"You are also to count off seven sabbaths of years for yourself, seven times seven years, so that you have the time of the seven sabbaths of years, namely, forty-nine years. You shall then sound a ram’s horn abroad on the tenth day of the seventh month; on the day of atonement you shall sound a horn all through your land. You shall thus consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim a release through the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you, and each of you shall return to his own property, and each of you shall return to his family. You shall have the fiftieth year as a jubilee; you shall not sow, nor reap its aftergrowth, nor gather in from its untrimmed vines. For it is a jubilee; it shall be holy to you. You shall eat its crops out of the field." -Leviticus 25.8-12
After a total of seven sabbath years, year fifty was to be the year of Jubilee. This was a time of freedom and restoration. In this year debt was forgiven, property was returned, and slaves were set free. It was a time of new beginnings, a fresh start. It kept the rich from oppressing the poor, and it gave the poor a chance to get back on their feet. Sadly, it never happened.
There is no indication that Israel ever practiced the Jubilee. They didn't follow the sabbath years, so why would they have followed the year of Jubilee? God gave His people the amazing opportunity to be able to start again, and they never took advantage of it.
Are
Men, what gift has God given you that you are refusing? Maybe it's salvation. God has offered it to you time and again, but you refuse to accept His free gift of grace. Maybe it's an opportunity. God has opened a door for you, it demands faith and trust, and it involves risk, but it's what you've always wanted. Maybe it is simply His presence and peace. He simply wants to fellowship with you and calm your heart and mind.
What blessing is God offering that you are refusing? The question to ask is why? Maybe you're refusing salvation because of what you think you'll be giving up. But are the momentary, sinful, pleasures worth an eternity of separation from God? Maybe you're refusing to step out in faith because you're afraid of the risk, or overwhelmed by it. But is the risk something you want to look back and regret not taking? Are you willing to wonder "What if" for the rest of your life? Maybe you just feel too busy, or unworthy for God's presence. Just know that you can't survive without it, and that He longs to fellowship with you.
The year of Jubilee was an unclaimed blessing for Israel, and it's too late for them. But we have a choice. We still have time. What are you going to do with the time that you have? Will we claim the blessings, embracing everything that they entail? Or will we choose to go our own way, play it safe, and rely on ourselves? The choice is ours.
May we choose to claim the blessings that God has poured out to us. Let us celebrate the Jubilee.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Sunday, August 31, 2014
Saturday, August 30, 2014
Sabbath Year
"Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, 'When you come into the land which I shall give you, then the land shall have a sabbath to the Lord. Six years you shall sow your field, and six years you shall prune your vineyard and gather in its crop, but during the seventh year the land shall have a sabbath rest, a sabbath to the Lord; you shall not sow your field nor prune your vineyard. Your harvest’s aftergrowth you shall not reap, and your grapes of untrimmed vines you shall not gather; the land shall have a sabbatical year. All of you shall have the sabbath products of the land for food; yourself, and your male and female slaves, and your hired man and your foreign resident, those who live as aliens with you. Even your cattle and the animals that are in your land shall have all its crops to eat.'" -Leviticus 25.2-7
God had commanded His people to take one day out of seven to rest. It was a time set aside for worship and renewal of their bodies, souls, and minds. On that day they were to do no work, simply to rest, worship, and fellowship with each other and God. While on the journey to the Promised Land it required faith because God didn't send any food on the sabbath, so they had to gather twice as much the day before.
Now He is telling them that the land is also to be given time to rest and renew itself. Every seventh year they aren't to plant any crops or prune their vineyards. They aren't to gather anything that is produced. Instead God had promised that during the sixth year the land would produce so much food that it would last for three years. They would eat it during the sabbath year, when they were planting the eighth year, and until they the harvest from the ninth year (Leviticus 25.20-22). The sabbath year was a test of faith, and a chance for the people to remember God's provision and blessing. It would give them yet another reason to rejoice and worship God for all that He had done.
Men, has God called you to take a sabbath year? I'm hoping at some point in the next decade (hopefully less) to find a decent piece of ground to live out my days on. I've made layout plans for all kinds of produce: fruit trees, grape vines, berry bushes, nut trees, and several garden beds. There is even a maple grove so that I can make syrup. Every time I'm at the grocery store to buy apples I look hopefully to the day when I won't ever have to pay for an apple again. I'm hoping to be able to grow most of what my family would eat. What if God asked me to do a sabbath year?
For you it might not be with gardening. Maybe God is asking you to take some time off of your job to pursue ministry. Maybe a mission trip, or your education. What do you do? Do you have the faith that He'll provide for you and your family financially? When God spoke to the people about the sabbath year He promised that in the sixth year they would have food for three years. They only needed food for two. They need food during the seventh year since they weren't plowing, planting or harvesting, and they needed food for the eighth year since they didn't collect anything the seventh year. But God goes above and beyond all that we could ask or imagine (Ephesians 3.20-21), and so just because of who He is He gives food for a third year, just to bless His people and show His love and provision for them.
We have no reason to doubt God. The Bible is full of His promises, and the fulfillment of those promises. Israel never practiced the sabbath year. They never trusted that God would provide for them. For 490 years they lived in self reliance, and they ended up as captives, exiled in Babylon for their lack of faith.
If we choose to ignore God, to not live in faith and trust of His promises, we too will be exiled. It might not be literally like Israel, but we may find ourselves exiled for the peace and joy, certainly from the full blessings of God, because we refuse to trust Him.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
God had commanded His people to take one day out of seven to rest. It was a time set aside for worship and renewal of their bodies, souls, and minds. On that day they were to do no work, simply to rest, worship, and fellowship with each other and God. While on the journey to the Promised Land it required faith because God didn't send any food on the sabbath, so they had to gather twice as much the day before.
Now He is telling them that the land is also to be given time to rest and renew itself. Every seventh year they aren't to plant any crops or prune their vineyards. They aren't to gather anything that is produced. Instead God had promised that during the sixth year the land would produce so much food that it would last for three years. They would eat it during the sabbath year, when they were planting the eighth year, and until they the harvest from the ninth year (Leviticus 25.20-22). The sabbath year was a test of faith, and a chance for the people to remember God's provision and blessing. It would give them yet another reason to rejoice and worship God for all that He had done.
Men, has God called you to take a sabbath year? I'm hoping at some point in the next decade (hopefully less) to find a decent piece of ground to live out my days on. I've made layout plans for all kinds of produce: fruit trees, grape vines, berry bushes, nut trees, and several garden beds. There is even a maple grove so that I can make syrup. Every time I'm at the grocery store to buy apples I look hopefully to the day when I won't ever have to pay for an apple again. I'm hoping to be able to grow most of what my family would eat. What if God asked me to do a sabbath year?
For you it might not be with gardening. Maybe God is asking you to take some time off of your job to pursue ministry. Maybe a mission trip, or your education. What do you do? Do you have the faith that He'll provide for you and your family financially? When God spoke to the people about the sabbath year He promised that in the sixth year they would have food for three years. They only needed food for two. They need food during the seventh year since they weren't plowing, planting or harvesting, and they needed food for the eighth year since they didn't collect anything the seventh year. But God goes above and beyond all that we could ask or imagine (Ephesians 3.20-21), and so just because of who He is He gives food for a third year, just to bless His people and show His love and provision for them.
We have no reason to doubt God. The Bible is full of His promises, and the fulfillment of those promises. Israel never practiced the sabbath year. They never trusted that God would provide for them. For 490 years they lived in self reliance, and they ended up as captives, exiled in Babylon for their lack of faith.
If we choose to ignore God, to not live in faith and trust of His promises, we too will be exiled. It might not be literally like Israel, but we may find ourselves exiled for the peace and joy, certainly from the full blessings of God, because we refuse to trust Him.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Friday, August 29, 2014
Justice and Society
"If a man takes the life of any human being, he shall surely be put to death. The one who takes the life of an animal shall make it good, life for life. If a man injures his neighbor, just as he has done, so it shall be done to him: fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; just as he has injured a man, so it shall be inflicted on him. Thus the one who kills an animal shall make it good, but the one who kills a man shall be put to death. There shall be one standard for you; it shall be for the stranger as well as the native, for I am the Lord your God." -Leviticus 24.17-22
The Bible does speak to capital punishment. God says that if a man takes someone's live, he shall be put to death. Murder cannot be overlooked, and it cannot be treated with leniency. God lays out justice for His people so that society can function.
People will wonder how Christian's can be in favor of the death penalty if we're supposed to be all about forgiveness, mercy, and grace. The best answer I've heard came from Mike Huckabee during one of the Republican primaries. He was asked how he could be pro-life and in favor of the death penalty. He shared some of the experience he had had with signing the capital punishment order as governor, and ended by saying the difference between the death penalty and abortion is that abortion takes a life that hasn't had the chance to choose what to do.
In Deuteronomy 17 we see the requirements for carrying out the death penalty. There had to be at least two eyewitnesses, and the witnesses would cast the first stones to carry out the sentence. Those who took like intentionally were punished by having their life taken. Life has to be protected for society to function.
Men, do we believe in and support justice? Do we defend life and work to protect society itself? Do we value life? Are we willing to stand up for justice to protect the lives and rights of the innocent?
Let us stand up for justice and protect society. It is part of our responsibility as men.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
The Bible does speak to capital punishment. God says that if a man takes someone's live, he shall be put to death. Murder cannot be overlooked, and it cannot be treated with leniency. God lays out justice for His people so that society can function.
People will wonder how Christian's can be in favor of the death penalty if we're supposed to be all about forgiveness, mercy, and grace. The best answer I've heard came from Mike Huckabee during one of the Republican primaries. He was asked how he could be pro-life and in favor of the death penalty. He shared some of the experience he had had with signing the capital punishment order as governor, and ended by saying the difference between the death penalty and abortion is that abortion takes a life that hasn't had the chance to choose what to do.
In Deuteronomy 17 we see the requirements for carrying out the death penalty. There had to be at least two eyewitnesses, and the witnesses would cast the first stones to carry out the sentence. Those who took like intentionally were punished by having their life taken. Life has to be protected for society to function.
Men, do we believe in and support justice? Do we defend life and work to protect society itself? Do we value life? Are we willing to stand up for justice to protect the lives and rights of the innocent?
Let us stand up for justice and protect society. It is part of our responsibility as men.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Thursday, August 28, 2014
No Work, Worship
"Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, 'The Lord’s appointed times which you shall proclaim as holy convocations—My appointed times are these:'" -Leviticus 23.2
God has set aside times for His people the proclaim as holy gatherings. They are times when the people were to be fully focused on worshiping God. They were times, sometimes a day, sometimes multiple days, that were to be set aside to fully focus on God.
Men, we need times like this in our lives. There have to be times in our life when we set everything aside and fully focus on God. We need to cease from the daily tasks and pour everything into God. We need to take time and remove all the distractions and allow ourselves to be fully immersed in God.
If we would be men of God, we have to take time to simply worship God and nothing else. Let take the time, daily, to set aside all of our responsibilities and obligations and focus fully on God. Let us take the time each week to gather with the body to worship our Father. Let us make time throughout the year to escape and be alone with God, sometimes alone, sometimes with a group of brothers.
