Unleavened Bread 2001 – Day 7

Here we are at the end of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. A whole week has gone by and without a Sabbath in between the two Holy Days it somehow just seems a little different because having the Passover fall on the weekly Sabbath comes at different times. As a matter of fact, we can have as much as 20 years in between the occurrence of that. So, this has gone by just really fast, and I hope that it's been a good Feast for you.

Let's understand something very, very important:

• the meaning of the Passover for the Old Testament was that God passed over their houses and spared their firstborn
• the meaning of the Feast of Unleavened Bread was the exodus coming out of Egypt

Because the Jews today do not keep a 14th Passover, they have totally lost the meaning of the Passover. You need to read in The Christian Passover book that there is no Passover for those who are exiled. Let's just review the Feast of Unleavened Bread:

Exodus 12:15 "You shall eat unleavened bread seven days…"

After sundown tonight you can go have your leavened bread. I always go out and get a hamburger, so that's what I'm going to do when this day is over. Only during the Feast of Unleavened Bread is leaven a sin. There is even in Matt. 13, which we will cover between now and Pentecost, where the Kingdom of God is likened unto leaven. That has to be the good action of leaven. So, the bad action of leaven is during the Days of Unleavened Bread. It pictures sin, and there is sin everywhere! That's why we have the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

"…even the first day you shall have put away leaven out of your houses; for whoever eats leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel" (v 15). That means cutoff from God!

That's exactly what has happened to those people in the Church of God that we have seen who have given up on the Feast of Unleavened Bread and started eating leaven, started keeping Easter, and all of those things. They have been cut off!

Verse 16: "And in the first day there shall be a Holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be a Holy convocation for you. No manner of work shall be done in them, except that which every man must eat, that only may be done by you. And you shall keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for in this very same day I have brought your armies out of the land of Egypt. Therefore, you shall keep this day in your generations as a law forever" (vs 16-17).

If you just take the Bible you cannot find in it anything having to do with Easter, Christmas, New Years, Halloween, or any of the pagan days that are of this world! As a matter of fact, when you read the Bible you see them condemned every turn, because all of those things become idolatry.

• you have another god before you
• you have the wrong days

God is not going to accept your good intentions. Good intentions do not have it with God when God has given a command. You need to understand that.

Leviticus 23:6—repeats the same thing: "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. 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 6-8).

We know that God commands us to bring an offering during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. We have always taken up an offering on the first day of Unleavened Bread and on the last day of Unleavened Bread, because all of these are Sabbaths, all of these are Holy Days, and all of them have offerings that are given on them.

Now today we don't offer animal sacrifices. But I tell you what, if you would get yourself a real good, first rate lamb or bullock, you'd be into a lot of money. When they offered those offerings and they were given to the priests, it represented a lot of work, a lot of time, and a lot of effort for them to do so to be able to offer these offerings. When it was too far for them to go then they could turn the produce and the animals into money and then they would keep the Feast and then obviously then they would offer the money when they got there.

We've gone through this many, many times concerning taking up an offering, so at this time we'll just go ahead and take a pause and we'll take up the offering for the last day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

(pause for the offering)

The reason that the Feast of Unleavened Bread is so important, when you couple that with the Passover, is that only God can save you. We have our part that we need to. We always do. With that we need to couple that with what God can do. Now God had to lead them out of the land of Egypt but they had to walk. God had to show them where they were to go but they had to eat the unleavened bread. When we come to the last day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread there's a special meaning for it. Because it shows how that God will fight our battles for us, and that how God alone can deliver us.

You know what happened; they left Egypt and came out by the Red Sea, and were entrapped between the sea and the mountains and Pharaoh came after them, and he was going to get back all of his slaves to help him and to help the whole economy. You could imagine what would happen to the economy with all the slaves gone. They weren't able to accomplish anything. They said, 'Hey, how are we going to function? Let's go get them.' So, they did!

But here it shows a lesson in human nature. It also shows something, not only just in human nature, but how that people really do not trust God the way that they should. We can blame the Israelites and say that they didn't have the Holy Spirit, but how many of those that supposedly have the Holy Spirit have not trusted God even in our day.

When the trials come, which they will, and when they're difficult, which they will be, then we need to understand that God alone can deliver us from them. Here's an insurmountable problem. They're stuck by the Red Sea and here comes Pharaoh. And look at the temptation that happened to them. Look at what happens when people see a trial.

Exodus 14:10: "And when Pharaoh drew near, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes. And, behold, the Egyptians marched after them.…"

I'll tell you what, when you come out of this world Satan comes after you. This is parallel in our lives. Think of the spiritual parallels that come along with this. That Satan is after you once you come out of the world.

"…And they were very afraid. And the children of Israel cried out to the LORD" (v 10). But how did they cry? They didn't say, 'O God, we know You're great, You're powerful, You delivered us from the hand of Pharaoh before. You killed all the firstborn of men and beasts, and now we are just going to just stand here and we are going to just know that You're going to save us.'

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, there's plenty of room to bury dead people in Egypt] …Why have you dealt this way with us to carry us forth out of Egypt? Did we not tell you this word in Egypt, saying, "Let us alone so that we may serve the Egyptians?"'" (vs 11-12).

Second thoughts on things changes the whole perspective, because when they were in Egypt and were serving, they were crying and moaning and groaning. What did God say? He told Moses, 'I've heard the cries and sighs of the children of Israel, and I'm going to send you to deliver them.'

When Moses came they were happy. Especially when they started out on the exodus to leave, they left with a high hand. Now here they are, just seven days later and they have changed their minds, because it wasn't the way that they figured, and the circumstances were not what they supposed.

