God has a royal wedding He has been preparing and planning for His Bride, and its invitation went out as soon as the disciples were baptized with “the Promise” on the Day of Pentecost.  

In Part 1 of the Feast of Pentecost, I focused primarily on the similarities between the Old and New Pentecost Blueprint. Let’s now explore some of their differences.

The first difference is easy to identify.  In the Old Covenant, the execution of God’s Covenant, and the revealing of Himself by fire had an inherent problem that kept Him separated from His “Bride;” SIN.  Therefore, the people could see and hear God, but they could not get near God.

God needed a solution to cleanse and remove the sin that separated Himself from His bride. Without that solution, God’s consuming fire would destroy His bride instead of glorifying her.  This is why God instructed Moses to bring himself and Aaron up the mountain to Him only so that everyone else wouldn’t die.

“Then the Lord said to him (Moses), ‘Away!’ Get down and then come up, you and Aaron with you.  But do not let the priest and the people break through to come up to the Lord, lest He break out against them.”  (Ex. 19:24).

Notice in this scripture that the “Lord” is referencing the “Lord.”  Here we are introduced to the understanding of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  In addition, Moses symbolized Christ, and Aaron symbolized the “firstfruits” priests who would be glorified through Christ at His second coming and able to stand in the presence of God.

“For You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to Our God; and we shall reign on the earth” (Rev. 5:9,10).

Secondly, because of the Israelites choice to reject God’s voice and go through a mediator instead, God was going to have to restore His voice through a mediator. After Moses read the “Tablets of Covenant” to the people, which was God’s marriage vows written by His finger, the Israelites responded to Him in fear:

“Now all the people witnessed the thunderings, the lightning flashes, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain of smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled (feared), and stood afar off.  Then they said to Moses, “You speak with us, lest we die.  And Moses said to the people, “Do not fear; for God has come to test you, and that His fear may be before you so that you may not sin.  So THE PEOPLE STOOD AFAR OFF, but Moses drew near the thick darkness where God was” (Ex. 20:18-21).

We can now understand why the voice of God was still only heard through those selected by God in the Old Testament, even after this betrothal.  

If you notice from the scriptures above, Moses was the ONLY one who drew near to the Lord, while the others withdrew away from the Lord out of fear.  Moses walked into the darkness, knowing God was in it.  The people saw darkness and ran for cover.

Through their rejection of God’s voice, it was then established that a mediator was to remain between God and themselves.  Moses would then become a symbol and pattern of how Jesus would perfect this marriage covenant by becoming the mediator of the New Covenant and unite us with the original promise of His voice, His fire, His presence, and His desire to permanently dwell with His Covenant people.

These scriptures also then explain why the nation of Israel had to fight with their hands and not by the “sword of the Spirit, which is the word/voice of God” to gain dominion in the Promised Land (Eph. 6:17). As believers who have been baptized with the Holy Spirit, we now have access to take dominion by His Word over the enemy and not through the blood of our own hands.

Finally, we see the difference between the Old and New through God’s mercy and grace.  In the New Day of Pentecost, the Lord kept His promise to the people instead of the people trying to keep their promise to God and failing to be able to do it:  

“For you have not come to the mountain that may be touched and that burned with fire, and to blackness and darkness and tempest, and the sound of a trumpet and the voice of words, so that those who heard it begged that the word should not be spoken to them anymore.  For they could not endure what was commanded:  And if so much as a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned or shot with an arrow.'” and so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I am exceedingly afraid and trembling.”

But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the HEAVENLY JERUSALEM, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and the church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus the Mediator of the New Covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.

See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, ‘Yet once more I shake; not only the earth but also heaven.’

Now this, ‘Yet once more,’ indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain.  Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and Godly fear.  For our God is a consuming fire.” (Heb. 12:18-29).

We are now coming into a greater understanding of the “national covenant of God.”  It is with an understanding of the purpose of the Feast’s blueprint, and a people abiding in His set times that we will be able to see the New Jerusalem taking shape on the earth.  This New Jerusalem was conceived on the Day of Pentecost when Jesus sent us the Holy Spirit of Promise to dwell in our bodies.  This national covenant began multiplying throughout the world through just 12 disciples.

Our role as His “living stones,” His royal priesthood, and His “holy nation,” who God called out of the dark, and drew into His marvelous light, is to abide in His ways and to be ready in our hearts for His return (1 Peter 2:9).

“Give unto the Lord, O you mighty ones, give unto the Lord glory and strength.  Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name; Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.  

The VOICE of the Lord is over the waters; The God of glory thunders; the Lord is over many waters.  The VOICE of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty” (Psalm 29:1-4).

 

 

After departing Egypt and surviving the wilderness through supernatural acts of God (The parting of the Red Sea, manna from heaven, bitter water made drinkable, and the Lord defending the Israelites from attacks), the children of Israel finally arrived at Mount Sinai 50 days later.

“In the third month after the children of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on the same day, they came to the Wilderness of Sinai” (Ex. 19:1).  

The Israelites camped at the base of Mt. Sinai while Moses went up to speak to God.

God then told Moses to remind the people of all the amazing things God had done to “court” His people to reveal His love and His ability to take care of them as their “Groom.”  He also told Moses to ask the people (nation of Israelites) if they would marry Him:  

“Now, therefore, if you will indeed obey My VOICE, and keep My covenant, then you all be a special treasure to Me above all people, for the earth is Mine.  You shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a HOLY NATION.” (Ex. 19:5,6).

This was a special invitation as a nation of people to accept the Lord as their God, King, Husband, Priest, and Provider. Upon their “Yes” response, their commitment in turn would be to honor God’s voice and obey Him.  This union would open up heaven’s gates to prosper and bless a people, and a “promised” land where God would dwell with them.

