BrTom - Almighty Father Yahweh, we come before you this evening in the name of your son Yahshua. For the sake of his sacrifice, please forgive our sins and our uncleanness.
BrTom - Dear Father, it is a good thing to come into the house of Yahweh!
BrTom - And to sing praises to your name, O most high!
BrTom - Dear Father, we wish you GOOD SABBATH!
BrTom - May you be pleased with your children and with our worship.
BrTom - May we all draw near to you in love and
BrTom - near to each other also.
BrTom - Father, we want to thank you for sending Yahshua.
BrTom - His presence here has been such an encouragement to us
BrTom - such a comfort
BrTom - such a blessing in so many ways.
BrTom - We thank you for sending your very best to us and comitting him completely.
BrTom - Yahshua, we thank you too for your work an your help.
BrTom - Now, Father we ask you to be with us in this service.
BrTom - Bless each one who joins us.
BrTom - Be with the speaker and with all who contribute. Let their words be pleasing in your sight.
BrTom - In Yahshua's name we ask these things and praise you.
BrTom - Halleluyah!
Tonight begins a 2 part study into the subject of Passover.
Since we are just over a month from our yearly Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread celebrations, tonight I would like to share an introduction to Passover for the sake of those who are completely new to it
And to again refresh the memories of those who have participated in it in the past
The Passover along with the Feast of Unleavened bread is one of Yahweh's appointed times
Unlike the so-called 'holi-days' of the mainstream, these holy days are found in scripture.
I personally love this feast because it is so symbolic of what Yahshua has done for us and it applies very much to Yahweh's plan of Salvation.
Next week, I will be sharing a study on the spiritual meanings of Passover and Feast of Unleavened bread.
In the book of Exodus we read that the children of Israel (Jacob) were dwelling in Egypt and were increasing in number and size
In fact, there were so many of them that the Pharoah of Egypt began to fear what might take place if they had gotten too large in number
Exodus 1:7 - And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them.
Exodus 1:8 - Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph.
Exodus 1:9 - And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we:So the Pharoah divised a plan:
Exodus 1:10 - Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land.
Exodus 1:11 - Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses.
Exodus 1:12 - But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel.
Exodus 1:13 - And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour:
Exodus 1:14 - And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in morter, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigour.
Exodus 1:15 - And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah:
Exodus 1:16 - And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live.
Exodus 1:17 - But the midwives feared Elohim, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.
Exodus 1:18 - And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said unto them, Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the men children alive?
Exodus 1:19 - And the midwives said unto Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are lively, and are delivered ere the midwives come in unto them.
Exodus 1:20 - Therefore Elohim dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty.
Exodus 1:21 - And it came to pass, because the midwives feared Elohim, that he made them houses.And so the children of Israel were oppressed and in the bondage of slavery to the Egyptians
They were forced to throw all their newborn sons into the river. But Yahweh despises the shedding of innocent blood
Proverbs 6:16 - These six things doth YAHWEH hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
Proverbs 6:17 - A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
Proverbs 6:18 - An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
Proverbs 6:17 - A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
Proverbs 6:18 - An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
Proverbs 6:19 - A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.If you read the first part of the book of Exodus you will see that Yahweh allowed one of the sons to remain alive and grow up in the household of Pharoah. This son was Moshe (Moses)
Yahweh called out Moshe to lead the children of Israel out of the land of bondage and slavery and promised to lead them into a beautiful land 'flowing with milk and honey'.
Moses' purpose was to show them the way! This way is the way of righteousness through the keeping of Yahweh's commandments.
Yahweh heard the cry of the children of Israel who wanted to be delivered from their bondage.
Exodus 3:7 - And YAHWEH said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;Yahweh told Moshe to go to the Pharoah and petition him to let the children of Israel go into the wilderness to worship Yahweh.
But Pharoah would refuse.