Verse 13: "And Moses said to the people, 'Fear not! Stand still and see the salvation of the LORD… [God is the only One Who can save] …which He will work for you today, for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you shall never see them again! The LORD shall fight for you, and you shall be still'" (vs. 13-14). In other words, don't complain against God!

Verse 15: "And the LORD said to Moses, 'Why do you cry to Me? Speak to the children of Israel that they go forward." You know the rest of the story!

Moses lifted up his rod, and God sent a cloud to be on the backside of the children of Israel where it gave light to the children of Israel and darkness to the Egyptians. And then all that night an east wind came and blew, and blew the waters back and the ground dried, the children of Israel walked across, and that happened on the last day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

Then Pharaoh and his armies went in there because it looks so great. Because that must have been a real wide area where they went across. Remember they just walked across in a short time. It wasn't a long strung out line. It was like a big flanking movement and they just walked right across the Red Sea. Pharaoh looked to the right, and there was water standing up. And he looked to the left way down there, and there's the water standing up, and he said, 'Let's go get them.' And he went in there and fell into the mud. God killed them all, drowned them all, destroyed all the enemy.

Then they had rejoicing that God was a man of war, that He fought for them, that the victory was His. Even Miriam and all the women got around and they were dancing with their timbrels and praising God. Moses was greatly exalted in the eyes of the people. The Lord was the One Who delivered them! How long did it last?

Exodus 15:23: "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, 'What shall we drink?'" (vs 23-24). They were faithless!

Too many people who are supposed to have faith, who are supposed to have the faith of Jesus Christ, are faithless! They could have said, 'Look what God has done. Let's go to Moses and ask him to pray and ask God to heal the water. Let's all get on our knees before God and just entreat Him, because God can do anything.' NO! They murmured against Moses, saying, "…What shall we drink?"

Verse 25: "And he cried to the LORD.…" Of course, Moses had a hard time with the people, so it would give him a bad attitude sometimes and he would go cry unto God.

"…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). That's exactly what God is doing to us today! Ask yourself: Am I passing the test or not?

Verse 26: "And He said, 'If you will diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD your God…" [it always starts out with 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.'"

This ties right in with the Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread and is very important in our relationship with God. We need to look to God for healing, but also we saw where God said, 'Cast the tree in,' so there are some things where we have concerning the herbs given for the service of man. Let's see the sacrifice of Christ. Today there is healing, and we've had many, many people healed. In a sense, I suppose we should have broadcast it abroad more that people have been healed, but we've tried to keep it: 'don't let your right hand know what your left hand is doing.' But nevertheless, God is the One Who heals. Christ is the One Who bore the penalties. Christ is the One Who took upon Himself all the stripes.

Isaiah 53:3: "He is despised and rejected of men; a Man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and we hid as it were our faces from Him, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not. Surely He has borne our infirmities, and carried our sorrows; yet, we esteemed Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him… [so we can have peace with God] …and with His stripes we ourselves are healed" (vs 3-5).

Think about it brethren, it's very important for us to realize. We need to have faith and trust in God for healing. There is a place for doctors, there is a place for the things that need to be done that way. At every level we can look to God and have faith in God:

• to help us
• to direct us
• to guide us and to do the things that need to be done that are necessary

The sacrifice of Christ is a very important thing for us to understand in relationship to healing!

Verse 6: "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned each one to his own way…"

As we did on the first day of Unleavened Bread, we are to walk in the way of God. But here in the Church we have now, everyone's gone his own way. I'll bring out a few examples of those a little later on, because we have many things that we need to fight against, and we need to ask God to help us by the battles we need to fight, and to fight the battle for us that He alone can do for us.

"…and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all" (v 6).

That's why we have here that everything that we do, brethren, is based upon faith in Christ, trust in God, keeping His commandments, obeying His voice, and God says that He will be the One Who heals us.

Let's see how long that lasted; Exodus 16:1: "And they took their journey from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came into the Wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai. And on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departing out of the land of Egypt, then the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness" (vs 1-2).

Notice their attitude, and lots of times these temptations will come to us. Lots of times Satan will appeal to:

• the flesh
• the weakness
• the need

Verse 3: "And the children of Israel said to them, 'O that we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the fleshpots… [I tell you what, we have so many fleshpots today] …when we ate bread to the full…"

That's why Jesus was tempted by Satan the devil, and Jesus turned him down. But how many people have turned their back on God because of these same things, and say, 'God wouldn't want you to suffer!' How do you know? Maybe He does! Maybe there are some lessons for you to learn in suffering! Remember the Apostle Paul said, 'It's through much tribulation that we shall enter into the Kingdom of God,' and look what he went through. Trials are for our good! They are the trying of our faith so that it can be made perfect!

But here they failed this trial; "…for you have brought us forth into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger!" (v 3). Well now, God let them go hungry for a specific reason; we'll see that a little later on.

Verse 4: "Then the LORD said to Moses, 'Behold, I will rain bread from the heavens for you. And the people shall go out and gather a certain amount every day, that I may prove them…'" That's why you have trials and difficulties; so that God may prove you! Do you believe Him or not?

"…whether they will walk in My Law or not" (v 4). Then He gave the instructions concerning the Sabbath: on the sixth day you bring in twice as much as you do every day, and it won't breed worms and stink. You prepare it on the sixth day for the seventh day, and you are not to go out and look for any on the seventh day. But what happened? Some people went out to look for it on the seventh day!

Verse 28: "And the LORD said to Moses, 'How long do you refuse to keep My commandments and My laws?" Once you understand about a commandment of God we are duty bound to do it. Is that not from the voice of God? Yes, indeed!

Verse 29: "See, because the LORD has given you the Sabbath…" Many people don't realize or understand that the Sabbath is a gift of God! Poor Moses! Can you imagine Moses putting up with all the sins and carnality of the children of Israel for 40 years?