The transaction of the prophetic word that had been given to Abraham declaring, “In you, all the nations of the earth shall be blessed” (Gal. 3:8) was about to consummate.

In short, this was God’s SET TIME that He was going to multiply His promise to Abraham, from an individual SEED promise to a “national” SEED promise.  This is so key to understanding the significance of the Feast of Pentecost in the New Testament because the perfected blueprint went from fulfillment of God’s Covenant plan through an individual Seed (Christ) to a national Seed (CHRISTIAN NATION).  Therefore, it was this SET TIME in the blueprint of God’s storyline that He conceived His corporate (national) promise.

In order to follow the trail of this courtship and why this is taking place at Mount Sinai, we need to go back to the “founder of our faith, Abraham” (Rom. 4:16). Abraham accepted by FAITH the things God spoke to him concerning establishing a covenant with him and his family.  Abraham did not have to do anything to meet this requirement of being chosen except to have faith in what God said:

“No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations.  I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make NATIONS of you, and kings shall come from you.  And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant to be God to you and your descendants after you: (Gen. 17:5-7).

God originally made this promise in Gen. 12 with Abram.  Years later, God changed his name from Abram (exalted father of a family), to Abraham (Father of many nations) because the covenant was going to extend past his immediate family.  Abraham’s son Isaac would be the inheritor of this promise, as the Lord said, “In Isaac your SEED shall be called” (Heb. 11:18).

Isaac then begot Jacob, and Jacob had 12 sons who became known as the “Israelites.” The Israelites inherited that name because God also changed Jacob’s name to Israel, which translated means, “one who understands that God rules” (Gen. 28:34; 35:10).  

Years later, over 2 million Israelites were at the base of Mt. Sinai, and God was about to unite them all into ONE NATION, giving them a blueprint to be a community that functioned together as God would instruct; in one rhythm and heartbeat so that the world could see their Groom; the “God of Abraham.”

God had also prophesied to Abraham in Gen. 15 that 430 years after the people were afflicted in Egypt, He would deliver them.  This would then become the “sign” of when God would solidify His promise to Abraham to the national level.

“Then He said to Abram, “Know certainly that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs and will serve them and they will afflict them four hundred years” Gen. 15:13).

430 years later, the nation was gathered at Mt. Sinai, listening to God’s proposal, and accepting it “by faith” like their Father Abraham.  God then instructed Moses to tell the people to “consecrate themselves,” for, in 3 days, God would descend from Mt. Sinai so they could hear (see) His voice.

“Then it came to pass, on the third day, in the morning, that there were thunderings, and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain; and the SOUND of the trumpet was very loud, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled” (Ex. 19:16).”

When the trumpet sounded loud, the Israelites ran to the foot of the mountain to meet God. The Jewish scholars believe that the people actually “saw the voice of God” coming out in tongues of fire at Mt. Sinai.

“The voice of the Lord divides the flames of fire” (Psalm 29:7).

The mixed multitude that came out of Egypt saw the tongues of fire and heard God’s voice in their own language.  The translation of “seeing voices” came through as thunder and lightning:

“Now Mt. Sinai was completely in smoke because the Lord descended upon it in fire.  Its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace and the whole mountain quaked greatly.  And when the blast of the trumpet sounded long and because louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him by voice.  Then the Lord came down upon Mt. Sinai, on the top of the mountain (Ex. 19:18-20).

Do you remember reading in the Book of Acts about the sound of the mighty rushing wind that came on the Day of Pentecost, in the upper room?  This was the SAME day in God’s Hebrew Covenant Calendar, years later from the day they were at the base of Mt. Sinai, that Christ would begin this covenantal national blueprint.

CHRIST had instructed His disciples, as Moses did, to get ready and prepare themselves, and then wait:

“And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, which He said, you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you all be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now….But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you all be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:4-8).

SUDDENLY, the Holy Spirit came upon the 12 disciples, at the same SET TIME that Mt. Sinai had been filled with fire in the Old Testament.  The people in Jerusalem, who had traveled from afar to celebrate the Feast of Pentecost, were awakened to what was going on in the upper room and came to see the voice.

“When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.  And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.  Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.  And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts. 2:1-4). 

The Jews who had gathered in Jerusalem knew of a day when this would happen.  This is because God had established His Covenant Calendar Blueprint to gather at His SET TIME when the Promises made to Abraham would be perfected.  God used the Feasts schedule to prepare them, like a “dress rehearsal,” throughout the years between Mt. Sinai and the Day of Pentecost in the upper room:

“Count 50 days to the day after the seventh Sabbath; then you shall offer a new grain offering to the Lord.  You shall bring from your dwellings two waves loaves of two-tenths of an ephah.  They shall be of fine flour; they shall be baked with leaven.  They are the first fruits to the Lord” (Lev. 23:15-17).

 God also used Jeremiah to prophesy of this Pentecost fulfillment:

“Behold, the days are coming says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah- not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand and lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the Lord.  

But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord:  I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be My people” (Jer. 31:31-33; Heb. 10:16).

But the blueprint of the Feast of Pentecost would show us, through the understanding of its firstfruits wheat offering, that this fulfillment of Pentecost would ONLY be the beginning (deposit of guarantee) of the perfecting of the national marriage covenant promise God had made at Mt. Sinai.  

If you study the Pentecost first fruits offering, it was the ONLY sacrifice that was offered and accepted with “leaven.” This offering symbolized believers in Christ today who are holy and acceptable through Christ’s sacrifice, but our sinful or “leavened” bodies have yet to been transformed.

