For 1,500 years, the Hebrews celebrated the Passover on the fourteenth day of the month. During that time there were prophets of God that were raised up. The prophets of God would speak and say, “There is a Lamb coming and He will be the Messiah. He will be the Deliverer of Israel.”
These prophecies were plain for everyone to see. The Jews knew what was going to happen. They started looking for a Messiah that would fit the qualifications. But just like people today, sometimes things become so traditional that we overlook the obvious. They began to do things by rote instead of by heart.
Exodus 12:47 is a command that God told Moses and Aaron. He said all the congregation shall keep it. It was a command that they keep the Passover. There are some things that happened when they sacrificed the lamb before they went out of Egypt at that first Passover. Here is a brief overview of what happened.
- Each man was to select the lamb without spot or blemish and he was to select it on the 10th day of the month.
- He was to observe this lamb for five days to make sure that this lamb was without spot or blemish and that it had no fault in it.
- On the fifth day he was to take the lamb to the doorpost and he was to kill it.
- He was to catch the blood in a basin.
- He was supposed to sprinkle the blood on the doorpost and above the doorpost, completely covering the entrance to his home with the blood of the sacrificed lamb.
- This was to be done on the evening of the 14th day at twilight.
We have so many excuses. When God tells you to do something at a certain time, you don’t do it beforehand and you don’t do it afterward. You do it when God says to do it. The only way you are going to be obedient is to do what God says to do, when He says to do it. Some people are doing what God said, but they are doing it in the wrong time. When you have one Christian in the body of believers who is out of step time-wise, it can create confusion.
We have excuses and reasons for everything. We need to understand Jesus was very patient. For thirty years, He patiently waited for that moment when the Holy Spirit would descend upon Him and the voice from heaven would say, “This is My Son in Whom I am well pleased.”
At the point that He was empowered with the Holy Spirit, His ministry started and for three years He and a band of unique followers turned this world upside down. Jesus said He didn’t say or do anything unless the Father told Him to.
Not only did He say and do what the Father said to say and do, He did it in the Father’s timing according to the Father’s plan. If Jesus had decided at the age of 27 to get a three-year jump-start on His ministry, He would have been in disobedience and He wouldn’t have been the perfect Lamb.
Excerpt permission granted by Larry Ollison Ministries
Dr. Larry Ollison is founder and Senior Pastor of Walk on the Water Faith Church and founder of Larry Ollison Ministries. With over forty years in the ministry, he is a very popular speaker nationally and internationally and ministers the Word of Faith through radio, television, Internet, and daily e-mail devotionals. As the author of twelve books (including The Power of Grace, The Practical Handbook for Christian Living, Breaking the Cycle of Offense, Life is in the Blood, and recently released The Paradise of God), he is in frequent demand for radio/TV interviews, book signings, and magazine publications.
Dr. Ollison was raised a Southern Baptist. While majoring in theology at Southwest Baptist University, he received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. For many years he traveled extensively speaking at Full Gospel Business Men's meetings and conventions. He later earned an M.A. in Theology and a Ph.D. and Th.D. from Life Christian University.
Currently President of International Convention of Faith Ministries (ICFM), Dr. Ollison is also Vice-President of Spirit FM Christian Radio Network, Missouri State Director of Christians United for Israel (CUFI), and a Trustee on the boards of several international ministries. He is also the host of The Cutting Edge Radio Broadcast and authors The Cutting Edge Daily Devotional.
As the owner of a marine dealership, his extensive business background brings a unique flavor to his teaching. He founded and served as chairman of the Missouri State Marine Board, President of the Marine Dealers’ Association, Vice-President of a bank holding company, along with holding several directorships in various corporations.
Dr. Ollison's strongest areas of teaching are the blood of Jesus, faith, relationships, the Hebrew language, the Holy Spirit, the end times, and heaven. During ministry, he operates freely in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. His use of humor and his ability to make a theological concept simple makes it enjoyable and easy for everyone to understand. Countless testimonies have been received from people who say their lives have been changed after experiencing Dr. Ollison's unique ministry.
Dr. Ollison is a pastor, pilot, teacher, and author. His number one goal is to meet the needs of the people through the teaching of faith in God's Word. He and his wife, Loretta, have two children and six grandchildren.