93-The Blood of the Passover Lamb (Part Two)#
93-The Blood of the Passover Lamb 2
(JP Text Group - Qingxin Compilation)
Exodus 12:41-51
41 On the very day that the four hundred and thirty years were completed, the Lord's army went out from the land of Egypt. 42 That night is a night of the Lord; because the Lord brought them out of the land of Egypt, it must be observed by all the Israelites throughout their generations. 43 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “This is the ordinance of the Passover: no foreigner shall eat of it. 44 But every man's servant who is bought for money, when you have circumcised him, then he may eat of it.
45 A foreigner and a hired servant shall not eat of it. 46 In one house it shall be eaten; you shall not carry any of the meat outside the house, nor shall you break one of its bones. 47 All the congregation of Israel shall keep this. 48 And when a stranger dwells with you and wants to keep the Passover to the Lord, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as a native of the land. For no uncircumcised person shall eat of it. 49 One law shall be for the native-born and for the stranger who dwells among you.”
50 Thus all the children of Israel did; as the Lord commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did. 51 And it came to pass, on that very same day, that the Lord brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt according to their armies.
Let us begin with a prayer:
Heavenly Father, we especially thank and praise you for your grace. Together, through this festival, we reflect on what Jesus Christ has done for us. We think about the grace that Jesus has given us, that you saved us, bringing us out of death and into eternal life. This is a blessed moment from God. We look up to the grace that Jesus Christ has given us, and through your words, we are renewed in strength. May the Holy Spirit guide each person's heart, awaken our hearts to learn to look up to you. Thank you and praise the Lord. In Jesus' name, we pray, Amen.
The topic of sharing: The Blood of the Passover Lamb, Episode Two.
Last time, we shared about the blood of the lamb painted on the outside of the door, on the lintel and doorposts. The blood on the outside of the door is for God to see. When God sees the blood, He passes over that house. What were the people inside doing? They were eating the lamb's meat. Amen! Here, God wants to supply them with strength and healing through the meat. At that time, God also told them to regard this month as the first month.
In Exodus 12:2, the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, “This month shall be your beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year to you.”
Brothers and sisters, what is the first month? Is January the first month? Wouldn't it be better to place the first month on January 1st? Sometimes it's in February, sometimes in March; the first month varies. Why is it called the first month? The first month is the beginning of the year. Our lunar calendar has a special aspect here; the beginning of this month marks the start of a new year. Amen!
Now we all greet each other with Happy New Year, which refers to the beginning of the new year. Why is there a first month in the middle? Why does God want the Israelites to start their days anew? God does not want the Israelites to live in the past, which is filled with bitterness and bondage, living as slaves day by day. On the night of the Passover, God brought them out of Egypt with a mighty hand. Amen!
During that month, God was recalculating their days. The previous days no longer counted, regardless of past achievements or oppression; it all ended. Because from this month onward, God said it is the first month. Amen!
Recalculating is like our salvation. Before you believed in Jesus, you had days, but those days were not counted by God. You may have experienced sickness and pain, but God does not remember them. When does God start saying this is your first month? It begins on the day you believe in Jesus. God says this month is your first month, and from that day, your days are counted. Amen!
From that day forward, every day afterward, God is counting for you. God will supply you and guide you on your future path. After the night of the Passover, God began to guide the Israelites every day. Amen! This is a new beginning, just like celebrating the first month; it symbolizes that 2015 has officially begun! The past days are no longer counted; no matter how things were in the past, all grievances and grudges are over. As Christians, we must understand this is a new beginning, and everything must be recalculated. Amen!
God does not hold the Israelites' past sins against them because the blood of the lamb has already replaced their death. From the first month onward, God begins their new days, and this day is marked by God's presence with them. Amen! As Christians, we should speak like this. Now that we have entered the fourth day of the new year, do not mention all the problems that happened last year because they are all in the past.
At the beginning of the new year, focus on the blessings God will give you this year. Do not bring up past grievances. Do not tell your husband how he treated you last year; that is all in the past... Do not remember the days of old; this is not a good thing for you.
When we believe in Him, that day is a new beginning. You will see that from then on, God became the protection and supply for the Israelites. During the forty years in the wilderness, did you see God's miraculous provision? For forty years, their clothes did not wear out, their feet did not swell, and they lacked neither food nor water; everything was supplied. Amen!
