Seventh Day of Unleavened Bread—2015

God is For You, Who Can be Against You?

Fred R. Coulter—April 10, 2015

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Greetings, brethren! Welcome to the seventh day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, 1015! Time marches on. Our journey in the world toward the Kingdom of God continues, just like the exodus did for the children of Israel when they left Egypt.

Leviticus 23—here we know that we have the commands for all the Holy Days. We'll just review it so we can take care of things the way that we need to in proper order.

We have here concerning the Feast or Unleavened Bread, Leviticus 23:7: "On the first day you shall have a Holy convocation…. [v 8] …In the seventh day is a Holy convocation…."

We find that also in Exo 12. God has given that and we are to bring an offering to God. An offering is an offering of thanksgiving, of generosity, of yielding to God because of what He is doing for us. Look at what God is doing for us! Look at the way that the world is going! Look at the things that we have to do to change, to grow, to overcome, to teach, to preach, to do all of these things to feed the flock and preach the Gospel.

• Thank you, very much for your offerings!
• Thank you very much for your faithful tithes and offerings that you give!

We use it all appropriately, we have no excess. We're not like the District of Liars and Deceivers in Washington. We use everything that God provides for us through your tithes and offerings, and we appreciate it very much.

Remember: God has promised that you will have sufficiency in all things! With God's blessing, you can use your money more wisely. The individuals who 'cannot afford' to tithe or give anything to God, end up using all of it on themselves and their troubled and problemed lives!

When we give to God, there are many blessings that come, many blessings that are not accountable in monetary terms, which though in the long-run help us to use our money much more wisely and effectively.

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). Each Holy Day of itself has a message and teaching for us through the Scriptures.

All of this is designed! God has a purpose for everything that He does! Also remember that we progress from the physical to the spiritual; from what we do to what God does in us and through us. That's the whole purpose of why we are here.

Thank you very much for your kindness and generosity.

(pause for the offering)

Now let's come to Exo. 14, because this is the seventh day of the Feast during the time that the children of Israel were coming out of Egypt. They came to the Red Sea. God deliberately took them that way. Sometimes God deliberately takes us in a difficult way to see if we are going to believe Him and trust in Him.

We have to understand that there comes a point in our lives where we have to trust God completely, because there is nothing that you can do to escape by using your own resources without God.

It's exactly what happened here in Exo. 14; God deliberately took them to a campsite right along the Red Sea, because He knew that He was going to take them across the Red Sea on dry land. He also had another surprise for Pharaoh, because all the Egyptians, after the children of Israel left, had no servants. They had to do everything themselves.

It would be like one day take away all of your appliances, everything, including your water, hot and cold. What are you going to do?

The Egyptians said, 'Look, we let them go. We've got to go and get them because we have no one to serve us.' So, Pharaoh got his armies, 600 chariots and all of his infantry men to go with it. It was told to them where the children of Israel were camping alongside the Red Sea, and they came after them.

Let's see what happened. God set a trap for them! Here's what God told Moses, 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).

You would think that after the destruction of the country, after the death of the firstborn, the Egyptians would have said, 'That's enough, Lord.' But they didn't.

Satan and human nature never give up in their schemes of evil, if they think they can get a benefit. So, they came! What was the children of Israel's reaction? Stop and think for a minute. What was your first reaction when you had your first real difficult trial in following God?

We know that from the parables in Matt. 13 that there were those who were persecuted that just give up. There were those who were excited to hear it, but it didn't last long. There were those who were deceived by the deceitfulness of riches and the abundance of things in this life, and they couldn't take the time to be bothered with God.

But the seed that was sown on the good ground, that's us! This is an example for us what we need to do when difficulties and problems come. Here's what the children of Israel did when they saw Pharaoh coming.

Verse 10: "And when Pharaoh drew near, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes. And, behold, the Egyptians marched after them. And they… [the children of Israel] …were very afraid. And the children of Israel cried out to the LORD. And they said to Moses… [typical of human nature; you've got to blame someone and discredit them, as well]: …'Have you taken us away to die in the wilderness because there were no graves in Egypt?….'" (vs 10-11). Yes, there were a lot of graves in Egypt, and plenty of space to bury bodies.

"'…Why have you dealt this way with us to carry us forth out of Egypt?'" (v 11). Remember what happened. They cried to God because of their slavery, and said, 'O God, rescue us!' So, He did! He performed great miracles and signs and wonders, and Pharaoh finally let them loose. This also shows the short memory of the carnal mind when things start getting difficult. Then they deceive themselves; here's their deception:

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.' And Moses said to the people… [here is the meaning of this day]: …'Fear not!….'" (vs 12-13). Remember: if you are on God's side, God is on your side!

