Last Day of Unleavened Bread – 2017

Go Forward!

God gives us the pattern of how He fights for us

Fred R. Coulter—April 17, 2017

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Greetings, everyone! Welcome to the last day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread 2017. As we say, time marches on, and it seems to get faster and faster as we get older and older. So, we know that this is a Holy Day of God, commanded that we assemble for a Holy convocation.

Even though you may be alone at home, you're not alone, because God the Father and Jesus Christ are with you so there are three gathered wherever you are even if you are alone. We know that all of the Holy Days are listed in Lev. 23, and we are told in v 6 concerning the first day the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which we've already kept.

Leviticus 23:6: "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."

Well, when the sun goes down tonight you can eat leavened bread. We've already had the first day Holy convocation and we've already had the weekly Sabbath during the Days of Unleavened Bread, and now here we are:

Verse 8: "...In the seventh day is a Holy convocation. You shall do no servile work therein."

Let's look and see the offerings that were made every day during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Num. 28 is quite an interesting chapter as we have covered leading up to the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Here we will look at one Scripture that tells us that there never was a planned Passover Sacrifice for the observance of the Passover Day by the people to have the lamb slain at the temple or tabernacle.

Numbers 28:16: "And in the fourteenth day of the first month is the Passover of the LORD." The only offerings that they offered on that day were the morning and evening offering. Now let's notice the offerings that were given during the rest of the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

Verse 17: "And in the fifteenth day of this month is the Feast. Seven days shall unleavened bread be eaten. In the first day shall be a Holy convocation. You shall do no kind of servile work. But you shall offer an offering made by fire for a burnt offering to the LORD: two young bulls, and one ram, and seven lambs of the first year. They shall be to you without blemish. And their grain offering shall be of flour mixed with oil: three tenth parts you shall prepare for a bull, and two tenth parts for a ram. You shall prepare one-tenth part for the one lamb, and for the seven lambs; and one goat, a sin offering to make an atonement for you. You shall prepare these besides the burnt offering at sunrise, which is for a continual burnt offering. In this way you shall offer daily, seven days, the bread of the sacrifice made by fire for a sweet savor to the LORD. It shall be offered besides the continual burnt offering and its drink offering. And on the seventh day you shall have a Holy convocation. You shall do no servile work" (vs 17-25).

Very interesting! That's what it means when it says that you're to 'offer an offering by fire for seven days' (Lev. 23). This doesn't mean that everyone attending the Feast offered a burnt offering every day during the Feast. Unfortunately, some people take it literally, and they say, 'I'm going to give so much for the Feast of Unleavened Bread, but I'm going to give it in seven parts, because it says you'll have offering seven days.' No, that is taken care of in Deut. 16. Let's review that again before we take up the offering, and remember this we are to gauge it according to the way that God has blessed us.

Deuteronomy 16:16: "Three times in a year shall all your males appear before the LORD your God in the place which He shall choose: in the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and in the Feast of Weeks, and in the Feast of Tabernacles. And they shall not appear before the LORD empty, every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD your God, which He has given you" (vs 16-17).

During the Feast of Unleavened Bread, especially on the day portion of the Passover, we have seen that those Passover offerings were for the redemption of the firstborn; for their male sons and all the males of animals of livestock belong to God. So, those went to the priest. These were given in addition to the offering that we have here.

Let's again review concerning the redemption of the firstborn. All of these things are very important for us to understand. When you talk about the firstborn, remember that the Church is the Church of the Firstborn. Through the Passover and the offerings that were given, we have the redemption of the firstborn!

In Exo. 34 we have this concerning the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Showing again that during the Passover Day, the day portion, they were bringing their redemption offerings. Perhaps that's why there were no offerings commanded on that day because you would not know how many offerings that there would be. With the redemption of the firstborn depending on how many people kept the Feast and how many children were born and how many animals were born in the redemption of them, etc.

Exodus 34:18[transcriber's correction]: "You shall keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread. You shall eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded you, in the time of the month Abib, for in the month Abib you came out from Egypt. All that opens the womb is Mine… [every single one is mine] …all firstlings of male livestock, of oxen or sheep. But the firstling of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb. And if you do not redeem it, then you shall break its neck. All the firstborn of your sons you shall redeem. And none shall appear before Me empty" (vs 18-20)—and it talks about the Sabbath right after that.

This shows that there was a whole lot more going on in the way of giving offerings and in the way of how people would give their own special personal offerings. Today, since we don't offer animal sacrifices, we do offer sacrifices in the sense of giving offerings.

This is why we are to look at the blessings that God has given us in thanksgiving to Him. Look at all that He has poured out upon us in blessings:

• to lead us
• to guide us
• to strengthen us
• to grant us His Holy Spirit

and that we are fulfilling the spiritual aspect of the redeeming of the firstborn for the Kingdom of God!