Let us set work aside, and simply worship.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
God has set aside times for His people the proclaim as holy gatherings. They are times when the people were to be fully focused on worshiping God. They were times, sometimes a day, sometimes multiple days, that were to be set aside to fully focus on God.
Men, we need times like this in our lives. There have to be times in our life when we set everything aside and fully focus on God. We need to cease from the daily tasks and pour everything into God. We need to take time and remove all the distractions and allow ourselves to be fully immersed in God.
If we would be men of God, we have to take time to simply worship God and nothing else. Let take the time, daily, to set aside all of our responsibilities and obligations and focus fully on God. Let us take the time each week to gather with the body to worship our Father. Let us make time throughout the year to escape and be alone with God, sometimes alone, sometimes with a group of brothers.
Let us set work aside, and simply worship.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
Freed by God
"You shall not profane My holy name, but I will be sanctified among the sons of Israel; I am the Lord who sanctifies you, who brought you out from the land of Egypt, to be your God; I am the Lord." -Leviticus 22.32-33
God reminds His people that His name is holy and not to be profaned. He is to be set apart as the God of Israel, their only God. He has set them apart and brought them out of Egypt to be their God. God delivered them from bondage in order to be their personal God. He set them free so that they could fulfill the covenant and be a blessing to the world.
Over and over we see God reminding His people that He is the one who brought them out of Egypt to be their God. Over and over Israel complains about the hardships of the wilderness and talk about wanting to go back to Egypt, and yet God is patient with them, still wanting to fulfill the covenant.
We have been set free by God, so that He can sanctify us to fulfill His will. "It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery" (Galatians 5.1). Freedom came at a very high price, and we must remember that. And we have been freed by God.
Men, what has God set you free from? What "Egypt" has He brought you out of? Is He your God? Have you lived in His freedom or have you turned back and submitted to the yoke of slavery?
God has set us free, let us live in that freedom, and never forget that He is the one who delivered us. It was nothing that we have done. God has freed us so that we can enjoy relationship with Him. Let us be set free so that He may be our God.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
God reminds His people that His name is holy and not to be profaned. He is to be set apart as the God of Israel, their only God. He has set them apart and brought them out of Egypt to be their God. God delivered them from bondage in order to be their personal God. He set them free so that they could fulfill the covenant and be a blessing to the world.
Over and over we see God reminding His people that He is the one who brought them out of Egypt to be their God. Over and over Israel complains about the hardships of the wilderness and talk about wanting to go back to Egypt, and yet God is patient with them, still wanting to fulfill the covenant.
We have been set free by God, so that He can sanctify us to fulfill His will. "It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery" (Galatians 5.1). Freedom came at a very high price, and we must remember that. And we have been freed by God.
Men, what has God set you free from? What "Egypt" has He brought you out of? Is He your God? Have you lived in His freedom or have you turned back and submitted to the yoke of slavery?
God has set us free, let us live in that freedom, and never forget that He is the one who delivered us. It was nothing that we have done. God has freed us so that we can enjoy relationship with Him. Let us be set free so that He may be our God.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
Offer Your Best
"Whatever has a defect, you shall not offer, for it will not be accepted for you. When a man offers a sacrifice of peace offerings to the Lord to fulfill a special vow or for a freewill offering, of the herd or of the flock, it must be perfect to be accepted; there shall be no defect in it. Those that are blind or fractured or maimed or having a running sore or eczema or scabs, you shall not offer to the Lord, nor make of them an offering by fire on the altar to the Lord." -Leviticus 22.20-22
God talks again about sacrifice, and tells the people that whatever they offer must be perfect. If there is any defect in it at all it is not to be offered because it will not be accepted. No matter what the offering is for, sin, guilt, or peace, it is to be perfect, or it will not be accepted.
God deserves the best, simply because of who He is. He deserves the best of our time. He deserves the best of our talents. He deserves the best of our resources. When we do something for God we need to do our very best. We need to use all our heart, soul, mind, and strength with anything we do for God.
Men, are you giving your best to God, or whatever you have left? If your tithe the first check you write before all the bills, or the last out of whatever is left? Do you squeeze prayer and Bible reading in after you've watched your nightly television programs, or are you turning the TV off so that you can give God your full attention? When you volunteer for some ministry do you do it joyfully and eagerly, or with reluctance and then give it a half hearted effort while you're there? Which of these actions do you think God accepts? The others it would be better if we didn't even do them. God only wants the offering that is properly offered and worthy of Him.
Nothing we can give to God is perfect. We are after all fallen human beings, who, inspite of redemption, still live in a fallen world. But what we offer to God can be our best. There were provisions in the sacrificial law that allowed pigeons to be offered instead of a bull, that way the poor weren't disqualified from worship. You may not be able to give $100 a month to God, maybe your best is $10, or even $5, but if you give it joyfully, and if it is your best, then God loves and accepts your offering.
What are you offering to God, your best of the left overs? Do you want Him to accept it or reject you? Let us always strive to give God our very best.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
God talks again about sacrifice, and tells the people that whatever they offer must be perfect. If there is any defect in it at all it is not to be offered because it will not be accepted. No matter what the offering is for, sin, guilt, or peace, it is to be perfect, or it will not be accepted.
God deserves the best, simply because of who He is. He deserves the best of our time. He deserves the best of our talents. He deserves the best of our resources. When we do something for God we need to do our very best. We need to use all our heart, soul, mind, and strength with anything we do for God.
Men, are you giving your best to God, or whatever you have left? If your tithe the first check you write before all the bills, or the last out of whatever is left? Do you squeeze prayer and Bible reading in after you've watched your nightly television programs, or are you turning the TV off so that you can give God your full attention? When you volunteer for some ministry do you do it joyfully and eagerly, or with reluctance and then give it a half hearted effort while you're there? Which of these actions do you think God accepts? The others it would be better if we didn't even do them. God only wants the offering that is properly offered and worthy of Him.
Nothing we can give to God is perfect. We are after all fallen human beings, who, inspite of redemption, still live in a fallen world. But what we offer to God can be our best. There were provisions in the sacrificial law that allowed pigeons to be offered instead of a bull, that way the poor weren't disqualified from worship. You may not be able to give $100 a month to God, maybe your best is $10, or even $5, but if you give it joyfully, and if it is your best, then God loves and accepts your offering.
What are you offering to God, your best of the left overs? Do you want Him to accept it or reject you? Let us always strive to give God our very best.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Monday, August 25, 2014
Higher Calling
"They shall be holy to their God and not profane the name of their God, for they present the offerings by fire to the Lord, the food of their God; so they shall be holy." -Leviticus 21.6
Leviticus 21 is a set of regulations that the priests are to live by. The reason for the strict guidelines is because they represent the people before God. They are the ones to offer the sacrifices and they shall be holy so as not to profane the name of God.
In the New Testament we are told that teachers, those who lead the people by sharing what God has taught, will be judged more strictly. "Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment" (James 3.1). Those who seek to lead people towards God, to teach them about God, are held to a higher standard because they are dealing with the eternal souls of people.
As men, we are already set apart for a higher calling. It is our role to instruct our families about God. It is our duty to raise our children to love and fear God. It is our responsibility to teach others what God is really like. We are to be holy to God and not profane His name by leading others astray.
Men, are you living the higher calling that you have been given? Are you taking your role seriously? We are not responsible for the choices that others make, not even our children, but we are responsible for the guidance, discipline, and love we give them. We are responsible to teach them what is righteous and true so that they may be drawn to God when they make their own decision about how to live.
Let us take our calling seriously. We, as men, have been entrusted with great responsibility. Let us be men of God so that we may fulfill our high calling.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Leviticus 21 is a set of regulations that the priests are to live by. The reason for the strict guidelines is because they represent the people before God. They are the ones to offer the sacrifices and they shall be holy so as not to profane the name of God.
In the New Testament we are told that teachers, those who lead the people by sharing what God has taught, will be judged more strictly. "Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment" (James 3.1). Those who seek to lead people towards God, to teach them about God, are held to a higher standard because they are dealing with the eternal souls of people.
As men, we are already set apart for a higher calling. It is our role to instruct our families about God. It is our duty to raise our children to love and fear God. It is our responsibility to teach others what God is really like. We are to be holy to God and not profane His name by leading others astray.
Men, are you living the higher calling that you have been given? Are you taking your role seriously? We are not responsible for the choices that others make, not even our children, but we are responsible for the guidance, discipline, and love we give them. We are responsible to teach them what is righteous and true so that they may be drawn to God when they make their own decision about how to live.
Let us take our calling seriously. We, as men, have been entrusted with great responsibility. Let us be men of God so that we may fulfill our high calling.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Sunday, August 24, 2014
Set Apart
"You are therefore to keep all My statutes and all My ordinances and do them, so that the land to which I am bringing you to live will not spew you out. Moreover, you shall not follow the customs of the nation which I will drive out before you, for they did all these things, and therefore I have abhorred them... Thus you are to be holy to Me, for I the Lord am holy; and I have set you apart from the peoples to be Mine." -Leviticus 20.22-23, 26
Much of Leviticus 20 is repeated from Leviticus 19, but here in these verses we see that God specifically has set Israel apart as His people. God selected them centuries earlier when Abraham decided to step out in faith and follow God to an unknown land that He promised to give to his descendants. Now as that promise is about to be fulfilled God is instructing His chosen people on how to live, reminding them that they are His.
Men, if we would be men of God, men chosen by God, we must stand apart from other men. The practices that the world engages in that are not of God are practices we need to avoid. The compromises the world makes for popularity, selfish satisfaction and desire, or personal advancement, are things we are to resist and instead be lights of truth.
Men of God are different, because men of God are set apart as God's own. We are called, and sanctified, for God's will and purpose. Let us live like we are set apart.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Much of Leviticus 20 is repeated from Leviticus 19, but here in these verses we see that God specifically has set Israel apart as His people. God selected them centuries earlier when Abraham decided to step out in faith and follow God to an unknown land that He promised to give to his descendants. Now as that promise is about to be fulfilled God is instructing His chosen people on how to live, reminding them that they are His.
Men, if we would be men of God, men chosen by God, we must stand apart from other men. The practices that the world engages in that are not of God are practices we need to avoid. The compromises the world makes for popularity, selfish satisfaction and desire, or personal advancement, are things we are to resist and instead be lights of truth.
Men of God are different, because men of God are set apart as God's own. We are called, and sanctified, for God's will and purpose. Let us live like we are set apart.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Saturday, August 23, 2014
Sanctified
"You shall consecrate yourselves therefore and be holy, for I am the Lord your God. You shall keep My statutes and practice them; I am the Lord who sanctifies you." -Leviticus 20.7-8
Again God tells His people that they are to be holy because He is holy. They are reminded to keep His statutes and practice them. And they are told that God sanctifies them. I grew up in a denomination that emphasized entire sanctification, and over the years I heard a lot of wrong teaching on what sanctification is.
I've heard it described as a sinless perfection, where a person who has been sanctified completely looses the ability to sin. I've heard it described in a way that teaches that a sanctified person can sin, but no longer struggles with it; they make mistakes, but it isn't sin. I've come to understand it as the Holy Spirit working within us to transform us more into the image of Christ. Sanctification is God working in us to make us more like Jesus, and more holy as a result. We never lose the ability to sin, but the more God works in us, the more our desire is to please Him, and we strive to live righteously.
