03/06/2010 Sabbath Meeting Transcript

The first day of Unleavened Bread coinciding on the Sabbath on the 31st of March. I did look at the barley here this year, and we're going to be plenty ready this time, don't have to even look. We're in good shape on the barley. I went down to a barley field along the Jordan Valley, and it's looking good, and it's going to be ready certainly in time. Praise Yahweh.

I did take pictures. In fact, down there it's a little bit early, I should say, because it was near a road, which the heat from the road increases how quickly it ripens. It was a little overripe, a little beyond the stage where we would expect. The 30th would be the 14th of aviv or the 14th of abib, many people like to say.

So on the 16th, the night of the 16th of what the world calls March, we should be able to look up in the sky and see the new moon. Keep that in mind. That's about 10 days coming up. Keep that day in mind. We'll be confirming that more and more here.

The way to figure that out, if you go to EliYah.com/moon.html and just put in the dates there. Put in March 16, 2010. On that night, the moon, there will be a difference between sunset and moonset. The sun will set at 7:19. The moon will set at 8:25 p.m. in Ava, Missouri, our location at home.

The previous evening, if you were to do the same, the sun would be setting at 7:18. The moon will be setting at 7:27, which is too early. We have pretty solid dates on the calendar this year. The night of the 30th, which will technically be the 31st of March, being the first day of the new year.

Basically, the way we observe the calendar of Yahweh is when the crescent of the new moon reappears after a conjunction in the evening sky after sundown, that would be the beginning of a new month. That's when the new moon reappears in the sky. That's how we observe that.

Again, on the night of the 16th this month, take a look. It should be visible by most everyone, unless there are clouds. We like to gather at that time and look at the first moon and blow the shofar. The moon will sort of look like a shofar. It's sort of curved like that. This is the time we observe.

Deuteronomy 16:1 - Observe the month of Abib, and keep the passover unto YAHWEH thy Elohim: for in the month of Abib YAHWEH thy Elohim brought thee forth out of Egypt by night.

So the month of aviv, we look down into the fields. The barley will be ready. It will be aviv at that time. That is how we recognize the beginning of the new year. The first month in which the barley harvest is ready is the month the new year begins. Reports from Israel is what we usually rely on, but I was able to be an eyewitness to that. It is definitely ready.

During this Feast of Unleavened Bread, we see that the firstfruits of the barley harvest is actually offered unto the priest, anciently, as a wave sheaf offering.

Leviticus 23:9 - And YAHWEH spake unto Moses, saying,

Leviticus 23:10 - Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest:

Leviticus 23:11 - And he shall wave the sheaf before YAHWEH, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it.

Leviticus 23:12 - And ye shall offer that day when ye wave the sheaf an he lamb without blemish of the first year for a burnt offering unto YAHWEH.

Leviticus 23:13 - And the meat offering thereof shall be two tenth deals of fine flour mingled with oil, an offering made by fire unto YAHWEH for a sweet savour: and the drink offering thereof shall be of wine, the fourth part of an hin.

Leviticus 23:14 - And ye shall eat neither bread, nor parched corn, nor green ears, until the selfsame day that ye have brought an offering unto your Elohim: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.

It is not permitted to partake of the barley harvest until the firstfruits are given to Yahweh. Then after this, verse 15, we see the winter wheat harvest will be ready within 50 days after the barley harvest, and that's called Shavuot, also called Pentecost, the Feast of Weeks, verses 15 through 17:

Leviticus 23:15 - And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete:

Leviticus 23:16 - Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto YAHWEH.

Leviticus 23:17 - Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals: they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with leaven; they are the firstfruits unto YAHWEH.

During Shavuot, Pentecost, bread from the wheat harvest is offered as firstfruits unto Yahweh. The fourteenth day of the first month of Yahweh's new year, which is going to correspond to the 30th day of March this year, that will be the day of Passover. This is going to be the first part of a two-part study. We're going to continue next week.

This week we're going to look into the literal Passover, physical Passover and the observances that go along with that, and next week we're going to look into Yahushua the Messiah being our Passover Lamb and how that all fits into scripture.

