Mark's Daily Reading Journal

This was strange...no reading for today...it's leap year!  I will confess I cheated and had something in the can, something ready to share.  First, let me say congratulations to everyone still on the "One Year Bible Together" TRAIN...You are doing great, keep it up, and if you have fallen...you can get up and get back on!

Many of you know that one of my favorite passages is in 2 Corinthians.  I love to contemplate these few verses and allow them to blow me away...there are some passages that just seem to radiate more glory, more blinding, heart changing glory...and for me this is one of those passages.

2 Co 3:15-4:7

15 But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. 16 Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

The Light of Christ’s Gospel

4     Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart. 2 But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. 5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.

John Piper, in his wonderful little book, "Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ," has done the best work of helping me understand this passage.  Below is a section from his little book.  This reason I share this with you is that THIS IS MUCH OF THE FUEL THAT GOD HAS USED TO FILL ME WITH A PASSION TO GO HARD AFTER HIM.  Not Piper's book, but these verses in 2 Cor.  However, Piper did help me to enjoy these verses even more...I think you will see what I mean.  Enjoy!

I hope no one gets upset with the Jehovah Java, HEBREWS, sign...remember HE is the creator of everything!  Including the coffee bean...I do love my coffee, but I thank my heavenly Father for it.  Remember, receive everything with thanksgiving:)

The created universe is all about glory. The deepest longing of the human heart and the deepest meaning of heaven and earth are summed up in this: the glory of God. The universe was made to show it, and we were made to see it and savor it. Nothing less will do. Which is why the world is as disordered and as dysfunctional as it is. We have exchanged the glory of God for other things (Romans 1:23).  “The heavens declare the glory of God” (Psalm 19:1).

That is why all the universe exists. It’s all about glory. The Hubble Space Telescope sends back infrared images of faint galaxies perhaps twelve billion light-years away (twelve billion times six trillion miles). Even within our Milky Way there are stars so great as to defy description, like Eta Carinae, which is five million times brighter than our sun.  Sometimes people stumble over this vastness in relation to the apparent insignificance of man. It does seem to make us infinitesimally small. But the meaning of this magnitude is not mainly about us. It’s about God. “The heavens declare the glory of God,” says the Scripture. The reason for “wasting” so much space on a universe to house a speck of humanity is to make a point about our Maker, not us. “Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these [stars]? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name, by the greatness of his might, and because he is strong in power not one is missing” (Isaiah 40:26).

The deepest longing of the human heart is to know and enjoy the glory of God. We were made for this. “Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the end of the earth . . . whom I created for my glory,” says the Lord (Isaiah43:6-7). To see it, to savor it, and to show it—that is why we exist. The untracked, unimaginable stretches of the created universe are a parable about the inexhaustible “riches of his glory” (Romans 9:23). The physical eye is meant to say to the spiritual eye, “Not this, but the Maker of this, is the Desire of your soul.” Saint Paul said, “We rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:2). Or, even more precisely, he said that we were “prepared beforehand for glory” (Romans 9:23). This is why we were created—that he might “make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy” (Romans 9:23).

The ache in every human heart is an ache for this. But we suppress it and do not see fit to have God in our knowledge (Romans 1:28). Therefore the entire creation has fallen into disorder. The most prominent example of this in the Bible is the disordering of our sexual lives. Paul says that the exchange of the glory of God for other things is the root cause for the homosexual (and heterosexual) disordering of our relationships. “Their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature . . . the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another” (Romans 1:26-27). If we exchange God’s glory for lesser things, he gives us up to lived-out parables of depravity—the other exchanges that mirror, in our misery, the ultimate sellout. The point is this: We were made to know and treasure the glory of God above all things; and when we trade that treasure for images, everything is disordered. The sun of God’s glory was made to shine at the center of the solar system of our soul. And when it does, all the planets of our life are held in their proper orbit. But when the sun is displaced, everything flies apart. The healing of the soul begins by restoring the glory of God to its flaming, all-attracting place at the center. We are all starved for the glory of God, not self. No one goes to the Grand Canyon to increase self-esteem. Why do we go? Because there is greater healing for the soul in beholding splendor than there is in beholding self. Indeed, what could be more ludicrous in a vast and glorious universe like this than a human being, on the speck called earth, standing in front of a mirror trying to find significance in his own self-image? It is a great sadness that this is the gospel of the modern world. 

But it is not the Christian Gospel. Into the darkness of petty self-preoccupation has shone “the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2Corinthians 4:4). The Christian Gospel is about “the glory of Christ,” not about me. And when it is—in some measure—about me, it is not about my being made much of by God, but about God mercifully enabling me to enjoy making much of him forever.  What was the most loving thing Jesus could do for us?  What was the endpoint, the highest good, of the Gospel?  Redemption? Forgiveness? Justification? Reconciliation?  Sanctification? Adoption? Are not all of these great wonders simply means to something greater? Something final?  Something that Jesus asked his Father to give us? “Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me” (John 17:24). 

The Christian Gospel is “the gospel of the glory of Christ” because its final aim is that we would see and savor and show the glory of Christ. For this is none other than the glory of God. “He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature” (Hebrews 1:3). “He is the image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15). When the light of the Gospel shines in our hearts, it is “the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ”          (2 Corinthians 4:6). And when we “rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:2), that hope is “our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13). The glory of Christ is the glory of God.

In one sense, Christ laid the glory of God aside when he came: “And now, Father, glorify me together in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed” (John 17:5). But in another sense, Christ manifested the glory of God in his coming: “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). Therefore, in the Gospel we see and savor “the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6).

And this kind of “seeing” is the healing of our disordered lives. “We all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another” (2 Corinthians 3:18). 

O Father of glory, this is the cry of our hearts—to be changed from one degree of glory to another, until, in the resurrection, at the last trumpet, we are completely conformed to the image of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Until then, we long to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord, especially the knowledge of his glory. We want to see it as clearly as we see the sun, and to savor it as deeply as our most desired pleasure. O merciful God, incline our hearts to your Word and the wonders of your glory. Wean us from our obsession with trivial things. Open the eyes of our hearts to see each day what the created universe is telling about your glory. Enlighten our minds to see the glory of your Son Seeing and Savoring the Glory of God in the Gospel. We believe that you are the All-glorious One, and that there is none like you. Help our unbelief.  Forgive the wandering of our affections and the undue attention we give to lesser things. Have mercy on us for Christ’s sake, and fulfill in us your great design to display the glory of your grace. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

Let's pursue HIM with ALL OUR HEART, SOUL, MIND AND STRENGETH...for his glory and our JOY IN HIM!  TASTE AND SEE!  TASTE AND SEE!

LOVE,

M

“Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” JOHN 8 : 5 8

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. JOHN 1 : 1

For in [Christ] the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily. CO L O S S I A N S 2 : 9

The feasts and festivals of Israel are nothing more that pictures, types and symbols point to Jesus and God's plan of redemption.  Everything foreshadows Jesus and God's redemptive plan.  We see this over and over in God's Word.  Remember the testimony concerning Jesus in Matt 4:16?  "The people who live in darkness have seen a great light, and for those living in the shadowland of death, light has dawned.   Praise God, you and I were dead in our sins, dead people walking in SHADOWLAND and HE made us alive together with Christ.  We were in darkness, SHADOWLAND, and HE called us into HIS marvelous light.

We will see in Colossians 2:17 that "These are a shadow  of what was to come;  the substance is  the Messiah.  "  The author of Hebrews teaches us that, Heb 8:5, "These serve as a copy and shadow  of the heavenly things, as Moses was warned when he was about to complete the tabernacle. For He said, Be careful that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown to you on the mountain."  

Now you might say Mark, if all this stuff in Leviticus and the OT are shadows why spend any time here?  Let's go after the "real thing" in the NT, JESUS!  I don't want to live in shadowland, I want to walk in the light as HE is in the light.  I believe that is a fair question.  I don't know if this is a perfect answer, but give it a try.  Have you ever observed and painting where all of the shadows, textures, shadings etc., have been left out?  Or maybe it is a painting that is not finished...and then you see it with the shadows, textures, and shadings...it seems to come alive...doesn't it?  Before there was a feeling of sterility and now it feels real!  I have often thought how awesome it must be to be a completed Jew.  Someone raised with a full understanding of every little shadow, texture and shading of the OT and then BAM!  JESUS!  When the fire of God falls and ignites the wood as it were, the wood of fully understanding the shadows...then it just all makes sense.  I don't know about you, I have to work at understanding the shadows, shadings and textures.  But it is incredibly sweet when God the Holy Spirit allows me to see and new facet, to understand another shadow.

It is worth the work, it is worth the labor to cry out to God and seek to see Jesus throughout the OT.  Remember  “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’ ” Matt 4:4  EVERY WORD!

The Passover as a type.—The Passover was not only commemorative but also typical. “The deliverance which it commemorated was a type of the great salvation it foretold.” No other shadow of good things to come contained in the law can vie with the festival of the Passover in expressiveness and completeness. (1) The paschal lamb must of course be regarded as the leading feature in the ceremonial of the festival. The lamb slain typified Christ the “Lamb of God,” slain for the sins of the world. Christ “our Passover is sacrificed for us.” 1 Cor. 5:7. According to the divine purpose, the true Lamb of God was slain at nearly the same time as “the Lord’s Passover,” at the same season of the year, and at the same time of the day, as the daily sacrifice at the temple, the crucifixion beginning at the hour of the morning sacrifice and ending at the hour of the evening sacrifice. That the lamb was to be roasted and not boiled has been supposed to commemorate the haste of the departure of the Israelites. It is not difficult to determine the reason of the command, “not a bone of him shall be broken.” The lamb was to be a symbol of unity—the unity of the family, the unity of the nation, the unity of God with his people whom he had taken into covenant with himself. (2) The unleavened bread ranks next in importance to the paschal lamb. We are warranted in concluding that unleavened bread had a peculiar sacrificial character, according to the law. It seems more reasonable to accept St. Paul’s reference to the subject, 1 Cor. 5:6-8, as furnishing the true meaning of the symbol. Fermentation is decomposition, a dissolution of unity. The pure dry biscuit would be an apt emblem of unchanged duration, and, in its freedom from foreign mixture, of purity also. (3) The offering of the omer or first sheaf of the harvest, Lev. 23:10-14, signified deliverance from winter, the bondage of Egypt being well considered as a winter in the history of the nation. (4) The consecration of the first-fruits, the first-born of the soil, is an easy type of the consecration of the first-born of the Israelites, and of our own best selves, to God. (Further than this (1) the Passover is a type of deliverance from the slavery of sin. (2) It is the passing over of the doom we deserve for our sins, because the blood of Christ has been applied to us by faith. (3) The sprinkling of the blood upon the door-posts was a symbol of open confession of our allegiance and love. (4) The Passover was useless unless eaten; so we live upon the Lord Jesus Christ. (5) It was eaten with bitter herbs, as we must eat our passover with the bitter herbs of repentance and confession, which yet, like the bitter herbs of the Passover, are a fitting and natural accompaniment. (6) As the Israelites ate the Passover all prepared for the journey, so do we with a readiness and desire to enter the active service of Christ, and to go on the journey toward heaven.—Ed.)

Smith, W. (1997). Smith's Bible dictionary. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Mk 9:37  “Whoever welcomes  one little child such as this in My name  welcomes Me. And whoever welcomes Me does not welcome Me, but Him who sent  Me.”

Interesting...as I entered the above verse Alexis began to cry:)  I need to go welcome her!

Father in heaven,

We praise, bless, and worship YOU!  Thank YOU for YOUR precious Son, YOUR only begotton, the Lamb of God who takes away my sin and the sins of the whole world.  Thank YOU for YOUR glory revealed in nature, the heavens declare the glory of God, and thank YOU for YOUR glory revealed in YOUR precious Word.

Love,

m

Do you get the idea that God wants us to be different from the world, set apart, HIS own special people?  Do you get the idea that "the Lord God through his Christ is graciously building a kingdom of redeemed people for their joy and for his own glory (Easley).  I don't know...I really wish that God would be clear about HIS purpose and plan for HIS children...I don't know what do you all think?

Deut 4:20--“But the Lord has taken you and brought you out of the iron furnace, from Egypt, to be a people for His own possession, as today.

Deut 7:6--“For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.

Deut 14:2--“For you are a holy people to the Lord your God, and the Lord has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.

Tit 2:14--He gave Himself for us  to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for Himself a special people,  eager to do good works.

Heb 13:12--Therefore Jesus also suffered outside the gate,  so that He might sanctify  the people by His own blood.

I hope you all know that sarcasm is a spiritual gift, really it is...consider Elijah at Mt. Carmel or the exchange between God and Job in the closing chapters of Job.  God displays the strong spiritual gift of sarcasm.

Our reading in Leviticus we see God's special people are warned not to sin as the nations before them did, they are commanded to be a special people set apart, holy to the LORD.  God warns them that they will be vomited out if they do not obey.  Unfortunately they did not listen and they were vomited out by God's hand through the Babylonian captivity.

Lev 18:28--If you defile the land, it will vomit you out as it has vomited out the nations that were before you.

Lev 20:22--“You are to keep all My statutes and all My ordinances, and do them, so that the land where I am bringing you to live will not vomit you out.

Do you recall a time when Jesus spoke these words?  Do you remember who HE was speaking to?  Amazingly, Jesus speaks these words to HIS church at Laodicea.  HE severely rebukes HIS church with a horrific warning, Rev 3:16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of My mouth.   Let's look at it in context...Jesus is severely rebuking HIS church and HE commands them to be committed and repent.

Re 3:14-21

The Letter to Laodicea

14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: “The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Originator   of God’s creation says: 15 I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were cold or hot. 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit  you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, ‘I’m rich; I have become wealthy, and need nothing,’ and you don’t know that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked, 18 I advise you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire so that you may be rich, and white clothes so that you may be dressed and your shameful nakedness not be exposed, and ointment to spread on your eyes so that you may see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and discipline. So be committed  and repent. 20 Listen! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will  come in to him and have dinner with him, and he with Me. 21 The victor: I will give him the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I also won the victory and sat down with My Father on His throne.

I don't want to make anyone mad, but this is not an evangelistic verse!  You have all seen the picture and heard the preacher say, "Jesus is knocking, there is no knob on HIS side HE won't open the door you must by faith invite HIM in."  IN THIS PASSAGE JESUS IS TALKING TO HIS CHURCH!  Jesus is rebuking the church for being lukewarm, HE commands them to be committed and repent...we learn that those that HE loves HE rebukes and disciplines...praise God that HE does.  So revelation 3:20 is Jesus inviting HIS church, you and I, into an intimate, personal love relationship with HIMSELF!  I believe that the key is that you cannot really know Jesus and be lukewarm about HIM!  If you are lukewarm and a child of God then you are in such a backslidden state that you cannot possibly experience any assurance of salvation...certainly you will have non of the joy of the LORD.  TO TRULY KNOW HIM IS TO LOVE HIM, TO LONG TO PURSUE HIM WITH A WHITE HOT PASSION.  Those that hunger and thirst for righteousness, that hunger and thirst for JESUS will just want more and more.  Our hearts were created with a vacuum that only HE can fill.

What does our Psalm say?  In Psalm 43:3-5 we hear some amazing words, "Send Your light and Your truth; let them lead me.  Let them bring me to Your holy mountain, to Your dwelling place. 4 Then I will come to the altar of God, to God, my greatest joy. I will praise You with the lyre,  God, my God. 5  Why am I so depressed? Why this turmoil within me?    Put your hope in God, for I will still praise Him,  my Savior and my God."

My question to me and to you is...is God really your greatest joy?  Or is it your job, home, children, spouse, money, your reputation, your toys, iphone, ipod, computer, garden, friends...is there anything that you love, serve, fear, desire, want...more than God?  What is your greatest joy?  I will simply confess that I frequently must repent of placing things before HIM.

Summary of Mark 9

Jesus has announced His coming death (8:31–38). Now He makes another prediction. Some standing with Him will see God’s kingdom “come with power” (9:1). Just six days later three of His disciples witness a transformation of Christ, a stunning display of His glory (vv. 2–13). Back in the valley, Jesus drives an evil spirit from a boy His disciples had been unable to help (vv. 14–29) and again predicts His death (vv. 30–32). His disciples seem totally unaware of the pain Jesus feels and fall into a dispute about which of them is “greatest” (vv. 33–37). Mark then reports a series of single–theme enigmatic statements made by Jesus, as the company travels toward Jerusalem and His crucifixion. The theme is that of relationship to Jesus’ followers. Those who act in Christ’s name are “for us” (vv. 38–40). Those who are hospitable to Jesus’ followers will be rewarded (v. 41). Those who cause Christ’s followers (His “little ones”) to sin face terrible judgment (vv. 42–48). For Jesus’ disciples must always maintain that uniqueness which offers hope to the world (vv. 49–50).

Key verse. 9:2: Jesus Himself is the kingdom’s power.

Personal application. To reach the world Christians must live as family.

Richards, L. O. (1991; Published in electronic form by Logos Research Systems, 1996). The Bible readers companion (electronic ed.) (641). Wheaton: Victor Books.

Mk 9:1-8 Then He said to them, “I assure you:  There are some standing here who will not taste death  until they see the kingdom of God come in power.”

2 After  six days  Jesus took Peter, James, and John  and led them up on a high mountain  by themselves to be alone. He was transformed   in front of them, 3 and His clothes  became dazzling—extremely white  as no launderer on earth could whiten  them. 4 Elijah  appeared to them with Moses,  and they were talking with Jesus.  5 Then Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi,  it is good  for us to be here! Let us make three tabernacles:  one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”— 6 because he did not know what he should say,  since they were terrified.

7 A cloud  appeared, overshadowing  them, and a voice  came from the cloud:

         This is My beloved  Son; listen to Him!

8 Then suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus alone.

The voice of God the Father was heard audibly three times during the life of Christ. Here, at Jesus’ baptism (1:11) and during His triumphal entry into Jerusalem (John 12:28).

God have mercy on me, I am desperate for YOU LORD JESUS, apart from you grace I tremble to consider how far I would fall.  LORD JESUS grant me, grant us eyes to see and ears to hear...Father in heaven enable to by YOUR indwelling Spirit to obey YOUR command to LISTEN TO YOUR PRECIOUS SON!  I long to live a life that is pleasing to YOU, a life that will bring YOU joy, a life that will REFLECT THAT YOU ARE MY GREATEST JOY.  Father, by the same grace that moved YOU to send YOUR Son, our Lord and Savior, protect me from living in a manner that would cause you to want to vomit me out of YOUR mouth.  Please fill me with YOUR HOLY SPIRIT, CAUSE YOUR WORD TO BURN IN MY HEART...ENABLE ME TO BE CONSUMED WITH A WHITE HOT PASSIONATE LOVE FOR YOU, YOUR WAYS AND YOUR PEOPLE...FATHER WORK THIS IN US FOR YOUR GLORY AND OUR JOY...I ASK THESE THINGS IN THE NAME THAT IS ABOVE EVERY NAME...IN THE NAME OF JESUS...AMEN!

love,

m

ps  I must apologize for the title...I just finished and thought...OK LORD what should I title this...well what you see is what you get!  I sat here and laughed for 2-3 minutes before I regained my composure...I seriously debated on changing it but did not.  The thought came to me about how it feels to vomit...I don't know if you remember but it is REALLY A BAD EXPERIENCE!  I won't go any further except to say...remember how bad it is and then consider that this is what God compares you to when you are in a lukewarm state as HIS child...I DON'T WANT TO BE LIKE VOMIT IN HIS MOUTH!

There were several points of interest in Leviticus this morning, but I want to focus on one for a moment.  In Leviticus 18:24-25 God tells HIS people,  “Do not defile yourselves by any of these ⌊practices⌋, for the nations I am driving out before you have defiled themselves by all these things. 25 The land has become defiled, so I am punishing it for its sin, and the land will vomit out its inhabitants.  We learn that the reason that all the nations that are being driven out before Israel is because of the horrific sin and the Israelites are given a stern warning not to defile themselves by any of these practices.

You have to wonder if the horrific sin of our nation is in the process of getting us vomited out!  You might be surprised where I place the blame, I PLACE THE BLAME WITH THE CHURCH...THE WORLD LOOKS AT US AND THINKS THEY ARE NO DIFFERENT THAN WE ARE, THEY PURSUE THE SAME THINGS WE DO, THEY JUST SLAP A PRAYER ON WHAT THEY DO AND SAY AMEN.  OUCH MARK...THAT HURT!  SO WHAT IS THE ANSWER?  I believe that our LORD gives it to us in our text in Mark today.

Mark seems to have told this story to underline the total failure of the Twelve to understand, and perhaps to give the reason: they were still too much influenced by the thinking of this world. Perhaps they were busy blaming each other for forgetting to bring bread with them on the trip when Jesus gave them the warning (really a little parable). They had failed to see the spiritual meaning and, worse still, had forgotten that Jesus could and would meet any bodily needs of those seeking God’s kingdom; he had shown that in the feeding miracles already. This time, Jesus rebuked them bluntly (21). They should have seen that the yeast of the Pharisees was their whole attitude to life, which would affect the disciples unless they took care. We too need to be constantly on our guard against the ‘spirit of the age’ or the thinking and teaching of the other religions that surround us. Christ’s way is totally different from the way of the world, which we read about in papers, hear on radio, or see on television.

