, and then next Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread hopefully you can report to God that they have been overcome - or at least you are still plugging away at them, and progress is being made.