If you've never kept this feast before, the study today is going to tell you some important things you need to know ahead of time and maybe also refresh some of your memories, any of those who have already kept it. These holy days are not like the so-called holidays of Christianity. When I say Christianity, I mean mainstream churches.

These holy days are actually found in scripture. They're not inspired by demon worship, and they were commanded by Yahweh to be kept. I'm not saying Christians are worshiping demons, but the observance--Easter, for instance, is named after a demon. It comes from the word Astarte or Ashtoreth, which Yahweh hated.

I love the feasts of Yahweh, because it's wonderfully symbolic of what Yahushua has done for us that very much applies to Yahweh's plan of salvation.

We're going to start with the book of Exodus, chapter 1, starting at verse 7. We're going to examine that. We see that the Pharaoh of Egypt began to fear what might happen if the children of Israel, who were dwelling in Egypt with them, had gotten too large in number and size.

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:

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.

Notice they were concerned that the children of Israel would leave the land. They didn't want them to leave 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.

So the children of Israel here are oppressed. They're in bondage to slavery to the Egyptians, and they're commanded by Pharaoh to throw all their newborn sons into the river. But Yahweh despises the shedding of innocent blood. In Proverbs 6:16-19, it says:

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 6:19 - A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

So if you read things like this, you see that Yahweh is obviously very upset over what Pharaoh is commanding at this point. If you read the first part of the book of Exodus, you see Yahweh allowed one of the sons to remain alive and to grow up in the household of Pharaoh, and that son was Mosheh.

Yahweh called Mosheh to lead the children of Israel out of the land of bondage and slavery and promised to lead them into the beautiful land which I am not setting foot on. Praise Yahweh. A land flowing with milk and honey.

Mosheh's purpose was to lead them and show them the way into the promised land and to reveal to them 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 the bondage. Exodus 3:7, Yahweh says:

Yahweh told Mosheh to go to the Pharaoh and petition him to let the children of Israel go into the wilderness and worship Yahweh, but Pharaoh will refuse. And every time, Yahweh would send this plague to cause Pharaoh to change his mind and let the people go. After some of the plagues, Pharaoh would change his mind and let the people go.

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;

Okay, we are back. We lost sound because my connection to the conference area was disconnected, but we should be back online. Praise Yahweh. I think we are back. Hallelujah. If it happens again, we'll just reconnect, Yahweh willing.

Getting back to the study, we were discussing the plagues Yahweh sent among the children of Egypt. Yahweh showed and demonstrated His power over the dumb idols of Egypt by sending ten plagues.

The first plague was that all the water coming from the Nile River was going to be turned into blood for seven days. Then there was other plagues such as frogs, lice, flies, disease on the animals, boils on men and the animals, hail, locusts, and darkness.

The final plague is the one that we view as particularly important. The final plague is exactly what Pesach is commemorating. Exodus 11:4-7:

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.

Yahweh planned on making a difference between the Egyptians and Israel, just like He did with many of the other plagues. The Israelites, who had cried out to Yahweh, were going to be saved from death, if they would simply listen to Mosheh's instructions.

These instructions and the events in chapter 12 of Exodus are crucial to being able to understand the Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread. We're going to go through this chapter together.

Exodus 12:1 - And YAHWEH spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying,

Exodus 12:2 - This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.

That's why we say this month coming up, this next new moon is going to be the beginning of months, the beginning of the 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:

So Yahweh had to teach the children of Israel His calendar. He taught them that this month, which began with the new moon, would begin His calendar year. If you look in the sky on the 16th of the what the world calls March, you will see the new moon there in the sky. That would mean the 17th would begin the new month. Continue on to verse 4 and 5:

Exodus 4: -

Exodus 5: -

So on the tenth day of Yahweh's first month, the households of Israel were to take for themselves an unblemished lamb or kid of the first year and set it aside and keep it separated from the others. It's helpful if we understand that in those days a person's prosperity had quite a bit to do with the amount of livestock they owned.

To actually take a male lamb of the first year out of their flock may indeed be a sacrifice. When we think of sacrifices, we might think of something different, but it really was a sacrifice for them to give up one of their male lambs. In fact, not every household had one.

