God hates sin so much, Old Testament sacrifices were burnt to a crisp! But he loves you so much that he not only stretched out his arms on a cross, but he opens them lovingly to embrace you today! Not only you, but the first-time visitor that is coming to church tonight as well. (Close your eyes if you don’t want to hear this) Spiritual maturity is found in the desire for others to succeed in the Kingdom. That new convert (or young person) may teach you something one day! I welcome it! Please, Jesus, use who you will to help get my sorry hide to heaven! (Okay, you can open your eyes now 👀)
“Clothes make the man (or woman).” In the more poetic sense, the clothes you are wearing is your countenance, or your will and desires. We learn in Leviticus the leprosy could spread to the clothes, and then once it was in the clothes it could grow in the outer garment. We also read in the proverbs “Can a man take fire into his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?” Whatever is on the inside will show on the outside, but I thank God that we are given the garment of praise (Isaiah 61:3)! Whatever sin, trial, or test you are facing, it is going to be praise that sees us through! Others are going to see your “garment of praise” and God will to bring them through their spirit of heaviness through your example!
Have a great week, everyone!!
”..say..to the goodman of the house, The Master saith, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?“ This verse immediately reminded me of Matthew 24:43-44, “But know this, that if the GOODMAN of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” Things always seem to happen when we least expect it. Notice in Mark that He sent His disciples ahead of His arrival. When is Jesus coming? No one knows, we just need to stay ready to meet Him and help others assure that their “house” is ready for Him. “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” (Revelations 3:20)
I heard a wonderful message this morning on repentance from 2 Corinthians 7:11. 7 steps of repentance: 1) carefulness – become aware of sin and beyond guard. 2) remove areas that cost sin. 3) hate sin. 4) Revere God, and avoid the appearance of evil. 5) desire to be obedient and get into alignment. 6) have passion for kingdom things and 7) revenge on the adversary. Repentance undoes what has been done in your past! Look what the Lord can do! It helps to launch you into ministry. Repentance is more than just saying, “I’m sorry.”
Leviticus 26:3-4 is the quintessential “if, then” statement. If you walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them..Then God will provide for all of your needs! Even prophetically in verses 11&12, ”And I set my tabernacle among you: and my soul shall not abhor you. And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people.“ (See John 1) In a tent, in the flesh, or infilling of the Spirit…the LORD dwells among us. Let’s walk, keep, and do this week!
I have to believe that Simeon passed the wonderful news of the new born King to all of those around him, including his son. Simeon’s son was busy making a name for himself and would eventually be known as a doctor of the law. The whole while, he carried the name “Jesus” in the back of his mind. Perhaps even sharing some theories and possibilities with his students. When Christ’s apostles were on trial, Gamaliel spoke up, “And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.” (Acts 5:38-39) Somewhat skeptical, yet cautious. Gamaliel would have a student named Saul confirm all the years of theories and waiting with a Damascus road experience. Jesus had an apostle to the gentiles. Paul had a doctor of the law. Gamaliel had a devout father that had the Holy Spirit. Simeon held the Christ child in his arms and declared, “My entire existence is complete.” The choices you make today can impact those around you for generations to come. Choose Jesus.
How awesome is this Bible study that it ties together OT Passover w NT Passover references and then gives us a prophetic-ish passage about THE Passover Lamb! I love it!
When Eldad and Medad prophesied: “..Joshua..said, ..forbid them. And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the LORD’s people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit upon them!“ (Numbers 11:28-29) Reminds me of Luke 9:49-50, “And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us. And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.” I would agree that we should all be actively engaged in the Kingdom thru our individual talents. Do not be intimidated or jealous for the sake of the ministry. He gave “some” to the five-fold ministry. He gave ALL the ministry of reconciliation!
From Luke 4: “there were many widows, there were many lepers” Elijah was sent to one widow with a need. Elisha instructed Naaman on his cleansing. Through your efforts, many may come to the Kingdom, but do not be discouraged if it’s only one. The need of the one is just as important to God as the need of the many!
After all the God has done, so much time and resources are wasted pushing back against His chosen authority. I have found myself among the sons of Korah. The lesson here is to get behind leadership and advance the vision of the ministry. We should do some self-examination and review our motivations if we come up with any other response. The covenant keeping God is beside you and that is all that matters. When gathered with others and the conversation turns to slander, remember Numbers 23:20-21, ”Behold, I have received commandment to bless: And he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it. He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, Neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: The LORD his God is with him, And the shout of a king is among them.“ We may feel that certain people don’t deserve a blessing (through jealousy or lack of understanding). We bless because we have been blessed and the “shout of a king” is among us! Hold your cursing, for by this shall all men know that you are disciples of Jesus, that you have love one to another! (John 13:35)
”How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, And thy tabernacles, O Israel! As the valleys are they spread forth, As gardens by the river’s side, As the trees of lign aloes which the LORD hath planted, And as cedar trees beside the waters.“ Numbers 24:5-6 KJV Blessed are your homes, young Christians. If it is not a Godly home, you are the light there. Blessed is the congregation that you worship with and does not despise your youth.
