Bible Reading: Numbers 11 - 13
Numbers 11:29 And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the Lord 's people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit upon them!
God called the elders of Israel to the tabernacle.
Numbers 11:25 And the Lord came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease.
There were two men who were numbered among the elders but did not come to the tabernacle. They remained in the camp. When God's Spirit came upon the elders, these men were also anointed and began to prophesy in the camp. What a stir this caused! Immediately the young men ran to Moses and informed him. They wanted these men to stop prophesying in the name of the Lord!
Moses' reacted by saying he wanted ALL the Lord's people to be prophets. Moses was in a hard position. When the people wanted to talk to God, they went through Moses. When God spoke to the people, he spoke to Moses who then told the people. Moses wanted all of God's people to be able to talk with him and to speak the Word of God in boldness and power.
Remember that it was the coming of God's Spirit upon the elders that led them to prophesy. For New Testament believers in Jesus Christ, we are all empowered by the Holy Spirit. He lives in every child of God. He is the gift of God and the Bible says:
1 Peter 4:10-11 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
You are a prophet. The Holy Spirit within you will enable you to speak God's Word to a lost world in boldness and power. When you speak, speak as the oracles of God!
In Christ,
Rody
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Monday, February 27, 2012
At the commandment of the Lord
Bible Reading: Numbers 8-10
Numbers 9:17-18 And when the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle, then after that the children of Israel journeyed: and in the place where the cloud abode, there the children of Israel pitched their tents. 18 At the commandment of the Lord the children of Israel journeyed, and at the commandment of the Lord they pitched: as long as the cloud abode upon the tabernacle they rested in their tents.
Israel was 'led' by the cloud of the Lord while they were in the wilderness. They were instructed to move when the cloud moved and stay in their tents when the cloud stayed put. This is interesting because God was teaching them about being led. They didn't come to God and say, "Lord, we want to go over there, please bless our journey."
We too are to be be. As a matter of fact, a child of God is one who is led.
Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
Are you led by the Spirit of God? Think about your life. Does it look more like Israel following the glory cloud of the Lord? Or does it look like you telling God what you are going to do and asking him to bless it? It really makes all the difference in the world. Are you being led? Are you following?
How do you follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit?
John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
You need to hear his voice. You need to read his Word and let him lead you.
In Christ,
Rody
Numbers 9:17-18 And when the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle, then after that the children of Israel journeyed: and in the place where the cloud abode, there the children of Israel pitched their tents. 18 At the commandment of the Lord the children of Israel journeyed, and at the commandment of the Lord they pitched: as long as the cloud abode upon the tabernacle they rested in their tents.
Israel was 'led' by the cloud of the Lord while they were in the wilderness. They were instructed to move when the cloud moved and stay in their tents when the cloud stayed put. This is interesting because God was teaching them about being led. They didn't come to God and say, "Lord, we want to go over there, please bless our journey."
We too are to be be. As a matter of fact, a child of God is one who is led.
Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
Are you led by the Spirit of God? Think about your life. Does it look more like Israel following the glory cloud of the Lord? Or does it look like you telling God what you are going to do and asking him to bless it? It really makes all the difference in the world. Are you being led? Are you following?
How do you follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit?
John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
You need to hear his voice. You need to read his Word and let him lead you.
In Christ,
Rody
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Then will I remember my covenant
Bible Reading: Leviticus 26-27
Leviticus 26:40-42 If they shall confess their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers, with their trespass which they trespassed against me, and that also they have walked contrary unto me; 41 And that I also have walked contrary unto them, and have brought them into the land of their enemies; if then their uncircumcised hearts be humbled, and they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity: 42 Then will I remember my covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember; and I will remember the land.
Before he gave them the land of Canaan, God told the Israelites what would happen if they disobeyed his word. He would chasten them with ever increasing chastisements until he finally sent them out of the land he gave them.
However, he told them that he would never cast them away.
Leviticus 26:44 And yet for all that, when they be in the land of their enemies, I will not cast them away, neither will I abhor them, to destroy them utterly, and to break my covenant with them: for I am the Lord their God.
God will keep his promises! He will not break his covenant. If you want to see how this happened, you can read about the exile in Babylon and the prayers of confession that Daniel prayed. God heard their prayers of humility and confession and brought the Israelites back into the land!
For the follower of Jesus, God has given us warning that when we sin, there will be consequences.
Galatians 6:7-8 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
Like Israel of old, sinful choices will reap corruption and chastisement. However, remember that God instructed the Israelites that when they did sin if they would humble themselves and confess their sins, he would remember the covenant. For the follower of Jesus, God has made a new covenant with us through the shed blood of his Son, Jesus Christ. He has told us that if we sin, we must confess our sins. He has promised to hear, forgive and heal when we confess.