“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself” (Phil. 3:20,21).

Therefore, we can REST knowing there is a day coming soon, during the fulfillment of the Feast of Tabernacles, that we believers will experience the FULL manifestation of this covenant of marriage.  We will be able to stand in the presence of God in our glorified bodies, as well as stand before men as “sons of light.”

 

A SIGN of hope for the remnant for those who have an ear to hear is the “return to space” launching happening today at 3:22 pm at Cape Canaveral in the midst of chaos and crisis within the cities because of COVID-19 and the recent riots.  50/50 chance it would go due to the lightning storms and winds that are looming close by.  However, it looks as though it will go now.  SpaceX Rocket has never flown humans before, so this is historic.

The SIGN is a witness of the promise that God has given us in the “latter days” that we will receive our glorified bodies and will enter into the heaven’s throne before the Lord face to face and then able to come back to earth and be used for His service to administer righteousness, justice, and truth in the earth during the Millenium reign with the King of kings. (1 Cor. 15:51-58; Rev. 14).

The Fall Feasts will be the timing of this promise released, beginning with the Feast of Trumpets.  Which year we do not know, however, we are called right now to “BE READY!”  (Matt. 25:1-13).

All of the 3 corporate feasts this year are historic (Lev. 23)!  Passover was celebrated all over the globe by Christians who united through Zoom and other social media outlets to gather and pray during the COVID-19 “plague.”  This was a historical union of God’s people coming together in His appointed day, and the power of unity and the body of Christ abiding in God’s headship, His divine appointment, and a SIGN that the Holy Spirit is moving.

The Feast of Pentecost comes tomorrow, the day after the SpaceX is launched.  I believe we will experience an outpouring of God’s glory that produces a supernatural rest within the believer’s spirit, soul, and body.  It will produce within the remnant the “fear of the Lord” in a great measure (Is.11:2).  Meanwhile, the riots and fires and lawlessness abounds and the news is reporting 40 cities will participate in this movement that has been triggered and planned strategically by those who are in covenant with an antichrist agenda.

“And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.  But he who endures to the end shall be saved (Matt. 24:12,13).

Elon Musk, the creator of SpaceX, is a huge shift and SIGN as this is outside of government made rockets to the private sector.  Rocket 9 Dragon (9 being the number for birthing and gifts of spirit) Falcon is a “commercial rocket made for profit by young boys and girls.”  The bureaucracy, cost, and control is out of our governmental hands.  This in itself is a sign as the rocket is FREE to FLY without corrupt Babylonian structures strangling its ability to go into orbit.

Let’s look at the TIME as a SIGN.  3  is the number of divine fullness and perfection.  It symbolizes the trinity and the completion of the presence of the triune God, and a sign He is in it.  22 is the number that symbolizes “sonship” or the “sons of light.”  All of creation is groaning for the revealing of the sons of light in the earth:

“For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God (Rom. 8:19).  

Let’s look at the date:  5-30-20.  5 is the number of grace and mercy.  30 is the number representing dedication to rulership.  Jesus began His ministry at the age of 30.  And 20 is the number for redemption.  Is God’s whole heart to redeem mankind and His creation?  I say yes, and He will use the remnant to help Him during the Millenium.

The destructive pattern that comes at the time when God is moving forward with His promise has proven to be true throughout all of the scriptures.  An “edict” is launched by the spirit of anti-christ prior to God stepping in and releasing His power and promise to be fulfilled as prophesied.  It happened in the days of Pharaoh.  It happened in the days of Herod.  And it is happening now.

The enemy always launches an edict to kill, steal, and destroy the SEED that carries His promise forward.  However, God is always one step ahead and has a remnant prepared to perfect the promise.  He had Moses hidden in a basket.  He had Jesus taken to Egypt.  He is having the remnant hidden out of the church structures as they have been equipped for such a time as this.

The remnant that is hidden at this hour is about to ARISE and become God’s solution at this hour.  We are at WAR!  The remnant is charged at this hour not to sit on the sidelines viewing what is transpiring.  The remnant is called at this hour to enlist heaven’s help and to intercede for heaven’s help to invade the earth.  We need the angelic army to come alongside and come to our aid as we resist the enemy and stand for righteousness.

Noah was divinely warned by God, and prepared an ark (Heb. 11:7).  The judgment was at hand, yet God had a plan to save Noah and his family.  It was up to Noah to step out in faith and obedience.  The ark was an ark of obedience.  I urge all of you to listen to God’s instructions.  Each individual of the remnant has a role to play and is vital to the health and welfare of the remnant as a whole.  Obey whatever God is instructing you to do at this hour.  It had never rained on the earth prior to Noah building the ark.  It didn’t make sense with a logical mind.  But the logical mind cannot comprehend the things of the Spirit.  So follow the leading of the Spirit of God, and trust God will honor His word to protect and provide peace in the midst of this transition.

This Friday begins the third Hebrew month called “Sivan,” which is linked to giving, mercy, and alignment.  This month is a month “to do business with God” because He gives us His power and resources to make it happen, and is associated with the tribe of Zebulun.

It was the tribes of Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun that formed the branch on the east side of the Tabernacles.  Whereas Judah brought forth praise and sounded the alarm for war or to move ahead, Issachar received the revelation and timing, and Zebulun brought the supply.

Moses prophesied concerning the latter days for Zebulun and Issachar together:  Zebulun was said to rejoice in going out, while Issachar would stay in his tents.

“They shall call the peoples to the mountain; there they shall offer sacrifices of righteousness; for they shall partake of the abundance of the seas and of treasures hidden in the sand.” (Deut. 33:18). 