Sanctification is crucial for every Christ follower, it isn't optional. I believe the process begins the moment we enter into new life, and continues until we die. Sanctification is God setting us aside for His own purpose. Our lives need to be spent fulfilling that purpose. Everything that happens is preparation for this task, even the bad things God can redeem and use.
Men, are you being sanctified? Are you allowing God to work in you daily to mold you more into the what He created you to be? This video just came to my mind, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QCkBL2DfVg, that is the point of sanctification.
God has a purpose for you, and He is working to make you fit for it. Are you letting Him? Are you being sanctified?
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Again God tells His people that they are to be holy because He is holy. They are reminded to keep His statutes and practice them. And they are told that God sanctifies them. I grew up in a denomination that emphasized entire sanctification, and over the years I heard a lot of wrong teaching on what sanctification is.
I've heard it described as a sinless perfection, where a person who has been sanctified completely looses the ability to sin. I've heard it described in a way that teaches that a sanctified person can sin, but no longer struggles with it; they make mistakes, but it isn't sin. I've come to understand it as the Holy Spirit working within us to transform us more into the image of Christ. Sanctification is God working in us to make us more like Jesus, and more holy as a result. We never lose the ability to sin, but the more God works in us, the more our desire is to please Him, and we strive to live righteously.
Sanctification is crucial for every Christ follower, it isn't optional. I believe the process begins the moment we enter into new life, and continues until we die. Sanctification is God setting us aside for His own purpose. Our lives need to be spent fulfilling that purpose. Everything that happens is preparation for this task, even the bad things God can redeem and use.
Men, are you being sanctified? Are you allowing God to work in you daily to mold you more into the what He created you to be? This video just came to my mind, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QCkBL2DfVg, that is the point of sanctification.
God has a purpose for you, and He is working to make you fit for it. Are you letting Him? Are you being sanctified?
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Friday, August 22, 2014
His Standards
"You shall thus observe all My statutes and all My ordinances and do them; I am the Lord." -Leviticus 19.37
The rest of Leviticus 19 is made up of sundry (various kinds) of laws, and there is a lot there. There are several things that were listed in the Ten Commandments, as well as others that are to set His people apart from the other nations. Many of them are obsolete to us, my garden is full of a variety of vegetables, and I don't think I own a piece of clothing that is made of only one material.
Today I think this goes back to the idea of inward vs. outward circumcision. Very few people I who I know own cattle, and I don't know anyone who owns two different types of cattle, so there is no risk of interbreeding the two (vs. 19). Today I think it's about the heart issues.
Men, are we living by the standards of righteousness? Are we treating people with dignity? Are we approaching God humbly and reverently? Are we living the way Jesus lived? Do we observe God's statutes of holiness and do what is righteous in His sight?
What does your heart look like? What is your heart pursuing?
Leviticus is God teaching His people how to worship Him, and live according to His standards. Let us learn what God requires, and strive diligently to live by them. Let us live according to His standards.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
The rest of Leviticus 19 is made up of sundry (various kinds) of laws, and there is a lot there. There are several things that were listed in the Ten Commandments, as well as others that are to set His people apart from the other nations. Many of them are obsolete to us, my garden is full of a variety of vegetables, and I don't think I own a piece of clothing that is made of only one material.
Today I think this goes back to the idea of inward vs. outward circumcision. Very few people I who I know own cattle, and I don't know anyone who owns two different types of cattle, so there is no risk of interbreeding the two (vs. 19). Today I think it's about the heart issues.
Men, are we living by the standards of righteousness? Are we treating people with dignity? Are we approaching God humbly and reverently? Are we living the way Jesus lived? Do we observe God's statutes of holiness and do what is righteous in His sight?
What does your heart look like? What is your heart pursuing?
Leviticus is God teaching His people how to worship Him, and live according to His standards. Let us learn what God requires, and strive diligently to live by them. Let us live according to His standards.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Thursday, August 21, 2014
Provide for the Poor
"Now when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the very corners of your field, nor shall you gather the gleanings of your harvest. Nor shall you glean your vineyard, nor shall you gather the fallen fruit of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the needy and for the stranger. I am the Lord your God." -Leviticus 19.9-10
These last two posts have hit on social issues, and this one seems to be heading along the same lines. With this I want to point out that I am merely following the Biblical text and sharing what God is revealing to me. It is my desire to communicate His will and character in order to help make holy people. And so with that being said, Leviticus 19.9-10.
God is teaching His people not simply what to do in the moment, while they journey in the wilderness, He is also preparing them for how to live in the land. In Egypt they were slaves, they had nothing. But now they are free and in Canaan they will have land of their own. They will work the land, planting crops, and when the time comes they will harvest them. But when they go to harvest their crops they are not to collect all of them. The aren't to reap the entire field, but to leave the very corners there. When the bulk of the crop has been brought in, they aren't to go back over the field and pick up all of the good stuff that was missed the first time.
When they come to the vineyard they aren't to pick up all the fruit that has fallen off of the vine. They aren't to take every usable cluster of grapes. Instead they are to leave this behind in the field intentionally for those who are needy, or strangers in the land. This is sort of God's welfare system.
I have no problem with helping the needy. I remember a couple years ago around Christmas seeing a story on the news about a single mom in Chicago that was working a couple jobs and still struggling to provide healthy meals for her kids and buy a few Christmas gifts. I have no problem helping people like her, people who are trying but simply can't do it on their own. These are the people that welfare is for. What I do have a problem with is people who do nothing but collect welfare, while I work my tail off so they don't have to.
God's system does not approve of this. In the new Testament we will see that it says if a man doesn't work, he doesn't eat (2 Thessalonians 3.10). This system set out in Leviticus 19 required work from the needy. Those with the land weren't to collect the crops, bundle it up, and deliver it. They were to leave it in the fields so they needy could go and collect it. God didn't create us to be lazy, and He doesn't permit it among His people.
Men, are you working? Maybe you aren't making enough and you need help, and that is ok. There is no shame in that. I've been in that situation before. My wife and I were going through some rough times financially due to unemployment and underemployment. We were trying our hardest, but still struggling. I got to the point where I had no where to go and I ended up asking a couple church people we had met in our time of ministry for help (I hated having to do it) but they came through for us, and gave us more than we needed. Another time we faced the issue of losing a vehicle we were still paying on. This time one of the pastors at church told us about the help that might be available for us, and again, godly church people came through and helped us. If you are working and trying, there is no shame in asking for, and accepting, help. Sadly, we as men don't like to do that.
Maybe you aren't in the position of need. Maybe you fall into the category of the land owner. What are you doing to help the poor and the needy? I realize what the world is like. When I was at the church people would call and ask for money all the time. One time I had the same guy call twice, a couple of months apart, and give me the exact same story, almost word for word, about needing help. We can't help everyone, at least I can't, so how do we tell those who really need it from those with good sob story who are simply looking to make some easy money? I think we look to God for guidance and simply do what He leads us to.
Are you willing to leave some of what you've worked so hard for "out in the field" so that the needy, who are willing to work, can survive? Are you willing to provide for the poor?
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
These last two posts have hit on social issues, and this one seems to be heading along the same lines. With this I want to point out that I am merely following the Biblical text and sharing what God is revealing to me. It is my desire to communicate His will and character in order to help make holy people. And so with that being said, Leviticus 19.9-10.
God is teaching His people not simply what to do in the moment, while they journey in the wilderness, He is also preparing them for how to live in the land. In Egypt they were slaves, they had nothing. But now they are free and in Canaan they will have land of their own. They will work the land, planting crops, and when the time comes they will harvest them. But when they go to harvest their crops they are not to collect all of them. The aren't to reap the entire field, but to leave the very corners there. When the bulk of the crop has been brought in, they aren't to go back over the field and pick up all of the good stuff that was missed the first time.
When they come to the vineyard they aren't to pick up all the fruit that has fallen off of the vine. They aren't to take every usable cluster of grapes. Instead they are to leave this behind in the field intentionally for those who are needy, or strangers in the land. This is sort of God's welfare system.
I have no problem with helping the needy. I remember a couple years ago around Christmas seeing a story on the news about a single mom in Chicago that was working a couple jobs and still struggling to provide healthy meals for her kids and buy a few Christmas gifts. I have no problem helping people like her, people who are trying but simply can't do it on their own. These are the people that welfare is for. What I do have a problem with is people who do nothing but collect welfare, while I work my tail off so they don't have to.
God's system does not approve of this. In the new Testament we will see that it says if a man doesn't work, he doesn't eat (2 Thessalonians 3.10). This system set out in Leviticus 19 required work from the needy. Those with the land weren't to collect the crops, bundle it up, and deliver it. They were to leave it in the fields so they needy could go and collect it. God didn't create us to be lazy, and He doesn't permit it among His people.
Men, are you working? Maybe you aren't making enough and you need help, and that is ok. There is no shame in that. I've been in that situation before. My wife and I were going through some rough times financially due to unemployment and underemployment. We were trying our hardest, but still struggling. I got to the point where I had no where to go and I ended up asking a couple church people we had met in our time of ministry for help (I hated having to do it) but they came through for us, and gave us more than we needed. Another time we faced the issue of losing a vehicle we were still paying on. This time one of the pastors at church told us about the help that might be available for us, and again, godly church people came through and helped us. If you are working and trying, there is no shame in asking for, and accepting, help. Sadly, we as men don't like to do that.
Maybe you aren't in the position of need. Maybe you fall into the category of the land owner. What are you doing to help the poor and the needy? I realize what the world is like. When I was at the church people would call and ask for money all the time. One time I had the same guy call twice, a couple of months apart, and give me the exact same story, almost word for word, about needing help. We can't help everyone, at least I can't, so how do we tell those who really need it from those with good sob story who are simply looking to make some easy money? I think we look to God for guidance and simply do what He leads us to.
Are you willing to leave some of what you've worked so hard for "out in the field" so that the needy, who are willing to work, can survive? Are you willing to provide for the poor?
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
Protect Life
"You shall not give any of your offspring to offer them to Molech, nor shall you profane the name of your God; I am the Lord." -Leviticus 18.21
God is leading the people to the Promised Land, and in the middle of setting His standards for sex He gives an instruction about sacrifice. The Canaanites would engage in infant sacrifice. I can't get into the specifics of it, it's too difficult to think about. Just know that it was a horrible, barbaric practice, and God commanded His people to have nothing to do with it.
Already with Abraham, back in Genesis, we saw that human sacrifice was not something that God's Kingdom accepted, and here God says that it will profane His name. He has already instructed them about proper sacrifice and worship, and humans are to offer them, not be them.
As I've thought about this over the past 24 hours, I keep thinking about abortion, that would be the closest thing to infant sacrifice today. It's a barbaric practice that takes an innocent life, unable to defend itself. There is also a huge toll on the mother both physically and mentally, as I imagine there was back in the Canaanite times.
Men, we need to stand and defend the defenseless. I realize that this is another sensitive subject, but I think we handle it the same way we handle the sex issue, with love and kindness, but we can't sit by and do nothing. If you are the father of a child being considered for abortion, stand up and do something about it. Take your responsibility as a father and protect your child, no one else will.