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Let us be honest with God and when we have sinned, let us confess our sins and receive his forgiveness and cleansing.
In Christ,
Rody
Leviticus 26:40-42 If they shall confess their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers, with their trespass which they trespassed against me, and that also they have walked contrary unto me; 41 And that I also have walked contrary unto them, and have brought them into the land of their enemies; if then their uncircumcised hearts be humbled, and they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity: 42 Then will I remember my covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember; and I will remember the land.
Before he gave them the land of Canaan, God told the Israelites what would happen if they disobeyed his word. He would chasten them with ever increasing chastisements until he finally sent them out of the land he gave them.
However, he told them that he would never cast them away.
Leviticus 26:44 And yet for all that, when they be in the land of their enemies, I will not cast them away, neither will I abhor them, to destroy them utterly, and to break my covenant with them: for I am the Lord their God.
God will keep his promises! He will not break his covenant. If you want to see how this happened, you can read about the exile in Babylon and the prayers of confession that Daniel prayed. God heard their prayers of humility and confession and brought the Israelites back into the land!
For the follower of Jesus, God has given us warning that when we sin, there will be consequences.
Galatians 6:7-8 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
Like Israel of old, sinful choices will reap corruption and chastisement. However, remember that God instructed the Israelites that when they did sin if they would humble themselves and confess their sins, he would remember the covenant. For the follower of Jesus, God has made a new covenant with us through the shed blood of his Son, Jesus Christ. He has told us that if we sin, we must confess our sins. He has promised to hear, forgive and heal when we confess.
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Let us be honest with God and when we have sinned, let us confess our sins and receive his forgiveness and cleansing.
In Christ,
Rody
Monday, February 20, 2012
I am the Lord which hallow you
Bible Reading: Leviticus 22-23
Leviticus 22:32-33 Neither shall ye profane my holy name; but I will be hallowed among the children of Israel: I am the Lord which hallow you, 33 That brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the Lord.
Jesus taught us to pray, "Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name..." This means that God's name is holy. It is a word that means 'set apart' or 'different'. God is not like anyone else; no one else is like God.
God told Moses to tell Pharaoh:
Exodus 9:14 For I will at this time send all my plagues upon thine heart, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people; that thou mayest know that there is none like me in all the earth.
God instructed the children of Israel to hallow the name of God. He also said that he would hallow them. That is the interesting part. God making men holy. This is a term that is used to describe God. How can it be used to describe a man?
For Israel, the hallowing of them had to do with the distinction that the law made between them and the people who lived around them. They were different than the Egyptians. They were different than the Canaanites, Philistines, Syrians, Assyrians, Babylonians and Persians. They were distinct in the worship of God and in their manner of life.
When Jesus ascended to the Father, he sent the promised Comforter - the Holy Spirit. Jesus said:
John 14:16-17 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
He shall be in you! God, the Holy Spirit lives in the believer. How does God hallow his children? The One who is holy comes and lives in us to make us holy. He bears the fruit of the Spirit in our lives:
Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
He is our God and he is the Lord. Let the holiness of God show in your life today as you love!
In Christ,
Rody
Leviticus 22:32-33 Neither shall ye profane my holy name; but I will be hallowed among the children of Israel: I am the Lord which hallow you, 33 That brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the Lord.
Jesus taught us to pray, "Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name..." This means that God's name is holy. It is a word that means 'set apart' or 'different'. God is not like anyone else; no one else is like God.
God told Moses to tell Pharaoh:
Exodus 9:14 For I will at this time send all my plagues upon thine heart, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people; that thou mayest know that there is none like me in all the earth.
God instructed the children of Israel to hallow the name of God. He also said that he would hallow them. That is the interesting part. God making men holy. This is a term that is used to describe God. How can it be used to describe a man?
For Israel, the hallowing of them had to do with the distinction that the law made between them and the people who lived around them. They were different than the Egyptians. They were different than the Canaanites, Philistines, Syrians, Assyrians, Babylonians and Persians. They were distinct in the worship of God and in their manner of life.
When Jesus ascended to the Father, he sent the promised Comforter - the Holy Spirit. Jesus said:
John 14:16-17 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
He shall be in you! God, the Holy Spirit lives in the believer. How does God hallow his children? The One who is holy comes and lives in us to make us holy. He bears the fruit of the Spirit in our lives:
Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
He is our God and he is the Lord. Let the holiness of God show in your life today as you love!
