"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
Tuesday, August 12, 2014
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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