Carson, D. A. (1994). New Bible commentary : 21st century edition. Rev. ed. of: The new Bible commentary. 3rd ed. / edited by D. Guthrie, J.A. Motyer. 1970. (4th ed.) (Mk 8:14). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, Ill., USA: Inter-Varsity Press.

Did anyone notice an amazing statement that Jesus made at the end of Mark 6 about the spiritual condition of HIS disciples?  Check out Mark 6:51-52,  Then He got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. They were completely astounded,  52 because they had not understood about the loaves. Instead, their hearts were hardened.   Does that blow you away?  It seems like these guys are constantly and relentlessly beat by Jesus.  How often has HE rebuked them for their little faith and now we lean that their hearts were hardened.

We are useless to God until we are broken...WE ARE USELESS TO GOD UNTIL WE ARE BROKEN, WE ARE USELESS TO GOD UNTIL WE ARE BROKEN!

Ps 51:17 The sacrifice pleasing to God is  a broken spirit.  God, You will not despise a broken and humbled heart.

Here in Mark 8 Jesus warns the disciples to "watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees."  When they don't understand HE blasts them!

Mk 8:11-21  The  Pharisees  came out and began to argue with Him, demanding of Him a sign  from heaven  to test  Him. 12 But sighing deeply in His spirit,  He said, “Why does this generation  demand a sign? I assure you:  No sign will be given to this generation!” 13 Then He left them, got on board ⌊the boat⌋ again, and went to the other side. 14 They had forgotten to take bread and had only one loaf with them in the boat. 15 Then  he commanded them: “Watch out! Beware of the yeast  of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.” 16 They were discussing among themselves that they did not have any bread. 17 Aware of this, He said to them, “Why are you discussing that you do not have any bread? Do you not yet understand or comprehend? Is your heart hardened?  18 Do you have eyes, and not see, and do you have ears, and not hear?   And do you not remember?  19 When I broke the five loaves for the 5,000, how many baskets full of pieces of bread did you collect?” “Twelve,” they told Him. 20 “When I broke the seven loaves for the 4,000, how many large baskets full of pieces of bread did you collect?” “Seven,” they said. 21 And He said to them, “Don’t you understand yet?”

Consider the following verses that sound like Mark 8:18.

Is 6:9-10 And He replied: Go! Say to these people: Keep listening, but do not understand; keep looking, but do not perceive. 10  Dull the minds of these people; deafen their ears and blind their eyes; otherwise they might see with their eyes and hear with their ears, understand with their minds, turn back, and be healed.

Ps 95:8 “Do not harden your hearts as at Meribah, as on that day at Massah in the wilderness

Is 63:17  Why, Lord, do You make us stray from Your ways? You harden our hearts so we do not fear  You. Return, because of Your servants, the tribes of Your heritage.

Je 5:21 Hear this, you foolish and senseless  people. They have eyes, but they don’t see. They have ears, but they don’t hear.

Eze 12:2  “Son of man, you are living among a rebellious house.  They have eyes to see but do not see, and ears to hear but do not hear,  for they are a rebellious house.

If you have eyes to see and ears to hear the below text should strike fear, reverence and awe in your heart!  Why?  Because we learn in verse 8 that any dullness of heart, our slowness to understand is because we are hard hearted idolaters!  We become like what we worship!

Ps 115:1-9 Not to us, Lord, not to us, but to Your name give glory because of Your faithful love, because of Your truth. 2     Why should the nations say,   Where is their God?” 3  Our God is in heaven and does whatever He pleases. 4  Their idols are silver and gold, made by human hands. 5     They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see. 6 They have ears, but cannot hear, noses, but cannot smell. 7 They have hands, but cannot feel, feet, but cannot walk.  They cannot make a sound with their throats.  8     Those who make them are  just like them, as are all who trust in them. 9     Israel,  trust in the Lord!  He is their help and shield.

At the end of Mark 8 Peter makes a good confession that Jesus is the Messiah and it appears that in the same breath he pulls Jesus aside and begins to rebuke Jesus for saying that HE must suffer.  We all know what happens next.  "Get behind me, Satan, because you're not thinking about God's concerns, but man's."

Interesting that Peter is the one who makes the good confession, Peter is the one who denies our LORD 3 times, and Peter in John 21 confesses 3 times his love for Jesus...John 21 is where Peter was broken and became useful.  He was filled with grief and remorse when he denied Jesus, but that is not brokenness...in John 21 is where Peter became a powerful vessel, instrument in the had of God.

Father in heaven, please in YOUR loving-kindness do not harden our hearts toward YOU and by YOUR saving life giving grace do not let us harden our hearts!  For YOUR glory and our JOY in YOU lead us in paths of righteousness, enable us to walk in a manner that is pleasing to YOU.  In Jesus name...amen.

love,

m

Le 17:10-14

10 “Anyone from the house of Israel or from the foreigners who live among them who eats any blood,  I will turn  against that person who eats blood and cut him off from his people. 11 For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have appointed it to you to make atonement on the altar for  your lives, since it is the lifeblood that makes atonement.  12 Therefore I say to the Israelites: None of you and no foreigner who lives among you may eat blood.

13 “Any Israelite or foreigner living among them, who hunts  down a wild animal or bird that may be eaten must drain its blood  and cover it with dirt. 14 Since the life of every creature is its blood, I have told the Israelites: You must not eat the blood of any creature,  because the life of every creature is its blood; whoever eats it must be cut off.

Chapter summary. These chapters launch the fourth major section of Leviticus, which lists rules for holy living. These moral rules focus on personal relationships. First, however, Moses reminds Israel that God has given them the blood of animals to make atonement. All sacrifices are to be made to God at the tabernacle (17:1–9), and blood is to be used for no other purpose than sacrifice (vv. 10–16). God’s standards are high. But He is a forgiving God, who accepts the sinner who comes with blood to confess and to be restored.

Moses then goes on to list sexual relationships which defile the individual and pollute the land (18:1–28). Anyone who makes a practice of these forbidden sins is to be “cut off from their people” (vv. 29–30).

Key verses. 17:11; 18:29: Atonement is blood bought.

Personal application. As God’s purified people it is up to us to choose purity in our personal relationships.

Richards, L. O. (1991; Published in electronic form by Logos Research Systems, 1996). The Bible readers companion (electronic ed.) (85). Wheaton: Victor Books.

As I was reading this it occurred to me, I know that this seems painfully obvious, that the sacrifice of the animals should have been the execution of people.  Think about everything that we have been reading about in Leviticus...they should have been doing this to the people.  THE ANIMALS WERE TAKING THEIR PLACE.  Men and women as they reached the age of accountability should have marched to the tabernacle had their throats slit and everything that was done to the animals should have been done to them.  You might be thinking, Mark, are you in a bad mood, did you get up on the wrong side of the bed this morning?  Are you going mad?  I hope not:)  Consider Psalm 29:10-11 The Lord sat enthroned at the flood; the Lord sits enthroned, King forever. 11 The Lord gives His people strength; the Lord blesses His people with peace.  What do we learn from 1 Peter 3:20, when God patiently waited in the days of Noah  while an ark was being prepared; in it, a few—that is, eight people  —were saved through water.

So often ladies will choose Noah's ark as a theme for their baby shower...cute pictures of the ark and the animals...so precious!  To that point in human history the Ark was the most horrific moment...it makes tsunamis and earthquakes look like child's play by comparison.  ALL BUT 8 DIED...DROWNED...HUMANS AND ANIMALS.  I suppose if you portrayed the thousands, probably millions outside the Ark screaming at the top of their lungs in desperation before they drowned you probably would not sell much baby shower gift wrap.

This was worse than Sodom and Gomorrah...the entire earth was destroyed...as the Lord sat enthroned!  This is what sin deserves, this is what you and I deserve...THIS IS FAIR, RIGHT AND JUST!  AND WE SHOULD BE IN AWE AND STUNNED THAT IT WILL NOT HAPPEN TO US.  To be spared from hell is enough, to be made a child of the most high God, an heir of HIS and a joint heir with JESUS should consume you with awe.  Then to realize that HE did it by shedding HIS own blood...what happened to HIM should have happened to you and to me...and after they were done, then for us to spend eternity in hell would be right, just and fair.

Ac 20:28 -Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock,  among whom the Holy Spirit has appointed you as overseers,  to shepherd the church of God,  which He purchased with His own blood. 

Jn 3:16 “For God loved  the world in this way: He gave His One and Only  Son,  so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. 

Are you amazed, are you extremely astonished at Jesus and what HE has done...God Himself, took your place and shed HIS blood for you and for me.  Sometimes it feels like the "entitlement" mentality in our county has made its way into the church...this should not be!  The only thing you and I should be entitled to is a horrible death, eternal separation from a Holy God..."for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.

Mk 7:37 -They were extremely astonished and said, “He has done everything well!  He even makes deaf  people hear, and people unable to speak,  talk!”

JESUS INDEED...HAS DONE EVERYTHING WELL!  VERY WELL!

THANK YOU...THANK YOU...THANK YOU...FOR TAKING MY PLACE, FOR DYING THE DEATH I DESERVE, FOR TAKING MY SIN AND GRANTING ME YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS...THANK YOU SEEMS HORRIBLY INADEQUATE, BUT IT IS ALL I HAVE...THANK YOU!

LORD...PLEASE ENABLE ME TO LIVE A LIFE THAT WILL BE AN OUTWARD EXPRESSION OF OVERFLOWING JOY AND GRATITUDE...DELIGHTING IN WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU HAVE DONE...DELIGHTING IN YOU AND THEN BY YOUR GRACE SHARING THAT WITH ALL WHO WILL HAVE EYES TO SEE AND EARS TO HEAR.  FOR YOUR GLORY AND THE JOY OF YOUR PEOPLE...IN JESUS NAME...AMEN...

love,

m

For those who are going through or who have been through the Truth Project study you may recall in the promotional clip and in the 1st session Dr. Tacket stated that, there is no sphere of life where the Word of God does not speak.  I am pulling from memory, so it might not be exact, but it is really close.  You have to be amazed as you continue through Leviticus at the frankness and direct nature of God's Word...and then you think no wonder preachers don't want to preach verse by verse through Leviticus.  I don't know about you, but I find myself reading about discharges and emissions and thinking, is this really in the Bible?  God's Word covers EVERY AREA OF LIFE!

I know that it is a difficult shift, but God makes it in HIS Word...how do you transition from discharges to the Day of Atonement?  Very abruptly!

Each of the following verses in Hebrews references Leviticus 16...the NT is the best commentary on the OT!  REMEMBER EVERY WORD OF SCRIPTURE AT SOME LEVEL IS POINTING TO JESUS...IT IS ALL ABOUT HIM...WHAT IS THE WORLD COMING TO?  IT IS COMING TO JESUS!

Heb 5:3  Because of this he is required as for the people, so also for himself, to offer sacrifices for sins.

Heb 6:19  This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil,

Heb 7:27  who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.

Heb 9:3  and behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All,

Heb 9:7  But into the second part the high priest went alone once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people’s sins committed in ignorance;

Heb 9:13 For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh,

Heb 10:4  For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.

Heb 13:11 For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp.

What is the Day of Atonement?

The great day of national humiliation, and the only one commanded in the Mosaic law. [Fasts.] The mode of its observance is described in Lev. 16, and the conduct of the people is emphatically enjoined in Lev. 23:26-32.

II. Time.—It was kept on the tenth day of Tisri, that is, from the evening of the ninth to the evening of the tenth of that month, five days before the feast of tabernacles. Tisri corresponds to our September-October, so that the 10th of Tisri would be about the first of October. [Festivals.]

III. How observed.—It was kept by the people as a high solemn sabbath. On this occasion only the high priest was permitted to enter into the holy of holies. Having bathed his person and dressed himself entirely in the holy white linen garments, he brought forward a young bullock for a sin offering, purchased at his own cost, on account of himself and his family, and two young goats for a sin offering, with a ram for a burnt offering, which were paid for out of the public treasury, on account of the people. He then presented the two goats before the Lord at the door of the tabernacle and cast lots upon them. On one lot “Fot Jehovah” was inscribed, and on the other “For Azazel.” A phrase of unusual difficulty. The best modern scholars agree that it designates the personal being to whom the goat was sent, probably Satan. This goat was called the scapegoat. After various sacrifices and ceremonies the goat upon which the lot “For Jehovah” had fallen was slain and the high priest sprinkled its blood before the mercy-seat in the same manner as he had done that of the bullock. Going out from the holy of holies he purified the holy place, sprinkling some of the blood of both the victims on the altar of incense. At this time no one besides the high priest was suffered to be present in the holy place. The purification of the holy of holies and of the holy place being thus completed, the high priest laid his hands upon the head of the goat on which the lot “For Azazel” had fallen, and confessed over it all the sins of the people. The goat was then led, by a man chosen for the purpose, into the wilderness, into “a land not inhabited,” and was there let loose. The high priest after this returned into the holy place, bathed himself again, put on his usual garments of office, and offered the two rams as burnt offerings, one for himself and one for the people.

IV. Significance.—In considering the meaning of the particular rites of the day, three points appear to be of a very distinctive character.

1. The white garments of the high priest. 2. His entrance into the holy of holies. 3. The scapegoat. The writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews, Heb. 9:7-25, teaches us to apply the first two particulars. The high priest himself, with his person cleansed and dressed in white garments, was the best outward type which a living man could present in his own person of that pure and holy One who was to purify his people and to cleanse them from their sins. But respecting the meaning of the scapegoat we have no such light to guide us, and the subject is one of great doubt and difficulty. It has been generally considered that it was dismissed to signify the carrying away of the sins of the people, as it were, out of the sight of Jehovah. If we keep in view that the two goats are spoken of as parts of one and the same sin offering, we shall not have much difficulty in seeing that they form together but one symbolical expression; the slain goat setting forth the act of sacrifice, in giving up its own life for others “to Jehovah”; and the goat which carried off its load of sin “for complete removal” signifying the cleansing influence of faith in that sacrifice.

Smith, W. (1997). Smith's Bible dictionary. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Heb 13:12-16

12 Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. 13 Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach. 14 For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come. 15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. 16 But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

A difficult question that I must ask myself daily is which city am I working for, which city am I seeking?  Am I trying to build a city here or am I seeking "the one to come" the City of God?

Mark 7:6-9

6 He answered and said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors Me with their lips,

But their heart is far from Me. 7  And in vain they worship Me,  Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’

8 For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men— the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do.”

9 He said to them, “All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.

Mk 7:13-16

13 making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do.”

14 When He had called all the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear Me, everyone, and understand: 15 There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man. 16 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!”

Mk 7:21-23

21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from within and defile a man.”

What you do is important but why you do it, your heart motive, is more important!  The Pharisees and Sadducees did all the right things for all the wrong reasons and they are guilty of worshiping in vain, they are guilty of being hypocrites, of honoring God with their lips, but their heart was building their own city.

Ps 48:1
A Song; a Psalm of the sons of Korah. Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, In the city of our God, His holy mountain.

Ps 48:8
As we have heard, so have we seen In the city of the Lord of hosts, in the city of our God; God will establish her forever. Selah.

Ps 87:3
Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God. Selah.

Rev 3:12
‘He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name.

Where is your citizenship...what are you working for...what am I working for?  A city down here or "the one to come."

In Leviticus we get more laws, in Mark we get the law giver feeding a multitude, we are told that HE had compassion on them because they are like sheep without a shepherd.  Jesus fed 5,000 men and their families with 5 loaves and 2 fish.  HE is Jehovah Jireh...I AM the Lord Who Provides “Abraham named the place ‘The Lord Will Provide’ ” (Gen. 22:14).  HE is the same God, Yahweh, who in Deut 32:39 says, ‘See now that I, I am He, And there is no god besides Me; It is I who put to death and give life. I have wounded and it is I who heal, And there is no one who can deliver from My hand.  In Isaiah HE says, 43:13--“Even from eternity I am He, And there is none who can deliver out of My hand; I act and who can reverse it?”  Some of you English majors may be thinking that I have used improper English by saying, "HE says;" however, it is correct to use scripture in that manner because HE still says, scripture still speaks actively into the present.  We are told in Mark 13:31 that, "Heaven and earth  will pass away,  but My words will never pass away. "  The author of Hebrews tells us in Heb 4:12 that "the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."

OK ENOUGH OF THAT, SO WHO CAN DELIEVER OUT OF HIS HAND?  NO ONE BUT HIMSELF!

Hebrews 10:5 is amazing..."as HE was coming into the world, HE said:"

Hebrews 10:3-10 But in the sacrifices  there is a reminder of sins every year. 4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 5 Therefore, as He was coming into the world, He said:

          You did not want sacrifice and offering, but You prepared a body for Me.

          6 You did not delight in whole burnt offerings and sin offerings.

          7 Then I said, “See, I have come— it is written about Me in the volume of the scroll— to do Your will, O God!” 

8 After He says above, You did not desire or delight in sacrifices and offerings, whole burnt offerings and sin offerings, (which are offered according to the law ), 9 He then says, See, I have come to do Your will.  He takes away the first to establish the second. 10 By this will, we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once and for all.

We know how we have been sanctified, but why have we "been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once and for all"?  CONSIDER THIS QUESTION AS YOU PRAYERFULLY READ PSALM 40 AGAIN:)

This is a beautiful Psalm, they are all beautiful...but I really love this one.  I don't know about you, but my heart resonates with David and his heart's cry so often.  I am so grateful for the imperfect saints in God's Word...it gives me great hope.  Imperfect men and women that God loves, saves and allows them to be an active part of HIS kingdom story as it unfolds in history.

Read, feed, meditate...the LORD JESUS is looking out on you and I with compassion, HE want to feed and to shepherd those who have ears to hear...do you hear what I hear?  Come, come, come unto ME, all who are weary and heaven laden and I will give you rest...take HIS yoke for HE is meek and tender in spirit...come and rest, come and eat and drink from the living-waters, waters that cleanse from all that separates us from HIM.

Father in heaven,

open the eyes of our hearts, enable us to fix our eyes on Jesus, remove the veil and allow us to behold and become like Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.  Please LORD work this for YOUR glory and our JOY in YOU...in Jesus name...Amen!

love,

m

PSALM 40

1     I waited patiently for the Lord; And He inclined to me, And heard my cry.

2     He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, And established my steps.

3     He has put a new song in my mouth— Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear, And will trust in the Lord.

4     Blessed is that man who makes the Lord his trust,  And does not respect the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.

5     Many, O Lord my God, are Your wonderful works Which You have done; And Your thoughts toward us Cannot be recounted to You in order; If I would declare and speak of them, They are more than can be numbered.

6     Sacrifice and offering You did not desire; My ears You have opened. Burnt offering and sin offering You did not require.

7     Then I said, “Behold, I come; In the scroll of the book it is written of me.

8     I delight to do Your will, O my God,  And Your law is within my heart.”   [Quoted in Hebrews 10:5-9]

9     I have proclaimed the good news of righteousness In the great assembly; Indeed, I do not restrain my lips, O Lord, You Yourself know.

10    I have not hidden Your righteousness within my heart; I have declared Your faithfulness and Your salvation; I have not concealed Your lovingkindness and Your truth From the great assembly.

11     Do not withhold Your tender mercies from me, O Lord; Let Your lovingkindness and Your truth continually preserve me.

12     For innumerable evils have surrounded me; My iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to look up; They are more than the hairs of my head;      Therefore my heart fails me.

13     Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me; O Lord, make haste to help me!

14     Let them be ashamed and brought to mutual confusion Who seek to destroy my life; Let them be driven backward and brought to dishonor Who wish me evil.

15     Let them be confounded because of their shame, Who say to me, “Aha, aha!”

16     Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; Let such as love Your salvation say continually, “The Lord be magnified!”

17     But I am poor and needy; Yet the Lord thinks upon me.  You are my help and my deliverer;  Do not delay, O my God.

 

Deeply thankful for all God has done, David has fully dedicated himself to the Lord (40:1–10). Yet David cries out for mercy, for even total commitment has not given him an easy life (vv. 11–16). Although “poor and needy,” David rejoices in the Lord, “my help and my deliverer” (vv. 17).

Richards, L. O. (1991; Published in electronic form by Logos Research Systems, 1996). The Bible readers companion (electronic ed.) (360). Wheaton: Victor Books.