In Christ,
Rody
Friday, February 17, 2012
My tabernacle that is among them
Bible Reading: Leviticus 14-15
Leviticus 15:31 Thus shall ye separate the children of Israel from their uncleanness; that they die not in their uncleanness, when they defile my tabernacle that is among them.
Leviticus 14 is all about what a person is to do who is healed of leprosy. They were to present themselves to the priest for inspection, quarantine and then offerings and cleansing associated with that healing. Until Jesus, it had never happened to an Israelite since the tabernacle was built! The Bible is very clear that someone is not to touch a leper because they are considered 'unclean'. So is a woman during her menstrual cycle. However, both touched Jesus!
Matthew 8:2-3 And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. 3 And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
Matthew 9:20-22 And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: 21 For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. 22 But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.
Jesus did not become unclean by touching or being touched by someone unclean. Instead, they became clean by his touch. He takes away the curse. He brings cleansing! The tabernacle is among us!
John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
The Greek word translated 'dwelt' is a word that means tent or tabernacle. God became a man in Jesus. The tabernacle is not defiled by uncleanness! He cleanses the leper! He stops the issue of blood! He takes away the curse of sin and death! Jesus is clean and he can make you clean if you will but receive him.
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
In Christ,
Rody
Leviticus 15:31 Thus shall ye separate the children of Israel from their uncleanness; that they die not in their uncleanness, when they defile my tabernacle that is among them.
Leviticus 14 is all about what a person is to do who is healed of leprosy. They were to present themselves to the priest for inspection, quarantine and then offerings and cleansing associated with that healing. Until Jesus, it had never happened to an Israelite since the tabernacle was built! The Bible is very clear that someone is not to touch a leper because they are considered 'unclean'. So is a woman during her menstrual cycle. However, both touched Jesus!
Matthew 8:2-3 And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. 3 And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
Matthew 9:20-22 And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: 21 For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. 22 But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.
Jesus did not become unclean by touching or being touched by someone unclean. Instead, they became clean by his touch. He takes away the curse. He brings cleansing! The tabernacle is among us!
John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
The Greek word translated 'dwelt' is a word that means tent or tabernacle. God became a man in Jesus. The tabernacle is not defiled by uncleanness! He cleanses the leper! He stops the issue of blood! He takes away the curse of sin and death! Jesus is clean and he can make you clean if you will but receive him.
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
In Christ,
Rody
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Put difference between holy and unholy
Bible Reading: Leviticus 8-10
Leviticus 10:8-11 And the Lord spake unto Aaron, saying, 9 Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations: 10 And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean; 11 And that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the Lord hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses.
Nadab and Abihu decided to make an offering to God that he did not prescribe. It cost them their lives. The worship of God in his tabernacle was completely his idea, his pattern and based on his commandments. It was not for men to make up what they thought needed to be done. So there was not a commandment from God for them to bring strange fire into the tabernacle.
This strange fire, God would not allow. He wanted them to worship him according to his word. During the time of mourning that Moses said the whole house of Israel would go through, God told Aaron this about drinking wine or strong drink. It is probable that Nadab and Abihu were drunk and in their wine, they decided to bring this offering.
God told them not to drink and that their sobriety would do two things. First, they needed to put a difference between holy and unholy, clean and unclean. The priest must be holy and clean to carry on the worship of God. Wine impairs the ability to make a difference. It is interesting that the New Testament admonishes the follower of Christ about wine and holiness:
Ephesians 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
Excess is the unholiness and uncleanness that must be avoided. The Lord also told Aaron and his sons that they were to teach the children of Israel the statutes that the Lord gave them. Wine would impair their ability to teach. The New Testament once again gives the follower of Jesus similar instructions.
Matthew 28:19-20 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
We can be holy because the Holy Spirit lives in us. We are to teach "all nations", not just the children of Israel. We must be sober to do this. As a believer in Jesus, you are a priest and a king.
Revelation 1:5-6 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
God told Aaron it was not for priests to drink wine.
Proverbs 31:4-5 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink: Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.
God told Lemuel it is not for kings to drink wine.
As a priest and a king, you are to be filled with the Holy Spirit and teach all nations. Wine gets in the way. Remember Nadab and Abihu!
In Christ,
Rody
Leviticus 10:8-11 And the Lord spake unto Aaron, saying, 9 Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations: 10 And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean; 11 And that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the Lord hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses.
Nadab and Abihu decided to make an offering to God that he did not prescribe. It cost them their lives. The worship of God in his tabernacle was completely his idea, his pattern and based on his commandments. It was not for men to make up what they thought needed to be done. So there was not a commandment from God for them to bring strange fire into the tabernacle.
