PASSOVER 2017

PASSOVER 2017

When is Passover 2017?
Passover (Pesach) falls on the Hebrew calendar dates of Nissan 15-22, which will be on April 10th to 18th
Here are coinciding secular dates for the upcoming years:
2018:   March 30-April 7
2019:   April 19-27
2020:   April 8-16

Accuracy of the Jewish calendar

The Jewish calendar is a lunar calendar—based on the cycles of the moon.




The Gregorian calendar, which the world now uses, is solar-based; it is based on 'a belief of movement of the sun.'
The change in the Jewish calendar by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582 A.D. has shifted the year 2017 to a future date.




Christ our Passover Lamb

The thief on the cross was saved on the 14th day of the month. Christ observed the Passover in the evening before the morning—same day that He was crucified.
For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus 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 Lord's death till He come.
1 Cor 11:23-26 KJV

And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, He said, Father, into Thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost (Luke 23:46 KJV)

In the Bible, a day was from one evening to the next evening.
And the evening and the morning were the first day.
Gen 1:5 KJV

The Passover was in the evening of the 14th day. Christ kept the Passover that evening and was crucified “the morning” of the same day (the 6th hour)—noon, before the end of ‘day.’ He died at ‘the ninth hour.’
From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"-which means, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken me?"  
Matt 27:45-46 NIV

And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit (v.50 NIV).
That day, the penitent thief called upon Jesus, and said,
“Lord, remember me when Thou comest into Thy Kingdom (Luke 23:42 KJV)
Jesus replied to his request, “Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with Me in Paradise.”
(Luke 23:43 KJV)
Romans 10:13 states:”For whosoever shall call upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved (KJ V).

Jesus was worn a crown of thorns and was sentenced to death—He was delivered to be crucified. Our Lord Jesus Christ was crowned with the "crown of thorns." This took place because He is "Lord of the Passover."
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In Luke 22:1 the Feast of Unleavened Bread is called "Passover."

"The Passover lamb' which points to Christ, was sacrificed on "the Day of Unleavened Bread" (read verse 7).


JUBILEE


In Leviticus 25:10 God says “And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim Liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a Jubilee unto you…” (Lev 25:10 KJV)
These are the sum of the parts that make up Jubilee: The 7th day is a Sabbath rest day and the 7th year (Shmita) is a Sabbath rest year. The 7th Shmita is the 49th Sabbath rest year with the 50th year being Jubilee. This cycle always starts over with the 50th year being the first year of the next cycle.

Liberation is the central theme of Jubilee.
The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He hath anointed Me to preach the Gospel to the poor; He hath sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
To preach the Acceptable Year of the Lord.
Luke 4:18-19 KJV
Near the start of His ministry Jesus reads this scripture about Himself to the congregation ushering in the Church Age "the Acceptable Year of the Lord." However Jesus stops in mid-sentence while reading from the book of Isaiah chapter 61 verse 2.
Why?
Simply because His ministry fulfilled those things which He read out; thus He states..."This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears." (Lk 4:21).
But, the rest of the sentence in Isaiah 61:2 continues... "...and the day of vengeance of our God." 
How can this sentence be both "The acceptable year of the Lord and the day of vengeance of our God"?
There are literally two fulfillments separated by a period of about 2000 years:
‘First sentence’ fulfillment: Here Jesus introduces the Church Age as "the Acceptable Year of the Lord." This period ends only when Jesus removes the Church from this world; at the Rapture—at the end of "the Acceptable Year of the Lord". Psalm 90:10 declares a generation lifespan to be 70-80 years...our generation is already in its 69th year!
‘Second sentence’ fulfillment: "the Day of Vengeance of our God" therefore begins at the time of the Second Coming of Christ (see Rev. 19:11-16).
“The Second Coming” takes place just at the end of the Great Tribulation (read Matt 24:29-31).

Christ will reign on the Earth for 1000 Years on the throne of David, from Jerusalem, with His people who have been “born of the Spirit,” “filled with the Spirit,” and “raised to Life by the Spirit.”
The Spirit's Presence and indwelling in us is in accordance with 'the First Advent' of our Lord—He is “the Word that was made flesh”; this manifestation of the Son of God on the earth brought unto us Redemption 'by His Blood'—this has given rise to hope in our hearts for the Millennial Reign of Christ.
At the Return of our Lord Jesus Christ, all who are part of the New Creation, who have been Redeemed by His Blood, will be welcomed to partake in the Millennial Reign.

