If God is For You Nothing Can Be Against You!

(Last Day of Day Unleavened Bread—2019)

The Lord will fight for you, help you and intervene in all the circumstances in your life

Fred R. Coulter—April 26, 2019

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Greetings, brethren! Welcome to the last day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread! This is the seventh day of the Feast, and tomorrow is a regular Sabbath! Let's start in as we do every Holy Day in Lev. 23.

As I have said many times, and I'll repeat again, because some repetition is not vain; some repetition, in fact in many cases a lot of repetition is needed. Just like if you're doing exercises, if you just do one or two you've done nothing. You have to repeat, repeat, repeat until the muscles get sore and they get stronger.

Well, the same way with us as Christians. The more we understand the Word of God, the more we get into the Word of God, the more that we are given understanding and knowledge by God through His Spirit. It's not our work that does it, it's our work with God's Spirit and with His Word… As Jesus said concerning His words, 'They are Spirit and they are Life.' In other words, these are the words of salvation!

What God did with the Holy Days, and this is the only chapter in the entire Bible—Lev. 23—that has all the Holy Days listed consecutively, one after the other. The first one is the weekly Sabbath, then the Passover. That's the two most important to have contact with God.

Now then, we've already had the first day of Unleavened Bread, and I hope that during the days between that you did extra study and extra prayer, and did the things that you know you need to do in order to help get the leaven out of your lives. In other words, the sins, the weaknesses, the carnality and everything of human nature.

Leviticus 23:6: "And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the Feast of Unleavened Bread…"

We're to unleaven our houses, everything that we have, and we are to eat unleavened bread for seven days! As we have learned, that is to get the leaven of sin out of our lives, and put in the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth, which is the Word of God!

• there's no sin in the Word of God
• there's no sin in the Spirit of God

That's why we need that! Human nature, as we know, is desperately wicked and deceitful above all things! Look at what's happening in the world. It's just running wild. That's why God has called and chosen us, because He is preparing us by perfecting us with:

• His Spirit
• His Word
• His Holy Days

And the things that we do to prepare us for the resurrection!

We've got the greatest and most important job to do. That is to save the world under Christ and bring the rule and administration of God to all the nations of the world. This life, in changing, growing and overcoming—with God's Spirit, Truth and Word—is preparation for what God has called us for.

Verse 6: "And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the LORD.. You must eat unleavened bread seven days."

I don't think I've had the question—Should we eat unleavened bread during the days of Unleavened Bread?—for a number of years. Finally, they understand what must means! That's not 'I suggest…' That is a command!

Verse 7: "On the first day you shall have a Holy convocation. You shall not do any servile work therein, but you shall offer a fire offering…" (vs 7-8).

I submit to you that's a whole lot more expensive than whatever offering that you're going to give. Remember: don't give an offering like Cain! Whatever just happens to fall in your hand, to give an offering to God you must prepare, it must be done in a good and proper way to glorify God.

"…In the seventh day is a Holy convocation. You shall do no servile work therein" (v 8). The offerings then were every day; now we just take them up on the first and last day.

Let's see a spiritual principle. This is true! Not only this a spiritual principle, but it's true in about everything you do. They were preparing to send the crops that they would raise to Jerusalem to help relieve the famine, so Paul says, which is true physically and true spiritually:

2-Corinthians 9:6: "But this I say: the one who sows sparingly shall also reap sparingly; and the one who sows bountifully shall also reap bountifully."

But it is our choice; whatever you choose to give is your choice. Your choice is reflected in:

• your love of God
• your attitude toward God
• your attitude toward giving tithes and offerings
• your attitude toward what to do on the Holy Day

God is doing a spiritual work in us! Paul said, 'If we've sown to you the spiritual things, is it any great thing if we reap the physical things?' NO! Of course, we use all the money to:

• feed the flock
• preach the Gospel
• do the things that God wants us to do
• help everyone be prepared for the return of Christ

Verse 7: "Each one as he purposes in his heart, so let him give, but not grudgingly or by compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver."

Here's a promise, and this promise doesn't come instantly. This promise may come a bit over a number of years; year after year!

Verse 8: "For God is able to make all grace abound toward you…"

• You want the grace of God—don't you?
• How are we saved?
• By the grace of God!
• By the power of God!
• By His Spirit!

"…so that in every way you may always have sufficiency in all things, and may abound unto every good work, according as it is written: 'He has scattered abroad, and he has given to the poor; his righteousness remains forever.' Now, may He Who supplies seed to the sower, and bread to eat, supply your seed and multiply your sowing; and may He increase the fruits of your righteousness" (vs 8-10). That's how we are to give to God! Look at what God has given to us!

• Where did we start? Passover, the crucifixion of Christ!
• What did God do to make that possible so that we could be called?

Think about all of that!
(pause for offering)

We've already covered the things concerning the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Night to be Much Observed, and I hope you like that new booklet by Steve Green who added to what Wayne Stenhouse wrote. There's a brand new cover on that thanks to Randy Vild.

Exodus 13:17: "And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, God did not lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines although that was near… [He didn't lead them there because that would have taken right up to the 'promised land.'] …for God said, 'Lest the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt.'"

