And from there they continued to Beer; that is the well of which the LORD said to Moses, “Gather the people together, so that I may give them water.” Then Israel sang this song: “Spring up, O well!—Sing to it!— the well that the princes made, that the nobles of the people dug, with the scepter and with their staffs.”

Numbers 21:10-20

And from there they continued to Beer; that is the well of which the LORD said to Moses, “Gather the people together, so that I may give them water.” Then Israel sang this song: “Spring up, O well!—Sing to it!— the well that the princes made, that the nobles of the people dug, with the scepter and with their staffs.” Numbers 21:16-18

I continue my study of Numbers, and in the text today - Numbers 21:10-20 - God provides water and the people sing joyfully in response.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.

• What do we learn from the text about God?: God is with us, He directs our steps (with Israel He guides as a cloud by day and a fire by night (Exodus 13:21), and He provides.  The wilderness is a desolate and difficult place - yet Israel find themselves in a place in v16 called Beer, which in Hebrews translates simply to a "well."  God provides water here.
• What do we learn from the text about people?: The people respond in song, in essence, worshiping God.  This is a wholly appropriate response to God, who He is and how He provides.  Note also how God seeks for Moses to "[g]ather the people together[.]"  God seeks for His people to worship together. 
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): When we are in a spiritual wilderness, we should not worry, grumble and complain as Israel has been doing (see text from post yesterday).  We should claim the promise that God provides for all of our needs.  Follow the example of Christ who trusts in the Father to provide for all things (Matthew 6:25-34). Praise God for how He is with us, directs our steps, and provides - even in the wilderness. 

Comment and discuss this post

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves, saves, is with us, guiding our steps, and providing for all of our needs.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You love and save.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

[H]e looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.

Mark 3:1-6

[H]e looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him. Mark 3:5-6

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, I focus on an unassisted review of Mark 3:1-6, which is the text for the next chapter of the commentary.  Observations from the text using the Sword Bible Study Method: 

• What do we learn from the passage about God?: God does not seek strict rules around worship or the Sabbath.  His intent with the Sabbath is for God's people to be together in corporate worship.  The Bible does not say God's people shall not heal anyone on the Sabbath - note Jesus' anger and grief at the Pharisees hardness of heart (v5).  See also Galatians 5:22-23 where Paul notes there is no law for believers that demonstrate fruit of the Spirit.     
• What do we learn from the passage about people?: The Pharisees are not simply history - they represent any group of people that seeks legalism or elitism in church such that they know the proper way to worship.  Such arrogance creeps in the church in more subtle ways with intolerance about different worship styles - we should be mindful of different styles.  See also this article per DesiringGod.com.  
• Is there anything from the passage God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey)?: We should be careful to seek and know God's intent - carefully studying His Word and gaining guidance from church leadership on difficult questions where it is less clear.  We should not add or subtract anything from the Word.  We should never tire of doing good works with an intent to glorify God.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of incredible grace and compassion for me - loving me while still an enemy and hostile to You, saving me, and pouring out an inexhaustible supply of grace daily.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving!  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

And he said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.” And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.

Mark 1:35-45

And he said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.” And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons. Mark 1:38-39

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, I focus on a commentary-assisted review of Mark 1:35-45, which is the text for the next chapter of the commentary.  Excerpts from the second (of three) division of the commentary, which covers 1:38-39:

• "The crowds at Peter’s house came for the miracles. Now, apparently, they want more. The call to repent and believe the gospel (1:15) was not on their spiritual radar. Like so many today, they wanted a Jesus of their liking, a Jesus who would perform miracles and fit into their agenda."
• "Neither the crowds nor the disciples understood why He had come into the world. But He knew! Jesus came to preach, to herald, to proclaim the gospel of salvation, a message that is both by Him and about Him. Indeed, He is the gospel! But sadly, the crowds missed Him. God had only one Son, and He made Him a preacher. No pastor is worthy of the office who does not preach the Word. No church will prosper spiritually without the preaching of the Word."
• "Jesus went throughout all Galilee, preaching the gospel and casting out demons. He did this out of a life of prayer. Prayer and preaching is a one-two punch that cannot be defeated. This is how the kingdom marches on anywhere and anytime."  