Maybe you're not in that situation, but you can still do some things. One, pour into your children, and their friends. Teach them what God says about sex and life. Teach them to value these gifts that God has given. Let's work to raise up a holy generation that lives differently.
Two, you can adopt. I don't know exactly how this process works under these circumstances, but what if you and your spouse were to offer to adopt an unwanted child? You're saving a life, and putting faith in action. You're showing the love of God and living like Christ.
Let us stand up and defend the defenseless. Let us protect life, all life.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
God is leading the people to the Promised Land, and in the middle of setting His standards for sex He gives an instruction about sacrifice. The Canaanites would engage in infant sacrifice. I can't get into the specifics of it, it's too difficult to think about. Just know that it was a horrible, barbaric practice, and God commanded His people to have nothing to do with it.
Already with Abraham, back in Genesis, we saw that human sacrifice was not something that God's Kingdom accepted, and here God says that it will profane His name. He has already instructed them about proper sacrifice and worship, and humans are to offer them, not be them.
As I've thought about this over the past 24 hours, I keep thinking about abortion, that would be the closest thing to infant sacrifice today. It's a barbaric practice that takes an innocent life, unable to defend itself. There is also a huge toll on the mother both physically and mentally, as I imagine there was back in the Canaanite times.
Men, we need to stand and defend the defenseless. I realize that this is another sensitive subject, but I think we handle it the same way we handle the sex issue, with love and kindness, but we can't sit by and do nothing. If you are the father of a child being considered for abortion, stand up and do something about it. Take your responsibility as a father and protect your child, no one else will.
Maybe you're not in that situation, but you can still do some things. One, pour into your children, and their friends. Teach them what God says about sex and life. Teach them to value these gifts that God has given. Let's work to raise up a holy generation that lives differently.
Two, you can adopt. I don't know exactly how this process works under these circumstances, but what if you and your spouse were to offer to adopt an unwanted child? You're saving a life, and putting faith in action. You're showing the love of God and living like Christ.
Let us stand up and defend the defenseless. Let us protect life, all life.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
What God Says About Sex
"Do not defile yourselves by any of these things; for by all these the nations which I am casting out before you have become defiled. For the land has become defiled, therefore I have brought its punishment upon it, so the land has spewed out its inhabitants. But as for you, you are to keep My statutes and My judgments and shall not do any of these abominations, neither the native, nor the alien who sojourns among you (for the men of the land who have been before you have done all these abominations, and the land has become defiled); so that the land will not spew you out, should you defile it, as it has spewed out the nation which has been before you." -Leviticus 18.24-28
I didn't post the verses 6-20 and 22-23, simply because of how long it would be. But these verses capture the consequences behind the actions of these verses. Leviticus 18 talks about sex, and what God didn't create it to be. It goes on and on about sexual relationships that are not permissible. It talks about acts that are an abomination, and a defilement of what God created sex to be. Remember, Leviticus is God teaching His people how to live by His standards of holiness, and the things said here, though unpopular, must be something that a man of God lives with.
God created sex as a good thing, an act of worship to be expressed between a man and a woman within the covenant of marriage. Any sexual act outside of that is sin. Incest is sin. Adultery is sin. Fornication is sin. Polygamy is sin. Homosexuality is sin. Zoophilia is sin. And even though it is not stated here, Jesus later informs us that lust is sin (Matthew 5.28).
God instructs His people not to defile themselves by any of these things as the nations that He was driving out had done. His people were, and are, to live by His standards. Now here I need to say something, we cannot expect people who don't believe what we believe to live by the same standards we do. This doesn't mean that we approve of their behavior, it means we love them as people created in the image of God, show them the love and kindness of God, and pray that He convicts them and transforms them. But we cannot compromise, in any way, on God's standard of holiness in regards to sex or anything else.
Men, how are you living? Are you defiling yourself with any of these actions? If so stop, now. It won't be easy, but what is easy does not take a man to do it. Find a brother who will stand by you, pray with you and for you, and help you to overcome this struggle. If you have no one there is an email address near the bottom of this page on the left hand side. I believe that God has called me to help men, and I am here to do whatever I can.
Let us live as holy men of God. Let us resist sexual sin, and pursue God. Let us join together, and stand firm as the phalanx, protecting each other so that none are lost in this battle.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
I didn't post the verses 6-20 and 22-23, simply because of how long it would be. But these verses capture the consequences behind the actions of these verses. Leviticus 18 talks about sex, and what God didn't create it to be. It goes on and on about sexual relationships that are not permissible. It talks about acts that are an abomination, and a defilement of what God created sex to be. Remember, Leviticus is God teaching His people how to live by His standards of holiness, and the things said here, though unpopular, must be something that a man of God lives with.
God created sex as a good thing, an act of worship to be expressed between a man and a woman within the covenant of marriage. Any sexual act outside of that is sin. Incest is sin. Adultery is sin. Fornication is sin. Polygamy is sin. Homosexuality is sin. Zoophilia is sin. And even though it is not stated here, Jesus later informs us that lust is sin (Matthew 5.28).
God instructs His people not to defile themselves by any of these things as the nations that He was driving out had done. His people were, and are, to live by His standards. Now here I need to say something, we cannot expect people who don't believe what we believe to live by the same standards we do. This doesn't mean that we approve of their behavior, it means we love them as people created in the image of God, show them the love and kindness of God, and pray that He convicts them and transforms them. But we cannot compromise, in any way, on God's standard of holiness in regards to sex or anything else.
Men, how are you living? Are you defiling yourself with any of these actions? If so stop, now. It won't be easy, but what is easy does not take a man to do it. Find a brother who will stand by you, pray with you and for you, and help you to overcome this struggle. If you have no one there is an email address near the bottom of this page on the left hand side. I believe that God has called me to help men, and I am here to do whatever I can.
Let us live as holy men of God. Let us resist sexual sin, and pursue God. Let us join together, and stand firm as the phalanx, protecting each other so that none are lost in this battle.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Monday, August 18, 2014
Live Differently
"Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, 'I am the Lord your God. You shall not do what is done in the land of Egypt where you lived, nor are you to do what is done in the land of Canaan where I am bringing you; you shall not walk in their statutes. You are to perform My judgments and keep My statutes, to live in accord with them; I am the Lord your God. So you shall keep My statutes and My judgments, by which a man may live if he does them; I am the Lord.'" Leviticus 18.2-5
Leviticus is God teaching His people how to worship Him. As this happens, He is teaching His people how to live for Him. He has laid out the sacrificial system, and laid out the ordination ceremony. There are statutes for dealing with leprosy and bodily discharges, and most recently He has laid out the statute for the day of atonement. Now He is laying out statutes for His people to live by.
He begins by telling them not to live like the people in Egypt, and not to live like the people in Canaan. They are to live differently because they don't serve the false gods of these pagan nations, they are God's people. If they live according to God's statutes, they will find life. These are God's instructions for His people.
Men, we live in a world that offers us many false paths to follow. It is easy to get caught in the destructive activities of the world. Some of them may seem innocent, but John Wesley once said, "There is no standing still on the Christian walk. We are either pressing forward or sliding backward." If what we are doing is not molding us more into the image of Christ, it is pulling us away from Him.
Let us live differently because we are different. There are activities we need to abstain from because we are men of God. There are phrases we need to refrain from saying because we are men of God. There are places we need to avoid because we are men of God.
Let us live differently because we are men of God.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Leviticus is God teaching His people how to worship Him. As this happens, He is teaching His people how to live for Him. He has laid out the sacrificial system, and laid out the ordination ceremony. There are statutes for dealing with leprosy and bodily discharges, and most recently He has laid out the statute for the day of atonement. Now He is laying out statutes for His people to live by.
He begins by telling them not to live like the people in Egypt, and not to live like the people in Canaan. They are to live differently because they don't serve the false gods of these pagan nations, they are God's people. If they live according to God's statutes, they will find life. These are God's instructions for His people.
Men, we live in a world that offers us many false paths to follow. It is easy to get caught in the destructive activities of the world. Some of them may seem innocent, but John Wesley once said, "There is no standing still on the Christian walk. We are either pressing forward or sliding backward." If what we are doing is not molding us more into the image of Christ, it is pulling us away from Him.
Let us live differently because we are different. There are activities we need to abstain from because we are men of God. There are phrases we need to refrain from saying because we are men of God. There are places we need to avoid because we are men of God.
Let us live differently because we are men of God.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Sunday, August 17, 2014
One Way
"Any man from the house of Israel who slaughters an ox or a lamb or a goat in the camp, or who slaughters it outside the camp, and has not brought it to the doorway of the tent of meeting to present it as an offering to the Lord before the tabernacle of the Lord, bloodguiltiness is to be reckoned to that man. He has shed blood and that man shall be cut off from among his people. The reason is so that the sons of Israel may bring their sacrifices which they were sacrificing in the open field, that they may bring them in to the Lord, at the doorway of the tent of meeting to the priest, and sacrifice them as sacrifices of peace offerings to the Lord. The priest shall sprinkle the blood on the altar of the Lord at the doorway of the tent of meeting, and offer up the fat in smoke as a soothing aroma to the Lord. They shall no longer sacrifice their sacrifices to the goat demons with which they play the harlot. This shall be a permanent statute to them throughout their generations." -Leviticus 17.3-7
God is giving instructions on how the people are to kill and offer their sacrifices. It isn't be be done outside the camp, but brought before the Lord. The sacrifice is to be made to God at the tabernacle, not out in the field to a false God. Atonement comes from God alone, and He does not want His people to be led astray by the pagan nations they encounter. There was one way to find forgiveness, one way to make the sacrifice.
As we've said before, this sacrificial system has been made obsolete by the work of Jesus on the cross and at the empty tomb. But even with this there is still only one way to attain salvation. It is only through the blood of Jesus Christ that our sins can be forgiven (John 14.6). It is only by accepting the new life that He offers that we can live with power over sin (Romans 6). There is no other option, and if we would be saved we must call on the name of the Lord (Acts 2.21). We must confess Jesus as Lord and believe that God raised Him from the dead to be saved (Romans 10.9).
Men, the only way to find salvation is in Jesus Christ. The five pillars of Islam, though good practices to live by, will not bring you salvation. Salvation is not found in the Buddhist attainment of nirvana. We don't find forgiveness by making it through the five caste systems of Hinduism. The only way to be saved is faith in Jesus Christ.
Let us turn to Jesus, and look to Him for salvation. Apart from Christ there can be no real forgiveness, no real salvation, and no path to God. There is only one way, and it is found in Jesus.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
God is giving instructions on how the people are to kill and offer their sacrifices. It isn't be be done outside the camp, but brought before the Lord. The sacrifice is to be made to God at the tabernacle, not out in the field to a false God. Atonement comes from God alone, and He does not want His people to be led astray by the pagan nations they encounter. There was one way to find forgiveness, one way to make the sacrifice.
