When reviewing the subject of alcohol in the way it is treated in the Bible, we should be able to see some important lessons from the Biblical teaching. We will note that alcohol is not bad, per se, and that it is actually a blessing for the society and the individual, if consumed properly and in moderation. However, alcohol abuse will lead to terrible curses. Alcohol is a gift from God, to be used in moderation and with respect. It is not to control our lives, and we are not to become addicted to it. Alcohol abuse can also be compared with spiritual abuse, as in both cases, the abuser loses clear vision.Play Video

When there is a change in government–when a new leader takes the place of the former leader–there is usually a period of time between election and inauguration during which administrators are chosen to help govern. In a similar way, Jesus Christ has qualified to replace the ruler of this world along with its current administrators–Satan and his demonic forces.

Those whom God calls to be in the first resurrection are offered roles in the Kingdom of God as rulers under Jesus Christ. We must learn to subject ourselves, now, to God’s will as Jesus Christ continually administers the Church of God in preparation for the fulfillment of God’s vast master plan for His enduring Kingdom.

Having come through the Days of Unleavened Bread for another year, do we fully understand how we are to come out of sin? Is it something you even need to worry about since you are a baptized member of the Church and have God’s Holy Spirit within you? If you need to be concerned, how do you approach the problem?

Belief is a powerful motivator, but it is not complete by itself even when someone believes what is true. Unbelief, that is, not believing whether true or not, epitomizes someone who is right in his own eyes. One of the lessons we should apply from observing the Days of Unleavened Bread concerns whether or not we believe God. Israel of old, in spite of God’s miraculous intervention on their behalf, did not believe God, and those adults who were delivered out of bondage failed to enter the promised land because of their unbelief.

Moses had died. God had not used Moses to bring the people into the Promised Land. Rather, a new leader — Joshua — was sanctified by God to do so. The fall of Jericho has great prophetic and symbolic meaning for us today. Jericho fell on the last day of unleavened bread, after the Israelites had been “baptized” in the river Jordan, had been circumcised, had eaten the Passover, and had circled the city of Jericho for seven days — beginning with the first day of unleavened bread. The fall of Jericho and the conquest of the Promised Land do not just stand for coming out of sin, but they also include entering into God’s righteousness. The events surrounding Jericho’s fall also show God’s warning to this world for 6,000 years, and they symbolize the destruction of this present civilization — modern “Babylon” — and the beginning of the Millennium.

God has called us for obedience to His Way. Through the blood of Christ our sins which are past have been covered. However, we must not continue in the ways of this world. We are to be walking with God away from this world’s ways. This will require God’s Spirit and the Faith of Jesus Christ working within us. If we are successful in our calling, we will walk with God throughout eternity.

This sermon goes into the effects of sin on the human mind and how important it is to replace sin with righteousness especially during the days of unleavened bread.

The fruit of the Holy Spirit includes joy (Galatians 5:22). Therefore, if we are true Christians, we will show, overall, godly joy in our lives. There will be, of course, set-backs, but if we are always down, always depressed, always unhappy and miserable, we are lacking this important character trait of God’s mind and nature. Especially during this time, we are reminded that we are to come out of sin (symbolized by leaven), and that we are to replace sin with righteousness (symbolized by unleavened bread). This means, too, that we are to replace sadness with joy. Paul tells us that we are to rejoice always (1 Thessalonians 5:16).

We are instructed in the Holy Scriptures to examine ourselves just prior to the Passover to determine if we are going or have gone astray from the calling we have received and to get our lives square with God.

We must remove ourselves from the old way of life, which we have followed prior to baptism, and put on the new way – the way our Lord Jesus Christ lived as a physical human being.

How committed are we to God? How much trust do we really place in Him? Is there anything that could cause us to lose sight of God and fall into error? What would it take for you to begin to waiver? You may think, this could never happen, but we are warned that those who think they stand must be careful lest they fall.

Is our trust in God based on conditions? On circumstances perhaps, or on the trust that other people have? The true faithful heroes of the Bible had unconditional faith — regardless of what others might have done — and we must grow into that kind of trust as well.