No Yeast!

February 3, 2025, Monday Message:

Exodus 12:17 NLT: Then the Lord said to Moses, “Celebrate this Festival of Unleavened Bread (Passover), for it will remind you that I brought your forces out of the land of Egypt on this very day. This festival will be a permanent law for you; celebrate this day from generation to generation.”

Why unleavened bread? Well, making bread with yeast takes a long time. The yeast has to rise to make the bread fluffy. If you don’t allow the yeast to rise, you wind up with a cracker!

Commercial bakers have a “proofer,” which uses heat and steam to drastically shorten the rising time. But no such equipment existed in Egypt. The bottom line is that when God says it’s time to go, he means right now! We can’t be waiting for bread to rise to partake of our Passover meal.

The liberation of the Hebrew people from slavery in Egypt was very important to God, so important that he executed 10 different plagues to secure Pharaoh’s cooperation. As the whole debacle wrapped up, Pharaoh not only allowed the Jews to leave; he insisted that they get out of town! “Get out of here, you guys, and take some silver and gold with you!”

Each of the 10 plagues took time. Pharaoh continued to reject the miracles he had seen with his own two eyes! But remember, this series of events wasn’t just to change Pharaoh’s mind. It was also to showcase the supremacy of Moses’ God, the one true God!

God’s timing is always perfect. Everything worked out in the end!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Passover – A Celebration!

For Sunday, February 2, 2025:

Exodus 12:11 NLT: Then the Lord said to Moses, “These are your instructions for eating this (Passover) meal: Be fully dressed, wear your sandals, and carry your walking stick in your hand. Eat the meal with urgency, for this is the Lord’s Passover.”

God wants his people prepared. We’re going somewhere. Today! Be ready! Get dressed and be ready to go. Wear shoes and have your walking stick nearby. Don’t dawdle. Get right to it! God has an agenda for you today. Today is the day we’re all leaving Egypt!

By now you should have asked your Egyptian hosts for silver and gold. Surprisingly, they will be glad to finance your exit. Pharaoh is your foe, but the general Egyptian population was glad to host the Hebrew people for a time, and they will comply with your request.

This Passover miracle is so important, it is to be remembered and celebrated annually. God said so. Let us never forget all the good things He has done for us. The Passover lamb was for the Hebrew people. God’s Son served as the Passover lamb for Christian believers. He took our sin away so that we could reside in God’s forever Kingdom.

There is just one God in the entire universe, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. He is the Hebrew God, and He is the Christian God. He is a loving and forgiving God. He is our God! Hallelujah!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Passover!

For Saturday, February 1, 2025:

Exodus 11:1 NLT: Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will strike Pharaoh and the land of Egypt with one more blow. After that, Pharaoh will let you leave this country. In fact, he will be so eager to get rid of you that he will force you all to leave.”

According to God, the tenth and final plague was the most severe and would get everyone’s attention, even Pharaoh’s. Here’s what would happen: All the firstborn sons would die in every family in Egypt. Even the firstborn of their livestock would die. Pharaoh’s oldest son preparing to take the throne would die. The only ones exempt from this plague would be the Israelites. Following this, Pharaoh would not only let the Hebrew people leave Egypt, he would insist that they get out of town!

The night before, each Jewish household sacrificed a lamb to the Lord, and it would be their final meal in Egypt. We call it the Seder supper. Blood from the sacrificial lamb would be spread on the door posts to each house, marking the inhabitants as people of God, and as death filled Egypt, the Lord would “pass over” those houses. Passover is remembered by both Jews and Christians nowadays.

Jesus himself would be the sacrificial lamb for Christian believers. He took our sin away so that we could reside in God’s forever Kingdom. Just as God provided for the Hebrews, he also provides for Christian faithful. The Lord always takes care of his people. Thank you, God, for including us in your eternity!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship