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Go forward and fight the spiritual battle in the mind!
(7th day of Unleavened Bread)
Fred R. Coulter—April 3, 2021
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Greetings, brethren! Welcome to the seventh day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which also is a weekly Sabbath!
We know the command from God that we are to bring an offering on the Holy Days, and we have the command right here in Lev. 23. This is very interesting, isn't it? One of the main keys to understanding what God is doing in the world, and an important one to help unlock the timing of the fulfilling of the prophecies, is all found in Lev. 23, which is the sequence of the Holy Days. The Holy Days themselves and the sequence of them.
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."
Now tonight after sundown you can have leavened bread. Why is it that He commands us to eat unleavened bread all seven days? So that we learn the lesson that sinful human nature cannot accomplish of itself any spiritual good that will last forever! So, God's plan is to change and convert us:
- by relying on Him
- by trusting in Him
- by looking to Jesus Christ as our sacrifice
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 to the LORD seven days. In the seventh day is a Holy convocation. You shall do no servile work therein" (vs 7-8).
We know the importance of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and it's really very interesting WHEN those who have been in the Church but left, end up not keeping the Sabbath the way they should, if they keep it, and not keeping the Feasts of God and the Passover the way that Jesus has said, at the time He has said, THEN you have no life in you!
What happens? They're left to leading their lives by human 'good.' Human good can be spiritual leaven. In fact, without the Holy Spirit it is spiritual leaven!
- How do we lead our lives?
- How do we live our lives?
- How do we look to God
- What do we do?
Here is a profound principle; it's like sowing, and you know the Parable of the Sower: some of the seed fell on good ground, some fell on rocks, some fell on the shallow soil, some fell in thorns and thistles. But only the good ground brought forth fruit. He said that some produced 30-fold, 60-fold, 100-fold. Here's the principle:
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. Each one as he purposes in his heart…" vs 6-7).
In other words, it's between you and God. That's why we don't beg for money. We don't send out letters of solicitation, 'send money!' We always operate on the budget that God sends. God always provides, and He will provide for you! It just works that way!
"…so let him give, but not grudgingly or by compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver" (v 7).
- in keeping the Feast of Unleavened Bread
- in keeping all the Feasts of God
- staying close to God in prayer and study
- staying close to God in growing and overcoming
- keeping our eyes on the goal
here's what God will do:
Verse 8: "For God is able… [has the power] …to make all grace abound toward you so that in every way you may always have sufficiency in all things, and may abound unto every good work." That's what it all lead to!
(pause for the offering)
Thank you very much, brethren, for the offerings that you provide. We always use them to:
- serve the brethren
- preach and publish the Gospel
- help as many people as we can
We thank you very much for it!
Today is a very good day with many, many lessons to learn. Those many, many lessons:
- have to do with our relationship with God
- have to do with how we need to trust God in everything that we do
We know that we are to trust God with all our heart. The lessons that we learn are the lessons from the children of Israel.
They went out from Rameses with a high hand, loaded down with wealth, clothing and all the spoil that they could possibly take. Moses had them all organized in a marching order, and they left Rameses. That was the day after the Passover.
Let's look at that, and see what that tells us. This also tells us that the Passover and Unleavened Bread are separate days, contrary to what some people think.
Numbers 33:1: "These are the journeys of the children of Israel, who went forth out of the land of Egypt with their armies under the hand of Moses and Aaron. And Moses wrote their goings out according to their journeys by the command of the LORD…." (vs 1-2).
So, what we read here is by command of the LORD!
"…And these are their journeys according to their starting places. And they set out from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month…. [we already saw that] …On the next day after the Passover Day, the children of Israel went out with a high hand in the sight of all the Egyptians, while the Egyptians were still burying all their firstborn whom the LORD had stricken among them. The LORD also executed judgments upon their gods" (vs 2-4).
Remember, that's what He said that the Passover was for. Then they took their journeys; went Succoth (v 5) and then to "…Etham on the edge of the wilderness" (v 6). From there to "…Baal Zephon. And they pitched in front of Migdol" (v 7).
What happened at Baal Zephon? Here is the lesson: Regardless if circumstances get difficult, you have to trust God. Many times, like He did here with the children of Israel, He did lead them the easy way to the Holy Land, but they came down to the western shore of the Red Sea. Along the Red Sea there's a nice little plateau, but the mountains rise sharply right after that.
Marching in a column they couldn't be in a big group like the later were when they had set up the tabernacle and everything. When they set up the tabernacle they had it right in the middle and then they had three[transcriber's correction] tribes on the east, three tribes on the north, three tribes on the west and three tribes on the south.
Here they were in their marching column, because they couldn't gather together in any other order. This was on the last day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. So, they came there—of course, that was a Sabbath—and they were settled down the evening before.
Well, Pharaoh had a change of heart! Remember that Pharaoh is a type of Satan the devil. Satan the devil always likes to work circumstances to come after us if he can. We're told in Eph. 6 that we 're to have the full armor to protect us from Satan. We will also see something else that is greater when we go through this in Exo. 14:
Exodus 14:3: "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).
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, 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" (vs 5-8). Oh they were happy; they were glad!
Verse 9: "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."
Notice how quickly the carnal mind changes. When everything is going good, 'Oh we're so happy for God.' But when things get tough, like it is here, we're going to learn some lessons. We're going see that regardless of what happens, regardless of the circumstances:
- God is with you
- God is in you
- God is for you
The children of Israel didn't realize this, because they were not converted! Here's what happened:
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…."
Stop and think for a minute. How many of the plagues took place in Egypt to get to the point of Pharaoh letting them go? The final plague was the death of the firstborn of animals and beasts, and the firstborn of all the children! So, they saw all the plagues and the last ones never came near them in the land of Goshen.
So, here comes Pharaoh. What should they have done at that point? They should have gone to Moses and say:
Moses, help us all to trust in God. We'll get on our knees here and pray and ask for God's intervention, and you pray to God, because we remember all the plagues that were done in Egypt, and God has the power to turn back the armies of Pharaoh.
No, they didn't do that!
"…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?….'" (vs 10-11).
- What do you do when you find that there is something that God has asked you to do, or circumstances that come upon you that you don't know how to handle?
- Do you complain to God?
or
- Do you pray?
- Do you accuse God?
or
- Do you ask for mercy?
Verse 11: "And they said to Moses, 'Have you taken us away to die in the wilderness because there were no graves in Egypt?….'"
In other words, 'we're just going to die out here in the wilderness and there is no place to bury us!'
"'…Why have you… [accusing Moses] …dealt this way with us to carry us forth out of Egypt?'" (v 11).
Here's another lesson: Never look at the immediate short term!Look at the overall goal. We can have perspective when we do that.
Notice that before God started to bring them out of the slavery of the Egyptians, they were crying and moaning, 'O God, help us, we are oppressed by the Egyptians. We have to serve them day and night.' Notice how human nature is. Turning clear around instead of praising God for deliverance, here's what they told Moses:
Verse 12: "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."
We need to always look at things God's way, so notice what Moses said. What could Moses do himself?
- he had to trust in God
- he had to believe God
This is something for all elders and ministers to know: you must always trust God in all circumstances!
Even when they are totally bleak and it looks like a dead end road has closed in on you. Don't look for an excuse to not follow God or not teach the Truth.
Verse 13: "And Moses said to the people, 'Fear not!…. [first thing, don't be afraid] …Stand still and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will work for you today…'"—and He did!
As we read these things, I want you to think about all the things in your life that you have gone through,
- that God has delivered you
- that God has rescued you
- that God has blessed you
- that God has given you life and longevity
Everything that God can give you!
"…for the Egyptians whom you have seen today you shall never see them again! The LORD shall fight for you…" (v 14).
We are those whom God has called, so He will fight for us! But we have to trust in the Lord, yield to Him, stay with the Scriptures. We can't start looking to our own carnal ways to try and solve the problem that we are in. Yes, we are to do what we are to do, with God's blessings, but we can't do the things that only God can do. That's why God brought them into this place so they would have to trust God completely!
