Deut 16

The Children of Israel had a time of remembrance called the Passover. This was to celebrate when God took Israel from their bondage in Egypt. God wanted to set up a feast by which they would be reminded that they were slaves and now set free.

The Passover is a beautiful picture of our own lives. Egypt is usually a type of the world. Like Heather shared on Sunday night, we are in a battle between two kingdoms; the kingdom of this age (the world) and the kingdom of heaven. We were once in bondage to this world. We had no other choice but to serve it. Than, by the grace of God, we were set free. Can you think of something we do remind ourselves of our freedom in Christ? (Look up Luke 22:14-19). The Lord understands that we are frail, and sets up an event to remind us of His gift to us.

During the Passover you had liberty to give as much offerings as you wanted, however only one was required. This one offering was a lamb, perfect without blemishes. What a picture of Christ! Consider Revelation 4. The Passover lasted one week. For six days they were to refrain from unleavened bread. What is leaven? Leaven is yeast, which causes the bread to rise. It often represents sin in our lives. Why? Because a little leaven effects the whole lump of bread. If you put only a pinch of leaven in the bread, the whole dough will rise. Therefore, we are to refrain from any sin, because a little sin can effect our whole being. In remembrance of what the Lord did for them, Israel was to stay away from leaven for six days. On the seventh day, they were to join together with other Jews.

Consider it a dangerous place when you stop coming to church. I think the Lord wants this pattern in each of our lives. We are to refrain from sin for six days during the week, as we toil and work and live. Finally, we are to gather together to worship God. When you gather, and you are living in sin, it will be quite apparent. This is when people start getting away from fellowship with other believers. If you gather, and you are not living in sin, you will have no problem joining your brothers and sisters to worship the Lord. If you find yourself afraid to join your brothers and sisters in the Lord, it may be time to examine your own heart.