As we've said before, this sacrificial system has been made obsolete by the work of Jesus on the cross and at the empty tomb. But even with this there is still only one way to attain salvation. It is only through the blood of Jesus Christ that our sins can be forgiven (John 14.6). It is only by accepting the new life that He offers that we can live with power over sin (Romans 6). There is no other option, and if we would be saved we must call on the name of the Lord (Acts 2.21). We must confess Jesus as Lord and believe that God raised Him from the dead to be saved (Romans 10.9).
Men, the only way to find salvation is in Jesus Christ. The five pillars of Islam, though good practices to live by, will not bring you salvation. Salvation is not found in the Buddhist attainment of nirvana. We don't find forgiveness by making it through the five caste systems of Hinduism. The only way to be saved is faith in Jesus Christ.
Let us turn to Jesus, and look to Him for salvation. Apart from Christ there can be no real forgiveness, no real salvation, and no path to God. There is only one way, and it is found in Jesus.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Saturday, August 16, 2014
Standing Ready
"Then Aaron shall lay both of his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over it all the iniquities of the sons of Israel and all their transgressions in regard to all their sins; and he shall lay them on the head of the goat and send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who stands in readiness. The goat shall bear on itself all their iniquities to a solitary land; and he shall release the goat in the wilderness." Leviticus 16.21-22
On the Day of Atonement two goats would be presented. One of them would be killed and one of them would be driven out of the camp. The sacrifice paid for sin, and the scapegoat took the sins of the nation and carried them away. Aaron would lay the sins of the sins of the nation on the scapegoat and it would then be taken into the wilderness by a man who stood ready to go.
Sin had to be dealt with and then cast out. This wasn't a process that took place over a week or even a couple days, the sacrifice would be made, the sins transferred, and the scapegoat driven out. A man stood ready to take the scapegoat away. He was selected and dressed and ready. It wasn't someone they grabbed after the transfer and then waited for him to tie his sandals, he was ready to go so that sin could immediately be done away with.
Men, are you standing at the ready? Are you prepared to deal with the sin in your life, or are you holding on to it, procrastinating the actual removal of the habit, or behavior, or thought process?
Sin is not something to play around with. When Jesus died on the cross He payed for sin as the sacrifice. When He was buried He carried them away as the scapegoat. Rising from the dead He offers us new life. The question is are we standing at the ready to accept it, and when we do, to live it?
If we would be men of God, we must stand at the ready and deal with the sin in our lives. If there is a habit that needs to be cut because we've come to new life in Christ, cut it. If there is a behavior we need to refrain from, do it. If our whole thought process needs to be transformed, work towards it. Jesus will be with us as we do. He died to give us new life, and if we seek it, He will see it through to completion (Philippians 1.6).
Let us stand at the ready, let us deal with sin and cast it out.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
On the Day of Atonement two goats would be presented. One of them would be killed and one of them would be driven out of the camp. The sacrifice paid for sin, and the scapegoat took the sins of the nation and carried them away. Aaron would lay the sins of the sins of the nation on the scapegoat and it would then be taken into the wilderness by a man who stood ready to go.
Sin had to be dealt with and then cast out. This wasn't a process that took place over a week or even a couple days, the sacrifice would be made, the sins transferred, and the scapegoat driven out. A man stood ready to take the scapegoat away. He was selected and dressed and ready. It wasn't someone they grabbed after the transfer and then waited for him to tie his sandals, he was ready to go so that sin could immediately be done away with.
Men, are you standing at the ready? Are you prepared to deal with the sin in your life, or are you holding on to it, procrastinating the actual removal of the habit, or behavior, or thought process?
Sin is not something to play around with. When Jesus died on the cross He payed for sin as the sacrifice. When He was buried He carried them away as the scapegoat. Rising from the dead He offers us new life. The question is are we standing at the ready to accept it, and when we do, to live it?
If we would be men of God, we must stand at the ready and deal with the sin in our lives. If there is a habit that needs to be cut because we've come to new life in Christ, cut it. If there is a behavior we need to refrain from, do it. If our whole thought process needs to be transformed, work towards it. Jesus will be with us as we do. He died to give us new life, and if we seek it, He will see it through to completion (Philippians 1.6).
Let us stand at the ready, let us deal with sin and cast it out.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Friday, August 15, 2014
Sometimes We Just Don't Understand
"“Speak to the sons of Israel, and say to them, ‘When any man has a discharge from his body, his discharge is unclean... When a woman has a discharge" -Leviticus 15.2 and 19a
I'll be honest, I have no idea what to say about Leviticus 15. It talks about discharges, some natural and others unnatural, from male and female reproductive organs. I've spent the last few minutes searching online commentaries, and even did a brief word study to try to pull something out of this, but honestly, I've got nothing.
Men, sometimes life is like that, sometimes we just don't know what to say. Sometimes there really isn't much to say and we just don't get it. We have to be ok with this. No matter how much we study, or how intelligent we may be, we aren't experts at everything. Even the stuff we are experts at will still have things that confuse us and leave us speechless from time to time.
When this happens, let us be open to study and learning. Let us seek out answers and information. And may it be a humbling experience that reminds us that there is always more to learn. Sometimes we just don't understand, and that's ok, so long as we try to.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
I'll be honest, I have no idea what to say about Leviticus 15. It talks about discharges, some natural and others unnatural, from male and female reproductive organs. I've spent the last few minutes searching online commentaries, and even did a brief word study to try to pull something out of this, but honestly, I've got nothing.
Men, sometimes life is like that, sometimes we just don't know what to say. Sometimes there really isn't much to say and we just don't get it. We have to be ok with this. No matter how much we study, or how intelligent we may be, we aren't experts at everything. Even the stuff we are experts at will still have things that confuse us and leave us speechless from time to time.
When this happens, let us be open to study and learning. Let us seek out answers and information. And may it be a humbling experience that reminds us that there is always more to learn. Sometimes we just don't understand, and that's ok, so long as we try to.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Thursday, August 14, 2014
Go to Them
"This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing. Now he shall be brought to the priest, and the priest shall go out to the outside of the camp." Leviticus 14.2-3a
When the week of the leper's time outside the camp was up he would be brought for inspection, and the priest would go outside of the camp to him. The leper couldn't enter the camp because he was unclean, so the priest would go and meet him to see if he was cleared to return to life in the camp.
Men, we all know those living outside the camp. We know those who don't have a relationship with God. We work with them, we live next door to them. Are you willing to go to them?
I'll be honest, this is a hard thing for me to do. I'm an introvert by nature. I know what I believe and why, but I don't just walk up to people and start talking about Jesus. And I'm learning that's ok. I'm learning to use the personality God has given me to build relationships and work on sharing Jesus.
This past Monday comedian Robin Williams died. I didn't know him, and I don't know what he believed, but the reality of his death has hit me, as it has for many who loved his work, and I've wondered about his eternal destiy. There are people I work with and based on conversations I've had with them, I'm guessing that they haven't come to new life in Christ. And the more I get to know them, the more I want them to find new life. I don't want to hear about their death one day and wonder what they believed.
It's important that we keep in mind we aren't responsible for people's response to what we say. The priest couldn't make the leper meet him, he was just responsible to go out so that he could meet him, he was responsible to make himself available. Are we willing to do the same?
Are we willing to be present and build relationships? Are we bold enough to work Jesus into a conversation naturally and not force it? Are we willing to go to those outside of the camp?
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
When the week of the leper's time outside the camp was up he would be brought for inspection, and the priest would go outside of the camp to him. The leper couldn't enter the camp because he was unclean, so the priest would go and meet him to see if he was cleared to return to life in the camp.
Men, we all know those living outside the camp. We know those who don't have a relationship with God. We work with them, we live next door to them. Are you willing to go to them?
I'll be honest, this is a hard thing for me to do. I'm an introvert by nature. I know what I believe and why, but I don't just walk up to people and start talking about Jesus. And I'm learning that's ok. I'm learning to use the personality God has given me to build relationships and work on sharing Jesus.
This past Monday comedian Robin Williams died. I didn't know him, and I don't know what he believed, but the reality of his death has hit me, as it has for many who loved his work, and I've wondered about his eternal destiy. There are people I work with and based on conversations I've had with them, I'm guessing that they haven't come to new life in Christ. And the more I get to know them, the more I want them to find new life. I don't want to hear about their death one day and wonder what they believed.
It's important that we keep in mind we aren't responsible for people's response to what we say. The priest couldn't make the leper meet him, he was just responsible to go out so that he could meet him, he was responsible to make himself available. Are we willing to do the same?
Are we willing to be present and build relationships? Are we bold enough to work Jesus into a conversation naturally and not force it? Are we willing to go to those outside of the camp?
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
Cause for Concern
"As for the leper who has the infection, his clothes shall be torn, and the hair of his head shall be uncovered, and he shall cover his mustache and cry, 'Unclean! Unclean!' He shall remain unclean all the days during which he has the infection; he is unclean. He shall live alone; his dwelling shall be outside the camp." -Leviticus 13.45-46
Leviticus 13 deals with leprosy. When a person had something unnatural on their skin they would show it to the priests and he would make a determination as to the condition. If it was cause for concern the person was quarantined for a week and then reexamined. It was either cleared up, or still there, which resulted in another week of solitude. When a case of leprosy was determined the person infected would tear their clothes, declare unclean everywhere they went, and would live outside of the camp.
Men, is there something in your life that is cause for concern? Is there something in your life that you need to take a week and get alone with God to deal with? Maybe two weeks? If we don't deal with the issues they will end up taking over, and they will separate us from everything we love and care about.
Let us examine our lives and remove everything that is cause for concern. It may help to seek the advice of someone who has journeyed farther than we have and has more wisdom and experience than we have gained yet. And if we do find cause for concern, let us take it to God so that we don't have to walk around unclean and alone.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Leviticus 13 deals with leprosy. When a person had something unnatural on their skin they would show it to the priests and he would make a determination as to the condition. If it was cause for concern the person was quarantined for a week and then reexamined. It was either cleared up, or still there, which resulted in another week of solitude. When a case of leprosy was determined the person infected would tear their clothes, declare unclean everywhere they went, and would live outside of the camp.
Men, is there something in your life that is cause for concern? Is there something in your life that you need to take a week and get alone with God to deal with? Maybe two weeks? If we don't deal with the issues they will end up taking over, and they will separate us from everything we love and care about.
Let us examine our lives and remove everything that is cause for concern. It may help to seek the advice of someone who has journeyed farther than we have and has more wisdom and experience than we have gained yet. And if we do find cause for concern, let us take it to God so that we don't have to walk around unclean and alone.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Tuesday, August 12, 2014
Outward or Inward
"On the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised." -Leviticus 12.3
The heading for chapter 12 is "Laws of Motherhood", and at first glance I said out loud, "Oh great". But then I got down to verse 3, circumcision. Under Old Testament Law every male of the nation of Israel would be physically circumcised eight days after his birth. It was an outward sign that physically distinguished Israel from every other nation. Something was cut away and marked them as part of God's chosen people.
But since we're on the theme of holiness we need more than external circumcision. In the book of Acts there was a church council that met to decide if Gentiles needed to become Jewish in order to be Christians. Was the outward mark essential for election into the Kingdom? Later in the Bible Paul writes, "For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God" (Romans 2.28-29).