"'…Stand still…'" (v 13). Don't run off and do some stupid carnal thing to try and save yourself.
"'…and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will work for you today… [spectacular salvation] …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). Don't complain and moan and groan; take it to God in prayer and ask Him

• to work it out
• to cause things to be changed
• to fight your battles for you

We've done that, and God has fought some of our battles very spectacularly, and has delivered us. That doesn't mean that we were without afflictions and trials as we go along, as we will see later.

Verse 15: "And the LORD said to Moses, 'Why do you cry to Me? Speak to the children of Israel that they go forward.'" Remember this in everything that you do: go forward! Not backward!

• just because it's difficult doesn't mean that you go back into the world
• just because the circumstances are hard doesn't mean that you give up
• just because there are problems and difficulties doesn't mean that you blame someone else
  • ask God for the solution
  • ask God for the help
  • ask God for the understanding

Verse 16: "And you—lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea, and divide it. [How are you going to do that with a stick?] …And the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea. And behold, I am about to harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them. And I will get honor for Myself upon Pharaoh, and over all his army, over his chariots and over his horsemen. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD when I will be glorified through Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen" (vs 16-18).

Then God separated between the people and sent an angel: the pillar of cloud during the daytime and pillar of fire at nighttime. Here's the Red Sea and it went over between the children of Israel and the Egyptians. The children of Israel had light, and the Egyptians had darkness. Probably a little fog mixed in, as well. Hard to see! Where are they? What's going on here? All of those things.

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." That was a huge thing! Very wide, probably about ten miles wide.

When God does miracles, they're not little, itty-bitty-witty things like atheist or agnostic men say: 'Well, when they crossed, it was through the Reed Sea and it wasn't anymore than a little above ankle deep.' That's how men reason.

Look! God created the heavens and the earth! Moving the Red Sea is no big deal to God! Drying out the land so they can walk upon it is no big deal to God! So, He did it!

Verse 22: "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. And the Egyptians pursued and went in after them to the middle of the sea, all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen" (vs 22-23).

It's like coming to an intersection and you look to the right, no water; you look to the left, no water; you look ahead, your captives are just across, not too far to go. And you look down and it's dry land. Well, just as God was able to change the bottom of the sea into dry land, He can bring it back to what it was in a twinkling of an eye. Here's what happened:

Verse 24: "And in the morning watch it came to pass that the LORD looked down upon the army of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and the army of the Egyptians was thrown into confusion." First thing you do is get them all mixed up!

Verse 25: "And He loosened their chariot wheels…" Think about this: Remember the pictures that someone showed to try and prove that the Red Sea was the Gulf of Eilat and there was a point that they could cross there because the found chariots down under the surface of the water. Their wheels were still on them! God took them all off!

"…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). They finally realized that God was against them!

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.'" The children of Israel rejoiced! They were happy! They were glad and ready to go on to the 'promised land.' However, just like when we are baptized and saved, this is kind of a type of it.

Let's see something important concerning the meaning of these things for today in the New Testament, the New Covenant. There's a meaning for it, and we will see how Paul explains it. Just like the children of Israel, once they got to the other side of the Red Sea:

• the salvation of God
• the deliverance of God
• the rescue of God
• the power of God
• the enemy is gone

Now they had to face the reality of life in the wilderness. Just like us! We have to face the reality of life living in this evil world. But God has called us, and Christ is praying for us. God is behind us! God is directing us! God will open the doors for us and provide a way for us.

1-Corinthians 10:1: "Now, I do not wish you to be ignorant of this, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea. And all were baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea" (vs 1-2).

Now then, we are baptized into the death of Christ, and come out of the watery grave to walk in newness of life. That also means that we look at the problems that come upon us from a different perspective and ask God to intervene to help us in them, and deliver us out of them.

Verse 3: "And they all ate the same spiritual meat. And they all drank of the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them. And that Rock was Christ" (vs 3-4). Absolute proof that the Lord God of the Old Testament was the One Who became Jesus Christ of the New Testament.

Let's apply v 5 to us. Look at the history of the Church, and look at what happened to the Church. Look at why we're all scattered. There's a good reason for it—because of the sins of the people: the leaders and ministers, and those who ran the organization, and the brethren, as well—correction and punishment. The good part of it is that being scattered it is harder for Satan to come after us and persecute us. But eventually, he'll figure it out, just like Pharaoh did to come against the children of Israel.

Verse 5: "But with many of them God was not pleased… [that happened over and over again] …for their dead bodies were strewn in the wilderness. Now these things became examples for us… [Greek: 'topos' or types] …so that we might not lust after evil things, as they also lusted" (vs 5-6).

We all still have 'the law of sin and death' in us! We have to grow and overcome to attain to the Kingdom of God, just like they had to believe God and follow Him in the wilderness.

Verse 7: "Neither be idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, 'The people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.' Neither should we commit sexual immorality, as some of them committed, and twenty-three thousand were destroyed in one day" (vs 7-8).