He wanted to show His final great miracle in dealing with the Egyptians and getting them out of slavery.
Verse 15: "And the LORD said to Moses, 'Why do you cry to Me? Speak to the children of Israel that they go forward.'"
How could they go forward when they're right up against the Red Sea, and Pharaoh and his armies were right behind them?
Verse 16—God said: "And you—lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea, and divide it. And the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea."
An impossible miracle! How many of those has God done for us? Think about it!
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).
So, what happened? Verse 19: "And the angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, moved, and he went to the rear of them…." between the two of them!
Verse 20: "…It was a cloud of darkness to one, but gave light by night to the other, so that the two did not come near one another all night."
There was "…a strong east wind…" (v 21) that came in. consider this: Since they were in a marching column on the west shore of the Red Sea, it was not like a long column like you see in the movie The Ten Commandments that they would cross over the Red Sea. That would take hours and hours.
So, the crossing of the Red Sea had to be quick! That's why they were in this position in their marching column, though they camped right there. The wind came and God split the sea wide—probably about 2-3 miles long—so this was a phenomenal thing! God wanted them to remember!
Verse 21: "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. And the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left" (vs 21-22).
Here they go; it was in the morning watch. They got across, so it was probably right at sunrise when the sun was beginning to come up they all marched across the Red Sea, that whole column. They probably didn't take anymore than about 45 minutes to an hour, because everything got across.
Verse 23: "And the Egyptians pursued and went in after them to the middle of the sea…"
Think about this, this is another lesson: Sometimes difficulties pursue us, sometimes sin pursues us! But:
- God is able to help us
- God is able to intervene
That's where fasting along with prayer comes in, in beseeching God that He will intervene and help.
"…all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. 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" (vs 23-24).
That's the best way to do it, throw them into confusion. What did God do at the Tower of Babel? He confused the languages! He changed their languages so they couldn't communicate to one another. God didn't have to do a single other thing! They just all quit and gave up, so God led them to the places that they had to be for their inheritance, which He had set aside for them. Likewise here; threw them into confusion!
Verse 25: "And He loosened their chariot wheels…"—to make sure that no one escaped, and all the wheels of all the chariots fell off! That's quite a miracle!
"…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.'" (v 25).
Yes, we have battles to fight ourselves, but God is the One Who fights for us, especially in the difficult things. Sometimes the blessing of what God does doesn't appear until quite a while after that. But here it was very immediate.
Verse 26: "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 when the morning appeared…." (vs 26-27).
Can you imagine the noise of the water coming right there at that spot? It tore up and destroyed all the chariots, and all the chariots had their wheels removed!
"…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).
The Israelites were wonderful, happy, joyful. Miriam and the women sang songs of praise and victory. Everyone was just on a tremendous high!
Here's another lesson: memory is short! Three days later they were at Marah and the water was bitter. They didn't know what to do. What did they do?
Exodus 15:24: "And the people murmured against Moses, saying, 'What shall we drink?' And he cried to the LORD. And the LORD showed him a tree. And when he had cast it into the waters, the waters were made sweet. There He made a decree and a law for them, and there He proved them" (vs 24-25).
A lot of these things are to prove us, to test us.
- Do we really believe God?
- Do we really trust God?
- What is it that we do?
- How is it that we do it?
That's why we have to come to God in prayer every day! Study every day! So, that we can stay close to God and His Word! So, when these difficulties come, we will believe God and trust in Him!
Notice what this covenant was, and it shows how our behavior has to be.
Verse 26: "And He said, 'If you will diligently [#1]hearken… [listen to obey] …to the voice of the LORD your God, and will [#2]do that which is right in His sight, and will [#3]give ear to His commandments, and [#4]keep all His laws, I will put none of these diseases upon you, which I have brought upon the Egyptians; for I am the LORD Who heals you.'"
That's still true today. Take those four things:
- diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD your God
Remember the three words: obey My voice
- do that which is right in His sight
- give ear to His commandments
- keep all His laws
THEN here's the promise: IF (v 26)… All of the Ifs are conditional upon us! God doesn't need conditions!