Brothers and sisters, the moment you believe in Jesus, God takes full responsibility for you. Where is the problem? With the Israelites. Although the people had left Egypt, their hearts were still in Egypt. So we must listen to the word here, and through hearing the word, we need to renew our minds and allow our hearts to enter into the new year together. Amen!
Do not remain in the past. Every time the Israelites encountered difficulties, instead of seeing that God was with them, supplying and protecting them, what did they remember? The days in Egypt. Therefore, the Israelites often complained, saying, "There is no water to drink here, there is no food to eat. When we were in Egypt, we had meat to eat; we had leeks, onions, garlic." But they forgot what else was in Egypt? Every day, there were whips!
Now they are free people, blessed by God. In Egypt, they were slaves, completely without freedom. They only thought about the leeks, onions, and garlic they had in Egypt, not seeing the supply God was giving them now because their hearts were still in Egypt. Just like Christians, we who have been saved do not live according to the principles of the Bible, do not see ourselves through God's eyes, but still live according to the world's methods. Therefore, these people are filled with bitterness, just like the Israelites, who complain when encountering problems because their hearts have not been renewed.
Brothers and sisters, we must not become such a group of people. The Israelites serve as a reference for us. Why did God let the Israelites wander in the wilderness for forty years? In fact, the journey from Egypt to Canaan only takes forty days. Why did it take forty years? Some say: The people in that land were not yet wicked enough for God to destroy them because they were disobedient. They were supposed to enter but turned back. Let's see what the Bible says.
Let's look at Deuteronomy 8:2-4.
2 'And you shall remember that the Lord your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. 3 So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord. 4 Your garments did not wear out on you, nor did your foot swell these forty years.
In fact, this passage is Moses reminding the Israelites of God's covenant just before he was about to die. Do you know what the meaning of Deuteronomy is? It means to reiterate the commandments; this is the origin of Deuteronomy. So Moses said: You must remember that during these forty years, God has been leading you to humble you. I specifically checked the original text.
The meaning of 'humble' in our understanding is that God deliberately creates many troubles and problems for you to see if you will obey. If you do not obey, I will let you die in the wilderness... Here, 'humble' in the original text means to bring you low and to train you!
If his heart has not changed, what kind of person would he become when he enters Canaan? He would worship idols like the local people and do the things of idols like the Egyptians because their hearts did not recognize this God. Therefore, during the forty years in the wilderness, God used this time to let them know our Lord!
This is what the Israelites learned during the forty years in the wilderness, and it also says to know what is in your heart, whether you will keep His commandments or not. For us, it is the same; God's words are placed here. Will you believe Him? This is something everyone needs to think about. It is not that everyone who believes in the Lord can act according to His words. God gave the Israelites His words at that time, but they were unwilling to listen. According to the commandments, when the Ten Commandments were issued, if one was broken, the result was death.
If God says, "You shall not worship any other idols besides Me," you will surely die. Did the Israelites worship idols? Yes. Did they die immediately? No. Did God refuse to act immediately? According to the law, if you worshipped idols, I could kill you right away, and it would not be unjust because God is a just God; He is the Lord of judgment. But what did God do?
God sent His prophets to tell them, "Repent! Turn back! God wants to show you grace. Enter into God's grace and act according to God's words." But the Israelites said, "Why have you come? I will kill you." God sent a prophet, and they killed him. Under this situation, God should have been very angry and said, "I gave you a chance to repent; you did not listen, so I should kill you immediately."
Did God kill them? No. What did God do? He sent another prophet to say, "Repent! Repent! As long as you are willing to return, God is willing to show you grace." But the Israelites still refused to turn back, which ultimately led to their expulsion. What did they do? They built idols in the temple. But what did God do? God did not kill them all; He only destroyed their temple. God allowed the Israelites to be taken as slaves by other nations, and at that time, they could no longer worship idols.
Our God is a God full of love. This is our Lord. In the forty years in the wilderness, it seems like nothing happened, but God was there. Amen! Our God has always been supplying them. He humbled you. What does 'humble' mean? It refers to fasting.
He allowed you to hunger. In the wilderness, did God let the Israelites go hungry for a week? No. When they left Egypt, they left in a hurry because food would run out in about three days. When they had nothing to eat, God said, "I will no longer supply you with food from this world. I will give you heavenly food!" Although the Israelites did not eat food from this world, they ate the manna that came down from heaven. Amen!
I fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know. Our God did not let them go hungry. He did not say, "Today there is no food; you all fast." He did not humble them in that way. Instead, He said to the Israelites, "I will no longer supply you with food from this world, but I will supply you with the best, which is heavenly food." Amen! For this reason, the Israelites began to complain against God, saying, "There is no food to eat here, no water to drink. When we were in Egypt, we had leeks, ginger, and garlic to eat." God did not supply them with leeks, but He gave them the best food—manna.
Brothers and sisters, do you see God's wonders? In the Old Testament, manna represents who? Jesus Christ. Amen! In John 6, Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life that came down from heaven. If anyone eats this bread, he will live forever."
He said, "Your ancestors ate manna in the wilderness, yet they died. But whoever eats the food I give will never die." Actually, Jesus was referring to Himself. Amen!
Jesus said, "You must eat my flesh and drink my blood to have eternal life."
At that time, the Pharisees said, "How can this man say that? How can he let us eat his flesh?" This statement is not meant to be taken literally; it is not just about the words God gives us. The Pharisees and the Israelites understood that Jesus was referring to a kind of 'chewing,' the sound made when eating.
Brothers and sisters, no one can interpret that scripture as a spiritual word; it is real food. Jesus said, "I want to give you Myself as food to eat." This is the food God provided for the Israelites in the wilderness, the best food. Amen!
This food will not cause malnutrition, diarrhea, or disease. Because this is heavenly food, Amen! God gave this food to them to tell the Israelites that man does not live by bread alone; you live not just for the food of this world but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord. Amen! Because this manna is not grown by man; it comes down when God's word is spoken. Amen! Thank the Lord!
In those forty years, your clothes did not wear out, and your feet did not swell. This proves that during the forty years in the wilderness, God always provided for them. Hallelujah! Brothers and sisters, think about it; God's care for them is truly meticulous! That is a new beginning. Brothers and sisters, God said to the Israelites, "From today, you shall regard this month as the first month." It is a new beginning. Therefore, a new beginning also signifies that from now on, you do not need to worry about what to eat or drink because God will provide. Amen!
In the wilderness, daytime temperatures could reach over 46 degrees Celsius. Isn't that particularly hot? In summer, when it reaches 40 degrees, we feel unbearable! If a person walks on the road, they might suddenly collapse. In the wilderness, the temperature was even higher. Do you see how God provided for them? There was a pillar of cloud. Just think, if it is very hot in the summer and suddenly a cloud covers the sun, will it still be hot? The temperature will drop immediately.
At night, the temperature in the wilderness could drop below minus ten degrees, which is very cold. Without God's protection, they would freeze to death or get sick. God provided them with a fire at night. Amen! This balanced the temperature. During those forty years, they had food, drink, and clothing, and the environment was always good. God's provision reached this level.
So a new beginning also signifies that you do not need to worry about what you need in this world. You should look up to God's provision. Hallelujah! God wants you to live like this; do not live with the world's thoughts. During the New Year, many people say, "I am a year older!" This is the saying of the world. How should you say it? Thank the Lord, God's grace has increased by another year. Hallelujah!
The same question: how you view this matter depends on your perspective. You should look at it from God's perspective, and it will be different. How does God view this group of people? I just read in verse 41 that on the very day that the four hundred and thirty years were completed, the Lord's army went out from the land of Egypt. Amen! What do you see in this word? In God's eyes, this group of Israelites is God's army!
If you were an Israelite, would you think of yourself as an army? The Israelites might say, "I don't look like an army!" You tell me I am an army, and I wouldn't believe it. When the Egyptian soldiers come, are we going to fight them with rolling pins? That is my weapon! We have been slaves for generations; the only thing we know is how to work for others and build houses. Are you kidding me that I am God's army?
But in God's eyes, He says you are My army. Amen! Because in verse 51, God emphasizes again. On that very day, the Lord brought the Israelites out of Egypt according to their armies. Amen! This proves that in God's eyes, this weak group of people is God's army. Although you may not have a name in this world, and people may not recognize you, you are God's elite soldier; you are Jesus' elite soldier. Although the Israelites had no strength, who has the strength? The commander who leads them has the strength. Amen!