Several years ago, we slaughtered two sheep that a brother had brought to eat during the Feast of Tabernacles. It was not sacrifice or anything. We just slaughtered them. It was very interesting, because when he cut the sheep's throat, and the animal was dying because of the loss of blood, it literally sounded like a human being. And I mean it. It sounded like a human being moaning.

You could hear it. It sent chills up my spine. So I can see why Yahweh would choose this particular animal to do this, to represent what we understand to be Yahushua. We weren't doing a sacrifice. Again, we were just doing it the old-fashioned way. You get a lamb out of your flock, and you cut the throat to kill the lamb, and then we butchered it, and we ate it.

Since that time, we've been raising sheep now for a few years, and I think we're now up to 40-some sheep. I don't know how many exactly. We had 19 lambs this year. Praise Yahweh. Which we did have a little problem last night. You might be in prayer about the lambs.

They gorged on some grain, and we're trying to keep them from dying. If they eat nothing but grain, they just gorge on grain, their digestive system can't keep up, and they bloat, and they die. We're trying to solve that problem naturally, so be in prayer about that.

Anyway, when little lambs are bleating, they sound like babies. They really do. They sound like little babies. It's almost indistinguishable. So I can imagine to slaughter a very small lamb would sound like a baby crying when calling out for their mother. We had the opportunity a few years ago to raise and bottle feed three lambs at our house, and it's an experience.

They definitely sound like little babies. So anyway, verse 6:

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.

There's some controversy as to when that lamb is supposed to be slaughtered, but the Hebrew reads between the evenings, ben har ha abarim. We do know one thing, that Yahushua is called our Passover in 1 Corinthians 5:7. He died at the ninth hour on the day of Passover. It just so happened that Yahushua died at the exact hour Passover Lambs were slaughtered in Jerusalem.

We believe between the evenings would refer to approximately 3:00 to 4:00 in the afternoon, depending on where you live and the time zone, 3:00 or 4:00 in the afternoon on the 30th of March coming up would be the anniversary. Continuing in Exodus 12:7-13:

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 - For 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.

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.

The children of Israel were to kill this Passover lamb and place that blood on the lentil and doorposts of their homes, and then roast and eat the Passover lamb with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. They were also specifically commanded not to break any of the lamb's bones and to eat it quickly, because they would be departing from Egypt very quickly.

When the death angel passed over the children of Israel, they would be spared from the death that would be brought upon the firstborn of the Egyptians, because the death angel would see the blood of the lamb on the doorposts.

It becomes quite evident that the children of Israel's lives were spared, but they lost one of their lambs. There's a picture being painted here that the lamb died for them. The memorial observance of this event is supposed to be celebrated from year to year forever. Exodus 12:14-17:

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.

So the Feast of Unleavened Bread here is explained. This is also mentioned in Leviticus 23:4-8:

Leviticus 23:4 - These are the feasts of YAHWEH, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons.

Leviticus 23:5 - In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is YAHWEH's passover.

Leviticus 23:6 - And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto YAHWEH: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread.

Leviticus 23:7 - In the first day ye shall have an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.

Leviticus 23:8 - But ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto YAHWEH seven days: in the seventh day is an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.

So the Passover day is on the 14th day of the month, and the beginning of the Feast of Unleavened Bread actually begins on the fifteenth day of Yahweh's first month, and the last day of Unleavened Bread would be on the 21st day of aviv, which if you're going to look on a calendar, you can go back to the website there. The different months are mentioned there.

You'll notice the first day of Unleavened Bread is going to fall on the 31st of March, so that is a Sabbath, which we're going to be resting anyway on that day, right? Also, the seventh day of Unleavened Bread would be on the 31st of April, and that's going to also be a Sabbath, except on 3/30 and 4/6 you'll be able to cook on that day, because it's not coinciding with a regular Sabbath, so it would be permitted.

The 15th and 21st days of the first month are going to coincide with March 31st and April 6th this year, and it changes from year-to-year. The 31st of March would actually begin on the night of the 30th of March. That's how that would work.

Again, 3/ 31 and 4/6 are the key dates we're looking at for Sabbath days. 

What we like to do is go ahead--and this time is a good time to start preparing, because we do get rid of our leavening, because no leaven is to be found in our dwelling places, as we read from Exodus 12:18-20:

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.

