Category: Confession

Obedience in Building God's Kingdom (Insights in Psalms)

1/9/2013

John Stott wrote that "greatness in the kingdom of God is measured in terms of obedience."

Building God's kingdom is all about obedience. It begins with people who have hearts for God who use their spiritual gifts and finances to build God's kingdom. Next, praise, build foundations in God's word, resist ungodly partnerships, teach a biblical worldview, confess sin and apply His word in all of life, especially marriage.

Mobilize People to Build God's Kingdom
Jeremiah moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia in his first year to build a temple for God in Jerusalem. Cyrus said for everyone to provide silver, gold, goods, livestock and freewill offerings. Family heads of Judah and Benjamin, priests and Levites with hearts for God would build the house of Lord in Jerusalem with assistance of their neighbors. Cyrus brought out articles that Nebuchadnezzar had carried from Jerusalem. Ezra listed men and Israelites taken captive to Babylon who returned to their towns in Judah with Zerubbabel, Nehemiah and others. They included men of Israel and Bethlehem, priests, Levites, singers, descendants of Asaph, gatekeepers of the temple, temple servants and descendants of Solomon's servants. Those excluded from the priesthood because they had no family record could not eat sacred food until a priest ministered with the Urim and Thummim. Some heads of families gave freewill offerings and according to their ability gave toward rebuilding the house of God (Ezra 1:1-2:70). Mobilize people with hearts for God to build God's kingdom using their spiritual gifts and finances.

Praise God and Build Foundations in God's Word
People assembled as one man to build the altar of the God in sacrificing burnt offerings and celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles along with appointed feasts according to the Law of Moses. They gave money to the masons and carpenters. They gave food, drink and oil to the people of Sidon and Tyre so they could bring cedar logs by sea from Lebanon to Joppa. Zerubbabel and brothers appointed Levites 20 years of age and older to supervise the building of the house of the Lord. The priests with trumpets and Levites (sons of Asaph) with cymbals praised the Lord as prescribed by David singing "He is good; His love to Israel endures forever." The people shouted praise to the Lord because the foundation was laid. Many of the older priests and Levites who saw the former temple wept and others shouted for joy when they saw the temple's foundation laid (Ezra 3:1-13). Praise God and build foundations in God's word to preserve unity in the church.

Resist Ungodly Partnerships
The enemies of Judah and Benjamin wanted to help build the temple saying they sacrificed to God. When Zerubbabel and heads of families said they had no part, they tried to discourage and make Judah afraid by hiring counselors to work against them. They accused Judah of rebellion and not paying taxes after Jerusalem's walls were rebuilt. King Artaxerxes ordered that the work be stopped. The work resumed during the second year of King Darius of Persia (Ezra 4:1-24). Resist ungodly partnerships and accusations that seek to discourage and make you fear.

Exhort People to Build God's Kingdom
Haggai and Zechariah prophesied to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem. Zerubbabel rebuild the house of God with His eye watching over the elders. Officials wrote King Darius explaining why Judah was rebuilding the temple. They asked the king to verify whether Cyrus issued a decree to rebuild the house of God. Darius replied the Jews could rebuild with expenses by paid out of the royal treasury including animals given daily for the burnt offerings. Darius also asked the Jews to pray for his family. The Jewish elders prospered under the preaching of Haggai and Zechariah. They finished building the temple according to God's command and the decrees of Cyrus, Darius and Artaxerxes. They dedicated the house of God with joy, made sin offering, installed priests and Levites for the service of God, along with Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread according to the Law of Moses (Ezra 5:1-6:22). Exhort people to build God's kingdom.

Teach a Biblical Worldview
The king granted Ezra everything he asked and arrived safely since God's hand was on them. He devoted himself to study, practice and teach God's decrees and laws in Israel. Artaxerxes allowed priests, Levites and anyone to go to Jerusalem with Ezra to inquire about Judah and Jerusalem with regard to the Law. They brought money provided by the king and peoples' freewill offerings to buy animals for sacrifices without taxation. The king instructed Ezra to appoint magistrates and judges to administer justice to those who knew God's laws and taught those who did not. Those who did not obey God's law were punished by death, confiscation of property or imprisonment. Ezra took courage and gathered Israel's leading men to go with him because God's hand was on him (Ezra 7:1-28). Teach a biblical worldview so people obey God in all of life.