Although their enemies were strong, God is stronger. When the Israelites reached the edge of the Red Sea, there was no way ahead, and the strongest army of Egypt was coming from behind. The Israelites were very afraid. You tell them, "Do not be afraid! You are the army of Israel." Would they believe it? I am holding a dough bowl in my hand, and you say I am an army. How can I defeat these fully armed Egyptians? Do not forget that Egypt was the most powerful nation in the world, and this time Pharaoh himself led the expedition!
Brothers and sisters, Egypt represents this world. And the king of Egypt represents the king of this world. We can interpret it as: the king of this world is the devil. Originally controlled by the devil, we had no way to free ourselves from the hands of the king of Egypt, nor could we fight against him. From the current situation, the Israelites had no way to confront the Egyptian army, right?
Because it is a new beginning, because it is a new day, did the Israelites move? Did they go to battle? No. At that time, God said to the Israelites, "You shall hold your peace, and see the Lord has done great things for you." Amen! In other words: close your mouth and do not speak carelessly because at that time, the Israelites were saying, "Moses, is there no grave in Egypt? You have to bring us here to die. What is so good about dying here? It would be better to die in Egypt..."
"Shut up, and see with your own eyes how God will do great things for you." From that moment on, God fought for them. Amen! Although the Egyptian army was numerous, from that day on, they were completely unseen; they all died in the Red Sea. Did the Israelites go up to kill an enemy? No, because God fought for them. Hallelujah!
So do not worry about the enemies you encounter ahead because our Lord Jesus has already defeated the devil for you. From that moment on, God fought for them. Amen! Although the Egyptian army was numerous, from that day on, they were completely unseen; they all died in the Red Sea. Did the Israelites go up to kill an enemy? No, because God fought for them. Hallelujah!
So do not worry about the enemies you encounter ahead because our Lord Jesus has already defeated the devil; he is already a loser. Thank the Lord, brothers and sisters, this is a new beginning. After the Israelites crossed the Red Sea, they all crossed the Red Sea. God made the waters on both sides not fall, allowing the Israelites to walk on dry ground across the Red Sea, while the Egyptian soldiers went down and were drowned. The same path, but Christians and the world are different. Amen!
Moreover, when the people reached the other side, they began to sing and dance to praise God! The night before was the Passover. Brothers and sisters, every time during the Spring Festival, do not think about red envelopes or other things; think about the salvation of Jesus Christ. After these Israelites were saved, could they return to Egypt? Because the road behind them was already cut off, they could not go back by themselves. Besides, no one would want to go back. Amen! At least at that moment, all the Israelites rejoiced for their salvation. Amen!
Just like us, when we are saved, we are joyful. Moreover, you must be certain that after you are saved, you can never return to the past Egypt; your life is already in God's hands. Hallelujah! Because something has already separated you, you cannot go back. But what can the Israelites return to? Their hearts went back. Every time they encountered difficulties, they remembered Egypt. Every time they faced problems, they remembered how good Egypt was. Was Egypt really that good?
They forgot that in the past, they were still slaves under death, completely without freedom. But now in the wilderness, God has always provided for them. For forty years, their clothes did not wear out, and their feet did not swell! God's healing has always been upon them.
So do not view yourself with the world's thoughts; you are Christ's elite soldier, no longer a slave. You should look at the Israelites as God's army. You have already escaped from the life of sin, the life of the law, the life of despair and discouragement. You are living for the Lord, and every day afterward is a day when God is with you. You must remove the world's thoughts and remember your new identity; you are a new creation. Thank the Lord.
Let’s look at a passage: 1 Corinthians 5:7-8:
7 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. 8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
What is unleavened bread? 'Leaven' refers to what is in the leavened dough. There is a very famous leaven called 'Angel Yeast.' A bowl of dough will not rise by itself, but if you put a little bit of that yeast powder in, after a while, the whole lump will rise. Is it because of the yeast?
Brothers and sisters, the Bible tells us: you must purge out the old leaven; there should be no leaven because this leaven symbolizes our sin. We must remove the old leaven so that we may become a new lump. Brothers and sisters, how did the Israelites become a new lump? They did it through the blood of the lamb. Amen!
How do you become a new lump? Through the blood of Jesus, you become a new lump. The old leaven has been removed. Moreover, when you keep this feast, do not use old leaven, nor the leaven of malice and wickedness; this refers to our thoughts. During the New Year, do not go back to the past as if you have not celebrated the New Year. You need to have a new perspective and a new hope for yourself. Amen! Because the old leaven is malicious and wicked, but the true new lump is unleavened bread, which is sincere and truly unleavened. Amen! Jesus Christ leads our days. Thank the Lord!