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 we eat no leavened bread at all during this feast, and that is how we observe it. We can prepare ahead of time by gathering all the items in your home. Right now is a good time to do that. After Sabbath, go through your house and look for any kind of leavening agent that could cause bread to rise.

For instance, there's yeast, baking soda, which is also called sodium bicarbonate, baking powder, tartaric acid, cream of tartar, and anything that contains yeast you want to include among leavening agents that you would dispose of. Yeast is leavening.

So we're still about a month away from having to do this, so what we like to do is go ahead and set aside these items. Put them in a box somewhere and just start using that. That way, by the time the feast comes around, most of your leavened products will have already been eaten, and you won't have to throw anything out.

During the next month, start eating away at the leavened kind of foods--crackers and different things--so they are totally gone, ideally, by the 30th of March.

You notice in verse 19, it says that Yahweh wants everyone, not just Israel, to remove the leaven from their homes. It says whether he's a stranger or born in the land, no leaven shall be found in your houses.

So if we have accepted Yahushua--and we know we have--and we are partakers of the new covenant with Israel and Judah, then we recognize we are no longer strangers. We join ourselves to Israel by accepting the mediator of that covenant, Yahushua HaMashiach.

The new covenant is with Israel and Judah, according to Jeremiah 31:31. We become Israel through Yahushua, and we are no longer strangers to the covenants. Ephesians 2:11 says:

Ephesians 2:11 - Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh--who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands--

We were once Gentiles. That means we're no longer Gentiles.

Ephesians 2:12 - that at that time you were without the Messiah, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without Elohim in the world.

At that time when we were Gentiles. We're not Gentiles anymore. We are not Goyim (in Hebrew). But now, Ephesians 2:13:

Ephesians 2:13 - But now in the Master Yahushua you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of the Messiah.

Brought near to what? Brought near to the commonwealth of Israel by the blood of Messiah. So we praise Yahweh for that. Continuing in Exodus, we see that it finally came time for the day of Passover, Exodus 12:21:

The Passover is actually the lamb. The lamb itself is called the Passover, and the day in which the lamb is killed is called Passover, but it's called Passover because that's the day when the Passover lamb was killed. Exodus 12:22-27:

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.

They were to stay in their homes, because Yahweh was going to pass over and smite the Egyptians, and they had to be in the house there with the covering, the blood covering.

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.

So we see here with this particular observance that Yahweh wanted to communicate the works that He had done for Israel. He wanted to communicate them to the children. That is one of the purposes which Yahweh created this feast, was to instruct the children. I think that's very beautiful.

When we're keeping this feast day, when we're observing this, let's try to keep that in mind, that one of the reasons for this particular observance is to pass on the wonderful works of Yahweh to the next generation.

So He had this thing memorialized so that Yahweh would be remembered by this awesome act forever. So we gather together for Pesach. Let's not ignore our children. Let's make it a special point to teach them the meaning of it. On to verse 28, we're going to read through the end of the chapter.

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.

So it's very clear Yahweh does not have a double standard. His law is for all mankind. If any stranger wanted to observe the Passover feast, it was necessary that they first become as one born in the land and they become circumcised. Exodus 12:50-51:

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.

In order for a foreigner to participate in the physical Passover lamb, he would need to be physically circumcised. One of the first steps a believer in Yahushua should take in order to join themselves to Yahweh is to become baptized. In scripture we see in Colossians 2:11-12, baptism is likened unto circumcision. It says:

Colossians 2:11 - In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of the Messiah:

Colossians 2:12 - Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of YAHWEH, who hath raised him from the dead.

We see that baptism is a type of circumcision that brings us into the body of Messiah and into the commonwealth of Israel. In Galatians 3:29 it says:

Galatians 3:29 - And if you are the Messiah's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

The intent is that we become Abraham's seed. I think it's wise that before a person partakes of the Passover that they do get baptized. Baptism is one of the first steps that a new believer in Yahushua should do. If you look in the book of Acts, it was always done immediately. They didn't waste any time. Just keep that in mind. It's something to meditate on.