For those who are gifted as teachers, it is call that they should follow, but with great humility and responsibility.  Those who teach must constantly be learning and allowing God to work through their gift of teaching.  For believers, we need corporate worship to hear this teaching, and we should be striving to learn and grow through our own study of the Word and through Bible studies where we participate with other believers to sharpen one another - Proverbs 27:17.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God that loves and saves - thank You for providing so many great teachers who help me see You in You Word and understand and love You more.  I am not deserving of such blessings...my sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the LORD their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the LORD their God had sent him. And the people feared the LORD. Then Haggai, the messenger of the LORD, spoke to the people with the LORD’s message, “I am with you, declares the LORD.” And the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people. And they came and worked on the house of the LORD of hosts, their God, on the twenty-fourth day of the month, in the sixth month, in the second year of Darius the king.

 Haggai 1:12-15

Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the LORD their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the LORD their God had sent him. And the people feared the LORD. Then Haggai, the messenger of the LORD, spoke to the people with the LORD’s message, “I am with you, declares the LORD.” And the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people. And they came and worked on the house of the LORD of hosts, their God, on the twenty-fourth day of the month, in the sixth month, in the second year of Darius the king. Haggai 1:12-15

I resume my study of Haggai - using the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary volume for this book.  For today, my focus is an unassisted review of Haggai 1:12-15 which is covered in the commentary with a chapter title Fear of God Leads to Repentance and the chapter provides two divisions (1:12, 1:13-15) and five (1:12, 1:12, 1:13, 1:13, 1:14) subdivisions. Here, in response to God's call to Israel to "consider [it's] ways" and repent (see earlier posts here and here), Israel does indeed repent and as God does in all of His compassion and love, He forgives Israel and declares "I am with you," which of course is a tremendous encouragement and source of peace.  Israel's fellowship with God and their heart change leads them proceed with rebuilding of the temple - putting God first. I am reminded of 1 Corinthians 3:16 where believers and the church are referred to as God's temple. Just as Israel focuses on building the temple, believers should focus on building their relationships with the Lord and with one another.  

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God who loves us and who is full of amazing grace and compassion for those who turn towards You.  Thank You Jesus for softening my heart and leading me to You, for saving me.  I am not deserving of such blessings...my sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

“Thus says the LORD of hosts: These people say the time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the LORD.”

Haggai 1:2

“Thus says the LORD of hosts: These people say the time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the LORD.” Haggai 1:2

I continue with my study of Haggai -  using the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary volume for this book.  The next chapter of the commentary is entitled Disregarding God Leads to a Lack of Human Flourishing. This commentary chapter outlines 2 divisions with 2 sub-divisions each exploring Haggai 1:2-11. For this morning, my focus is an unassisted review of Haggai 1:2 - the first sub-division.  Here God refers to what the people say with regard to efforts to rebuild the temple.  Of course, we know what is coming next as God is not pleased with the people's lack of effort to rebuild His house.  The temple represents a place of worship, where God's people gather to draw near to Him corporately and to bring glory to His name in prayer, song, fellowship with God's people, and study of His Word.  All of this in service and obedience to God who calls us to love Him with all of our our heart, soul and mind.  God's people choose not to be obedient to the most important commandment - one can't expect things to go well from there.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are SO good - thank You Jesus for giving me a place where I can worship corporately - with fellow believers - as we can support and encourage one another in our love of You.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin. Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

Jude

I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.  For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.  Jude 3-4

I proceed with my study of Jude using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for this book.  Today, my study consists of an unassisted review of Jude 3-4 which is covered by the second chapter of my commentary (that I will lean on tomorrow).  Here, in these verses, Jude urges believers to "contend for the faith," which in this context is defined as fighting for and not letting any opposition to faith get any foothold.  In v4, Jude explains why as there are people who have "crept in unnoticed" and these "ungodly people" have perverted "grace of our God into sensuality" and denied Christ (instead of course submitting to Him as Lord and Savior).  Of course, sinful influences and the ungodly people have existed since the fall and will until Jesus comes again to defeat Satan and sin for the final time.  We should be on guard for Satan and these sinful influences as they exist everywhere, including inside churches!  Peter also warns us in 1 Peter 5:8-9 that Satan "prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.  [Like Jude, we are urged to] resist him, [and remain] firm in [our] faith." That is why our spiritual disciplines of daily reading/study of God's Word, prayer, corporate worship, etc. are important.  They give us the full armor of God (see Ephesians 6:10-20).  