Exodus 17:2: "And the people argued with Moses 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?' And Moses cried to the LORD…" (vs 2-4).

Moses had his trials, too. I tell you what, there are trials that ministers have that are far different than the trials that you have! So, here are some that Moses had, and he said:

"…'What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me!' 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. 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?'" (vs 4-7). I tell you, there's God right there in a pillar of cloud by day and the fire by night.

Again, the people didn't want it God's way. Even today, there are people who are willing to listen to all kinds of doctrine as they go blithering out looking for pasture other than what God has given to them. Willing to accept anything. Willing to believe anything, but not willing to believe God! They couldn't stand the sound of God's voice.

Exodus 20:18: "And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking. And when the people saw, they trembled and stood afar off. And they said to Moses, 'You speak with us, and we will hear. But let not God speak with us, lest we die.' And Moses said to the people, 'Do not fear, for God has come to prove you and so that His fear may be before your faces, so that you may not sin'" (vs 18-20).

All these trials are to prove us. And in order to get through these trials and difficulties we need to have faith. All through the testament we know we see that we have to have faith, and sometimes we need to accept our circumstances as they come.

Deut. 8, again I want you to notice that word prove. The Truth is God is proving us through the trials and circumstances that we go through. If we look to God and we trust Him, asking Him to help us and do so in faith, then God will:

• hear us
• answer us
• bless us
• fight our battles for us

Especially against Satan the devil! But there are certain battles that we will see that we have to fight ourselves.

Deuteronomy 8:1—rehearsing everything that they did before they went into the 'promised land,' and Moses' final sermon: "All the commandments which I command you this day shall you be diligent to observe and to do that you may live and multiply and go in and possess the land, which the LORD swore to your fathers. And you shall remember all the way…"

• all the 40 years
• all the trials
• all the suffering

I want you to understand as Paul wrote, all of these things are examples for us that we learn not to do as they did! And so this is for us today. The whole purpose of everything that God is doing, for

• the trials that we go through
• the battles that we have to fight
• the difficulties that we are confronted with

is for this purpose, and ours is for eternal life!

Verse 2: "And you shall remember all the way…" There it is as we pointed out in the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, it is the way of God or the way of the world. Here's the way of trial that they had.

"…which the LORD your God led you these forty years in the wilderness in order to humble you… [that's one reason why we go through it] …to prove you… [When God proves you what is He proving?] …to prove you… [What is God proving?]: …to know what is in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not" (v 2).

Today it is whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and being. That's what it is!

Verse 3: "And He humbled you and allowed you to hunger…" [there are times when God puts us through trials and tests] …and then He fed you with manna, which you did not know, neither did your fathers know it, so that He might make you know… [here is the whole lesson New Testament as well as Old Testament] …that man does not live by bread alone; but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of the LORD does man live"

That's the whole reason for it! Now we've got quite a few things that we've need to fight.

Now let's come to the New Testament and let's understand what Christ is saying in Matt. 7 as it applies to us so that we can really get the lesson! Let's see how that the very principles that we have learned and have been talking about from the Old Testament apply here in the New Testament.

Matthew 7:24: "Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine… [Is that the voice of the Lord? Yes!] …and practices them, I will compare him to a wise man, who built his house upon the rock; and the rain came down, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; but it did not fall, for it was founded upon the rock" (vs 24-25).

These are likened to the trials in life! These are also likened to the powers and forces of Satan the devil! Remember what it says when the Church is taken to a place of safety, that the dragon caused to come out of his mouth a flood of water that he might destroy the woman, and God opened the earth and helped the woman. So, liken these to the attacks of Satan the devil. Liken these to the wind and the rain, and it beats upon the house. It says it beats. Now sometimes you feel like you've been beaten upon. Well, the truth is you have been. For what purpose?

• to prove you
• to test you
• to see whether you love God with all your heart, mind, soul and being or not

IF you build it on a Rock, which is Christ, and you love Him, and keep His commandments, and do the things that are pleasing in His sight, you will stand! You'll not be driven around by every wind of doctrine.

Verse 26: "And everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not practice them shall be compared to a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand; and the rain came down, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell, and great was the fall of it" (vs 26-27). You have two choices in your trials:

• you draw close to God
• you learn from them

And you know one thing that's really important is that if you ask God for the faith and you ask God for the help and strength, and that you can understand them, when the trial is over you will understand! Now let's see another parallel with water, and this time it's likened unto faith:

James 1:1: "James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes, which are in the dispersion: Greetings! Consider it all joy…" (vs 1-2).

That's what we need to do, because if we endure these things, and God is dealing with us as sons/daughters, there is the joy. After the trial and after the difficulty or after the correction, then it brings forth the peaceable fruits of righteousness, which then result in joy.

Verse 2: "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you are beset by various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith…" [the proving; God is going to prove your faith] …produces endurance…. [that's what it's for] …But let endurance have its perfect work, so that you may be perfect and complete, not lacking in anything. However, if anyone lacks wisdom…" (vs 2-5)—on how to go through this trial, or the purpose of the trial!

That's how come we get into a lot of troubles and difficulties that we have because we all do such foolish things sometimes.

"…let him ask of God, Who gives to everyone freely and does not reproach the one who asks;and it shall be given to him" (v 5).

If you ask God for wisdom, for faith, or for love, don't be too surprised that the trial comes, because that's how you're going to get it. For example, if you say, 'O God, give me understanding of love. Then you get up off your knees and you feel real good. You know God is going to answer the prayer, and BANG! you end up with a trial: You end up with a fight with the boss at work, or maybe an argument with your husband, or your wife, or your children. You blow your stack and everything is a mess. And you say, 'Well, God, I asked for love.' He would answer you, 'I gave you a trial to see if you were going to practice it.'