Each time Yahweh would send a plague to cause Pharoah to change his mind and let the people go
After many of the plagues, Pharoah would change his mind and let the people go
but then Yahweh would harden Pharoah's heart and he would not let the people go
Yahweh sent plagues upon the Egyptians who worshiped idols. Yahweh showed His superiority over dumb idols by sending 10 plagues.
The first plague was all the water coming from the Nile river was turned into blood for seven days.
The following plagues were Frogs, Lice, Flies, Disease on their animals, Boils on man and animals, hail, locusts and darkness.
In each of the plagues, Yahweh spared the area in Egypt that the Israelites dwelt in. The final plague however, would prove to be an important one
Yahweh told Pharoah through Moshe:
Exodus 11:4 - And Moses said, Thus saith YAHWEH, About midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt:
Exodus 11:5 - And all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sitteth upon his throne, even unto the firstborn of the maidservant that is behind the mill; and all the firstborn of beasts.
Exodus 11:6 - And there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there was none like it, nor shall be like it any more.
Exodus 11:7 - But against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue, against man or beast: that ye may know how that YAHWEH doth put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel.And so Yahweh planned on making a difference between the Egyptians and Israel
The Israelites, who had cried out to Yahweh would be saved from death if they heeded Moshe's instructions
Now the following chapter is crucial to understanding the feast of Passover and unleavened bread
Exodus 12:1 - And YAHWEH spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying,
Exodus 12:3 - Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house:
Exodus 12:2 - This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.Yahweh had to teach the children of Israel His calendar
He taught them that this month (which began with the new moon) began the month would begin Yahweh's calendar year
Exodus 12:3 - Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house:
Exodus 12:4 - And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb.
Exodus 12:5 - Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats:So on the tenth day of Yahweh's first month, the households of Israel were to take for themselves an unblemished male lamb of the first year and set it aside and keep it seperated from the others
It is helpful if we understand that in those days, a person's prosperity was very much based on their livestock
To take a male lamb of the first year out of their flock would be a monetary sacrifice. In fact, not all houses had one
Today, we might think of sacrifices as something different
But it truly was a 'sacrifice' for the children of Israel to give up one of their male lambs.
I once talked to a farmer who raised sheep.
He said that he never had any problems slaughtering one of his cows or chickens
But when he had to slaughter one of his young lambs...it was extremely difficult because when a lamb is in pain it literally sounds like a newborn baby crying.
Exodus 12:6 - And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.There is some controversy as to when "evening" is (literally the Hebrew reads "Between the evenings")
Currently I believe that during the spring time, it is at approximately the ninth hour of the day or around 3:00-3:30pm.
Exodus 12:7 - And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.
Exodus 12:8 - And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.
Exodus 12:9 - Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof.
Exodus 12:10 - And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire.
Exodus 12:11 - And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is YAHWEH's passover.
Exodus 12:12 - _Fr I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the elohim of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am YAHWEH.So the children of Israel were to kill the lamb, place the blood on the lintel and doorposts of their homes then roast and eat the passover lamb with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.
They were commanded not to break any of the lambs bones
They were to told to eat it quickly because they would be departing from Egypt very quickly
When Yahweh passed over the children of Israel, he would spare them from the death that would be brought upon the firstborn of the Egyptians because the death angel saw the blood of the lamb on the doorposts
It becomes very clear, the lamb died for them
The memorial observance of this event was to be celebrated from year to year forever:
Exodus 12:13 - And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.
Exodus 12:14 - And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to YAHWEH throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.
Exodus 12:15 - Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel.
Exodus 12:16 - And in the first day there shall be an holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be an holy convocation to you; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you.
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.And so the feast of Unleavened bread was explained
It begins on the 15th day of Yahweh's first month (Abib) and the last day was to be on the 21st of Abib.
The 15th and 21st were to be Sabbath days unto Yahweh, and still are
No work is to be done on these days except to prepare the food that everyone must eat
Yahweh's days begin at evening. Therefore the feast of Unleavened bread actually began when it became evening on the 14th day of the month of Abib and ended when it was evening on the 21st day of the month of Abib
During this time, no leaven (yeast) was to be found in their homes
Exodus 12:19 - Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land.