God knew what He was saying, because that's exactly what they said when the difficulty came upon them at the Red Sea.

Verse 18: "But God led the people toward the way of the wilderness of the Red Sea…." Not the Reed Sea! Anyone who says the Reed Sea—like these agnostic and atheistic historian—are stupid!

"…And the children of Israel went up armed out of the land of Egypt. And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for he had strictly sworn the children of Israel, saying, 'God will surely visit you, and you shall carry my bones away from here with you.' And they moved from Succoth and camped in Etham at the edge of the wilderness. And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud to lead them in the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, to go by day and night" (vs 18-21).

Keep that in mind because that becomes important when they cross the Red Sea.

Verse 22: "He did not take away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night from before the people." And add on there for 40 years! Think on that!

Exodus 14:1: "And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 'Speak to the children of Israel that they turn and camp before Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, over against Baal Zephon. You shall camp before it by the sea, for Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, 'They are trapped in the land; the wilderness has shut them in' (vs 1-3).

God is putting them in a position so they will learn a lesson. They need God to fight for them! They're not going to do it on their own. When God does things like this, He put us, sometimes, into very difficult positions.

Verse 4: "'And I will harden Pharaoh's heart that he will follow them. And I will be glorified through Pharaoh and all his army, so that the Egyptians may know that I am the LORD.' And they did so."

History records that it took 400 years for Egypt to recover from the destruction that God brought upon them to bring the children of Israel out of Egypt and the destruction of the army and Pharaoh at the Red Sea.

Verse 5: "…'Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us?'"

They had slaves to bring everything to them. If you want to know what it was like, think about how you would get along if every one of your appliances were removed out of your house and you had to go back to doing it all by hand? Think on that for a minute, because that's what they were looking at: a destroyed Egypt and all their slaves gone!

Verse 6: "And he made his chariot ready and took his people with him. And he took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, and captains over every one of them. And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh, king of Egypt…." (vs 6-8).

That's one thing you never want to ever happen to you. Don't you harden your heart toward God or be offended because someone does something. God is in charge and He knows all, even before whatever act that offended you came about. Don't do like that!

Verse 9: "So, the Egyptians pursued them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army…."

Verse 10: "And when Pharaoh drew near, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes. And, behold, the Egyptians marched after them. And they were very afraid. And the children of Israel cried out to the LORD. And they said to Moses, 'Have you taken us away to die in the wilderness because there were no graves in Egypt? Why have you dealt this way with us to carry us forth out of Egypt? Did we not tell you this word in Egypt, saying…" (vs 10-12).

What were they doing in Egypt? Moaning and groaning and crying out to God! You see how short human nature is, and memory is, when you get all involved with your emotions and get angry and short-tempered? That's what happened here!

"'…"Let us alone so that we may serve the Egyptians?" for it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than that we should die in the wilderness'" (v 12). We're going to learn some lessons from this!

Verse 13: "And Moses said to the people…" Here's something that's also true: whoever is the leader or overseer, minister, elder; husband or whatever, you must be strong in the Lord like Moses!

Look at what Moses said, and this is the lesson for the last day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Remember that we can draw parallels, because Satan is out there in the world after the people of God. Just like Pharaoh was out there after the people of Israel.

Verse 13: "And Moses said to the people, 'Fear not!…. [don't be afraid of the circumstances] …Stand still and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will work for you today, for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you shall never see them again! The LORD shall fight for you, and you shall be still'" (vs 13-14).

Let's look at the lessons that we have from this.

• we're not to be afraid
• we're not to accuse God
• we're not to complain to God
• we are to look to God
• God is going to fight for you
• go forward

That's one of the most important things of the Feast of Unleavened Bread: go forward! All of sins are put under the blood of Jesus Christ. We're not to go back and get into our sins. We are to go forward! Leave them where they are buried!

Verse 14: "'The LORD shall fight for you, and you shall be still.' And the LORD said to Moses, 'Why do you cry to Me? Speak to the children of Israel that they go forward. And you—lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea, and divide it….'" (vs 14-16). How are you going to divide the sea with a big stick?

"…And the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea. And behold, I am about to harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them. And I will get honor for Myself upon Pharaoh, and over all his army, over his chariots and over his horsemen. And the Egyptians shall know…" (vs 16-18).

There may have been one or two that didn't get done there, and when the rest the Egyptians found out about this:

"…that I am the LORD when I will be glorified through Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen" (v 18).

Now let's see something else that God does; He uses angels to intervene.

Verse 19: "And the angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, moved. And he went to the rear of them…."

Look at it this way: Here's the Red Sea and where they were the mountains were coming up right behind them. It's not far from the shore to the beginning of the mountains. So, here they are camping right along the Red Sea. That's important to understand, because it's impossible for them to cross the Red Sea in such a short period of time if they went in a column. You can read of that in The Christian Passover book.

I talk about the Rose Parade in Pasadena, and how long it takes the parade to pass from one point to another, and how long the parade really is. This required many more people than a parade.

Verse 20: "And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel. It was a cloud of darkness to one… [the Egyptians] …but gave light by night to the other… [Israel] …so that the two did not come near one another all night. And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. And the LORD drove the sea back with a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground…." (vs 20-22). Think on that!

