“How joyful are those who fear Yahweh— all who follow his ways. You will enjoy the fruit of your labor. How joyful and prosperous you will be! Your wife will be like a fruitful grapevine, flourishing within your home. Your children will be like vigorous young olive trees as they sit around your table.
That is Yahweh’s blessing
for those who fear him.”
—Psalm 128:1-4 NLT
The Feast of Unleavened Bread is one of the Appointed Times of Yahweh. Both the first and the last day of this 7 day period are holy days (high days). The entire week starting from the 15th of Abib to the 21st (biblical calendar) is the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
The symbolism is noted to be the taking or removing of leaven from one’s life. That is, false teachings (which grow and permeate, like cancer), including pride (which puffs up), and hypocrisy, such as religious rulers who have a form of righteousness but do not live according to Yahweh’s ways of living.
The Feast of Unleavened Bread is a time to be circumspect of one’s life in Messiah Yahshua. He who taught His Father’s way of living is an example to us. He gave His life that we might be forgiven of our transgressions against His Father, Whom we have sinned against. He, who walked doing His Father’s will, shows us the higher ground which we are to walk on also, being obedient not only to the laws of Yahweh but also to express the intent and spirit of those laws.
The Feast is a commanded time to travel to a location in which Yahweh has put His Name, so that we might be with fellow believers of like mind in unified worship. It is a time to reflect on the time of the exodus and how it must have been for those coming out of Egypt and their false ways of doing things. The spiritual lessons for keeping this feast are undeniable.
The history of keeping the Feast of Unleavened Bread calls us to be aware of the false dating that some have put on it. The Pharisees of old, sometime around or during the Babylonian captivity, combined the Passover with the first high day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, making the beginning of the 15th a day for Passover, rather than the biblical beginning of the 14th of Abib (early ears of barley).
In The Companion Bible, Dr. Bullinger points out, that, “After the revival under Ezra and Nehemiah corruption proceeded apace…what were once ‘the feasts of [Yahweh]’ are spoken of as what they had become, ‘feast of the Jews.’”
The New Jerusalem Bible, a study Bible by Henry Wansbrough, says, “…the feasts of Passover and Unleavened Bread were originally two separate festivals…”
In addition to the sources above, the Encyclopedia Judaica says, “The feast of Passover consists of two parts: The Passover ceremony and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Originally both parts existed separately but at the beginning of the Exile they were combined.”
Many things took place at the beginning, during, and after the exile. For example, even the month called, “Abib,” was changed to say, “Nisan.” It is important, then, to understand what Yahweh’s Word says and to follow it rather than the traditions of men, which in effect corrupt or leaven His teachings.
“...if you want to
receive eternal life, keep the
commandments.”
—Matt 19:17b NLT
In This Issue
Blessed Passover and Days of Unleavened Bread
We had a blessed Passover memorial. With only a handful of members in attendance, it was an especially close and intimate service that was held. With a token amount of unleavened bread eaten each day during the Feast of Unleavened Bread we are many times reminded what Yahshua did for us. We are very thankful.
As we prepare ourselves for this new biblical year we find ourselves in, we are to continue to reflect and consider all that has been done for us and what we can now do for our Father and His Son. During the conversations at the table we’ve found much outreach occurring individually through online media formats like Facebook and other discussion and chat room formats.
There does seem to be an urgency to get the word out while there is time. To share the truth of Yahweh’s Word is something we must each actively seek to do. Many times it is done with simple actions. One brother expressed that while he was at work and sitting and eating a sandwich at lunch, that one of the individuals there asked what kind of bread it was in the sandwich. “Unleavened bread,” was the answer, “Days of Unleavened Bread.” Most of the world were looking forward to having an Easter celebration that next Sunday (today at this writing), but some will no doubt remember that there are some who are observing the days Yahweh tells us to observe in the Bible.
While small seeds can be planted by our actions, let us also share a word or two to help water those seeds.
After letting the land rest for this last year’s Sabbatical (see study: Prophetic Truths in the Sabbaticals) we are ready to start turning up the 40’x100’ garden the brethren started in 2008. Elder John Fisher this year made a special plant nursery station to start seedlings. Seen in the picture below is the start of Peaches and Cream Corn.
While the rain has kept us from tilling in March, we hope to do so the first part of April. You can see from the picture below how the rows look ready. There was no biblical prohibition against mowing the grass or maintaining a garden by occasionally tilling it; even though nothing was planted, it kept the ground pliable for us this year.
We’ve separated the spring and fall seeds, to expedite the plantings for each season. Brother Don Miller and others have brought in some gardening books to help. Yahweh has also provided us with some extra hands this year to help with the planting. We are very grateful to see Yahweh’s loving Spirit work through the brethren to provide a harvest. Though we are working on this physical garden, we are learning spiritual lessons that will last an eternity.
