 The Covenant Values of The Feast of Unleavened Bread
Summary
The second feast immediately after Passover is the feast of Unleavened Bread. Whereas Passover lasts for a day, Unleavened Bread lasts for a week. The feast serves as a reminder of past bondage, and value of leaving it behind.
While Unleavened Bread stands for a process of removing leaven from the home, this process in essence acts as a shadow reflecting the reality and value of engaging in an ongoing process of removing revealed sin and contaminating and corrupting influences from our life, purifying our heart—and walk—before God. In another sense, it also points to the outward sign of water immersion, or baptism; which affirms the inward cleansing work of the Holy Spirit.
In valuing this reality, we have the opportunity to submit our fleshly desires to Messiah. We then place our faith in the power of the Holy Spirit to help us resist those appealing, but unprofitable temptations. Paul referred to this process as, sanctification by the Spirit or a “holiness that has its origin in the Spirit and the faithfulness that has its origin in the truth.” (2 Thessalonians 2:13 JNT)
By doing so, we trade the harmful influences of the world for the grace of Messiah’s dominion, or headship. We also allow the power of His resurrection to become a personal reality, and work a progressive cleansing work in our life.
For this reason, Paul exhorted the disciples to, “abound more and more,” walking through life pleasing God. “For, this is the will of God, your sanctification.”
(1 Thessalonians 4:1-3 NKJV)
Therefore, in being alive in the newness of Messiah, we need to understand that, as much as grace and sanctification work together, vibrant communion with Messiah cannot coexist with idols in our heart. For, idols are images we place greater value upon, than that of our relationship with God. It, therefore, behooves us to honestly assess our values, and truly discern the things in life that may take on the form of idols.
Life Application Questions
How do you examine your standing—or health of your relationship with God? Are there crevices in your heart that the Holy Spirit may be shedding light upon to bring your heart into a greater degree of sanctification, and unity with God?
Scripture References
2 Thessalonians 2:13; 4:1-3; James 4; Ephesians 1:15-21
Book References
Faith and Fables: p. 12-15; 83; 173
Sons and Servants: p. 45-47; 74-76; 91; 114; 145-150
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