Galatians 5:4-9
4 You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. 5 For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love. 7 You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? 8 This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you. 9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump.
Here, Paul specifically mentions leaven, asking how we can be considered old leaven? How can we be considered a new lump? It is to always remember not to let yourself return to the law. Always remember, you are not justified by the law. If you want to be justified by the law, you are estranged from Christ and have fallen from grace. The Israelites always thought, "I must do something to receive God's blessings, to be approved by God." God said, "I want you to be My royal priesthood, a holy nation." The Israelites said, "All that the Lord has spoken we will do."
They wanted to rely on their own actions. "Lord, let me do something to become Your people! Let me do something to become Your holy nation!" God said, "Let the people go and sanctify themselves, and come back to see Me in three days." God changed His style, so they fell from grace. They wanted to be justified by the law, resulting in estrangement from Christ. This was the Israelites fifteen hundred years ago. But we must not be in such a process; do not rely on the law; rely on the Spirit. Amen!
The Bible specifically says that we, through the Spirit, wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. This righteousness is a gift; God has given it to you as a gift. Amen! The old leaven refers to the law, while the new leaven (bread) refers to the Spirit. Amen! Thank the Lord! The old leaven also refers to negative words or negative thoughts. A little bit of negative thought can stir you up completely. Amen!
Have you ever thought about this? Originally, the New Year is quite happy. But suddenly you remember your enemy, and the more you think about it, the angrier you get. You find that your whole mood has become angry because of a little leaven. Right? If there is a person in the family who keeps nagging... saying negative things, the whole family will be restless. It is the same in the church; if there are one or two people who often speak negatively, originally, this brother did not have such a big problem, but then they say, "Do you know what he did? Do you know what she did?" As a result, the words spread, and it becomes distorted. Finally, they say, "Oh, you are still a Christian; how can you do such things?" In fact, it is not the original matter; it is just a small issue.
If such people appear in the church, they are like leaven; a little bit can stir the whole church into unrest. Therefore, God tells us to remove the old leaven and not let such negative thoughts influence us. Amen! We are a new lump; since we are a new lump, we should bring faith to others and speak edifying words. Amen!
So it says here, only faith working through love is effective. Now, especially during the New Year, it is wonderful! Every time during the New Year, we can feel that we are living in grace. These days, what words do we exchange? "Happy New Year, wishing you prosperity." These are all words of blessing. Even if you want to curse someone, you do not curse them now; you have restrained yourself because these are all blessings. Why do you always say blessing words during the New Year, but once the New Year is over, you immediately return to your original state? God tells us that we should always be able to generate loving faith; this is effective. Amen! Do not be that leaven that makes the whole company or society dirty.
You are a new lump. Amen! I hope brothers and sisters will persist in living peacefully with others, just like these days, and there will be no problem. We will be under grace, and we can truly see God's wonderful work. Brothers and sisters, the Israelites lived for a pot of meat in the past. If they did not work, Pharaoh would not give them food, and they might starve to death.
We must not become such a group of people. Do you know how many people live for money? Do they live for houses? How many people live for mortgage payments? How many people live to pay off debts or for their children? If you are living just for these things, going to work, earning money, and striving, you are no different from the slaves in Egypt. You are no different from those Israelites; you have just changed an era and a job.
But what do you see? God does not want you to live this way. God wants you to have a new vision in the New Year, to live according to how God sees you. From the day you believe in the Lord Jesus, God redefined your identity. You no longer live for a paycheck; you are God's people. After the Israelites left Egypt, did they need to eat? Did they need to drink? Did they need to wear clothes? They needed all these things.
Many people may say, "According to what you said, do I not need to work after believing in Jesus? Do I not need to earn money? Do I not need to pay my mortgage?" Actually, I want to tell you that these things require our effort, but you need to look at this matter from a different perspective. Did God let the Israelites fast all those years in the wilderness? No. God provided them with food and clothing.