Zebulun and Issachar were two tribes that worked together to do Kingdom business. While Issachar loves to stay home and “intercede and pray,” Zebulun found joy in taking the revelation and moving out with it.

Zebulun was also known to profit through maritime trade.  One of their roles was to bring forth provision, so God blessed this tribe to fill “the storehouses.” This month is associated with the provision: in your job, home, and family as God desires to give you the supply needed to move ahead.

When Jesus began His ministry, He went to the region of Zebulun fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah 9, which said that the people who had been in darkness would see a great light.  HE was PROVISION!

 Zebulun was a blessed and loyal tribe to the Lord and one who gave the gift of sacrifice.  This month is linked with GIVING; giving sacrifice, gifts, and time to the Lord.

It was this same third month of the Hebrew year when the children of Israel arrived at Mt. Sinai and were asked by God to become “His Bride.”  God reveals Himself through thunder, lightning, and His glory, and began sharing His “oral covenant” (Ex. 19).  The anniversary date of this proposal would be known as the Feast of Pentecost.

The month of Sivan starts off doing business with God intimately with a marriage ceremony! The giving of the Tablets of Covenant, and the willingness of God’s people to say “YES” to God to be their Lord was one of the greatest transactions in history.  It gave us the blueprint for when Jesus would perfect God’s Covenant plan with His Bride.

In the New Testament, we see how after Jesus died during Passover and was resurrected from the dead, he visited the disciples for 40 days.  The Lord directed the disciples to wait in the Upper Room for the Holy Spirit (Acts 2).  On the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came down as tongues of FIRE upon their heads.

God’s timing is always perfect.  Even as God came down like fire upon Mt. Sinai with Moses, so now the Holy Spirit came as a fire upon the disciples. The difference was that the fire was no longer external as in the days of Moses, but internal! This shows a difference now concerning the temple that God would inhabit.

“Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwell in you” (1 Cor. 3:16)?

 It is no coincidence that Zebulun means “habitation or dwelling.”  The indwelling of His presence now through the gift of the Holy Spirit is the hope (down payment) we have for when the earth will be filled with His glory in the Age of Tabernacles.

Sivan is the third month of the Hebrew calendar, which is the number associated with the completeness of our Lord as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  Jesus took three disciples with Him to the Garden of Gethsemane and prayed three times. During this time of great distress, He cried out to the Father, “Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will but what You will” (Mark 14:36).

After the third time praying and surrendering all, Jesus was ready to die for our sins and trust the Father to use Him to create a way to redeem mankind. Jesus was placed on the cross in the third hour (9a.m.).  At 3p.m., He died.  There were three hours of darkness while He was suffering on the cross.

Three is a number symbolic of resurrection life as we know that it took three days and three nights before Jesus rose from the dead.  It was after His resurrection that the disciples were given the resources and ability to go “build His church.” The deposit of the Holy Spirit gave them the ability to “dwell” in His presence and gain access to His power to go!

God’s business is always centered on honoring His Covenant for the people He has chosen. His mercy covers our mistakes, and His grace is sufficient for our weaknesses. Pentecost is a time of receiving His outpouring of grace, mercy, and power so we can align with heaven and go do “business” for the Lord in establishing His Kingdom here on earth.

This past Passover was historic, as the body of Christ came together corporately around the world, connecting to honor the Lord for the first time.  A blessing of COVID-19 can be found in how God’s people have found a way to connect “outside of their religious structures” that God is shaking, and to come into His presence and connect in a new abiding way.

This Pentecost, God is going to take the global seed that was sown and release great glory and provision to enable God’s people to move ahead in the new landscape that is before the world.  We join in Spirit with great anticipation as to what the Holy Spirit is going to release in this month to equip His people and give them the resources needed to fulfill the job of establishing His kingdom here on the earth!  Blessings!

A debate that still divides the Church today is whether Christians still have to keep the Law.  I would like to share a perspective that they do since the Law is written on the hearts of every believer (Heb. 8:8).

Jesus states that there are no other commandments greater than these: “Love the Lord with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind… and you shall love your neighbor as yourself.  On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matt. 22:37-40, NKJV).[1]  If these commandments, which are anchored in the Law and spoken of by the Prophets, tell us to love, one must ask, “what constitutes the commandments of love?  The foundational answer to this question is written in the Old Testament, for Jesus said He did not come to destroy the Law, but to fulfill it (Matt 5:17).

Most Christians today view the Law as negative or void.  However, if we substituted the word “Law” for  “Torah,” our perspective would change from “legalism” to that of God’s teaching of how to rightly love God and others.[2]  Romans 7:12 declares, “The Law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good.”  If the Law is holy, that means there is nothing that God established in His Law that is bad or evil.  God said it was good, which were the same words He used in creating the world.

Romans 7:14 also tells us that the Law is spiritual.  This means that it applies in heaven and not just at Mount Sinai since the Law serves as a copy and shadow of the heavenly things (Heb. 8:5).  Since the Bible states that God is Spirit, we surmise that His Law is first established in the Spirit (John 4:24).  We who are “sons of God” are then born of His Spirit, and the same Law is written on our hearts, a Law that is good.  Romans 7:22 also shares that our spirit delights in the Law.  “For I delight in the Law of God according to the inward man.”

However, the Word points out that it is the flesh that wars against the Spirit, and this is when our sin is found out because it is warring against the Law of God.  “So then, with the mind, I myself serve the Law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin” (Rom. 7:25).  We don’t need to try to follow the Law IF we are abiding in the heart of the Father, which Jesus gave us access to through His sacrifice and gift of the Holy Spirit.  In response to our love for Him, we abide in the Law out of our obedience to be “Christ-like.”