Men, what really matters is a circumcised heart. Have we been inwardly marked as God's people by the Holy Spirit? Have we allowed that calloused part of our hearts, the side that desires to live for self, focused on power and pleasure, to be cut away? Do we live for the praise from God or for the approval of man? Are you circumcised inwardly or simply outwardly?
Let us pursue holiness above all else. May we be men of circumcised hearts.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
The heading for chapter 12 is "Laws of Motherhood", and at first glance I said out loud, "Oh great". But then I got down to verse 3, circumcision. Under Old Testament Law every male of the nation of Israel would be physically circumcised eight days after his birth. It was an outward sign that physically distinguished Israel from every other nation. Something was cut away and marked them as part of God's chosen people.
But since we're on the theme of holiness we need more than external circumcision. In the book of Acts there was a church council that met to decide if Gentiles needed to become Jewish in order to be Christians. Was the outward mark essential for election into the Kingdom? Later in the Bible Paul writes, "For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God" (Romans 2.28-29).
Men, what really matters is a circumcised heart. Have we been inwardly marked as God's people by the Holy Spirit? Have we allowed that calloused part of our hearts, the side that desires to live for self, focused on power and pleasure, to be cut away? Do we live for the praise from God or for the approval of man? Are you circumcised inwardly or simply outwardly?
Let us pursue holiness above all else. May we be men of circumcised hearts.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Monday, August 11, 2014
Who Will We Be
"For I am the Lord who brought you up from the land of Egypt to be your God; thus you shall be holy, for I am holy." -Leviticus 11.45
Chapter 11 talks about animals that are clean and unclean for Israel. The clean they could eat and the unclean they couldn't. But this isn't about a list of do this, don't do that, it's so much more than that. God isn't about a list of do's and don'ts (wow that looks weird, but I googled it and it's right). Faith isn't about actions or works, though they are an important indicator of the sincerity of faith. God isn't about what we do, but rather who we are. God's biggest concern is about the be.
God says that His people are to be holy because He is holy. Holiness is the point, and we don't do holy, we are holy, or not. These things that God is laying out for his people in terms of animals to eat and not eat is to set them apart. That's what holiness is, it's being set apart for God.
Men, holiness is the point, so let us be holy. God has delivered us from the bondage of sin, a figurative Egyptian slavery. He has called us to be His men, set apart and devoted to the work He is doing. More than ever we need to be holy.
I'm just going to spill some thoughts out now, no post editing, just typing and sharing. As I've watched the events of this year unfold, both nationally and globally, I'll be honest that at times I've been scared. I'm legitimately concerned with the future of this nation. Part of me has wondered why I was born in the mid 1980's and have to deal with all of this. But every time my mind wanders there I think of the words of Gandalf in The Fellowship of the Ring.
Frodo says, "I wish the ring had never come to me. I wish none of this had happened." To which Gandalf replies, "So do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us. There are other forces at work in this world Frodo, besides the will of evil. Bilbo was meant to find the Ring. In which case, you were also meant to have it. And that is an encouraging thought."
We cannot choose what time we are given, simply what to do, or who to be, with the time we are given. God doesn't make mistakes. He doesn't do things haphazardly. We were meant to be here now, during this time, and that is an encouraging thought. God intended for us to be here. What will we do with the time that is given to us? Who will we be?
Will we be holy and stand firm against evil and injustice? Will we be set apart, going against the grain of what is popular and easy in pursuit of what is right and holy? Will we be men of God? Who will we be?
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Chapter 11 talks about animals that are clean and unclean for Israel. The clean they could eat and the unclean they couldn't. But this isn't about a list of do this, don't do that, it's so much more than that. God isn't about a list of do's and don'ts (wow that looks weird, but I googled it and it's right). Faith isn't about actions or works, though they are an important indicator of the sincerity of faith. God isn't about what we do, but rather who we are. God's biggest concern is about the be.
God says that His people are to be holy because He is holy. Holiness is the point, and we don't do holy, we are holy, or not. These things that God is laying out for his people in terms of animals to eat and not eat is to set them apart. That's what holiness is, it's being set apart for God.
Men, holiness is the point, so let us be holy. God has delivered us from the bondage of sin, a figurative Egyptian slavery. He has called us to be His men, set apart and devoted to the work He is doing. More than ever we need to be holy.
I'm just going to spill some thoughts out now, no post editing, just typing and sharing. As I've watched the events of this year unfold, both nationally and globally, I'll be honest that at times I've been scared. I'm legitimately concerned with the future of this nation. Part of me has wondered why I was born in the mid 1980's and have to deal with all of this. But every time my mind wanders there I think of the words of Gandalf in The Fellowship of the Ring.
Frodo says, "I wish the ring had never come to me. I wish none of this had happened." To which Gandalf replies, "So do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us. There are other forces at work in this world Frodo, besides the will of evil. Bilbo was meant to find the Ring. In which case, you were also meant to have it. And that is an encouraging thought."
We cannot choose what time we are given, simply what to do, or who to be, with the time we are given. God doesn't make mistakes. He doesn't do things haphazardly. We were meant to be here now, during this time, and that is an encouraging thought. God intended for us to be here. What will we do with the time that is given to us? Who will we be?
Will we be holy and stand firm against evil and injustice? Will we be set apart, going against the grain of what is popular and easy in pursuit of what is right and holy? Will we be men of God? Who will we be?
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Sunday, August 10, 2014
The Holy and the Profane
"The Lord then spoke to Aaron, saying, 'Do not drink wine or strong drink, neither you nor your sons with you, when you come into the tent of meeting, so that you will not die—it is a perpetual statute throughout your generations— and so as to make a distinction between the holy and the profane, and between the unclean and the clean, and so as to teach the sons of Israel all the statutes which the Lord has spoken to them through Moses.'" -Leviticus 10.8-11
Two of Aaron's sons are dead because the defiled God's holy instructions. Moses has instructed Aaron and his sons to remain in the tent of meeting, and not to grieve the death of their family members or they will incur the wrath of God. They follow these instructions, and while in the tent of meeting, God speaks to Aaron.
He shares with him the difference between the holy and the profane, and how there needs to be a distinction that Aaron follows. He must fill his life with the holy and flee from the profane. He is the people's representation before God, called and set apart for this service. His life must reflect the calling upon it.
Men, there really are two things in life, the holy and the unholy. Everything falls into one of those two categories. Either something helps us become more holy, or it makes us less holy. What are you filling your life with? What are you focused on?
The man of God needs to invest his time in the holy. His focus needs to be on what makes him more holy. 1 Thessalonians 5.21-22 tells us, "But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil." The King James says, "Abstain from all appearance of evil." We need to not simply avoid what is evil, but flee from the very appearance of evil. If people know we are Christ followers, then we need to do everything we can to avoid even looking evil. Our lives are meant to be beacons of light the shine the truth and love of God. Let us do nothing to dim that light.
Let our lives be fully dedicated to holiness, and let us flee from all that is profane. Let there be no doubt or question of our faith based on how we live. Let all that we do lead us deeper into holiness. Find the holy, flee from the profane.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Two of Aaron's sons are dead because the defiled God's holy instructions. Moses has instructed Aaron and his sons to remain in the tent of meeting, and not to grieve the death of their family members or they will incur the wrath of God. They follow these instructions, and while in the tent of meeting, God speaks to Aaron.
He shares with him the difference between the holy and the profane, and how there needs to be a distinction that Aaron follows. He must fill his life with the holy and flee from the profane. He is the people's representation before God, called and set apart for this service. His life must reflect the calling upon it.
Men, there really are two things in life, the holy and the unholy. Everything falls into one of those two categories. Either something helps us become more holy, or it makes us less holy. What are you filling your life with? What are you focused on?
The man of God needs to invest his time in the holy. His focus needs to be on what makes him more holy. 1 Thessalonians 5.21-22 tells us, "But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil." The King James says, "Abstain from all appearance of evil." We need to not simply avoid what is evil, but flee from the very appearance of evil. If people know we are Christ followers, then we need to do everything we can to avoid even looking evil. Our lives are meant to be beacons of light the shine the truth and love of God. Let us do nothing to dim that light.
Let our lives be fully dedicated to holiness, and let us flee from all that is profane. Let there be no doubt or question of our faith based on how we live. Let all that we do lead us deeper into holiness. Find the holy, flee from the profane.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Saturday, August 9, 2014
Defiling the Holy
"Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took their respective firepans, and after putting fire in them, placed incense on it and offered strange fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded them. And fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord. Then Moses said to Aaron, 'It is what the Lord spoke, saying, "By those who come near Me I will be treated as holy, and before all the people I will be honored."' So Aaron, therefore, kept silent." -Leviticus 10.1-3
Two men are dead, killed by God, they began to worship God, but in a way that God had not prescribed. They begin to do for God something that God does not desire, something that violates His order, and they are punished. They were held to a higher standard as priests. They were to be representatives of the people before God, and they were to live by His holy standards. But they decided to worship in their own way, trying for one reason or another, apathy, convenience, arrogance, maybe trying to make the unholy holy, but God does not accept any exception to His standards. These two should have known better, and they were killed by God.
There is a lot that can be said here. We see stuff like this happen all the time. Cults start like this. Someone takes a teaching or a practice, and twists it, and makes a holy practice an abomination. We see it with nations, they will try to legalize a sinful practice, making it acceptable, but that does not make it righteous in the eyes of God. All of these will bring about punishment. God will not overlook these actions, these sins. He will hold those who know better, or should know better, accountable for their actions, and those they lead astray.
Men, are you guilty of the same sin as Nadab and Abihu? Are you defiling God's holiness with your actions? Are you leading others astray with your teachings? Or are you striving to share the truth? Are you constantly searching the Word of God to understand it better? Are you being guided by the Holy Spirit, sound teaching, and proper doctrine to guide your understanding? Are you communicating with God to know Him more intimately and become more like Christ?
We have been placed here to point creation back to God. It is our job to stand firm on truth and be a light in the darkness. We cannot afford to compromise for what is convenient or popular. When we do, we defile the holy, and we are guilty of sin, and this will not go unpunished.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Two men are dead, killed by God, they began to worship God, but in a way that God had not prescribed. They begin to do for God something that God does not desire, something that violates His order, and they are punished. They were held to a higher standard as priests. They were to be representatives of the people before God, and they were to live by His holy standards. But they decided to worship in their own way, trying for one reason or another, apathy, convenience, arrogance, maybe trying to make the unholy holy, but God does not accept any exception to His standards. These two should have known better, and they were killed by God.
There is a lot that can be said here. We see stuff like this happen all the time. Cults start like this. Someone takes a teaching or a practice, and twists it, and makes a holy practice an abomination. We see it with nations, they will try to legalize a sinful practice, making it acceptable, but that does not make it righteous in the eyes of God. All of these will bring about punishment. God will not overlook these actions, these sins. He will hold those who know better, or should know better, accountable for their actions, and those they lead astray.
Men, are you guilty of the same sin as Nadab and Abihu? Are you defiling God's holiness with your actions? Are you leading others astray with your teachings? Or are you striving to share the truth? Are you constantly searching the Word of God to understand it better? Are you being guided by the Holy Spirit, sound teaching, and proper doctrine to guide your understanding? Are you communicating with God to know Him more intimately and become more like Christ?