The only way they could cross would be the whole column in a flanking movement, because they went beginning with the morning watch—just when it's just barely the crack of dawn—and they got across very quickly.

Verse 24: "And in the morning watch it came to pass that the LORD looked down upon the army of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and the army of the Egyptians was thrown into confusion"—because they went right in!

It says in v 23 that they went right into the middle of the sea.

Verse 25: "And He loosened their chariot wheels, and made them go heavily, so that the Egyptians said, 'Let us flee from the face of Israel, for the LORD fights for them against the Egyptians.' And the LORD said to Moses, 'Stretch out your hand over the sea, so that the waters may come back upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen.' And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea. And the sea returned to its strength…" (vs 25-27).

It had to be quite deep. Not steep, because it would have been too hard for the children of Israel to cross. But may have been 30 feet deep, but it wasn't just a puddle and just walk through the middle of it.

"…And the sea returned to its strength when the morning appeared. And the Egyptians tried to flee from it. And the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the middle of the sea. And the waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen…" (vs 27-28)—everything!]

That's how God will fight for us! We need to understand that! That's quite a thing! The Lord saved them and the Israelites were all happy. They were cheering, dancing and probably getting souvenirs that floated up. Of course, none of the weapons would float up. Who knows what came up!

Now let's see something very important that we can learn, because this day is that:

• the Lord will fight for you
• the Lord will help you
• the Lord will intervene in all the circumstances in your life

IF you're praying and staying close to God!

We're going to spend quite a bit of time in the Psalms. Go through and red all the Psalms, study them and mark every place where it is:

• God helps
• I'm your helper
• I will fight for you
• I will intervene for you
• God is my strength
• God is my pillar
• God is my high tower

All of those things together!

Notice how Psa. 18 starts out and how important it is. What is the greatest commandment that each one of us are to do? Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength! That's how we are to approach God! We're not to be like the Protestants who come to church on Sunday and have a nice little sermon given to them. They're all told how good they are and that God will help them. Then they go on their way!

First of all, they're not obeying God, they don't love God in the way that God says to love Him. Some people may love God, but God shows that if you're going to love Him you're going to be keeping His commandments. Isn't that true? Yes! So, keep all of that in mind with:

Psalm 18:1: "I love You, O LORD, my strength." Think about that for a minute! Jesus said when He was on the earth, 'I do nothing of Myself!' It was the strength and Spirit of God!

Verse 2: "The LORD is my Rock, and my Fortress, and my Deliverer; my God, my Rock in Whom I take refuge; He is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower"—everything of strength! How is this received?

Verse 3[transcriber's correction]: "I will call on the LORD, Who is worthy to be praised, so shall I be saved from my enemies."

Here's why David was so happy and joyous of this, v 4: "The cords of death hemmed me in, and the floods of ungodliness assailed me. The cords of the grave surrounded me; the snares of death confronted me" (vs 4-5). That could also apply to Jesus during His great struggle of the crucifixion!

Verse 6: "In my distress…" So, if you have trouble and distress come, don't complain to God, do this:

"…I called on the LORD, and I cried to my God; He heard my voice out of His temple, and my cry came before Him into His ears" (v 6).

Notice what God did, because David was such a man of God, v 7: "Then the earth shook and trembled; and the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken because He was angry." That's how to have your problems solved, right there!

Verse 18: "They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the LORD was my stay." God was there to help!

I want you to look back and think. I don't know how long you've been in the Church, but think about all the problems and difficulties you have gone through and ask: Didn't God see me through all of these? In some cases miraculous health healing. In some cases losing a job and you didn't know what to do, and you got another job. As long as you remain faithful to God and look to Him, He will work it out! Sometimes it will take a longer period of time, but that's just the way that it is.

Verse 19: "He brought me forth also into a large place; He delivered me because He delighted in me."

Does God delight in us? Yes! If we're seeking Him; if we're loving Him, of course He delights in us! We need to respond to God and do the things that delight Him. We covered that during Unleavened Bread:

• put out the sin, put in righteousness
• get rid of the anger, put in the love

Verse 20: "The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness…" David's righteousness was the righteousness of God, not his own righteousness. Likewise with us, everything that we do in Sabbath and commandment keeping and the righteousness that comes from God is through His grace, mercy, Spirit and power. Not something that we do and God must obey us. No, indeed!

"…according to the cleanness of my hands He has repaid me" (v 20). Of course, that's sure going to be true in the resurrection!

Let's see how this is. Remember, God not only called you, chose you, gave you His Spirit, and is perfecting you, but God wants you to yield to Him completely, and He will fight for you!

Why didn't God fight for those who were being carried off to be beheaded? He was there to help, and the victory was that they were faithful! In many cases the Waldensians and people in the Middle Ages that were being killed and persecuted by the Roman Catholic Church, when they were hauled off they were praising God. They knew that their victory would be the resurrection!

So, in this age where we have everything handed to us, not only on a silver platter, but with the silver platter. We don't think of things in that way, but we better begin to think of them in that way, because lo, the days of judgment are coming! We want to be on God's side and not the side of the world.

Psalm 27:1: "The LORD is my Light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?…. [no one] …The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?"