(pause for offering)

Now, this seventh day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread has special meaning. There are certain Feasts where you have special Scriptures to read so that we learn the lesson of the day. What is it that God wants us to learn on this Holy Day Sabbath convocation that we have on a Monday. Some people look around and say, 'Don't you go to church on Saturday?' And a lot of people say, 'Why don't you go to church on Sunday?' And others will say, 'Why don't you keep Easter?' And it's interesting that the counterfeit of Unleavened Bread is the total opposite of Unleavened Bread is all about leaven:

• idolatry
• Ishtar the goddess of Babylon
• hot-cross buns
• dressing up
• showing off

instead of humility

• vanity

instead of Truth

• lies
• worshiping something that has no meaning

Oh, you're told that there is meaning to it, but everything about Easter is a lie just like all the holidays of this world.

We're going to talk about lies: where they come from, what we need to watch out for, and how we need to overcome going on from here. This day has special meaning for us and how, after we have been rescued from Satan the devil, that we need to be on guard, especially living in this world.

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… [close by the Holy Land] …for God said, 'Lest the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt'" (vs 17-18).

We have a spiritual warfare, and we have the weapons of our spiritual warfare. Since you were baptized:

• Has your life changed? Of course! It's supposed to change!
• But has it even been close to what you thought it might be?

or

• Did it turn out entirely differently? Yes indeed!
• Why? Because God has done it this way so:
  • we have faith in God
  • we trust in Him
  • we look to Jesus Christ
  • we believe His Word
  • we follow Him

Verse 19: "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. He did not take away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night from before the people" (vs 19-22)—for 40 years!

What does that tell the people always? God was with them! God knew what they were doing! God could also know what they were thinking! Here God was going to take them into the 'promise land,' the land all set ready to go flowing with milk and honey (Deut. 16). And you know, they didn't have to wander in the desert 40 years except for their sins!

• because of their sins
• refusal to believe God
• rebellion against God
• rejecting the message of the twelve spies that were set in the spy out the land

God said, 'Enough! For every day that the spies were in there checking out the land—40 days—a day for a year, and you're going to wander, and the generation that rejected Me all over 20-years-old will die with their bones strewn in the wilderness.'

Sidebar: How come there are no bones of the children of Israel out in the desert? That was a lot of people; those were lot of bones! How does God cleanup those things? He uses animals and the birds! How did God get rid of all the bones? Some of the animals took some of the bones, but there's a special vulture that is a bone-eating vulture! It looks more like an odd-shaped eagle.

This vulture/eagle will come down to get the bones, and if they're too big fly back up they would drop the bones on rocks, and the bones would break up in pieces. They would fly down and they would eat the pieces whole. So, maybe that answers the question as to why were there no bones in the Sinai.

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'" (vs 1-2).

That was a narrow strip of land and it was pretty flat by the sea. They would come down in their column it went all the way down there. So, the children of Israel in camping there were camped all along the side of the Red Sea. He did that for a purpose because He knew what Pharaoh was going to do, and He knew what He was going to do!

Verse 3: "'For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, 'They are trapped in the land; the wilderness has shut them in.' 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" (vs 3-4).

There are two ways you're going to know about God:

• if He blesses and protects you like He did with the children of Israel
• you learn from the Egyptians that God will destroy the enemy, confound them, and fight against them

So, when it says and "…they shall know that I am of the Lord…." think of the country that was left behind. Twenty-percent of the population the firstborn were dead, likewise with the animals. All their slaves had gone; it's like having all the electricity shut off today. What are you going to do? Well, that's what Pharaoh said!

Verse 5: "And the king of Egypt was told that the people fled. And the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned against the people. And they said, 'Why have we done this… [we must be total idiots to let everybody go] …that we have let Israel go from serving us?' 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. And he pursued the children of Israel, and the children of Israel went out with a high hand…. [rejoicing] …So, the Egyptians pursued them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army. And they overtook them camping by the sea, beside Pi Hahiroth, before Baal Zephon. 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" (vs 5-10)—What are we going to do?

When something happens you always look for a scapegoat; you always look for someone to blame. So did the children of Israel.

Verse 11: "And they said to Moses, 'Have you taken us away to die in the wilderness because there were no graves in Egypt?…. [Wasn't there enough room for graves in Egypt for us?] …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, "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'" (vs 11-12).

Really! Carnal reasoning! When you look back and think about what God is doing, and you look at it from a carnal perspective, you'll see something entirely different that God really intended. They had the pillar of cloud in the daytime and a pillar of fire by night. God was with them! God did this for a specific purpose.

Verse 13: "And Moses said to the people, 'Fear not!….'" That's a lesson for us: Fear not! Don't be afraid!

Liken Pharaoh to Satan, and his soldiers to the demons. Just like they were after the children of Israel to bring them back and enslave them again, Satan the devil wants to do the same thing to those who are in the Churches of God! He's not going to do it with chariots and spears. He has other weapons that He will use and we will examine those. But nevertheless, God will fight for us!

"…Stand still…" (v 13). Don't go running off and doing whatever you think you need to do. Now, let's understand something as we go along here. What we have in the New Testament today is this:

• we stand under grace
• we walk in faith
• we believe in hope
• we live in love

That will be the spiritual standard for us!

"…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). In other words don't complain to God.