We have been placed here to point creation back to God. It is our job to stand firm on truth and be a light in the darkness. We cannot afford to compromise for what is convenient or popular. When we do, we defile the holy, and we are guilty of sin, and this will not go unpunished.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Friday, August 8, 2014
Before We Can Serve
"Moses then said to Aaron, 'Come near to the altar and offer your sin offering and your burnt offering, that you may make atonement for yourself and for the people; then make the offering for the people, that you may make atonement for them, just as the Lord has commanded.'" -Leviticus 9.7
The time of ordination has passed, and now the time has come for Aaron to begin the work of ministry. But there is one more thing for him to do before he can begin, first he must make atonement for himself. Once he is righteous before God, he is able to represent the people before God.
Men, before we can lead others we must first make sure our own lives are in order. If we are going to lead others to God, or deeper into God, we must first know Him ourselves. We can only lead others as far as we have been. If we have never found atonement, we cannot help others find it. If we are not striving to become like Christ, we cannot help others do it either.
Before we can serve we must first make sure there is nothing separating us from God. Before we can lead others to Him, we must first know Him personally and intimately. Before we can serve, we must become fit for service.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
The time of ordination has passed, and now the time has come for Aaron to begin the work of ministry. But there is one more thing for him to do before he can begin, first he must make atonement for himself. Once he is righteous before God, he is able to represent the people before God.
Men, before we can lead others we must first make sure our own lives are in order. If we are going to lead others to God, or deeper into God, we must first know Him ourselves. We can only lead others as far as we have been. If we have never found atonement, we cannot help others find it. If we are not striving to become like Christ, we cannot help others do it either.
Before we can serve we must first make sure there is nothing separating us from God. Before we can lead others to Him, we must first know Him personally and intimately. Before we can serve, we must become fit for service.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Thursday, August 7, 2014
It Takes Time
"You shall not go outside the doorway of the tent of meeting for seven days, until the day that the period of your ordination is fulfilled; for he will ordain you through seven days. The Lord has commanded to do as has been done this day, to make atonement on your behalf. At the doorway of the tent of meeting, moreover, you shall remain day and night for seven days and keep the charge of the Lord, so that you will not die, for so I have been commanded." -Leviticus 8.33-35
After the ceremony wraps, the process of ordination is not complete. Aaron and his sons must remain in the tent of meeting for seven days. This isn't a couple hour service and then it's over, remember this is serious business, and it takes time. The Bible doesn't tell us what took place during this week, but I think it's safe to assume there was a lot of interaction with God.
Think back to Exodus, and Aaron's failure to lead the people. Think to what it said about Joshua, how he would not leave the tent of meeting all night. Maybe this was Aaron's chance to do what Joshua had done. God is preparing Aaron and his sons to represent the people before Him. He did pick names out of a hat and set them to work; He intentionally chose these men, and intentionally ordained them. The process was serious, and it took time.
Men, there are many things in life that aren't instantaneous. Everything worth doing takes time to accomplish. Holiness takes time, a lifetime in fact, and even then we don't fully attain it. The masculine journey also takes a lifetime. I realize I started with the major ones and now really don't feel like I need to give any other examples.
My own path to ordination was a seven year journey. I spent four years academically preparing, meeting the course requirements laid out by the denomination. During part of that time I began to undertake part of the experiential hands on aspect, but a majority of that came in the three years following college. But during all of that God was at work in me. He was molding my character, shaping my thinking, transforming my views. It took time, and even though I have been ordained, the process still continues. God is still at work in me, and He is still at work in you.
It takes time, are you in it for the long haul?
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
After the ceremony wraps, the process of ordination is not complete. Aaron and his sons must remain in the tent of meeting for seven days. This isn't a couple hour service and then it's over, remember this is serious business, and it takes time. The Bible doesn't tell us what took place during this week, but I think it's safe to assume there was a lot of interaction with God.
Think back to Exodus, and Aaron's failure to lead the people. Think to what it said about Joshua, how he would not leave the tent of meeting all night. Maybe this was Aaron's chance to do what Joshua had done. God is preparing Aaron and his sons to represent the people before Him. He did pick names out of a hat and set them to work; He intentionally chose these men, and intentionally ordained them. The process was serious, and it took time.
Men, there are many things in life that aren't instantaneous. Everything worth doing takes time to accomplish. Holiness takes time, a lifetime in fact, and even then we don't fully attain it. The masculine journey also takes a lifetime. I realize I started with the major ones and now really don't feel like I need to give any other examples.
My own path to ordination was a seven year journey. I spent four years academically preparing, meeting the course requirements laid out by the denomination. During part of that time I began to undertake part of the experiential hands on aspect, but a majority of that came in the three years following college. But during all of that God was at work in me. He was molding my character, shaping my thinking, transforming my views. It took time, and even though I have been ordained, the process still continues. God is still at work in me, and He is still at work in you.
It takes time, are you in it for the long haul?
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Wednesday, August 6, 2014
Serious Business
"Take Aaron and his sons with him, and the garments and the anointing oil and the bull of the sin offering, and the two rams and the basket of unleavened bread, and assemble all the congregation at the doorway of the tent of meeting." -Leviticus 8.2-3
The Ordination ceremony is about to take place, and God instructs Moses to prepare for it. He is to have a bull for the sin offering and two rams for another offering. Three animals will die to purify and consecrate Aaron, his sons, and the Tabernacle with its items for service to God. And all of this is to be done in the presence of the people.
Ordination is a serious matter, because it marks someone entering the service of God and embracing His calling upon their life. It is a big deal, not something done casually or privately. All those who are called to be spiritual leaders must have come to new life. Their sins must be forgiven and cleansed so that they can walk in righteousness as they lead others to God. They must also be made holy. They have been called to serve, and God has set them apart for this purpose. They must be consecrated and made holy so that they are fit to serve God. And all of this is to be done publicly.
Men, not all of us are called to serve God as ordained ministers. But all of us are called to serve Him in some capacity. All of us are set apart for a specific work by God. It's a serious task because people's eternal souls are at stake.
If we would seek to be used in the service of God we first must experience the new life that He offers. Without forgiveness we cannot be righteous, and if we are not righteous we cannot serve God because our sin is separating us from Him. Following this we must grow in our new life by pursuing holiness. God created us to become like Him, and part of the reason He sent Jesus was to show us how to live life. Once we have received the new life that God offers through Christ, we must strive to live like Christ lived. We need to become holy.
Finally, this needs to be public. The work of God is not a private or secret matter. If we are to rescue people's souls we have to be involved and interact with people. People need to know our commitment to God and where we stand. They need to know that this is a serious thing, not just an emotional response.
This is serious business we are about, let us take it seriously. No animals are going to die, but people's souls face eternal death. Let us seek new life, pursue holiness, and work to rescue the lost. Let us take this business seriously.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
The Ordination ceremony is about to take place, and God instructs Moses to prepare for it. He is to have a bull for the sin offering and two rams for another offering. Three animals will die to purify and consecrate Aaron, his sons, and the Tabernacle with its items for service to God. And all of this is to be done in the presence of the people.
Ordination is a serious matter, because it marks someone entering the service of God and embracing His calling upon their life. It is a big deal, not something done casually or privately. All those who are called to be spiritual leaders must have come to new life. Their sins must be forgiven and cleansed so that they can walk in righteousness as they lead others to God. They must also be made holy. They have been called to serve, and God has set them apart for this purpose. They must be consecrated and made holy so that they are fit to serve God. And all of this is to be done publicly.
Men, not all of us are called to serve God as ordained ministers. But all of us are called to serve Him in some capacity. All of us are set apart for a specific work by God. It's a serious task because people's eternal souls are at stake.
If we would seek to be used in the service of God we first must experience the new life that He offers. Without forgiveness we cannot be righteous, and if we are not righteous we cannot serve God because our sin is separating us from Him. Following this we must grow in our new life by pursuing holiness. God created us to become like Him, and part of the reason He sent Jesus was to show us how to live life. Once we have received the new life that God offers through Christ, we must strive to live like Christ lived. We need to become holy.
Finally, this needs to be public. The work of God is not a private or secret matter. If we are to rescue people's souls we have to be involved and interact with people. People need to know our commitment to God and where we stand. They need to know that this is a serious thing, not just an emotional response.
This is serious business we are about, let us take it seriously. No animals are going to die, but people's souls face eternal death. Let us seek new life, pursue holiness, and work to rescue the lost. Let us take this business seriously.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Tuesday, August 5, 2014
Our Own Hands
"Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 'Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, "He who offers the sacrifice of his peace offerings to the Lord shall bring his offering to the Lord from the sacrifice of his peace offerings. His own hands are to bring offerings by fire to the Lord. He shall bring the fat with the breast, that the breast may be presented as a wave offering before the Lord."'" -Leviticus 7.28-30
Here God speaks to the presenting of the peace offering. Remember that this was a sacrifice made out of thanksgiving, a desire for fellowship, and praise for God. There was no sin attached to this offering. God said that whoever offers the peace offering was to do it himself. His own hands were to bring the offering by fire to the Lord.
Each of us is responsible for our own worship and fellowship with God. We each are to offer praise and worship to God individually. We aren't supposed to delegate this privilege to someone else, or trust that someone else will do it. We are all to offer the peace offering to God with our own hands.
Men, do you worship? I don't mean do you sing on Sunday morning during service, though that can be part of worship. But do you fellowship with God throughout the day? Is your life lived in trust and obedience to God? Do you praise God for all that He has done, whether He has answered with a yes or a no? Do you rejoice in what He is able to do? Are you offering praise to God with your own hands, or are you allowing others to worship instead of you?
Let us take back our worship. May we never again let anyone offer praise to God in our place. Let us be devoted to fellowship with Him, and may we always offer the peace offering with our own hands.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Here God speaks to the presenting of the peace offering. Remember that this was a sacrifice made out of thanksgiving, a desire for fellowship, and praise for God. There was no sin attached to this offering. God said that whoever offers the peace offering was to do it himself. His own hands were to bring the offering by fire to the Lord.
Each of us is responsible for our own worship and fellowship with God. We each are to offer praise and worship to God individually. We aren't supposed to delegate this privilege to someone else, or trust that someone else will do it. We are all to offer the peace offering to God with our own hands.
Men, do you worship? I don't mean do you sing on Sunday morning during service, though that can be part of worship. But do you fellowship with God throughout the day? Is your life lived in trust and obedience to God? Do you praise God for all that He has done, whether He has answered with a yes or a no? Do you rejoice in what He is able to do? Are you offering praise to God with your own hands, or are you allowing others to worship instead of you?
Let us take back our worship. May we never again let anyone offer praise to God in our place. Let us be devoted to fellowship with Him, and may we always offer the peace offering with our own hands.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Monday, August 4, 2014
Holy Places
"Speak to Aaron and to his sons, saying, 'This is the law of the sin offering: in the place where the burnt offering is slain the sin offering shall be slain before the Lord; it is most holy'." -Leviticus 6.25
The instructions on the sacrificial system continue, and I have a feeling tomorrow night is going to be an extremely difficult post. Tonight, however, this stood out to me on a third read through. Side note, sometimes we need to read the text a couple of times, maybe even listen to an audio recording of it, to see what God is trying to tell us.