Sidebar: Many young people think that it is acceptable to God for them to live together not being married. It is not! We are not to read in our own ideas into what we think is the way that God will deal with us. Nor are we to think that we can call evil 'good' and go to God and say, 'Accept us, God.' No more than the children of Israel could do it there in the wilderness of Sinai.

Verse 9: "Neither should we tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted Him, and were killed by serpents. Neither should we complain against God, as some of them also complained, and were killed by the destroyer. Now all these things happened to them as examples, and were written for our admonition…" (vs 9-11)—our correction, our way; that's why we have the Holy Days and we go through these things every year. As we move down in time, every minute is new, everything is changing, everything is progressing.

What we did last year, that's fine. But now we come to this year and we reinforce the lesson. We learn this in our lives. We are living in times that are going to be the most dangerous since the creation of the world. We need to be fortified:

• with the Spirit of God
• with the faith of God
• with the love of God
• with the hope of God

"…on whom the ends of the ages are coming…. [that's a prophecy for us] …Therefore, let the one who thinks he stands take heed, lest he fall" (vs 11-12).

Never are we to get lifted up in conceit! We are to always remember every single day that we, individually and collectively, have nothing that we didn't receive from God, everything physical, everything spiritual! When we understand that, then God will be with us with more of His Spirit in greater understanding and help us, just like He helped the children of Israel at the Red Sea.

Verse 13: "No temptation has come upon you except what is common to mankind…." You look at the terrible things going on in the Middle East right now. That has happened over and over and over again! It's new to us, because we've never seen it before.

But we need to understand that the world is not going to repent. We need to! The world is not going to change until they are forced to do so, by the return of Jesus Christ! Jesus prophesied—remember, every prophesy is fulfilled to maximum, not minimum—so these things are going to come upon us.

"…For God, Who is faithful, will not permit you to be tempted beyond what you are able to bear; but with the temptation, He will make a way of escape, so that you may be able to bear it" (v 13).

If you think that life is tough for you, why don't you read 2-Cor. 11 and what the Apostle Paul went through. Quite interesting!

Let's understand that God deliberately brought the children of Israel into the barren wilderness of Sinai. There was probably much more grass there than we have today, because the climate was of a different setting at that time, and the archeological botanist know that. It was more like northern America. Exo. 15 is what happened three days after they crossed the Red Sea. God knew this; God understood this, but He wanted to see what they would do. They were all cheering how wonderful God was to save them. Three days later, look what happened:

Exodus 15:22: "And Moses brought Israel from the Red Sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur. And they went three days in the wilderness and found no water. And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah because it was bitter. Therefore, the name of it was called Marah. And the people murmured against Moses, saying…" (vs 22-24)—'Oh, Moses, remember what happened at the Red Sea? Why don't you pray for us that God will do something with this water for us.'

NO! They came to Moses and said, "…'What shall we drink?' And he cried to the LORD…." (vs 24-25). Moses had a tough problem leading the children of Israel. Remember that whenever they did wrong, God said, 'your people.' Whenever they did right, God said, 'My people.'

"…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" (v 25). Remember this: Our faith will be proved over and over and over again, as long as we are living in this world!

Here's what we need to do, v 26: "And he said, 'If you will diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD your God, and will do that which is right in His sight, and will give ear to His commandments, and 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.'"

They went on for another couple of weeks and they came to the Wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the 15th day of the second month. They had been out there a whole month. Then what happened? What are we going to eat? We want some flesh! You know the account of this.

God sent them manna to feed them, and it came every day, six days of the week, and on the Sabbath they weren't to go out and get any because on the sixth day they were to get twice as much and they could keep it over.

But they couldn't keep it over the first five days, because it would all breed worms and stink. They had to go out and work every day, and they had to get up early to get it. Back then, it wasn't the early bird who got the worm, it's the early bird who got his manna! So, they would get it and eat it. Likewise, at the end of the week they learned a lesson.

• God provided them food
• God provided them water

They had to have water wherever they went, so God did something special. There was this special rock that went with them, which was probably Jacob's pillar stone, the stone he used as a pillow when he had the vision from God, which is undoubtedly the stone that is under the coronation throne of the king and queen of Briton.

Exodus 17:2: "And the people argued with Moses… [a little mini-riot out there] …and said, 'Give us water that we may drink.' And Moses said to them, 'Why do you argue with me? Why do you tempt the LORD?' And the people thirsted there for water. And the people murmured against Moses and said, 'Why is this, that you brought us up out of Egypt to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?'" (vs 2-3). They were ready to come and get Moses!

Verse 4: "And Moses cried to the LORD, saying, 'What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me!'" Nice thankful, loving attitude toward Moses and God?
Verse 5: "And the LORD said to Moses, 'Go on ahead of the people, and take with you the elders of Israel. And take your rod with which you struck the Nile. Take it in your hand and go. Behold, I will stand before you there upon the rock in Horeb. And you shall smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, so that the people may drink.' And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel" (vs 5-6). Here comes a river right out of the rock!

