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Cleaning out the chimney, the past and the leaven
YHVH is very practical. He uses things that happen in our lives to teach us and to help us grow in Him. This week has been one of those weeks. A week of growing in many respects. We are busy with renovation work and had the chimney cleaned. We also had a blockage in our sewage line which had to be cleaned out. YHVH used these two occasions to teach us. I think He used two incidents, because He may have wanted to make sure we get it. Let me share with you how, it may help you as well.
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Cleaning out the leaven…being prepared
In a few weeks time we will be celebrating the Passover , the feast of First Fruit and the Feast of Unleavened bread. It is time to start preparing our homes and our hearts for this time. We prepare by removing leaven from our homes, both physical and spiritual. You may think that we still have plenty of time to do this, but you also know how time flies and how busy we all are. We always think there is plenty of time left, spiritually as well, but is this true? Our lives are not our own, and can be cut short at any time. Will you be ready when that happens, will I? Have you considered this, or do you move these kind of thoughts quickly to the back of your mind, not wanting to think about it? We should not do this, but instead ponder this and make sure we are adequately prepared. Leaven can’t remove itself and just as we prepare for this feast, by removing all leaven from our homes, we are to make sure we are spiritually prepared too.
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A night of watching…a study of Exodus 12:42
We were in Israel last year with Pesach and just before the first day of Unleavened bread, the discussion of whether or not to keep a vigil on this night came up. Most of the believers in the Jerusalem hostel at the time were of the opinion that we are to stay awake all night, and that it was commanded to do so. This was new to us; we have read the verse they quoted to prove this many times, but we have never really seen it that way. We did a quick study, and their interpretation to stay up seemed to be right so we decided to err on the side of caution and just do it. It turned out to be quite a blessing. We did some Bible study and talked and when the sun stated to rise, we went to sleep for a while. So, it is almost Pesach again, and we want to do a proper study of the subject to make sure our interpretation is correct, and we do stay up if we are indeed commanded to do so.
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A Practical guide for the Passover Season
YHVH gave us His appointed times, firstly, as memorials and secondly as rehearsals to teach us His ways. When we discover His truth, He guides us to follow the ancient paths, His paths. His ways are described in His Word; His rest day, His feasts and His instructions to guide us in our lives. He gave these instructions not to put a burden on us, but to give us life. In this article, we shall focus on the practical observance of the Feast of Passover, Unleavened bread and First fruits. These are the first feasts of the new biblical year. We also include a Haggadah for you to print out and use during your seder meal. May you have a blessed passover season!
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Unleavening our lives…its all about intimacy
Spring is in the air; the Barley is aviv and the new moon has been sighted. A new year has begun! It is almost Pesach, and we are in the final stages of searching and removing the leaven from our homes. This physical action, to remove leaven has a deep spiritual significance. Leaven is symbolic of all the issues in our lives that cause a hindrance in our relationship with Abba YHVH, and it is amazing how, while we spend time “spring cleaning,” we are confronted with this leaven in your own lives. This search for and removal of the leaven culminates in the Pesach meal and the seven days of unleavened bread. We shall show you in this study how the preparation for, and the feast of Unleavened bread is also about restoring or creating intimacy between us and our Heavenly Father.
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Have we become the modern-day Pharisees?
Have we become like the Pharisees in the time of Y’shua? Have you noticed how critical and judgmental we have become? There seems to be a tendency among believers to judge. To judge others for their different interpretation of scripture, for their use of certain words or for their use or pronunciation of the name of our Creator. People, where is this going? Should we not be spending this time in a more productive way? Do we not all have one Father?