Throughout our reading in the NT the references of Jesus taking note of the faith of one of HIS creatures has caught my attention again and again.  HE has marveled, noticed and even been amazed at the faith of some of those who have come to HIM for help.  The amazing thing is that those who have had the greatest faith has been those who are the furthest from HIM, furthest from HIM in many respects.  We have noted the great faith of the Centurion, who came on behalf of a servant, the woman who came on behalf of her child and said, "but LORD even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from the masters table."  We have noted the visible faith of the four who brought the paralytic.  In contrast to these we noted how the disciples continue to be rebuked for their "little faith."  Today in our reading we see Jesus amazed at those in HIS hometown for them "He was amazed at their unbelief."  HE notes that a prophet is not without honor except in his hometown.  So those who are the closest to HIM somehow miss it, they miss it over and over!  I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE A WARNING TO YOU AND I.  I long to be among those who will amaze my Savior with my faith in HIM!

Matt 8:10--Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those who were following, “Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel.

Matt 9:2--And they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, “Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven.”

Matt 9:22--But Jesus turning and seeing her said, “Daughter, take courage; your faith has made you well.” At once the woman was made well.

Matt 15:28--Then Jesus said to her, “O woman, your faith is great; it shall be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed at once.

Matt 21:21--And Jesus answered and said to them, “Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ it will happen.

Mark 2:5--and Jesus seeing their faith *said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

Mark 10:52--And Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has made you well.” Immediately he regained his sight and began following Him on the road.

Mark 11:22--And Jesus *answered saying to them, “Have faith in God.

Luke 7:9--Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled at him, and turned and said to the crowd that was following Him, “I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith.”

As I read this verse list I find myself crying out like the Dad in Mark 9..."I do believe!  Help my unbelief." 

Matt 14:31--Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and *said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”

Matt 16:8--But Jesus, aware of this, said, “You men of little faith, why do you discuss among yourselves that you have no bread?

Matt 13:58--And He did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief.

Mark 6:6--And He was amazed at their unbelief. Now He was going around the villages in a circuit, teaching.

Mark 9:24--Immediately the father of the boy cried out, “I do believe! Help my unbelief.”

Mark 16:14--Later, He appeared to the Eleven themselves as they were reclining at the table. He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who saw Him after He had been resurrected.

So what do we do?  Is it possible for you and I to take an active part in growing and increasing our faith?  I believe that it is possible!  Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit Paul writes in Romans 10:17 that, "faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ."  In Ephesians 2:8-9 and Romans 12:3 we learn that faith is a gift of God that God has given to each of HIS children.   Ephesians 2:8-9  For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.  Romans 12:3     For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.

God has beautifully orchestrated saving faith and living faith so that you and I may not boast in any respect...salvation begins with God, it is sustained by God and God alone will finish the good work HE began.  HOWEVER, HE amazingly call us to join HIM in having a part in this incredible journey.  You might be thinking, "Mark, how can it be all of God and yet we have part in this work."  I'm glad you asked:)  I don't confess to fully understand...but check out what Paul says, still under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in Philippians...Paul and God appear to be OK leaving us with this tension and APPARENT CONTRADICTION.  THE APPARENT CONTRADICTION IS HOW TO RECONCILE GOD'S SOVEREIGNITY AND OUR RESPONSIBILITY.  Of this very question Spurgeon said you don't have to reconcile friends.

Php 1:6  being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; [ALL GOD]

Php 1:9  And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment,

Php 2:12-13  Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; [ALL YOU] 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. [ALL GOD]  WHICH IS IT?  BOTH!  From God's view this is no contradiction!  How than shall we live, how shall we be growing in our faith, our trust and in our intimacy with our great God and savior?  I believe that Paul gives us a good summary in Colossians.

Colossians 3:13-17  bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Some of you were thinking that Leviticus would stump me this morning..."let's see what he is going to do with this...what a mess."  I confess it did stump me, the awesome thing is that the Holy Spirit of God is not stumpable...did you ever consider that?  Considering Leviticus 12-15...what is it all about?  It is about things that will keep God's children from fellowship with HIM.  In these chapters we learn that God PROVIDES CLEANSING FROM ALL THAT DEFILES!  PRAISE GOD FOR US HE DOES THIS THROUGH THE SHED BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST!  SO WHAT DO WE TAKE AWAY...BE SENSITIVE TO ANYTHING THAT interrupts fellowship with our LORD, repent, ask for forgiveness and hurry back to HIM our Abba, Father, Daddy.

Father in heaven work these things in us for YOUR glory and the joy of YOUR children in Jesus name...Amen.

love,

m

Regulations concerning uncleanness (Leviticus 11) are carefully spelled out in these chapters. None of the issues found here involve willful sin on the part of the worshiper, and with each definition of uncleanness, a process of restoration to the clean state is explained. The rulings here concern childbirth (12:1–8), infectious skin diseases (KJV, “leprosy”) (13:1–46), mildew on garments (vv. 47–59), and mildew in buildings (14:33–57). Thorough instructions are given for cleansing after a person has been healed of a skin disease (vv. 1–32). The regulations conclude with a discussion of bodily discharges which make a person ritually unclean.

These include discharges linked with disease, such as from a boil (15:1–15), and those related to sex, as a man’s emission of semen or a woman’s menstrual flow (vv. 16–33).

Richards, L. O. (1991; Published in electronic form by Logos Research Systems, 1996). The Bible readers companion (electronic ed.) (83). Wheaton: Victor Books.

Heb 3:19--So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.

I am in a group going through the "Truth Project" that was produced by Focus on the Family.  Last night we looked at the section called "Whose Story."  To simplify the message it is that God's story, history, is a metanarrative.  What is a metanarrative?  It is the grand, over arching story that makes sense of all the smaller stories throughout history.  If you remember I shared Ken Easley's summary of the whole Bible with you, that is a summary of God's metanarrative. 

"The Lord God through his Christ is graciously building a kingdom of redeemed people for their joy and for his own glory." 

Why do I keep bringing that up?  Because it is so easy to get bogged and lost in books like Leviticus.  As you and I prayerfully read God's awesome Word, we must keep the big picture in heart and mind!

Le 11:44-45  For I am the Lord your God,  so you must consecrate yourselves  and be holy because I am holy.  You must not defile yourselves by any swarming creature that crawls on the ground. 45 For I am the Lord, who brought you up from the land of Egypt to be your God,  so you must be holy because I am holy.

Le 19:2  “Speak to the entire Israelite community and tell them: Be holy  because I, the Lord your God, am holy.

Le 20:7  Consecrate yourselves and be holy, for I am the Lord your God.

We have to remember that everything that they are being instructed to do is for them to be set apart, holy to the Lord!  Remember that everything that they are being instructed to do is POINTING TO JESUS!

You have to wonder how did this strike the Israelites?  Be holy  because I, the Lord your God, am holy. Did they say, "sure, no problem." Or was it more like, "Lord have mercy, I saw what YOU did to Aaron's sons, Lord I don't know how to be holy, Lord have mercy, help me...please!" 

Peter, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit quotes this passage from Leviticus, and he admonishes his hearers to be holy, to be set apart, to live in a manner worthy of the CALLING...see in verse 15..."as the One who called you is holy, you are also to be holy."

1 Pe 1:13-21

13 Therefore, get your minds ready for action, being self-disciplined,  and set your hope  completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation  of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children,  do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance 15 but, as the One who called you  is holy,  you also are to be holy in all your conduct; 16 for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy. 

17 And if you address as Father the One who judges impartially  based on each one’s work,  you are to conduct yourselves in reverence  during this time of temporary residence. 18 For you know that you were redeemed from your empty way of life  inherited from the fathers, not with perishable things, like silver or gold,  19 but with the precious blood of Christ,  like that of a lamb  without defect or blemish. 20 He was destined   before the foundation of the world, but was revealed at the end of the times  for you 21 who through Him are believers in God,  who raised Him from the dead  and gave Him glory,  so that your faith and hope are in God.

In Isaiah 62:12 we see that God's people are called, sought and redeemed, “The holy people, The redeemed of the Lord”; And you will be called, “Sought out, a city not forsaken.”  This is really good news, it sounds like in the same way God moved to bring the Israelites out of Egypt, HE is moving to bring HIS children out of slavery to sin, death and Satan.  Check out 1 Peter 2:9.

1 Pe 2:9-10  But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the One who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

I love the way Mark moves action packed through the life of Jesus...we see our LORD like this incredible ultimate fighting super hero of super heros.  He is calming storms with a word, casting out legion of demons without raising a finger, HE heals a woman who has been sick for 12 years and now defeating our ultimate foe...DEATH!    1 Co 15:55-58 O Death, where is your victory?  O Death, where is your sting?  56 Now the sting of death is sin, and the power of sin  is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ! 58 Therefore, my dear brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work,  knowing that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Jesus calls and she gets up!  Jesus speaks a word and there is life!

Mk 5:35-43  While He was still speaking, people came from the synagogue leader’s house and said, “Your daughter is dead. Why bother the Teacher  any more?”

36 But when Jesus overheard what was said, He told the synagogue leader, “Don’t be afraid.  Only believe.” 37 He did not let anyone accompany Him except Peter,  James,  and John,  James’ brother. 38 They came to the leader’s house, and He saw a commotion—people weeping and wailing loudly. 39 He went in and said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping?  The child  is not dead but asleep.”

40 They started laughing at Him, but He put them all outside. He took the child’s father,  mother, and those who were with Him, and entered the place where the child was. 41 Then He took the child  by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!”  (which is translated, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!” ). 42 Immediately the girl got up  and began to walk.  (She was 12 years old.) At this they were utterly astounded.  43 Then He gave them strict orders that no one should know about this  and said that she should be given something to eat.

This is awesome awe-striking news...if Jesus calls you out of darkness into HIS marvelous light, if HE calls you who were dead in your sins and trespasses and MAKES YOU ALIVE together with CHIRST...the same ONE who calls you, will sanctify you and make you holy unto the LORD. 

We see this in Romans 8:28-32

28 We know that all things work together  for the good  of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose.  29 For those He foreknew   He also predestined  to be conformed to the image of His Son,  so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers.  30 And those He predestined, He also called; and those He called, He also justified;  and those He justified, He also glorified. 31 What then are we to say about these things?  If God is for us, who is against us?  32 He did not even spare His own Son, but offered Him up for us all;  how will He not also with Him grant us everything?

I don't know if you feel the incredible tension here...on the one hand we are commanded to be holy and it sounds and feels like it is up to us to "work out our salvation with fear and trembling," while on the other hand it sounds and feels like God does it and it is all up to HIM.  I believe that this is a tension that we have to learn to live with, recognizing that we are commanded to live holy lives and we are responsible and accountable for every sin we commit.  At the same time we cry out to God because we know that it is "Christ in us the hope of glory" that will complete and finish the good work HE began.  Someone has well said, that we work and labor like it all depends on us and we walk in faith and we pray like it all depends on God.

As I close let me leave you with some words of wisdom from Warren Wiersby commenting on our reading from Leviticus.

Love,

m

If the Jewish people were to keep themselves clean and pleasing to the Lord, they had to exercise discernment; this meant knowing God’s Word, respecting it, and obeying it. Fathers and mothers had to teach their children the law and warn them about the things that were unclean (Deut. 6:1–9). The priests had to teach the people and remind them of the commandments of the Lord. It was when the nation of Israel neglected the Word of God and refused to obey it that the people began to follow the abominable practices of the heathen nations around them, and this is what led to Israel’s discipline and defeat.

Jews who exercised spiritual discernment would “walk in love” (Eph. 5:2), and their love for the Lord would motivate them to obey His law. Each morning, the orthodox Jew would recite “The Shema,” the official Jewish confession of faith: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength” (Deut. 6:4–5, NIV). That is still the first great commandment (Matt. 22:34–40).

One of the marks of maturity is the ability “to make a difference” (Lev. 11:47) and distinguish between right and wrong. As a pathologist looks through his or her microscope, he or she can see a difference between a healthy cell and a cancerous cell. The expert musician can hear the difference between the right note and the almost-right note, and the expert writer knows the difference between “any word” and the right word. Likewise, mature believers can exercise discernment, identify that which is unclean, and avoid it. Remember, children are prone to walk into the mud and get dirty.  When we “walk as children of light” (Eph. 5:8), we won’t stumble over some carcass in the darkness; for God’s Word is the light that directs us (Ps. 119:105).

What the Prophet Hosea said about Israel in his day is true of many professed Christians today: “You stumble day and night, and the prophets stumble with you . . . My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:5–6, NIV). “But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil” (Heb. 5:14, NIV).

Wiersbe, W. W. (1996, c1994). Be holy. "Becoming 'set apart' for God"--Cover.; "An Old Testament study--Leviticus"--Cover. (Le 11:44). Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books.

Do you remember in Matt 8 where Jesus, Yahweh, healed a leper and then told him to go and show himself to the priest and offer the sacrifice as instructed my Moses?  Consider that the instruction from Moses was instruction from Yahweh through Moses, or from Jesus through Moses...Jesus is the one who healed the leper and still HE told him to go offer the sacrifice as instructed by Moses. 

I don't know about you, but I always look at this from the human perspective, how horrific to have leprosy, how horrible to be cut off from your family, loved one's, to be cut off from the worshiping community, to be cut off from your life.  Consider...could the greater horror, the greater injustice be that YAHWEH was deprived of a worshiper, a creature created in HIS OWN image to reflect HIS OWN glory and worship HIM?  God is absolutely HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, LORD GOD ALMIGHTY.  As I prayerfully think about this...I know that the greater evil is that God was deprived of a worshiper.

If you consider Nadab and Abihu from a human perspective it is the making of a great tragedy.  If you consider that God is absolutely HOLY you see the greater tragedy is that the things of God were treated with disrespect or possibly in a flippant manner.  The text is not clear, we know that they disobeyed, we know that they knew better. 

Lev 10:1-10  Aaron’s sons Nadab  and Abihu  each took his own firepan,  put fire in it, placed incense on it,  and presented unauthorized  fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded them ⌊to do⌋. 2 Then flames leaped from the Lord’s presence  and burned them to death before the Lord.  3 So Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord meant when He said:

          I will show My holiness 

          to those who are near Me,

          and I will reveal My glory  

          before all the people.”

But Aaron remained silent.

4 Moses summoned Mishael and Elzaphan,  sons of Aaron’s uncle Uzziel,  and said to them, “Come here and carry your relatives away from the front of the sanctuary to ⌊a place⌋ outside the camp.”  5 So they came forward and carried them in their tunics outside the camp, as Moses had said.

6 Then Moses said to Aaron and his sons Eleazar and Ithamar,  “Do not let your hair hang loose  and do not tear your garments,  or else you will die, and the Lord will become angry  with the whole community. However, your brothers, the whole house of Israel, may mourn  over that tragedy when the Lord sent the fire. 7 You must not go outside the entrance to the tent of meeting or you will die, for the Lord’s anointing oil  is on you.” So they did as Moses said.

8 The Lord spoke to Aaron: 9 “You and your sons are not to drink wine  or beer  when you enter the tent of meeting, or else you will die; this is a permanent statute  throughout your generations. 10 You must distinguish  between the holy and the common,  and the clean and the unclean, 

This same YAHWEH in our reading in Mark today calms a storm with a word, cast a legion of demons out of a man, continues to teach those who would hear about the kingdom of heaven.  The disciples were terrified as HE calmed the storm, the towns people were terrified knowing what HE had done with the legion of demons.

Do you think that those that watched Ananias and Sapphira fall to the ground were filled with a HOLY terror...don't you believe that we should sense that same terror, reverence and awe.  I confess that there is a great tension because my favorite way to think of God is as my heavenly Father, loving, gracious, kind, tender, compassionate...the ONE who did not spare HIS own son, but gave HIM up for us all.  This is absolutely true, but I believe that we must find a way to maintain the tension that God is also ABSOLUTELY HOLY and HE maintains great expectations for HIS children.

Eph 4:1--Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called,

Eph 5:15--Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise,

Col 1:10--so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

1 Thess 2:12--so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.

We are repeatedly commanded to walk or live in a manner worthy of the calling!  Let's continue to pursue YAHWEH together, let's go hard after the one true and Holy God.  Let's go after HIM together through HIS precious Word, through prayer, through individual and corporate worship and through our fellowship...let's do it for HIS glory and for our own JOY in HIM.

WARNING STAY AWAY FROM STRANGE FIRE!

love,

m

Numbers 3:4--But Nadab and Abihu died in the Lord’s presence when they presented unauthorized fire  before the Lord in the Wilderness of Sinai, and they had no sons. So Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests under the direction of Aaron their father.

Numbers 16:35--Fire also came out from the Lord and consumed the 250 men who were presenting the incense.

Numbers 26:61--but Nadab and Abihu died when they presented unauthorized fire before the Lord. 

Mk 4:10-20

Why Jesus Used Parables 

10 When He was alone with the Twelve,  those who were around Him asked Him about the parables.  11 He answered them, “The secret   of the kingdom of God  has been granted to you, but to those outside,  everything comes in parables 12 so that they may look and look, yet not perceive; they may listen and listen, yet not understand; otherwise, they might turn back— and be forgiven.”  

The Parable of the Sower Explained

13 Then  He said to them: “Do you not understand this parable?  How then will you understand any of the parables? 14 The sower sows  the word.  15 These  are the ones along the path  where the word is sown: when they hear, immediately Satan  comes and takes away the word  sown in them.  16 And these are  the ones sown on rocky ground: when they hear the word, immediately they receive it with joy.  17 But they have no root in themselves; they are short-lived. When affliction  or persecution comes because of the word, they immediately stumble.  18 Others are sown among thorns; these are the ones who hear the word, 19 but the worries  of this age,  the seduction   of wealth,  and the desires  for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.  20 But the ones sown on good ground are those who hear the word,  welcome it, and produce a crop:  30, 60, and 100 times ⌊what was sown⌋.”

I have enlisted the help of J.C. Ryle as found in the Crossway Classic commentary.  Why have you asked for help here Mark?  I'm glad you asked...I am deeply concerned that our churches are filled with people on their way to hell and they have no clue.  Remember Matt 7:21-23, Jesus words here are chilling, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord!’ will enter the kingdom of heaven,  but ⌊only⌋ the one who does the will  of My Father in heaven.  22 On that day many will say to Me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in Your name, drive out demons  in Your name, and do many miracles in Your name? ’ 23 Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you! Depart from Me, you lawbreakers! ’  If you read on in this passage in Matthew the simple OUTWARD difference is one man heard the Word of God and obeyed, and acted on it...this is the one who built on the solid foundation...the other spends eternity in hell...that is the great crash!  The LORD through HIS servant Paul commands us to [2 Co 13:5] Test  yourselves ⌊to see⌋ if you are in the faith. Examine yourselves. Or do you not recognize for yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless you fail the test.  Paul did not take his own salvation for granted, checkout 1 Co 9:27, he demonstrates a concern for his own salvation.  "Instead, I discipline my body and bring it under strict control, so that after preaching to others, I myself will not be disqualified."

We are commanded to test ourselves to see if we are in the faith, we are commended to discipline ourselves, our bodies and our spiritual lives...so that we may be dying to self and becoming like Christ.  1 Tim 4:7  "But have nothing to do with irreverent and silly myths.  Rather, train yourself in godliness."  Another translation says to "discipline yourselves for the purpose of godliness."

Please read the extended quote and meet me at the end:)

1. The Path

First, we are taught that there are some hearers of the Gospel whose hearts are like the path in a field.

These are people who hear sermons [read their Bibles] but pay no attention to them. They go to a place of worship for form’s sake, or because it is fashionable, or to appear respectable before other people. But they take no interest whatever in the preaching. It seems to them a mere matter of words, names and unintelligible talk. It is neither money nor meat nor drink nor clothes nor company, and as they sit with the sound of it going on around them they are taken up with thinking of other things. It does not matter at all whether it is law or Gospel. It produces no more effect on them than water on a stone. And at the end they go away knowing no more than when they came in.

There are myriads of people who claim to be Christians but are in this state of soul. Sunday after Sunday they allow the devil to snatch away the good seed that is sown on the face of their hearts. Week after week they live on without faith, fear, knowledge or grace, feeling nothing, caring nothing, taking no more interest in [the things of Christ] than if Christ had never died on the cross at all. And in this state they often die and are buried, and are lost forever in hell.

2. The Rocky Places

Second, we are taught that there are some hearers of the Gospel whose hearts are like the rocky places in a field.

These are people on whom preaching [and bible reading] produces temporary impressions, but no deep, lasting and abiding effect. They take pleasure in hearing sermons in which the truth is faithfully displayed. They can speak with apparent joy and enthusiasm about the sweetness of the Gospel and the happiness which they experience in listening to it. They can be moved to tears by the appeals of preachers, and talk with apparent earnestness of their own inner conflicts, hopes, struggles, desires and fears. But unhappily there is no stability about their religion. “?Since they have no root, they last only a short time?” (verse ?17). There is no real work of the Holy Spirit in their hearts. Their impressions are like Jonah’s gourd which came up in a night and perished in a night. They fade as rapidly as they grow. “?When trouble or persecution comes because of the word,?” they fall away (verse ?17). Their goodness proves as “?the morning mist, like the early dew that disappears?” (?Hosea 6:4). Their religion has no more life in it than the cut flower. It has no root, and soon withers way.