We see here that the place where the burnt offering and the sin offering were slain was a holy place. Serious work happened there, men were given atonement by the blood of an innocent animal. It was a big deal, and so God said that the place where it happened was a holy place.
Men, do you know where you found forgiveness? Could you take someone to the place where you entered into a relationship with Jesus? Could you show them the spot where you prayed? These places are important spots in our journey, because they mark life changing moments. Think back to Genesis, when God spoke an altar would be built to mark the spot. Today you might not be able to build a physical altar (depending on the spot you might be able to), but did you build a spiritual one?
If you're ever with me on the campus of Mount Vernon Nazarene University, I could take you to the spot where I knelt on July 13, 2002 and asked Jesus to be the Lord of my life. I could show you the spot where as a college freshman in October of 2005 I laid on my back and began to really go deeper with Him, understanding that He wanted all of me. I could show you the spot up where I used to sit silently in the dark, enjoying the presence of God. I could take you to the prayer room that I spent more time in than my bed during January of 2008. I could show you holy places in my life.
Where are your holy places? Where has God spoken to you? Where has your life been transformed? These spots are important, not because there is something supernatural about them, but because of what took place there. It is physical proof of what God has done in your life. Where are they?
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
The instructions on the sacrificial system continue, and I have a feeling tomorrow night is going to be an extremely difficult post. Tonight, however, this stood out to me on a third read through. Side note, sometimes we need to read the text a couple of times, maybe even listen to an audio recording of it, to see what God is trying to tell us.
We see here that the place where the burnt offering and the sin offering were slain was a holy place. Serious work happened there, men were given atonement by the blood of an innocent animal. It was a big deal, and so God said that the place where it happened was a holy place.
Men, do you know where you found forgiveness? Could you take someone to the place where you entered into a relationship with Jesus? Could you show them the spot where you prayed? These places are important spots in our journey, because they mark life changing moments. Think back to Genesis, when God spoke an altar would be built to mark the spot. Today you might not be able to build a physical altar (depending on the spot you might be able to), but did you build a spiritual one?
If you're ever with me on the campus of Mount Vernon Nazarene University, I could take you to the spot where I knelt on July 13, 2002 and asked Jesus to be the Lord of my life. I could show you the spot where as a college freshman in October of 2005 I laid on my back and began to really go deeper with Him, understanding that He wanted all of me. I could show you the spot up where I used to sit silently in the dark, enjoying the presence of God. I could take you to the prayer room that I spent more time in than my bed during January of 2008. I could show you holy places in my life.
Where are your holy places? Where has God spoken to you? Where has your life been transformed? These spots are important, not because there is something supernatural about them, but because of what took place there. It is physical proof of what God has done in your life. Where are they?
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Sunday, August 3, 2014
Fire in the Night
"Fire shall be kept burning continually on the altar; it is not to go out." -Leviticus 6.13
God is sharing with Moses the role that the priests are to play in the offering of sacrifices. We see the instruction that the fire on the altar is to be kept burning continually, never going out.
Back when I was in college during J-Term we would do a prayer room where there would be 24 hour prayer going on for two or three weeks. The one year this verse was the inspiration. The fire was not to go out, and dozens of students committed to keep prayer going continuously. I'll be honest sometimes it was hard. You'd be there at 3 AM and the next person wasn't showing up, but we stuck it out and kept praying. The one year I kept track of the hours I slept and the hours I prayed, guess which one was higher.
Men, have you ever set aside time like this to pray? Have you ever worked with a group to offer unending prayer and worship to God for an extended period of time? What did you see God accomplish? What do you think God could accomplish if you did?
I haven't been a part of anything like this since college. Honestly, I don't have the freedom and flexibility right now to even think about it. But one day in the future I would love to be part of and/or organize a prayer room like this again. What do you think God would do if a group of men committed to 24 hour prayer for a week? A month? A year? What would God do if we never let the fire go out.
Let the fire burn in the night, never going out.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
God is sharing with Moses the role that the priests are to play in the offering of sacrifices. We see the instruction that the fire on the altar is to be kept burning continually, never going out.
Back when I was in college during J-Term we would do a prayer room where there would be 24 hour prayer going on for two or three weeks. The one year this verse was the inspiration. The fire was not to go out, and dozens of students committed to keep prayer going continuously. I'll be honest sometimes it was hard. You'd be there at 3 AM and the next person wasn't showing up, but we stuck it out and kept praying. The one year I kept track of the hours I slept and the hours I prayed, guess which one was higher.
Men, have you ever set aside time like this to pray? Have you ever worked with a group to offer unending prayer and worship to God for an extended period of time? What did you see God accomplish? What do you think God could accomplish if you did?
I haven't been a part of anything like this since college. Honestly, I don't have the freedom and flexibility right now to even think about it. But one day in the future I would love to be part of and/or organize a prayer room like this again. What do you think God would do if a group of men committed to 24 hour prayer for a week? A month? A year? What would God do if we never let the fire go out.
Let the fire burn in the night, never going out.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Saturday, August 2, 2014
Repayment
"When a person sins and acts unfaithfully against the Lord, and deceives his companion in regard to a deposit or a security entrusted to him, or through robbery, or if he has extorted from his companion, or has found what was lost and lied about it and sworn falsely, so that he sins in regard to any one of the things a man may do; then it shall be, when he sins and becomes guilty, that he shall restore what he took by robbery or what he got by extortion, or the deposit which was entrusted to him or the lost thing which he found, or anything about which he swore falsely; he shall make restitution for it in full and add to it one-fifth more. He shall give it to the one to whom it belongs on the day he presents his guilt offering." -Leviticus 6.2-5
God did not want His people taking advantage of each other, and gaining wealth dishonestly. God calls it sin when we deceive others to get ahead, and it is also an unfaithful act against Him. God says that we need to repay what we've dishonestly taken in full and add one-fifth to it. Society doesn't work with dishonesty and robbery.
Men, have you stolen anything? Maybe you haven't physically broken into someone's house and taken money, but have you cheated them in some way? Are you in sales? Have you knowingly sold something for more than it's worth? Have you been accidentally overpaid for a job? Have you ever been given too much change or under charged? What did you do in that moment?
Some of them may have been honest mistakes that you weren't aware of at the time, but now that you are, what will you do about it? What will you do the next time it happens?
God intended for us to live in a society full of honesty, because it is the only way society can function. If we've cheated or stolen from others we need to repay what we took, and add to what was lost. God wants us to repent and repay, let us be honest men and do the right thing.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
God did not want His people taking advantage of each other, and gaining wealth dishonestly. God calls it sin when we deceive others to get ahead, and it is also an unfaithful act against Him. God says that we need to repay what we've dishonestly taken in full and add one-fifth to it. Society doesn't work with dishonesty and robbery.
Men, have you stolen anything? Maybe you haven't physically broken into someone's house and taken money, but have you cheated them in some way? Are you in sales? Have you knowingly sold something for more than it's worth? Have you been accidentally overpaid for a job? Have you ever been given too much change or under charged? What did you do in that moment?
Some of them may have been honest mistakes that you weren't aware of at the time, but now that you are, what will you do about it? What will you do the next time it happens?
God intended for us to live in a society full of honesty, because it is the only way society can function. If we've cheated or stolen from others we need to repay what we took, and add to what was lost. God wants us to repent and repay, let us be honest men and do the right thing.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Friday, August 1, 2014
Speak Up
"Now if a person sins after he hears a public adjuration to testify when he is a witness, whether he has seen or otherwise known, if he does not tell it, then he will bear his guilt." Leviticus 5.1
God wants His people to be truthful at all times. If they knew the truth about a happening, either as an actual witness, or by having heard something about it, they need to offer the information they have. If not, then they are guilty because of their silence. When we know something, we need to speak up.
To the left there is a quote from Kingdom of Heaven. Before Godfrey dies he knights his son, Balian, by giving him this oath, " Be without fear in the face of your enemies. Be brave and upright that God may love thee. Speak the truth always, even if it leads to your death. Safeguard the helpless and do no wrong. That is your oath." Speak the truth always, even if it leads to your death. No matter what, we need to speak up with what we know, if not then we are guilty.
Men, how often do we keep silent? This trait goes all the way back to the first one of us. When Adam needed to speak up most desperately, he kept his mouth shut. Instead of speaking the truth about what God had said to the serpent and his wife, he remained silent, allowing the world to fall under the curse of sin and death. And all of these centuries later we are still struggling with the same thing.
Why do we have the tendency to stay silent? Are we afraid we'll be criticised, or that we'll face ramifications for the truth? Is it a lack of confidence in what we have to say and the credibility we feel that we may not have? Is it complacency, thinking that someone else will speak up, so I don't need to do anything?
Recently I became aware of a possible situation, and I wasn't sure what to do. I didn't have any proof, and I didn't really have all that much information to go on, but I couldn't get it out of my mind. I knew I needed to speak up and do something. Finally I did. I don't know what will happen, if anything, I don't know if the situation is even true, but if it is, and I didn't say anything, then one day when I stand before God I'll have to tell Him why. But because I did say something I can face Him without guilt on this matter. It isn't up to me what happens next, it's my responsibility to speak up.
Who knows what terrible things we might prevent by speaking up. And who knows what terrible things might happen because we didn't. Which one would you rather find out: look what you prevented, or look what you could have? Let us be bold and courageous, and let us speak up.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
God wants His people to be truthful at all times. If they knew the truth about a happening, either as an actual witness, or by having heard something about it, they need to offer the information they have. If not, then they are guilty because of their silence. When we know something, we need to speak up.
To the left there is a quote from Kingdom of Heaven. Before Godfrey dies he knights his son, Balian, by giving him this oath, " Be without fear in the face of your enemies. Be brave and upright that God may love thee. Speak the truth always, even if it leads to your death. Safeguard the helpless and do no wrong. That is your oath." Speak the truth always, even if it leads to your death. No matter what, we need to speak up with what we know, if not then we are guilty.
Men, how often do we keep silent? This trait goes all the way back to the first one of us. When Adam needed to speak up most desperately, he kept his mouth shut. Instead of speaking the truth about what God had said to the serpent and his wife, he remained silent, allowing the world to fall under the curse of sin and death. And all of these centuries later we are still struggling with the same thing.
Why do we have the tendency to stay silent? Are we afraid we'll be criticised, or that we'll face ramifications for the truth? Is it a lack of confidence in what we have to say and the credibility we feel that we may not have? Is it complacency, thinking that someone else will speak up, so I don't need to do anything?
Recently I became aware of a possible situation, and I wasn't sure what to do. I didn't have any proof, and I didn't really have all that much information to go on, but I couldn't get it out of my mind. I knew I needed to speak up and do something. Finally I did. I don't know what will happen, if anything, I don't know if the situation is even true, but if it is, and I didn't say anything, then one day when I stand before God I'll have to tell Him why. But because I did say something I can face Him without guilt on this matter. It isn't up to me what happens next, it's my responsibility to speak up.
Who knows what terrible things we might prevent by speaking up. And who knows what terrible things might happen because we didn't. Which one would you rather find out: look what you prevented, or look what you could have? Let us be bold and courageous, and let us speak up.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
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