Verse 27: "And they came to Elim, where there were twelve wells of water and seventy palm trees. And they camped there by the waters.
IF you will:
- diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD your God
- do that which is right in His sight
- give ear to His commandments
- keep all His laws
THEN "…I will put none of these diseases upon you, which I have brought upon the Egyptians; for I am the LORD Who heals you" (v 26).
There are times when we need help and a proper use of physicians is true. But we need to be trusting in God in these things, because that's important for us to do all the time. Remember that the conditions are there upon us.
Let's see the other things we are to do. We are to fight, and let God fight for us. God will fight for us!
- we trust in Him to take up the battle
- we trust in Him to come against those foes that we can't do anything about
- we need God's help
- we need His intervention
- we need His angels
- to help us
- to shows us
Psa. 35—here's what the children of Israel should have done when they first saw the Egyptians. This is what we need to do when we're confronted with problems and difficulties that only God can solve.
Psalm 35:1: "Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me. Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for my help" (vs 1-2).
Spiritual action that can only come from God and His angels to intervene and help us. God will!
Verse 3: "Also draw out the spear and the lance against those who pursue me; say to my soul, 'I am your salvation.'" Only God can save us from those situations!
There was no way that they could be saved by themselves without any arms. They didn't have spears, didn't have that arrows, didn't have lances. didn't have the chariots, none of that, just the people carrying their goods out Egypt! The Egyptians came and here's a perfect definition of how God intervenes: "…say to my soul, 'I am your salvation.'"
Verse 4: "Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion… [Didn't we see that in Exo. 14?] …those who seek after my soul; let them be turned back and humiliated, those who devise evil against me."
Some of this also can be attributed to how Christ was treated when He was here in the flesh on the earth.
Verse 5: "Let them be as chaff before the wind; and let the angel of the LORD drive them away." Isn't that something? God can do that!
Verse 6: "Let their way be dark and slippery; and let the angel of the LORD pursue them." Sounds almost like a repeat of Exodus!
Verse 7: "For without cause they have hidden their net for me; without cause they have dug a pit for my soul. Let destruction come upon him in a time he will not know…" (vs 7-8).
Doesn't that describe perfectly what happened at the Red Sea? You can look at some other things that God has done in the same way.
"…and let his net, which he has concealed catch him, let him fall into destruction" (v 8). When you're trusting God that way:
- asking God to fight the battle for you
- asking God to intervene for you
- crying out to Him in tears and pleas, and praise and glory to Him for all that He can do
God is right there!
Verse 9: "And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD; it shall rejoice in His salvation. All my bones shall say…"
Isn't that interesting your bones speak? Not in a way that we would understand! There's not the bitterness and chiveralness of hatred that causes rottenness of the bones. This is joy and righteousness and salvation, which adds to the whole body. He reflects in:
Verse 10: "All my bones shall say 'O LORD, Who is like You, Who delivers the poor from him stronger than he; yea, even the poor and the needy from him who plunders him?'"
God will fight our battles for us, and this is really a tremendous thing for us.
(break)
We're learning how to have the right attitude when difficult times come. We can look on horizon and see that they are coming in a determined way.
The reason that they are coming upon the nation and then will come upon us, is because the nation has forgotten God. We have to live in the middle of it, we have to learn in a time when all these difficulties are coming upon the nation.
We need to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. We need to do the Truth and speak the Truth and let God fight our battles for us. As I have mentioned before, the Psalms help us draw close to God. These are prayers of David, and I tell you, David was some kind of man in everything that he did. He was that way because he was trusting in God.
Remember what happened when he sinned; God forgave the sin but took away his protection for quite a while. Even David's whole family turned against him. And there was the rebellion of Absalom and he died. Let's learn some lessons from all of that.
Psa. 16—Here's what we need to do; here's how we can have the kind of attitude toward God that we need, and how we can trust in Him, and what God will do for us.
Psalm 16:1: "Preserve me, O God, for in You do I take refuge. I have said to the LORD, 'You are my LORD; I have no goodness apart from You'" (vs 1-2).
That's a great lesson to learn. Of and by ourselves we can do 'good,' but we don't have goodness the way God measures goodness, apart from what comes from God! A lot of the goodness in the world that people do is for their own advantage.