I'm going to give you an assignment. Please study through the Psalms and look up every place where it says help/helped and redeem/redeemed. Look where it says trouble/distress and refuge/rock, and you will see how through the life of David and those who wrote the Psalms, God gives us the pattern of how He fights for us! Now remember that Jesus also said, 'Do not fear those who can kill the body but can't kill the life.' You fear God!

So, the time will come when we will also have to exercise that stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, which will not be seen until the resurrection. And you look at the world the way it is today. Think how easy it's going to be for all the deceived Satan-worshipers to come and kill true Christians. We're just seeing is a little kindergarten practice out here now. So here's what we are to do:

Verse 15: "And the LORD said to Moses, 'Why do you cry to Me? Speak to the children of Israel that they go forward.'" All right now what we need to do is this: Always go forward! The past is the past, and you can't change it. But you can have the future different if you go forward with God!

Verse 16: "And you—lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea, and divide it…." This was not the sea of reeds and they went splish-splash through some mud puddles. No, they walked through the Red Sea on dry ground. Isn't that what it says? Yes indeed! When the sea parted!

Verse 17: "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 that I am the LORD when I will be glorified through Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen" (vs 17-18).

They won't know; they'll probably look at the water coming in on them and say, 'All this is the hand of God'; then it's over! But all the Egyptians back in Egypt they're going to say I wonder where Pharaoh and the Army is? They went after the children of Israel to bring them back. I wonder what happened to them? They are the ones who are going know that the Lord is God, and that everything that happened to them was the hand of God. You know the rest of the story.

The angel of the Lord came and divided between the camp of the Egyptians on the mountainside and the camp of the Israelites on the seaside. It must of been about ten miles long that column where they had marched, because they couldn't all gather around in a group. When they crossed the Red Sea, God caused the wind to blow all night and dried it out, and early in the morning before sunrise just as it was starting to get light they walked across the Red Sea.

Now, it had to be a flanking movement that way, otherwise it would've taken them hours and hours to get across. When that happened then God lifted the curtain from the Egyptians so they could see and they came over to the Red Sea and saw the dry ground. They looked to the right they looked to the left and Pharaoh said, 'There they are! Charge! Go get them.' There they are. Dashing down on their horses running down with their feet the armies of the horses and chariots all getting down there.

Then God said, 'Moses, lift up your rod!' He lifted it up and the water came crashing back and destroyed the chariots, because God took the wheels off the chariots. God destroyed man and beast and wrecked all the equipment. The children of Israel got real happy. 'Oh the Lord is for us! The Lord is fighting for us!'

Now we're going to see that God has given a good deliverance for us. We're going to look at a couple Psalms and I'm going to follow my advice to you and give you some examples of a couple of Psalms. The Psalms are a great study that you need to study over and over again. Something will happen as you're studying the Bible, and you will learn more and more and you'll be able to connect more and more points together as you go.

But also your understanding will increase to the point that you will probably even feel—as you're reading some of these things—that you've never studied them before, when you have. Now that's interesting indeed. Let me tell you about a little protection that you have.

Psalm 91:1: "He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty." What is the secret place that we have? God's Spirit! God's protection!The world can't see that.

Verse 2: "I will say of the LORD, 'He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in Whom I will trust.' Surely He will deliver you from the fowler's trap and from the destroying pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge. His Truth shall be your shield and buckler" (vs 2-4).

We're going to see that Paul used some of that figurative speech in overcoming Satan the devil. So, God is on our side.

Verse 14: "Because he has set his love upon Me…" Has God set His love upon you? Yes!

• by applying the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins
• by calling you
• by converting you
• by giving you His Holy Spirit

God has given that. So yes, God is there to cover you! To set His love upon you!

Verse 14: 'Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore, I will deliver him; I will set him on high because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation" (vs 14-16).

Now the long life we're going to receive is eternal life! That's how God is going to fight for us! So, let's just make sure that we understand that.

Now let's come to the New Testament, and let's see that in preaching the Gospel we have been delivered from Pharaoh and his armies, which is the power of Satan the devil. We will see that God has done a tremendous miracle:

• by calling us out of this world
• by revealing His Truth to us
• by giving us the understanding
• of His Word
• of His Sabbath
• of His Holy Days
• of His love
• of His goodness

for us!

I mean, brethren, think of all the blessings that God has given to us. Not blessings of physical things. Don't equate every blessing by a physical thing. The fact that you have God's Holy Spirit, which is not a physical thing, it is the power from God, the substance of God's Spirit, uniting with our minds! There can be nothing greater than that in this life! Do you grasp that?

Here's what Jesus told Paul when He called him. Paul said, 'What are you going to do with me, Lord?' You know how he was knocked down. There he was relating that. And here's the answer that he got:

Acts 26:17: "I am personally selecting you from among the people and the Gentiles, to whom I now send you." Here is what the Gospel and the Spirit of God does for us, which is a greater salvation than being saved from drowning in the Red Sea.

Verse 18: "To open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light, and from the authority of Satan to God…"

We're going to see the whole world is under the authority of Satan the devil. We're going to see that that helps name him for what he is. All the people out there—the good, the bad, the ugly, the beautiful, the sweet, the not so sweet—everything out there in the world, apart from those who have the Spirit of God, are under the authority of Satan the devil!