This is one of those terrible battles that David fought, but also apply this to Christ in His life.

Verse 2: "When the wicked, my enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though an army should encamp against me, my heart shall not be afraid; though war should rise against me, even then I will be confident" (vs 2-3).

There is a book: A Thousand Shall Fall by Susi Hasel Mundy, a German man who was a Seventh-Day Adventist. He was subscripted into the Nazi army. He was put into the engineers and they gave him a pistol. He got rid of it because he carved a wooden pistol and put it in his holster and carried it through the whole war.

God protected his family back home, in spite of the bombings they all survived. It was difficult sometimes, and God sent some angels to help them on occasion, but they survived. He got through the war and no one knew that it was a wooden pistol until the allied American soldiers were collecting their weapons and having them throw in a heap as they came into the prisoner of war camp. Boom! Up popped the wooden pistol. Think about that! They were trusting in God. Even in the enemy's army!

Verse 4: "One thing I have desired from the LORD, that I will seek after…" Notice that David kept his mind and purpose and eyes on the goal: the resurrection and living with God in New Jerusalem!

"…that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life… [for eternity] …to behold the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in His temple" (v 4).

We're going to also see that the Old Testament is put together exactly as it says in Isa. 28, 'here a little, there a little, a line here, a line there, precept upon precept.'

Here is a verse praising God to be resurrected into the Kingdom of God. Then it comes back to the very next verse, and this is the way that the Old Testament is written. This is why we need to understand the Sabbath, the Holy Days and the Word of God. That's why Paul told Timothy to 'rightly divide the Word of God.'

If you're at the temple of God, this isn't going to happen, but this is how God designed and had the Bible written.

Verse 5: "For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion, in the secret place of His tabernacle … [in another place it says under His wings] …He shall hide me; He shall set me upon a rock. And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies round about me; therefore, I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy in His tabernacle. I will sing; yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD" (vs 5-6).

Psa. 12 is one we might pray quite often, because the way that the world is going it is getting more satanic and more ungodly almost every day, every week, however you want to measure it.

Psalm 12:1: "Help, O LORD, for the Godly man ceases… [look at the way everything in the world is] …for the faithful disappear from among the children of men."

Isn't that something? Those you thought would be right and upstart and everything, they just vanished.

Verse 2: "They speak falsehood each one with his neighbor…"

Isn't that the way it is, not only just living, but when you look at the news they can't bring the news on some of those news channels unless they just lie. Then they accuse the President of lying and they twist his words to make it appear that he lies, but he hasn't lied. They have been trying two years to get him. I'll just has to say that God has to be with Donald Trump for him to endure all that he's endured. How would you like to be in his shoes? How do you think you would hold up? Well, you might pray for him!

Verse 3: "The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaks proud things."

Verse 8: "The wicked walk on every side when vileness is exalted among the sons of men." A perfect description of today! They exalt vileness!

Psalm 10:1—sometimes you're going to feel like this: "Why do You stand afar off, O LORD? Why do You hide Yourself in times of trouble? The wicked in his pride pursues the poor; let them be taken in the schemes that they have imagined, for the wicked boasts of his heart's desire, and blesses the covetous but despises the LORD. Through the pride of his countenance the wicked will not seek God; in all his thoughts there is no place for God" (vs 1-4). Another one just like it is today!

There's a lot more! If you get out your handy-dandy concordance and look up how many times it is: help and strengthen and all of that, you will see that the Psalms are filled with it.

Remember that if you've got some trouble and difficulty don't try and work it out with your own schemes and devices.

• pray
• fast
• ask God it intervene
• ask Him for wisdom and understanding
• ask God to help you

Psalm 33:16: "The king is not saved by a great army…"

• How true is that?
• How much does David know that that is true? When he was just a teenager he went out with his slingshot and killed Goliath!

All the army and King Saul were afraid! 'Oh, we can't go out and fight this guy.' David said, 'How dare you defy the Almighty God!' He took his sling and whack! Like a bullet right between the eyes! Then he ran over and grabbed his sword and cut off Goliath's head. That's a good example of what Christ is going to do when He returns to the earth. There's going to be a lot of blood, guts and gore!

"…a mighty man is not delivered by much strength. A horse is a vain thing for safety; neither shall it deliver any by its great strength" (vs 16-17).

Notice how God intervenes. Think about it if you've ever been a bad wreck. Think about it if you've ever had a sudden heart attack, or something like that and the doctors were amazed that you even survived. In some cases they've even said it's a miracle. Why? Because brethren were praying! That's why!

Verse 18: "Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon those who fear Him… [you love Him but you fear to go against Him because of His power] …upon those who hope in His loving kindness, to deliver their soul from death… [at that time, but it's given to all of us once to die; as in Adam we die] …and to keep them alive in famine" (vs 18-19).

Verse 20: "Our soul waits for the LORD; He is our help and our shield, for our heart shall rejoice in Him because we have trusted in His Holy name. Let Your loving kindness, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in You" (vs 20-22).

That's what we need to do! Hope in the God in everything!