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank for keeping my salvation safe and for giving me the full armor of God so that I can protect myself from sinful influences.  You are a great God and worthy of my worship also because I know I exist to bring You glory...so please help me do this!  Forgive me for my sin of anger and impatience with others.  Help me turn from and overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

I had much to write to you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink. I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face.

 3 John 1

I had much to write to you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink. I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face. 3 John 1:13-14

I continue my study of 1,2,3 John using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for these books.  Today, my study consists of an unassisted review of 3 John 1, primarily looking vv13-15 which per the commentary is the fourth (and final) division for 3 John 1.  In John's concluding words for this book/letter, he longs for fellowship with other believers and hopes to meet his brothers and sisters in Christ face to face. He ends the book/letter by praying for peace of mind and by offering warm greetings to his fellow believers.  God designed us for human fellowship and scripture provides many examples of this fellowship.  Core to this fellowship is our local church where we share corporate worship and other activities such as group prayer, Bible studies, and service opportunities.  A shared love of Jesus Christ binds us together in ways that earthly pursuits (i.e. work, sports, etc.) never will.   

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and You give us the local church as a means to build up its members to serve You for Your Glory.  Thank You Jesus for the local church and for my local church - Bayleaf Baptist.  I am not deserving of how You provide for my church and all of my needs, physical, emotional, and spiritual.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

Hebrews 5

About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. Hebrews 5:11-14

I continue my study of Hebrews, assisted by the commentary Christ Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in Hebrews. My focus this morning is Hebrews 5:11-14, and my initial unaided observations of this text. Here, the author of Hebrews pivots from a discussion of how Jesus is a great High Priest to a clear  admonishment and warning to the readers (who at the time were Jewish believers well versed in the Old Testament), to, with urgency, grow their faith into maturity. The desired end state is to - as v14 says - "have [our] powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil."  Key spiritual disciplines include daily time with God in study and prayer, fellowship with other believers who can support and encourage us in our faith journey, corporate worship, service, etc.  Hebrews 3:12-14 reinforces how fellowship is key.  Today's text is also reinforced by Romans 12:2 where it is expected that our spiritual disciplines (with daily time in study in prayer being key) enable transformation of the mind to "discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."  Today, I am also reminded of Paul's exhortation from 1 Corinthians 9:25-27 that we think of ourselves as running a race or as a boxer training with focus and an aim.  

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God who provides Your Word for me to know You, become more like You, etc. as Your Word feeds me and sustains me...and it moves me to maturity.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You speak to me through Your Word.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me. Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength. Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Hebrews 4

Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Hebrews 4:11-13

I continue my study of Hebrews, assisted by the commentary Christ Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in Hebrews. My focus this morning is Hebrews 4:1-13, as I move on to what the commentary describes as the third division "Entering with the Word," which looks at Hebrews 4:11-13.  Here, the commentary calls out how the text in v11 reinforces the exhortation to "strive to enter [God's] rest."  Key to this effort is how we encourage one another daily (see Hebrews 3:12); the commentary shares how corporate worship enables this encouragement: "[t]his is one of the things we do every Sunday in corporate worship when we sit under the preaching of the Word of God. This is what we do when we sing together. This is what we do when we pray together. This is what we do when we fellowship together. We gather in corporate worship to encourage one another to be fully satisfied in Christ and in him alone, lest we fail to enter his rest."  The commentary then pivots to how the text in v12-13 highlights the Word of God and the key role it plays to helps us avoid "falling away." It shares that "[s]ince God is the author of Scripture, it is not a dead book. As God lives, Scripture lives....Thus, Scripture, because it is God’s Word, is alive and life giving. The Bible is not a bunch of dead, lifeless words. It is the living Word of God.  It accomplishes everything God wills. As the Lord says through the prophet Isaiah, 'so my word that comes from my mouth will not return to me empty, but it will accomplish what I please and will prosper in what I send it to do' (Isaiah 55:11)....The description of the Bible as a sword that can pierce and divide the soul demonstrates the invasive quality of the Word....it is Scripture that reads us. Scripture untangles the human heart and unearths sin like no other book can. No other book can discern the thoughts and intentions of our hearts. Only God’s Word can do that....In conjunction with the Holy Spirit, the Word of God cuts through the sin and darkness of the human heart to restore spiritual health and vitality for Christ. Without the Word, we are as good as dead. God’s Word, however, eradicates the disease of the human heart and breathes life where there is death....Without the Word, we are as good as dead. God’s Word, however, eradicates the disease of the human heart and breathes life where there is death....Scripture strips us bare before our own eyes and before the eyes of God because it exposes God’s ineffable character. As Calvin famously stated, “It is certain that man never achieves a clear knowledge of himself unless he has first looked on God’s face, and then descends from contemplating him to scrutinize himself” (Institutes, I.I.2). God gives us the gift of Scripture so that we will not follow the example of Israel’s disobedience." Worship and commune with your brothers and sisters in Christ, and read/study God's Word! 