"...from the authority of Satan to God, so that they may receive remission of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified through faith in Me" (v 18). That's something!

So, as I've pointed out, what are we to do? Keep our eyes on the goal! Let's see how that was done. God the Father is directly involved in our lives. We are going to be His children. This is quite a thing when you really understand it when you know it. Here's something that's important to understand: every time you read Scripture, and maybe you've read it many times before, but every time you come back to it, it has a deeper meaning, it has more connections and you have greater understanding.

Colossians 1:9: "For this cause we also, from the day that we heard of it, do not cease to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding."

Brethren, that's what all of us as elders do. We pray for you every day, and we know you pray for us. All of us as elders need your prayers, we need your help, we need your encouragement. As well, you need that from us, because we're all in the forming Family of God.

"...in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthily of the Lord, unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power according to the might of His glory, unto all endurance and long-suffering with joy" (vs 9-11).

That's quite a thing! He's describing what it is that God wants us to be doing in overcoming, changing, growing and living in this world, preparing for eternal life! That's why we are here, to prepare for eternal life! Verses 12 & 13 are very powerful, and I want you to connect this with John 6:44-45; make the connection with these verses back to those verses.

Verse 12: "Giving thanks to the Father, Who has made us qualified for the share of the inheritance of the saints in the Light."

Remember, we're going to inherit eternal life and New Jerusalem, and share with Christ whatever His inheritance is! That's something! Notice what the Father has done for us:

Verse 13: "Who has personally rescued us from the power of darkness and has transferred us unto the kingdom of the Son of His love; in Whom we have redemption through His own blood, even the remission of sins; Who is the image of the invisible God, the Firstborn of all creation" (vs 13-15).

That is being born first from the dead. Now then that's really something that we have here brethren. Think on that! Just like the children of Israel we're all happy and all excited that they were able to get away from Pharaoh in his armies and walked through the Red Sea on dry land and were saved by God, likewise we have been rescued! We have been saved!

(go to the next track)

Now let's continue on and come to Matt. 5. Let's see what the Bible tells us about Satan the devil, and what we are to watch out for. This is all a part of spiritually continuing to put the spiritual leaven out of our lives. During the Feast of Unleavened Bread we put away the physical leaven, and we see that we need to concentrate on developing the unleavenedness of Christ within us, which is the unleavened bread of sincerity and Truth as we saw in 1-Cor. 5.

But when the Feast is over we are to continue to be on guard for those things that come against us from living in the world and fighting Satan the devil, and keep us from developing the character of God with all of these things that could interact to interfere.

Matthew 5:36: "Neither shall you swear by your head, because you do not have the power to make one hair white or black…. [of course, that is true; even if you dye it, it's still what it is] …But let your word be good, your "Yes" be yes and your "No" be no…" (vs 36-37).

In overcoming the carnal mind, which is deceitful above all things, and part of the deceit is to put on a good pretense and show. Is that not true? So, this is why Jesus has said this; so that we will develop the character of God.

"...for… [because] …anything that is added to these is from the evil one" (v 37). That's another name for Satan the devil: "…the evil one." We are going to see that there are many words that describe Satan the devil—the evil one, the conniving one.

The daily prayer, the model on how we are to pray every prayer should be modeled on this outline:

Matthew 6:9: "Therefore, you are to pray after this manner: 'Our Father, Who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name.'"

Sidebar: Nowhere in all the Bible—in Greek or Hebrew, or any other language—is any other name for the Father given other than the Father. That's His sacred name to us, because He is Holy and He is sacred.

Verse 10: "Your kingdom come…" That means the power of God's kingdom in our life now today, and the return of Jesus Christ bringing the Kingdom of God when He comes.

"...Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven" (v 10)—everywhere on the earth. It's all going to be done:

• according to the will of God
• according to the prophecies of God
• according to the things that Jesus said

All will be done according to the will of God! The only question is, what side will we be on? I'll let you answer that question.

Verse 11: "Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation…" (vs 11-13).

We are led into temptation as we have seen when our lusts get involved, and were drawn after the temptation. God never tempts with evil. He always sets before us life and death good and evil. We have to choose. In life everything that we have in life is a matter of choosing.

"...but rescue us from the evil one…." (v 13). Rescue us from Satan the devil.

• Who has rescued us from this Satan the devil? God the Father!
• How has He done that? Through His calling and forgiveness of sin through the sacrifice of His only begotten son Jesus Christ!

"…For Yours [God] is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen" (v 13).

Let's see how Satan really works. Let's see what Eph. 2 tells us. Jesus called him the 'ruler of this world' or the 'prince of this world' (book of John). But here we find how he works. He makes evil look good, and he makes good look evil. He does it by degrees, incrementally and changes.

Ephesians 2:1: "Now, you were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you walked in times past according to the course of this world…" (vs 1-2).

What did Satan the devil tell Jesus about all the nations of the world? 'If you bow down and worship me, I'll give you all of them, and the glory of them, for it has been given to me. I, Satan the devil, shall give it to whomsoever I will; if you worship me all shall be yours.'