This strange fire, God would not allow. He wanted them to worship him according to his word. During the time of mourning that Moses said the whole house of Israel would go through, God told Aaron this about drinking wine or strong drink. It is probable that Nadab and Abihu were drunk and in their wine, they decided to bring this offering.
God told them not to drink and that their sobriety would do two things. First, they needed to put a difference between holy and unholy, clean and unclean. The priest must be holy and clean to carry on the worship of God. Wine impairs the ability to make a difference. It is interesting that the New Testament admonishes the follower of Christ about wine and holiness:
Ephesians 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
Excess is the unholiness and uncleanness that must be avoided. The Lord also told Aaron and his sons that they were to teach the children of Israel the statutes that the Lord gave them. Wine would impair their ability to teach. The New Testament once again gives the follower of Jesus similar instructions.
Matthew 28:19-20 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
We can be holy because the Holy Spirit lives in us. We are to teach "all nations", not just the children of Israel. We must be sober to do this. As a believer in Jesus, you are a priest and a king.
Revelation 1:5-6 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
God told Aaron it was not for priests to drink wine.
Proverbs 31:4-5 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink: Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.
God told Lemuel it is not for kings to drink wine.
As a priest and a king, you are to be filled with the Holy Spirit and teach all nations. Wine gets in the way. Remember Nadab and Abihu!
In Christ,
Rody
Monday, February 13, 2012
With all thine offerings thou shalt offer salt
Bible Reading: Leviticus 1-4
Leviticus 2:13 And every oblation of thy meat offering shalt thou season with salt; neither shalt thou suffer the salt of the covenant of thy God to be lacking from thy meat offering: with all thine offerings thou shalt offer salt.
Salt was added to all the offerings made by the Israelites to the Lord. It is called the salt of the covenant. God made a covenant with the Israelites and he would accept their sacrifices made according to his commandment. The salt that they added reminded them of his preserving covenant and of the savor of the smell of their sacrifices to the Lord.
As followers of Christ, we are told not only to offer sacrifices...
Hebrews 13:15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
And we are to be a sacrifice...
Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
So the Lord Jesus tells us that salt must be offered with the sacrifice:
Mark 9:49-50 For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt. 50 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.
Salt is a symbol of the covenant of grace the Lord Jesus Christ has made with us. We are to be salty sacrifices offered to the Lord. Are you salty? Is your life seasoned with the grace of the Lord? Does your eternal life add flavor and show the preserving power of God to the lost world around you?
Matthew 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
Ye are the salt of the earth...are you salty? Christians that aren't salty are good for nothing. But salty Christians bring glory to God!
In Christ,
Rody
Leviticus 2:13 And every oblation of thy meat offering shalt thou season with salt; neither shalt thou suffer the salt of the covenant of thy God to be lacking from thy meat offering: with all thine offerings thou shalt offer salt.
Salt was added to all the offerings made by the Israelites to the Lord. It is called the salt of the covenant. God made a covenant with the Israelites and he would accept their sacrifices made according to his commandment. The salt that they added reminded them of his preserving covenant and of the savor of the smell of their sacrifices to the Lord.
As followers of Christ, we are told not only to offer sacrifices...
Hebrews 13:15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
And we are to be a sacrifice...
Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
So the Lord Jesus tells us that salt must be offered with the sacrifice:
Mark 9:49-50 For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt. 50 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.
Salt is a symbol of the covenant of grace the Lord Jesus Christ has made with us. We are to be salty sacrifices offered to the Lord. Are you salty? Is your life seasoned with the grace of the Lord? Does your eternal life add flavor and show the preserving power of God to the lost world around you?
Matthew 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
Ye are the salt of the earth...are you salty? Christians that aren't salty are good for nothing. But salty Christians bring glory to God!
In Christ,
Rody
Friday, February 10, 2012
If thy presence go not with me
Bible Reading: Exodus 33-35
Exodus 33:15-16 And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence. 16 For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest with us? so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth.
God told Moses that he was not going to go with the Israelites because they were stiff necked and he would have to consume them (Exodus 33:3). Moses interceded with God and he begged him to not send them if God was not going to be in the midst of them. Moses wanted to be with God. He went to Pharaoh with the promise of God's presence as he went. He led the people of Israel with the promise of God's presence. He did not want to be without God.
This should be the case with every believer. The mission is not only impossible without the presence of the Lord, but it is unbearable. For the follower of Christ it is impossible to be without God's presence because the Holy Spirit dwells in each and every believer. However, it is possible to grieve him and to quench him in our lives. It is also possible to be more focused on the 'work' of ministry than on the leading of God's Spirit.