God can perform great miracles to help us, to assist us, to be with us. The greatest miracle of all is the conversion going on in our heart and mind.

• developing the mind of Christ
• developing the attitude of God
• developing the character we need to be kings and priest, to be ruling with Christ

That is the greatest miracle possible! God can provide all of these things for us.

Verse 7: "And he called the name of the place Massah and Meribah because of the arguing of the children of Israel and because they tempted the LORD, saying, 'Is the LORD among us or not?'"

Let's see what our attitude has to be toward God. Very interesting, indeed! We all have needs. Especially in this age with so many things that we have, you consider the poor in the rest of the world, they have a little shed to live in, they have to go get their water out of a well, they may have something to cook with. They have to go get the wood, and they have to do whatever they have to do. Their dwelling is not like ours!

Here in America if you make $24,000 a year, you're in poverty. But even those who are on welfare have a television or two, a car, food, clothing, hot and cold running water. Look at all that even the poor have today in America. Yet, we're not satisfied and content. Give us more! Give us more! And the greed and lust of the American people is going to come crashing back on their heads, and we are going to find ourselves in great dire straits with lack of food, water, clothing and housing. It's going to come!

Christ is saying, Matthew 6:24: "No one is able to serve two masters… [that's why we're to love God with all our heart, mind, soul and being] …for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will hold to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon"—your own interests through lust!

Verse 25: "Because of this I say to you, do not be anxious about your life…"—as the children of Israel were. God was right there with them, all of them. What difference would it make of the physical circumstances you are in? Their clothes didn't wear out! Their shoes didn't wear out! He provided them with manna, with water, and on several occasions with meat. God was there!

Which is more important, having God with you? or That you have all of your needs met and you're satisfied in the physical things? Remember what happened to them because of their lust when they wanted meat? They began to eat even raw! Some of them choked to death out of their lust! Well, we look at that and think, did God not do something like that with the Church? to try and test all of us?

"…do not be anxious about your life as to what you shall eat and what you shall drink; nor about your body as to what you shall wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?…. [take a look at what God has created] …Observe the birds of heaven: they do not sow, neither do they reap, nor do they gather into granaries; and your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much better than they?" (vs 25-26). But of course!

What can you do to change your circumstances? Those circumstances need to be changed by God, not you!

Verse 27: "But who among you, by taking careful thought, is able to add one cubit to his stature? And why are you anxious about clothing? Observe the lilies of the field, how they grow: they do not labor, nor do they spin; but I say to you, not even Solomon in all his glory was arrayed as one of these. Now, if God so arrays the grass of the field, which today is and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall He not much rather clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore, do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'With what shall we be clothed?' For the nations seek after all these things. And your heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things" (vs 27-32).

Here is the key for us, and this is what the children of Israel did not do: They did not love God and obey Him! When it came time for them to go into the 'promised land' only 18 months after coming out of Egypt, they refused to go in! They didn't believe God, and they didn't trust Him to fight the battles for them. They were all seeking their own will and their own ways, rather than looking to God. So, here is what we need to do:

Verse 33: "But as for you, seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness… [everything that He can give us with His Spirit, character, Holiness, goodness and sanctification] …and all these things shall be added to you." You will have sufficiency in all things and greatness in the Kingdom of God.

Let's see some prophecies that we would go through some of these things. Let's understand these.

Track 2 or Download

Psalm 34—there are a lot of good things here for us that help us have more faith in God, trust in Him, look to His deliverance, and realize that God is there to help us in all our circumstances!

Psalm 34:1: "I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall always be in my mouth." That is we're always to have a positive attitude toward God and what He will do for us in our circumstances.

Verse 2: "My soul shall make its boast in the LORD… [not in the self, but in God] …the humble shall hear and be glad. O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together. I sought the LORD, and He answered me, and delivered me from all my fears" (vs 2-4). When you seek God, when you cry out to Him, He will answer you and deliver you. Remember this:

• He has rescued us from Satan the devil!
• He delivered the children of Israel from the Red Sea!
• He has delivered us from this world!
• He has given us His Spirit to overcome 'the law of sin and death'!
• He has "…delivered me from all my fears."

We're going to have a lot of fearful days ahead of us, so we need to remember this.

Verse 5: "They looked to Him and were radiant; and their faces were not ashamed. This poor man cried, and the LORD heard, and saved him out ofall his troubles" (vs 5-6) Isn't that interesting?