We know, according to scripture, that Yahushua is our Passover. 1 Corinthians 5:7-8, it says:

1Corinthians 5:7 - Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even the Messiah our passover is sacrificed for us:

1Corinthians 5:8 - 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.

We are called to purge out this old leaven, the old sin. Yahushua being our Passover, being our sacrifice for us, we keep the feast. To me, one of the clearest evidences that we should be observing the feast today is the fact that the commanded observance, the memorial supper Yahushua instituted, many churches today will practice this--they call it the Eucharist--every Sunday.

But most of them don't really have a full realization of what Yahushua is truly instituting here. But when we observe the Passover as instituted by Yahushua, a person can understand exactly what the significance of it truly is.

Let's examine Luke 22:15-21:

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.

Luke 22:20 - Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.

Luke 22:21 - But, behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table.

This is Yahushua's commandment. We were told to do this in remembrance of Him. He is the Passover. He is the Lamb. In John 1:29, John the Baptist looks at Yahushua:

John 1:29 - The next day John seeth Yahushua coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of YAHWEH, which taketh away the sin of the world.

Also Revelation 5:11-12:

Revelation 5:11 - Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands,

Revelation 5:12 - saying with a loud voice: "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!"

Many people in mainstream churches will refer to Yahushua as the Lamb, but how many people really understand that the entire reason He's called the Lamb to begin with is because He is our Passover? When we're partaking of the bread and the fruit of the vine, we are partaking of the Messiah; therefore, we are partaking of the Passover.

We see in some of Yahushua's parables and some of the things He said that leaven is representative of sin. When Yahushua takes away our sins, we are unleavened. Yahushua died at the time of the Passover lambs being sacrificed in Jerusalem, which is the ninth hour of the day, also called the hour of prayer.

I personally don't believe that was a coincidence. When we partake of this bread, and we are breaking it, we are breaking the bread to remember Yahushua's body which was broken for us. It was for our sins that He had to come into the world and die. It was on the 14th day of the month of Aviv that Yahushua died for us.

The cup represents the new covenant. When Yahushua returns, a new covenant will be fully instituted, and we will reign with Him forever. The blood of Yahushua is what cleanses us from all sin. We partake of Yahushua's body, we are a part of Him. We are a part of Yahushua, our Passover Lamb, which takes away our sin and saves us from death.

He becomes one with us, and we become one with Him, and we are His body, as we talked about last week. Galatians 2:20:

Galatians 2:20 - "I have been impaled with the Messiah; it is no longer I who live, but the Messiah lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of YAHWEH, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

So, brethren, the partaking of the bread and fruit of the vine, the partaking of this, this is not a Eucharist. This is not a communion. The partaking of the body and blood of Yahushua is the Passover, Pesach. He is our Passover, which was offered for us, and we are partaking of the Passover Lamb when we partake of the bread and the fruit of the vine. John 6:47-50 says:

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--we've seen scripture that Yahushua's words are like food for us. He is the Word of Yahweh, which was made flesh, John 1:14:

John 1:14 - And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

That's Yahushua. He was the Word that was made flesh and dwelt among us. We should not stray from the Word of Yahweh in our observances. Instead of keeping Passover, most of the world keeps Easter. Easter, we know, is named after Astarte, a cohort to many demonic idols.

This year most of the world is going to be keeping Astarte, Easter--I'm sorry. Astarte was a consort, not a cohort. A consort, like a wife of the various male idols. Astarte was the feminine version. She was a fertility goddess.

That's why we see all the fertility stuff going on: eggs, bunnies. Rabbits are very fertile animals. We see these things going on, and that's why. It's all rooted in paganism.

What we have here is people rejecting the holy Passover and rejecting the holy days of Yahweh and copying the world instead. Looking around here in the land of Israel, you see so, so many different faiths, so many different religions, and they all have one thing in common.

They set up their own observances. They do their own thing. They don't do the things Yahweh commands, or if Yahweh does command something, they add to it.

You go in Jerusalem. Sadly, if you walk the streets of Jerusalem today, it's one gigantic marketplace. The roads are skinny. There's somebody selling something everywhere. Everywhere, somebody is selling something. Even on Shabbat, a lot of shops are open.

The infusing of money, filthy lucre into things and the infusion of the commandments and doctrines of men into worship is very, very common, whether it be Islam, or whether it be Christianity, or whether it be Judaism.