So, everything that we go through from the point of view of God, is not what it looks like in the circumstances as we see them. That's what the children of Israel couldn't understand; they only saw them from their perspective, not having any faith in Christ.

Verse 6: "But let him ask in faith, not doubting at all because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven by the wind and tossed to and fro."

When the water is still it is amazing what just a little bit of action will do. I know when I do my water therapy and I'm the only one in the pool, and there are times when that happens, and it's a big pool. It's about 20 by 16, something like that. I get in there and I start doing my leg kicks, after a while the water is just going like waves. That's how quickly faith can be disturbed.

Verse 7: "Do not let that man expect that he will receive anything from the Lord…. [What happens when you act like the Israelites?] …He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways" (vs 7-8).

That's what's happened with so many brethren. I'll read just a little bit here from some of the letters that I have and what has happened to some of the brethren. What are the things that they are confronted with? We will go through and we will see how we need to handle it, we need to cover it.

We talked about the water, now let's talk about the wind. There is a spiritual thing that's important. Who is the prince of the power of the air? None other than Satan the devil! Who is the one that's working in all the children of disobedience? None other than Satan the devil! We have come out of that Egypt of this world—haven't we?

Verse 14: "So that we no longer be children, tossed and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the sleight of men in cunning craftiness, with a view to the systematizing of the error." That will be there, and there are so many things out there it is unreal!

Now let's look at the four things that we have to fight. Let's see how we need to overcome in every one of them.

• We need to fight is our own human nature, the old self

Let's see that we have an internal battle. And this internal battle is because you have the Holy Spirit of God. People in the world don't experience this. People in the world just live their lives and they have no consciousness of sin. They may be sorry that they get in trouble but they have no consciousness of sin. Now you see this is what's so important for us to understand. The first frontline battle is in the mind with the self and with human nature! The Apostle Paul understood that:

• he understood that the heart is deceitful above all things
• he understood that the way of man is not in him to direct his steps
• he understood that there is a way that seems right to a man but the ends thereof are the ways of death

So, Paul looked at himself in his struggle in overcoming. All of us go through this as long as we're in the flesh and as long as we have the Spirit of God there will be this struggle. But it is a struggle that we are able to overcome and a struggle that we are able to fight, and a struggle that we are able to be victorious in through Christ.

Romans 7:14: "For we know that the Law is spiritual; but I am carnal, having been sold as a slave under sin; because what I am working out myself, I do not know…" (vs 14-15). We have these contradictions in our motives, in our desires, and in the completion of our actions to do that!

"…For what I do not desire to do, this I do; moreover, what I hate, this is what I do" (v 15). Then you end up saying, 'I hate myself for doing that!' That's the time to go to repent.

Verse 16: "But if I am doing what I do not desire to do, I agree with the Law that it is good…. [there is nothing wrong with the laws of God, it's our human nature] …So then, I am no longer working it out myself [you really don't want to do it] …rather, it is sin that is dwelling within me" (vs 14-17).

The human nature that we are fighting is the law of sin and death that every human being has within their members!

Verse 18: "Because I fully understand that there is not dwelling within me—that is, within my fleshly being—any good.…" People in the world don't understand that. They are good people; they are righteous people. But it takes the Spirit of God to convict you that in you, in me, in all human beings dwells no good thing! That's why Jesus didn't commit Himself to any man cause He knew what was in man.

"…For the desire to do good is present within me… [everyone desires to do good] …but how to work out that which is good, I do not find. For the good that I desire to do, I am not doing; but the evil that I do not desire to do, this I am doing. But if I do what I do not desire to do, I am no longer working it out myself, but sin that is dwelling within me" (vs 18-20).

It is only the Holy Spirit of God, which exposes that sin, and that nature within you. That's why we have this struggle that goes on. That's why we have a renewal of the covenant every year at the Passover. That's why we have the Feast of Unleavened Bread every year, so that we know we've got to overcome sin, so that we know that we have to put out the leaven and put in the unleavenedness of Christ.

Verse 21: "Consequently, I find this law in my members, that when I desire to do good, evil is present with me." That happens! So, what do you do? We'll see what to do here in just a little bit.

Verse 22: "For I delight in the Law of God according to the inward man… [yes I do; all of us do] …but I see another law within my own members, warring against the law of my mind… [the law of sin and death] …and leading me captive to the law of sin… [the wages of which is death] …that is within my own members. O what a wretched man I am! Who shall save me from the body of this death?" (vs 22-24). That's why only Christ can save you!

Just like standing at the Red Sea, the children of Israel couldn't go across unless God intervened and performed a miracle, so you cannot overcome unless you use the Spirit of God. You cannot overcome unless you do things the way that God wants you to, but God, in forgiving your sins and placing you under His grace, has given you great confidence and hope that you can overcome. He says: "

Verse 25: "I thank God for His salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of this, on the one hand, I myself serve the Law of God with my mind; but on the other hand, with the flesh, I serve the law of sin."

This gives us the tools and showing that there is a battle and how we need to do this when we are confronted with these thoughts and things of overcoming that we really need to change.

2 Corinthians 10:2: "But I am beseeching you so that, when I am present, I may not have to be bold with the confidence with which I intend to show boldness toward some, who think that we are walking according to the flesh…. [we're not walking according to the flesh, but the Spirit] …For although we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh…. [showing this war that is going on] …For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the overthrowing of strongholds" (vs 2-4). The strongholds are in the mind; they have to be brought down!

Now let's notice what we are to do, because these things will happen in our minds and we need to be fighting them. Here's what it is:

Verse 5: "Casting down vain imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought into the obedience of Christ."

When that happens you repent, and ask God to strengthen you, and ask God to help you, to add His Spirit to you so that you can overcome "…bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ."

