Tuesday, April 1, 2003 Greetings Brethren, Please take time time tomorrow (Wednesday, April 2) evening just after sunset to look for the new moon that will be the sign of the Scriptural beginning of months, Abib or Nissan as it was called in post-Babylonian exile. This new moon when sighted is the start of the count to Passover. Passover is laid out with complete detail in Exodus 12 and is by comparison the shadow of Yahshua the Messiah. Exodus 12:2 This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you. 3 Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to their fathers' houses, a lamb for a household: 4 and if the household be too little for a lamb, then shall he and his neighbor next unto his house take one according to the number of the souls; according to every man's eating ye shall make your count for the lamb. 5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male a year old: ye shall take it from the sheep, or from the goats: 6 and ye shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month; and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it between the (two) evenings. Deuteronomy 16:1 Observe the month of Abib, and keep the passover unto Yahweh thy Elohim; for in the month of Abib Yahweh thy Elohim brought thee forth out of Egypt by night. 2 And thou shalt sacrifice the passover unto Yahweh thy Elohim, of the flock and the herd, in the place which Yahweh shall choose, to cause his name to dwell there. 3 Thou shalt eat no leavened bread with it; seven days shalt thou eat unleavened bread therewith, even the bread of affliction; for thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt in haste: that thou mayest remember the day when thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt all the days of thy life. 4 And there shall be no leaven seen with thee in all thy borders seven days; neither shall any of the flesh, which thou sacrificest the first day at even, remain all night until the morning. I Corinthians 5:7 Purge out the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, even as ye are unleavened. For our passover also hath been sacrificed, even Messiah: As we look to the memorial of the sacrifice of our Savior, the Lamb of Yahweh, we are to partake of it with the powerful realization of the gravity of Yahshua's sacrifice. Hebrews speaks of this special redemption from our sinfulness to make each of us a more righteous and acceptable person. Yahshua not only died for our redemption from sin but underwent trials by those in authority. Yahshua was found blameless by all who investigated him and tried him without seeking truth. The death sentence carried out by the Romans was a direct result of a lack of understanding among the religious authority and the request of an enraged crowd. The death of Yahweh's Anointed at the 9th hour or about 3:30 in the afternoon fulfilled the lot of the Passover lamb. There is much to be thankful for as a group of brethren, the followers of the Son of Yahweh. Our goal as a people is to show the fruit of Messiah through an upright life and by the encouragement of the children of Yahweh. The high price of redemption was paid by the Messiah Yahshua through the shedding of his blood. John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 14 Ye are my friends, if ye do the things which I command you. Yahshua laid down his life for those that would follow him. On the night that he was betrayed Yahshua gave the disciples the symbol by which we are to remember him. Passover is jubilant because of the awesome weight that Yahshua removed from those that choose to emulate his example through obedience to Almighty Yahweh. No animal's blood could remove sin rather it was just a covering delaying the ultimate punishment. In Egypt Israel marked the door with the blood of the lamb to prevent the death angel from entering their dwelling. Yahshua is that door. Yahshua puts these concepts into an understandable picture in John 10. John 10:1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. 4 When he hath put forth all his own, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. 5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. 6 This parable spake Yahshua unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. 7 Yahshua therefore said unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All that came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door; by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and go out, and shall find pasture. 10 The thief cometh not, but that he may steal, and kill, and destroy: I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd layeth down his life for the sheep. 12 He that is a hireling, and not a shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, beholdeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth, and the wolf snatcheth them, and scattereth them: 13 he fleeth because he is a hireling, and careth not for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd; and I know mine own, and mine own know me, 15 even as the Father knoweth me, and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice: and they shall become one flock, one shepherd. 17 Therefore doth the Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I may take it again. 18 No one taketh it away from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment received I from my Father. Please keep the following brethren and sisters in your prayers. They are in desperate need of Yahweh's healing touch. prayer list Tad Bennethum - Tad's daughter, Emily, who is only two years old hurt her finger recently dismembering it in a door jam. Doctors have done what they can and say that it will be okay. Emily needs Yahweh's help in nursing it back to completeness., Keith Espinola - Keith is in the US military (a Jewish brother in Messiah) is awaiting action in Iraq. Please pray for his safety and protection. , Jesika Espinola - Jesika has been recently diagnosed with diabetes. She and her husband Mark, both Jewish believers in Messiah Yahshua live in NYC where they assist in the aliyah process, helping others immigrate to Israel and helping the poor already in Israel. Pray for Jesika's recovery and their safety., Brian Espinola - Brian is a young man who is separated from his dad by others and reunification is a sore need., Garardo Perez, Andrew Matthews, Rushing Family - family problems, Langford Luster and Family - asking for Yahweh inspiration in the family's life., David Rosa - looking for employment, Carmen Alicea - seeks salvation and healing, Shirley Reopelle - Shirley has a virus and other health problems., Karen Bordzuk - Karen needs spiritual and financial help., Delbert Ellis, Chris Nelson, Walt Hoffman, Andre Gale and Family, Twanda Luster, Julie A. Oakman, Jerry Cornwell, Justin Cain, Pendlebury Family, Andres Lopez Jr. and Sr., Barry Weaver, Michael and Marie Fegans - Michael needs prayer for freedom from incarceration so that he can take his rightful place with his family., Samuel Ndoumbe, Linda Dupree, Dan Hoskins, Gladys Joyce, Mayra Luisa Vega, Virginia Rivera, Derrick Holmes, Ernestine Walls, James Fauth, Bruce McCall Family - Bruce's great grandson is in desperate need of prayer., Anna I. Velez, Henry Ruiz - liver problems, Gary Guenther, Chloe S. Kurzon, Tom (Mordecai) Mitchell, Jason Kissee, Holly S. Forster, James Meyer Family, Tori Blair, Jenny Hopson, Blackburn Family, Marie Harris, Annette Dosold, Mike Cly, Ron Orr Family, Castillo Family, Eloise Carson, Joseph Meyer Family, Lee Christopher Kearns, Jonathan Kearns, Jennifer Brindley, Barry Wood, Jim and Alice Maring, Steve Foster, Jayne Crosson, Tom Browand - Tom has a larger than golf ball sized tumor., Roger D. Thompson and Family, Pam Fiello Please keep the Nesser family in your prayers. Brother Matt Nesser passed away after cancer spread through out his body. Brother Matt's work with his family has brought them closer to serving Yahweh and we pray that they continue that walk. Perhaps the change in Matt's family is what helped him hold on longer than doctors could have ever imagined. Yahweh's hand could be seen in him even when he was weak physical the spiritual strength in him encouraged all those around him. Yahweh Bless, James A. Meyer |