What we want to do is we want to get back to following scripture and let that alone be our guide and seek out what Yahweh asks us to do. Why do we feel like we have to consult man? Why can't we just go and do what Yahweh says?

This is one of the things Yahushua criticized the people of His day about. In Mark 7:5-7:

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.

There's nothing new. The thing they were doing back then is the thing they're still doing today. Sadly, Orthodox Judaism today have made a religion out of following the very men that Yahushua was talking about here. The words of the men who Yahushua is speaking about here are written down in a document called the Talmud and Mishnah.

Those words and doctrines are preserved. Orthodox Judaism today and even conservative to some extent is nearly a carbon copy with some other things added, but nearly a carbon copy of what Yahushua was criticizing in the first century, because they're still following the teachings of Hillel and Shemi, the first century teachers of Israel.

We need to be careful, because Christianity has done the same thing. They have seminaries. I call them cemeteries. Seminaries where they're trained to teach you church doctrine. It's not about scripture. It's about church doctrine and finding scripture to justify the status quo.

We have to be very careful. We have to be aware, all of us. Myself, every one of us, we have to be aware of any areas where we are ignoring the words and doctrines found in scripture in favor of holding fast the traditions that Yahweh never commanded, especially when those traditions have their roots in some kind of idolatry, which I know idolatry is basically the worship of demons.

We don't want that. Looking at Pesach, at Passover, I find it so abominable to throw out the beautiful feast of Passover, which was ordained to bring into remembrance how Yahweh saves us, and the beauty of Yahushua, to throw that out and instead take a day named after an idol and observe that day.

That's just so abominable, if you really think about it. So we don't want any of that. We don't do that anymore. We want to walk away from the things that are rooted in other religions and get back to the one true faith that was once delivered to the saints.

That's what our goal needs to be. We don't want to stick our chest out and get prideful and walk around peering down the nose at everybody else. We don't need to go there. That's just going to set us up for a fall.

We also need to find the things that are wrong and turn from them, and cleave to the things Yahweh has commanded. Let's keep the feasts, as Paul said in 1 Corinthians 5:8. Let's keep the feasts. In the Feast of Unleavened Bread, we're told that we are to purge our homes of all leavening.

Personally, we like to sweep the floor and furniture, in case any crumbs of anything have gotten in. We open the couches up and see if there's any leavening there. We wave and clean our toaster out. When we're finished sweeping everything, we take the sweeper bag out and burn it.

We're not trying to be legalists here. We're just trying to follow Yahweh's commands carefully. He said to get rid of all the leaven. It's just to remember how diligent we're supposed to be in getting rid of sin. We also purchase or make wine or grape juice. We make grape juice. We go to the store and buy grapes that have seeds in them. We squeeze it down and make our own grape juice.

We also like to make our own unleavened bread. If you're interested in knowing how to make unleavened bread, I can give you a link. Go to EliYah.com/recipes.html. You can find some recipes on how to make unleavened bread. It's very simple.

There's some things we have to keep in mind when we're doing these things. We're partaking of the body and blood of Messiah. We're partaking of the Passover. We have to hold a certain amount of sincerity and reverence, because we are partaking that which symbolizes the Messiah Himself, and we are partaking of Him.

The Corinthian assembly in 1 Corinthians 11 were lacking in reverence, and he said in 1 Corinthians 11:20-26:

1Corinthians 11:20 - When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat Yahushua's supper.

You notice here they all come together in one place, so I do believe it's supposed to be a gathering of Yahweh's people.

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 need to remember this is proclaiming Yahushua's death until He comes. What time of year do we do it? Most of the world does it on Easter Sunday or does it on Sundays. That's when He was resurrected. But we do it when He died, and that was on Passover day.

We know Yahushua died on Passover day. They cooked the lamb and partook of it that night. So we want to do it during that time that the Passover lambs were to be eaten. There are different understandings of when something was done after His death or before His death. I'm not going to get into that subject today, but everyone be fully persuaded in their minds.