It is not enough to work for God. It must be God at work in us. His presence in our lives is the motivation and the machinery of ministry. He works in us.
Philippians 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Moses did not want to go if God did not go with them. How is it with you? Do you live each day basking in the love of God and enjoying his presence in all things? Remember he has promised:
Hebrews 13:5b ...for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
John 15:5b ...without me ye can do nothing.
We have Christ in us and we walk with him!
In Christ,
Rody
Exodus 33:15-16 And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence. 16 For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest with us? so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth.
God told Moses that he was not going to go with the Israelites because they were stiff necked and he would have to consume them (Exodus 33:3). Moses interceded with God and he begged him to not send them if God was not going to be in the midst of them. Moses wanted to be with God. He went to Pharaoh with the promise of God's presence as he went. He led the people of Israel with the promise of God's presence. He did not want to be without God.
This should be the case with every believer. The mission is not only impossible without the presence of the Lord, but it is unbearable. For the follower of Christ it is impossible to be without God's presence because the Holy Spirit dwells in each and every believer. However, it is possible to grieve him and to quench him in our lives. It is also possible to be more focused on the 'work' of ministry than on the leading of God's Spirit.
It is not enough to work for God. It must be God at work in us. His presence in our lives is the motivation and the machinery of ministry. He works in us.
Philippians 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Moses did not want to go if God did not go with them. How is it with you? Do you live each day basking in the love of God and enjoying his presence in all things? Remember he has promised:
Hebrews 13:5b ...for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
John 15:5b ...without me ye can do nothing.
We have Christ in us and we walk with him!
In Christ,
Rody
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
I will dwell among the children of Israel
Bible Reading: Exodus 28-29
Exodus 29:45-46 And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will be their God. 46 And they shall know that I am the Lord their God, that brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, that I may dwell among them: I am the Lord their God.
All the worship surrounding the tabernacle was by God's instruction. The ordination of the priests was done at his command. Aaron and his sons had specific instructions on how they were to minister in the tabernacle. All the sacrifices were prescribed. All the furniture was built according to the pattern. All the rites and rituals were God's idea.
The whole point of the tabernacle was a visible reminder of the presence of God in the midst of Israel. God was their God. He is the only God, but the nations surrounding Israel worshipped many false gods.
God wanted Israel to be distinct and to be a light so that his glory would shine through them upon the other nations of the world. The special relationship God had with Israel had a purpose. His people were a kingdom of priests to show who the one true God really is.
This is God's purpose for the church in Christ. When Jesus was carrying on his earthly ministry the Bible tells us:
John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
When God is among us, we behold his glory. This is God's purpose for his church.
2 Corinthians 3:17-18 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
We have a God who not only dwells among us, but he lives in us. He is changing us and we are being transformed. He is in us so he can shine through us. God wants others who don't know him to meet him through our witness. We have an incredible privilege of walking with God every minute of every day. Let's invite others to know Jesus!
In Christ,
Rody
Exodus 29:45-46 And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will be their God. 46 And they shall know that I am the Lord their God, that brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, that I may dwell among them: I am the Lord their God.
All the worship surrounding the tabernacle was by God's instruction. The ordination of the priests was done at his command. Aaron and his sons had specific instructions on how they were to minister in the tabernacle. All the sacrifices were prescribed. All the furniture was built according to the pattern. All the rites and rituals were God's idea.
The whole point of the tabernacle was a visible reminder of the presence of God in the midst of Israel. God was their God. He is the only God, but the nations surrounding Israel worshipped many false gods.
God wanted Israel to be distinct and to be a light so that his glory would shine through them upon the other nations of the world. The special relationship God had with Israel had a purpose. His people were a kingdom of priests to show who the one true God really is.
This is God's purpose for the church in Christ. When Jesus was carrying on his earthly ministry the Bible tells us:
John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
When God is among us, we behold his glory. This is God's purpose for his church.
2 Corinthians 3:17-18 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
We have a God who not only dwells among us, but he lives in us. He is changing us and we are being transformed. He is in us so he can shine through us. God wants others who don't know him to meet him through our witness. We have an incredible privilege of walking with God every minute of every day. Let's invite others to know Jesus!
In Christ,
Rody
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Their Pattern Which was Shown Thee in the Mount
Bible Reading: Exodus 25-27
Exodus 25:40 And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was shewed thee in the mount.
God showed Moses a pattern for the building of the tabernacle when he was on Mount Sinai for forty days and forty nights. He was instructed in the building of the tabernacle down to the last minute detail. Here God is instructing Moses that in the building of the tabernacle, he was not to be creative, but to build it according to the pattern.