Reveal Disobedience
Ezra assembled family heads, capable men of learning among the Levites and attendants for the house of God. He answered prayer for a safe journey after fasting. They consecrated and weighed the silver, gold and articles from the king and peoples' freewill offering to the Lord. After God protected them from enemies and bandits, they sacrificed burnt and sin offerings. When Ezra heard leaders intermarried with neighboring people, he sat appalled until the evening sacrifice. In prayer, he said their sin and guilt was higher than their heads and reached to the heavens resulting in death and captivity. God gave a little relief and granted new life to rebuild the house of God, repair its ruins and gave a wall of protection in Judah and Jerusalem. Intermarriage with corrupted people showed they disregarded God's commands from the prophets. Even though God punished them less than they deserved, no one could stand in God's righteous presence (Ezra 8:1-9:15). Reveal disobedience that causes guilt, ruin and defeat.

Pray to Empower Confession and Application
Ezra's prayer, confession and weeping caused people to gather and weep too. One man said he had been unfaithful to God by marrying foreign women. He asked they covenant before God and send away these women and children according to the counsel of Ezra and God-fearing people. Ezra put all the people under oath to do what was suggested. He continued to mourn over the exile's unfaithfulness. Within three days, all the men gathered and Ezra said they married foreign women adding to Israel's guilt. He told them to confess to the Lord, do His will and separate from their foreign wives. Ezra selected family heads to investigate the cases and listed those guilty of intermarriage (Ezra 10:1-44). Pray to empower confession of sin and application of God's word, especially in marriage

How will you obey God's word in your marriage, the building block in building up His kingdom?

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Confession of Sin Leads to Fruitfulness (Insights in Law)

5/15/2012

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"The best place any Christian can ever be in is to be totally destitute and totally dependant upon God, and know it" (Alan Redpath). The last two chapters in Leviticus show how disobeying God through pride and independent spirit results in both personal and city-wide tragedy, but obeying God through confession of sin and complete dependence upon Him leads to fruitfulness in all areas of life.

Do not make and bow down to an idol, image, sacred pillar or prefigured stone for He is the Lord your God. Keep His Sabbaths and reverence His sanctuary. Obeying His commandments caused rains in season so the land yielded produce and trees bore fruit to live securely in peace with no one making you tremble. He eliminated the harmful beasts and protected you from the sword. Five chased 100 with 100 chasing 10,000 so your enemies fell by the sword. God turned toward you, made you fruitful, multiplied you and confirmed His covenant with you. Make His dwelling and let Him walk among you to be His people. God brought you out of Egypt and broke the bars of yoke as slaves and made you walk erect (Lev. 26:1-13). Obeying God’s commandments results in provision, well-being and security.

By rejecting His statutes, He would appoint sudden terror, wasting diseases and fever to destroy your sight and sap your strength. Rejecting God caused you to sow seed in vain since your enemies would eat it and defeat you. Those who hated you would rule over you causing you to flee even when no one pursued you. He would punish you seven times for your sins and break down your stubborn pride by making the sky like iron and the earth like bronze. Your strength would be spent uselessly since the land would not yield produce or the trees yield fruit (Lev. 26:14-20). Disobeying God through pride causes drought, fear, sickness and weakness.

If you remained hostile and disobeyed God, He would multiply afflictions seven times according to your sins. He would set beasts against you to rob you of your children, destroy your cattle and reduce your number so the roads lie deserted. If you don’t turn to Him, then He would strike you seven times for your sins. He would bring a sword to execute vengeance and send pestilence so you would be delivered into enemy hands. Ten women would break bread in one oven that would be brought back in rationed amounts (Lev. 26:21-26). Disobeying God devours you financially, socially and in family relationships.

You would eat the flesh of your sons and daughters. He would destroy your high places, cut down incense altars and heap dead bodies on the lifeless forms of your idols. He would turn your cities into ruins and waste, make your sanctuaries desolate and not smell your soothing aromas. He made your land desolate and scattered you among nations to appall your enemies. The land enjoyed Sabbath years during the days of desolation in enemies’ land that it did not have during the Sabbaths you lived in it. Those left had fearful hearts, stumbled with no one pursuing them and wasted away because of their own and ancestors’ sins (Lev. 26:27-39). Turning away from God causes separation and devastation.