In Leviticus 25:10, we find that Israel observed what is known as “the Jubilee” which till date is celebrated every 50 years. In the Year of Jubilee every man returns to his own possession and his own people; in this we see the picture of Israel returning to her own land in “The Millennial Reign.”

The Millennial Reign will be Earth’s greatest Jubilee.

Celebrating Jesus in the End Times Package

Celebrating Jesus in the End Times Package (Book, 3-CD Set, Jewish Calendar & Feasts Guide) by Dr. Richard Booker; Code: 9435

By Dr. Richard Booker

As the sun shines


As the sun shines and is visible for all to see...so shall the Glory of God be in your life always.

When Everything Changes & Moving in the Rhythm of the Kingdom by Steve Stewart

When Everything Changes & Moving in the Rhythm of the Kingdom (Book & 4-CD Set) by Steve Stewart; Code: 9455

By Steve Stewart9455a

The Miracle Explosion Package by Joan Hunter, Clarice Fluitt & Joan Gieson

The Miracle Explosion Package (Book & 3-CD Set) by Joan Hunter, Clarice Fluitt & Joan Gieson; Code: 9413

By Joan Hunter, Clarice Fluitt, Joan Gieson9413_0

The Healing Creed by Becky Dvorak

The Healing Creed (Book & 3-CD Set) by Becky Dvorak; Code: 9456

By Becky Dvorak

Keep the Fire Burning—The Book of Revelation Rick Joyner

Keep the Fire Burning—The Book of Revelation
Rick Joyner
The Church of Laodicea
Laodicea means, “judging by the people.” The implication is that this is an age in which men’s opinions are exalted above God’s. In our time, this is called “political correctness.” This results in a people lukewarm to God, and there is nothing more offensive in a relationship than indifference.
          Previously, we covered the Lord’s warnings to keep us from falling into this terrible condition, and how He left this church age with a hope and a promise for those who overcome the spirit of this age. These promises are greater than the promises given to any other church. Before we get to these, we need to look at the other things causing most in this church to be lukewarm:
         “Because you say, ‘I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—
         “I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see” (Revelation 3:17-18 NKJV).
          We live in a time of unprecedented earthly wealth. Many considered poor in some countries are better off than kings were a couple of centuries ago because of modern technology and conveniences. We should be thankful for these things and not feel guilty as long as we understand the trap they can be in affecting our devotion to the Lord.
          An interesting study on happiness was done over a decade ago. The results were surprising and enlightening. Here are the study’s three main conclusions:
1)   Our possessions have zero to do with our happiness and can make us very unhappy.
2)   The happiest people on earth tend to be those who live the simplest lives, as long as they have food and shelter.
3)   True happiness is always connected to close relationships.
           When I read these conclusions, I first protested. I thought about how some of my things, like my motorcycle, make me happy. Yet in truth, I may enjoy it when I ride it, but it really is a means for me to enjoy creation and to fellowship with the Lord or my friends while I do it. So the real happiness I get from it is connected to relationships.
          Since we were created to have fellowship with God, there is no other relationship that is as important as that one. Without a growing relationship and love for God, we will have a large, empty hole in our life, regardless of how well our other relationships are doing. If we keep Him first in our life, we are far more likely to have good relationships with others and fulfill the purposes done with Him and for Him.
          We recently took into our Heritage facilities almost four hundred people from a retirement community on the coast who had to flee from Hurricane Matthew. These were from a wealthy community. When I asked them after the first day if there was anything we could do to make their stay better, most said that a television in their room would help. Two days later, the same people thanked me for not having television in their room. This had caused them to get out and meet their neighbors and participate in the events we hosted for them. Some said they had lived in the same community for years and yet did not know their neighbors. By the third day, it had turned into a party!
          When they left after about ten days, some said it was one of the best times they had ever had. It was also one of the best times we have had as a ministry. Some were Christians, and some met the Lord while staying with us. Some got healed of various things, but I think all ended up bonding with new and deeper friends. It was the beginning of koinonia, the essential element in true church life so rarely found in church today.
          So how do we get free and have our love and fire restored? It starts with acknowledging that we are the ones this is talking about, praying for help, and understanding that the rebuke of the Lord is for those He loves: “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent” (Revelation 3:19). As we are told repeatedly in Proverbs, the wise love reproof because it leads to a repentance that keeps us on the path of life. As we are told here, we repent by being “zealous.”
          In both the Tabernacle of Moses and the Temple of Solomon, the Lord sent fire from His presence to start the fire on the altar. But then He commanded the priests to keep it going. God starts the fire in our hearts, but He expects us to keep it going. What are we doing to intentionally keep the fire blazing in our hearts? The basics are prayer, reading and studying the Word of God, koinonia—requiring a real church life—and witnessing, or doing the work of the Lord.
         In Revelation 3:20, He tells us one major thing we must do: “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My Voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.” The Lord is constantly knocking on the door of our life, asking to come in. Do we hear Him? Interestingly, it is not hearing His knock but His Voice so that we can open to Him. As He taught in John 10, His sheep hear His Voice and they follow Him because they know His Voice. This is why we teach knowing the Voice of the Lord as one of the most critical requirements for following Him. It is then that we receive the incredible, unfathomable promise of Him giving us our spiritual food directly.
         As stated, the Lord gives the second of the greatest promises given to any of the church ages to the overcomers of the Laodicean church. This is likely because the lukewarm spirit of the age is one of the most difficult things to overcome. Now let’s consider this promise:
“To him that overcomes I will grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne. He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (Revelation 3:21-22).