In our time, we have a lot of 'creativity' in the church. Now creativity is a good thing, unless our creativity makes us introduce things into the worship of God that he has not instructed us in. Moses was to be obedient in the manner of worship that he led the Israelites in. There was no room or tolerance for human ingenuity.
The writer to the Hebrews quotes this verse as he compares and contrasts the Levitical priesthood and sacrificial system of the Israelites with the High Priestly ministry and once for all sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 8:5-6 Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount. 6 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.
In Christ we have a better covenant which is established on better promises! We have a Great High Priest, Jesus Christ who IS our sacrifice. He was offered once for all and his sacrificial work is finished! We need to worship him in spirit and in truth. Let us draw near to Christ and lift his name high.
In Christ,
Rody
Exodus 25:40 And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was shewed thee in the mount.
God showed Moses a pattern for the building of the tabernacle when he was on Mount Sinai for forty days and forty nights. He was instructed in the building of the tabernacle down to the last minute detail. Here God is instructing Moses that in the building of the tabernacle, he was not to be creative, but to build it according to the pattern.
In our time, we have a lot of 'creativity' in the church. Now creativity is a good thing, unless our creativity makes us introduce things into the worship of God that he has not instructed us in. Moses was to be obedient in the manner of worship that he led the Israelites in. There was no room or tolerance for human ingenuity.
The writer to the Hebrews quotes this verse as he compares and contrasts the Levitical priesthood and sacrificial system of the Israelites with the High Priestly ministry and once for all sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 8:5-6 Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount. 6 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.
In Christ we have a better covenant which is established on better promises! We have a Great High Priest, Jesus Christ who IS our sacrifice. He was offered once for all and his sacrificial work is finished! We need to worship him in spirit and in truth. Let us draw near to Christ and lift his name high.
In Christ,
Rody
Monday, February 6, 2012
Widows and Fatherless Children
Bible Reading: Exodus 22-24
Exodus 22:22-24 Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child. 23 If thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry; 24 And my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.
God takes the care of widows and orphans seriously. He instructed the children of Israel not to afflict them. He also warned them that if they did and their cry came before him, he would return vengeance upon those who did it.
A widow is a woman whose husband has died and her children are fatherless. Unfortunately, our culture has many women with children and no husbands but the dad is not dead! Either he abandoned his family or she decided she would rather live without a husband. The result is fatherless children.
What is the answer? First, teach and model Godly, Biblical marriage. Young people need to know what God's Word says about marriage and Christians need to fear the Lord when they marry and keep their covenant of companionship with their spouses. Second, Christians need to honor widows who are widows indeed and help to care for them. Our wars produce some widows but disease and hazardous jobs produce others.
The New Testament tells us what true religion really is:
James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
God has not changed his mind on this matter. We need to be compassionate toward those who are disenfranchised and help them to fulfill their calling by God!
In Christ,
Rody
Exodus 22:22-24 Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child. 23 If thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry; 24 And my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.
God takes the care of widows and orphans seriously. He instructed the children of Israel not to afflict them. He also warned them that if they did and their cry came before him, he would return vengeance upon those who did it.
A widow is a woman whose husband has died and her children are fatherless. Unfortunately, our culture has many women with children and no husbands but the dad is not dead! Either he abandoned his family or she decided she would rather live without a husband. The result is fatherless children.
What is the answer? First, teach and model Godly, Biblical marriage. Young people need to know what God's Word says about marriage and Christians need to fear the Lord when they marry and keep their covenant of companionship with their spouses. Second, Christians need to honor widows who are widows indeed and help to care for them. Our wars produce some widows but disease and hazardous jobs produce others.
The New Testament tells us what true religion really is:
James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
God has not changed his mind on this matter. We need to be compassionate toward those who are disenfranchised and help them to fulfill their calling by God!
In Christ,
Rody
Friday, February 3, 2012
The Lord Shall Fight for You
Bible Reading: Exodus 13-15
Exodus 14:13-14 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. 14 The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.
Do you fight your battles or does the Lord? When Israel left Egypt, the Pharaoh changed his mind and began to pursue after them. When the people saw the Egyptians pursuing them, they were afraid and began to complain to Moses. Moses knew that this Exodus was God's idea and that he was going to fight for them. He told the people what you and I need to hear when we face the enemy.
1. Fear ye not! There is not need to be afraid. We need to have faith, not fear.
2. Stand still! This is hard to do sometimes. Our souls are troubled and we feel uneasy sometimes. We need to hear that God wants us to stand still. But why do we need to stand still? So that we can...