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who provides the church, my brothers and sisters in Christ, and Your Word, so that I am armed to not fall away...thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of these blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

You shall not make idols for yourselves or erect an image or pillar, and you shall not set up a figured stone in your land to bow down to it, for I am the Lord your God. You shall keep my Sabbaths and reverence my sanctuary: I am the Lord.

Leviticus 26-27

You shall not make idols for yourselves or erect an image or pillar, and you shall not set up a figured stone in your land to bow down to it, for I am the Lord your God. You shall keep my Sabbaths and reverence my sanctuary: I am the Lord. Leviticus 26:1-2

 

This morning, I continued my study of Leviticus using the Christ-Centered Exposition series commentary for this book - starting chapter twenty-three (the final chapter) - Either-Or - covering Leviticus 26-27, looking specifically at the introduction and first theme for the chapter - God Calls Us to Right Worship. Here, the commentary's introduction for the chapter describes a black and white set of commands God gives us to live in obedience or disobedience to Him.  The commentary theme for today then starts with Leviticus 26:1-2 where it commands us to not worship idols or other gods above the one true God (see also Exodus 20) and to observe the Sabbath as a day of rest and to experience corporate worship with other believers at church. 

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who blesses me...daily.  Your mercies are new every morning - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You bless me Jesus!  I sin every day, including worry, harsh words, etc.  Please forgive me Jesus.  Help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

 Leviticus 17 

Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. Hebrews 13:15-16

This morning, I continued my study of Leviticus using the Christ-Centered Exposition series commentary for this book - starting chapter fifteen - Laws of Worship Prefiguring Christ - covering Leviticus 17:1-16, looking specifically at the second theme for the chapter - God Commands Us How to Worship Him.  Here, the commentary, as the theme explicitly states, focuses on how God wants us to worship Him.  In the Old Testament, specifically in Leviticus, God lays out the the sacrificial system, and here in Leviticus 17, God lays out the place and manner in which sacrificed animals were to be offered.  The commentary states "God did not allow His people to offer personal sacrifices any way they wanted to offer them, any place the wanted to offer them.  God still expects us to worship Him according to His Word, not according to our desires." The commentary then pivots to the new covenant believers have with Jesus Christ, and how "God has abolished His old covenant laws about worship....However, God gives worship commands in the new covenant too."  The commentary provides the following scriptural examples in the New Testament for how God commands us to worship Him:

• Hebrews 10:25: meet together for corporate worship
• John 4:24: worship Him in spirit and truth (based on God's Word)
  
• Psalm 95:1: worship through songs of praise
• Hebrews 13:15-16: worship through words of praise and through sacrifice of time, talents, and money; gifts that glorify Him

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God and You are worthy of my worship and praise - non stop!  My white hot worship!  You do so much for me and of course You died for me!  I am not deserving of such blessings - not by a long shot.  My sin continues - grumbling and complaining, etc. Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for today and every day.

"Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!"