There are many in every congregation which hears the Gospel, who are just in this state of soul. They are not careless and inattentive hearers, like many round them, and are therefore tempted to think well of their own condition. They feel a pleasure in the preaching to which they listen, and therefore flatter themselves they must have grace in their hearts. And yet they are thoroughly deceived. Old things have not yet passed away. There is no real work of conversion in their inner being. With all their feelings, affections, joys, hopes and desires, they are actually on the high road to destruction.

3. The Thorny Ground

Third, we are taught that there are some hearers of the Gospel whose hearts are like the thorny ground in a field.

These are peope who attend to the preaching of Christ’s truth and to a certain extent obey it. Their understanding assents to it. Their judgment approves of it. Their conscience is affected by it. Their affections are in favor of it. They acknowledge that it is all right, good and worth receiving. They even abstain from many things which the Gospel condemns, and adopt many habits which the Gospel requires. But here unhappily they stop short. Something appears to chain them fist, and they never get beyond a certain point in their religion. And the grand secret of their condition is the world. “?The worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things?” prevent the word having its full effect on their souls (verse ?19). With everything apparently that is promising and favorable in their spiritual state, they stand still. They never come up to the full standard of New Testament Christianity. They bring no fruit to perfection.

To go so far and yet go no further—to see so much and yet not see all—to approve so much and yet not give Christ the heart, this is indeed most deplorable! And there is but one verdict that can be given about such people. Without a decided change they will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Christ wants our whole heart. “?Friendship with the world is hatred towards God?” (?James 4:4).

4. The Good Soil

Fourth, we are taught that there are some hearers of the Gospel whose hearts are like the good soil in a field.

These are the people who really receive Christ’s truth into the bottom of their hearts, believe it implicitly and obey it thoroughly. In these the fruits of that truth will be seen—uniform, plain and unmistakable results in heart and life. Sin will be truly hated, mourned over, resisted and renounced. Christ will be truly loved, trusted in, followed, loved and obeyed. Holiness will show itself in all their conversation, in humility, spiritual-mindedness, patience, meekness and love. There will be something that can be seen. The true work of the Holy Spirit cannot be hidden.

There will always be some persons in this state of soul wherever the Gospel is faithfully preached. Their numbers may very likely be few compared with the worldly people around them. Their experience and degree of spiritual attainment may differ widely, some producing thirty, some sixty and some a hundred times what was sown. But the crop of the seed falling into good ground will always be of the same kind. There will always be visible repentance, visible faith in Christ and visible holiness of life. Without these things, there is no saving religion.

And now let us ask ourselves, What are we? Under which class of hearers ought we to be ranked? With what kind of hearts do we hear the word? Never, never may we forget that there is only one infallible mark of being a right-hearted hearer! That mark is to bear fruit. To be without fruit is to be on the way to hell.

Ryle, J. C. (1993). Mark. The Crossway classic commentaries (47). Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books.

Let's train ourselves in godliness, test yourselves to see if you are in the faith, discipline yourselves lest you be disqualified, I am also saying this to me!

Father in heaven, be gracious to us according to your faithful love, according to your abundant compassion, blot out my rebellion, wash away my guilt and cleanse me from my sin...against YOU and YOU alone have I sinned.  Wash me and I will be whiter than snow.  God, create in me a clean heart and renew a steadfast spirit within me.  Father, I long to have a heart that produces a crop for YOU!  PLEASE, AS I SEEK TO FIX MY EYES ON JESUS, BEHOLDING IS BECOMING, transform my heart, create in me a clean heart, a heart that loves YOU, loves people, loves YOUR precious Word.  Do this please for YOUR glory and for my joy in YOU.  Restore to me the joy of YOUR salvation and grant me a willing spirit.  Father in heaven open my lips and my mouth will declare YOUR praise.  The SACRAFICE [REMEMBER LEVITICUS] pleasing to God is a broken spirit.  God, YOU will not despise a broken and humbled heart.

I love you Father...in Jesus name...Amen!

Let's go hard after HIM!  I pray that you all will pass the test!

Leviticus summary 1-7

God gives Moses rules for bringing different types of offerings. The rules in 1:1–6:7 are for the people. Additional rules for the priests are found in 6:8–7:38. Many of the offerings are voluntary. But the sin offering (4:1–5:13) and the guilt offering (6:1–7) are mandatory. Anyone who is guilty of ritual or moral offense must confess his fault, and bring an animal to be sacrificed by the priests. In the sacrificial system of Israel the Old Testament believer was able to confess sins and find forgiveness, to express thanks, and experience intimate fellowship with God.

Richards, L. O. (1991; Published in electronic form by Logos Research Systems, 1996). The Bible readers companion (electronic ed.) (78). Wheaton: Victor Books.

Praise God and rejoice you children of God, behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.  Keep in mind as you continue to read through Leviticus that every drop of blood is screaming and pointing to JESUS AND THE CROSS.  Now you and I have the joy of looking back to the Cross and KNOWING...AS WE ARE TOLD IN 1 John 1:9-10  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.  Confession, repentance, turning from everything and turning to Jesus, dying to self, sin and the world is a must as HE enables us and there we find forgiveness, mercy, grace and intimate fellowship with our heavenly Father, our Abba!

As you read through Leviticus it might be helpful to read through Hebrews 7-10 a few times so that you may keep in the front of your mind that ALL OF THE LEVITICAL CODE IS TAKEN AWAY IN CHRIST...JESUS is the new, better, perfect High Priest, who lives to intercede for us day and night, HE atoned for our sins once and for all...glory to God in the highest!  Another great passage that sheds more light on Leviticus is 2 Corinthians 3-4, here Paul compares the old covenant and the new covenant...it is awesome, I especially love to meditate on 2 Cor 4:6-7...when you have full and complete comprehension of those words please enlighten me...to me it is like sitting on the edge of the Grand Canyon looking around in astonishment at the beauty and grandeur.

I want to take a moment and comment on the unpardonable sin...I passed it over in Matthew 12, but I was led to comment on it here.  It is not uncommon to get a phone call or have someone in my office fearful that they have committed the unpardonable sin.  Remember...CONTEXT IS KING...I KNOW JESUS IS KING, but when we desire to rightly understand God's Word you MUST seek to understand the CONTEXT that the words were being spoken. 

I have run in several 5k's, 10k's and a handful of triathlons...if you approach me before a race and ask, "Mark how are you going to do in the race," and I respond..."I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, I am going to win this race...God said that every promise in HIM is yes and amen, I am claiming HIS promise!"  WHAT CAN YOU SAY...BAD UNDERSTANDING OF GOD'S WORD AND HIS PROMISES...CONTEXT IS KING WHEN SEEKING TO KNOW GOD AS HE IS...NOT AS YOU WANT HIM TO BE!

So let's consider the context!

Mk 3:27-30 “On the other hand, no one can enter a strong man’s house and rob his possessions unless he first ties up  the strong man. Then he will rob his house. 28 I assure you: People will be forgiven for all sins  and whatever blasphemies  they may blaspheme. 29 But whoever blasphemes  against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness,  but is guilty  of an eternal sin”  — 30 because they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.”

The context indicates that Jesus is speaking about a sin that is not simply unbelief or rejection of Christ, but one that includes (1) a clear knowledge of who Christ is and of the power of the Holy Spirit working through him, (2) a willful rejection of the facts about Christ that his opponents knew to be true, and (3) slanderously attributing the work of the Holy Spirit in Christ to the power of Satan. In such a case the hardness of heart would be so great that any ordinary means of bringing a sinner to repentance would already have been rejected. Persuasion of the truth will not work, for these people have already known the truth and have willfully rejected it. Demonstration of the power of the Holy Spirit to heal and bring life will not work, for they have seen it and rejected it. In this case it is not that the sin itself is so horrible that it could not be covered by Christ’s redemptive work, but rather that the sinner’s hardened heart puts him or her beyond the reach of God’s ordinary means of bringing forgiveness through repentance and trusting Christ for salvation. The sin is unpardonable because it cuts off the sinner from repentance and saving faith through belief in the truth.

Consider Paul's word to the Thessalonians in 2 Th 2:10 and with every unrighteous deception among those who are perishing. ⌊They perish⌋ because they did not accept the love of the truth in order to be saved. 

Berkhof wisely defines this sin in the following way:

This sin consists in the conscious, malicious, and wilful rejection and slander, against evidence and conviction, of the testimony of the Holy Spirit respecting the grace of God in Christ, attributing it out of hatred and enmity to the Prince of Darkness....in committing that sin man wilfully, maliciously, and intentionally attributes what is clearly recognized as the work of God to the influence and operation of Satan.?

Berkhof explains that the sin itself consists “not in doubting the truth, nor in a sinful denial of it but in a contradiction of it that goes contrary to the conviction of the mind, to the illumination of the conscience, and even to the verdict of the heart.”?

The fact that the unpardonable sin involves such extreme hardness of heart and lack of repentance indicates that those who fear they have committed it, yet still have sorrow for sin in their heart and desire to seek after God, certainly do not fall in the category of those who are guilty of it. Berkhof says that “we may be reasonably sure that those who fear that they have committed it and worry about this, and desire the prayers of others for them, have not committed it.”?

This understanding of the unpardonable sin also fits well with Hebrews 6:4–6. There the persons who “commit apostasy” have had all sorts of knowledge and conviction of the truth: they have “been enlightened” and have “tasted the heavenly gift”; they have participated in some ways in the work of the Holy Spirit and “have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come,” yet they then willfully turn away from Christ and “hold him up to contempt” (Heb. 6:6). They too have put themselves beyond the reach of God’s ordinary means of bringing people to repentance and faith. Knowing and being convinced of the truth, they willfully reject it.

Grudem, W. A. (1994). Systematic theology : An introduction to biblical doctrine (508). Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, Mich.: Inter-Varsity Press; Zondervan Pub. House.

Not only does HE eat with such scum, like me, but HE calls scum, like me, to follow HIM, to be HIS disciple and to minister in HIS name.  I don't know about you, but this is very encouraging to me!  Question...who should we eat with?

Mark 2:13-17 

13 Then Jesus went out to the lakeshore again and taught the crowds that were coming to him. 14 As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Levi got up and followed him.

15 Later, Levi invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. (There were many people of this kind among Jesus’ followers.) 16 But when the teachers of religious law who were Pharisees saw him eating with tax collectors and other sinners, they asked his disciples, “Why does he eat with such scum?”

17 When Jesus heard this, he told them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”

As I read through Leviticus again, I am amazed again at how much detail there is in the Levitical law and how they must follow it exactly.  How easy it would have been to commit an unintentional sin and then because of that unintentional sin you must take something you cherish and sacrifice it and burn it up.  Not just something you cherish, it is a living creature, you must lay your hands on its head, you must slit its throat to symbolize that it is taking your sin, it is taking your place.

Lev 4:2--“Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘If a person sins unintentionally in any of the things which the Lord has commanded not to be done, and commits any of them,

Lev 4:13--‘Now if the whole congregation of Israel commits error and the matter escapes the notice of the assembly, and they commit any of the things which the Lord has commanded not to be done, and they become guilty;

Lev 4:22--‘When a leader sins and unintentionally does any one of all the things which the Lord his God has commanded not to be done, and he becomes guilty,

Lev 4:27--‘Now if anyone of the common people sins unintentionally in doing any of the things which the Lord has commanded not to be done, and becomes guilty,

Lev 5:15--“If a person acts unfaithfully and sins unintentionally against the Lord’s holy things, then he shall bring his guilt offering to the Lord: a ram without defect from the flock, according to your valuation in silver by shekels, in terms of the shekel of the sanctuary, for a guilt offering.

Lev 5:17--“Now if a person sins and does any of the things which the Lord has commanded not to be done, though he was unaware, still he is guilty and shall bear his punishment.

I am going to jump ahead in Mark several days, but it applies to our reading in Leviticus.  There is an amazing exchange between Jesus and a scribe.  The scribe asked which commandment is the most important...take a look.

Mark 12:29-34

29 “This is the most important,”  Jesus answered: Listen, Israel! The Lord  our God, The Lord  is One.  30 Love  the Lord your God  with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind,  and with all your strength.   31 “The second is: Love your neighbor  as yourself.   There is no other commandment  greater than these.”

32 Then the scribe said to Him, “You are right, Teacher! You have correctly said that He is One, and there is no one  else except Him.  33 And to love  Him with all your heart, with all your understanding,  and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself, is far more ⌊important⌋ than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

34 When Jesus saw that he answered intelligently, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”  And no one dared  to question Him any longer.

Now remember Jesus said in Matt 5:17 that HE did not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill the law.  We see here Jesus in agreement with a scribe that absolute love for God and love for others is far more important that all the burnt offerings and sacrifices. 

In the light of this consider again Hebrews 10:1-18...as we continue through Leviticus I would encourage you to keep Hebrews chapters 7-10 in heart and mind.  This truly is incredible!

Hebrews 10:1-18

The Perfect Sacrifice

10     Since the law has ⌊only⌋ a shadow of the good things  to come, and not the actual form of those realities, it can never perfect the worshipers by the same sacrifices they continually offer year after year. 2 Otherwise, wouldn’t they have stopped being offered, since the worshipers, once purified, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? 3 But in the sacrifices  there is a reminder of sins every year. 4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

5 Therefore, as He was coming into the world, He said:

          You did not want sacrifice and offering,

          but You prepared a body for Me.

         6 You did not delight

          in whole burnt offerings and sin offerings.

          7 Then I said, “See, I have come—

          it is written about Me

          in the volume of the scroll—

          to do Your will, O God!” 

8 After He says above, You did not desire or delight in sacrifices and offerings, whole burnt offerings and sin offerings, (which are offered according to the law ), 9 He then says, See, I have come to do Your will.  He takes away the first to establish the second. 10 By this will, we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once and for all.

11 Now every priest stands day after day ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.  12 But this man, after offering one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God.  13 He is now waiting until His enemies are made His footstool.  14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are sanctified. 15 The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. For after He had said:

          16 This is the covenant that I will make with them

          after those days, says the Lord:

          I will put My laws on their hearts,

          and I will write them on their minds,

17 ⌊He adds⌋:

          I will never again remember

          their sins and their lawless acts. 

18 Now where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.

Glory!  Praise be to God in the highest [Ps 36:5-10] Lord, Your faithful love ⌊reaches⌋ to heaven, Your faithfulness to the skies. 6 Your righteousness is like the highest mountain; Your judgments, like the deepest sea.  Lord, You preserve man and beast. 7 God, Your faithful love is so valuable that people take refuge in the shadow of Your wings.  They are filled from the abundance of Your house;  You let them drink from Your refreshing stream, 9     for with You is life’s fountain.  In Your light we will see light. 10 Spread Your faithful love over those who know You, and Your righteousness over the upright in heart.  Father in heaven, grant us the wisdom to look to YOU and YOU alone for our satisfaction, to YOU and YOU alone for our joy and security and significance.  Please work this in a way that YOU get all the glory and we are filled with YOUR joy, the joy of our Master, Lord, Savior and God.

Before Jesus there was a pain-staking process, the process POINTED TO JESUS AND TO THE CROSS, but the process still had to be followed to the letter.  Through this process, the priest will purify the people from their sin, making them right with the Lord, and they will be forgiven. Leviticus 4:32

One sin is horrific, one sin caused the fall, one sin is enough to condemn you and I to eternity in HELL, that would be fair, that is what you and I deserve...that would be right and just!

So we rejoice in Christ, knowing that our sins are forgiven, but we keep a very short account with our LORD.  1 Jn 1:9-10  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive  us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say, “We have not sinned,” we make Him a liar, and His word  is not in us.  We still must confess, we still must repent, we must TURN TO JESUS AND BEHOLD HIM, BEHOLDING IS BECOMING!  As you behold HIM, HE invites you to drink deeply of the living water and live!

Job 20:17 He will not enjoy the streams, the rivers flowing with honey and cream.

Ps 46:4 ⌊There is⌋ a river— its streams delight the city of God, the holy dwelling place of the Most High.

Re 22:1 Then he showed me the river  of living water, sparkling like crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 

 

Jeremiah 2:13      For My people have committed a double evil:  They have abandoned Me, the fountain of living water, and dug cisterns for themselves,           cracked cisterns that cannot hold water.

CONGRATULATIONS...YOU HAVE MADE IT THROUGH GENESIS AND EXODUS!  6 Weeks down and only 46 to go:)  The Gospel of Mark is a high energy and engaging read, Leviticus is a little different.  I want to encourage to read every Word.  For animal lovers this is going to be difficult, Leviticus is a bloody mess.  A few years ago I was reading through Leviticus having a difficult time staying focused and making application and it hit me...one aspect of Leviticus is that it says to those who will have eyes to see and ears to hear..."this is how horrific sin is, this is what sin does...the thief has come but to steal, kill and destroy.  How would your walk with the LORD be if every "little" accidental sin required you to go to the temple and slaughter an animal, slit its throat, cut it into pieces and burn it up...so that you could have fellowship with God again!  Do you realize that there we no sacrifices for intentional, willful disobedience..."I know that I should not gossip, but I must tell her/him this about..."  Only on the Day of Atonement were willful sins forgiven!  One time each year!

As you read Leviticus keep in mind everything is pointing to Jesus, it is a demonstration of how HOLY GOD is and the seriousness of sin...and that sin requires that blood be shed to atone for those sins.  THEN PRAISE GOD AND REJOICE GREATLY THAT OUR GREAT, AWESOME AND HOLY HIGH PRIEST ENTERED THE HOLY OF HOLIES ONCE AND FOR ALL AND ANONTED FOR OUR SINS...IT INDEED IS GOOD NEWS, REALLY GOOD!

The Israelites are camped on the plains below a smouldering Mt. Sinai. A few short months ago God freed this people from slavery by mighty acts of power. He guided them deep into the desolate Sinai Peninsula, and there He gave them commandments they promised to obey. God also gave Moses specific plans for a portable worship center, the tabernacle. Those plans were followed exactly, and now a splendid tent–church stands in the center of Israel’s camp, and Aaron and his sons have been ordained as priests.

The Book of Leviticus is actually a manual, a how–to guide for the new priesthood, explaining the duties of priest and people as they worship God at His tabernacle. In general, the first half of the book covers sacrifices and duties of priests, and the second half states principles of personal as well as ritual holiness. What is most striking is that powerful revelation about relationship with God is implied in all the Leviticus details. We realize that God has chosen to dwell with His people in a tabernacle that symbolizes both His presence and His power. We realize God’s presence has an awesome impact: those with whom God dwells must be a different, holy people! Every ritual and moral regulation of Leviticus is designed to drive this truth home. If God is with us, we must be wholly set apart to Him. We also realize through the emphasis on sacrifice that we stand before God as sinners. Only a people cleansed by sacrificial blood can draw near to the Lord to worship Him and to celebrate His presence. The frequent focus of Leviticus on ritual matters may seem foreign to you and me. But the underlying message of this manual of O.T. worship shines bright, and is relevant to us today.

Richards, L. O. (1991; Published in electronic form by Logos Research Systems, 1996). The Bible readers companion (electronic ed.) (75). Wheaton: Victor Books.

If you search Leviticus in the NASB for the word blood you will find it shows up 86 times in 65 verses.  Leviticus, as I said, is a bloody book.  It is stunning that today scientist, hematologist do not fully understand how blood works and yet thousands of years ago Moses could write that "the life of the flesh is in the blood."  

BLOOD — The most important biblical concept in regard to blood is the spiritual significance of the blood of sacrificial animals. Although some scholars believe the blood primarily means the animal’s life, most agree that blood refers to the animal’s death. Most of the Old Testament passages that discuss sacrifices mention the death of the animal, not its life (Lev. 4:4–5). The Bible makes it clear that the satisfaction or payment for human sins was made by the death of a specified animal substitute: “For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul” (Lev. 17:11).

In the New Testament, this Old Testament idea of sacrifice is applied to Christ’s blood. References to the “blood of Christ” always mean the sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross. References to the blood of Christ were made by Paul (Rom. 3:25); Peter (1 Pet. 1:19); John (Rev. 1:5) and the author of Hebrews (Heb. 9:14). Although all have sinned, “we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Eph. 1:7).

Youngblood, R. F., Bruce, F. F., Harrison, R. K., & Thomas Nelson Publishers. (1995). Nelson's new illustrated Bible dictionary. Rev. ed. of: Nelson's illustrated Bible dictionary.; Includes index. Nashville: T. Nelson.

Mark 1:40-44   Then  a man with a serious skin disease [leprosy]  came to Him and, on his knees,   begged Him: “If You are willing, You can make me clean.”  41 Moved with compassion,  Jesus reached out His hand and touched  him. “I am willing,” He told him. “Be made clean.” 42 Immediately the disease  left him, and he was healed.  43 Then He sternly warned  him and sent him away  at once, 44 telling him, “See that you say nothing to anyone;  but go and show  yourself to the priest,  and offer  what Moses prescribed for your cleansing,  as a testimony  to them.”