This is why when you study the Bible, vary it. Read some of the Law, some of the Psalms, some of the Prophets; read the Gospels, Acts and the General Epistles, the Epistles of Paul and the book of Revelation. Remember that we have 110 Study Packs that we can send you. These are transcripts with a CD of the sermons. I hope that you will use our catalog wisely. Please remember to only order four items at a time. But you have everything there that you could possibly need at this time to grow in grace and knowledge and study.

Psa. 34—here's the attitude we need to have toward God. Always remember that —I remind myself every single day—in God we live and move and have our being!and We have nothing we didn't received!

• our lives
• everything about us
• the ability to have food
• the ability to work

It all comes from God! This will help all of us from getting lifted up in vanity and how great that some people may think things are, or we are. But we're not! It's all through God and Christ!

Psalm 34: "I will bless the LORD at all times… [not when you need it, but all the time] …His praise shall always be in my mouth. My soul shall make its boast in the LORD; the humble shall hear and be glad. O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together" (vs 1-3).

When that happens, your lives are going to be changed and different. Notice how God will respond to you. Look at it this way: God looks down on this earth and sees all the evil and wretchedness that's going on. Look at His people, those whom He has called:

• He loves us
• He's called us
• He cares for us

Do we love Him back the way that we should? That's the whole purpose of the Feast of Unleavened Bread: get rid of our carnality and put in Christ!

Verse 4: "I sought the LORD, and He answered me, and delivered me from all my fears." That's very important to realize and understand!

Verse 6: This poor man cried, and the LORD heard, and saved him out of all… [not just some] …his troubles."

What troubles do you have? God will save you from them! It might not be something instant; it might take time, but He will save you! Remember what Jesus said about praying: Always pray and you keep praying until you get the answer! That's what is so important.

Verse 7: "The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him and delivers them."

WOW! That's something! How many times have you been in situations where you know that God delivered you through His angels. That's something to think about!

Verse 14: "Depart from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it." That's growing in grace and knowledge! What will happen with that?

Verse 15: "The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry."

But notice for those who turn their backs on God, v 16: "The face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth."

• we have the greatest calling
• we have the greatest things that have been given to us
  • all the Word of God
  • time to pray
  • time to study
  • time to grow
  • time to overcome

No one is seeking to arrest us and cart us off and cut off our heads and torture us. So, How shall we respond to God? With greater zeal, with all our heart and everything that is in us! That's how it needs to be.

Verse 17: "The righteous cry, and the LORD hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles…. [repeated from v 6] …The LORD is near to the brokenhearted… [repentance, acknowledging sin] …and saves those who are of a contrite spirit" (vs 17-18). That's the sacrifice that God wants!

Now here's a promise; think about it. The great thing that God did at the Red Sea, opening it up and the children of Israel marching across. Think of what God did in so many other things. We'll see examples a little later.

But remember this, and think of the Apostle Paul and 2-Cor. 11 when you read this. All the troubles that he was in and went through, and all the false prophets that he had to fight, all of the false brethren who were against him, and all of the Jews who were against him. He went through great afflictions! But with the Spirit of God that inspired him to see the greatness and goodness of God through all! That's how we need to be.

Verse 19: "Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all."

Verse 22: "The LORD redeems the soul of His servants; and none of them who take refuge in Him shall be condemned." This is what this day is all about:

• how much God will help us
• how much we need to be perfected in unleavened bread
• how much we need to be humbled
• to get rid of human nature
• to get rid of sin
• to not rely on human schemes and devices in our lives to succeed

But to rely on God! The troubles in the world are sometimes almost like facing the Red Sea.

(go to the next track)

I want you to read all of Psa. 37 and think about each verse as you read it. This is talking about those who will be in the first resurrection.

Psalm 37:23: "The steps of a good man are made firm by the LORD, and He delights in his way."

If you are doing the will of God… Now, don't get all lifted up in vanity and think that 'God is for me.' He is, but not because of you alone, but because of His Spirit and what you have chosen to do with that. Yes, He loves you and delights in you and all of that.

Verse 24: "Though he fall…" How many times do we have troubles and difficulties where we fail and pick ourselves up and go on?

Listen! Perfection is never going to be achieved in the flesh! We are progressing toward it, however, perfection is only going to come at the resurrection. That's the whole goal of God with all the saints.

Verse 24: "Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down, for the LORD upholds him with His hand. I have been young, and now I am old; yet, I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging bread" (vs 24-25). That's quite an observation! That's a promise as well.

Verse 26: "All the day long he deals graciously and lends, and his children are blessed. Depart from evil and do good… [we have a hymn after that] …and live forevermore" (vs 26-27). The only way you're going to live forevermore is if there's a resurrection!

Verse 28: "For the LORD loves justice and does not forsake His saints…" He doesn't forsake any one of us! That's the promise that we are going to see in the New Testament. So strong!

"…they are preserved forever, but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off. The righteous shall inherit the earth and dwell in it forever" (vs 28-29). Think of that! This is why we have the Feast of Unleavened Bread:

• so that we can concentrate on Scriptures like this
• so we can be inspired to change, grow and overcome
• so we can be encouraged to repent
• so we can reaffirm our love to God
• so we can rededicate our lives
• so we can put out all the carnality
• so we can put in the righteousness of God through His Spirit and His Word

Verse 37: "Mark the blameless man and behold the upright one, for the end of that man is peace. But the sinners shall be destroyed together…" (vs 37-38).