Leviticus 10

"Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!" Isaiah 6:3

This morning, I continued my study of Leviticus using the Christ-Centered Exposition series commentary for this book - starting with chapter ten - Our Response to God's Holiness - covering Leviticus 10:1-20, looking specifically at the theme - God's People Approach God as Holy.  Here, as the commentary begins a new chapter looking at Leviticus 10, the introduction to the chapter focuses on the contrast between Moses and the priests in Leviticus 8-9 vs that of Aaron and sons Nadab and Abihu in Leviticus 10.  The commentary points out how, in Leviticus 8-9 scripture states that Moses and priests did exactly as the Lord commanded twelve times. Yet in Leviticus 10:1-2, Nadab and Abihu offer "unauthorized fire" to the Lord "[a]nd fire came out from before the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord."  The commentary points us back to Leviticus 8, where in v8:35, Moses warns "Aaron and his sons to obey the Lord, 'so that you will not die.'"  The commentary also points us to v10:3, where Moses further explains to Aaron that "[t]his is what the Lord has said: ‘Among those who are near me I will be sanctified, and before all the people I will be glorified."  We are urged to see God as sanctified, holy - as "set apart" - implying that we are to avoid treating God as like us, or as a better version of us - both of which are not only not true, but sinful to believe as such!  The commentary refers to theologian A.W. Tozer and his book The Knowledge of the Holy, where he writes: "[w]e cannot grasp the true meaning of the divine holiness by thinking of someone or something very pure and then raising the concept to the highest degree we are capable of.  God’s holiness is not simply the best we know infinitely bettered. We know nothing like the divine holiness. It stands apart, unique, unapproachable, incomprehensible and unattainable."  The commentary then provides a number of scriptural examples that refer to God as Holy (Isaiah 6:3), His Word as Holy (Romans 7:12), and all of His attributes as Holy (Psalm 98:1) - of course this is not an exhaustive list.  The commentary then closes the first subheading or theme - God's People Approach God as Holy - by exhorting all believers to treat worship with the reverence God is due; God is Holy so we must approach God carefully and with awe and reverence.  We must avoid worship that is "unauthorized" as  Nadab and Abihu did.

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are Holy, Your Word is Holy and everything about You is Holy!  You are perfect in all Your ways, and You love me.  You are worthy of my awe and white hot worship!  Yet sometimes I fail to treat my worship with the awe and reverence You desire.  Please forgive me Jesus!  Help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

“With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?” He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Leviticus 9

“With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?” He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:6-8

This morning, I continued my study of Leviticus using the Christ-Centered Exposition series commentary for this book - moving on to chapter nine - Powerful Worship - covering Leviticus 9:1-24, looking specifically at the theme - Powerful Worship Includes Submission to God's Word. Here, the commentary examines the broad brush of how God commanded Moses and the Israelites regarding the details of worship.  In the inaugural worship (described as powerful per my post yesterday), "God's people in worship submitted to what God had said regarding worship." The implication is clear: while the ceremonial law, including the Old Testament sacrificial system, no longer applies, God still seeks an appropriate worship from believers, as our worship reflects how we submit to God's Word, and it is how we relate to God.  The commentary notes "three ways worship relates to submission of God's Word":

1. "We Submit to God's Word by the Act of Worship": throughout scripture (see Psalm 96:8-9, John 4:23, Matthew 6:10, and Revelation 4:8 as examples) God commands us to worship.  The commentary exhorts believers to see how we must attend church weekly as "[n]othing is clearer, more fundamental, and more imperative in God's Word than God's people gathering to give worship and praise to God.  We submit to God's Word by the act of the worship."
2.  "We Submit to God's Word by the Way We Worship": We are to sing praise to Him; we are to be contrite - so humility and confession are important; we are to pray; we offer gifts and tithes; and we read and examine scripture. "God's Word does not tell us to critique what others do in worship, but to worship.  We are not spectators, we are participants.  The almighty, holy, sovereign God meets with us in worship.  He has told us to gather to worship Him, and He has told us what to do in worship."
3. "We Submit to God's Word by a Life of Worship": God does not need animal sacrifices as described in Leviticus, and He does not want empty rituals  - He wants our heart. We are encouraged to fully submit to God in all areas of our life.  We are encouraged to follow Micah's words (Micah 6:6-8).  

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who has provided amazing churches for me to experience powerful worship.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You bless me in this way, or in any way.  I am full of anger and harsh words.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

And Moses and Aaron went into the tent of meeting, and when they came out they blessed the people, and the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people. And fire came out from before the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the pieces of fat on the altar, and when all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces.

