First, I pray that this Biblical New Year will be a time of growth in Him you never thought possible. Already I am experiencing new growth as the Father has been doing some pruning in my life. Only the Spirit has a way of confronting us to show us what we've been doing. If you're married, your partner can see things before you can, but we may or may not hear or be able to change our behavior. We are prisoners of the flesh until Abba holds a mirror in front of our faces to show us a marred image short of what He desires for us to be. The book of Yaacov/James speaks of a mirror why some forget what they see.
Yaacov/James 1:21 Therefore put away all filthiness and overflow of evil, and receive with meekness the implanted Word, which is able to save your lives. 22 And become doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 Because if anyone is a hearer of the Word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror, 24 for he looks at himself, and goes away, and immediately forgets what he was like. 25 But he that looked into the perfect Torah, that of freedom, and continues in it, not becoming a hearer that forgets, but a doer of work, this one shall be blessed in his doing of the Torah. (emphases added)
Looking in the Mirror before Pesach
During Pesach we revisit the story of our freedom. This is a perfect time to ask Abba for an exodus out of sins/unclean spirits that have ensnared us. In fact, Shaul provides a diagnosis of origins of some illnesses by how we approach Pesach.
1 Corinthians 11: 20 So when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Master’s supper. 21 For, when you eat, each one takes his own supper first, and one is hungry and another is drunk. 22 Have you not houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the assembly of Elohim and shame those who have not? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise! 23 For I received from the Master that which I also delivered to you: that the Master Y'shua in the night in which He was delivered up took bread, 24 and having given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat, this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the renewed covenant in My blood. As often as you drink it, do this in remembrance of Me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the death of the Master until He comes. 27 So that whoever should eat this bread or drink this cup of the Master unworthily shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Master. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup. 29 For the one who is eating and drinking unworthily, eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the body of the Master. 30 Because of this many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. (Note: A polite way to say you're dead.) 31 For if we were to examine ourselves, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Master, that we should not be condemned with the world. (emphases added)
Many are weak, ill, and die because they have failed to examine themselves in a worthy manner before the beginning of partaking of the matzah and wine? Were they coming to the Seder without seeing that this appointed time (moed) is also our own personal exodus from unclean spirits? Was Y'shua a prophet like unto Moshe in that he was declaring to our personal Pharoah's (unclean spirits) and asking for our release so that we could worship Him in Spirit and in Truth?
Discerning the Body?
What is discerning the body of Y'shua? I have heard and read explanations, but did not comprehend what commentators were saying. Recently, Abba revealed an understanding to me through 2 verses.
Romans 5:8 But Elohim proves His own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Messiah died for us.
1 Yochanon/John 1:8 If we say that we have not sin, we are misleading ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is trustworthy and righteous to forgive us the sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His Word is not in us. (emphases added)
I believe we discern His body correctly by confessing our sins to Him thru self examination. This should be done before Pesach. If we fail to do this and do it honestly, we have confessed that Messiah never died for us and that we are not sinners. It is amazing how these unclean spirits think they can “pull the wool over” Y'shua's eyes! If we are not honest with Him thru self examination, he sees us as liars like the world! Therefore, we put ourselves in jeopardy of being then judged with the world. With this attitude we have approached Pesach unworthily. So if you believe you are without sin you would be better off refraining from partaking of the matzah and wine. (see 1 Corith. 11).
A Torah of Freedom
If Abba has held His mirror in front of you, then you will never forget the image that you have seen. When I looked I saw unclean spirits having their way with me even when I knew the authority that I had in Messiah. Wretched man that I am, who will free me from this body of death?! Praise be to Elohim for Y'shua!! (Romans 7) This Torah of Freedom shows me an image that I will not forget and releases the Spirit of Y'shua in me to set me free from a body of death! For behind that marred image in the mirror I see the perfect Spirit of Y'shua ready to express itself in me. I must now confess that the marred image is a lie and the beautiful Spirit of Y'shua is my true image!! If all you see is your natural face in the mirror, you will quickly forget what you saw.
Closing Words
I pray that this Pesach will be unlike any other Pesach for you. May it be a time to grow closer to your husband Y'shua. May the spirit of Laodicea stay far from you, and you never forget your First Love. May you hear Y'shua's clarion call to your Pharoahs, “Let my people go so that they may worship me!”
--
Tzefanyah Pappas
Chazak Chazak v’nitchazek
Let us be strong, let us be strong and let us
strengthen (encourage) one another!
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