Does this not confirm the resurrection, the second part of the second resurrection of the wicked to be cast in the Lake of Fire? Think about it! The wicked—sinners—"…the sinners shall be destroyed together…"

Go all the way back to Cain! All the way to the very last unrepentant sinner down through history says that they're going to be destroyed together.

• Doesn't that confirm Rev. 20? Yes, indeed!
• Doesn't that confirm the other Scriptures that we find in the Old and New Testaments about the death of the wicked? Yes, indeed, it does!

"…the prosperity of the wicked shall be cut off. But the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; He is their strength in the time of trouble" (vs 38-39).

That's why we have troubles! We don't like them, but we have troubles to see if we're going to trust in God to help us! To solve the problem, rather than try and work it out ourselves. That's why Paul said that 'he had joy in tribulation.' Why? It's hard to have joy in tribulation! Why? Because you learn to trust God even more!

• Is that not a benefit?
• Is that not good?

Yet, at the same time it tests us whether we will trust God or not!

Verse 40: "And the LORD shall help them and deliver them; He shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them because they take refuge in Him."

Someone asked me if I could give some Psalms that encourage us. My answer is that the whole book of Psalms encourages us! Read and study the Psalms.

Psalm 109:21: "But You, O GOD the Lord, deal kindly with me for Your name's sake because Your mercy is good, deliver me, for I am poor and needy…" (vs 21-22).

When you stop and think about it, even if we pull ourselves up by our bootstraps as high as we can, are we not poor and needy? Yes!

"…and my heart is wounded within me" (v 22). That means great depression!

Verse 24: "My knees are weak from fasting, and my flesh has become gaunt. And I also became a reproach to them when they looked upon Me; they shook their heads. Help me, O LORD my God…" (vs 24-26).

How weak and terrible this was. Could this be part of some of Jesus' thoughts when He was fasting for 40 days and 40 nights? Could be!

"…save me according to Your steadfast love; so that they may know that this is of Your hand; that You, LORD, have done it" (vs 26-27). That's probably about Christ and al the things that He went through!

Verse 28:"They will curse, but You will bless; when they arise, let them be ashamed; but let Your servant rejoice. Let my accusers be clothed with confusion, and let them wrap themselves in their own shame, as with a cloak" (vs 28-29).

Notice how the commandments of God really help us:

• it gives us character, because we resist evil
• it gives us strength, because it comes from God
• it gives us perspective when we are in trouble and difficulty, but also because we know we need to look to God to help us

Psalm 119:86: "All Your commandments are faithful… [they always work] …they persecute me wrongfully; help me!"

Look up how many times help is used in the Psalms and other places. We'll see how God intervened to help in a minute.

Verse 173: "Let Your hand help me… [God will use an angel to do that] …for I have chosen Your precepts. I have longed for Your salvation, O LORD, and Your law is my delight. Let my soul live, and it shall praise You; and let Your ordinances help me. I have gone astray… [we all do] …like a lost sheep; seek Your servant, for I do not forget Your commandments" (vs 173-176).

Quite a thing! Quite a way to end that long, long Psalm! Now let's see how God helped all the children of Judah in the days of King Hezekiah when King Sennacherib of Assyria came to destroy Judah and Jerusalem.

Here's what King Hezekiah did when he hears, because Sennacherib sent some of his chief captains to the Jews and tell them, 'Do you want to die? or Do you want to live? Look at what we've done to all of these nations, even going down to Egypt, and getting all the things that they have—all the loot and bounty—and we killed their gods. Why do you think your God is going to save you? We're going to come in destroy everyone and take everything?' When that happened:

2-Kings 19:1: "Then it came to pass when King Hezekiah heard, he tore his clothes and covered himself with sackcloth. And he went into the house of the LORD."

He went straight to God because sure enough, they did what they said. They took down all of those countries and took all of those things.

Verse 2: "And he sent Eliakim who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz. And they said to him, 'Thus says Hezekiah, "This is a day of trouble and of rebuke and contempt, for the children have come to the point of birth, and there is no strength to bring forth"'" (vs 2-3). They knew this was dire, because the army was a great and huge army!

Verse 4: "It may be the LORD your God will hear all the words of the chief field commander with which his master the king of Assyria has sent to reproach the living God, and will rebuke the words, which the LORD your God has heard. And you shall lift up prayer for the rest who are left" (vs 4-5).

Verse 6: "And Isaiah said to them, 'You shall say to your master, "Thus says the LORD, 'Do not be afraid of the words which you have heard with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed Me. Behold, I will send a blast upon him, and he shall hear a rumor and shall return to his own land. And I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land'" (vs 6-7).

That was by the hands of his son, because this was such a great and overwhelming defeat. Only the king and his servant made it back to Assyria. Think of that whole army. Now let's see the summary of it:

Verse 32: "'Therefore, thus says the LORD concerning the king of Assyria. "He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shield, nor throw up a bank against it. By the way that he came, by the same way he shall return, and shall not come into this city," says the LORD'" (vs 32-33).