          Those who overcome during this church age will not just be like the great company in Revelation 7 that stands “before the throne,” but they will sit with Him on His throne. There will be overcomers in this time that demonstrate what it really means to be seated with Him on His throne in the heavenly places—unprecedented spiritual authority. These are the ones who will do the works that He did, and even greater ones, because they abide in Him as He is now. This is still available to all who want it so much that they will run the race, laying aside every encumbrance to pursue our God.

The High Calling of the Husband Rick Joyner

The High Calling of the Husband
Rick Joyner
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it;
That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word,
That He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
Eph 5:25-29 KJV
Along with some other few verses, this concludes the Bible’s most important marriage counseling. It is interesting to note that the only marriage counseling in the Bible was given by one who was never married. Was this because he could give a more objective view? In the opinion of some skeptics it is much easier to preach things you do not have to personally try to live up to! He certainly laid out some very high standards, but this is the Word of God, and for the true believer, compromising or making excuses is not an option.
The woman should respect and obey her husband as the church does the Lord, and the husband should love and serve his wife as Christ does the church. The fulfillment of this will make the Christian marriage one of the great witnesses of the Lord’s relationship with His people. Certainly, to have a godly marriage that comes anywhere close to these standards is a remarkable thing today, even among Christians. In fact, recent studies have revealed that evangelical Christians are now divorcing at a faster rate than non-believers. Why is this happening?
Probably the main reason is because it seems that the devil’s main assault on humanity at this time is directed at destroying the family. Man is a social creature. After the Lord created man He said, “… It is not good that the man should be alone…” (Genesis 2:18). This is interesting because man and God had fellowship at this time. Though our relationship to God is even more basic than human need, God created us to also need each other. The family is the most basic social structure. To the degree that the devil can weaken or destroy this relationship will be the degree to which he can destabilize and then destroy mankind itself.
Destroying mankind, or getting us to destroy each other, is the devil’s basic strategy. Restoring mankind to the purpose for which we were created—to have fellowship with God and to cultivate His creation—is God’s basic strategy. The family is one of the central and most important battlegrounds where this conflict is waged for the destiny of mankind.
This ploy of the devil to destroy the family will not ultimately work because of the faithful ones who during the greatest onslaught will rise to the greatest obedience. Right now the intensity of the onslaught is causing a great separation to take place between the truly faithful, and those who are at best lukewarm. As the onslaught increases it will be a miracle if anyone can stand. That is the point—everyone who is standing for truth and righteousness will be considered miraculous, and the whole world will one day acknowledge them.
During this increasing darkness those who do stand, whose marriages survive, will not only be survivors, but glorious testimonies of what God desired the marriage relationship to be. The ones that are just barely “hanging on” are going to have an increasingly difficult time. Soon everyone who is not gaining ground will be losing it. The relationships of marriages that prevail are going to be the ones that are built on the Word of God. As the Lord taught, it will only be those who built their houses on hearing and obeying the Word of God who will be able to stand the storm that is coming.
If the Word of God and the standards of what God has called the marriage relationship to be, offends you now, you, or your marriage, you will not make it through what is coming. We must make a choice as to whether we are going to live by human philosophies and standards of the day or by God’s standards.
On the other hand, remember, there is a ditch on either side of the path of life. A main reason for the meltdown of Christian marriages today is the idealistic interpretation of the Word of God in relation to Christian marriages. This is the setting forth of standards that no one can live up to, and causes a frustration and continual feeling of defeat that only weakens marriages.
Often I talk with husbands or wives who read Christian books about marriage and are frustrated with their spouses because they are not living up to the ideals presented in the books. Of course, it is obvious that if their spouse would also read the book they would be just as frustrated with them for not measuring up to their part either. This is often the fault line (pun intended) that begins the break up of the marriage. What is the answer?