Verse 6: "And having a readiness to avenge all disobedience, whenever your obedience has been fulfilled."

Let's understand something so that you don't have to go around and have a guilty conscience. You don't have to feel as though God has gone way off and has deserted you. He hasn't. This is your battle that He will do to give you the strength with you. But you have to do the fighting!

Romans 8:1: "Consequently, there is now no condemnation…" God does not condemn you because of it!

• you are looking to Christ
• you are repenting
• you are walking in the ways of God
• you are bringing every thought into captivity

"…to those who are in Christ Jesus, who are not walking according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit…. [you're not walking after carnal ways, you're walking after spiritual ways] …because the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus has delivered me from the law of sin and death" (vs 1-2).

It hasn't been taken from you, but you have been justified from it, and that is why when we pray every day we ask God to forgive us our sins and forgive us our debts and so forth. That's not the monetary debts that we owe, that is the debt of sin, which only Christ can take care of! There is not condemnation. Then we are walking in the way of God, and walking and doing the things that are right.

How to be spiritually minded, v 9: "However, you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if the Spirit of God is indeed dwelling within you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him."

When it gets down to who is a Christian, God really knows! It's the ones who have the Spirit of Christ. Those who don't are not.

Verse 10: "But if Christ be within you, the body is indeed dead because of sin; however, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. Now, if the Spirit of Him Who raised Jesus from the dead is dwelling within you, He Who raised Christ from the dead will also quicken your mortal bodies because of His Spirit that dwells within you. So then, brethren, we are not debtors to the flesh, to live according to the flesh; because if you are living according to the flesh, you shall die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God" (vs 10-14).

Notice all of the things that we have to look to. There will be suffering that we will go through, but here is how we are to count these battles, and here is how we are to count these sufferings that we go through.

Verse 15: "Now, you have not received a spirit of bondage again unto fear, but you have received the Spirit of sonship, whereby we call out, 'Abba, Father.'"

The greatest thing in the world, brethren, that we can come right to God the Father in heaven above in a personal one to one relationship with Him and Jesus Christ.

Verse 16: "The Spirit itself bears witness conjointly with our own spirit, testifying that we are the children of God. Now, if we are children, we are also heirs…" (vs 16-17).

You see, the whole thing that we need to keep our mind on is not the sin, but the goal. Not the process and the difficulty that we are going through, but the end.

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

That is how you bring every thought into captivity unto the obedience of Christ! This is the battle that you can win and overcome, but it's going to be a continuous thing, but we have the victory through Christ.

Now we also have to over come the world. Just like the children of Israel when they were out there suffering in the wilderness. They said, 'Oh, we need the flesh pots. It was so nice when everything was fine. Yeah, I had a good master, and he really treated me fine. You know, I just had it just right.'

Satan's going to come along and he is going to tempt you, and much more so today because the way that the world is today with everything that is out there. With all of the goods, services, foods, homes to live in, clothes to wear, cars to drive, things to do and places to go. The lure of the world is going to be there and remember the cares and riches of this world are deceitful!

1 John 2:15: "Love not the world… [we are to love God] …nor the things that are in the world…." That's how we overcome the world!

• we don't let it entice us
• we don't let it pull us in
• we don't go along and agree with it

Ask yourself: Which commandment of God am I breaking—Old Testament and New Testament—because I conform to the world? You think on that one!

"…If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him, because everything that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pretentious pride of physical life—is not from the Father, but is from the world" (vs 15-16).

Even though it looks so permanent, even though it looks so stable, v 17: "And the world and its lust is passing away, but the one who does the will of God abides forever"—and you wanting eternal life is exactly how you stay right with God!

Remember the temptation that Jesus went through. Satan offered Jesus the whole world. He gave Jesus a panoramic view of all the kingdoms of the world and all their glory and the power of them, and he said, 'All this is delivered unto me and I give it to whomsoever I will. So, if you bow down and worship me all shall be yours.'

Here is how we overcome the world, and all the pulls of the flesh, and all the temptations of the world that come along:

Luke 9:23: "Then He said to all, 'If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and let him take up his cross daily, and let him follow Me." He said daily, because that shows the burden and the difficulty to live a spiritual life in a wicked, carnal, sinful world!

Verse 24: "For whoever desires to save his life shall lose it; but whoever will lose his life for My sake shall save it…. [that's what God is going to give us, eternal life] …For what is a man profited by gaining the whole world, if he himself is lost or destroyed?" (vs 24-25).

It says another place, 'lose his soul.' That's how we do it. We deny the things. We don't yield to any temptations of the world. If you get discouraged, and you get down remember that Jesus said, 'Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world!' We can go to Christ and He can give us the strength, He can give us the help and we can overcome.

• Overcome Religion

There's plenty of religion; there is so much of it, it is unreal. They like to come in sheep's clothing and present an easy, good way:

• the smooth way
• the ecumenical way
• the political way
• the get-along way
• the 'get-along and go-along' and 'don't rock the boat' way

Sounds like Laodicean, a little lukewarm! You've got to overcome religion!

What are they going to do? Matt. 7 ties right in with the rains coming and the water and the wind beating. A lot of the doctrines that will come up will come just like that. We are being tempted from many sides, more so than any other generation in the history of the world, because we have it coming through:

• radio
• television
• CDs
• videos
• Internet
• mailings; people sending things to you
• infiltrators within the Church

Those sent to deliberately to deceive you and take away from Christ!

There are a lot of them out there and Jesus said, 'Let men deceive you by any means.' All the way through He said, 'Don't let anyone deceive you.' That's one of the last things He told His disciples right there when He gave the final prophecy in Matt. 24. He said, 'Beware that men do not deceive you, for many shall come in My name saying I am the Christ and shall deceive the many. And they shall give them the broad way.' Look at the big broad ecumenical movement that's taking place in the world today and know that they're all false prophets.