How many people in the world would want that, look to them like a great blessing. But that's all physical and that's all satanic, and that is all evil. That's why Paul tells us:

Verse 2: "In which you walked in times past according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit… [that evil one] …that is now working within the children of disobedience."

Yes, Satan the devil has his children. They're not begotten by any spirit that he has, but the ones who are his children are the ones who are led by the demons, and demons possess people. Not all demons appear evil:

• they appear righteous
• they appear religious

In order to get you to sin against God they will get you to do something which looks like it's Godly. Look at how many people mask all of their evil by doing 'good deeds' of charity. Witness the Catholic Church.

I'm sure that all those good deeds in helping people, help people indeed. However that doesn't bring them the knowledge of the Truth of God! That doesn't bring them the knowledge of salvation! But if they can do that and get them to follow the Catholic Church then they're captives of Satan the devil.

Verse 3: "Among whom also we all once had our conduct in the lusts of our flesh, doing the things willed by the flesh and by the mind, and were by nature the children of wrath, even as the rest of the world." God in His mercy reached down and called us through His grace.

What does John tell us about God and the world?John 3:16: For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish, but may have everlasting life"—showing that there are conditions here.

However, God loves the world; we cannot love the world in the same way that God does, because the traps of Satan the devil are out there, and it's too easily enticing. So, here's what John says in 1-John 2:15. This is important for us to realize and understand as part of our overcoming:

• the sins of self
• the sins of society
• the sins of Satan the devil

and how he inspires as the 'prince of the power of the air' sending enticing messages to try and get people to follow him, and he's got a lot of them hooked. As a matter of fact, the whole world!

1-John 2:15: "Do not love the world… [as the world is] …nor the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." Think about that! Who is the god of this world? Satan the devil is the god of this world or this age! He controls all nations. This is why we are told.

Verse 16: "Because everything that is in the world…" You take this verse and you put it on a little card and when you're watching the television and you watch some of these ads, and you listen carefully especially to the pharmaceutical ads. Take this, this is wonderful and everybody's happy and smiling. Going well, 'Oh, this is so great.' And then you listen to the disclaimers: It may cause suicide it, it may cause you to bleed, in some cases it may cause your death. 'But this is good stuff you take it.' If you get sick go see your doctor. They make a god out of doctors!

Sidebar: The Truth is, God has given us a body and we're responsible for taking care of it. He's put in the body all the means to heal. God will heal in many different ways: miracle if necessary, you changing your diet, changing the things that you eat and drink, that will change the chemistry of your body, which will change the physical being of your body.

"…the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pretentious pride of physical life—is not from the Father, but is from the world. And the world and its lust is passing away, but the one who does the will of God abides forever" (vs 16-17).

Now let's see some other things about Satan the devil:

• prince of the power of the air
• ruler of this world
• prince of this world
• god of this world

How does he work? Does he come right up to you and say, 'Hello, I'm Satan, I want to destroy you'? No, he says, 'I have something special for you.' Let's see how he works in the society. We will see something that Satan has always done.

Paul tells us to put on 'all the armor of God.' We'll come back to that later.

Ephesians 6:12: "Because we are not wrestling against flesh and blood… [but the prince of the power of the air] …but against principalities… [those are the high-powered leading demons] …and against powers, against the world rulers of the darkness of this age, against the spiritual power of wickednessin high places."

That's what you see going on in America right now and in many places around the world. There is a battle between those who want to do good and Satan who wants to destroy everything. We can be very, very thankful here in America that Hillary-Billary is not present, because we would be inundated with every satanic thing that would come along, and it would be verified and upheld by the Supreme Court she would appoint.

So therefore, that's why we need to pray for kings and governors and so forth, because we have to live in the world. Maybe they might be converted who knows. We don't know, it's possible. But we pray so we can live a quiet and peaceful life.

"…against the world rulers of the darkness of this age… [Weren't we called to come out of the darkness and out from the authority of Satan the devil?] …against the spiritual power of wickednessin high places" (v 12).

Satan always loves to get to those who are in high places. That's why Jesus had to have the temptation by Satan the devil. Now let me ask you a question: Jesus Christ as a human being was the highest level of humanity ever. Would you not agree with that? Yes, indeed!

Where was Satan on that last Passover night? Possessed Judas! And was right there at the Passover during the foot-washing. Likes to get into where the high places are. Wouldn't you say that that Passover, the last Passover of Jesus, was the highest class Passover that could have been on earth? Yes, indeed! And Satan was there to try and destroy it! Then Jesus dipped him the sop.

Sidebar on dipping the sop: Some people say that couldn't of been unleavened bread. Well, you've never eaten unleavened bread. Have you ever heard of corn chips? And dipping? Corn chips are unleavened. So, he gave them a part of the meat from the dinner and that unleavened bread and said, 'Go, do what you have to do.' Where did Satan go? He went to the high priest, the authorities and betrayed Him! Where did Satan lead them? To take Him to the high authority of the Governor of Judea Pontius Pilate!

In Matt. 16 we have something very important concerning Peter. Who was Peter to be? He was to be one of the leading apostles! Peter, John and James. But here in Matt. 16 we find the first part of it that God the Father revealed to Peter who Jesus really was. Peter said, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.' Jesus said, 'My Father has revealed that to you.'