First, I think we need to lower our expectations in marriage. I am not saying that for shock effect, I am saying it because I believe it is true. Last Mother’s Day we asked several of the mothers in our local congregation to share what they would like to have for Mother’s Day. We were expecting them to share some things that their children could do for them, but almost all of their requests were directed at their husbands. I do not think a single husband could have lived up to those requests without quitting his job, giving up all his time with the Lord, his children, recreation, and everything else, but loving and serving his wife. The women who shared these things were honestly wanting what they had requested.
Now on Father’s Day we got even. There was little hope for any wife who had children, a home, relationship to the Lord, much less a job, or any outside relationships, to live up to what the husbands wanted their wives to be like. I hope this was a revelation to all. I think we need to start by giving grace to each other and determining that we are not going to make unrealistic expectations of one another.
However, we must not compromise the standards that the Scriptures teach about marriage, but we need to understand that it may take our entire marriage to attain them. By this I mean that if the Lord knows we are going to live to be married fifty years, it may take that long for us to get them right. Sound crazy? Not as crazy as believing we can achieve these biblical standards immediately.
Could this mean that we will only be a witness of what marriage is supposed to be like for one year? Perhaps, and that may be enough. However, I think the truth may be somewhere between these two extremes.
So am I saying that I do not believe anyone can have a biblical marriage until they have been married for decades? No. I think everyone who seeks to obey the Lord and His mandate can have a glorious relationship from the beginning, and at each stage along the way, but even though the Lord has done just about every kind of miracle imaginable I do not see anywhere in Scripture where He makes anyone instantly mature. Just as being a mature Christian takes time and effort, so does having a mature marriage.
Coach Bill McCartney, the founder of Promise Keepers, shared something at our last Pastor and Leader’s conference that was eye opening to many. He said just recently that his wife had said he finally became the husband that she had always dreamed of having. They are now in their sixties. It took them decades to get there.
It was interesting to me that Coach never mentioned whether his wife met his expectations as a wife, but that is because it was obvious he was more intent on whether he was living up to his part than thinking about whether she was living up to her part. I do think this is the way it should be for husbands. The Scriptures are clear that the greatest responsibility for making the marriage into what it should be does lie with the man.
My simple proposal for complying with the biblical mandate of Ephesians five for marriage is to give yourself time. Know that in your first year of marriage you are going to have an immature marriage—and that is okay! It is okay for a one-year-old to be one. Enjoy growing up and don’t try to rush it.
There are many marriages that have stayed at the same level, or even moved backwards for years. Maybe you have been married twenty years now and have not really made much progress for the last fifteen. This is often the case when children come. However, you have probably made more progress than you think though you may feel more frustrated in your marriage now. Even if you become convicted and know that you have to do something, I encourage you not to try to make up the ground too fast. That can be counter-productive.
By this I mean that instead of trying to have daily devotions with your wife and children, start with weekly devotions. Also, keep them short. I would recommend something like fifteen minutes rather than an hour. If you are faithful they will probably start to get so good that you will want to go longer, and then you will want to do them more often. It is much better to have shorter and fewer times with real life in them than longer and more frequent ones that are so boring and lifeless that they are viewed more a punishment than an opportunity.

I realize that I have very superficially touched on the verses for this week and last. Indeed, many books have been written on these verses, and they are worthy of many books. However, we obviously cannot do that here, so the main thing I have tried to accomplish is the appeal to get real. We need to acknowledge our failures, and try to remove the unrealistic expectations that are rooted more in idealism than revelation. Then we need to develop a workable, step-by-step approach to a mature Christian marriage that can be achieved.