You have no one greater to fight for you than God! God can fight and take care of enemies, regardless of who they are; regardless of what it is. Even if they take your life, they have lost! Is that not true of Christ? They took His life, but they lost! How were they completely conquered? By His resurrection! Always keep those things in mind!

Verse 34: "'For I will defend this city, to save it for My own sake and for My servant David's sake.' And it came to pass that night, the angel of the LORD went out and struck a hundred and eighty-five thousand in the camp of the Assyrians. Now, when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead bodies" (vs 34-35).

The only ones to arise were the king and maybe a general or two. I imagine that they rose up, woke up in the tent and didn't hear a thing—dead silence! So, they throw back the flap of the tent and they look out and everything is dead; all the men and probably all of the animals! What a complete victory that that was! You talk about help!

Verse 36: "And Sennacherib king of Assyria departed. And he went and returned and lived at Nineveh. And it came to pass as he was worshiping in the house of Nisroch his god, Adrammelech and Sharezer, his sons, struck him down with the sword…." (vs 36-37).

Remember what happened: Hezekiah was righteous, but he had one great fault. Can you imagine how the news of this spread throughout the Middle East? An army of a 180,000 killed? And all the Jews spent days and days taking the loot back into Jerusalem. They had wealth untold because of that!

So, here come the ambassadors from Babylon. Hezekiah was also told by Isaiah that he was about to die, so Hezekiah prayed to God, and God changed His mind because of Hezekiah's prayer. God said, 'I'll give you 15 years more.' So, here he is after all of that, all the humility of trusting in God for the armies to be killed, and all the humility of turning to God to thank Him for it. Then when he was stricken with this whatever his sickness was, he prayed and God forgave him and healed him and gave him 15 more years. Here come the ambassadors from Babylon and said, 'Oh King, what a wonderful thing that we hear has happened. Tell us all about it. So, Hezekiah did, and he made the fatal mistake of showing them all the wealth and treasures of the booty that they received from the dead soldiers of the Assyrian army.

So, Isaiah[transcriber's correction] came in and said, 'What s this that you have done?' (Isa. 20:14-15). Isaiah told him, 'God says that this is all going to Babylon, but it won't happen in your days.' Then Hezekiah said, 'Is it not good that it's not going to happen in my day?' That was a fatal mistake of his, because after him came Manasseh; 55 years of nothing but sin and paganism!

We've got to be true and faithful to God. And if something good happens, don't get carnal and stupid!

Rom. 8 is quite a chapter. Actually, Rom. 1-8 is one full segment as it were on:

• how God intervenes
• what the world is like
• what sinners are like, how we get forgiveness through Christ
• the meaning of baptism
• the meaning of under grace
• the meaning of under law

Then in Rom. 8 Paul brings out some great and tremendous things that we need to really sink our teeth into and really grasp. Let's understand and really look at this way and keep this in mind: we are called to be the sons and daughters—the children—of God the Father! God the Father is One Who intervened in our lives to draw us to Him! Think about that! That's how important that we are to God. Not that we get lifted up, but this gives us inspiration and determination, and strength to go forward in spite of everything!

This is what we need to know and really grasp, and let it sink deep into our very being:

Romans 8:10: "But if Christ be within you, the body is indeed dead because of sin; however, the Spirit is life because of righteousness."

• the righteousness of God to forgive us
• the righteousness of God that God gives, imparts to us

Verse 11: "Now, if the Spirit of Him Who raised Jesus from the dead is dwelling within you…"

Think of this for a minute: v 10 says, "And if Christ be within you… [the Spirit of Christ] (v 11): Now, if the Spirit of Him Who raised Jesus from the dead is dwelling within you…" That confirms John 14, the Spirit of Christ, or the mind of Christ, and the Spirit of the Father to be a son or daughter of God at the resurrection.

When we got through these things, we need to see how the whole Bible always fits together.

"…He Who raised Christ from the dead will also quicken your mortal bodies because of His Spirit that dwells within you. So then, brethren, we are not debtors to the flesh, to live according to the flesh; because if you are living according to the flesh, you shall die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death… [overcoming; a great part of the meaning of the Feast of Unleavened Bread] …the deeds of the body… [the flesh] …you shall live" (vs 11-13).

Verse 14: "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God. Now, you have not received a spirit of bondage again unto fear…" (vs 14-15). Not like the world; that bondage and fear comes from Satan the devil!

"…but you have received the Spirit of sonship, whereby we call out, 'Abba, Father.'" (v 15). We have that close connection with God with His Spirit. That's why you hear us say all the time that it is:

• a way of living
• prayer and study
• prayer and fasting
• drawing close to God
• living His way

Verse 16: "The Spirit itself bears witness conjointly with our own spirit, testifying that we are the children of God."

Verse 17—one of the greatest verses in the Bible, because it gives us:

• the greatest hope
• the greatest understanding
• the greatest anchor for
  • faith
  • hope
  • belief

This is the ultimate goal of God! Remember that we are the called, the chosen by the Father and faithful!

Verse 17: "Now, if we are children, we are also heirs—truly, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ—…"

What did He receive? The universe (Heb. 1)! If you're an heir you share in ownership. That is mind-boggling! But that is the great plan of God. This is why it is so important that we need to get rid of sin.