3. See the salvation of the Lord. The Lord is a man of war(Exodus 15:3). He is the one who will fight for us and he is the one who will save us. We need to know that he is working on our behalf.
Some might question and ask if we are to be totally passive when facing the enemy. Of course not. The Bible says:
Ephesians 6:10-13 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
We are not passive in the battle. We wrestle. We put on the whole armour of God. We resist...But first we submit to God, and we know that Jesus said:
John 15:5b for without me ye can do nothing.
Let God fight for you!
In Christ,
Rody
Exodus 14:13-14 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. 14 The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.
Do you fight your battles or does the Lord? When Israel left Egypt, the Pharaoh changed his mind and began to pursue after them. When the people saw the Egyptians pursuing them, they were afraid and began to complain to Moses. Moses knew that this Exodus was God's idea and that he was going to fight for them. He told the people what you and I need to hear when we face the enemy.
1. Fear ye not! There is not need to be afraid. We need to have faith, not fear.
2. Stand still! This is hard to do sometimes. Our souls are troubled and we feel uneasy sometimes. We need to hear that God wants us to stand still. But why do we need to stand still? So that we can...
3. See the salvation of the Lord. The Lord is a man of war(Exodus 15:3). He is the one who will fight for us and he is the one who will save us. We need to know that he is working on our behalf.
Some might question and ask if we are to be totally passive when facing the enemy. Of course not. The Bible says:
Ephesians 6:10-13 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
We are not passive in the battle. We wrestle. We put on the whole armour of God. We resist...But first we submit to God, and we know that Jesus said:
John 15:5b for without me ye can do nothing.
Let God fight for you!
In Christ,
Rody
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Your lamb shall be without blemish
Bible Reading: Exodus 10-12
Exodus 12:5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats.
The Exodus is a picture throught the rest of scripture. God's deliverance of his people from the oppressive slavery of the world. The Exodus also initiated the Passover. A feast of the Jews that pictured the lamb slain and the passing over of the houses of the faithful by the death angel. This of course is a picture of Christ.
The lamb had to be without blemish. In other words, it had to be a healthy and completely intact animal. Here is where the picture of Christ is so vivid. The lamb was an exchange. If a family offered the lamb, God would spare their son. The Egyptians did not offer a lamb, and their sons died. God gave us his Son, our Lamb and we get to live eternally.
The Passover Lamb had to be without blemish. This is a picture of the perfect sinless character of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible says:
1 Peter 1:18-19 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.
Hebrews 9:14How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Jesus is the only suitable sacrifice because he is the only man without blemish! You cannot die for anyone else's sins because you have sins of your own. But Jesus is without blemish! The Bible says:
1 Corinthians 5:7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us.
Christ, our passover is sacrificed for us! Thank God for the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world (John 1:29).
In Christ,
Rody
Exodus 12:5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats.
The Exodus is a picture throught the rest of scripture. God's deliverance of his people from the oppressive slavery of the world. The Exodus also initiated the Passover. A feast of the Jews that pictured the lamb slain and the passing over of the houses of the faithful by the death angel. This of course is a picture of Christ.
The lamb had to be without blemish. In other words, it had to be a healthy and completely intact animal. Here is where the picture of Christ is so vivid. The lamb was an exchange. If a family offered the lamb, God would spare their son. The Egyptians did not offer a lamb, and their sons died. God gave us his Son, our Lamb and we get to live eternally.
The Passover Lamb had to be without blemish. This is a picture of the perfect sinless character of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible says:
1 Peter 1:18-19 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.
Hebrews 9:14How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Jesus is the only suitable sacrifice because he is the only man without blemish! You cannot die for anyone else's sins because you have sins of your own. But Jesus is without blemish! The Bible says:
1 Corinthians 5:7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us.
Christ, our passover is sacrificed for us! Thank God for the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world (John 1:29).
In Christ,
Rody
My people and thy people
Bible Reading: Exodus 7-9
Exodus 8:22-23 And I will sever in that day the land of Goshen, in which my people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there; to the end thou mayest know that I am the Lord in the midst of the earth. 23 And I will put a division between my people and thy people: to morrow shall this sign be.
God put a difference between his people, Israel and the people of Pharaoh - the Egyptians. God always puts a difference between his people and the world. He called the Israelites to live differently than all the Canaanites that surrounded them. They were called to be 'holy' and set apart unto the Lord. The land of Goshen was a very strong sign to Pharaoh. Goshen was free of plagues, while the rest of Egypt was literally being ruined.
As followers of Jesus, we are called to be a different people than the lost world around us. Jesus wants us to be Holy Spirit filled people living in a lost world.
