New Video: Preparing Yourself For Passover
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What about Peter’s vision of the sheet?
Acts 10:13–15, Peter’s vision. In Peter’s vision of the sheet covered with unclean animals, the voice from heaven commanded him three times to kill and eat these unclean animals. Peter was confused by the meaning of this vision since being a Torah-law abiding Jew he knew that eating unclean meat was forbidden and in good conscience he could not do that which was contrary to YHVH’s Torah-law, for to do so was sin (sin is the violation of the law, 1 John 3:4).
Often visions are metaphorical in nature and not literal. There are many examples in the Scriptures of people receiving metaphorical visions. For example, read the books of Daniel and Revelation. Indeed, Peter’s vision was no exception, for no sooner had the vision ended when three Gentile men appeared at his door seeking the gospel message and the Spirit of Elohim bade Peter to go and to meet them. Peter then realized that the interpretation of his vision was that he should not call any man common or unclean; that is, the gospel message is for all people regardless of their ethnicity (verse 28). In Peter’s case, Bible itself interprets his vision. The issue is not about whether it is now permissible to eat non-kosher meat or not, but rather the Spirit of Elohim was directing the apostles to begin taking the gospel to the Gentiles, who by Jewish standards were considered common and unclean (verse 28).
Now consider this. If Yeshua had meant to say in Matthew 15:11 and Mark 7:18–19 that it was now permissible to eat all foods including those meats that the Torah prohibits to be eaten (e.g., pork, shellfish, etc.), presumably Peter would have known this, since he was present when Yeshua made the statement (see Matt 15:15). If Peter knew that Yeshua had given the okay for his disciples now to eat unclean meat, why then did Peter so strongly object when the voice from heaven commanded him to eat the unclean animals in the vision (Acts 10:13–14)? Obviously, Peter had not changed his opinion about not eating unclean meat, since Yeshua had never annulled the Torah command forbidding the eating of unclean meats in the first place.
Is There a Connection Between Sin and Sickness?
What if any is the connection between the sins we commit and the sicknesses and diseases that come upon us? Much, as the Bible teaches.
First, let’s establish some basic truths.
Everyone will eventually die, so not all sickness is a result of sin (Heb 9:27).
Some sickness isn’t due to sin, but so that YHVH might be glorified when the person is miraculously healed (John 9:2–3).
The purpose of some sickness is for spiritual refinement to bring us to a higher level spiritually as was the case with Job.
In a general sense, pain, suffering and death came upon all men because of Adam and Eve’s initial rebellion against YHVH Elohim in the Garden of Eden. As a result of the “fall of man,” all men have come under this curse and suffer as a result.
Unto the woman [Elohim] said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. (Gen 3:16–19)
Some sickness is a direct result of disobeying YHVH’s commandments; it’s YHVH’s judgment against that sin. In Exodus 15:26, YHVH speaks about not putting the diseases of Egypt upon his people if they will follow his commandments.
And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of YHVH thy Elohim, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am YHVH that healeth thee.
The Torah further makes the connection between sin and sickness when it lists the curses for Torah disobedience in Deuteronomy 28:21–22.
YHVH will make the plague cling to you until He has consumed you from the land which you are going to possess. YHVH will strike you with consumption, with fever, with inflammation, with severe burning fever, with the sword, with scorching, and with mildew; they shall pursue you until you perish.
In Deuteronomy 7:15, YHVH again mentions not afflicting his people with the sicknesses of Egypt if they will obey his Torah-commandments.
And YHVH will take away from thee all sickness, and will put none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which thou knowest, upon thee; but will lay them upon all them that hate thee.
The Bible indicates a direct relationship between sin and healing in Psalm 103:3,
Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases…
“Leprosy” or the infectious skin disease the Torah refers to as tsaraat (Lev 14:34) was a judgment from YHVH against several specific sins.
When ye be come into the land of Canaan, which I give to you for a possession, and I put the plague of leprosy in a house of the land of your possession…
In several instances in the Scriptures, we read that tsaraat was a direct result of a specific sin. In the case of Miriam, it was the sin of pride and rebellion against spiritual authority and using her tongue in an evil manner against YHVH’s spiritual authority (Num 12:1, 9–10). In the case of Gehazi, he became leprous because of greed and lying (2 Kgs 5:20–27). Uzziah, the king of Judah, became leprous because of his pride and rebellion against YHVH when he dared to violate the Torah by burning incense in the temple (2 Chron 26:16–23).
Envy can bring on bone diseases. Envy can also refer to “jealousy and sexual passion.”
A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones. (Prov 14:30)
Sexually transmitted diseases are a direct result of sexual promiscuity and idolatry, and is a judgment from Elohim against those who engage in such ungodly practices.