Verse 3: "As for the saints in the earth… [that's us] …they are the excellent ones in whom is all My delight." When we have these kinds of attitudes that we are going through:
- trusting God
- fighting against the evil
- overcoming and changing
- letting God fight for us
notice what it says: "…they are the excellent ones in whom is all My delight."
God delights in us coming to Him and praying, pouring out our heart and mind to Him, asking for His help. God looks upon all the saints; they're going to be His children. We're going to help Jesus rule the world. This is going to be a magnificent thing.
Verse 4: "Their sorrows shall be multiplied who run after another god. I will not pour out their drink offerings of blood; and I will not take their names upon my lips. The LORD is the portion of my inheritance and of my cup; You shall uphold my lot" (vs 4-5). The cup, Passover!
Verse 6: "The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; yea, I have a beautiful inheritance."
Look at what it's going to be; we're going to shine like the sun and live forever! Who knows how God is going to clothe us with spiritual clothing! We will be in New Jerusalem.
Verse 7: "I will bless the LORD Who has given me counsel; my heart also instructs me in the nights."
Isn't it true that sometimes at night you can't go to sleep. You toss and turn and think about God, praying to him while you're right there in bed. Sometimes those are the best prayers that there are. It's quiet, dark and no one is there, and you just pray to God.
Verse 8: "I have set the LORD always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore, My heart is glad, and My glory rejoices; My flesh also shall rest in safety" (vs 8-9). This also applies to Jesus Christ directly, a direct quote!
Verse 10: "For You will not abandon My soul to the grave; neither will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption." That's of Christ!
We go back to corruption, but God is going to overcome that with the resurrection!
Verse 11: "You will make known to Me the path of life… [that's why we're here] …in Your presence… [look how he was looking forward to God always] …is fullness of joy. At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore."
Why is that? Because he trusted in God! It goes right on:
Psalm 17:1: Hear the right, O LORD; attend unto my cry; give ear unto my prayer, for it is not from lips of deceit. Let my judgment come forth from Your presence…" (vs 1-2).
In other words, God is going to give you the understanding that you need; there it is right there, "…from Your presence…"
"…let Your eyes behold things that are upright. You have tried my heart…(vs 2-3). That's what God wants to know:
- Do we really love Him?
- Do we really believe Him?
There it is!
"…You have visited me in the night; You have tested me, and You shall find nothing; I have purposed that my mouth shall not transgress" (v 3). Overcoming the sin and all of that, that is connected with changing and growing!
Verse 4: "Concerning the works of men, by the words of Your lips, I have kept myself from the paths of the violent. My steps have held fast to Your paths, my feet have not slipped. I have called upon You, for You will answer me, O God; incline Your ear to me; hear my speech. Show Your marvelous loving kindness, O Savior of those seeking refuge in You; by Your right hand save them from those who rise up against them" (vs 4-7). That's what God does, He intervenes!
We are to fight, and God is to fight for us. He leads the way. How do we fight? We fight against the pulls of the flesh of self!
Psalm 46:1: "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." Never forget that!
When trouble and difficulties come, turn to God. Don't do like the children of Israel did and accuse Him, and wonder, 'O God, why did You let this happen'? Well, it happens!
- What are you going to do?
- Are you still going to love God?
- What is it?
Verse 2: "Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth should change and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea."
Talk about steadfast in heart and mind! That's something! Even in spite of the earth changing and mountains going into the sea.
Verse 3: "Though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains shake with the swelling of it. Selah."
Verse 5: "God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God shall help her at the approach of the morning. The nations raged, the kingdoms were shaken; He uttered His voice, the earth melted" (vs 5-6).
That's talking about the return of Christ! Of course, all of these lessons that we are learning today are all necessary because we're headed for some of the worst times that are coming upon the face of the earth since the creation of the world. This tells us how strong we need to be in the Lord.
Verse 7: "The LORD of hosts is with us…"—even though it appears that there is none helping!
The greatest and final help, the lasting and permanent help, is the resurrection!