Matthew 7:13: "Enter in through the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter through it."

Just like lemmings running off the cliff; there they go. Just like sheep going astray! How does it come?

Verse 15: "But beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing, for within they are ravening wolves. You shall know them by their fruits…." (vs 15-16).

Verse 21: "Not everyone who says to Me 'Lord, Lord' shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven…"

That's why not only is God proving us, but He allows false doctrine to come so that we are going to prove God's way, and God is proving us through it. That's what we have to understand. That's what we have to realize. So, this is another battle that we need to fight. Only those who are doing the will of the Father in heaven above are going to be receiving salvation!

Verse 22: "Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy through Your name? And did we not cast out demons through Your name? And did we not perform many works of power through Your name?' And then I will confess to them, 'I never knew you. Depart from Me, you who work lawlessness'" (vs. 22-23).

Then right after that it talks about those who build their house upon a Rock, which is Christ. And the winds of false doctrine and the things that Satan sends against us will not affect us, will not take us off the Rock that we have built on: Christ.

Let's see what these religious people are going to do. They are going to be deceiving. Now they think that they are going to bring you the right things, but they're not.

2-Timothy 3:5: "Having an outward appearance of Godliness…" 'That's what this whole ecumenical thing is, a form of godliness.' They can't have Godliness because they don't want to follow God. They have a form of it that looks like it.

"…but denying the power of true Godliness. But as for you, turn away from all these" (v 5).

Verse 13. "But wicked men and imposters shall become worse and worse, deceiving others and being deceived themselves." How are they going to deceive?

Let's understand something concerning the spiritual leaven of religion that Jesus warned His disciples concerning, which very few people today really are alert and some have been taken down by all the silliness and stupidity of the different arguments that people have. Some even listening to Sunday preachers who are saying that there's universal salvation for all men. I mentioned that before. Well then:

• there's no need for the Lake of Fire
• there is no need for going through the things that we do
• there is no need to grow and overcome
• there is no need to keep the commandments of God if everybody is going to be saved

That's a bunch of nonsense!

• Guard against False Doctrine

Matthew 16:6: "And Jesus said to them, 'Watch out and be on guard against the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.'" That is religious leaven! That is sin!

The disciples didn't understand it because they thought He spoke that because they didn't bring bread.

Verse 11: "How is it that you do not understand that I was not speaking of bread when I told you to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees?' Then they understood that He did not say to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees" (vs 11-12). Those are the teachings!

We are going through some calendar things, and all kinds of people coming in with Judaism. How to pray with a prayer shawl or a yarmulke, or calendar things again. I was sent this. I get things every day. This is worth reading because this woman thinks she's very sincere in it. But she doesn't have a clue.

Last year, God brought some information to me about the Holy Days and it took several months of the Holy Spirit working on me to finally get my attention…

God's Holy Spirit will not lead you to error, so it's the wrong spirit.

I finally realized that I needed to do some checking and research on my own about the way the Church of God groups keep the Holy Days. When I was at the Feast last fall I was talking to a Jewish lady…'

Now, let me tell you something that has happened here. Last year before the Feast of Tabernacles we got calls from Jewish groups saying, 'Let us come in and give you a seminar on how to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.' And I told them, 'You don't know how to keep the Feast of Tabernacles because you don't know Christ. We don't keep it the way the Jews do. And the Jews don't keep it the way they ought to, and why should we accept any teachings from those who have rejected Christ?'

Now this Jewish woman probably infiltrated. Now that's another reason we don't spread far and abroad where our feast sites are. We want to have feasts where we have love, joy, understanding and fellowship together. We don't want to have to have Feast of Tabernacles where we are fighting people coming in with prayer shawls, and sacred names, and different days, and observing of the moons, and all of these things.

…And she told me that we weren't in alignment with the way God commanded them to be kept.

Remember this: the New Testament interprets the Old Testament! Not only do we keep the commandments of God, but we keep them in spirit and we keep them with the meaning of Jesus Christ, and the meaning of the New Testament! Not the meaning of the Old Testament. How can anyone who has rejected Christ teach us anything about keeping the Feasts of God?

So I started doing research and a project on my own to seek the truth.

She didn't go far enough!

I am paying the price so I can strive to observe those things God's way and not mine.

She's observing them Jewish ways.

It's the tough difficult way, but will be the blessed one in the end. I encourage all the Churches to get the information out of the Karaite Jews in Jerusalem, and seriously consider the days the Churches are observing.

The long and short is: they believe in the observable moon. They are two days late. They do not even know what the new moon is. That's why God has solved the calendar problem with the perpetual calculated Hebrew calendar so that we don't fall into the pitfalls of this leaven of the Jews. In this case the Karaites. They couldn't even for 500 years determine the right Holy Days, and now they're trying to tell us what the right Holy Days are.

Now let me just read something here, and you're going to be shocked.

If Abib is found on March 26, 2001, then the new moon for that month is on March 27, 2001. If it is not found then, then on March 26, then you postpone a whole month and you go to April 25, 2001

First day of Unleavened Bread, April 10, two days late. This woman in seeking to keep things the way that God has said, has ended up rejecting the Passover because they don't even keep a 14th Passover. Now I could go through the whole thing and show how that they don't even know when these days are to be kept.

• they have here for the Feast of Trumpets, 'To Be Announced'
• for Yom Kippur: 'To Be Announced'
• the first day of Feast of Tabernacles: 'To Be Announced'

They don't even know, and yet, she writes and says that this is some new thing. No, it isn't! It's some old thing that is always been! It is terrible!