If they confessed their own and forefathers iniquity by humbling their heart, then God would remember His covenant and land with Jacob, Isaac and Abraham. For the land would be deserted by them, but enjoy its Sabbaths while it lied desolate without them. They would pay for their sins because they rejected his laws and abhorred His statutes. God would not reject them by destroying them completely, but would remember the covenant with their ancestors. He them brought out of Egypt in the sight of the nations to be their God. These were the statutes, ordinances and laws Lord established between Himself and sons of Israel through Moses at Mt. Sinai (Lev. 26:40-46). Confessing your own and fathers’ sins restore your cities to fruitfulness.

When a man made a special vow to dedicate a person to the Lord by giving equivalent values--male from 20 to 60 years old at 50 shekels of silver and female 30 shekels, male from 5 to 20 years at 20 shekels and female 10 shekels, male from one month to 5 years old at 5 shekels and female 3 shekels, male from 60 years and older at 15 shekels and female 10 shekels. If a vow was given as an acceptable offering to the Lord, it became holy. He would not replace the animal with a good for bad or bad for good. If they substitute one animal for another, both became holy. A priest would value any unclean animal not presented as an offering to Lord. If the owner wished to redeem the animal, add one-fifth to its value (Lev. 27:1-13). God values a person's dedication to His purposes.

The priest judged the value and quality (good or bad) of a house dedicated as holy to the Lord. If the person wished to redeem it, they added a fifth to its value and the house was theirs. If a man dedicated part of their family land to the Lord, its value would be set according to the amount of seed required proportionate to the years left until the year of Jubilee. If they wished to redeem it, they added a fifth to its value and the field would become theirs. If they did not redeem the field or sold it, it would never be redeemed. When the field was released in Jubilee, it became holy as priestly property. In Jubilee, the field would return to the one from whom he bought it (Lev. 27:14-25). God deems the redemption of individuals through Christ's blood priceless compared to material things.

No one could dedicate the firstborn of an animal since it belonged to the Lord. Anything sets apart to the Lord out of all he had would not be sold or redeemed. Nothing set apart among men would be ransomed, but put to death. The tithe of the land, seed and fruit was holy to the Lord. If a man wished to redeem part of his tithe, he added one-fifth to it. Every tenth part of a herd or flock would be holy to the Lord. He would not be concerned whether it was good or bad (Lev. 27:26-34). God protects and values material goods set apart for His kingdom purposes.

Turn away from pride and independence and pursue humility and confession of sin to become fruitful in your life.

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Deal Seriously With Sin Before It Crushes You (Insights in Law)

3/25/2012

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Sadhu Sundar Singh wrote, "It is not necessary that every single member of the body should become useless and weak before death occurs. A weakness of, or a blow upon, the heart or the brain will suffice to bring an end to life, however strong and healthy other parts of the body may be. Thus one sin by its poisonous effect on the mind and heart is sufficient to ruin the spiritual life not of one only, but of a whole family or nation, even of the whole race. Such was the sin of Adam." Sin begins the moment we are born. Sin spreads through the body of Christ like leprosy in the human body. Therefore, deal seriously with sin in your life and the body of Christ before it crushes you like a boulder.

A woman giving birth to a male child would be unclean for seven days in her menstruation and on the eighth day he would be circumcised. For 33 days, she remained in the blood of her purification where she could not touch any consecrated thing. For female child, she would be unclean for two weeks and remain in the blood of her purification for 66 days (Lev. 12:1-5). God provides time for bonding to deal with original sin in your children.

When her purification was complete, she brought the child to the priest along with one-year-old lamb for burnt offering and young pigeon or turtledove for a sin offering to make atonement and cleansed from the flow of her blood (Lev. 12:6-8). God wants complete surrender to Him as you confront your children's sin nature.

When man had swelling or a scab and it became leprosy, he was brought to Aaron the priest or his sons to pronounce unclean if the infection was deeper than the skin of his body. If not, he would isolate him for seven days. If the infection had faded and the mark had not spread, the priest announced him clean and washed his clothes. If a leper had an infection, he tore his clothes, uncovered the hair of his head and cried, “Unclean! Unclean!” He would remain unclean all the days he had infection. He would live alone in a dwelling outside the camp. If a garment had a mark, the priest would quarantine it for seven days. If the mark spread, he would burn the article. If the mark had not spread, the priest ordered him to wash the article and quarantine for seven more days. If the mark had departed when you washed it, then it would be washed a second time and be clean (Lev. 13:1-59). Confess and forsake sin so it does not spread through the whole body of Christ.