Some people say, as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you show Yahushua's death 'til He come. They say that must mean you have to do it often like every Sunday. Often can refer to a once per year event. For example, in Hebrews 9:24-25, it says:

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--

So here's a once-a-year event that's being referred to as often. We know there's an anniversary of Yahushua's death every year. I think that often does not have to be every week or whatever, but over a lifetime. Let's say I live another 50 years, then I can say for the last 70 years, I have taken that often. Continuing in 1 Corinthians, verse 27 and 28, chapter 11:

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.

That's quite a warning we have there in verse 27. We don't want to be guilty as a murderer of the body and blood of Messiah. We want to be relieved from guilt.

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.

Very interesting. We see a physical sickness, physical weakness, physical death corresponding to a lack of reverence in partaking of the Passover. Obviously, that would be something we want to be sure we are taking with a lot of weight.

I think, at this time, we want to here in the next month start examining ourselves and consider what Yahushua has done for us. It is no small thing in Yahweh's eyes to give His only Son to die for us. It is an awesome act of love and service.

That's what we're here to remember. Verse 28, let a man examine himself. We're at a point now, brethren, when we want to begin to examine ourselves and see and pray, Yahweh show us any areas of our lives that we need to change and overcome.

1Corinthians 11:31 - For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.

We need to judge ourselves and examine ourselves before the partaking of this Passover. We need to ask Yahweh to cleanse our hearts, to reveal any wicked thing therein. Ask Him to show us our own heart. We can't see it sometimes. We want to be sincere, humble, and repentant before Him, as we partake of His Passover.

Let's take some time in the next month and reflect on the need to get rid of all the sin out of our lives, as we rid our physical homes of the leaven, we want to get our hearts, our lives, our minds cleansed.

Brethren, I can say that my time here in the land has given me some time of reflection in this area. I see things in me I never saw before, being here, things I've been wanting to overcome, and things I didn't even know I had. I praise Yahweh for that, and I'm sure that all of us can continue to draw near to Yahweh in this time here in the next month or so and find things we need to change.

Let's pray Yahweh shows us the leaven in our lives. Let's renew our commitment to serving Him with all of our heart, all of our soul, and all of our mind. Let's purge out, by the blood of Messiah, any old sin that keeps rearing its ugly head from time to time.

Let's be ready to walk anew. That's His desire. Aviv brings the first month and new year of Yahweh. In the world, they have their new year's resolutions. This year I'm going to be this way now. I'm going to change this or change that. I don't know if that's patterned after this, but this is a time where we really need to make--the true new year comes around in about three weeks.

Let's make a true resolution to Yahweh to serve Him in purity, and holiness, and truth. This year we're going to grow closer to Yahweh and closer to each other. This year we're going to work together to accomplish His will, and this year we're going to spend time together as His people and stay connected with each other.

As the evil days approach, we're going to need each other. Most of all, we need Yahweh in our lives in a greater and mightier way. We don't see what lies in store for us in this world yet, but it's not looking good right now, the days ahead. It's looking pretty rough.

But we know one thing. Yahushua is going to return and straighten out the crooked places, and all the mountains of Israel and the valleys will be made a plain, south and west of Yerushalayim, and Yerushalayim will be lifted up on high, seen from afar, and the house of Yahweh glorified.

In the coming days, Yahushua told us, He said, "Watch ye therefore," in Luke 21:36:

Luke 21:36 - Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

That's something we are encouraged by Yahushua Himself to pray always. So let's ask ourselves, are we closer to the example Yahushua showed us than we were a year ago? Will we be accounted worthy? Are we progressing? Are we taking back ground that was given to the enemy at one time? Are we walking closer to Yahushua's example?

Those are the questions of the next month. I hope we can answer, "Yes, we are progressing." But if you're not, it's not too late. It's not too late. If you're backsliding--they call it in scripture--Yahweh knows that while our heart beats, mercy is available to us. We have a chance now.

These are the many things, brethren, that Passover has to teach us. A time of drawing near, a time of reflection, a time of examining ourselves and judging ourselves, so that we will not be judged, a time of remembering, remembering, remembering how we've been brought out of Egypt. We've been brought out of bondage, and the blood of the Lamb has brought us victory.

Blessed be His name. May Yahweh bless you, and may He have mercy on us all. Hallelujah.