This year, change your mindset. In the New Year, do not let the old leaven exist; let you live with the new lump, with the way of the Spirit. When you face your debts again, tell yourself, "God will give me wisdom to help me pay off this debt because I do not live for this debt; I live to glorify God. God will surely give me wisdom and ability." The way you view the same problem has changed. Amen! In the past, every time you went to the company, you cursed your boss: "Why don't you give me a raise? You are delaying my salary; you scoundrel."
But now you should not say that. When you go to the company, can you bless your boss? Say, "I come to this company not to live for that paycheck; I am here to glorify God. God has placed me here." Amen! From that day on, can you bless your boss by saying, "In the name of Jesus Christ, bless my boss. God, bless him, which is equivalent to blessing me."
Change your perspective, and you will find that after God changes him, you will benefit. Amen! The same problem depends on how you view it, brothers and sisters; it is completely different. Just like during the New Year, for example, if there is a patient, two people go to comfort him. One person says, "Who will not die? Dying is no big deal." This is a New Year comfort for others. The other person says, "Brothers and sisters, do not worry, for God is your healer; you will surely get through this problem."
Which person would you like to be comforted by? The same words, but the way of viewing the problem is different. Brothers and sisters, I wish you to look at problems from God's perspective. Amen! Do not be like the Israelites, always seeing themselves as not being an army, always seeing their many lacks. You should see that God has given you much. Hallelujah! You must completely look up to Jesus Christ. Hallelujah!
If you are in business, can you say to yourself, "From this year on, this business is no longer mine; it is God's. This company serves God. After I earn money, I will donate to the church and serve God." Therefore, God will take responsibility. When you think like this, everything becomes very easy. Because God wants you to prosper, but He does not want you to become a slave to money. Amen!
Because you are no longer a slave; you are the master. You should use all the authority God has given you in this world. God has given you authority, so you are free, you are precious, and you are a holy people of God. Thank and praise the Lord! You are no longer just doing hard labor; you are a priest living in front of God. You are to bring people to Jesus Christ, so they can receive the blessings of Jesus Christ. Amen! Thank the Lord!
This is the appearance of a new person. Although you will still encounter difficulties, God will help you. So do not worry. Amen! God will take responsibility for you. Since our God can lead the Israelites across the Red Sea, turn bitter water sweet, bring water from the rock, and provide manna, you do not need to worry about your future path. Since He can make a way for them, He will also make a way for you. Even if you encounter difficulties, God is your supply. What you need to do is to follow Him closely.
Sharing the second part: Renewed Strength
The first part is called a new beginning; the second part is called renewed strength. Last time, we talked about the blood on the outside of the door, so God would not judge that family. God passed over, and inside the house, the Israelites were gathered around the fire eating the lamb's meat. Why?
Why did they eat the lamb's meat? Because God told them, "You shall eat it with your belt on your waist, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. You shall eat it in haste. It is the Lord's Passover." At this moment, you are about to leave. Amen! After eating, you have the strength to move forward. So after God told them this, He brought them out of Egypt.
Psalm 105:37, He also brought them out with silver and gold, and there was none feeble among His tribes.
How many weak people were among them? Two million! There was not one weak person among them. When God says it, He will surely do it. Amen! What is the reason that there was not one weak person among them? It was precisely because they ate the lamb's meat during the Passover in Egypt. They were previously slaves; Pharaoh would not regard them as treasures, nor would he treat them when they were sick. Many of them might have been sick; many of them might have been weak. But on that night of the Passover, after they ate the lamb's meat together, the weak among them became strong, and those who were sick became healthy. Amen!
So when they left Egypt, there were no weak people among the two million. This is an important reason for their renewed strength: because they ate the lamb's meat. Amen! How can we gain strength? You say, "I have already believed in the Lord." Indeed, the Israelites were saved when they applied the blood, just like us; we are saved when we believe in Jesus.
But believing does not mean you will always be strong. Will you be weak? Yes. What should you do when you are weak? You must eat the lamb's meat. Amen! Only then will you have strength. Brothers and sisters, if you do not eat, you will still be weak. Therefore, the Israelites needed strength to leave Egypt, so God prepared the lamb's meat for them. The supply inside the house is even more important. So being saved is a great honor.
You can continuously listen to the word and continuously receive God's supply; this is more important. Because this will fill you with strength. No matter who you are, if you do not listen to the word for three or five months, you will become weak. Therefore, we need to listen to God's words continuously every week, constantly receiving supply from God to become strong.
