Shalom chaverim and welcome back to this sacred moed (appointment) of Yahweh, Yom haBikkurim or the Day of Firstfruits which is on the second day of Chag haMatzah or Feast of Unleavaned Bread, the only example in the sacred calendar where there are two annual moedim on the same day. I need to start off by apologising for my sermon yesterday which was very repetitive and disorientated on occount of of the fact that I was beyond exhausted after Pesach (Passover) which took all the strength that I had out of me. I spent the rest of the day in a daze and a haze unsure that I would even be able to manage anything.

However, this day is so important that I feel compelled to at the very least to bear my testimony, for Yom haBikkurim is Resurrection Day, Yah'shua (Jesus) being the bikkurim or firstfruits of the resurrection. Orthodox 'Easter' is separated from the true Creation Calendar day of the Resurrection by only two days this year (they fell on the same day in a previous year) so we are able to, and should always, join in with them and all believers everywhere, without imitating their pagan practices, in proclaiming from the rooftops, "HE IS RISEN!" (Mt.28:6-7; Mk.16:6). The world needs this testimony for it is the foundation of the Gospel message. With no physical resurrection, there is no Gospel, and we would become just another philosophy amongst the pot pourri of man-made ideas.

There are three main lines of evidence for the resurrection of Yah'shua the Messiah (Jesus Christ):

• 1. The Empty Tomb. Multiple witnesses found Yah'shua's (Jesus') tomb empty on the third day followinh his death on Pesach (Passover) (Mt.28:1-6). If Yah'shua (Jesus) hadn't risen, His body would still be there. The empty tomb, which was sealed by an exceedingly heavy stone and guarded by Roman soldiers, proved that He came back to life;

• 2. Over 500 Eyewitnesses. Yah'shua (Jesus) physically appeared to over 500 people after His resurrection (1 Cor.15:6). That many people couldn't all be wrong or lying about seeing Him alive; and

• 3. The Talmidim's (Disciples') Transformation. The talmidim (disciples) were scared and hiding after Yah'shua (Jesus) died. But after seeing Him alive, they boldly told everyone about Yah'shua (Jesus) - even courageously facing death doing so. Only seeing the risen Christ could cause such a change! [1]

Today I want to briefly talk about the third line of evidence, the transformation of believers, because that is the greatest evidence that anyone could wish for. You can have an intellectual debate about this subject and even win it but still be left empty. And although I am jumping slightly ahead and looking forward to the fourth annual moed called Shavu'ot, what is traditionally known as the 'Day of Pentecost', before arrives this summer we need a firm resurrection foundation to properly immerse ourselves in it. For this, as you know was, in addition to being the day the Torah was given to Israel through Moses, also the day that the Ruach haQodesh (Holy Spirit) was sent in power not only to equip the qodeshim (saints, set-apart ones) with power to evangelise, but also the power to heal - body, heart, mind and spirit.

So let me take you back a couple of thousand years. After the apostle Peter was filled with the Ruach haQodesh (Holy Spirit), he realised that a new kind of power was suddenly available to him. When he spoke in Yah'shua's (Jesus') Name, in faith, he had authority. For you see, not only could lives be changed, miracles could also take place. And as you knowwe have dedicated this Passover Season to prayer for the healing for the many seriously ill people we know, including within our own family, who are desperate for healing.

Weak though I am and in need of a mighty healing miracle myself, I want us all to remember what the foundation of healing is, namely, the Resurrection. When Peter saw a lame man at the temple gate, he said to him, "In the name of Yah'shua the Messiah (Jesus Christ) the Nazarene — walk!" The result was instantaneous. Peter took him by the right hand and lifted him, and "immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened. With a leap he stood upright and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising Elohim (God)" (Ac.3:6-8).

All those who truly believe in Yah'shua (Jesus) and His resurrection have access to that same power through His name and the presence of the Ruach haQodesh (Holy Spirit). This I absolutely believe but there are two things I must add in warning:

• 1. Firstly, it is Yahweh who decides whether to heal or not; and
• 2. Secondly, if He does, it is always in His own timing and in His own way.

I say this not to discourage anyone and certainly never to introduce doubt in your mind, because faith is of the ssence. It is not for us to know His method or timing, it is simply for us to trust Hime, and not to waiver in that belief. You can find lots of materials on this on our healing website. This means we must repudiate the lie of cessationism, the belief of many Christians that the 'big' miracles we see in the New Testament were 'only for then' but at the same time we must not go to the other extreme of the charismatics and many pentecostals which is the claim that if you are not healed instantaneously, it's your fault in some way because of a lack of faith or unresolved sin. Which is not to say that a lack of faith cannot be an issue or that willfull sinning doesn't matter, because neither is true, but what it does mean is that we must wait on Yahweh in the constancy of faith whilst continuing to "work out [y]our salvation in fear and trembling" as Paul taught (Phil.2:12-13, NKJV). There are lots of processes going on inside and remember Father's priority is always your salvation because without out that your faith is in vain.