Interesting, Jesus told him to go and make the levitical offering for leprosy.  You may remember in Matthew 5:17 Jesus said, “Don’t assume that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 

You and I think of leprosy and like the thought of cancer it is a horrible and dreadful thing to consider.  It is important to remember that leprosy for the Israelite was doubly terrifying...why?  First, because of the same reason it would be for anyone, it is a terrible disease, but for the Israelite, they were cut off from their community, they were CUT OFF FROM THE TEMPLE AND WORSHIP, THEY WERE CUT OFF FROM THEIR FAMILY.  In addition to a painful, slow, horrific death...you did it alone, isolated.

So when Jesus healed this man and when HE healed the 10 lepers in Luke, HE was restoring health to their bodies, but HE also restored them to the Worshiping community, to their family, to life!  That is why in Luke Jesus was amazed that only one returned to say THANK YOU, and the one was a Samaritan.

Remember when John the Baptist begins to have doubts about Jesus, do you remember what Jesus' response to John was?   In Luke 7:22 “Go and report to John the things you have seen and heard: The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those with [leprosy] skin diseases are healed,  the deaf hear,  the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news preached to them. 

Do you realize this was our condition when Jesus found us?  You and I were DEAD in our sins and trespasses...spiritually we could not walk, we were dead, spiritually we were CUT OFF from worship, we were spiritual lepers, we could not hear and we were poor and destitute...AND HE MADE US ALIVE TOGETHER WITH CHRIST...2 Co 8:9  You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.

Father in heaven,

finish the good work YOU began in us, if YOU are willing, YOU can and will conform us to the image of YOUR Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ...if YOU are willing, if YOU are willing YOU can heal me from petty self-centeredness, from a small vision of what YOU long to do...if YOU are willing, you can make me clean!  Create in me a clean heart, a heart to know YOU to love YOU to go hard after YOU.

Thank YOU for granting confidence in knowing that YOU will make me, YOU will make us clean!  We have this confidence because we know that "Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? Rom 8:32

Please work this for YOUR glory and for our Joy in YOU!

love,

m

Everything in the Tabernacle, everything is about the presence of God, it is about HIS Holiness, HIS Glory, and HIS burning desire to be present with HIS covenant people.  The intricate detail is amazing, everything had to be done exactly as the LORD directed or it would not have been acceptable.  At the end of Exodus we see the significance of the pain-staking attention to detail...it is a glorious display of the presence of God among HIS people.  You may recall the over arching summary of the Bible I shared from my Greek prof., Ken Easley..."the Lord God through His Christ is graciously building a kingdom of redeemed people for their joy and His own glory." 

The Lord’s Glory Fills the Tabernacle

Ex 40:34-38 Then the cloud covered the Tabernacle, and the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle. 35 Moses could no longer enter the Tabernacle because the cloud had settled down over it, and the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle.

36 Now whenever the cloud lifted from the Tabernacle, the people of Israel would set out on their journey, following it. 37 But if the cloud did not rise, they remained where they were until it lifted. 38 The cloud of the Lord hovered over the Tabernacle during the day, and at night fire glowed inside the cloud so the whole family of Israel could see it. This continued throughout all their journeys.

“Tabernacle”

(Heb. mishkan) (Ex. 25:9; 26:1; 40:2). Strong’s #4908: The word tabernacle signifies “a dwelling place” and is related to the verb meaning “to dwell,” “to settle down,” and “to live among” (Ex. 29:45; Gen. 14:13). In Exodus, the tabernacle is a temporary place to live—a tent (Song 1:8). God’s tent, the tabernacle, functioned as an object lesson in God’s holiness and a symbol of His divine presence among His people (Ex. 33:7–11). It was a sign that God wanted to live among His people and establish an intimate relationship with them (Ex. 5:8, 9). The ultimate outworking of that desire was that Jesus Christ, who was Himself God, became a man. As the Son of God, Jesus lived among us, walked with us, and revealed God the Father to us (John 1:14–18). This is why His name is Immanuel, meaning “God with us” (Matt. 1:23).

Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1999). Nelson's new illustrated Bible commentary (Ex 40:1-2). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.

The Baptism of Jesus

I love the progression here in the opening words of Mark.  John testifies about Jesus, the Holy Spirit testifies about Jesus and then the Father Himself testifies about Jesus!  Consider that right here in these few verses if you will see God the Father shows us the trinity...all three are present at the same time!

Mark 1:9-13  In  those days Jesus came from Nazareth  in Galilee  and was baptized in the Jordan by John. 10 As soon as He came up out of the water, He saw the heavens  being torn open and the Spirit descending to Him like a dove. 11 And a voice  came from heaven:

          You are My beloved  Son; I take delight  in You!   

12 Immediately  the Spirit  drove  Him into the wilderness.  13 He was in the wilderness 40 days, being tempted  by Satan.  He was with the wild animals,  and the angels  began to serve Him.

Mk 1:14-17  After  John was arrested,  Jesus went to Galilee,  preaching  the good news    of God:  15 “The time  is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God  has come  near.  Repent  and believe  in the good news!”

16 As  He was passing along by the Sea of Galilee,  He saw Simon  and Andrew,  Simon’s brother. They were casting a net into the sea,  since they were fishermen. 17 “Follow Me,”  Jesus told them, “and I will make you fish   for people!” 

Our God is the on time God...never early, never late...HE is always on time!

Galatians 4:4  But when the completion of the time came, God sent His Son,  born of a woman,  born under the law,

Eph 1:10  for the administration  of the days of fulfillment —to bring everything together in the Messiah,  both things in heaven and things on earth  in Him.

1 Ti 2:6  who gave Himself—a ransom for all, a testimony at the proper time.

Tit 1:3 and has in His own time revealed  His message  in the proclamation that I was entrusted  with by the command  of God our Savior:

The kingdom of God has come near, God longs to be present with HIS people, but HE will not reside in an unclean vessel...REPENT AND BELIEVE!  Keep you eyes on Jesus, fix your eyes on Jesus...praise God the glory of the Old Covenant is surpassed by the glory of the New Covenant, the Covenant purchased and sealed with the blood of God, the blood of Jesus.  REPENT, be clean and eat, breath, live and walk in HIS presence...for HIS glory and Your joy!

Pr 9:11-12 For by Wisdom your days will be many, and years will be added to your life. 12  If you are wise, you are wise for your own benefit; if you mock, you alone will bear ⌊the consequences⌋.”

IT is the wise who walk with Jesus!

Love,

m

Proverbs 9:9-10

Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Exodus Review

In Exodus 25–27 Moses carefully recorded the blueprints God gave him for the design of the tabernacle and its furnishings. Now Moses describes the construction of the tabernacle and repeats, almost word for word, material in the earlier chapters. The repetition serves as a reminder. The tabernacle, and the sacrifices offered there, were central in Israel’s faith. They spoke then and today of worship, and of access to God even for those who had sinned.

Here then we find again Sabbath regulations (35:1–3), a list of materials (vv. 4–29), enablement of gifted craftsmen (35:30–36:7), construction of the tabernacle (vv. 8–38), the ark (37:1–9), the table for showbread (vv. 10–16), the lampstand (vv. 17–24), the altar of incense (vv. 25–29), the altar of burnt offering (38:1–8), the courtyard (vv. 9–20), and finally, a summary of the materials used (vv. 21–31).

Key verse. 36:1: The Lord must give us not only directions, but also the ability to do His work.

Personal application. It is important to know exactly what God wants. It is even more important to do it!

Richards, L. O. (1991; Published in electronic form by Logos Research Systems, 1996). The Bible readers companion (electronic ed.) (73). Wheaton: Victor Books.

“From what you have” (35:5). Sometimes I fool myself by saying, "Lord, if I had this much money I could do so much more for you...I would do this and this and this."  When ALL HE is looking for is a willing heart and to freely give from what we have. 

“More than enough” (36:6). The invitation to give was extended to all. The response was so great that Moses had to stop the outpouring of gifts.  Could you imagine if the body of Bellevue was filled with God's children with "willing hearts" to give from what they have and one Sunday Brother Steve has to get up and say, "Hey everyone, we need to restrain your giving, you are giving too much...please, no one give more than 20%."  Please here me, I am always blessed how our church family responds to invitations to give, we are a generous people, BUT we have never had to say, STOP GIVING, STOP GIVING!

“The Spirit of God.” (35:31)Those chosen to serve God were equipped for service by the Holy Spirit. We know that the Holy Spirit is not an “influence,” but a Person. Jesus used the personal pronoun “He” in speaking of the Spirit (John 14:17, 26; 16:13–15). Scripture tells us that the Spirit knows and understands (Rom. 8:27; 1 Cor. 2:11), acts and chooses (12:11), loves (Rom. 15:30), teaches (John 14:26), intercedes (Rom. 8:26), convicts (John 16:7–8), bears witness (15:26), and guides (16:13).

As God's children we can be confident that if HE prompts and moves us to serve HIM and minister in HIS name HE WILL equip us for the job!  Checkout 2 Co 3:4-6 Paul tells us that, "We have this kind of confidence toward God through Christ: 5 not that we are competent in  ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our competence is from God.  6 He has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant,  not of the letter,  but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit produces life."

I don't mind telling you that as God began to call us into the ministry I pulled a Moses, remember, "here I am Lord, please send someone else."  Then like Moses I had a long list of reasons why it would not work, why I was not qualified, why I was not competent, capable etc...and then HE did something that was NOT FAIR!  HE PASSED MY EYES, THE EYES OF MY HEART OVER HIS WORDS IN VERSE 6 He has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant.  And then I heard the Spirit of God say...not in an audible voice, LOUDER THAN THAT:)...Mark, you are right in every way, you are not qualified, competent, capable or anything of the sort...BUT...I HAVE MADE YOU COMPETENT TO BE A MINISTER OF THE NEW COVENANT!  HE is so awesome!  Do you see what HE did?  HE took away ALL POSSIBILITY OF BOASTING FROM ME AND GAVE ME ABSOLUTE CONFIDENCE AT THE SAME TIME...THINK ABOUT THAT FOR A MOMENT...THAT IS WHY PAUL WOULD ONLY BOAST IN THE CROSS...I HOPE YOU SEE HOW HUGE THAT IS...HOW HUGE THAT IS WHEN HE PROMPTS YOU TO MINISTER IN HIS NAME!

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?  WELL...THE GREAT COMMISSION, HIS WORDS IN MATTHEW TODAY ARE A COMMAND TO EVERY CHILD OF GOD...EVERY CHILD, BUT MARK...EVERY CHILD...IT IS A COMMAND...YOU DON'T HAVE TO WONDER IF GOD WANTS YOU TO PARTICIPATE...YOU ARE COMMANDED TO...WILL YOU OBEY...WHAT MUST YOU AND I DO TO OBEY THIS COMMAND?

Mt 28:18-20

The Great Commission

18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Remember Jesus authority is universal and HE has a plan and a purpose in using HIS authority.  HE has authority over, disease, demons, sin, suffering, nature and the nations...what does this mean as we seek to obey this command?  IT MEANS THAT WE ARE ABSOLUTELY FREE TO PURSUE HIM IN RADICAL, YES RADICAL OBEDIENCE TO THIS COMMAND...HE HAS ABSOLUTE AUTHORITY AND HE HAS PROMISED HIS PRESENCE, REMEMBER THAT WAS WHAT MOSES WAS AFTER, THE PRESENCE OF GOD...AS HIS CHILDREN WE ARE FREE TO RADICALLY OBEY, TO MAKE DISCIPLES, TO BRING OTHERS OUT OF DARKNESS INTO HIS MARVELOUS LIGIT, TO BRING THEM FROM DEATH INTO CHRIST AND ETERNAL LIFE.  We are free to risk everything to obey as HE LEADS US because HE is in control of EVERYTHING...HE IS ABSOLUTELY SOVEREIGN.  GO THEREFORE...AS YOU ARE GOING...make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Father in heaven,

enable me to walk in obedience to love you, to love others...thank YOU, that YOU have made me (us) to be competent ministers of the new covenant and to go and make disciples for your glory and our joy.

love,

M

Psalm 34

The Lord Delivers the Righteous--Concerning David, when he pretended to be insane in the presence of Abimelech,    who drove him out, and he departed.

 I  will praise the Lord at all times; His praise will always be on my lips. 2 I will boast in the Lord; the humble will hear and be glad. 3 Proclaim with me the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt His name together. 4 I sought the Lord, and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears. 5  Those who look to Him are  radiant with joy; their faces will never be ashamed. 6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard ⌊him⌋ and saved him from all his troubles. 7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and rescues them. 8  Taste and see that the Lord is good.  How happy is the man who takes refuge in Him! 9 Fear the Lord, you His saints, for those who fear Him lack nothing. 10 Young lions  lack food and go hungry, but those who seek the Lord will not lack any good thing.   11 Come, children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. 12 Who is the man who delights in life, loving a long life to enjoy what is good? 13 Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from deceitful speech. 14  Turn away from evil and do what is good; seek peace and pursue it. 15 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry for help. 16 The face of the Lord is set against those who do what is evil, to erase all memory of them from the earth. 17 The righteous  cry out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them from all their troubles. 18 The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He saves those crushed in spirit. 19 Many adversities come to the one who is righteous, but the Lord delivers him from them all. 20 He protects all his bones; not one of them is broken. 21 Evil brings death to the sinner, and those who hate the righteous will be punished. 22 The Lord redeems the life of His servants, and all who take refuge in Him will not be punished.

Is your face radiant with joy?  Mark you don't know my circumstances!  Is your face radiant with joy?  Under the circumstances I think I am doing pretty good!  Is your face radiant with joy?  GET OUT FROM UNDER THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES ENTER THE PRESENCE OF ALMIGHTY GOD AND LOOK TO HIM!  Is your face radiant with joy?

Do you fear/greatly reverence God?  Consider that HE is the creator, sustainer, maker of all things seen and unseen and HE is the one who did not spare HIS OWN Son, but sent HIM for us all...DO YOU RIGHTLY REVERENCE HIM IN THE WAY THAT YOU SPEND YOUR TIME, MONEY, ENERGY?  I confess that I have moments where and when I do and there is much time when the currents of this world pull me off course, in the midst of painful circumstances I take my eyes off of Jesus and look to myself...we all knows what happens next...I end up in the ditch.

I love in 2 Kings 6:17 where Elisha's servant is filled with fear because of the army that has come against them.  Elisha tells his servant, "Don't be afraid, for those who are with us outnumber those who are with them."  I love this next part, Then Elisha prayed, “Lord, please open his eyes and let him see.” So the Lord opened the servant’s eyes. He looked and saw that the mountain was covered with horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.  I don't know about you but this takes me to Paul's prayer for the Ephesian church in Eph 1:18,  ⌊I pray⌋ that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so you may know what is the hope  of His calling,  what are the glorious riches of His inheritance among the saints,

That brings us to the next question, do you daily TASTE AND SEE that the LORD IS GOOD?  NO...DO YOU MOMENT BY MOMENT TASTE AND SEE THAT THE LORD IS GOOD?

Let's think about our recent readings in Exodus, what was the purpose of everything?  All of the detail, all of the minutia, the intricate detail in the Tabernacle...what was it all about?  IT WAS ABOUT THE PRESENCE OF GOD DWELLING AMONG HIS PEOPLE.  It is also more importantly for us REDEMPTIVE HISTORY UNFOLDING, it is the redemptive story being told...everything is point to Jesus, everything is a foreshadow of things to come in Christ!

I don't know about you but in recent days every time I saw "everyone whose heart stirs him to..."  I cried, OH LORD, stir my heart, move my heart, create in me a clean heart to know YOU, to love YOU, to say "here am I, send me."  Whatever it is, what ever YOU want stir my heart...like Moses I long for YOU, for YOUR presence...I don't want the gifts with out the gift giver...forget the gifts...I want YOU!

Exod 25:2--“Tell the Israelites to take an offering for Me. You are to take My offering from everyone whose heart stirs him ⌊to give⌋.

Exod 35:5--Take up an offering for the Lord among you. Let everyone whose heart is willing bring this as the Lord’s offering: gold, silver, and bronze;

Exod 35:21--Everyone whose heart was moved and whose spirit prompted him came and brought an offering to the Lord to construct the tent of meeting for every use, and ⌊to make⌋ the holy garments.

Exod 35:26--And all the women whose hearts were moved spun the goat hair by virtue of ⌊their⌋ skill.

Exod 35:29--So the Israelites brought a freewill offering to the Lord, all the men and women whose hearts prompted them to bring ⌊something⌋ for all the work that the Lord, through Moses, had commanded to be done.

Exod 36:2--So Moses summoned Bezalel, Oholiab, and every skilled person in whose heart the Lord had placed wisdom, everyone whose heart moved him, to come to the work and do it.

Now if God moved in their hearts before Pentecost, what will HE do NOW?  Consider John 1:14 The Word  became flesh and took up residence  among us. We observed His glory, the glory as the One and Only  Son  from the Father, full of grace and truth...and consider  John 14:26  But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit —the Father will send  Him in My name—will teach you all things  and remind you of everything I have told you. 

You and I have "Christ in us the hope of glory," we have the very presence of God dwelling within us, HIS precious Holy Spirit!  In 1 Cor. 6:19-21, Paul teaches us, "Do you not know that your body is a sanctuary  of the Holy Spirit  who is in you,  whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought  at a price; therefore glorify God in your body."

What price?  What did it cost God?

Mt 27:38-53

38 Then two criminals  were crucified with Him, one on the right and one on the left.  39 Those who passed by were yelling insults at  Him, shaking their heads  40 and saying, “The One who would demolish the sanctuary and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross!”  41 In the same way the chief priests, with the scribes and elders,  mocked Him and said, 42 “He saved others, but He cannot save Himself! He is the King of Israel!  Let Him  come down now from the cross, and we will believe in Him. 43 He has put His trust in God; let God rescue Him now—if He wants Him!  For He said, ‘I am God’s Son.’ ” 44 In the same way even the criminals who were crucified with Him kept taunting Him.

The Death of Jesus

45 From noon until three in the afternoon  darkness came over the whole land.   46 At about three in the afternoon Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Elí, Elí, lemá sabachtháni?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken  Me?” 

47 When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling for Elijah!”

48 Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine, fixed it on a reed, and offered Him a drink.  49 But the rest said, “Let’s see if Elijah comes to save Him!”

50 Jesus shouted again with a loud voice and gave up His spirit.  51 Suddenly, the curtain of the sanctuary   was split in two from top to bottom; the earth quaked and the rocks were split. 52 The tombs also were opened and many bodies of the saints who had gone to their rest  were raised. 53 And they came out of the tombs after His resurrection, entered the holy city, and appeared to many.

What is it all about?  IT is about the Rule and Reign of God (Kingdom of God) in the hearts and minds of HIS people.  The veil was ripped from top to bottom, Jesus body was ripped, HIS blood was spilled that we might DELIGHT IN GOD, ENJOYING HIM FOREVER...ONE PASTOR PUTS IT THIS WAY...GOD IS MOST GLORIFIED IN US WHEN WE ARE MOST SATISFIED IN HIM.  It is about the presence of God

Father in heaven,

open the eyes of our hearts that we might "taste and see" that YOU are good...Father because YOU have opened the way for us, Your children to know YOU through the blood of YOUR Son, enable us to praise YOU at all times, to boast in YOU and YOU alone, to proclaim YOUR greatness and exalt YOUR name!  Holy Spirit teach us to pursue our heavenly Father above all things...TO LOOK TO HIM SO THAT ARE FACES WILL BE RADIANT WITH JOY, THE JOY OF THE LORD!  Enable us to fear and reverence our great God, to TASTE AND SEE THAT HE IS GOOD...TO COME TO HIM AND HIM ALONE FOR REFUGE.  As adversities come please enable us the grace and wisdom to call on YOU and to look to YOU for deliverance.  Deliver me from looking to myself...I long to have eyes for YOU and YOU alone.

love,

m

Proverbs 9:6 Leave your simple ways behind, and begin to live; learn to use good judgment.”

Ex 34:5-7--Then the Lord came down in a cloud and stood there with him; and he called out his own name, Yahweh. 6 The Lord passed in front of Moses, calling out, “Yahweh! The Lord! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. 7 I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations. I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin. But I do not excuse the guilty. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children and grandchildren; the entire family is affected— even children in the third and fourth generations.”

How cool is it that the sovereign God of the universe continues to use HIS personal name with Moses.  Yesterday we witnessed Moses cry out for the very presence of God...he did not want the gifts without the gift giver.  He asked God to teach him HIS ways so that he could know HIM and find favor in HIS sight...that is a great prayer for us to pray.  What do sons so often do?  They imitate their dads...what should we do?  We should imitate our heavenly Father...remember the disciples..."Lord teach us to pray."  Lord teach me your ways, teach me to pray, teach me to love like YOU love, teach me to be gracious and compassionate, teach me to be forgiving and merciful...Yahweh, LORD JESUS, fill me with YOUR Holy Spirit and allow YOUR life-giving grace, mercy and peace flow in and through me.

Ex 34:8-9 Moses immediately threw himself to the ground and worshiped. 9 And he said, “O Lord, if it is true that I have found favor with you, then please travel with us. Yes, this is a stubborn and rebellious people, but please forgive our iniquity and our sins. Claim us as your own special possession.”

Moses is marked by humility and a desperate longing for the very presence of God...God, Yahweh is his treasure, Yahweh is his delight and joy.

Here in chapter 34 God gives us another of HIS names that tells us much about HIS character.  Moses had asked God to teach him HIS ways and I believe that God is honoring that request here in Exo. 34:14-16.  The name is EL QUANNA!  The NASB translates it like this "for you shall not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God."

Ex 34:14-16 You are to never bow down to another god because the Lord, being jealous  by nature, is a jealous God. 15 “Do not make a treaty with the inhabitants of the land, or else when they prostitute themselves with their gods and sacrifice to their gods, they will invite you, and you will eat of their sacrifice.  16 Then you will take some of their daughters ⌊as brides⌋ for your sons. Their daughters will prostitute themselves with their gods and cause your sons to prostitute themselves with their gods.

Zec 8:2 “The Lord of Hosts says this: I am extremely jealous  for Zion; I am jealous for her with great wrath.”

Dt 4:23-24  Be careful not to forget the covenant of the Lord your God that He made with you, and make an idol for yourselves in the shape of anything He has forbidden you. 24 For the Lord your God is a consuming fire,  a jealous God.

We typically think of jealousy in a negative light and that is because we experience it from a FALLEN human nature and through a FALLEN human nature...it is very different coming from almighty God.  Every time we fall to idolatry God, Yahweh is jealous for us...HIS OWN!  ANYTHING THAT YOU LOVE, SERVE, FEAR, DESIRE, LONG FOR MORE THAN GOD IS AN IDOL...WHAT IS IT THAT YOU THINK ABOUT MOST?  WHERE DO YOU SPEND YOUR TIME, ENERGY AND MONEY?  If anything is before HIM, to Yahweh you are prostituting yourself, not only are you an adulterer, you are in adultery with a prostitute.

When this happens in your life and in my life EL QANNA rages in wrath, wrath for HIS own glory and for HIS OWN.   We see HIS jealousy for HIS name in Ezekiel 39:25 Therefore thus says the Lord God, “Now I will restore the fortunes of Jacob and have mercy on the whole house of Israel; and I will be jealous for My holy name.

HOW JEALOUS IS HE FOR HIS OWN?

Romans 8:32 makes it abundantly clear..."He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?"

Acts 20:28  “Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.

Heb 9:12  and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.

Heb 13:12  Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate.

I am so blessed and delighted to know that EL QUANNA is jealous for me and jealous for HIS own name and HIS own glory.  HIS name is at stake in the protection of HIS OWN...we can be absolutely confident that HE will bring us home safely.

Let me close with this thought...you all know and love Psalm 23...I want to encourage you to do something that will encourage you...checkout the definition.  The word we all know as "follow" as in "surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life...the Hebrew word translated "follow" is almost always translated "pursue."  If you will allow me to be a little bold...I want to say that the Broadman Holman translation got it right.

Ps 23:6 Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in  the house of the Lord as long as I live.  

Think of a police officer pursuing you...you won't get away!  Now think of the sovereign God of the universe pursuing you...YOU WILL NOT GET AWAY!  The wonderful thing is HE IS PURSUING YOU TO BLESS YOU, TO HIMSLEF TO YOU...TO FLOOD YOUR LIFE WITH GRACE, PEACE, LOVE, JOY...THE ABUNDANT LIFE.

PRAISE GOD THE HE IS EL QUANNA!

Did anyone notice the words at the end of our reading in Exodus yesterday?  How cool to know that God gave part of HIS Word by His own finger.   While God was gracious in giving us HIS precious Word in many ways we must remember that "All Scripture is inspired by God  and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work" 2 Tim 3:-16-17  God's Word has absolute authority in our lives.  What does this mean?  The authority of Scripture means that all the words in Scripture are God’s words in such a way that to disbelieve or disobey any word of Scripture is to disbelieve or disobey God.

The problem with today's reading is that there is just too much, too many incredible things going on in HIS word.  In Exodus 32:1 ff. consider everything that the Israelites have witnessed, the plagues on Egypt, being led by fire and night and smoke during the day, parting the Red Sea, the destruction of the Egyptian army...it has been an amazing run and NOW (Exodus 32) they ask Aaron to make them an idol and he agrees.

Ex 32:1 When the people saw that Moses delayed in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said to him, “Come, make us a god  who will go before us because this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt—we don’t know what has happened to him!”

Ex 32:6-10  Early the next morning they arose, offered burnt offerings, and presented fellowship offerings. The people sat down to eat and drink, then got up to revel.

7 The Lord spoke to Moses: “Go down at once! For your people you brought up from the land of Egypt have acted corruptly.  8 They have quickly turned from the way I commanded them; they have made for themselves an image of a calf. They have bowed down to it, sacrificed to it, and said, ‘Israel, this is your God,  who brought you up from the land of Egypt. ’ ” 9 The Lord also said to Moses: “I have seen this people, and they are indeed a stiff-necked  people. 10 Now leave Me alone, so that My anger can burn against them and I can destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation.”

How quickly the human heart will turn from the living God.  Augustine was right we he said that, "Thou hast formed us for Thyself, and our hearts are restless till they find rest in Thee."  Our hearts are going to worship something or someone, it is in our hardwiring...we can't help it.

Ex 32:24 So I said to them, ‘Whoever has gold, take it off,’ and they gave ⌊it⌋ to me. When I threw it into the fire, out came this calf!”

Think of a time you were caught in a sin, how often we sin again to cover the first by lying or since we are all church goers, we will call them little white lies or 1/2 truths.  How we will say and do silly things to cover our sins..."hey Moses, don't blame me, you know how these people are...anyway I just threw this gold in and this calf jumped out...stunning I know:)

Ex 32:26-27  And Moses stood at the camp’s entrance and said, “Whoever is for the Lord, ⌊come⌋ to me.” And all the Levites gathered around him. 27 He told them, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says, ‘Every man fasten his sword to his side; go back and forth through the camp from entrance to entrance, and each of you kill his brother, his friend, and his neighbor. ’ ”

Ex 32:32 Now if You would only forgive their sin. But if not, please erase me from the book You have written.”

Ex 32:34-35 Now go, lead the people to the place I told you about; see, My angel will go before you. But on the day I settle accounts, I will hold them accountable for their sin.”  35 And the Lord inflicted a plague on the people for what they did with the calf Aaron had made.

God is always quick to forgive, but there are always consequences for our sin.

Ex 33:2-3 I will send an angel ahead of you and will drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites,  Hivites, and Jebusites.  3 ⌊Go up⌋ to a land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you because you are a stiff-necked people; otherwise, I might destroy you on the way.”  Ex 33:12-23  Moses said to the Lord, “Look, You have told me, ‘Lead this people up,’ but You have not let me know whom You will send with me. You said, ‘I know you by name,  and you have also found favor in My sight.’ 13 Now if I have indeed found favor in Your sight, please teach me Your ways,  and I will know You and find favor in Your sight. Now consider that this nation is Your people.”

14 Then He replied, “My presence will go ⌊with you⌋, and I will give you rest.”

15 “If Your presence does not go,” Moses responded to Him, “don’t make us go up from here. 16 How will it be known that I and Your people have found favor in Your sight unless You go with us? I and Your people will be distinguished ⌊by this⌋ from all the other people on the face of the earth.” 17 The Lord answered Moses, “I will do this very thing you have asked, for you have found favor in My sight, and I know you by name.”

This is amazing, God promises to give them the land flowing with milk and honey, he promises to make good on the promise of the promise land by sending an angel ahead of them to drive out all those"ites"  I love Moses response in verse 15, "if your presence does not go, don't make us go up from here."  The easiest way for me to understand is to think about Christmas morning...WHAT...yes Christmas morning...here is the question.  Would I have been OK if Mom and Dad did not show for Christmas morning as long as the tree was loaded with gifts?  The real question is do you love the gift giver or the gifts.  Moses clearly loved the gift giver...how about you, how about me?  The true good news of the gospel is GOD...what do you mean GOD?  The incredible news is that we get to know HIM, love HIM belong to HIM...the gospel is Christ in us the hope of glory.

18 Then Moses said, “Please, let me see Your glory.”

19 He said, “I will cause all My goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim the name Yahweh before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.”  20 But He answered, “You cannot see My face, for no one can see  Me and live.” 21 The Lord said, “Here is a place near Me. You are to stand on the rock, 22 and when My glory passes by, I will put you in the crevice of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by.  23 Then I will take My hand away, and you will see My back, but My face will not be seen.”

I believe that Moses was allowed to see God's glory because God was his treasure, he wanted God's presence more than anything else...more than God's gifts.  I believe that you and I may experience God's glory as intimately as Moses did...we have the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry Abba, Father.  This is not for the spiritually elite, it is for all God's children.  Beholding HIS glory is becoming!

Let's pursue HIS glory together!

love,

M

God. The most significant use of the ideas of glory and majesty is their application to God. In this regard, it is sometimes stated that God’s glory is the external manifestation of his being. God’s glory is something that appears (Exod. 16:10), is revealed (Isa. 40:5), or can be seen (Num. 14:22). There is also a more fundamental sense in which God has glory prior to any external manifestation of it. An important passage in this regard is Exodus 33:18–23, which shows that, while there are aspects of God’s nature that are revealed to Moses (his name, “back”), there are other aspects that are not manifested (his glory, “face”). Thus, God’s glory exists prior to and apart from any manifestation of it.

The same teaching is implied in John 17:5, when Christ refers to the glory that he had with the Father before the world was. And in Proverbs 25:2, the glory of God is in concealing, rather than in manifesting. Moreover, the titles of God as the Glorious One (Ps. 3:3) and the Majesty on High (Heb. 1:3; 8:1) point to the same conclusion, that God’s glory is fundamentally independent of external manifestation.

In keeping with this thought, glory is spoken of as attaching to God’s kingly rule (Ps. 145:11–12) and his presence (Ps. 96:6), and as being his clothing (Job 40:10; Pss. 93:1; 104:1) and above the heavens (Pss. 8:1; 113:4; 148:13).

Yet it is true that God’s glory is also manifest. It is in the thunderstorm (Job 37:22; Ps. 29:4) and more commonly in the events and institutions surrounding the exodus from Egypt. Thus, God’s glory is seen in the plagues and other miracles (Num. 14:22), in the cloudy pillar (Exod. 16:10), in the theophany at Mount Sinai (Exod. 24:17; Deut. 5:24), in the tabernacle (Exod. 29:43; 40:34–35; Num. 14:10; 16:19, 42; 20:6), in the fire initiating the sacrificial system (Lev. 9:23), and in the ark of the covenant (1 Sam. 4:21–22) and the temple of Solomon (1 Kings 8:11; 2 Chron. 7:1–3). Its presence is anticipated in the restored Zion (Ps. 102:15–16; Isa. 60:19; Zech. 2:5), is actualized at the birth of Christ (Luke 2:9), and will be further accomplished in the heavenly Jerusalem (Rev. 21:11, 23).

In addition to referring to the actual glory of God, the words sometimes refer to the recognition of his glory. This is of course true whenever we read of giving glory to God or of glorifying him. We do not add to his glory; we merely recognize and acknowledge it. In a number of passages it is difficult to know whether God’s glory refers to his actual glory or to human recognition of it. This is true, for example, when Scripture speaks of the earth being full of the glory of the Lord (Isa. 6:3).

Elwell, W. A., & Elwell, W. A. (1997, c1996). Evangelical dictionary of biblical theology (electronic ed.). Baker reference library; Logos Library System. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.

Power out, crying baby

Love you all,

m

As we noted yesterday Exodus 28 gives incredible detail on the garments to be worn by the High Priest, Aaron and by his sons who will attend him.  He also gives detailed instructions for a consecration ceremony which is to set them aside for their ministry (29:1–46).  It's important to note that the (28:29), Priestly ministry means representing others to God.  I once heard a preacher say that early on Sunday morning he cries out in prayer to God for the people that will be in the service and through his preaching of the word, he is crying out to the people for God!

We see the word consecrate over and over in this chapter, what does it mean?  Simply it means to "be hallowed, holy, sanctified; to consecrate, sanctify, prepare, dedicate."  It means to be set apart for God, set apart from sin!

Exod 29:1--Now this is what you shall do to them to consecrate

Exod 29:21--so he and his garments shall be consecrated,

Exod 29:27--You shall consecrate the breast of the wave offering

Exod 29:33--and consecration; but a layman shall not eat them,

Exod 29:36--and you shall anoint it to consecrate it.

Exod 29:37--consecrate it; then the altar shall be most holy,

Exod 29:43--and it shall be consecrated by My glory.

Exod 29:44--I will consecrate the tent of meeting and the altar;I will also consecrate Aaron and his sons to minister

Some of you may remember when David Platt was here during Awesome August he spent much of his sermon on the phrase "outside the camp."  Awesome sermon if you missed it you can find it on the Bellevue podcast.  In Exodus 29:14 we find the phrase "outside the camp."  That which represented sin had to be removed from the camp.   "Then take the rest of the bull, including its hide, meat, and dung, and burn it outside the camp as a sin offering."  Remember we saw in Hebrews 8:5 we learn that ALL OF THIS, EVERYTHING HERE AND IN LEVITICUS IS A SHADOW,  A COPY OF THE HEAVENLY THINGS, THE HEAVENLY ALTER!

Heb 13:11-14 Under the old system, the high priest brought the blood of animals into the Holy Place as a sacrifice for sin, and the bodies of the animals were burned outside the camp. 12 So also Jesus suffered and died outside the city gates to make his people holy by means of his own blood. 13 So let us go out to him, outside the camp, and bear the disgrace he bore. 14 For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come.

The night before Jesus is taken "outside the camp" to be crucified, the night before the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world is ripped, HE celebrates the Passover with HIS disciples and gives us the ordinance of the Lord's Supper.  We see HIM break the bread representing HIS very flesh that will be torn apart, we see HIM pour the wine, representing HIS OWN blood being spilled for the forgiveness of sins.

Mt 26:26-30 As they were eating,  Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, gave it to the disciples,  and said, “Take and eat it; this is My body.”  27 Then He took a cup, and after giving thanks, He gave it to them and said, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 For this is My blood ⌊that establishes⌋ the covenant;  it is shed for many for the forgiveness of sins.  29 But I tell you, from this moment I will not drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it in a new way  in My Father’s kingdom  with you.” 30 After singing psalms,  they went out to the Mount of Olives.

In Exodus 29:18 we see that the burnt offering to the Lord "is a burnt offering to the Lord; it is a pleasing aroma, a special gift presented to the Lord."  Again, all of this simply points to Jesus...In Ephesians 5:2, Paul instructs the Ephesians to "Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God."

Mt 26:40-46

40 Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping. He asked Peter. “So, couldn’t you  stay awake with Me one hour? 41 Stay awake and pray, so that you won’t enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

42 Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, “My Father, if this  cannot pass  unless I drink it, Your will be done.”  43 And He came again and found them sleeping, because they could not keep their eyes open.

44 After leaving them, He went away again and prayed a third time, saying the same thing once more. 45 Then He came to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting?  Look, the time is near. The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners.  46 Get up; let’s go! See—My betrayer is near.”

I fear that I have spent many of my 47 years sleeping, do not want to be found sleeping when Jesus returns or when HE calls me home...Father please forgive me, forgive me for being full of myself...I long to be filled with YOU and YOUR Holy Spirit.  Ps 90:12 Teach us to number our days carefully so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts.   Father teach me to number my days so that I may develop wisdom in my heart...enable me (us) by YOUR Holy Spirit to redeem the time to "Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God."

Father, I confess I am not completely sure what it means, but please work in me a burning, passionate desire to "go out to him, outside the camp, and bear the disgrace he bore. 14 For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come."  Father please work this for YOUR glory and my joy

love,

m

Keep in mind our discussion from yesterday, that Jesus body is the true veil that was ripped apart, opening the way for you and I to experience adoption.  How awesome to be adopted by our heavenly Father, becoming HIS heirs and joint heirs with Jesus Christ.  Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit tells us that God's children have "received the Spirit of adoption,  by whom we cry out, 'Abba, Father!'”  Through HIS shed blood and torn body Jesus extends the invitation to come...Mt 11:28-29 “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  Isaiah 55:1 “Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink— even if you have no money! Come, take your choice of wine or milk— it’s all free! Revelation 22:17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” Let anyone who hears this say, “Come.” Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life. 

Come to Jesus, come and find rest, come and find peace...HIS body was torn, HIS blood was shed that you might come and drink, that you might come and be satisfied, that you might come and delight in HIM.  Come and experience being adopted by the sovereign God of the universe...Jesus is the only Way...Jn 14:6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. Jn 17:3  And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth.

I know what some of you, (and you know who you are:)) are thinking...now you are upset that I would presume to know what you are thinking...SEE...I do know:)  What in the world does this have to do with Exodus 28.  The main thing is to recognize the unbelievable and unbreakable barrier SIN placed between God and humanity, God and us.  The High Priest only entered the Holy of Holies once a year on the day of Atonement.  Remember ALL OF THIS ONLY POINTED TO JESUS AND TO THE CROSS...THE RIVER OF BLOOD OF LAMBS, GOATS AND CALVES ONLY POINTED TO THE FORGIVENESS THAT COMES THROUGH THE BLOOD OF JESUS.  All religion is man attempting to reach God...Christianity, true Christianity is the incredible story that God took on human flesh in the person of Jesus Christ...HE became like us that we might become like HIM.  (Beholding is becoming)

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OK...check this out...Exodus 28:17-20 describes the Breastpeice and in Exodus 25 we have the Ark of the Covenant described.  You will notice that there are two guardian cherubs protecting the Mercy Seat, right?  Now take a look at what Ezekiel has to say about the king of Tyre.

Ezekiel 28:12-15 “Son of man, lament  for the king of Tyre and say to him: This is what the Lord God says: You were the seal  of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. 13 You were in Eden,  the garden of God. Every kind of precious stone covered you: carnelian, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire,  turquoise  and emerald. Your mountings and settings were crafted in gold; they were prepared on the day you were created. 14 You were an anointed guardian cherub, for  I had appointed you.  You were on the holy mountain of God; you walked among the fiery stones. 15 From the day you were created you were blameless in your ways until wickedness was found in you.

Clearly, Ezekiel transitions from speaking about the king of Tyre to speaking about Satan...I don't know why, but I had never made the connection that Satan was one of the guardian cherubs and I had never thought about the precious gems in Satan before he was cast down from heaven being very similar or the same as those in the Ephod of the High Priest.

One last thought, in Matt 26:8 the word "indignant" is used, the disciples became indignant --When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. “Why this waste?” they asked.  Why were they indignant?  Because Mary prepared Jesus body for burial with fragrant oil...this was very expensive and they were indignant at the waste. 

My question to you and to me is what is it that makes you indignant?  What is it that arouses your anger?  I hate to confess, but I will, for me...more often than not...it is because I believe that I have been offended...and I think "WELL, WELL, I NEVER, I NEVER...then the Holy Spirit quietly says..."well you should some time"  Just kidding on the last part.

What I am trying to say is that my disgust and great indignation should be at my own sin and how I fail moment by moment to properly glorify my Creator, Maker, Sustainer and Savior.  Consider how indignation is used in the verses below.

Ps 78:49--He unleashed against them his hot anger, his wrath, indignation and hostility— a band of destroying angels.

Ps 90:7--We are consumed by your anger and terrified by your indignation.

Ps 119:53--Indignation grips me because of the wicked, who have forsaken your law.

Jer 15:17--I never sat in the company of revelers, never made merry with them; I sat alone because your hand was on me and you had filled me with indignation.

Nahum 1:6--Who can withstand his indignation? Who can endure his fierce anger? His wrath is poured out like fire; the rocks are shattered before him.

Matt 20:24--When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers.

Matt 21:15--But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant.

Mark 10:14--When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

Mark 10:41--When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John.

Luke 13:14--Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue ruler said to the people, “There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.”

LORD JESUS would YOU please transform our hearts, minds and souls so that we would be indignant at the same things that make you indignant...conform us to the image of YOUR PRECIOUS SON, our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST...YOUR ONLY BEGOTTEN...the ONE who shed HIS OWN blood, who was ripped apart that we might enter into YOUR presence with confidence...that we might serve the living GOD.  Please LORD do this for YOUR namesake, for YOUR glory and for the joy of YOUR children.

In Jesus precious and HOLY name...amen

Article on High Priest from the Nelson Bible Dictionary

PRIEST, HIGH — a chief priest of the Hebrew people, especially of the ancient Levitical priesthood traditionally traced from Aaron. “Head priest,” “the great one from his brothers,” and “ruler of the house of God” are literal translations of references to this officer (Lev. 21:10; 2 Chr. 19:11). The high priest was the supreme religious head of his people. Aaron held this position above his sons that was to continue in the firstborn of successive holders of the office. The high priest was distinguished from his fellow priests by the clothes he wore, the duties he performed, and the particular requirements placed upon him.