Matthew 16:21: "From that time Jesus began to explain to His disciples that it was necessary for Him to go to Jerusalem, and to suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and to be killed, and to be raised the third day."

Now then, none of the disciples understood what He was talking about. But notice what Peter did, a good intention. Wouldn't you say that's a good intention? He wants to protect Jesus. Yes, indeed!

Verse 22: "But after taking Him aside, Peter personally began to rebuke Him, saying, 'God will be favorable to You, Lord. In no way shall this happen to You.'"

Remember what we read? Rescue us from the evil one in our daily prayer! Look what happened to Peter just right after he said, 'You're the Christ, the Son of the living God.'

Verse 23: "Then He turned and said to Peter, 'Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, because your thoughts are not in accord with the things of God, but the things of men.'…. [a very important lesson] …And Jesus said to His disciples, 'If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and let him take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life shall lose it; but whoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, but loses his life?…. [Isn't that what is going to happen to the beast and the false prophet? Yes, indeed!] …Or what shall a man give in exchange for his life?'" (vs 23-26).

Now then, let's see some more things concerning about Satan the devil. Isn't that interesting the way that that is? Let's come to John 8, and here we'll learn some more about how Satan operates. As I said, Satan likes to be 'religious,' and Satan has those people who like to say they're following Christ.

In John 8 we have a very interesting thing because here were some disciples that said, 'We believe in Jesus.' But it's not a profession that you do, it is also how you believe. That's what is important. These are the ones who were following Him, and they asked Him, 'By what authority do You do these?'

John 8:23: "And He said to them… [here's what He said to the Jews] …'You are from beneath… [you are of the earth, earthy] …I am from above. You are of this world.'"

That is 'the god of this world' Satan the devil. And remember, Satan likes to work in high places. What's the highest place on earth at that time that Satan could work? The temple! Where God placed His name! Keep that in mind. We'll spend a little time here; it's very important for us to understand.

Jesus said: "'...I am not of this world. That is why I said to you that you shall die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I AM…'" (vs 23-24). They knew what that meant when He said, 'I AM,' because back in Exo. 3 that's what God told Moses to tell the children of Israel who sent him: 'I AM.'

"'…for if you do not believe that I AM, you shall die in your sins.' Then they said to Him, 'Who are You?' And Jesus said to them, 'The One that I said to you from the beginning. I have many things to say and to judge concerning you...'" (vs 24-26).

Verse 30: "As He spoke these things, many believed in Him." But how? Was it just, 'Oh, that's interesting I'm glad to hear him'? or Was it that they repented? No! Many believed, and it shows it was a shallow belief.

Verse 31: "Therefore, Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in Him…" Now He's clarifying, so everyone out there who says, 'Oh, I believe in Jesus.' Listen up!

"…'If you continue in My Word, you are truly My disciples. And you shall know the Truth, and the Truth shall set you free'" (vs 31-32). It must come from God! Not from your inward thoughts and even belief, even sincere. Can you be sincerely deceived? Yes, indeed! Let's see what He said here. Let's repeat this.

Verse 32: "And you shall know the Truth…" What is the Truth?

• Your Word is Truth
• Jesus is the Truth, the Way the life
• Your commandments are true
• Your Law is true
• Your precepts are true
• He is true
• God cannot lie

"...and the Truth shall set you free" (v 32).

Just like the children of Israel were in bondage in Egypt. Here, right at the temple of God with those who were Jews, professed to be Jesus Christ. Jesus said, 'You're not free. But IF you continue in My Word, that is obey Me, you'll be free.' Now notice what they said. They trusted in themselves and their inheritance. Sound a little familiar like a lot of Jews today? like a lot of Christians today? like a lot of Catholics today? Yes, indeed!

Verse 33: "They answered Him, 'We are Abraham's seed, and have never been in bondage to anyone. What do You mean by saying, "You shall become free"?'"

They didn't understand it. You can live in a society that is somewhat free or considerably free but if you are living in sin you're a slave, and you're a slave to Satan the devil. What is the whole purpose of this Feast? To rescue us from the evil one! When this Feast is over we're going to be back in the world again. Who runs this world? Satan the devil is deceiving the world!

• he's the deceiver
• he's the ancient serpent
• he is the dragon
• he's the god of this world

Verse 33: "They answered Him, 'We are Abraham's seed, and have never been in bondage to anyone. What do You mean by saying, "You shall become free"?'"

This is why the call for the Kingdom of God is to repent and be baptized. After you're baptized and receive the Holy Spirit, then you are to grow in grace and knowledge so that you can prepare to be the spiritual sons and daughters of God. That we can have the inheritance of receiving not only eternal life, but rulership over the world, and to live forever.

Notice what Jesus said, because these people were in denial, right there at the temple. Who was guarding the temple against riots? The Roman soldiers! Where was Fort Antonia? Six hundred yards from the temple! Maybe not that far, closer. They had a causeway on top the colonnades where the troops could come right out of Fort Antonia and come down and settle squabbles and riots in the temple. Think of that! At the temple area riots and squabbles. Hello!