If you always say, "Why am I always weak?" God says, "Why don't you eat a little more?" Do you understand? Brothers and sisters, if you say, "I am still weak now," then eat a little more. If others gather once a week, you gather seven times a week, okay? It is very simple. Thank the Lord! What kind of people are qualified to eat the lamb's meat? In fact, the lamb's meat in the Bible represents what? The Holy Communion. Amen!
Do you remember? On the night of the Passover, after dinner, Jesus took the bread, broke it, and said to them, "This is My body." Amen! So that Passover lamb refers to Jesus Christ. That lamb has already been sacrificed. Every time we receive Holy Communion, we receive God's strength. What kind of people are qualified to eat this lamb's meat?
Let’s look at verse 41: The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, "No foreigner shall eat of the lamb. But every man's servant who is bought for money, when he has been circumcised, may eat of it. A foreigner and a hired servant shall not eat of it."
Verse 48: And when a stranger dwells with you and wants to keep the Passover to the Lord, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as a native of the land. But no uncircumcised person shall eat of it.
Brothers and sisters, what kind of people are not qualified to eat the lamb's meat? The uncircumcised. Some say, "Isn't it that foreigners cannot eat?" Yes, but later it says that if a foreigner wants to eat the lamb's meat, God gives them a condition: they must be circumcised to eat. Amen! The important distinction is whether they have been circumcised. Amen!
It is not about whether you are an Israelite or whether you have good behavior. If you have believed in our Lord for a year, can you come and eat? Is there such a restriction? No. In the Old Testament, there was only one restriction: whether you have been circumcised. If you have been circumcised, even if you are a foreigner, you can eat the lamb's meat. Amen! Is it clear? What does circumcision in the Old Testament refer to? Why does God attach such importance to circumcision?
Once the Bible records that God sent Moses to save the Israelites, and while on the way, God wanted to kill Moses. It turned out that it was because his son had not been circumcised. His wife threw her son's foreskin at the feet of Moses, and God spared Moses. This is a very important matter. As a leader of the Israelites, one must first obey God's covenant, because circumcision refers to God's covenant with Abraham.
At that time, God said to Abraham, "You and your male descendants must be circumcised throughout your generations. This is the covenant I make with you." This is a physical covenant. If the Israelites do not keep this covenant, they will be cut off from the people. It is very important. Circumcision refers to a covenant God made with Abraham. Because you have made a covenant with God, you are qualified to eat the lamb's meat; supply will come, protection will come, and healing will come. In the New Testament, what does circumcision refer to? Our faith.
Galatians 5:6, For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.
In the New Testament, it is not that if you have not been circumcised, you are not worthy to believe in Jesus. You are wrong; it is not based on that, but on whether you believe or not. In the Old Testament, it was based on circumcision in the flesh; in the New Testament, it is based on believing in Jesus Christ. If you believe, you are qualified to receive healing and to receive Holy Communion. Hallelujah! This is very important, brothers and sisters. These are two different covenants: the Old Testament is circumcision, and under the New Testament, it is believing in Jesus Christ. In other words, those who do not believe cannot eat, but those who believe that Jesus Christ is your mediator can receive His power and supply. Hallelujah! So when they ate the lamb's meat, they gained strength and courage.
Exodus 12:34-36
34 And the people took their dough before it was leavened, having their kneading bowls bound up in their clothes on their shoulders. 35 Now the children of Israel had done according to the word of Moses, and they had asked from the Egyptians articles of silver, articles of gold, and clothing. 36 And the Lord had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they granted them what they requested. Thus they plundered the Egyptians.
Let’s recall that the Israelites were very afraid of the Egyptians because they were slaves. In the Egyptian nation, if an Egyptian killed you, would there be any legal consequences? Absolutely not, because you are a slave. Beating you or killing you would not matter. Were the Israelites afraid of the Egyptians? Very afraid. Would you dare to go to their house and say, "Give me some gold"? Absolutely not; you would be killed for saying that. When did this group of people change? It was when they ate the lamb's meat. Their courage increased. Amen! Then they began to ask the Egyptians for articles of silver, articles of gold, and clothing. They did not say, "Give me some flour." They were not asking for these things; they were asking for the most valuable and best things. Amen!
What gave them such ability, faith, and courage? It was precisely the lamb's meat. After they ate it, they had the ability and faith. This was all done by God. God had placed faith and ability within us. When we receive God's words and partake of Holy Communion, "By His stripes, I am healed." Amen!