There are even some ministers even in certain branches of the Church of God coming around and saying, 'Let's teach you how to have a Passover Seder. Jesus kept a Passover Seder. Won't that be nice?' And he leads the people right into Judaism! Listen, if someone comes along bringing Judaism, obey Jesus Christ and beware of the leaven of the scribes and Pharisees, which is their doctrines and their teachings. How can anyone who has rejected Christ teach us anything? They can teach us nothing!

Then I've got another letter here. It says:

Now we are being bombarded on all sides by people with various different doctrines.'

You're being proved!

• Do you love God?
• Do you love the Father?
• Do you know the Word of God?

If you don't know the Word of God you're going to be taken down! Satan is going to keep after you! God is going to prove you with it.

• Do you love Him?
• Are you going to prove these things the right way?

Now this woman here, I'm going to answer her letter and I'm just going to tell her the same thing that I've just told you. How can anyone show you the right way if they don't even keep the Passover on the 14th of Nisan as Jesus Christ has commanded, and according to the commandments of God? Now spare me!

Now concerning the new moon, to show you the difficulties in it. The Muslims seek a common system for determining Ramadan.

Ramadan, the holiest month of the Moslem calendar, will begin in late November.

This was last year.

But whether it starts on November 26th or 27th is a matter of astronomy.

Well, to make a long story short, what they have to do is this: They have different ones watch for the new moon. And if they don't see it then they call other countries where the Arabs are watching for the new moon, and if there are two locations that see it then they declare the next day as the beginning of Ramadan.

That's why God gave the calculated calendar. When you observe the calendar and the Feasts of God worldwide, you're always going to have the problem of visibility of the new moon. That's why we have it the way it is.

That is the leaven of religion!

We also have the problem of Sunday-keeping, all of those things assaulting the people of God. All of that is religious leaven and we need to stay away from it completely, and be on guard and overcome it and resist it!

• Resist Satan the devil by Drawing Near to God

He is out there to come and get us! Now we know that it says in Rev. 12:9 that Satan is deceiving the whole world. That he's going to raise up prophets that will do signs and wonders insomuch that it would deceive even the very elect.

We're living in those days. And how will they come? They will come with deceit. They will come with lies. But they will come as slick as can be. That's why you need to prove everything by the Scriptures, the way that God has said that we need to prove them.

Satan is out there; he works with the world. That's why we are not to love the world. That's going to help keep us from Satan the devil. Let's notice this; this is really important for us to understand:

James 4:4: "You adulterers and adulteresses… [that's what's happened when people have fellowship with the religions of this world] …don't you know that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Therefore, whoever desires to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God."

Here's how to overcome it. What happens when you get out there and in the world and all the pride?

Verse 5: "Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, 'The spirit that dwells in us lusts with envy'? But He gives greater grace. This is the reason it says, 'God sets Himself against the proud, but He gives grace to the humble.' Therefore, submit yourselves to God…. [that's how you overcome Satan] …Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. [because he can't stand to be where there is righteousness and the name of Christ] … Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded!" (vs 5-8).

We have the same thing given by Peter, only a little differently. Satan is out there going around seeing who he can capture. Many people are taken by him very easily. Some people he works on over a period of time and chips away. If you don't have your guard up then you're going to be in difficult straights trying to fight Satan the devil.

1-Peter 5:6: "Be humbled, therefore, under the mighty hand of God…"

Notice how similar to that it is back when James wrote, and when Peter wrote there were the infiltration's within the Church of carnal men, and pride and vanity was coming up. So he's saying:

"…so that He may exalt you in due time; casting all your cares upon Him, because He cares for you" (vs 6-7).

Remember that when all else fails, God loves you! That's why God has called you. Never ever forget that!

Verse 8: "Be sober! Be vigilant! For your adversary the devil is prowling about as a roaring lion, seeking anyone he may devour."

Haven't we seen him devour thousands? Yes, indeed! Well, he's still after the few that are left.

Verse 9: "Whom resist, steadfast in the faith…" You're not going to resist him with carnal means or methods. It has to be in the faith.

"…knowing that the same afflictions are being fulfilled among your brethren who are in the world. Now, may the God of all grace, Who has called us unto His eternal glory in Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a little while, Himself perfect you, establish, strengthen, and settle you" (vs. 8-10)—to prove you! To prove your faith!

There's something very important we need to understand: Here's how we resist: Follow the example of Christ!

John 8:29: "And He Who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone because I always do the things that please Him."

Was Satan continually after Jesus? Yes, he was! God even let Satan think that he triumphed over Christ in the crucifixion. But that was really a victory for God. When Christ was resurrected, it was a total defeat for Satan the devil.

Verse 30: "He spoke these things, many believed in Him" There are a lot of people who believe on Jesus but don't follow through with faith! Now notice what Jesus said to those who believed on Him:

Verse 31: "Therefore, Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in Him, 'If you continue in My Word, you are truly My disciples. And you shall know the Truth, and the Truth shall set you free.' They answered Him, 'We are Abraham's seed'" (vs 31-33).

And He says, 'I know that. But you don't do the works of Abraham.'

Verse 41: "You are doing the works of your father.'…. [and these were all the religious people] …Then they said to Him, 'We have not been born of fornication. We have one Father, and that is God.' Therefore, Jesus said to them, 'If God were your Father, you would love Me, because I proceeded forth and came from God. For I have not come of Myself, but He sent Me. Why don't you understand My speech? Because you cannot bear to hear My words'" (vs 41-43).

Why can't they hear the Word? Because they don't want the Truth! They want their lies!

Verse 44: "You are of your father the devil… [you listen to him] …and the lusts of your father you desire to practice. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has not stood in the Truth because there is no Truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he is speaking from his own self; for he is a liar, and the father of it"

So, realize that Satan is out there after you, to come after you with these false religions!

God is going to fight for us; God will deliver us!