Jesus did, however, pay the penalty of us breaking the Law, which even believers do, so we don’t come “under the penalty of the Law.”  The Old Testament Covenant had within its blueprint ordinances of divine service and earthly sanctuary (Heb. 9:1).  Christ came as our High Priest and offered Himself up as our Mediator and sacrifice which abolished the need for priestly services and earthly sacrifices required for reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18).  The rituals that God’s people had to perform in the Old Testament in order to be sanctified and set free form the penalty of sin were called, “ordinances.”  Ephesians 2:14 confirms this by saying, “having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances.”

The Ten Commandments have not gone away with even though we are in the New Covenant, which is why it is still a sin (works of the flesh) to murder, lie, and steal (Gal. 5:19-21).  The Law will be made known until Jesus deals with death in the earth, which is the wages of sin.  (Rom. 6:23).   Afterward, when sin is no longer in the earth, we who are abiding in Him will abide in the Law effortlessly and flawlessly.  “But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law” (Gal. 5:18).

The Reformation movement came against “legalism” that had invaded the church, much like the traditions of men the Pharisees had created in Jesus’ day (Matt 15:6-9).[3]  The Reformation perspective of the “righteousness of God” aligns with Paul’s message that we are saved by grace, having been “justified by faith” and not by good deeds earned by following the Law (Rom. 5:1).[4] This perspective, led by Martin Luther, also believed that “identity markers” known to Judaism were “legalistic,” based on works leading to salvation.[5]  The burden of earning salvation through the Law (Torah) was rightly exposed, yet turned many to cut-off abiding in the heart of Law which the “Law of Christ” springs forth from (Gal. 6:2).

The New Perspective movement that followed the Reformation movement agreed with the “saved by grace” message as well but rightly concluded that the value of the identity markers had nothing to do with “legalism.”[6]  They understood God’s identity marks held by the Early Church were a sign God designed to be a witness of a people “set apart” unto Him, and a mark of the Jews.[7]  However, the Law continued to be associated with legalism rather than foundational teaching of love.

Unfortunately, the lasting effects of the Reformation and New Perspective movement of the Law being “bad” permeated into Christianity today, imparting a mindset that cuts off the value of the Old Testament Law. Christians, for the most part, understand that salvation is not a work of the Law, but by the grace of God alone.  However, as we abide in God, who is love, we walk out His Law effortlessly by His Spirit leading and guiding us.  “Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh” (Gal. 5:16).  We benefit from the teaching of the “Torah,” as a guideline to understand the constitution of Christ’s teaching when believers are told to obey the Golden Commandments.

 

 

[1] Unless otherwise noted, all biblical passages referenced are in the New King James Version Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1992).

[2] Michael F. Bird, Four Views on the Apostle Paul (Grand Rapids, MI:  Zondervan, 2012), 169.

[3] Bruce W. Longenecker and Todd D. Still, Thinking Through Paul:  A Survey of His Life, Letters, and Theology (Grand Rapids, MI:  Zondervan, 2014), 174.

[4] Longenecker and Still, Thinking Through Paul, 174.

[5] Robert Wayne Stacy, “New Perspective of Paul,” Course Video.

[6] Ibid.

[7] Ibid.

This evening begins the Hebrew month of Iyar, which is translated “reflected light.” This month is connected to the release of revelation and healing of “God’s light” through His Son Jesus, and an intimate time to receive intel of what God is saying and doing in the earth.

“But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. (1John 1:7).

God’s pattern in biblical history is to start with His remnant first.  Prayer and availability to hear and see what He says are key. It’s time for the remnant to arise!  So, what is God saying at this hour?  What is He doing?  What must we sow (do) that will bring in a “harvest” for the kingdom?  These are the questions God wants to answer this month.

We are in the midst of a 50-day transition that ends May 31st, as the body of Christ prepares for a new move. We are being “reintroduced “to our Covenant Keeping God.  There will come a day when Christian nations who have been “oppressed” by the “mystery of Babylon” will be delivered out of the hand of the enemy because of repentance. Then they will be reintroduced to Jehovah Rafa who will heal their land (2 Chron. 7:14). They will encounter Jehovah Jireh, the Word, made manifest on the earth to establish His Kingdom (Rev. 19:13-15). And they will see Jehovah Nissi, the Commander in Chief and His Army who defeat the enemy (Rev. 19:19).  This is that month “Jehovah” wants to make Himself known to His people first so they are assured of His covenant promises in the wake of this transition.

The similarity between the children of Israel in the wilderness before arriving to Mt. Sinai and the time Jesus made Himself known before He ascended, is this same cycle of time in the Hebrew Covenant Calendar today.  Before God’s glory pours out upon the earth in greater measure, God prepares His people to encounter His glory. 

At Mt. Sinai, the glory rested upon them  (Ex. 19:18;24:16-18). At Pentecost, a portion of the glory dwelt within the disciples through the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4). As we are heading into the Age of Tabernacles, we will experience a greater manifestation of His glory for those who abide in His Covenant. (Rev.21:3).

The tribe of Issachar is associated with the month of Iyar. They knew the timings of the Lord for the nation.  As one of the tribes who came alongside David when he was anointed as King, the Bible says in 1 Chron. 12:22-32 of Issachar, “ and the sons of Issachar who had an understanding of the times to know what Israel must do.”  I believe there is an anointing this month to go deeper in our understanding of the times we are in and our faith in a Covenant Keeping God so we can go out into the world with greater authority and power.

The Hebrew meaning of Issachar is “bringing reward.”  It comes from the root word “nasa” and means “to lift, to advance, arise, bring forth exalt or raise up.”  What better reward can we get than to humble ourselves and seek the Lord and get the treasures of seeing and experiencing the God of Covenant!