Leviticus 9

And Moses and Aaron went into the tent of meeting, and when they came out they blessed the people, and the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people. And fire came out from before the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the pieces of fat on the altar, and when all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces. Leviticus 9:23-24

This morning, I continued my study of Leviticus using the Christ-Centered Exposition series commentary for this book - moving on to chapter nine - Powerful Worship - covering Leviticus 9:1-24, looking specifically at the theme - Powerful Worship Follows Preparation for God's Presence.  Here, the commentary focuses on how in Leviticus 9 we see a description of the "inaugural worship service for the tabernacle that God had commanded to be built during Israel's wilderness wandering.  God had told them to build the tabernacle; they obeyed and built it.  God had told them to consecrate Aaron and his sons as priests, and they did that [Leviticus 8].  God had told them what sacrifices to offer and how to offer them [Leviticus 1-7]. Now, the time of preparation was over and the time of worship had arrived, and, and if any worship experience could be described as powerful, this one was powerful.  It was ordained by God, blessed by God, and visited by God.  God can use it to teach us something about powerful worship."

The commentary describes powerful worship as an undeniable demonstration of God's power moving in our life or in the life of others near us.  The commentary then pivots to how believers can consistently experience powerful worship as believers often do not experience such powerful worship because we are focused perhaps solely on secular aspects of the worship experience such as the music, or the sermon. Or believers may focus on earthly concerns or cares and such distractions prevent us from experiencing powerful worship. We are then urged to see how we don't experience powerful worship simply because we weren't ready to receive anything from God[, as p]owerful public worship is so often preceded by powerful private worship."  The commentary points out how the Israelites inaugural public worship was preceded not just by preparation via learning about how to perform the sacrificial system as the means of atonement or or learning about how priests are to be consecrated and ordained.  The inaugural worship was also preceded by a recognition and acknowledgement of all that God had done for Israel at that point: delivery from bondage in Israel (including the 10 miracles/plagues God demonstrated to Pharaoh/Egypt), provision for food and water in the wilderness, God's awesome presence at Mount Sinai, the giving of the Ten Commandments, etc. As we prepare for worship on Sundays, we too prepare our hearts for worship.  We should recognize and acknowledge all that Jesus has done for us and how He is all that we need.  We should pray that we exalt Him during our time in worship, and for God to prepare our hearts to receive Him and His Word for us.

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who has done so much for me - my words and worship cannot fully describe the breadth and depth of Your love for me, how You reign, and how awesome You are.  Thank You Jesus for Your love for me and of course for my salvation - the greatest gift of all time.  I am not dserving of such a gift and for how You love me.  I am often harsh with others.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility....Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

Leviticus 3, 7

For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility....Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ….Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. Ephesians 2:14, Romans 5:1, John 14:27

This morning, I continued my study of Leviticus using the Christ-Centered Exposition series commentary for this book - wrapping up at chapter three - Peace with God - covering Leviticus 3:1-17, looking specifically at the final themes We Express Thanksgiving to God, We Give Our Best to God, We Share Our Lives with the People of God, and We Find Peace with God. Here, my commentary describes the peace offering in Leviticus 3 and 7 (ESV) as the fellowship offering, and a quick check of the NIV translation reveals how these translations (ESV and NIV) both refer to the same offering - peace (ESV) and fellowship (NIV).

Aligning with the themes for today, my commentary urges us to see how the peace/fellowship offering:

• offers thanksgiving to God for providing a path to atonement and communion with Him
• represents how we are to give our best to God as the fat portions of the animal are seen as rare and as such a delicacy at the time of the Old Testament - an offering of fat was to be giving God our best
• describes corporate worship and fellowship both with God and with other worshipers - in the presence of God, eating of meals together from the fellowship offering; we are to share our lives not just with God but also with the people of God; the commentary urges us also to look at how we are to pray for one another (James 5:16), encourage one another (Hebrews 10:25), bear one another's burdens (Galatians 6:2), exhort one another (Hebrews 3:13), love one another (John 13:34), serve another (1 Peter 4:10), be kind to one another, and forgive one another (Ephesians 4:32); "[c]learly God intends for us to share our lives with His people."
  
•  in the death of Jesus Christ on the cross, provides the perfect sacrifice for sin and Jesus is our peace (Ephesians 2:14, Romans 5:1, John 14:27)

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who provides peace - with God, with others, and peace of mind - thank You Jesus!  You are truly amazing and I am not deserving how You reconciled me to Yourself...I continue to sin.  Worry, etc. Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.