The priest would go outside the camp to the leper, which was the law of the leper in the day of cleansing. If the infection was healed, the priest took two live clean birds, cedar wood, scarlet string and hyssop, while dipping them and the live bird in the blood of the bird that was slain over the running water. The priest sprinkled seven times the one who was to be cleansed from leprosy, pronounced him cleansed and let the live bird go free. The one to be cleansed washed his clothes, shaved his hair and bathed in water for cleansing. He could enter the camp but stayed outside his tent for seven days (Lev. 14:1-9). Christ's death on the cross deals with the sin problem so one can become a new creation in Him.

On the eighth day, he took two male lambs without defect, yearly ewe and 3/10 of ephah of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering and one log of oil. The priest took one male goat for the guilt offering with the log of oil and presented them as a wave offering before the Lord. The priest took the blood of the guilt offering and put it on the right ear lobe of the one to be cleansed along with the thumb of his right hand, big toe of his right foot and poured the log of oil into his left palm. The priest dipped his right hand finger into the oil from his left palm to sprinkle it seven times before the Lord. Put remaining oil on right ear lobe, thumb of right hand and big toe of right foot and remainder on the head of one to be cleansed to make atonement before the Lord. The priest made sin, burnt and grain on the altar to make atonement for him (Lev. 14:10-20). Identify with Christ's death, burial and resurrection in the power of the Holy Spirit so the members of your body don't yield to sin.

If he is poor with insufficient means, he should take one male lamb for guilt offering and 1/10 of ephah of fine flour mixed with oil for grain offering and two turtledoves for sin, burnt and grain offering to make atonement. This is the law for those whose means were limited for his cleansing (Lev. 14:21-32). Everyone can experience wholeness in Christ by walking in newness of life.

When you entered Canaan given as a possession and God put a mark of leprosy on a house, the owner told the priest and he ordered its contents to be emptied. If marks were deeper than the wall's surface, the house would be quarantined for seven days. After inspection, all uncleaned surfaces would be scraped. The stones and plaster would be replaced and the house cleansed with a process similar to a leper. This is the law for any mark of leprosy—scale, garment, house, swelling, scab or bright spot--to teach when they were unclean or clean (Lev. 14:33-57). Teach others the connection between physical and spiritual health.

Ask yourself these questions:
1. What is your attitude to sin?
2. Do you live with sin or are you proactive in applying the blood of Christ by confessing and forsaking sin?
3. Do you prevent the spread of sin in the body of Christ by personal ministry in others' lives?

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How To Get Others Right With God (Insights in Law)

3/9/2012

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Because leaders don't surrender to God, people under their care lead ungodly lives. Lev. 9 is a call to leaders to spend much time in the presence of God confessing their sin and praying that others get right with God. This passage teaches how to get others right with God.

On the eighth day, Moses told Aaron, his sons and elders to offer before the Lord an unblemished calf and bull for sin offering and ram for burnt offering. To the sons of Israel, offer an unblemished male goat for sin offering, calf and lamb for burnt offering, ox and ram for peace offerings and grain offering mixed with oil for since the glory of the Lord would appear to them. Moses told Aaron to offer sin and burnt offering for himself and the people to make atonement for them as the Lord commanded (Lev. 9:1-7). Surrender completely to God so you can benefit others for His glory.

Aaron killed the calf of the sin offering and burnt offering for himself and put blood on the altar. He offered up in smoke on the altar the fat, kidneys and lobe of the liver of the sin offering and head pieces of the burnt offering as the Lord commanded Moses. He burned with fire the flesh and skin outside the camp. He washed the entrails and legs and offered them up in smoke with the burnt offering (Lev. 9:8-14). Confess sin and receive Christ's forgiveness through the cross before ministering to others.

Aaron took the goat of the sin offering for the people and presented the burnt offering. He presented the grain offering and offered up a handful in smoke on the altar besides the burnt offering. He killed the ox and ram for the peace offering , which was for the people, and sprinkled the blood around the altar. He offered up in smoke portions of the ox and ram on the altar. He presented the breasts and right thigh as a wave offering (Lev. 9:15-21). Pray that others surrender to God by confessing their sin and appropriating the blood of Christ for peace with Him.