• "…all his troubles"
• "…all my fears"

Notice that God sends extra help that we're not even aware of, v 7: "The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him and delivers them." How many things have happened where you know that God intervened in some way, and undoubtedly through His angels,

• to deliver you
• to help you
• to protect you
• to keep you from evil

Verse 8: "O taste and see that the LORD is good… [through the Word of God, through living by every word of God—daily] …blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him." Not in their own schemes, not in their own ways, but in God! Yet, we're still to be like the ant' we are to prepare.

Verse 9: "O fear the LORD, all you saints, for there is nothing lacking to those who fear Him." Quite a thing! Even the animals lack things and God also takes care of them.

Verse 11: "Come, hearken to me, you children… [we are the children of God] …I will teach you the fear of the LORD. Who is the man that desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good?" (vs 11-12). That will come at the resurrection, permanent good!

Here is what we are to do; this is part of Unleavened Bread: put out/put in; get rid of/add to:

Verse 14: "Depart from evil… [get away from sin] …and do good… [love God and keep His commandments] …seek peace and pursue it."

There have been instances where brethren have not been able to get along and they have harbored bitterness toward each other without following the commands of Jesus Christ to go to your brother or sister and resolve it in love. Remember this: to do so is a salvational issue!Jesus said that if you have anything against your brother, you go resolve it, and forgive. Because if we do not forgive from the heart, God does not forgive us either!

Let us not think in our own sanctimonious stupidity that we can love over here and we can hate brethren over there—despise them and not make up and get along with them. It won't work!

• that's why we pray for all the Churches of God
• that's why we're not in competition with them

We're in competition in overcoming self and overcoming the world. God is able to take care of all of His churches everywhere, wherever they are. So, within our own fellowship groups and congregations, we need to make sure that we do what God wants us to do.

Verse 15: "The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous… [God sees, God knows] …and His ears are open to their cry." He cherishes and loves the prayers of the saints. They are His delight. However, just like a coin—two sides that we call head and tails—you can never just have the head or just have the tail. You must have both. Likewise here. God deals with us, and God deals with the enemies.

Verse 16: "The face of the LORD is against those who do evil…"

Verse 15: "The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous…" Amazing, isn't it?

Verse 16: "…to cut off the memory of them from the earth…. [that will be at the Lake of Fire] …The righteous cry, and the LORD hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles" (vs 16-17). Think about what troubles and difficulties that you have, and what ones you need to be delivered from, yet. We're always going to have some come along! "The righteous cry…" in their prayers, in beseeching God, in importuning God, asking God to intervene and help."…and the LORD hears…"

• His eyes are upon the righteous
• His ears are open to their cry; He hears
• and delivers them out of all their troubles

Whatever troubles you have, whatever difficulties you have, God is there to help you; to be with you.

Psa. 20—here are five mays of what God can do. This is a wonderful Psalm. Whenever you get discouraged and you're faced with troubles and problems, and you need to overcome and need God's intervention and help, come to:

Psalm 20:1: "[#1]May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble, the name of the God of Jacob set you on high, [#2]may He send you help from the sanctuary, and strengthen you out of Zion" (vs 1-2)—spiritual angelic help directly from God.

Verse 3: [#3]May He remember all your offerings… [our prayers and the things that we do of works of righteousness] …and accept your burnt sacrifice. Selah." A burnt offering is a total dedication!

Verse 4: [#4]May He grant you according to your own heart and fulfill all your plans.We will shout for joy in your victory, and in the name of our God we will set up banners. [#5]May the LORD fulfill all your prayers" (vs 4-5). Think on those things!

Let's see how those things are, and let's see how these Psalms come together.

Psalm 34:18: "The LORD is near to the broken-hearted…" Not those who are puffed up in vanity. Not those who think they are God's gift to the world, but those who cry out to God knowing that of and by ourselves we're just sinful, wretched human beings, and need salvation!

"…and saves those who are of a contrite spirit" (v 18).

We also notice this, and God tries us, and He lets us go through different things

• so that we can learn
• so that we can grow in grace and knowledge
• so that we can grow in faith
• so that we can grow in hope
• so that we can grow in love
• so that we can grow in understanding

That's why we're still in the flesh. It is the great opportunity with the Spirit of God and His Word, with Christ in us, to grow and develop the spiritual righteous character, which is the unleavenness, the sinlessness of God!

Verse 19: "Many are the afflictions of the righteous…" But let's not be like the children of Israel and say, 'God, why are You doing this?' NO! But here's the promise:

"…but the LORD delivers him out of them all" (v 19). Not some, not most, not a few, but all! The last deliverance out of it will be the resurrection, the complete unleavenness of being a spirit being. That is fantastic!

Verse 20: "He keeps all His bones; not one of them is broken. Evil shall slay the wicked; and those who hate the righteous shall be condemned. The LORD redeems the soul of His servants; and none of them who take refuge in Him shall be condemned" (vs 20-22).