"…the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah" (v 7).
Now let's see some very important verses. Think of this concerning the Church, because we are spiritual Israel. Think of this concerning you, because God loves you and delights in you.
Isaiah 41:8: "But you, Israel… [put your name there, the Church there] …are My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen…"
We are the called, chosen and faithful; chosen means selected! God has selected us; all the saints above all the people in the world. Let that sink in!
"…the seed of Abraham, My friend" (v 8). IF you are Christ's, you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise!
Verse 9: "Whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called you from its uttermost parts. And I said to you, 'You are My servant; I have chosen you, and have not cast you away.'"
That's important to understand. When you have a trial that is really difficult to handle, God doesn't cast you away.
Verse 10: "Do not fear; for I am with you…"
That's important to understand because God is always with us with His Spirit:
- the Spirit of Christ in our mind
- for the mind of Christ
- the begettal of the Father
To be His sons and daughters! "…I am with you…" what does it say in John 14? The Father and Christ will make Their abode or dwelling place in us! Talk about being with you!
"…be not dismayed… [or discourage, down at the mouth] …for I am your God. I will strengthen you; yea, I will help you; yea, I will uphold you with the right hand of My righteousness" (v 10). Look at how strong those words are!
Verse 11: "Behold, all those who were angered against you shall be ashamed and confounded; they shall be as nothing. And those who strive against you shall perish. You shall seek them, and shall not find them; men warring against you shall be as nothing, and as a thing of naught, for I, the LORD your God, will hold your right hand… [How many times have we read that] …saying to you, "Do not fear; I will help you" (vs 11-13).
Think about all the circumstances that you have gone through, however long you have been in the Church. Look at what God says that He will do:
- He will help you
- He will help all of us
Verse 14: "'Do not fear, you worm Jacob and men of Israel; I will help you,' says the LORD and your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel."
Isaiah 44:6: "Thus says the LORD…" Whenever God says something, it's going to happen! Every word of God is like a promise:
- for blessing if we love God
- for cursing if you go against Him
It will happen!
"…the King of Israel, and His Redeemer even the LORD of hosts, 'I AM THE FIRST, AND I AM THE LAST…'" (v 6).
That's what Jesus said in Rev. 1; I am the First and the Last, the Beginning and the Ending, the Alpha and Omega!
"…and besides Me there is no god. And who, as I, shall call and shall declare it and set it in order for Me…" (vs 6-7).
He's done it all during the history of mankind.
- Isn't it marvelous that we have the Word of God?
- Isn't it a tremendous thing that it is the most translated book in the world?
With all the digital Bibles, all the digital things that are available—plus the printed word and the spoken word—there's more knowledge of God than ever before!Yet, there's more knowledge of Satan the devil and his ways than ever before.
Verse 7: "And who, as I, shall call and shall declare it and set it in order for Me, since I appointed the ancient people?… [He's done it from the beginning] …And the things that are coming…"
All the prophecies in the Bible at the end-time are going to take place!
"…and shall come, let them declare it to us. Fear not, nor be afraid; have I not told you from that time; and have declared it? So, you are My witnesses…." (vs 7-8). That's what we are, witnesses for God:
- by what we believe
- by what we teach
- how we act
- God is holding our right hand
- God is leading us
That's the whole story of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, especially the last day!
"…Is there a God besides Me? Yea, there is no other Rock; I know not one" (v 8).
Isa. 12 is the shortest chapter in Isaiah. Let's see what this tells s. God's Word is to
- help us
- inspire us
- uplift us
- change us
- convert us
- lead us
- help us to think like God
That's an amazing thing! Think about what that is like! We're going to see the greatest thing to unleaven is the mind!
Isaiah 12:1: "And in that day you shall say, 'I will give thanks to You O LORD; though You were angry with me, Your anger is turned away, and You do comfort me.'"
There will come a time when the testing will be over. Of course, that's the resurrection. In problems that we deal with and correction that God gives us, His anger is turned away.
Verse 2: "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid; for the LORD God is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation."
Wonderful! Look at how we need to look to God in everything! That's the whole purpose of the seventh day of Unleavened Bread.