You have faith. Therefore, the Israelites could stand before their neighbors and say, "Bring out the gold." Have you ever thought about how the Israelites changed so much overnight? In fact, God was working in the middle. Amen! At this time, the Egyptians were very afraid of the Israelites. The tables had turned because of the blood of the lamb. Amen!
It is the blood of Christ that gives us a transformative change. Do not be afraid of the devil because he is afraid of you. Because of the blood of Jesus Christ, if you are still weak and afraid of the devil, what should you do? Eat the lamb's meat. Once you eat the lamb's meat, you will have strength. You stand before the Egyptians and say, "Bring out the gold." They might be very afraid of you and take out a little. "This is not enough; bring more. If you do not bring it, I will not leave." It is not a begging attitude but one of boldness. Why were the Egyptians so afraid of the Israelites? Because God had done great things.
The previous nine plagues, plus the death of the firstborn, made them very afraid when they saw the Israelites. They hurriedly brought out their gold, silver, and fine clothes. "Hurry and go! My ancestors!" If you are not satisfied, you say, "Bring more." "There is really nothing left; please let me go." "Okay, then let you go!" You took the things and left. This is the real situation at that time. Amen! Brothers and sisters, the Bible says, "So that the Egyptians granted them what they requested." You can ask for as much as you want, and they will give you as much as you want. They plundered the Egyptians' wealth.
How do you live in this world? Do you pray like a beggar for everything in this world? You are still living in Egypt. You must turn your thoughts around. After you receive God's words, God is your supply. God is your protection; He is your strength. Your debts are not scary; what is scary is that you keep staring at the problem and let it overwhelm you.
This disease is not scary; what is scary is that you do not believe in God's healing. This difficulty is not scary; what is scary is that you do not believe God can help you. Therefore, I want to change my mindset during the New Year and renew our thoughts. Amen! Brothers and sisters, we are all talking about Jesus Christ. Two thousand years ago, this Lamb of God came into the world for us. He was beaten for our healing and for our peace. He was punished so that we could enter into eternal life with God. He died for our sins. Amen!
The Israelites celebrated the Passover. On the morning of the Passover, at nine o'clock, the Passover lamb was to be sacrificed on the altar, and then they began to worship. At three o'clock in the afternoon, the high priest would take a knife and cut the throat of the lamb, letting out its blood. The lamb would die. This was what the Israelites had been doing. But the true lamb was hung on the cross at nine o'clock in the morning, and at three o'clock in the afternoon, He said, "It is finished." After the high priest killed the lamb, he also said, "It is finished." This is our Jesus Christ; He is the true lamb.
Brothers and sisters, when the high priest said, "It is finished," it means that all your sins have been paid for. You can go back; you have been blessed by God. When Jesus said, "It is finished" on the cross, all your sins were paid for. You are already a child of God; you are already in blessing. Thank and praise the Lord!
Jesus is that lamb whose blood was shed for our sins, repositioning yourself. You are no longer a slave; you are a child of God, a royal priesthood, a holy nation. Amen! You can boldly testify of Jesus Christ in this world. In everything you do, God will bless you! Do not worry; this year is a year of God's blessings. Hallelujah!
Let us pray together:
Heavenly Father, we especially thank and praise your grace. Through the blood of Jesus Christ, we are accepted by God, and our sins are forgiven. Yes, Jesus, like the lamb offered by the high priest, offered Himself on the altar, accomplishing all this work. We are a group of people who have come out of Egypt, but we will still be weak. Therefore, we will receive God's power and supply here.
We want to eat the flesh of Jesus Christ, for your words will supply me. Holy Communion will bring me healing and health. I believe that this year, you will bless me. This year, my debts will turn around, and my family will turn around because I serve you. I do not live for anyone but for you. Today, I am willing to serve my children because they are your inheritance given to me. In the company, I serve my boss because you want to use me to spread the gospel to him. I am willing to speak edifying words because you want me to first receive joy. Thank and praise the Lord.
In the new year, I am a new lump, and the old leaven has been removed by Jesus. Through your words, renew my thoughts. Your blessings are upon me. I will be like the Israelites, having all of God's supply. I am no longer weak, and I also believe that as you go out now, none will be weak. Thank and praise the Lord! All glory be to you! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we pray! Amen!