For this cause Elohim gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet. (Rom 1:26–27)
Yeshua, on several occasions, equates sin and healing. That is to say, he viewed forgiveness of sin and healing of disease as synonymous concepts. To him, the sickness was a result of sin.
Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk? (John 5:24)
Yeshua shows that illness can be a direct punishment for sin, as well, when he states that a man whom he had just healed was sick because of his sin.
Afterward Yeshua findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee. (John 5:14)
YHVH’s laws of judgment against sin are still in operation even in the so-called “New Testament era of grace.” YHVH struck down and killed Annaias and Sapphira because they lied to the apostles and the Spirit of Elohim (Acts 5:1–11).
Paul confirms the truth that there is still a correlation between sin and sickness when he states that some within the body of Yeshua get sick and die because of sin. Illness is a direct punishment for sin. Paul teaches that this can occur when a believer doesn’t have the proper fear and respect for YHVH Elohim and those things which are set-apart of kadosh such as blood and body of Yeshua as symbolized in the Passover communion service by the bread and the wine.
For I have received of the Master that which also I delivered unto you, that the Master Yeshua the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Master’s death till he come. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Master, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Master. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Master, that we should not be condemned with the world. (1 Cor 11:23–32)
When trials of our faith fall on us including sickness and disease, Scripture instructs us to receive it with joy realizing that this is occurring for our spiritual refinement. We are to then ask YHVH for wisdom presumably to help us to understand why the trial is occurring, so that we can repent of sin and learn from our mistakes.
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of Elohim, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. (Jas 1:2–5)
Let us not forget that whom our Father in heaven loves he chastens. Sickness often is a form of loving chastisement or discipline from YHVH Elohim,
And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of YHVH, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: for whom the YHVH loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, Elohim dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; and make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. (Heb 12:5–13)
New Video: How Sin Is Like Deadly Germs
Blog Scripture Readings for 4-17 Through 4-23-16
Aside
THIS WEEK’S SCRIPTURE READINGS FOR STUDY AND DISCUSSION:
Parashah — (None This Week)
Haftarah — (None This Week)
Prophets — Isaiah 48:1 – 54:17
Writings — Proverbs 30:1 – 31:31; Job 1:1 – 5:27
Testimony — Acts 10:1 – 14:28
Most of this week’s blog discussion points will be on these passages. If you have general comments or questions on the weekly Scripture readings not addressed in a blog post, here’s a place for you to post those. Just use the “leave a reply” link below.
The full “Read Through The Scriptures In A Year” schedule, broken down by each day, can be found on the right sidebar under “Helpful Links.” There are 4 sections of scripture to read each day. One each from the Torah, the Prophets, the Writings, and from the Testimony of Yeshua. Each week, the Torah and haftarah readings will follow the traditional one-year reading cycle.
Weekly Blog Scripture Readings for 4/17 through 4/23/16.
Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread Teaching Resources
Here are some free resources that will help you to celebrate the upcoming biblical feasts with meaning and purpose according to the Scriptures:
Biblical calendar printouts so you know the dates of the biblical feasts: http://www.hoshanarabbah.org/calendars.html
Teaching articles on the biblical feasts: http://www.hoshanarabbah.org/teaching.html#feast
Teaching videos on the biblical feasts: https://www.youtube.com/user/HoshanaRabbah
Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread Resources: http://www.hoshanarabbah.org/pesach.html
Passover haggadah so you can know how to do your ownPassover seder: http://www.hoshanarabbah.org/pdfs/haggadah09_2up.pdf
All these resources and much more can be found at our main website: http://www.hoshanarabbah.org
Preparing Ourselves Spiritually for Passover
Passover and the Feast of Unleavened occur next weekend. Passover falls on the night of Saturday, April 23 on the biblical calendar, and the first high sabbath day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread falls on Sunday, April 24. The last day of Unleavened Bread falls on Saturday, April 30 and is also a high sabbath day. It is time to make physical and spiritual preparations for these special, commanded events on YHVH’s calendar. The following is a list that will help you to do this.
Repent of Sin and Get Under the Lamb’s Blood. As the children of Israel applied the lamb’s blood to the door posts and lintels of their house, so we must apply the sin-cleansing and Satan-defeating blood of Yeshua afresh to our lives (i.e., to your thoughts as represented by the door lintel and actions and to our hands as represented by the door posts). This occurs as we repent of our sins, and pray for and receive YHVH’s forgiveness. He will then cover our sins over or wash away our sins by Yeshua’s blood (1 John 1:9; Rev 1:5)
In Egypt at Passover time, YHVH judged all those who had failed to put the lamb’s blood on the door posts of there houses. In other words, they weren’t under the blood of the lamb, and they were still under the penalty of sin, which is death. Unrepented sin has a death claim on us all. To the degree that one has sin in their life is the degree that the spirit of death has a hold on one’s life. Now is the time to repent of sin by confessing it and seeking Elohim’s forgiveness under the blood of Yeshua.