Verse 34: "Jesus answered them, 'Truly, truly I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a servant of sin…. [in 1-John 3 he is called 'a child of the devil'] …And the servant does not live in the house forever; but the Son lives forever. Therefore, if the Son shall set you free, you shall truly be free. I know that you are Abraham's seed; but you are seeking to kill Me, because My words do not enter into your minds'" (vs 34-37).

Why? Because they're clothed with carnality, clothed with Satan the devil—the spirit of the power of the air within them working within them—and yes, they like to be 'religious.' 'If we come to the temple we're home free, we're safe because God has put His name there.' They need read Jer. 7.

He said, v 38: "'I speak the things that I have seen from My Father, and you do the things that you have seen from your father.' They answered and said to Him, 'Our father is Abraham.' Jesus said to them, 'If you were Abraham's children…'" (vs 38-39). Now notice the difference: Abraham's seed are not Abraham's children. Here He's talking about the spiritual seed.

"'...you would do the works of Abraham. But now you seek to kill Me, You are doing the works of your father.' Then they said to Him… [we know all about you] …'We have not been born of fornication. We have one Father, and that is God.' Therefore, Jesus said to them, 'If God were your Father, you would love Me… [rather than try and kill me] …because I proceeded forth and came from God. For I have not come of Myself, but He sent Me. Why don't you understand My speech? Because you cannot bear to hear My words. You are of your father the devil… [and you can put down there murderer] …He was a murderer from the beginning, and has not stood in the Truth because there is no Truth in him'" (vs 39-44).

If he speaks anything that appears to be Truth, it's because there's an ulterior motive coming to bring in sin. That's what Satan does!

We will see that Satan the devil always wants to come and cause problems within the Churches of God. And also, God uses Satan like we found out in the book of Job when we went through the book of Job to carry out his punishment for sin. God shows the same way here with the Churches of God.

Now look what happened to the Church of Pergamos. They were right there where Satan's seat or his throne was. What happened to them? Let's read about Pergamos. What they did. Now this is a personal letter from Jesus Christ to any of those of the Churches of God whether it be Pergamos or Pergamos-like down through time until the return of Jesus Christ because the Word of God applies spiritually forever.

Revelation 2:12: "And to the angel of the Church in Pergamos, write: 'These things says He Who has the sharp two-edged sword…. [the Word of God cuts asunder] …I know your works and where you dwell, where the throne of Satan is; but you are holding fast My name, and did not deny My faith, even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. But I have a few things against you…'" (vs 12-14).

Because after he died, what did they do. This is the beginning of setting up of what is called the Sacrifice of the Mass or the Eucharist. It talks about things sacrificed to idols and that's what it is. This was a time when they were introducing that instead of the Passover. And also the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, the hard-handed ministry against the people of God. Now notice what he says. He says.

Verse 16: "Repent! For if you do not repent, I will come to you quickly, and will make war against them with the sword of My mouth."

What's happened to the Churches of God? I want you to stop and think. It always happens when there is compromise and living in sin! Correction always comes! Now we find the Churches of Smyrna the synagogue of Satan that is the 'religious' people of the satanic religions were casting them into prison and killing them.

We find in Thyatira that Jezebel, the prophetess who called herself Jezebel that tells us from Baal (2-Kings); remember that? Same thing there! God had to correct them! He had to come hard against them!

Now then, here with the Church of Philadelphia. We live in a time when the synagogue of Satan is trying to get the whole world into a satanic one world government and religion! We have to hold fast

• against all circumstances
• against all false doctrine
• against everything that comes against the people of God

And the Church of Philadelphia are those who love the brethren and you can't love the brethren unless you love God first. But then were also handicapped with those who are Laodiceans, who are just are laid back Christians and think that everything is going to be fine. Well, it's not going to be.
Let's come to the book of James and see what James tells us we need to do. James 4 ties right in with 1-Peter 5.

James 4:6: "But He gives greater grace. This is the reason it says, 'God sets Himself against the proud, but He gives grace to the humble.'" Here's what we need to do. We've got more faith more forces of satanic powers and things coming against us than it any other time in history.

Verse 7: "Therefore, submit yourselves to God…. [that's what the Feast of Unleavened Bread is all about] …Resist the devil… [don't go on and try a little bit] …and he will flee from you…. [Peter says to resist him in the faith] …Draw near to God…" (vs 7-8). How do you draw near to God?

• through prayer
• through study
• through living God's way

"...and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded!…. [How? By repentance!] …Be grieved and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into grieving, and your joy into mourning. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you" (vs 8-10)—that is in due time.

Now let's see what we need to do in resisting Satan the devil. We have things we need to do. If everything is kind of going nice and right and smooth and it's really good, and you're not praying and you're not studying the way that you should, then all of a sudden a trial comes upon you! Don't you think God's trying to tell you something? You can come out of that:

• come back to God
• draw near to God
• repent

This is the purpose of the last day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread:

Ephesians 6:10: "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the might of His strength. Put on the whole armor of God…" (vs 10-11).