In Eph. 6 we're told to put on the whole armor of God so that we may be able to stand and resist the wicked spirits in high places.

• to put on the breastplate of righteousness
• to put on the helmet of salvation
• to follow the Word of God, which is the sword of the Spirit

That's why we are to know the Word of God! When we do that God will fight for us. Let's have total faith in God that:

• He will fight for us
• He will watch for us
• He will help us

Psalm 27:1: "The LORD is my Light and my salvation… [that's the whole purpose of the Feast of Unleavened Bread]. …whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked, my enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though an army should encamp against me, my heart shall not be afraid; though war should rise against me, even then I will be confident. One thing I have desired from the LORD, that I will seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in His temple, for in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion…" (vs 1-5).

Remember that we are to pray every day that we are not to be delivered into temptation, and that we are to be delivered from the evil one.

Notice how God fought for David! This is really quite a Psalm. God is really perfect in what He did here and these trials then produce the love for God because He helps you.

Psalm 18:1: "I love You, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my Rock, and my Fortress, and my Deliverer; my God, my Rock in Whom I take refuge; He is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower. I will call on the LORD, Who is worthy to be praised, so shall I be saved from my enemies" (vs 1-3).

Yes, the Lord will fight. He fought for the children of Israel. He will fight for you, and He will strengthen you and raise you up in everything that you do! Let's understand that:

• God is with us
• God is for us
• God will fight those battles

Just like Moses did, he said to the children of Israel, 'Stand still and see the salvation of the LORD!'

Likewise here: When you are confronted with these problems and trials that you find in your own human nature, that you find in the world, or the assaults of false religions, or as Satan coming after you, then here is the solution. Here's what you need to do:

Psalm 34:4: "I sought the LORD, and He answered me… [because David listened to God] …and delivered me from all my fears." We don't need to have any fears!

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 of all his troubles…. [all fears and all troubles] …The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him and delivers them. O taste and see…" (vs 5-8).

That's what the whole purpose of the Feast of Unleavened Bread is. To eat that unleavened bread, which is the flesh of Christ; to drink of that wine, which is His blood, which means tasting of Christ. Then we taste of the Word of God. It fills and it satisfies like no food because it is spiritual nourishment, and spiritual strength.

Verse 8: "O taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him."

What we need to do to end this Feast of Unleavened Bread is to just ask God to help us trust in Him at all times. To look to Him to help us in everything, regardless of what it may be.

Verse 9: "O fear the LORD, all you saints, for there is nothing lacking to those who fear Him."

Verse 14. "Depart from evil…" That's the whole theme of Unleavened Bread, getting rid of sin, walking away from Egypt.

"…and do good…" (v 14). That is doing the commandments of God, having the fruits of the Spirit of God and doing that good.

"…seek peace and pursue it" (v 14).

• never give up
• never doubt
• never hold back

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

That's why when you have these trials and difficulties go to God continually. God knows you're going through them. Ask for:

• His help
• His strength
• His faith
• His wisdom
• His purpose

And learn the lesson that comes from it!

Verse 16: "The face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth. The righteous cry… [crying out to God] …and the LORD hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles" (vs 16-17).

Notice you're delivered from your fears, you're delivered from your troubles. He says it twice. And you are delivered from the wicked one.

Verse 18: "The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are of a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all" (vs 18-19).

• Christ will deliver you!
• Christ will save you!

Have total faith and confidence and trust in God, even in the darkest hour of your trial. Even at the lowest moment in your life. Never give up! And realize that this trial is a proving of your faith, so that:

• you can grow in grace
• you can grow in faith
• you can grow in knowledge and understanding

There's something that you really need to understand, and you really need to grasp, and you really need to claim this promise.

Hebrews 13:5: "Do not allow the love of money to influence your behavior, but be satisfied with what you have; for He has said, 'In no way will I ever leave you; no—I will never forsake you in any way.'" This means, 'I will never, not ever, in any way leave you.'

• Christ will not leave you
• Christ will be there all the time
• Christ will never fail

Verse 6: "So then, let us boldly say, 'The Lord is my Helper…" Yes, the Lord will:

• help us
• strengthen us
• deliver us
• intervene on our behalf

"…and I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" (v 6). That's the confidence that we need to have!

Verse 8: "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever."

With that, brethren, you will be strengthened in faith. You will not be led away by anyone or anything, or even be deceived by your own human nature. The reason that you go through these things is because God loves you and God wants you in His Kingdom! And so this is the full meaning of the Feast of Unleavened Bread and the trials that we go through.

Scriptures from The Holy Bible in Its Original Order, A Faithful Version

Scriptural References:

• Exodus 12:15-17
• Leviticus 23:6-8

• Exodus 14:10-15
• Exodus 15:23-26
• Isaiah 53:3-6
• Exodus 16:1-4, 28-29
• Exodus 17:2-7
• Exodus 20:18-20
• Deuteronomy 8:1-3
• Matthew 7:24-27
• James 1:1-8, 14
• Ephesians 4:14
• Romans 7:14-25
• 2 Corinthians 10:2-6
• Romans 8:1-2, 9-18
• 1 John 2:15-17
• Luke 9:23-25
• Matthew 7:13, 15-16, 21-23
• 2 Timothy 3:5, 13
• Matthew 16:6, 11-12
• James 4:4-8
• 1 Peter 5:6-10
• John 8:29-33, 41-44
• Psalm 27:1-5
• Psalm 18:1-3
• Psalm 34:4-9, 14-19
• Hebrews 13:5-6, 9

Scripture referenced, not quoted:

• Matthew 13; 24
• Revelation 12:9

Also referenced: Book: The Christian Passover by Fred R. Coulter

FRC:bo
Transcribed: 12/24/18