Though Passover in the Hebrew calendar began this week from April 8, 2020 till sundown on April 16, 2020, this solemn feast has been fulfilled by Christ when He offered Himself on the cross as the Lamb of God during that particular Passover feast and paid the price once and for all for our sins. Praise God!!!
At the last supper as Christ celebrated the Passover with His disciples, He had communion with them with the bread and the wine and told them that as often as they did this, they should do this in remembrance of Him (1 Cor. 11:24-25). He said this because He was about to fulfill the Passover feast and became our Passover. Every time we have communion, whether alone, or with other brethren, wherever and whenever, we are actually celebrating Christ as our Passover.
The Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Cor. 5:7-8: “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.”
Covid-19 has given all of us, all over the world, the forced Sabbath rest that everyone needed and to take time and realize that we are never in control of our world, God is, and He is still reigning on the throne. In this Passover week, let us focus on God, His Word (Christ) and His ways, and set aside our limited understanding, our mindsets, our ways, and even the religious traditions of men that most think even now are more important than what God really said in the bible.
As we heed more seriously His Word, let us, as Paul said, keep the feast not with the old leaven. Let us humble ourselves and repent and let go of any leaven in our lives:
L-usts
E-go
A-ttitude
V-anity
E-nvy
N-Negligence
LUSTS – Repent and let go of the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes (1 John 2:15). The ways of the world, the internet, social media and the entertainment and gaming industry are seductive and sedative and have, sad to say, gotten most Christians hooked and slaved unawares. “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace (Rom. 8:5-6).” This is the time to reformat our computer hard drives and our smart phones and fill them with things that are pleasing to God and not grieve the Holy Spirit. Stop posting or reposting worldly, seductive or demonic photos or articles. Stop watching movies, tv shows that are full of filth, nudity and violence. Stop playing games that are taking up all your time and changing your good attitude to worst, to say the least. “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy; meditate on these things (Php. 4:8).”
EGO – Often refers to the sense of self-importance, the I, myself and me. Let us repent and humble ourselves of our self-importance and the narrow way we look at ourselves and for always thinking about ourselves. Remember our identity, importance and significance is already in Christ, we are dead to ourselves and alive to Him (Rom. 6:11). Paul wrote, “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself (Php 2:3).”
ATTITUDE – Let us repent of our worldly behaviors and reactions. Most Christians act as if they do not know Christ at all and they are not even ashamed of it. Col. 3:8-10 says, “But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him.”
VANITY – As we have already covered EGO, vanity refers to something that is vain, empty, or valueless. King Solomon had everything in life (wealth, women, power and fame) but finally wrote, “I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and indeed, all is vanity and grasping for the wind (Ecc 1:14).” Many Christians have been deceived into thinking that prosperity or having many material things in life is a sign of spirituality. Nothing can be farther from the truth. Paul has this to say, “Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows (1 Tim 6:6-10).” Jesus said, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Mat 6:19-21).” We don’t need to keep up with the Joneses so to speak or to keep up with what is trending in the world. Let us repent and unload our hearts with unnecessary burdens.
ENVY – One Psalmist wrote, “But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; my steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the boastful, When I saw the prosperity of the wicked (Psalm 73:2-3).” Let us repent and guard our hearts against being envious of others (even Christians) who seem to have made it in life. Do not wallow in self-pity and be envious of their positions, their houses, their cars or the things that they have. Let us not put in pedestals men and women whom the world admires and accepts. Remember what Jesus said, "If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you (John 15:19).” Let us seek God’s specific purpose and plan for our lives and live it. Jesus once rebuked Peter in asking about John, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You follow me (John 21:22).” Our purpose is not to compete but to complete. We are many members, but different assignments (1 Cor. 12:18). Just be settled, be content and be faithful in your stead.
NEGLIGENCE – Let us repent of our undoing or indifference, missed chances or opportunities especially in this time of crisis. James 4:17 says, “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.” John wrote in like manner, “But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth (1Jn 3:17-18).” Be proactive, not reactive! Mark 16:20 says, “And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.” Kudos to the men and women who are going live at Facebook to share the Gospel of the Kingdom of God! Others can do their part also, pray for one another and share whatever they can to those in need.
Finally, let us not be negligent anymore in having time daily to praise God, our Saviour, to meditate His Word and to pray and intercede for others. Let us repent if our hearts have grown cold to His Word and His presence. Let go of our lukewarmness and go back to our FIRST LOVE. We have allowed fear and doubt to overwhelm our hearts because we have neglected to spend time in His Word and with His presence.
Exodus 6:9-11 says, “So Moses spoke thus to the children of Israel; but they did not heed Moses, because of anguish of spirit and cruel bondage. And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, "Go in, tell Pharaoh king of Egypt to let the children of Israel go out of his land." It is fascinating to read that the children of Israel having been under slavery and hardship for more than 400 years in Egypt, their hearts have become callous and full of unbelief that they cannot believe that God through Moses was about to fulfill His promise and deliver them out of Egypt. Yet, in their hardness of heart, God still goes on and commands Moses to tell Pharaoh to let His people go! That is the kind of God we have, in spite that most of us are not ready to believe what He is about to do because of too many hardships, unanswered prayers and unfulfilled dreams, God still goes ahead to rebuke the Enemy and prepare the way for us until we are ready to respond.
This Passover week, remember, God is in control in spite of our shortcomings and unbelief and through His prophets promises that Covid-19 is about to expire. And He goes on ahead to rebuke Covid-19 (etc) until we repent and turn back to Him and be ready!!! Glory to God!!!
A BLESSED PASSOVER! WE ARE PASSING OVER…
WM
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