"…if indeed we suffer together with Him, so that we may also be glorified together with Him. For I reckon that the sufferings of the present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us" (vs 17-18).

When you get yourself into a pity-party of how difficult it is, remember this; it's why God wants you. So, take your pity-party to God and quit living in your own tears.

Verse 19[transcriber's correction]: "For the earnest expectation of the creation itself is awaiting the manifestation of the sons of God; because the creation was subjected to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of Him who subjected it in hope" (vs 19-20).

There's hope for the whole world! God's plan is so vast, so great that even what we understand with the Word of God and the Holy Days, we understand just a little bit.

Verse 21: "In order that the creation itself might be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God." That's when we're in the Kingdom of God!

Verse 28: "And we know that all things…" I want you to stop and think! The good, the bad, the ugly, the joyful, the sorrow, the disappointing, the fulfilling, all things! Think about everything that you go through. It's going to be working toward the salvation of God when you take it all to God.

Remember the Psalm that we read; many are the afflictions of the righteous, but God delivers them out of them all!

Verse 28: "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose… [we have been called to His purpose] …because those whom He did foreknow…" (vs 28-29).

He is foreknowing us now; that doesn't mean something way back before God created the world.

"…He also predestinated to be conformed to the image of His own Son…" (v 29). That is God's predetermined plan to the image of Christ, to the glory of His body. Think of that!

"…that He might be the Firstborn among many brethren…. [How sure is this?] …Now, whom He predestinated, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified" (vs 29-30).

That's talking of the future when it will be, before it happens. However—since we have the Spirit of God—we have that much glory, but that comes from God. Notice what Paul writes, thinking about all the things that he went through:

Verse 31: "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us… [which He is] …who can be against us?" No one, nothing! God is going to let us inherit the earth and rule with Christ! Nothing can be against us!

Verse 32: "He Who did not spare even His own Son, but gave Him up for us all, how shall He not also grant us all things together with Him?" All things:

• the Kingdom of God
• rulership
• eternal life
• eternal love
• living in New Jerusalem

And beyond that! When we get to Rev. 21 & 22 about New Jerusalem, that's still on the earth. It doesn't tell us anything about what we're going to do out in the vastness of the universe with the billions and billions of stars that are out there. That's the glory that we are called to!

Verse 33: "Who shall bring an accusation against the elect of God? God is the One Who justifies. Who is the one that condemns? It is Christ Who died, but rather, Who is raised again, Who is even now at the right hand of God, and Who is also making intercession for us" (vs 33-34).

Christ makes intercession for us because the Holy Spirit within us conveys to God our prayers, our heart, our mind, our feeling; everything about us, and even in words that we ourselves cannot express. Spiritual words because of the Spirit!

Think about this, how steadfast and absolutely sure that we need to be concerning our salvation and what we are doing in loving God and serving Him:

Verse 35: "What shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?" Those are some pretty disastrous things to come along!How steadfast must our faith be with Christ in us? With the Father in us? God is going to see us through it! You need to understand that!

Verse 36: "Accordingly, it is written, 'For Your sake we are killed all the day long; we are reckoned as sheep for the slaughter.'" That certainly has happened down through history, and it's going to happen again!

Verse 37: "But in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him Who loved us."

Think about how joyful that the high priests were, and all the evil ones in Jerusalem when Jesus died on that cross! Then Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus came and prepared His body and put it in tomb. They thought that they had won! But what a surprise after His resurrection! They lost! Think of that way in your life.

• God is for you
• God is with you
• God is in you
• God loves you
• God is going to see you into the Kingdom of God

Verse 38: "For I am persuaded…" This is the persuasion that we need to come to! This is why we have the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

"…that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers…" (v 38). Nothing the spiritual realm is going to keep us out of the Kingdom of God if we are faithful and love God!

"…nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able… [have the power] …to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord: (vs 38-39).

Brethren, from the Red Sea to the resurrection of Christ, to the life of Paul and these inspired words of God, may you learn this lesson and deeply ingrain in your heart and mind, in your soul and being, so that you can have a greater relationship with God, being prepared to enter into the Kingdom of God when Christ returns.

This is the reason we keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread!

Scriptural References:

• Leviticus 23:6-8
• 2 Corinthians 9:6-10

• Exodus 13:17-22
• Exodus 14:1-22, 24-28
• Psalm 18:1-7, 18-20
• Psalm 27:1-6
• Psalm 12:1-3, 8
• Psalm 10:1-4
• Psalm 33:16-22
• Psalm 34:1-4, 6-7, 14-19, 22
• Psalm 37:23-29, 37-40
• Psalm 109:21-22, 24-29
• Psalm 119:86, 173-176
• 2 Kings 19:1-7, 32-37
• Romans 8:10-21, 28-39

Scriptures referenced, not quoted:

• Exodus 14:23
• Isaiah 28
• 2 Corinthians 11
• Revelation 20
• Isaiah 20:14-15
• John 14
• Hebrews 1
• Revelation 21; 22

Also referenced:

Booklet: The Night to be Much Observed by Steve Green

Books:

• The Christian Passover by Fred R. Coulter
• A Thousand Shall Fall by Susi Hasel Mundy

FRC:bo
Transcribed: 3/27/19

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