Hey! That's pretty nifty—isn't it? That's pretty good! Yes, indeed! That's what God will do for us! I tell you one thing, one of the things concerning the Psalms is that the Psalms reveal the heart of our relationship with God. We're to love God

• with all our heart; that's our emotions
• with all of our mind; that's all of our thoughts
• with all of our soul; that's our whole physical being
• with all of our strength

Many of the Psalms are personal, direct to God from David, or Korah, or one of the priests who wrote Psalms, to show us how we are to have this living, heartfelt, wonderful relationship with God. God is there to help us.

We're going to have all kinds of difficulties come. You can have a whole series of minor difficulties ever single day. How do you handle them? Trust in God!

Psalm 31:1: "In You, O LORD, have I taken refuge, let me never be ashamed; deliver me in Your righteousness." Not our righteousness, not our goodness; that can't save us. But:

• God's righteousness
• God's way
• God's Spirit
• God's Truth

Verse 2: "Bow down Your ear to me; deliver me quickly; be my strong Rock… [1 Cor. 10—the Rock is Christ] …a fortress of defense to save me."

These are really great Psalms. We can take courage, take encouragement, take this as an example of the mindset that we need.

Verse 3: "For You are my Rock and my fortress; therefore, for Your name's sake lead me and guide me." We are to be led by the Spirit of God! If we are led by the Spirit of God, then are we the sons of God!

If you have a real bad difficulty, v 4: "Pull me up out of the net that they have hidden for me, for You are my strength." Is not God stronger than any of us? Yes, indeed! In every way!

These are the very words of Christ, and He gave up the spirit right after this, and died:

Verse 5: "Into Your hand I commit My spirit; You have redeemed Me, O LORD God of Truth." Isn't that something? Yes, indeed! And we need God to redeem us!

All of these Psalms show us the attitude of yielding to God, of growing, changing, overcoming, and of trusting God

• to deliver us
• to save us
• to enlighten us
• to fight our enemies
• to provide for us
• to hear our prayers
• to answer the things that we request of Him

There are a lot of short, little Psalms that you would do well to study through and read. Some of them contain some great, wonderful deep spiritual truths and encouragement and love of God.

Psalm 70:1: "Make haste, O God, to deliver me; make haste to help me, O LORD." That's the picture of this day.

• God delivers
• God helps
• God fights our battles
• God redeems us

Verse 2: "Let them be ashamed and confounded, those who seek after my soul; let them be turned backward and put to confusion, those who desire my hurt." Sound a little bit like Exo. 14? Yes, indeed!

Verse 3: "Let them be turned back for a reward of their shame, those who say, 'Aha, aha!'" Maybe that's what Pharaoh and all the Egyptians did. They looked down there in the valley of dry land, with the sea moved far away from it, and they said, 'Aha! Aha! We will go in it and get them.'

And they said that when Christ was on the cross dying—didn't they? 'Aha! Aha! You Who trusted in the Lord. Let Him deliver You now. You Who saved others, deliver Yourself! If You be the Christ, come down off the cross!'

Verse 4: "Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You…" That's how to turn a depressing day around. Read some of the Psalms.

• Rejoice in God!
• Rejoice in your calling!
• Rejoice in your hope!
• Rejoice in what God is doing in your life!
• God is for you!
• God loves you!
• God has called you!
• God is creating in you His Holy righteous character!

To be His son/daughter of God for all eternity!

"…and let those who love Your salvation say without ending, 'Let God be magnified.'…. [but again notice the attitude]: …But I am poor and needy… [we're always poor and needy] …make haste unto me, O God; You are my help and my deliverer; O LORD, wait no longer!" (vs 4-5).

Sometimes you're in a real desperate situation. Cry out to God, 'O God, help me! Wait no longer!' He will! God has promised it.

Psalm 71 shows our relationship with God, our trust in God, our faith in God and looking to His deliverance and looking to Him to guide us and direct us in all things.

Psalm 71:1: "In You, O LORD, have I taken refuge; let me never be put to shame. Deliver me in Your righteousness and cause me to escape; incline Your ear unto me, and save me" (vs 1-2). God's eyes are open upon us. His ears are open to hear us.

• What are doing?
• Are we going to God?
• Praying to God?
• Crying out to Him?
• Trusting in Him?

Yes, God will help us!

Verse 3: "Be my strong Rock of refuge to which I may always go; You have commanded to save me; for You are my Rock and my Fortress. Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and ruthless man, for You are my hope, O Lord GOD, my trust from my youth" (vs 3-5).

Many of the Psalms you go along and the words of David are the words of prophecy of what Christ would say and do.

Now, the very words of Christ, v 6: "By You I have been upheld from the womb; You are He who took me out of my mother's belly; my praise always shall be of You." That's of His birth.

Notice of His death, v 7: "I am like a wonder to many, but You are my strong refuge." That's how we need to approach God. That's what we need to do in fighting our battles. Come to God!

