Feast of Passover -- April 8 - 15, 2020
The Feast of Passover begins April 8th at sunset through the 15th.
Passover originates from the Hebrew word "Pesach," meaning to "leap over" or "pass over." Memorially speaking, Passover commemorates Yahweh’s deliverance of the Israelites from bondage in Egypt.
We are commanded to celebrate this memorial feast from generation to generation, and when our children ask what mean this service to us? We must say, It is the sacrifice of Yahweh's Passover, who delivered the first born of the Israelites in Egypt from the destroyer, when the Egyptians’ first born were destroyed. (See Exodus 12: vs. 12-16).
Passover was instituted the evening preceding the exodus from Egypt. This would have been the 14th day of ABIB according to lunar time, and April or March according to the Gregorian calendar (solar time).
In the Holy Bible, Yahweh commands all believers to celebrate this memorial Feast from generation to generation. We are told when our children ask why we observe this Feast, we must tell them this Feast represents Yahweh's deliverance of the first born of the Israelites by not allowing the destroyer to enter their homes (or forcing the destroyer to pass over their home because the Blood had been applied to the gatepost of their homes by faith, while the unbelieving Egyptians first born were destroyed because of the absence of the Blood covering (see Exodus 12: 12-16).
According to Old Testament scriptures, the holy men of old observed the Passover. Therefore, all who have elected to live according to the Word of Yahweh (the holy commandments) must observe this Feast as Yahweh commands.
In Exodus 12:14-16, we are commanded to keep three Feasts unto Yahweh each year, i.e., believering Feast of Unleavened Bread ( referred to as Passover); (2) Feast of Harvest (referred to as Pentecost); and (3) Feast of ingathering ( referred to as Tabernacle).
In Exodus 12: vs. 14-16, Yahweh explicitly states, "And this day shall be unto you for a memorial, and ye shall keep it a feast to Yahweh throughout your generations: ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance (the Law) forever. Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day, ye shall put away leaven out of your houses for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day to the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel. And on the first day, there shall be a Holy Convocation and on the seventh day, there shall be a Holy Convocation to you. No manner of work shall be done on these days, except that which every man must do to eat."
We read in the NewTestament Yahshua, who is our Salvation, confirmed that observance of these same three Old Testament Feasts must be continued until His return. He confirmed these Feasts by teaching His disciples to observe them until He return (see John 2:13).
Yahshua observed the Passover the evening of the 14th in the first three Books of the New Testament (see Matthew 26: 19-20; Mark 14:22-24, and Luke 22:19-20). He established the Old Testament Feast of Passover as a spiritual Feast with New Testament application by establishing holiness and salvation through Him (Yahshua) by faith.
We read in Matthew 26, “And the disciples did as Yahshua had appointed them; and they made ready the Passover. Now when the evening was come, He sat down with the twelve. And as they did eat," He said, “Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray Me.” In 1st Corinthians 11:24-26, we read "And when He had given thanks, He brake it, and said Take, eat; this is My body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of Me. After the same manner also He took the cup, when He had supped, saying, This cupis the New Testament in My blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of Me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show Yahshua's death till He come."
In this New Testament spiritual ceremony we not only remember Yahshua's death and myster of it, but also His prayer in John Chapter 17, verses 1,2, 20 and 21: "These words spake Yahshua and lifted up His eyes to heaven and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify Thy Son, that they Son also may glorify Thee: As Thou hast given Him power over all flesh, that Hne should give eternal life to as many as Thou hast given Him. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word; That they all may be one; as Thou, Father art in Me, and I in Thee, tht they also may be one in Us: thta the world may beliee that thou hast sent Me."
It was the will of Yahweh that the Old Testament Feast of Passover and New Testament Feast of Passover reavel Yahweh's deliverance of both His natural and spiritual children through faith in Yahshua.
PREPARATION FOR THE PASSOVER
The Feast of Passover consists of three phases: (1) preparation of home and heart; (2) miniature immersion and taking of the Body and Blood of Yahshua; and (3) feasting.
Members of the Assembly should thoroughly cleanse their homes prior to the start of this period and remove all food products containing manufactured leaven.
Prior to the Feast, all believers must examine themselves and make confessions of commission and omission. You must pray to Yahshua for forgiveness of any sins that you may have committed knowingly or unknowingly. Confession of sin is required because your heart must be free of sin. Miniature immersion and taking of the Body and Blood of Yahshua is performed the first day of Passover (ABIB 14-lunar time), which means sundown the night of March or April 14th (Lunar time).
Miniature immersion and taking of the Body and Blood of Yahshua is mandatory for all members. Although only members that have been immersed in the name of Yahshua are allowed to participate in this part of the ceremony, visitors may observe. Once visitors, if they elect to be immersed in the Sacred Name of Yahshua, then they, too, may take part in this phase of the Passover ceremony.
The next day, the daylight portion of the first day, is a time of giving praise to Yahshua and a time of feasting and joyous conversation.
The Feast of Passover servicebegins of April 8th at sundown and concludes on April 15th at sundown. The miniature immersion on Wednesday, April 8th will strt at 7:30pm.
OF IMPORTANCE TO NOTE: In compliance with Governor Larry Hogan's State of Maryland's Executive Order prohibiting religious gatherings larger than 10 people, commencing after the April 11th service, future sermons will be delivered by Pastor Jenkins via electronic virtual broadcast. Additionally, in keeping with this Order members are encouraged to partake of the Feasting (eating) part of the Passover Feast in their invididual homes.
To learn more about our Heavenly Father Yahweh -- and His Son and our Savior Yahshua, visit us on the Web at: http://assemblyforworship.com; or feel free to
Email us at: assemblyforworship1610@outlook.com