Character and Conduct. Although the office of high priest was hereditary, its holder had to be without physical defect as well as holy in conduct (Lev. 21:6–8). He must not show grief for the dead—even his father or mother—by removing his headdress or letting his hair go unkempt. He must not tear his clothes in grief or go near a dead body. Leaving his duties unperformed because of a death would “profane the sanctuary” (Lev. 21:12). He could marry only a “virgin of his own people” (Lev. 21:14), or a believer in God. She could not be a widow, a divorced woman, or an impure woman. He must not, by a bad marriage, spoil his own holiness or endanger the holiness of his son who would succeed him.

Consecration. A high priest was consecrated (installed in office) by an elaborate seven-day service at the tabernacle or Temple (Exodus 29; Leviticus 8). He was cleansed by bathing, then dressed in the garments and symbols he must wear in his ministry and anointed with special oil. Sacrifices of sin offering, burnt offering, and consecration offering were made for him; and he was anointed again with oil and blood of the sacrifice. Thus “sanctified” to serve as a priest and “consecrated” to offer sacrifice (Ex. 28:41; 29:9), he became “the saint [holy one] of the Lord” (Ps. 106:16).

Clothing. The high priest’s special garments represented his function as mediator between God and people. Over the trousers, coat, girdle, and cap, worn by all priests, the high priest wore an Ephod, a two-piece apron reaching to his hips, made of royal colors (blue, purple, and scarlet), and sewed with gold thread. By two onyx stones bearing the names of the twelve tribes of Israel fastened to the shoulders of the ephod, he brought the whole nation before God in all his priestly acts (Ex. 28:5–14).

The “breastplate of judgment,” made of the same material, was attached to the front of the ephod (Ex. 28:15–30). On its front were 12 precious stones engraved with the names of the 12 tribes. In its pocket, directly over his heart, were the Urim and Thummim (Ex. 28:30), the medium through which God could communicate His will. By this the high priest was Israel’s advocate before God and God’s spokesman to them.

Over the breastplate he wore the blue “robe of the ephod” (Ex. 28:31). Around its hem were pomegranates, pointing to the divine law as sweet and delicious spiritual food (Deut. 8:3), and bells that would ring as he went “into the holy place before the Lord . . . that he may not die” (Ex. 28:35).

On his forehead the high priest wore “the holy crown” of gold engraved with the words, “Holiness to the Lord” (Ex. 28:36–37). Thus he was represented as bearing “the iniquity of the holy things” (Ex. 28:38) which Israel offered to God and crowned mediator, making atonement for the nation so God might accept their gifts and show them favor.

All these garments stood for the “glory and beauty” (Ex. 28:40) God placed upon his priests, sanctifying them to minister in His name (Ex. 28:3).

Particular Services. The high priest held a leadership position in seeing that all responsibilities of the priests were carried out, “Amariah the chief priest is over you in all matters of the Lord” (2 Chr. 19:11). He could participate in all priestly ministry, but certain functions were given only to him. As he alone wore the Urim and the Thummim, Israel came to him to learn the will of God (Deut. 33:8). For this reason Joshua was to “ask counsel” of Eleazar regarding the movements of the army in the conquest of the land of Canaan (Num. 27:21). Even John recognized prophecy as a gift belonging to the high priest (John 11:49–52). The high priest had to offer a sin offering for his own sins and the sin of the whole congregation (Lev. 4:3–21). At the death of the high priest freedom was granted to all who were confined to the Cities of Refuge for accidentally causing the death of another person (Num. 35:28).

The most important responsibility of the high priest was to conduct the service on the Day of Atonement, the tenth day of the seventh month each year. On this day he alone entered the Holy Place behind the veil before God. Having made sacrifice for himself and for the people, he brought the blood into the Holy of Holies and sprinkled it on the mercy seat, God’s “throne.” This he did to make atonement for himself and the people for all their sins committed during the year just ended (Ex. 30:10; Leviticus 16). It is with this particular service that the ministry of Jesus as high priest is compared (Heb. 9:1–28).

Youngblood, R. F., Bruce, F. F., Harrison, R. K., & Thomas Nelson Publishers. (1995). Nelson's new illustrated Bible dictionary. Rev. ed. of: Nelson's illustrated Bible dictionary.; Includes index. Nashville: T. Nelson.

Be careful to make ⌊everything⌋ according to the model  of them you have been shown on the mountain Ex 25:40 . 

You think that our God is not a God of order, checkout the minute detail that Yahweh gives Moses in the construction of the Tabernacle.  God leaves nothing to chance, HE provides Moses with detailed instruction for everything...everything.  The reason the detail is so incredible is that the earthly Tabernacle is a model of the true Tabernacle in heaven.  Hebrews 8-10 is an incredible commentary on this section in Exodus.  It would be well worth the time to read through this part of Hebrews.

Scripture is always the best commentary on Scripture...checkout Hebrews, the Tabernacle is explained.

Heb 8:1-6 Now the main point of what is being said is this: we have this kind of high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens,  2 a minister of the sanctuary and the true tabernacle, which the Lord set up, and not man.  3 For every high priest is appointed to offer gifts  and sacrifices; therefore it was necessary for this ⌊priest⌋ also to have something to offer. 4 Now if He were on earth, He wouldn’t be a priest, since there are those  offering the gifts prescribed by the law. 5 These serve as a copy and shadow  of the heavenly things, as Moses was warned when he was about to complete the tabernacle. For He said, Be careful that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown to you on the mountain.   6 But Jesus  has now obtained a superior ministry, and to that degree He is the mediator  of a better covenant,  which has been legally enacted on better promises.

This truly is astounding when you consider the pains taking detail in constructing the tabernacle, the hundreds of thousands of animal sacrifices, probably millions...then consider that this is a shadow of the true tabernacle in heaven.  The mind blowing bloodshed that took place points to the wickedness of and the evil nature of sin and how it is viewed by a HOLY God.  The tabernacle points to Jesus and what must take place in the shedding of HIS own blood.

Heb 9:12-14  He entered the holy of holies once for all, not by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood, having obtained eternal redemption.  13 For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who are defiled, sanctify for the purification of the flesh,  14 how much more will the blood of the Messiah, who through the eternal Spirit  offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse our  consciences from dead works to serve the living God?

Let the reader understand that we were not saved from dead works so that we might live out the American dream, our comfortable life...we were saved by the blood of God, wait Mark, it was Jesus blood, true and so it was God's blood...Ac 20:28  Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock,  among whom the Holy Spirit has appointed you as overseers,  to shepherd the church of God,  which He purchased with His own blood. 

Heb 9:22-28 According to the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

23 Therefore it was necessary for the copies of the things in the heavens to be purified with these ⌊sacrifices⌋, but the heavenly things themselves ⌊to be purified⌋ with better sacrifices than these.  24 For the Messiah did not enter a sanctuary made with hands (only a model  of the true one) but into heaven itself, that He might now appear in the presence of God for us.  25 He did not do this to offer Himself many times, as the high priest enters the sanctuary yearly with the blood of another.  26 Otherwise, He would have had to suffer many times since the foundation of the world. But now He has appeared one time, at the end of the ages,  for the removal of sin by the sacrifice of Himself.  27 And just as it is appointed for people to die once—and after this, judgment — 28 so also the Messiah, having been offered once to bear the sins of many,  will appear a second time,  not to bear sin, but  to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him.

You notice the description is specific concerning those HE is bringing salvation to...it is to those who are waiting for HIM.  In light of Jesus parable of the 10 Virgins and Jesus warning to those who were NOT waiting and ready I believe that each of us needs to allow the Holy Spirit to search us and lay bare our hearts and motives.  Mt 25:12-13  “But he replied, ‘I assure you: I do not know you!’ 13 “Therefore be alert, because you don’t know either the day or the hour.

Heb 10:14-22  For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are sanctified. 15 The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. For after He had said: 16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws on their hearts, and I will write them on their minds, 17 ⌊He adds⌋: I will never again remember their sins and their lawless acts.  8 Now where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.

19 Therefore, brothers, since we have boldness to enter the sanctuary through the blood of Jesus,  20 by the new and living way that He has inaugurated for us, through the curtain (that is, His flesh ); 21 and since we have a great high priest over the house of God,  22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, our hearts sprinkled ⌊clean⌋ from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water. 

Hang with me, this is really cool, in Exodus 26:33 the veil or curtain is described, this veil separated the Holy place from the Holy of Holies, basically it was a barrier to the very presence of God.  We learn in above in Hebrews 10:19-20 that Jesus opened the way for God's children to enter HIS presence through HIS torn body, through HIS flesh that was ripped on the Cross.  We have the same testimony in Matthew 27, Suddenly, the curtain of the sanctuary  was split in two from top to bottom; the earth quaked and the rocks were split.

Do you remember in 2 Corinthians what was removed when a person turn to the Lord?  The veil!

2 Co 3:15-18  However, to this day, whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their hearts, 16 but whenever a person turns  to the Lord, the veil is removed.  17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 We all, with unveiled faces, are reflecting   the glory of the Lord  and are being transformed  into the same image  from glory to glory;  this is from the Lord who is the Spirit.

Praise God that God so loved the world that HE gave HIS only begotten, that HIS body might be ripped to open a way for us to be saved.  Would you ever have asked HIM to do this?  Would you and I as we cried for mercy ever have thought to ask God almighty to send HIS only begotten to take our place...I don't think so.

Father in heaven, we praise YOU and bless YOU...thank YOU that through the sacrifice of YOUR precious Son YOU opened a way for us to become YOUR adopted sons and daughters...THANK YOU, THANK YOU for placing YOUR Holy Spirit within us that cries out Abba, Father and gives confirmation that we are children of the Most High God.  Enable us to leave our dead works and serve YOU the living God, enable us to keep our eyes on Jesus, enable us from our hearts to constantly cry even so come Lord Jesus, enable us to be ready when you come...for YOUR glory and our joy.

love,

m

Hey someone should write a song with that title:)

A lovely little cold virus has invaded our family, oh goodie...primarily Kyle and myself, I pray that the others will be spared this great joy.  So it is now 4:57 and I am sitting here staring at my computer screen...it's not that God has not fed me from HIS Word this morning...it is more like everything has been so good I don't know where to start and where to end.  I am sure that you have not noticed that I have the distinct ability to be a little spastic in sharing my thoughts...and I am certain that a cold and cold medicine will only accentuate this great positive trait:)

My experience this morning must have been something like Paul experienced in 2 Corinthians...12:2-3 I know a man in Christ who was caught up  into the third heaven 14 years ago. Whether he was in the body or out of the body, I don’t know; God knows. 3 I know that this man—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows—

I am not a mystic nor the son of a mystic, wait a minute...I need to rethink that one!  I'm teasing, I'm teasing, I think, I don't know do you?...I do have a cold...and clear, crisp thoughts don't seem to be pouring fourth...You might be thinking, Mark that is not something that I would attribute to you anyhow:)  Now I know what you are thinking, you are thinking this guy has lost it, call the guys in the white jackets, he is out of his mind!  I am not out of my mind, I stand with Paul again and say,  Ac 26:25 “I’m not out of my mind... On the contrary, I’m speaking words of truth and good judgment. 

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Some themes that seem to be ringing louder to me this year than ever before are: Obey, obey, obey...in areas of my life where I have struggled with anxiety, fear, anger, my thought life...frequently my pattern has been to think, "well I am just a sinner saved by grace, God knows my short comings and HE wants me just as I am."  In general that thought is true, BUT HE IS HOLY AND HE EXPECTS HIS CHILDREN TO BE KILLING SIN IN THIER LIVES.  So the word obey is ringing louder than ever, HIS holiness, HIS command to rid ourselves of all idols, the constant promise of HIS presence...Ex 23:20-22  I am going to send an Angel before you to protect you on the way and bring you to the place I have prepared. Be attentive to Him and listen to His voice. Do not defy  Him, because He will not forgive your acts of rebellion, for My name is in Him.  22 But if you will carefully obey Him and do everything I say, then I will be an enemy  to your enemies and a foe to your foes.

Remember Jesus promise in John 14:21, He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”  We have to read them, memorize them, meditate on them to "have" them and to "keep" them...the promise is that those that do this will enter in to an intimate love relationship with the triune God and Jesus will reveal or show HIMSELF TO THOSE OF HAVE AND KEEP HIS COMMANDS.  YOU MAY BE THINKING LIKE ME..."I CAN'T DO IT!"  The wonderful thing is that you and I don't have to...it is only when we are broken, when we have come to the end of ourselves that God may begin to work it through us.

I am hearing obey, I'm hearing "I AM HOLY," I'm hearing rid yourselves of idols, be killing sin or sin will be killing you and I am hearing a LOUD CALL TO WORSHIP...to pursue God, to go hard after God, to be consumed with HIM and the things that HE loves.  As we pursue HIM through HIS Word, prayer and worship are a natural overflow of filling ourselves, saturating our hearts, minds and souls with the thoughts of our heavenly Father.

This is the direction I want my life pointed when Jesus comes again or when I die...if HE comes in my life time I hope and pray that at that moment I am going hard after God or when I die I hope and pray the same.

Matt 24:44  This is why you also must be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

Reports from the tornadoes last night indicate that at least 23 people were injured, we pray that no life was lost...but those people had no time to prepare, no time to get ready...in an instant they could, you and I could be standing before our creator! 

Ps 90:12  Teach us to number our days carefully so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts.  

Let's accelerate in our pursuit of HIM!

love,

m

The “Covenant Code” continues, with laws that call for justice (23:1–9) and keeping the Sabbath (vv. 10–13). God establishes three annual religious holidays, during which “all the men” are to appear at the worship center (vv. 14–19). But relationship with God is not just a matter of moral and religious duty. There is mutual commitment: God will protect and bless His people (vv. 20–31) if they remain separate and committed to Him (vv. 32–33).

Moses’ report is welcomed enthusiastically, and the people promise to do “everything the Lord has said” (24:1–3). This commitment is confirmed by a solemn sacrifice, with the blood sprinkled on the people (vv. 4–8). God invites the elders to a significant meal in His presence (Exodus 12), and Moses goes up to the mountaintop to commune with God for 40 days (vv. 9–18).

Richards, L. O. (1991; Published in electronic form by Logos Research Systems, 1996). The Bible readers companion (electronic ed.) (66). Wheaton: Victor Books.

As I prayerfully read through Exodus about the Laws pertaining to slaves, property, personal injury, theft and other things, I rejoiced with our LORD'S Words as HE answered the question what is the greatest commandment...Mt 22:37-40  He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.   38 This is the greatest and most important  commandment. 39 The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.   40 All the Law and the Prophets depend  on these two commandments.”  Why would I rejoice at these words?  If I give myself to loving God and loving others, everything else will take care of itself.  If you think about it, if you really go hard after God through HIS Word with a white hot passion to know HIM, to worship HIM, to be intimate with HIM...YOU WILL LOVE THE THINGS THAT HE LOVES...PEOPLE!  While it is vitally important for me, a child of God, to read every word of HIS Word...I don't have to constantly worry about messing up and violating one of the thousands of laws.  If you find yourself looking and fixating on every little law you have fallen in the ditch...we only need to look to Jesus.  You and I can fall in the ditch on the others side just as easy.

If you find yourself asking questions like, "doesn't God want me to be happy, I believe HE wants me to be happy, so it's OK if I..."  In other words, if you find yourself looking for loop holes in God's world so that you can do the things that you want to do...YOU HAVE MISSED IT, and you are not loving God with all your heart, soul and mind and you certainly will not be loving others.

The incredible news is that all you and I must do is to turn to the LORD, turning from ourselves, look to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith, fixing our eyes on Jesus...beholding is becoming!  As you read through the OT behold HIS glory, HE is on every page.  In 2 Corinthians, Paul distinguishes between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant.

2 Cor 3:7-18--Now if the ministry of death, chiseled in letters on stones, came with glory,  so that the sons of Israel were not able to look directly at Moses’ face because of the glory from his face—a fading ⌊glory⌋— 8 how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? 9 For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness overflows with even more glory. 10 In fact, what had been glorious is not glorious in this case because of the glory that surpasses it. 11 For if what was fading away  was glorious, what endures will be even more glorious.

12 Therefore having such a hope,  we use great boldness— 13 not like Moses, who used to put a veil over his face  so that the sons of Israel could not look at the end of what was fading away. 14 But their minds were closed.   For to this day, at the reading of the old covenant,  the same veil remains; it is not lifted, because it is set aside ⌊only⌋ in Christ.  15 However, to this day, whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their hearts, 16 but whenever a person turns  to the Lord, the veil is removed.  17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 We all, with unveiled faces, are reflecting  the glory of the Lord  and are being transformed  into the same image  from glory to glory;  this is from the Lord who is the Spirit.

This is similar to Jesus wonderful words in Matt 4:19 as HE told the disciples, “Follow Me,” He told them, “and I will make you fish for  people!”  The instructions to the disciples and the instructions to us are the same "follow me."  In John chapter 21 after Jesus reinstates Peter, Peter asks a question about John and Jesus tells him, "what is that to you?  You follow Me."  Our soul responsibility is to FOLLOW, leave the rest to Jesus!

So when we turn to the LORD the veil is removed and with unveiled faces we are reflecting the glory of the LORD and in the process we are being transformed into the same image.  What does a mirror reflect?  It reflects what it is pointed at...right.  If we are reflecting the glory of the LORD, then we are beholding the glory of the LORD, if we are beholding HIS glory then we are being transformed into the same image...beholding HIM is becoming like HIM.  "FOLLOW ME AND I WILL MAKE YOU" WHAT I CREATED YOU TO BE!  Where the Spirit of the LORD is, there is freedom.  Is that freedom to do what you and I want to do?  NO...it is freedom to be what HE, before the foundation of the world, created you to be!

In Matt 24, Jesus speaking of the end times states that, "because lawlessness will multiply, the love of many will grow cold."  What an opportunity for the true followers of Jesus to shine forth among a crooked and depraved generation.  What is it that will cause us to shine forth?  Remember a mirror reflects what it is pointed at...we only shine when our eyes on are Jesus...behold HIM, behold HIM in the OT, behold HIM in Psalm 29, WOW, behold HIM on the cross, breaking forth from the grave...behold HIM saying "Father forgive them for they know not what they are doing," behold HIM seated at the right hand of the Father constantly making intercession for you and I...fixing our eyes on Jesus!

But what about all the corruption, what about this and that, what about him or her...I believe Jesus would say, "what is that to you, you follow ME!"

From time to time you will hear someone lament, "if God is truly a loving, caring and gracious God then how could HE allow anyone to go to hell?"  As you read through the OT you begin to gain a sense of the Holiness of God, and when you catch a glimpse of HIS awesome glory and holiness, like Job and Isaiah. 

Job 42:1-6 Job Replies to the Lord 42 Then Job replied to the Lord:  2 I  know that You can do anything and no plan of Yours can be thwarted. 3     ⌊You asked,⌋ “Who is this who conceals ⌊My⌋ counsel with ignorance?” Surely I spoke about things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to  know. 4     ⌊You said,⌋ “Listen now, and I will speak.  When I question  you, you will inform Me.” 5     I had heard rumors about You, but now my eyes  have seen You.  6   Therefore I take back ⌊my words⌋  and repent in dust and ashes.

Is 6:1-6 In the year that King Uzziah  died, I saw the Lord  seated on a high and lofty  throne,  and His robe  filled the temple. 2 Seraphim   were standing above Him; each one had six wings:  with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.  3 And one called to another: Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Hosts; His glory  fills the whole earth. 4 The foundations of the doorways shook  at the sound of their voices, and the temple was filled with smoke. 5 Then I said:  Woe is me,  for I am ruined, because I am a man of unclean lips and live among a people of unclean lips, ⌊and⌋ because my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Hosts. 6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, and in his hand was a glowing coal that he had taken from the altar  with tongs.

It is amazing, but the response is always basically the same...a person enters the blazing glory of God's presence, they catch a glimpse of HIS life transforming glory and in the same blinding light they catch a glimpse of themselves.  Job took back everything he had said and repented in dust and ashes, Isaiah cried "woe is me."  THE QUESTION IS NOT HOW CAN A LOVING GOD SEND ANYONE TO HELL...THE REAL QUESTION IS HOW CAN A PERFECTLY HOLY GOD ALLOW ME, A SINNER, INTO HIS PRESENCE?  Praise God, the answer is Jesus, the shed blood of HIS only begotten..."HE who did not spare HIS OWN Son, but gave HIM up for us all."

HIS HOLINESS IS BOTH WONDERFUL AND TERRIBLE AT THE SAME TIME...consider how Israel reacted to meeting God at Sinai.  Ex 20:19 “You speak to us, and we will listen,” they said to Moses, “but don’t let God speak to us, or we will die.”  Whatever the experience was like, clearly it struck terror in the hearts of the Israelites.

