Responding in Faith to God’s Invitation to New Life by Relating with Him through the Lord’s Feast of Unleavened Bread

TRUTH AND PURPOSE

The Feast of Unleavened Bread provides a great visual aid of the Lord’s water baptism or immersion in the Holy Spirit. How so?

God appointed the Feast of Unleavened Bread to immediately follow the Passover. It, therefore, serves as a reminder of the old life of bondage, and value of leaving it behind.  The family was to engage in a process of thoroughly removing all the leaven from the home, and cleansing it. So what is the issue with leaven?

It is a fermenting substance; a turbulent form of bacterium that is permeating and pervasive in nature. So it spreads like cancer or a virus, contaminating, polluting and corrupting what it touches. Consequently, as it spreads, it compromises and destroys what is true, good and otherwise pure. It, therefore, is used as a metaphor for sin and falsehood. There are many ways we can benefit from understanding this truth.

RELEVANCE

The Feast of Unleavened Bread points forward to the upgraded grace of God’s love. It does so by revealing the Lord’s ongoing process of cleansing and strengthening by the Holy Spirit. This is because the Holy Spirit cleanses you from the effects of sin. How so?

The Holy Spirit washes you of the corrupting and contaminating influences of the world. As a result, you more easily come to a firm settling of issues— in your mind and heart. Consequently, it brings you to a strengthened position before God.

In another sense, the Feast of Unleavened Bread points to the outward practice of water immersion, or baptism, which expresses what God has already done in the heart by burying the “old nature of the flesh.”

See how Messiah Jesus fulfilled all righteousness. He allowed John the Immerser, or Baptist, to baptize Him in the Jordan.  As He came up from the water, a dove descended upon Him.

This marked Him as the bearer of the Holy Spirit and identified Him as the Servant Isaiah prophesied of.  “Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him…”  (Isaiah 42:1).  John declared that the Lord would thereafter baptize believers, “with the Holy Spirit and fire.” (Matthew 3:11)

Paul, therefore, affirmed that once immersed in water baptism, the believer should walk in the Lord’s grace, expressing this new nature.

Through immersion into his death we were buried with him; so that just as, through the glory of the Father, the Messiah was raised from the dead, likewise we too might live a new life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will also be united with him in a resurrection like his. (Romans 6:4-5 JNT)

The Lord would have us live the new life fully immersed in His love and identified in Him. As a result, you experience the strength of His amazing grace and love; His real peace and joy! It is what He meant by “abiding in Him.”

If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. (John 15:7-10)

REFLECT AND RELATE

Have you participated in an outward immersion, or baptism?

How does your life reflect the inward change of your “new nature” in the Lord?

What other areas of the Lord’s character and nature might He be working in you this season?

REFERENCES

Isaiah 42:1-4; Matthew 3:11; John 1:26-34; Romans 6:1-23; Matthew 5:3-10; 1 Corinthians 13:4-8; Galatians 5:22-26

NEXT STEPS

Vertical movement: As you respond to God in faith by water immersion or baptism, the Holy Spirit draws you deeper in God. Consequently, you experience God’s blessings through the continuous refreshment of the Holy Spirit.

Horizontal movement: As you receive the work of the Holy Spirit, God enables you to advance forward in your walk. You, therefore, more fully realize the value of offering to God the first fruits of your newly gained knowledge, time and resources.

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