Exodus 12:20 - Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread.So these commandments were not only for the children of Israel, but also for anyone who decided to join themselves unto Yahweh and be part of His congregation of Israel
So it finally came time for the day of Passover:
Exodus 12:21 - Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the passover.
Exodus 12:22 - And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning.
Exodus 12:23 - For YAHWEH will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, YAHWEH will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you.
Exodus 12:24 - And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever.
Exodus 12:25 - And it shall come to pass, when ye be come to the land which YAHWEH will give you, according as he hath promised, that ye shall keep this service.
Exodus 12:26 - And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service?
Exodus 12:27 - That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of YAHWEH's passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped.
Exodus 12:28 - And the children of Israel went away, and did as YAHWEH had commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they.
Exodus 12:29 - And it came to pass, that at midnight YAHWEH smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharoah that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle.
Exodus 12:30 - And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead.
Exodus 12:31 - And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve YAHWEH, as ye have said.
Exodus 12:32 - Also take your flocks and your herds, as ye have said, and be gone; and bless me also.
Exodus 12:33 - And the Egyptians were urgent upon the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste; for they said, We be all dead men.
Exodus 12:34 - And the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneadingtroughs being bound up in their clothes upon their shoulders.
Exodus 12:35 - And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment:
Exodus 12:36 - And YAHWEH gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians.
Exodus 12:37 - And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside children.
Exodus 12:38 - And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle.
Exodus 12:39 - And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought forth out of Egypt, for it was not leavened; because they were thrust out of Egypt, and could not tarry, neither had they prepared for themselves any victual.
Exodus 12:40 - Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years.
Exodus 12:41 - And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of YAHWEH went out from the land of Egypt.
Exodus 12:42 - It is a night to be much observed unto YAHWEH for bringing them out from the land of Egypt: this is that night of YAHWEH to be observed of all the children of Israel in their generations.
Exodus 12:43 - And YAHWEH said unto Moses and Aaron, This is the ordinance of the passover: There shall no stranger eat thereof:
Exodus 12:44 - But every man's servant that is bought for money, when thou hast circumcised him, then shall he eat thereof.
Exodus 12:45 - A foreigner and an hired servant shall not eat thereof.
Exodus 12:46 - In one house shall it be eaten; thou shalt not carry forth ought of the flesh abroad out of the house; neither shall ye break a bone thereof.
Exodus 12:47 - All the congregation of Israel shall keep it.
Exodus 12:48 - And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to YAHWEH, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof.
Exodus 12:49 - One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you.Now, it is very clear that Yahweh does not have a double standard.
His law is for all mankind. But if any foreigner wanted to observe the Passover festival, it was necessary that they first join themselves unto Yahweh's congregation of Israel by becoming circumcised
Exodus 12:50 - Thus did all the children of Israel; as YAHWEH commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they.
Exodus 12:51 - And it came to pass the selfsame day, that YAHWEH did bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their armies.So this is the feast of Passover and unleavened bread according to the word of Almighty Yahweh
Now let's look into the Passover (Pasach) supper
One of the clearest evidences in scripture that we should be observing the feasts today is in the commanded observance of the memorial supper that Yahshua instituted.
Many churches today practice this every sunday. Most of them do not have the realization of what they are even doing
But when one observes the Passover as instituted by Yahushua the Messiah, one can know exactly what the significance of it all truly is.
Let's examine what Yahushua instituted:
Luke 22:15 - And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer:
Luke 22:16 - For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of YAHWEH.
Luke 22:17 - And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves:
Luke 22:18 - For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of YAHWEH shall come.