Having said that, please don't be discouraged. I just want us to be realistic because unrealistic expectations can damage authentic faith. Like the lame man, you, like me, may have a physical problem that seems incurable. You may be crippled by emotional trauma or stress or be constantly worried. You may feel confused or overwhelmed with problems. You may have a disease or a physical handicap which might even be threatening your life. All of these need healing and all are important. But it's the healing of the inner man or woman that is always Father's priority. Never forget that, remembering also that with healing comes forgiveness of sin too (Mk.2:9; Jas.5:15-16; Ps.103:2-3; 1 Pet.2:24; 1 Jn.1:9).

In particular, let me read to you the inspired words of the apostle James:

"Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the local congregation (church) to pray over him and anoint him with [olive] oil in the Name of the Master (Yah'shua/Jesus). And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Master will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective" (Jas.5:13-16, NIV).

Please notice how everything is closely tied together: prayer, worship, anointing with oil, faith, and forgiveness of sins. That means that we too must forgive others, as the Master taught in the Lord's Prayer (Mt.6:12,14-15), because if we don't, He will not forgive us. And if we are unforgiven, we cannot be healed. Please read James 5:13-16 often because it is such an important instruction.

No matter what you face, remember this: you have immediate access to Yahweh our Heavenly Father because of Yah'shua (Jesus). His power is real and available for you, and He wants to release this power into your life. He is waiting for you to ask and believe. He's waiting for you to exercise proactive faith (emunah in Hebrew). What does that faith include? It includes the lessons we have been learning in the spring festivals. It includes the lesson of Pesach (Passover) which is to believe that the blood shed for you on the cross of Calvary is avalable to cleanse you of all sin and to make eternal life available to you now and in eternity. It includes the lesson of Chag haMatzah (Feast of Unleavaned Bread) which instructs us to be proactive in removing sin from our life once we have been saved to that we can become existentially purer and more holy - yes we have access to the Father because of the sinlessness and purity of the son (which is Forensic Salvation) but we must let the leaven of Torah righteousness work its way through our being whilst making every effort, through empowerment with the resurrection power of Yah'shua (Jesus) to stop sinning. For as John testifies, anyone who says he no longer sinning is a liar and is only fooling himself (1 Jn.1:8,10; 2:4).

Our task today - and every day - is to ask Elohim (God) to release His resurrection power into our life to heal us, touch us, strengthen us, and so meet our needs. Do not doubt, just place your faith in Him, daily, every hour of the day as also when we lie down to sleep, and listen to Him, for He has instructions for you. Wait patiently in exptectant faith, do not doubt, as the apostle James admonishes us:

"Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask Elohim (God), who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Master; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does" (James 1:4-8, NIV).

Please think on these things today as we celebrate the Saviour's resurrection on this His Day of Resurrection, Yom haBikkurimg. And may Yahweh answer your prayers on behalf of yourself and others for healing, in Yah'shua's (Jesus') Name, Amen.

Endnotes

[1] Valorrea, Systematic Theology for Kids - A Structured Journey through Core Doctrines: God, Creation, Salvation, and More (USA: 2026), Week 46

Acknowledgements

[1] The Healing Power of the Resurrection

Recommended Reading

[1] Gary R. Habermas & Michael R. Licona, The Case for the Resurrection (Kregel Publications, Grand Rapids, Michigan: 2004) - comprehensive study for the layman - comes with a CD - also see their website, resurrectionchallenge.com but not on 'mainstream' browsers like Chrome or MS Edge which have blocked it.
[2] N.T.Wright, The Resurrection of the Son of God (SPCK, London: 2003) - comprehensive study for the Bible scholar & theologian.
[3] Lee Strobel, The Case for Christ: A Journalist's Personal Investigation of the Evidence for Jesus (Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan: 1998), Part 3: Researching the Resurrection, chapters 11-14, pp.205-278 - simple study for the layman.
[4] N.T.Wright & Michael F. Bird, The New Testament in Its World: An Introduction to the History, Literature, and Theology of the First Christians (SPCK, London: 2019), Part IV, The Resurrection of the Son of God, chapters 12-14, pp.264-333 - summary of [2] for the well-informed layman.
[5] John C. Lennox, Gunning for God: Why the New Atheists are Missing the Target (Lion Hudson, Oxford, UK: 2011), chapter 8, Did Jesus Rise from the Dead?, pp.187-225 - for the layman.