Issachar is nestled in between the tribe of Judah and Zebulun on the east side of the Tabernacle.  These three tribes formed a branch that the Lord chose to march out first when He instructed the tribes to go.  Judah would be given the charge to praise and worship, but Issachar understood the timing with which they were to depart and go.  Zebulun then came alongside the two and had the ability to provide the supply or “business” of what needed to be done.

Issachar’s symbol was a humble donkey.  He gets this symbol through Jacob prophesying over his tribe:  “Issachar is a strong ass couching between two burdens.”  Gen. 49:14 A donkey carries the burden of a load from one place to another.  Issachar represents a strong but humble servant of God who fulfills the law of Christ spoken of in Gal. 6:2 “Bear each other’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”

Issachar is rewarded from the Lord for serving His people, standing in the gap, and carrying their burden whether it be through prayer or practical application.  Issachar is spoken of as carrying two burdens:  one for himself and one for a “brother in need.”  Rewards for intercession as well as carrying other’s burdens that the Holy Spirit is leading us to do is priceless and brings much joy.

This Hebrew month is critical to listen and receive God’s intel for the times we are living in because the landscape has changed.  Culture, strongholds, systems have shaken.  Out of the shaking comes revelation and a triumphant people who will go forth and take dominion and reign for Christ.  But, they must understand the strategy to face the giants that stand in their way and strategy so they can step out in boldness to pioneer into new places.

As we experience, acknowledge, and understand that God is love and that love is expressed through His Covenants found throughout the ages, we gain a greater understanding of His unfailing love and His desire for us to be a part of His family. Pray God gives you His Covenant secrets so we can come closer to Him and then reflect His light!

 

 

Beginning with the Feast of Firstfruits, which is always on the first day of the week following Passover, God instructed the children of Israel to count 50 days (or 7 Sabbaths) to the time they were to celebrate the fourth Feast called the “Feast of Weeks;” or most commonly known as Pentecost.

“And you shall count for yourselves from the day after the Sabbath, from the day that your brought sheaf of the wave offering, seven Sabbaths shall be completed.   Count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath; then you shall offer a new grain offering to the Lord” (Lev. 23:15,16).

These 50 days were a significant reminder of the timespan between leaving Egypt and coming to the base of Mt. Sinai (Ex. 15-19).  

“In the third month after the children of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on the same day, they came to the Wilderness of Sinai”(Ex. 19:1).

Years later in the New Testament, this same 50 day Feast blueprint corresponded to the time frame when Jesus visited His disciples after He was raised from the dead:  

“Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed it and broke it, and gave it to them.  Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight’ (Luke 24:30,31).

On the 50th day in the Old Testament, God revealed Himself by fire after speaking to the people His proposal of marriage to the Israelites:

“And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God and they stood at the foot of the mountain.  Now Mount Sinai was completely in smoke because the Lord descended upon it in fire. It’s smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly”(Ex. 19:17,18).

On the 50th day in the New Testament, the disciples were gathered together in the “upper room” when the Holy Spirit came upon them like fire:

“And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.  Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each other them” (Acts 2:2-4).

Within the 50 day blueprint, God chose to “court” the Hebrews in the Wilderness by revealing His love through His provision and protection, meeting their needs and kindling their faith in Him, even while they were complaining.

In the New Testament, Jesus revealed Himself to the disciples intimately after His resurrection, showing them His hands and feet; eating, sharing, and encouraging the disciples He loved.  

So how did God reveal Himself to the Hebrews in the 50-day wilderness journey to Mount Sinai that was reflective of Christ Himself, coming in the flesh to restore that bond of love?  

One of the first ways God revealed Himself is when He performed a miracle by turning bitter waters sweet:

“So Moses cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree.  When he cast it into the waters, the waters were made sweet” (Ex. 15:25).

In addition, God released water in the desert:

“Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve wells of water and seventy palm trees, so they camped there by the waters” (Ex. 15:27).

Jesus would later reveal Himself in this pattern through the New Covenant.  Those who were thirsty for truth and believed in Him would receive His living water. Christians would then have the ability to use that life flow to reach out to others with God’s love.

“And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely”(Rev. 22:17).

After God provided water in the Wilderness, the Israelites soon complained about being hungry. God revealed Himself again through the supernatural unleavened manna:

“Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you.  And the people shall go out and gather a certain quota every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in MY law or not.”

This bread that fell from the sky, known as “manna,” would be the tool God would use to introduce the Sabbath rest, prophesying of Jesus, the Lord of the Sabbath, whom by His sacrifice, would provide rest for all creation in heaven and earth through reconciliation with the Father.

“Then Moses said, ‘Eat that today, for today is a Sabbath to the Lord; today you will not find it in the field.  Six days you shall gather it, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there will be none” (Ex. 16:25,26).

Jesus would later declare that He was the Lord of the Sabbath (Luke 6:5), and that He was our provision, telling us He was the “bread of life” for those who believed in Him:

“I am the living bread which came down from heaven.  If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever, and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world” (John 6:51).

The third time God revealed Himself intimately in the midst of the 50-day wilderness journey was when He provided protection and strength when the Amalekites were attacking the Israelites.

“Now Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim.  And Moses said to Joshua, ‘Choose us some men and go out, fight with Amalek.  Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand…….So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword” (Ex. 17:8,9,13).

Jesus would conquer Satan through His death and resurrection, taking dominion over the enemy permanently, and giving us the ability to have dominion over the enemy as well:

“And what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His might power, which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion” (Eph. 1:19-21).

Jesus perfected the pattern “…which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ” (Col 2:17).

As we can see through the whole wilderness experience and the New Testament disciples, the people God chose lost heart and complained, even after experiencing God’s miracles.  And yet, God continued to choose them.   If we know Christ, He chose us as well, not because of our faithfulness, but because He loves us, flaws and all.  As we begin to recognize how Christ IS the substance of these Feast blueprints, our hearts are moved to set aside time to give thanks and to honor our Savior.

“You did not choose Me, but I chose you, and appointed you that you should go and bear fruits, and that your fruit” (John 15:16).W

Beginning with the Feast of Firstfruits, which is always on the first day of the week following Passover, God instructed the children of Israel to count 50 days (or 7 Sabbaths) to the time they were to celebrate the fourth Feast called the “Feast of Weeks;” or most commonly known as Pentecost.

“And you shall count for yourselves from the day after the Sabbath, from the day that your brought sheaf of the wave offering, seven Sabbaths shall be completed.   Count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath; then you shall offer a new grain offering to the Lord” (Lev. 23:15,16).

These 50 days were a significant reminder of the timespan between leaving Egypt and coming to the base of Mt. Sinai (Ex. 15-19).  

“In the third month after the children of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on the same day, they came to the Wilderness of Sinai”(Ex. 19:1).

Years later in the New Testament, this same 50 day Feast blueprint corresponded to the time frame when Jesus visited His disciples after He was raised from the dead:  

“Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed it and broke it, and gave it to them.  Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight’ (Luke 24:30,31).

On the 50th day in the Old Testament, God revealed Himself by fire after speaking to the people His proposal of marriage to the Israelites:

“And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God and they stood at the foot of the mountain.  Now Mount Sinai was completely in smoke because the Lord descended upon it in fire. It’s smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly”(Ex. 19:17,18).

On the 50th day in the New Testament, the disciples were gathered together in the “upper room” when the Holy Spirit came upon them like fire:

“And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.  Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each other them” (Acts 2:2-4).

Within the 50 day blueprint, God chose to “court” the Hebrews in the Wilderness by revealing His love through His provision and protection, meeting their needs and kindling their faith in Him, even while they were complaining.

In the New Testament, Jesus revealed Himself to the disciples intimately after His resurrection, showing them His hands and feet; eating, sharing, and encouraging the disciples He loved.  

So how did God reveal Himself to the Hebrews in the 50-day wilderness journey to Mount Sinai that was reflective of Christ Himself, coming in the flesh to restore that bond of love?  

One of the first ways God revealed Himself is when He performed a miracle by turning bitter waters sweet:

“So Moses cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree.  When he cast it into the waters, the waters were made sweet” (Ex. 15:25).

In addition, God released water in the desert:

“Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve wells of water and seventy palm trees, so they camped there by the waters” (Ex. 15:27).

Jesus would later reveal Himself in this pattern through the New Covenant.  Those who were thirsty for truth and believed in Him would receive His living water. Christians would then have the ability to use that life flow to reach out to others with God’s love.

“And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely”(Rev. 22:17).

After God provided water in the Wilderness, the Israelites soon complained about being hungry. God revealed Himself again through the supernatural unleavened manna:

“Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you.  And the people shall go out and gather a certain quota every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in MY law or not.”

This bread that fell from the sky, known as “manna,” would be the tool God would use to introduce the Sabbath rest, prophesying of Jesus, the Lord of the Sabbath, whom by His sacrifice, would provide rest for all creation in heaven and earth through reconciliation with the Father.

“Then Moses said, ‘Eat that today, for today is a Sabbath to the Lord; today you will not find it in the field.  Six days you shall gather it, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there will be none” (Ex. 16:25,26).

Jesus would later declare that He was the Lord of the Sabbath (Luke 6:5), and that He was our provision, telling us He was the “bread of life” for those who believed in Him:

“I am the living bread which came down from heaven.  If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever, and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world” (John 6:51).

The third time God revealed Himself intimately in the midst of the 50-day wilderness journey was when He provided protection and strength when the Amalekites were attacking the Israelites.

“Now Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim.  And Moses said to Joshua, ‘Choose us some men and go out, fight with Amalek.  Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand…….So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword” (Ex. 17:8,9,13).

Jesus would conquer Satan through His death and resurrection, taking dominion over the enemy permanently, and giving us the ability to have dominion over the enemy as well:

“And what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His might power, which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion” (Eph. 1:19-21).

Jesus perfected the pattern “…which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ” (Col 2:17).

As we can see through the whole wilderness experience and the New Testament disciples, the people God chose lost heart and complained, even after experiencing God’s miracles.  And yet, God continued to choose them.   If we know Christ, He chose us as well, not because of our faithfulness, but because He loves us, flaws and all.  As we begin to recognize how Christ IS the substance of these Feast blueprints, our hearts are moved to set aside time to give thanks and to honor our Savior.

“You did not choose Me, but I chose you, and appointed you that you should go and bear fruits, and that your fruit” (John 15:16).

After Passover was celebrated, and the Feast of Unleavened Bread commenced, the children of Israel were instructed to celebrate the third Feast to “set apart” provision in the Lord’s honor.  This was the Feast of Firstfruits and was celebrated on the day after the weekly Sabbath following Passover (which was the FIRST day, meaning Sunday) of the week.

The Feast of Unleavened Bread, which was a weeklong celebration, was still in progress while this third Feast was executed. 

The Feast of Unleavened Bread prophesied to the world that Jesus was the “Bread of Life” as His sinless (unleavened) sacrifice would connect us to the source of life:

“I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.” (John 6:51)

However, in order to make way for a harvest (Christians) to become like Him, Jesus had to die as a sinless sacrifice, take the keys of Hades (overcome death because He had no “leaven” in Him) and rise and present Himself as a “firstfruits offering” to the Father. 