As you and I read through the OT you will see many things that don't make sense, let me caution you and myself, don't make the mistake of judging God or calling HIM into question...God how could you do that?  You may think it another way.  I have had some discussions with people over some difficult teachings in God's Word and I have heard people say, more than once, "my god isn't like that!"  "My god would not allow that!" 

Be careful...who is your god?  If any of your ideas or my ideas about God are in conflict with scripture, who do you think is wrong?

There are many things in God's Word that I read and I think, "Oh God, Oh God...this is hard, on the surface it appears so harsh...I don't understand why you would do this..."  or simply, "Lord there seems to be a conflict here, I don't understand..." Then I will quote a verse like Psalm 119:12  "Lord may you be praised, teach me your statues."  Lord enable me to see YOU as YOU are, help me to understand Your precious Word.

PLEASE HEAR ME...I KNOW THAT THE PROBLEM IS NOT WITH GOD OR HIS WORD!  THE PROBLEM IS WITH MY IMPERFECT UNDERSTANDING OF GOD.  I have often prayed, "Father, please let me know YOU as YOU are, not as I want YOU to be."

I have included a lengthy quote for the Bible Readers Handbook below, Richards does an outstanding job of summarizing the heart of the 10 Commandments and demonstrating their relevance for today.

THE FIRST TABLET

“No other gods” (20:3). God must be given absolute priority. This commandment is key to all the others. Unless we commit ourselves to God, and to God alone, our hearts will be drawn away from the righteousness the Ten Commandments decree. For ancient Israel “other gods” were often pagan idols. For us “other gods” may be the pursuit of wealth or pleasure. If our commitment to the Lord is complete, keeping the rest of the commandments will follow naturally.

“You shall not make … an idol” (20:4). God is Spirit. So cutting any image for use in worship must corrupt our grasp of His nature as Yahweh. God’s “jealousy” (v. 5) reflects a passionate concern for us to know and worship Him as He truly is. The reference to “punishing the children for the sin of the fathers” reminds us that the consequences of a flawed understanding of God persist for generations. If we know and worship God in His spiritual nature we protect our descendants from the sins, and subsequent punishments, that grow wherever men fail to know and love the Lord.

“You shall not misuse the name of the Lord”(20:7) . The “name” of the Lord, Yahweh, occurs 6,828 times in the O.T.! This is the personal name of Israel’s God. It is never used of a pagan deity. Thus God’s “name” conveys His uniqueness; the very essence of who He is. The Heb. word trans. “misuse” in the niv, and “in vain” in other versions, means “nothingness,” or “an insubstantial thing.” We are never to speak of the Lord or use His name as if He were unreal or unimportant. We are to speak of Him with respect, as the One who has absolute priority in our lives.

“Remember the Sabbath Day by keeping it holy” (20:8–11). This is the only command of the Decalogue not repeated in the N.T., which establishes Sunday as the Christian’s day of worship. The pattern of six days of work and one of rest was established by God Himself in the Creation, and God’s O.T. people were to honor Him by refraining from work on the seventh day.

THE SECOND TABLET

“Honor your father and your mother” (20:12). An intensive form of the word “honor” is used here, and the command might well be trans. “show respect.” Parents are God’s instruments in a child’s life, to meet his or her physical needs, and to introduce the child to God’s ways. The spiritual priority of parents is seen in the fact that many of Israel’s religious ceremonies, such as the Passover meal, were conducted within the family. And Deut. 6 and 11 fix responsibility for nurture in the home. It’s significant that in a predominantly male O.T. world “mother” is given equal status, and even listed first in the Heb. text of Lev. 19:3.

“You shall not murder” (20:13). “Murder” is more accurate here than “kill.” The Heb. rasah is a unique word with no parallel in other societies of the 2nd millennium b.c. It identifies “personal killings,” and includes premeditated murders performed with hostile intent and accidental killings or manslaughter. Within the covenant community great care is to be taken, so that no one loses his or her life even by accident.

The term rasah is not applied to killings in war or to judicial executions. Numbers 35-36, Deuteronomy 12-13.

“You shall not commit adultery” (20:14). The integrity of relationships is critical in the covenant community; the faithfulness of a man and woman to each other reflects the faithfulness of God to His people. In other ancient Near Eastern societies adultery was considered a “great sin” against the spouse. Scripture sees it as a sin against God, a denial of the covenant structure that binds a people to the Lord. It’s no wonder that idolatry is frequently portrayed as spiritual adultery, a sin against the bond of intimacy that exists between the Lord and Israel.

“You shall not steal” (20:15). The command prohibits stealing of any kind. The concern here is not so much for the rights of the individual to property, as for the destructive impact of stealing on relationships within the covenant community. Thus the penalty for theft in the O.T. is not jail, but restitution, by paying back at least twice what was stolen (cf. 22:9). Payment made to the victim is intended to restore harmony by balancing the books, and is not punitive.

“You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor” (20:16). The commandment includes, but goes beyond, testimony given in court. False testimony is any malicious statement intended to degrade or harm another. The reputation of others as well as their property is to be guarded by all.

“You shall not covet” (20:17). To want anything which God has chosen to give another reveals a failure to give God priority in our lives.

Richards, L. O. (1991; Published in electronic form by Logos Research Systems, 1996). The Bible readers companion (electronic ed.) (64). Wheaton: Victor Books.

Let's continue to pursue HIM, to go hard after God, to long to know HIM as HE is...not as we want HIM to be!

love,

m

What does it mean to love God?  How does a child of God properly display his affections?  What are the characteristics of a child of God that loves his/her heavenly Father?

Ex 19:5-6  Now if you will listen to Me and carefully keep My covenant,  you will be My own possession  out of all the peoples, although all the earth is Mine, 6 and you will be My kingdom of priests and My holy nation.  These are the words that you are to say to the Israelites.”

Ex 19:8  Then all the people responded together, “We will do all that the Lord has spoken.”  So Moses brought the people’s words back to the Lord.

God promised the Israelites an intimate relationship with Himself, HE promised incredible blessings if they would OBEY and walk in HIS statutes.  HIS plan was to make HIS name and nature known through HIS covenant relationship with Israel.  With the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus the clock has stopped if you will until the full number of the gentiles (us) has come in.  Rom 11:25  So that you will not be conceited,  brothers, I do not want you to be unaware  of this mystery:  a partial hardening has come to Israel  until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. 

1 Pe 2:8-10  A stone that causes men to stumble, and a rock that trips them up. They stumble by disobeying the message; they were destined  for this. 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His possession,  so that you may proclaim the praises   of the One who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Why are we here?  What is our purpose?  Interesting...it is the same as it was for Israel!  His plan was to make HIS name and nature known through HIS covenant relationship with Israel and what did HE say to us?  9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His possession,  so that you may proclaim the praises   of the One who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

How is the church in America doing?  How am I doing?  How about you?

Mt 22:37-40  He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.   38 This is the greatest and most important  commandment. 39 The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.   40 All the Law and the Prophets depend  on these two commandments.”

Dt 6:4-5  “Listen, Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is One.    5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. 

Dt 4:29  But from there, you will search for the Lord your God, and you will find ⌊Him⌋ when you seek Him with all your heart and all your soul. 

Dt 10:12 What God Requires

12 “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you except to fear  the Lord your God by walking in all His ways, to love Him, and to worship the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul?

1 Jn 5:2-5  This is how we know that we love God’s children when we love God and obey  His commands. 3 For this is what love for God is: to keep His commands. Now His commands are not a burden,  4 because whatever has been born of God conquers the world. This is the victory that has conquered the world: our faith. 5 And who is the one who conquers the world  but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

Jn 13:35  By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love  for one another.”

John 21:15-17  When they had eaten breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John,  do you love  Me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said to Him, “You know that I love You.”  “Feed  My lambs,”  He told him. 16 A second time He asked him, “Simon, son of John, do you love  Me?”  “Yes, Lord,” he said to Him, “You know that I love You.”  “Shepherd  My sheep,”  He told him. 17 He asked him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love  Me?” Peter was grieved  that He asked him the third time, “Do you love Me?” He said, “Lord, You know everything!  You know that I love You.” “Feed  My sheep,” Jesus said.

It's interesting, John, in 1 John states that we show love for God's children when we love God and keep HIS commands and in John 21 Jesus clearly tells Peter that love for HIM (Jesus) will manifest itself in feeding, caring and tending Jesus' sheep.  When we love one another we are a witness to the world.

I can hear Jesus asking me the same question...Mark do you love me, do you love me, do you love me?  It is one thing to answer with words...ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS.

1 Jn 3:18  Little children, we must not love in word or speech, but in deed and truth; 

Father in heaven,

please accomplish this in me (us) for your glory and the joy of your children!

I AM the Lord Who Heals

Bill Bright, in his little booklet Knowing God by His Names expounds on Jehova-Rapha and the healing promises and power of our great God.  If you don't have this little jewel, it is worth finding and using as a prayer guide to pray through the names of God.  Below is an excerpt from his booklet on Jehova-Rapha.

Ex 15:26--He said, “If you will carefully obey the Lord your God, do what is right in His eyes, pay attention to His commands, and keep all His statutes, I will not inflict any illness on you I inflicted on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you.”

While crossing the wilderness on their way to the Promised Land, the people of Israel went three days without water. When they found water, it was bitter. God used Moses to heal the water so the people could drink it. Then the Lord promised His people that He would reward their obedience with good health. He said, “I am Jehovah-Rapha [the Lord who heals you]” (Exo. 15:26).

Jesus gloriously demonstrated God’s healing power when He walked on earth. He lovingly reached out His hands and healed many who were sick, blind, lame, deaf, demon-possessed, and lepers. He even raised the dead. Most importantly, Jesus healed the brokenness within each of us when He reconciled us with His Father by dying on the cross and rising again. What a wonderful demonstration of God’s healing power!

Promises from JEHOVAH-RAPHA

“He was wounded and crushed for our sins…He was whipped, and we were healed!” (Isa. 53:5).  “He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases” (Psa. 103:3).  “He heals the brokenhearted, binding up their wounds” (Psa. 147:3).  “Their prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make them well…Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed” (Jas. 5:15, 16).  “For you who fear My name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in His wings” (Mal. 4:2).

Praise JEHOVAH-RAPHA …

because He makes us well through spiritual, emotional, and physical healing.  “O Lord my God, I cried out to You for help, and You restored my health” (Psa. 30:2).

Bright, B. (2000). God : Knowing him by his names (22). Orlando, FL: NewLife Publications

Ex 15:26--He said, “If you will carefully obey the Lord your God, do what is right in His eyes, pay attention to His commands, and keep all His statutes, I will not inflict any illness on you I inflicted on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you.”

Here we have an "if then" clause...God makes a promise, but it is contingent on our behavior!  What must we do to be able to "carefully obey the Lord?"  How is it that we will be able to "do what is right in His eyes?"  What is it that will enable us along with His indwelling Holy Spirit to "pay attention to His commands, and keep all His statutes?" 

You have to read EVERY WORD...haven't you read, haven't you read, haven't you read!  You and I must prayerfully read, ponder and meditate on HIS Word with the RIGHT HEART ATTITUDE!  It is so easy to fall into a pity party...I know that you all will be shocked and stunned to know that I have been known to fall into a death spiral, a tail spin...falling emotionally out of control.  I suppose a little like Peter, walking in and by faith...taking the eyes of my heart off of Jesus, looking at my circumstances and before you know it I am in a death spiral...falling at 120 miles per hour I cry..."Jesus, save me."  The Israelites are severely rebuked for complaining and grumbling against the LORD.  I believe they would have been safe to say like Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles,

20:3, "Jehoshaphat was afraid, so he resolved  to seek the Lord. So he proclaimed a fast  for all Judah...11-12, Look how they repay us by coming to drive us out of Your possession that You gave us as an inheritance. 12 Our God, will You not judge them?  For we are powerless before this vast multitude that comes ⌊to fight⌋ against us. We do not know what to do, but we look to You.  15-17  and he said, “Listen carefully, all Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat. This is what the Lord says: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast multitude,  for the battle is not yours, but God’s.  16 Tomorrow, go down against them. You will see them coming up the ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the valley facing the Wilderness of Jeruel. 17 You do not have to fight this ⌊battle⌋. Position yourselves, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord.  ⌊He is⌋ with you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged.  Tomorrow, go out to face them, for the Lord is with you. ’ ”

Do you see the difference?  Acknowledge our great God, acknowledge your circumstances and look to HIM...we don't know what to do, but the battle is not ours but God's.  HE told them to, Position yourselves, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord.  It is basically the same thing HE told the Israelites when HE destroyed the Egyptians.

Exod 16:7--in the morning you will see the Lord’s glory because He has heard your complaints about Him. For who are we that you complain about us?”

Exod 17:2--So the people complained to Moses: “Give us water to drink.” “Why are you complaining to me?” Moses replied to them. “Why are you testing the Lord?”

Exod 17:7--He named the place Massah and Meribah because the Israelites complained, and because they tested the Lord, saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”

Exod 15:24--The people grumbled to Moses, “What are we going to drink?”

Exod 16:2--The entire Israelite community grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness.

Exod 17:3--But the people thirsted there for water, and grumbled against Moses. They said, “Why did you ever bring us out of Egypt to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?”

I confess, most of my complaining and grumbling I keep to myself, but it is still just as sinful at a heart level!  Father in heaven, forgive me.

So, IF we prayerfully, thoughtfully read God's life-giving, life-sustaining Word, if we read with a heart to obey, to listen and pay attention to do what HE says and to keep HIS Word we will be abundantly blessed and filled to overflowing with HIS presence and with living waters...healing waters.  Consider God's promise in Joshua 1:8.  "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success."

If you want to meditate in it day and night you have to read and memorize God's Word...is it possible to meditate on HIS Word at night if you have not memorized?  Look at Ezra 7:10, "because Ezra had determined in his heart to study the law of the Lord, obey ⌊it⌋, and teach  ⌊its⌋ statutes and ordinances in Israel."  Ezra was a contemporary of Nehemiah, Ezra determined in his heart to study, obey and teach!

Memorizing, meditating, pondering the Word of God is MANDATORY to live a vibrant, rich, healthy Christian life, BUT THE RIGHT HEART ATTITUDE, THE RIGHT HEART POSTURE BEOFRE GOD IS EQUALLY IMPORTANT!  Consider Jesus words to the Sadducees, who had memorized every jot and tittle, when HE said in Matt 22:29, “You are deceived, because you don’t know the Scriptures or the power of God."  I believe that they had God's Word in their heads, but their hearts were hard...the Word had not traveled the 18 inches to their hearts.

I don't want to be deceived by sins deadly deceitfulness...I long and burn to know, intimately know the Scriptures and I long to see the power of God move in my heart, my family, our class, our church, our community, our country...HIS World.  I don't want to be deceived...He has abundantly given us HIS precious Word.

We started with considering Jehova-Rapha.  I hope you agree that physical healing is a good thing when God does it, but think about the fact that everyone Jesus healed eventually died, even those he rose from the dead had to die again, bummer, (bummer is a deep theological term) if HE only heals us physically and emotionally then we go to hell with nice bodies and a peaceful psyche.  Don't get overly excited about physical healing, HE still does heal physically, rejoice in knowing that your names are recorded in heaven (Luke 10:20).

Let's go hard after God in and through HIS Word...depending and desperate for HIM to work the right heart attitude within each of us...for HIS glory and our JOY.

love,

m

CONGRATULATIONS YOU HAVE COMPLETED THE FIRST MONTH OF READING THE ONE YEAR BIBLE TOGETHER!  I hope and pray that you are experiencing the joys and promises of God's Word to those that are faithful to HIS awesome Word.

Looking back a few days to Jesus words, "Have you not read...?"  I believe that the statement is a rebuke to those who claim to be the people of God.  Consider all the awe inspiring attributes that you know about God, you would assume that someone who claims to be a follower of that God to have read and studied everything that HE said...wouldn't you?

In Matthew 4:4 you will remember Jesus said, "Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God."  "Every Word," does that phrase presume a familiarity with the entire Bible?  "Every Word" is food for the human soul, "Every Word" builds and sustains faith in the children of God!

The verse that we are memorizing and MEDITATING on this week...2 Tim 3:16...All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.  The phrase "inspiration of God" literally translated is "God-breathed,"  Men of God were moved under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and God-breathed HIS Holy Word through them.

Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near (Rev 1:3).  Blessed, happy, joyful is the one who reads and hears the words...who did Jesus claim as intimate members of HIS family?   Remember in Matt 12:50 Jesus said, "For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”  You cannot know HIS will unless you spend time with HIM prayerfully reading/meditating through HIS life sustaining Word.

What did our memory/meditation verse for last week say?  John 14:21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”  To have and to know HIS commands you must read "All Scripture."  Please don't miss the last words of John 14:21...Jesus promises HIS love and He promises to reveal, show, manifest HIMSELF to those that obey HIS Word.  OBEY WHAT YOU KNOW AND HE WILL REVEAL MORE OF HIMSELF TO YOU!

Consider the promises of the Word of God in Psalm 19...the motivation is not from fear or duty, but from astonishing, breath-taking beauty...it's like when you see some incredible phenomenon in the sky and you point and cry out to others "LOOK, LOOK, LOOK AT THAT...WOW!"  TASTE AND SEE THAT THE LORD IS GOOD!

Psalm 19:7-14

7     The instruction of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is trustworthy, making the inexperienced wise. 8     The precepts of the Lord are right, making the heart glad; the commandment of the Lord is radiant, making the eyes light up. 9     The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the Lord are reliable and altogether righteous. 10     They are more desirable than gold— than an abundance of pure gold; and sweeter than honey— than honey dripping from the comb. 11     In addition, Your servant is warned by them; there is great reward in keeping them. 12     Who perceives his unintentional sins?  Cleanse me from my hidden faults. 13     Moreover, keep Your servant from willful sins; do not let them rule over me.  Then I will be innocent, and cleansed from blatant rebellion. 14    May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to You, Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.

Mark you have not mentioned today's reading...I wanted to encourage, and exhort each of you to continue in the pursuit of God through HIS Holy Word.

What about today's Word?  WOW!

Ex 13:21-22 The Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud  to lead them on their way during the day and in a pillar of fire to give them light at night, so that they could travel day or night. 22 The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night never left its place in front of the people.

Out of the gate I am encouraged to read that God never left HIS people, as in Heb 13:5 we receive the promise that HE will never leave us or forsake us...HIS OWN.

In chapter 14 you almost begin to feel sorry for Pharaoh, I know he is one bad evil dude...God again hardens Pharaohs heart so that God will receive glory.  I said almost...I guess it would be great to see the guy come to his senses.

This next passage is amazing to me when you consider everything that the Israelites have witnessed their great God do for them...their response is stunning...it reminds me of ME!  How many times have I reacted in fear and anxiety to my circumstances?  I'm not telling:)  God knows...

Ex 14:10-14  As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up and saw the Egyptians coming after them. Then the Israelites were terrified and cried out  to the Lord for help. [So far so good...it is good to cry to the Lord for help] 11 They said to Moses: “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you took us to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? 12 Isn’t this what we told you in Egypt: Leave us alone so that we may serve the Egyptians? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.” [I hope and pray that I have never or will ever go that far to say it would have been better to die in my SIN than to die a Christian]

13 But Moses said to the people, “Don’t be afraid. Stand firm and see  the Lord’s salvation He will provide for you today; for the Egyptians you see today, you will never see again. 14 The Lord will fight for you; you must be quiet.”

The Lord God did fight for them...none of the Egyptians survived!  None of the Israelites were lost!  Ex 14:31 When Israel saw the great power that the Lord used against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord and believed  in Him and in His servant Moses.  In Moses song we see that "The LORD is a warrior; Yahweh is His name."  We see that HIS right hand is glorious in power, HIS right hand shattered the enemy and we know that HIS righteous right hand is our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ.

Ps 27:1 The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom should I fear?  The Lord is the stronghold of my life—  of whom should I be afraid?

Ps 27:3-5 Though an army deploy against me, my heart is not afraid; though war break out against me, still I am confident. 4 I have asked one thing from the Lord; it is what I desire: to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, gazing on the beauty of the Lord and seeking ⌊Him⌋ in His temple. 5     For He will conceal me in His shelter in the day of adversity; He will hide me under the cover of His tent; He will set me high on a rock.

This is so encouraging...this is where I long to live, breathe, drink, eat...taste and see that the LORD IS GOOD, REALLY GOOD, HE IS THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN TRULY SATISFY THE CRAVINGS OF YOUR HEART, YOUR HEART AND MY HEART WERE CREATED TO BEHOLD HIS GLORY AND BE TRANSFORMED INTO HIS LIKENESS...BEHOLDING IS BECOMING.  WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT WORKS THIS IN YOUR HEART HE IS DOING IT IN ANSWER TO JESUS PRAYER JUST BEFORE GOING TO THE CROSS!

John 17:24 Father, I desire those You have given Me to be with Me where I am.  Then they will see My glory, which You have given Me because You loved Me before the world’s foundation.

love,

m