Luke 22:19 - 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.This was Yahushua's commandment. We are to do this in remembrance of Him
Remember that Yahushua died at the time of Passover. Therefore, when we partake of the bread we are breaking it to remember that it was us who caused Yahushua's broken body
It was for our sins that He had to come into the world and die. And it was at this time of Yahweh's year that He died for us
Luke 22:20 - Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.The cup represents the New Covenant. When Yahushua returns, the new covenant will be fully instituted and we will reign with Him forever
The blood of Yahushua is what cleanses us from all sin. When we partake of Yahushua's body, we are a part of Him
For He, our Passover lamb saved us from death
John 6:47 - Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
John 6:48 - I am that bread of life.
John 6:49 - Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.
John 6:50 - This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.Let's consider that Yahushua's words are food for us
He is "The Word"
We should not stray from the Word in our observances
The world keeps this time of year as "Easter"
But why must some reject the commandments of Yahweh in favor of the traditions of men?
We have much the same situation today that we see in Yahushua's day:
Mark 7:5 - Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?
Mark 7:6 - He answered and said unto them, Well hath Isaiah prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.
Mark 7:7 - Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctines the commandments of men.We too must beware of ignoring the words and doctrine in the scriptures in favor of holding fast to traditions not commanded by Yahweh.
Especially when those traditions have their roots in paganism!
The very word "Easter" comes from the name of a heathen idol "Astarte".
It is abominable to throw out the beautiful feast of Passover that Yahweh ordained and instead take a day named after an idol and say its for Yahweh!!
Let us therefore keep the feast !
For the Feast of unleavened bread we are told to purge our homes of all leaven
It is best to prepare at least a month in advance for the purging of any leaven in our home
In our home during this time, we begin to focus our meals more on bread items and other items containing leaven.
By the time Passover arrives, most all the leaven in our home will have been purged
Personally, we prefer to sweep the floor and furniture also since there may be leaven in them
We even clean our toaster and take out the sweeper bag :)
All of this represents how diligent we should be to get sin out of our lives
These things are done out of love for Yahweh and His commandments
We also purchase "kosher for Passover" wine or grape juice and some matzos at the local store
or we make our own unleavened bread
Recipes can be found at http://eliyah.com/recipes.html
There are some things we need to keep in mind as we do these things. One of them is our sincerity and our reverence for what Yahushua has done for us
The Corinthian assembly was lacking in this and Paul rebuked them for it:
1Corinthians 11:20 - When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat Yahushua's supper.
1Corinthians 11:21 - For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken.
1Corinthians 11:22 - What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the assembly of YAHWEH, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.
1Corinthians 11:23 - For I have received of YAHWEH that which also I delivered unto you, That the Master Yahushua the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:
1Corinthians 11:24 - 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.
1Corinthians 11:25 - 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.
1Corinthians 11:26 - For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew Yahushua's death till he come.We should remember that this is proclaiming Yahushua's death until He comes
'often' can refer to a once per year event
Here is an example:
Hebrews 9:24 - For the Messiah has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of YAHWEH for us;
Hebrews 9:25 - not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another--continuing in 1Corinthians...
1Corinthians 11:27 - Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of Yahushua, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of Yahushua.
1Corinthians 11:28 - But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.It is the time of year to examine ourselves
1Corinthians 11:29 - For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the body of the Master.
1Corinthians 11:30 - For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.This is a serious warning we find here in Yahweh's word
We must take this time to examine ourselves and consider what Yahushua has done for us!
It is no small thing in the eyes of Yahweh to give His only Son to die for us.
We need to be sincere, humble and repentant at this time
1Corinthians 11:31 - For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
1Corinthians 11:32 - But when we are judged, we are chastened of YAHWEH, that we should not be condemned with the world.Therefore, let us prepare ourselves!
Let's rid the sin out of our lives as we rid our physical homes of leaven also!
Let's renew our commitment to serve Yahweh with all of our heart, all of our soul and all of our mind!
For this is His desire.
Abib brings in the new year of Yahweh
Let's make the REAL new year resolution to serve Him in purity, holiness and truth..this year, let us continue to grow closer to Yahweh and closer to one another.
Next week we will be discussing the spiritual aspects of Passover
Passover has many things to teach us
May Yahweh bless you all!
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