Verse 4: "And in that day you shall say, 'Praise the LORD! Call upon His name; declare His doings among the people, make mention that His name is exalted. Sing to the LORD; for He has done gloriously; this is known in all the earth…. [not yet, but it will] …Cry out and shout, O inhabitant of Zion; for great is the Holy One of Israel in your midst" (vs 4-6).
What an absolute thing that is! Great is God, and think about what He is going to do! Let's understand this:
- God is going to fight for us
- God will be with us
- God will show us and teach us
We have our part, God has His part! This is why we let the Word of God tell us what He wants us to know on His days, according to His Word and Truth. Here's how God is going to fight for us:
Psalm 35:1: "Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me. Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for my help" (vs 1-2).
Yes, indeed! God is our help as we have seen.
Verse 3: "Also draw out the spear and the lance against those who pursue me; say to my soul, 'I am your salvation.'"
- nothing else can save
- nothing else can do it
- Only God!
Whatever we need to do, God is going to take care of it!
Heb. 12—we will see our part:
- how we have to fight against sin
- how we have to trust in Christ
It is a marvelous thing, indeed! Here is how we go forward from this seventh day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread:
Hebrews 12:1: "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great throng of witnesses… [all the Word of God] …let us lay aside every weight… [put it down; don't carry it around] …and the sin that so easily entraps us… [yes, it does] …and let us run the race set before us with endurance, having our minds fixed on Jesus, the Beginner and Finisher of our faith; Who for the joy that lay ahead of Him endured the cross, although He despised the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the Throne of God" (vs 1-2).
Verse 3: "Now meditate deeply on Him… [it takes some thought, meditation, living and experience] …Who endured such great hostility of sinners against Himself so that you do not become weary and faint in your minds. You have not yet resisted to the point of losing blood in your struggle against sin. And you have already forgotten the admonition that He addresses to you as to sons: 'My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor grow weary of being reproved by Him; for whom the Lord loves He chastens, and He severely disciplines every son whom He receives.' If you endure chastening, God is dealing with you as a Father with His sons. For who is the son whom the Father does not chasten?" (vs 3-7).
Let's see what we are to do with our heart and mind. The greatest battles are not out here, the greatest battles are in the mind. as we have covered with the renewing or transformation of the mind.
- let's see what we are to do
- let's see how we are to do it
- let's see the way that it's being done
so that we can
- change
- grow
- overcome
- have God fight our battles for us
- be cleansed
- be brought to God
- be close to Him
- He can hold our right hand
- He can fight our battles for us
But the one battle we have to fight is right in the mind!
Let's see what the Apostle Paul wrote. Remember that when you read Rom. 7, even as an apostle for more than 20 years, Paul was still fighting the sin within! Paul was still struggling!
How can it be that way? Yet, we know—through Christ—that we can overcome!
2-Corinthians 10:3: "For although we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh."
No amount of psychology or thinking of men's ways will help you overcome spiritually!
Verse 4: "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the overthrowing of strongholds"—those holds in our mind:
- our memories
- our sins
- our transgressions
All of the things that we have done has been recorded in our mind, and we need that cleansed!' That's how God does it:
- He cleanses our heart
- He cleanses our mind
- He leads us in what we need to do
Here's what to do; this takes mind-control with the Spirit of God:
Verse 5: "Casting down vain imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God…"—the Truth of God, the Word of God!
One of the greatest sins of men and women is that they think that they can add to the Word of God and make it better, but they cannot!
"…and bringing into captivity every thought into the obedience of Christ" (v 5). That's done by the Spirit of God!
We're not like the children of Israel who accuse God. We're not like others who don't produce the fruit who get caught up in the cares of world and have no root in them. "…bringing into captivity every thought into the obedience of Christ." That is mind-control by choice in the inner part of your mind through the Spirit and the Word of God!
Every thought! You think about that and see how you do day-by-day.
- that's why there's repentance every day
- that's why there's forgiveness every day
- that's why God is merciful and kind to us every day
If we are bringing every thought to the obedience of Christ:
Verse 6: "And having a readiness to avenge all disobedience, whenever your obedience has been fulfilled."