Titus 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
The good works that we do are like the land of Goshen to the Egyptians. Jesus said:
Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
When people see the life we live because we know and love Jesus, they will glorify God. He is bringing glory to himself through our lives.
Do you live in the land of Goshen? Does your walk through life look different from the world's? Do you live a life of love and grace before men?
1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
Living in the land of Goshen meant having the blessing and favor of God upon you. This is ours in Christ. We are blessed, let us live out of that blessing!
In Christ,
Rody
Exodus 8:22-23 And I will sever in that day the land of Goshen, in which my people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there; to the end thou mayest know that I am the Lord in the midst of the earth. 23 And I will put a division between my people and thy people: to morrow shall this sign be.
God put a difference between his people, Israel and the people of Pharaoh - the Egyptians. God always puts a difference between his people and the world. He called the Israelites to live differently than all the Canaanites that surrounded them. They were called to be 'holy' and set apart unto the Lord. The land of Goshen was a very strong sign to Pharaoh. Goshen was free of plagues, while the rest of Egypt was literally being ruined.
As followers of Jesus, we are called to be a different people than the lost world around us. Jesus wants us to be Holy Spirit filled people living in a lost world.
Titus 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
The good works that we do are like the land of Goshen to the Egyptians. Jesus said:
Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
When people see the life we live because we know and love Jesus, they will glorify God. He is bringing glory to himself through our lives.
Do you live in the land of Goshen? Does your walk through life look different from the world's? Do you live a life of love and grace before men?
1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
Living in the land of Goshen meant having the blessing and favor of God upon you. This is ours in Christ. We are blessed, let us live out of that blessing!
In Christ,
Rody
Who hath made mans mouth
Bible Reading: Exodus 4-6
Exodus 4:11 And the Lord said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the Lord?
Moses had just told God that he was slow of speech and of a slow tongue. He wanted God to send someone else to speak to Pharaoh. He was a shepherd and had been for the last forty years. He was not an eloquent speaker. He was begging God to relieve him of this duty and send someone else.
God's answer is amazing! When God asked Moses who had made his mouth, he was asking a question to get Moses to think. God made Moses and he knew exactly what his challenges were.
Do you and I ever excuse ourselves from things that God in his Word has clearly told us to do because of our setbacks? When it comes to speaking to an unbelieving world on behalf of God, statistics say that the majority of Christians excuse themselves in one way or another. According to some studies, only about 3-5% of believers have shared their faith in Jesus with a lost person in the last year! And yet, God in his Word says:
Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
Have you ever used the excuse that you are not eloquent to excuse you from witnessing for Jesus? What other physical challenges do you have? Who makes us what we are? God does! He made you and he made you specifically for his purpose. He wants to transform you into the image of Christ and he is in a process of doing that. Some day you will have no more physical setbacks.
However, more important than your transformation is God's glory. God is glorious! He is reflecting his glory into an unbelieving world by working in and through the lives of those in whom his Spirit dwells. When we are a part of the mission of Jesus empowered by his Holy Spirit, we are bringing glory to him.
God made you! He knows you! Have the faith to believe that what he calls you to do, he will equip you to do as well!
In Christ,
Rody
Exodus 4:11 And the Lord said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the Lord?
Moses had just told God that he was slow of speech and of a slow tongue. He wanted God to send someone else to speak to Pharaoh. He was a shepherd and had been for the last forty years. He was not an eloquent speaker. He was begging God to relieve him of this duty and send someone else.
God's answer is amazing! When God asked Moses who had made his mouth, he was asking a question to get Moses to think. God made Moses and he knew exactly what his challenges were.
Do you and I ever excuse ourselves from things that God in his Word has clearly told us to do because of our setbacks? When it comes to speaking to an unbelieving world on behalf of God, statistics say that the majority of Christians excuse themselves in one way or another. According to some studies, only about 3-5% of believers have shared their faith in Jesus with a lost person in the last year! And yet, God in his Word says:
Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
Have you ever used the excuse that you are not eloquent to excuse you from witnessing for Jesus? What other physical challenges do you have? Who makes us what we are? God does! He made you and he made you specifically for his purpose. He wants to transform you into the image of Christ and he is in a process of doing that. Some day you will have no more physical setbacks.
However, more important than your transformation is God's glory. God is glorious! He is reflecting his glory into an unbelieving world by working in and through the lives of those in whom his Spirit dwells. When we are a part of the mission of Jesus empowered by his Holy Spirit, we are bringing glory to him.
God made you! He knows you! Have the faith to believe that what he calls you to do, he will equip you to do as well!
In Christ,
Rody
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