How do you do that? Through prayer through study! The Word of God:

• guards our heart
• guards our mind
• guards the door of your mind

Don't let any of these things in! Resist! Don't be enticed!

Verse 11: "Put on the whole armor of God so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil."

Remember, he always comes just like he did to Eve and says, 'Perhaps you need to think God was wrong when He said not to eat of any of the trees of the garden.' Eve said, 'He said we can eat of all the trees except that one over there. God said don't eat it.' So, Satan the serpent, said, 'You know, that's really good tree. If you eat it you'll be like God. Don't you want to be like God? Be strong and mighty like Him? Try it you'll like it!' And she did! She said, 'Hey, this is pretty good, and it's going to make us wise like God.'

Adam sat over there and watched her. He could have said, 'Eve, drop that fruit. God said don't touch it don't pick it.' I wonder what the world would be like if he would have done that? Probably be a really different place indeed! But he didn't do it, he ate of it. Now look at the mess we got ourselves in. The wiles! Remember if there's anything to remember about Satan and sin it is this: He comes and presents it as a benefit. Whereas, God wants us to do it His way, so He gives us blessings!

Verse 12: "Because we are not wrestling against flesh and blood, but against principalities and against powers, against the world rulers of the darkness of this age, against the spiritual power of wickednessin high places. Therefore, take up the whole armor of God so that you may be able to resist in the evil day... [every day can be evil] …and having worked out all things, to stand. Stand, therefore, having your loins girded about with Truth, and wearing the breastplate of righteousness, and having your feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace. Besides all these, take up the shield of the faith…" (vs 12-16).

• that you believe God
• you believe His Word
• you believe the Truth
• you live the Truth

"...with which you will have the power to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one; and put on the helmet of salvation… [protect your spiritual brain as it were] ...and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God; praying at all times with all prayer…" (vs 16-18). That's why what we need to do!

Everything is going to work out for good. Remember that even though you may have to suffer a while God will raise you out of it. Even though you have difficulties for a time you can overcome it through the power and Spirit of God! And even if it looks like it's the worst thing in the world to come along, in the long run it's going to work out. And is going to work out for good, because we have God's promise:
Romans 8:28: "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God… [you love God] ...to those who are called according to His purpose… [Have you been called according to His purpose? Yes indeed!] …because those whom He did foreknow…" (vs 28-29). He foreknows us! He's talking about foreknowing us before the time of the resurrection!

"…He also predestinated to be conformed to the image of His own Son, that He might be the Firstborn among many brethren. Now, whom He predestinated… [which He has] ...these He also called… [which He has] …and whom He called, these He also justified… [which He has] …and whom He justified, these He also glorified" (vs 29-30)—yet to be done at the resurrection! We have been glorified to the extent that we have the Spirit of God!

Verse 31: "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?…. [nothing; no one] …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?…. [Heb. 1; Jesus inherited all things, that means the vastness of the universe] …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 31-34).

Remember that through all these trials and difficulties like we read back there in Psa. 91, 'I will be with you in the time of trouble.'

"...making intercession for us. What shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?" (vs 34-35).

We're going to face all of those things. We're going to have to look at them square as they come, and realize that even if they come, because this country is eventually going to go down, that we need not be worried or afraid but we stand for what we believe, because God is for us and we are His children!

"…Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? Accordingly, it is written, 'For Your sake we are killed all the day long…'" (vs 35-36).

And that day is coming! Have there been martyrs for Jesus who've lost their heads? Yes, a lot of them in the in the fake Christianity of the Middle East. They're martyrs for Christ. They're not the martyrs of the saints. Only those who are saints will be those who are martyred saints. The others are the martyrs for Jesus. They did it because they believed in Jesus though even though wrongly. They'll be in the second resurrection without a doubt.

Look at it this way. This is how we are to look at these things, v 37: "But in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him Who loved us. For I am persuaded…" (vs 37-38).

This is the persuasion we need to have as we go forward after the last day of Unleavened Bread.

"…that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (vs 38-39).

God is the One Who is going to lead us to this victory! He will fight for us! Jesus is returning to bring the kingdom and resurrect us from the dead and all of those who are still alive at that time will be transformed, and then we will with Jesus Christ bring the Kingdom of God to this earth! This is the meaning of the last day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

Scriptural References:

• Leviticus 23:6, 8
• Numbers 28:16-25
• Deuteronomy 16:16-17
• Exodus 34:18-20

• Exodus 13:17-22
• Exodus 14:1-18
• Psalm 91:1-4, 14-16
• Acts 26:17-18
• Colossians 1:9-15
• Matthew 5:36-37
• Matthew 6:9-13
• Ephesians 2:1-3
• John 3:16
• 1 John 2:15-17
• Ephesians 6:12
• Matthew 16:21-26
• John 8:23-26, 30-44
• Revelation 2:12-14, 16
• James 4:6-10
• Ephesians 6:10-18
• Romans 8:28-39

Scriptures referenced, not quoted:

• John 6:44-45
• 1 Corinthians 5
• Exodus 3
• Jeremiah 7
• 1 Peter 5
• Hebrews 1

FRC: po/bo
Transcribed: 3/15/17

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