“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain” (John 12:24).

The resurrection of Jesus was amazing.  But it had to go through the “set apart” process of becoming “holy and acceptable to the Father.”  This completion process happened on the Feast of Firstfruits.

“For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches” (Romans 11:16).

The Gospel of John verifies this timing and fulfillment of the Feast of Firstfruits.  After three days and nights since the crucifixion of Christ, Mary visited the tomb early Sunday morning while it was STILL DARK.  Mary discovered the tomb open and empty, and began weeping.  Two angels appeared and said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?”  Mary answered that she didn’t know where Jesus was, and when she turned to speak, Jesus was standing there but she didn’t recognize Him.  When she heard His voice, she knew it was Jesus, but He commanded her this:

“Do not cling to ME, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God'”(John 20:17). 

The reason Jesus had not yet ascended is that He was waiting to offer Himself up to the Father at the EXACT time the Firstfruits Offering was offered up by the High Priest to fulfill the Feast blueprint (Lev. 23:11).  

“But now Christ is risen from the dead and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Cor. 15:20).

Later that evening, when He appeared to the disciples, Jesus showed them His hands and feet, ate and drank, and allowed Thomas to touch him.  He could do this now because He had already presented Himself as the “firstfruits” offering, crowned High Priest and King, and transformed into His glorified body.

Now Jesus could ascend and descend from heaven to earth to be seen by many witnesses, which He continued to do so for 40 days.  Afterward, He ascended until the next SET TIME.  But between now and then, Jesus would send us a helper, a “firstfruits” deposit of His glory, to comfort us.

“But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming” (1Cor. 15:23).

 

 

 

 

Passover and the beginning of the Feast of Unleavened Bread basically happen in succession, which makes it a bit difficult to discern between the two, but I will attempt to do so very simply.  Passover begins at twilight on the 14th day of Nisan (sundown).  And since the next Hebrew day begins after sundown, the Feast of Unleavened Bread commences after Passover at the beginning of the 15th day of Nisan.  Literally, one rolls into the next.

Both Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were established as a blueprint to remember how God delivered the children of Israel from the hand of Pharaoh and the death plague.  And because of the rapid exit that the children of Israel made out of Egypt, they didn’t have any time to allow the bread to go through the leavening process.

The Feast of Unleavened Bread was a week-long Feast (Lev. 23: 6). The first day and seventh day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread were considered “High Holy Days, or also referred to as “Sabbaths.” These “Sabbaths” were similar to a weekly Sabbath in that all the children of Israel were to cease from work and rest.  But the “High Holy Days” were specific to the Sabbaths of the Feast days:

“Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away” (John 19:31).

Most Christians would read these New Testament scriptures and never know there is a difference between the Sabbaths.  But understanding the distinction helps to break down the truth of the events that happened when Jesus fulfilled scriptures and became the sacrificial Passover lamb.

Christ, Himself knew when it was His time to begin His ministry, and when it was His time to go to the cross.  This is why Jesus went willingly when the Roman soldiers came to take him away.  However, what is so amazing is that the Father Himself had to orchestrate the rest of the events to line up with the blueprint of prophecy and the dress rehearsal of the Feasts. Jesus could do nothing to help fix the outcome because he wasn’t able.

For example, the law said that the Passover lamb used was not to have any bones broken (Ex. 12:46; Num. 9:12; Ps. 34:20).  Most of the time, a Roman soldier would break the legs of someone being crucified because they would try to use their legs to get air. Without the help of their legs, they would die of suffocation.  This happened to the two thieves who were crucified next to Jesus.  They both had their legs broken (John 19:30-37).  But when they came to Jesus, He was already dead, so there was no need.  Instead, they pierced his side, which allowed the blood and water to spill out.

In thinking about the Feast of Unleavened Bread, I am in awe of a few more things.  First, it is impossible to be righteous without Christ, which most of us understand and is why we ask Jesus to be our Savior.  Jesus Himself had to rely on the Father’s help to perfect prophecy concerning His birth, death, and resurrection.  God worked miracles through time, weather, circumstances, as well as moving on the hearts of men.

Secondly, it is equally impossible to be a “perfect” Christian.  If you have ever tried to edit a book or made sure a room was germ-free or cleaned your house, you know how hard it is to get it completely free of dirt, errors, or invaders.  Getting rid of the leaven in our lives as Christians are all a part of the journey of “sanctification.”

Even though Jesus covers our sins, the wages of sin (death) has not been removed from our bodies as of yet.  We can rest knowing that JESUS was without ANY leaven.  HE alone is perfection.  And in Him, we can abide in His perfection.  But it takes time for our soul to understand this truth.  And it will take Jesus coming back until we get bodies that have NO death in them but are a reflection of His glory.

“Your glorying is not good.  Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?  Therefore, purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump since you truly are unleavened.  For indeed Christ our Passover was sacrificed for us.  Therefore, let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth” (1 Cor. 5:6-8).

The greatest difference between the Old and New Covenant is this:  In the Old Covenant, man was trying to work at meeting the requirements of Covenant with God.  But in the New Covenant, man rests in the knowledge that the requirements of Covenant will be performed and perfected by God Himself.  The Old Covenant places trust in man’s effort.  The New Covenant places trust in God’s finished work.  When we get to the place in our hearts that we can rest in that knowledge, we have removed the “leaven” from our hearts and are “abiding in Christ alone.”

“I am the vine, you are the branches.  He who abides in Me, and I in Him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).