A new sister was added to the body of Messiah. Nicole was immersed in the name of Yahshua on March 27th of March.
Kingdom City, Missouri, brethren were delighted to welcome her, as she is extremely zealous for Yahweh’s Word. “In the same way, there is joy in the presence of Yahweh’s angels when even one sinner repents,” Luke 15:10 NLT.
We invite more like-minded believers to come and join with us as we go out into the fields proclaiming the Word of Yahweh. “And He was saying to them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore beseech Yahweh of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest,’” Luke 10:2 NASB.
We’ve sent out a few Best of 2009 Revealing the Truth DVDs that regrettably had some audio problems.
This has now been corrected. If you received one that had the errors, we’ll be happy to send you a new one without the audio dropping out. This also makes a great gift for someone who looks at the Bible as being the very word of Yahweh.
“Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Master rather than for
people. Remember that
Yahweh will give you an
inheritance as your
reward, and that the Master you are serving
is Messiah.”
—Col 3:23-24
Yahweh's Assembly in Yahshua
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Kingdom City, MO 65262
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E-Mail: Newsletter@YAIY.org
►Joshua 13:22a “The sons of Israel also killed Balaam the son of Beor…” He was a corrupted prophet, even though he spoke the truth, 2 Pet 2:15; Jude 11. He was the prophet who could only speak the word of Yahweh, Numbers 22:18, 20, 35, 38, 23:5, 12, 26.
►2 Samuel 24:3b “...why does my master the king delight in this thing?” The root word of delight (chaphets) literally means to be pleased (hapes) with. Joab must have seen the pride in King David when he commanded the count.
►1 Kings 3:16 “...two women who were harlots came to the king and stood before him.” It seems that Solomon should have let the child live and killed the two harlot women for their harlotry. While he had wisdom, he was still not fully obedient to Yahweh by not purging them from the land, Deuteronomy 17:18-19, 22:21.
►1 Kings 9:25a “...three times in a year Solomon offered burnt offering and peace offerings…” Evidence that they kept the Feasts at their Appointed Times, Exodus 23:14-17.
Above verses taken from the NASB. These aren’t in YAIY’s Quick Bible Verses booklet (insert for the back of your Bible), but you can add them to the appropriate sections.
While this will be in the online newsletter, some who are receiving this via hardcopy may not realize the benefits of also receiving it online. One of the benefits you’ll notice with this month’s newsletter is the color photos. The hardcopy versions of the newsletters are usually printed without color.
Another benefit is the Study in Focus, which is only available online with each newsletter sent out. It allows you to test yourself after reading the Study in Focus. The feedback is instant. It certainly will help anyone wanting to know if they’re getting all they can out of the subjects which are presented. This month’s Study in Focus is “Our Savior’s Resurrection.”
As long as you have e-mail, the online newsletters (i.e., YAIY NEWS, Sisters For Yah and Kid’s For Yah) can be sent directly to you once a month. See our main webpage and enter your e-mail to sign up. There is also the New Moon Report announcements of the new moons which are critical in determining the Appointed Times of Yahweh. You do not have to opt for this service. We encourage you to get involved by practicing to look and to report each new visible waxing crescent as it comes to your area. Are you in Africa, Europe, or Asia? Please help with this for the brethren worldwide. Your sighting does count! Go to NewMoonReport.org for more information.
Elder Dick Vaow, Hap Tew, Alice Findling, Cindy Gustke and Family, Michelle Love and Family, Jewell Holt, Dolores Parker, Elder Don and Mil Mansager, Maxine Conrad, Patricia Prince, Terrel Frasure, Donald Appling, Lois McDonald, Beth Watson, Beverly Filbertson, David and Barbara Creel, Renee McKinsey, Vincent Gay, David Jones Jr. and Family, Larry Skinner, Charlie Pelton, Brenda Lewis, Mike Matney, Tami Lanphere, Robert Dorchester, Dries Van Zyl, Angela Sulton, Daphne Griffith and Family, Donald Carringer, Clare Kane, Rusty Bullinger, Lance Bullock, Elizabeth Bailey, R.C. Fernald Family and Friends, Donald Huck, Ricardo Delgado, Gerald Bennet and Family, Manuel Longoria, Al Jones and Family, David Wilson, Mark Williams and Family, Heidi Ann Eve Isdell, Diana Silva, William Borgne, Stella Rogers, Sean Rogers, Al Pagano, Bernadette Figueredo, Elder Buel and Bev Hallpike, Elder Yahkara Sunith, Robert and Patricia Potter, Mark Conrad, Maria Francis, Benjamin Francis, Manuel Longoria and Family, Bobby Travis and Family, Gary and Lanai BuBois, brethren around the world, world leaders, Jerusalem and all the land of Israel.