Our obedience is fulfilled with the Word of God! Let's see how that is done. We know that the Holy Spirit is likened unto water.
Eph. 5—Paul is talking about the Church, so Christ is there to always help us. The Holy Spirit is in us to help us; God the Father and Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 5:26: "So that He might sanctify it… [the Church and each one individually] …having cleansed it with the washing of the water by the Word."
With the Spirit of God, that's the water, and the Word of God together cleanses our mind and helps us bring every thought into captivity so that we yield ourselves to God in every way, and for the Truth of God.
Verse 27—tie in with John 17: "That He might present it to Himself as the glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it might be Holy and without blame."
When we look at it that way, then we know that we will be able to go through the things that we need to go through with the help of God.
- here's what we need to understand
- here's what we need to realize
- here's how we need to look at everything that comes along
so we can
- grow, change and overcome
- be washed with the water by the Word
- bring every thought into captivity
Through the power of God! That is the spiritual goal mentally, in our mind, heart and thoughts!
Remember that regardless of what comes along, Romans 8:28: "And we know… [this is what we need to know all the time and keep in mind] …that all things… [each and every one] …work together for good…"
Even when we do things that aren't right and we repent and learn the lesson, then that works for good because of repentance.
"…to those who love God… [with all their heart, mind, soul, being and strength] …to those who are called according to His purpose" (v 28). Yes, and those who are chosen!
Verse 29: "Because those whom He did foreknow He also predestinated to be conformed to the image of His own Son, that He might be the Firstborn among many brethren."
God wants to do a finished work in all of us! We have to be willing and ready to.
Verse 30: "Now, whom He predestinated, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified… [put in right standing with God] …and whom He justified, these He also glorified." A perfect tense of future fulfillment! We will be glorified!
What else can you say about this? That's why this day is so great! Think of what the children of Israel had in their mind when they were standing on the other side of the Red Sea and looking down into it. All the Egyptians were struggling and dying, and the water was coming upon them because of the power of God.
Verse 31[transcriber's correction]: "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us… [which He is] …who can be against us?" Nothing can!
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?" That's quite a statement!
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)—through the power of the Holy Spirit and personally!
Verse 35: "What shall separate us from the love of Christ?…."
What is going to do that? That's why we have all the things that we go through! We can learn to:
- trust God
- believe God
- cling to God
- repent to God
of these things combined! NOTHING will separate us!
"…Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?" (v 35).
Look at all the different circumstances that all the saints have had to go through down through history. Think about it, they faced every one of these things, and they were victorious, because:
- they believed God
- they trusted God
Verse 36: "Accordingly, it is written, 'For Your sake we are killed all the day long; we are reckoned as sheep for the slaughter.' But in all these things…" (vs 36-37).
The way God looks at it. Don't look at it from the human point of view; look at it from the point of view of God.
"…we are more than conquerors through Him Who loved us" (v 37).
Here's the persuasion that the Apostle Paul came to through all that he went through. Read what he went through (1-Cor. 6; 11); all the difficulties and suffering.
Verse 38: "For I am persuaded 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… [shall not have the power] …to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (vs 38-39).
There it is, brethren, that is the meaning of the last day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread! So, let's go forward as God has said!
Scriptural References:
- Leviticus 23:6-9
- 2 Corinthians 9:6-8
- Numbers 33:1-4
- Exodus 14:3-28
- Exodus 15:24-27, 26
- Psalm 35:1-10
- Psalm 16:1-11
- Psalm 17:1-7
- Psalm 46:1-3, 5-7
- Isaiah 41:8-14
- Isaiah 44:6-8
- Isaiah 12:1-2, 4-6
- Psalm 35:1-3
- Hebrews 12:1-7
- 2 Corinthians 10:3-6
- Ephesians 5:26-27
- Romans 8:28-39
Scriptures referenced, not quoted:
- Numbers 33:5-7
- Ephesians 6
- John 14
- Revelation 1
- Romans 7
- John 17
- 1 Corinthians 6; 11
FRC:bo
Transcribed: 3/2/21
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