Now you know why in the sermons series Keys to Answered Prayer we take some of these Psalms and use them to begin your prayers. As we go through these Psalms it's evident that these were made for God's people down through all time, all circumstances from the time of David to the return of Jesus Christ.

Now you know why David was a man after God's heart. He came to God with everything that was in him, with all that he had to give. Here's another Psalm of God's salvation, of God's deliverance, of God's fighting for him, which we can translate to God's deliverance and fighting for us.

Psalm 54:1: "Save me, O God, by Your name, and vindicate me by Your might. Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth" (vs 1-2). He was in a very difficult situation.

Verse 3: "For strangers have risen up against me, and violent men seek after my soul; they have not set God before them. Selah." Even coming close to some of the words of Christ, because they were always after Him. Remember, they started plotting to kill Him from the time of His very first healing in the synagogue. Amazing!

Verse 4: "Behold, God is my helper; the LORD is with those who uphold my soul. He shall reward evil to my enemies. Destroy them in Your faithfulness" (vs 4-5). God is going to destroy all enemies, and the last enemy to be destroyed is death!

Verse 7: "For He has delivered me out of all trouble, and my eye has seen its desire upon my enemies." That's one way to pray for your enemies, that God will take care of them.

You can pray that God will convert them, God will keep them away, or—if that won't work—that God will destroy them. That's all perfectly fine.

Psa. 116 is really a great and wonderful Psalm for us. Again, you look at these things, and you see how much trouble and how much difficulty that David was in and some of the priests were in, and think of all the conflicts that they had in keeping the temple and everything that they had to do.

Psalm 116:1: "I love the LORD because He hears my voice and my prayers." That's why we need prayer and study every single day. God loves us, and He wants to answer our prayers.

Verse 2: "Because He has bowed down His ear to me, therefore, I will call upon Him as long as I live." Wonderful—isn't it? Great encouragement!

Verse 3: "The sorrows of death hemmed me in, and the pains of the grave took hold upon me; I found trouble and sorrow. Then I called upon the name of the LORD: 'O LORD, I beseech You, deliver my soul'" (vs 3-4). And God did!

Verse 5: "Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful. The LORD preserves the simple; I was brought low, and He saved me. Return to your rest, O my soul, for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you, for You have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from falling. I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living" (vs 5-9). Whoa! Quite a wonderful Psalm!

Let's apply those words to us living in this age, in this time. We have so many things coming toward us, and after us, that it's really difficult, indeed! But

• God will help us
• God will hear us
• God will deliver us

We will see that, and we will see that the greatest thing that there is in the world is if we are on God's side, God is on our side, and God is for us, and there will not be anything that will separate us from the love of God!
Psalm 118:1: "O, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good because His steadfast love endures forever." Isn't that a wonderful thing? We can always count on that, and look to God! That doesn't mean that we can violate the grace of God and go out and sin. NO! That means that we develop a greater relationship with God:

• with more love
• with more faith
• with more understanding
• with more courage
• with more strength of mind and power through the Word and Spirit of God

Verse 2: "Let Israel now say that His steadfast love endures forever. Let the house of Aaron now say that His steadfast love endures forever. Let those who fear the LORD now say that His steadfast love endures forever" (vs 2-4).

Remember, this is not a vain repetition. These are words praising God and His love that endures forever!

Verse 5: "I called upon the LORD in distress; the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place. The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? The LORD is for me as my Helper; therefore, I will look in triumph upon those who hate me. It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man" (vs 5-8).

Who is the first one you look to when there's trouble? Yourself! Are you a man or a woman? Yes!Put your trust and confidence in God, not in yourself or another man!

Verse 9: "It is better to trust in the LORD than to trust in princes." Here's something you can remember. Princes are the civil rulers. You cannot solve spiritual problems by political, carnal means! Put your trust in God; that's what it's all about!

Rom. 8 is one of the most encouraging and inspiring chapters in the Epistle to the Romans. Some of the most inspiring in all of Paul's epistles. Keep in mind what Paul went through, all the things that he endured. Let's see what Paul went through. There were those who wanted to brag in men and follow false apostles. Paul said that he would speak a little foolishly for a while, but then he got down to the very nitty-gritty of what his life was like. Here's what he had to go through:

2-Corinthians 11:17: "What I am now saying, I do not speak according to the Lord… [God wanted it in the New Testament] …but as in foolishness, in this confidence of boasting. Since many boast according to the flesh… [in men, in false doctrine, in false Christs] …I also will boast. For since you are so intelligent, you gladly bear with fools. For you bear it if anyone brings you into bondage, if anyone devours you, if anyone takes from you, if anyone exalts himself, if anyone beats you on the face. I speak as though we were under reproach for being weak; but in whatever way anyone else is bold (I speak in foolishness), I also am bold" (vs 17-21).