Your valleys gather the rain and look upon the hills, where your help comes from. The gardens of the Lord provide so the righteous are not forsaken or his seed beg bread. The trees of lign aloes cleanse us and offer a sweet smelling savor. The cedar trees planted beside the waters are established and unshakable in the midst of the storm. We are a blessed people and our God is worthy of praise!
Proverbs 8 is curious to me. Studying it out, I came across a couple of cross-references: John 13:1 “It was now just before the Passover Feast, and Jesus knew that His hour had come to leave this world and return to the Father. Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the very end.” Psalm 16:3 “As for the saints in the land, they are the excellence in whom all my delight resides.” It is almost as if Jesus was reminiscing with Solomon from the beginning to the end of time itself. He delights in you! The only limitations that God has are the ones we place on Him. You may not feel worthy. You may feel shame and remorse, but Jesus is looking back from the future and cheering you on! Keep going! You’re going to make it! I delight in you!! “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2) Have a great week…He is risen!
God knows the heart! In Luke 9, Jesus has two men ask to follow Him. One perhaps sought safety, or protection, but Jesus ensured him that His followers would be exposed to the elements. Another wanted to follow Jesus on his own terms, “I will follow, but I am still holding on to some things from my past.” Jesus called a third man, but he had to bury his dead father. This seems like a reasonable request, but his calling required that he go preach the kingdom of God to those that are still with us. We will soon read Luke 14 and see all of the excuses that kept people from the great supper. How do we make sure that we don’t come up with excuses to follow the Lord? Have faith, hold fast to your profession, come boldly unto the throne of grace, and stay in the Word! “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (See Hebrews 4)
”But charge Joshua, and encourage him, and strengthen him: for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which thou shalt see.“ (Deuteronomy 3:28) Are we secure enough in our faith to allow others to “surpass” us in ministry? The sooner you eradicate jealousy from your spirit, the sooner you will accept your own role in the Kingdom. There will always be a better preacher or teacher or singer, but there will never be a better Y-O-U! The verse tells us how this is done. 1) Charge (entrust someone with a task as a duty or responsibility). 2) Encourage (give support, confidence, or hope to someone). 3) Strengthen (help to make someone stronger). The blessing tongue is key. Practice blessing people today! It may seem forced at first, but soon you will readily rejoice with your brothers and sisters. There is plenty of room for everyone to excel in the ministry that we were designed for!!
The opening scriptures of Deut. 30 are as much for us as it was for Moses’ day. You can see the foreshadowing of the New Testament! The choice of either the blessing or the curse seems obvious. Who would choose a curse?! Yet so many follow the path that seems right to man. It is the Lord who will circumcise your heart with the circumcision made without hands (Col. 2). When we put off the “body of sins of the flesh,” we deny the flesh of any power in our decision-making process. Repentance and thanksgiving bring the promises of 2 Corinthians 4:8-18. Our inward man is renewed day by day, “working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” The splendor, magnificence, honor, and happiness of the eternal world with be worthy it all!
”Pass through the host, and command the people, saying, Prepare you victuals; for within three days ye shall pass over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land, which the LORD your God giveth you to possess it.“ Joshua 1:11 This reminded me of Pastor’s message last month about the order of the third day; wait three days. The spies of Joshua 2 hid themselves in the mountains for 3 days. Then Luke 21 breaks out with v21 about fleeing to the mountains! v25 tells of the signs in the sun, moon, and stars (light-shining bodies formed right after the 3rd day, “Born for the Light,” Pastor Kinsey 3/24/24 am service) I LOVE The Word! Whatever you are facing…maintain your faith! The first day seems bleak, the second day feels hopeless, the third day is filled with darkness. “He may not come when you want Him, but He’s always right on time!” God will see you through! He’s working it out behind the scenes! “Even when I don’t see it you’re working!” The promise of Joshua 1:3 is, “Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you.”
Before Israel could defeat Ai, they had to overcome lust/greed/envy (Achan). Before Psalm 51, David made up his mind to turn away from sin. Before salvation could be offered to the world, the King laid down His life. Endure! Get up one more time! When you get up this time, see what Kingdom concept is created in your life! Endure!
I find it fascinating that when they found out the men who they had made a league with had deceived them, they still honored their word. They even went to battle for them! The people of Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, Kirjath-jearim did learn that they had become a slave to their lie. Lies feed into more lies, and then you have to lie about it to keep the first lie going. John 8:31-36, “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” The truth could be painful, but you will be free!