The Presentation of Jesus Christ in the 66 Books of the Bible - Part 50

In Philemon He is “a Friend that sticks closer than a brother.”
The forgiveness that the believer finds in Christ is beautifully portrayed by analogy in Philemon. Although Onesimus was guilty of a great offense, Paul was moved to intercede on his behalf (vv.10-18).
Paul lays aside his rights (v.8) and becomes Onesimus’ substitute by assuming his debt. By Philemon’s gracious act, Onesimus is restored and placed in a new relationship (vv.15-16).
In this analogy, we are as Onesimus. Paul’s advocacy before Philemon is parallel to Christ’s work of mediation before the Father.
We were condemned by Law but saved by Grace.
Jesus is “a Friend that sticks closer than a brother.”

He said: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you Rest (Matt 11:28 KJV).

Significance of Number 8

GOD’s NUMEROLOGY

“EIGHT"
New Creation
Eight is the number of “THE NEW CREATION”. It is twice four, the number for the “Natural Creation.” In the new birth one becomes ‘a new creation.’
In our Lord’s conversation with Nicodemus on the subject of the new birth the word “born” occurs eight times.
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.
Nicodemus saith unto Him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God.
 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
John 3:3-8 KJV
In the statement, “So is every one that is born of the Spirit,” the word “born” occurs the eighth time.
A believer receives the new birth through the divine nature of God.
Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.
2 Peter 1:4-8 NIV

There were eight people in Noah’s ark for the purpose of replenishing the earth after the flood (I Peter 3:20). Those eight that sailed over the flood symbolized the New Creation.

King David was the eighth son of Jesse (I Samuel 17:12-14). Isaac, the next child born to Abraham was ‘a child of promise,’ circumcised on the eight day (Genesis 21:4). The children of God are “children of the Promise.” To be a “child of the Promise” you must experience the New Birth.
Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of Promise.
Gal 4:28 KJV
The concluding verses (vv.29-31) states:
But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.
So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free (KJV).

To become an “heir of Salvation” and inherit God’s Kingdom you must be born again.
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.
John 3:3 KJV
Verse 6, Jesus said, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” (KJV).
1 John 4:13 declares:
Hereby know we that we dwell in Him, and He in us, because he hath given us of His Spirit (KJV).

God commanded Moses that the people should build for Him a sanctuary. The arrangements for the outward and inward camps were given. The families of the Gershonites was on the West (Num.3:23-26); the families of the Kohathites was on the South (Num. 3:29-32); the families of the Merarites were in the North (Num. 3:29-32); in the East was Aaron, Moses and the sons of Aaron which made eight groups in all: four in the outward and four in the inward. In the center of the whole camp was the Tabernacle; God’s dwelling place among the people, picturing Jesus in the heart of the born-again person, “the Hope of Glory” as in Colossians 1:27.
In Exodus 25:8, God instructed Moses to tell the children of Israel:
And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.
KJV

When our behavior was governed by our corrupt and sensual nature, we were then by nature children of [God's] Wrath.
Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
Eph 2:3 KJV
We are ransomed and saved by the sacrificial work of our Lord at Calvary. When there was census of the tribes and clans of the people of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai, the Lord required the Israelites to pitch their tents by their companies, every man by his own camp and every man by his own tribal standard but, that the Levites should encamp around the tabernacle of the Testimony—this was a fore-shadow of Salvation and Redemption that would come through Christ.
And the children of Israel shall pitch their tents, every man by his own camp, and every man by his own standard, throughout their hosts.
But the Levites shall pitch round about the tabernacle of testimony, that there be no wrath upon the congregation of the children of Israel: and the Levites shall keep the charge of the tabernacle of testimony.
Num 1:52-53 KJV

The arrangement of Israel’s camps is seen in Numbers 2:18-32. The Levites, however, were not counted along with the other Israelites, as the Lord commanded Moses (v.33).

Grace plus Resurrection equals New Creation
     5      +         3                  =           8

In Ezekiel 36:26, God said to Israel, “A new heart also will I give you, and a new Spirit will I put within you.”

When three, the number for Resurrection is added to five, Grace, they total eight, which is the number for The New Birth. This shows how perfect the Bible system of numbers fit together to form a God-perfect numerical pattern.
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