We have to be bold in Christ! Not in self! Not exalting men! Remember what happened to the Church that exalted a man nearly up to the status of Jesus Christ? Never forget that!

Verse 22: "Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I. Are they servants of Christ? (I am speaking as if I were out of my mind.) So am I, above and beyondmeasure—in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in imprisonments more frequent, in deaths often. Five times from the Jews I received forty stripes less one" (vs 22-24). As I read this I want you to ask yourself:

• What have I suffered lately?
• What has been my trial lately?
• What have I gone through?

We will see that because of all of this, he could write Rom. 8, the great and magnificent and uplifting chapter defying everything that Satan the devil and the world can bring against us.

Verse 25: "Three times I was beaten with rods… [You want to see his back and all the scars?] …once I was stoned… [want to see those scars?] …three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I spent in the deep. I have been in journeyings often, in perils of rivers, in perils of robbers, in perils from my own race, in perils from the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the desert, in perils on the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Besides all these things from the world outside, pressing on me daily is the care of all the churches" (vs 25-28).

You think you've gone through things, think about the Apostle Paul.

Verse 29: "Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is offended, and I do not burn? If it is necessary for me to boast, I will boast in the things concerning my weakness. The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who is blessed into the ages ofeternity, knows that I do not lie" (vs 29-31).

Notice how these trials and difficulties and experiences bring spiritual fruit and understanding, and love, faith, hope and all of these things:

• to stand against the world
• to stand against Satan the devil
• to stand on the Rock of Christ

Rom. 8:28 is the attitude that we need to come to when we go through things like this. This is why we have the seventh day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, so we know how to respond to the enemy and Satan the devil, and the circumstances that we will go through.

• we need to compare ourselves with Paul
• we need to compare ourselves with Christ

Paul said that part of his ministry was to fill up the sufferings of Christ in Him, because he persecuted the Church. Listen to this conviction; listen to this attitude that we need to have:

Romans 8:28: "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God… [because His steadfast love for us endures forever] …to those who are called according to His purpose." We have been! The greatest purpose and destiny of all mankind, the saints and the prophets, and those who love God in ages past, they will all be in the first resurrection!

• Can there be anything greater to look for?
• To hope for?
• To have as a goal to keep our mind and heart on?
• To seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness?

Verse 28: "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.because those whom He did foreknow… [He has foreknown us] …He also predestinated to be conformed to the image of His own Son, that He might be the Firstborn among many brethren" (vs 28-29).

Think of the day that it's going to be on the Sea of Glass when Jesus will say to the Father—and we're all standing there before the throne of God—Behold, the brethren You have given Me! And the Father looks down and sees all of those resurrected spirit beings, His children!

Verse 30: "Now, whom He predestinated, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified." He's looking at us in that form.

Because we have the Spirit of God and the knowledge of God, and so forth, we are glorified to that degree. It comes from God and not from self.

Verse 31: "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 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? Who shall bring an accusation against the elect of God?…." (vs 31-33).

Not even Satan the devil! He accuses us day and night before the throne of God. But we overcome him with the blood of Jesus Christ and the word of our testimony, which means how we live our lives.

"…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). God is always for us! Never against us!

Verse 35: "What shall separate us from the love of Christ?…." Think about this, because we're going to face nearly every one of these things in the future; how near or far we do not know. But this is the attitude that we need to have:

Verse 35: "What shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?" Remember, Jesus said that all they can do is kill the body, but they can't kill the life.

Verse 36: "Accordingly, it is written, 'For Your sake we are killed all the day long…'" That day has happened in the past, and it's coming again in the future. We're seeing the foretaste of it right now.

"'…we are reckoned as sheep for the slaughter.' But in all these things we are more than conquerors… [overcomers] …through Him Who loved us" (vs 36-37). Now, here's the mindset that we need to have, and why we have this last day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. When the Feast is over, we start the rest of the year

• with this mindset
• with this persuasion
• with this belief
• with this conviction

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 to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (vs 38-39).

Brethren, that is the meaning of the seventh day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. May God bless you and be with you and protect you in everything!

Scriptural References:

• Leviticus 23:7-8

• Exodus 14:3-4, 10-18, 21-26
• 1 Corinthians 10:1-13
• Exodus 15:22-26
• Exodus 17:2-7
• Matthew 6:24-33
• Psalm 34: 1-9, 11-12, 14-17
• Psalm 20:1-5
• Psalm 34:18-22
• Psalm 31:1-5
• Psalm 70:1-5
• Psalm 71:1-7
• Psalm 54:1-5, 7
• Psalm 116:1-9
• Psalm 118:1-9
• 2 Corinthians 11:17-31
• Romans 8:28-39

Scriptures referenced, not quoted:

• Exodus 12
• Matthew 13

Also referenced: Sermons Series:
Keys to Answered Prayer

FRC:bo
Transcribed: 3-11-15

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