Here are some things of which to repent.
- Pride. Do you always think that you’re right? Your opinion is what matters the most? Do you have a hard time with those who don’t see it your way, when you don’t get your way? Do you have a fit when people disagree with you? Do you criticize others and put others down (especially those who are closest to you)? Do you belittle, mock, scorn and ridicule others? Do you focus on people’s faults? Do you have a hard time identifying any sins that you have committed? Are you proud of your humility? Are you proud of how Torah-observant you are (compared to others)? Are we overly defensive when someone corrects us or challenges our opinion? Do we blame others when things don’t go right instead of taking personal responsibility for our actions? These are all signs of pride. Pride is self-idolization.
- Selfishness and self-absorption (putting self above others too much of the time). Are you ungrateful? Are you discontent about your place in life? Do you always want more? Are your material possessions and personal belongings really important to you? Do you have a hard time giving things away? This is a form of self-idolatry and idolization of things.
- Love of this world over love of YHVH and the things that matter to him. This a form of idolatry. You’re concerned with what others think more than what Elohim thinks about things.
- Sins of the mouth including mean, selfish, unkind, angry, impatient, egotistical words toward others. This is idolization of self. What matters most is what I have to say, how I feel, my opinions and I have the right to say what I want when I want.
- The lack of the fear of Elohim. More concerned with what others think than what YHVH Elohim thinks about something. Anything in our lives that puts anything else above Elohim is idolatry.
- Ask yourself this: In everything that I do and say, am I advancing the kingdom of Elohim and bringing glory to Yeshua or am I doing the opposite? Am I being a river of life to all those around me, or am I dragging them downward by bringing negativity and darkness?
Tell the Redemption Story. It is the responsibility of parents and elders to pass on to the next generation the Passover story (Exod 12:24–27). Explain how the Israelites were enslaved in Egypt (a metaphor for the world) to Pharaoh (a metaphor for Satan), and how YHVH delivered them from the judgment of the destroyer (YHVH’s judgment against sin) because the children of Israel put the blood of the lamb on their doorposts (a picture of Yeshua’s sin-atoning death on the cross). In reality, this is the basic gospel message.
Celebrate the Feasts. Prepare your heart and mind to obey YHVH by keeping his appointed times of Passover and Unleavened Bread. Are we willing to obey his commands pertaining to these observances? How much do we love him (John 14:15)? How much do we want to know him (1 John 2:6–7)? Celebrating these feasts help us to love him and to know him better.
Examine Yourself. At this time of the year, we must each examine ourselves to insure that we will not be partaking of the cup of redemption (i.e. the communion cup) unworthily (1 Cor 11:28).
Rediscover the Cross. It is time to rediscover the cross of Yeshua again and your place at its foot. It is also time to rediscover the power of the resurrected Yeshua in one’s life. Marvel at the miracle of the resurrection and consider the fact that we have access to Yeshua’s resurrected life through faith in him and through the work of his Set-Apart Spirit as we obey the Word of Elohim.
A Time of Spiritual Awakening and New Beginnings. Passover occurs in the spring at the beginning of the biblical year. Spring is a time of new physical and spiritual new beginnings. Spiritually, it’s the time to take stock of one’s life, assess any weaknesses and deficiencies we have, and then resolve to make the necessary changes. It is the time to make improvements through the power of YHVH’s grace, his Word, his Spirit all through a vibrant, daily relationship with Yeshua our Lord and Savior.
The Season for Spiritual Housecleaning. Passover is time of spring cleaning and deleavening our physical houses (Exod 12:15–20) and removing the leaven of sin from our spiritual houses as well (Pss 26:2; 139:1, 23–24). We must root out and eradicate the old sin habits from the crevices and dark areas of our life. In Scripture, leavening represents sin, pride, hypocrisy and false doctrine. It’s time to forsake all these things that drag us down spiritually and pull us away from our Father in heaven. It’s time to move onward and upward spiritually!
Time to Deleaven. In the Scriptures, leaven is a metaphor for sin. This is the time of year to deleaven our lives. Do the sinful practices, evil habits and illicit delicacies of Egypt still hold sway on us? Do any unclean spirits or filthy habits still have control over us? It is time to take control of these sins and eliminate them and become wholly consecrated unto YHVH-Yeshua, his Word, his plans and purposes. It is time to seek first his kingdom and his righteousness (Matt 6:33). One can’t serve two masters at the same time (i.e., the world and the flesh) and expect to be pleasing to YHVH (Matt 6:24).
Time to Renew Our First Love For Yeshua. It is time to renew one’s first love for Yeshua our Heavenly Bridegroom (Rev 2:4–5). Now is the time to rekindle one’s passion and zeal for Yeshua and to repent of spiritual lukewarmness (Rev 3:15–21).