Aaron lifted up his hands and blessed the people. He stepped down after making the sin, burnt and peace offerings. Moses and Aaron went into the tent of meeting and came out and blessed the people so that the Lord’s glory appeared to everyone. The fire consumed the burnt offering and portions of fat on altar. When the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces (Lev. 9:22-24). People fear God in direct proportion to the amount of time leaders spend in the presence of God.

Structure your day so you have sufficient time to confess sin and pray that others get right with God. Then watch what God does!

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Cleansing Yourself to Pursue Intimacy with God (Insights in Prophets)

2/13/2012

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Quoting Andy Stanley in his book, Fields of God: “Under the mounting weight of uncertainty, it’s easy to slowly become irrational about our possessions. We lose sight of who really owns them. We fail to grasp how we should be sowing them for God’s kingdom. And we get confused about what we should really fear regarding our finances in this life—like facing eternity having sown only a few handfuls of our personal wealth for God’s kingdom.” King Solomon emphasized personal comfort over God's kingdom instead of cleansing himself to pursue intimacy with Him.

For 13 years, Solomon built his own house of the forest of Lebanon on four rows of cedar pillars with cedar beams. It was paneled with cedar above the side chambers on 45 pillars, 15 in each row. There were artistic window frames in three rows; the doorways and doorposts had squared artistic frames. He made a porch that was in front of the hall of pillars. The hall of the throne where Solomon judged was paneled with cedar. His house and another house for Pharaoh's daughter, whom he married, had the same workmanship (1 Kings 7:1-8). Emphasizing personal comfort over God's kingdom leads to bad outcomes.

All of these were of cut costly stones, sawed with saws, inside and outside, from the foundation to the coping on the outside to the great court. The foundation and above was made with costly stones and cedar. The great court all around had three rows of cut stone and a row of cedar beams like the inner court of the house of the Lord and porch of the house (1 Kings 7:9-12). Spending more resources on homes than God's kingdom causes desolation in peoples' spiritual lives.

Solomon brought Hiram from Tyre who was filled with wisdom, understanding and skill for doing any work in bronze. He fashioned two pillars of bronze and two capitals of molten bronze to set on the tops of the pillars. There were seven nets of network and twisted threads of chainwork on each of the two capitals placed on the top of the pomegranates. The capitals on the top of the porch pillars were of lily design, one named Jachin (he shall establish) and the other, Boaz (in Him is strength) (1 Kings 7:13-22). Establishing believers so their strength is in God counteracts spiritual desolation.

He made the sea of cast metal and under its brim gourds encircled and surrounded the sea. It stood on 12 oxen and its brim was like a lily blossom holding 2,000 baths. He made ten stands of bronze with borders between the frames. On the borders were lions, oxen and cherubim. Beneath the lions and oxen were wreaths of hanging work. Each stand had four bronze wheels with bronze axles. The wheels were under the borders and the axles were on the stand, the workmanship of a chariot wheel with cherubim, lions and palm trees engraved on it. He made ten basins of bronze, each one held 40 baths (1 Kings 7:23-39). Believers cleanse themselves by confessing their sins and washing by the Word of God.

Hiram cast the basins, shovels and bowls of polished bronze in the clay ground for the house of the Lord. Solomon made all the furniture in the house of the Lord including the golden altar, golden table on which was the bread of the Presence, lampstands of pure gold along with flowers, lamps and tongs, cups, snuffers, bowls, spoons, firepans, hinges for the doors of the inner house, the most holy place, and for the doors of the house. He brought in the things dedicated by David, the silver, gold and utensils, and put them in the treasuries of the house of the Lord (1 Kings 7:40-51). The goal of establishing believers is intimacy with God.

Are you focusing more on personal comfort instead of God's kingdom? Are you more focused on your home and possessions instead of God's kingdom? Confess your sin, wash yourself in God's word and put your trust in God so you can develop intimacy with Him.

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Mechanisms to Equip Workmen of the Word (Insights in Law)

1/16/2012

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Quoting Steve Jobs, founder of Apple: “There is no reason not to follow your heart.”
“Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.”
“We made the buttons on the screen look so good you’ll want to lick them.”

In the blog explaining Ex. 35-36 to get the proper context, one builds a kingdom ministry by obeying and trusting God for provision while coordinating the labor and planning under His direction. Share the vision and particulars with potential donors before hiring skilled and wise overseers to lead the work of others. Present a compelling ministry or business plan uniting the various ministries with structural connections, good communication and infrastructure enabling everyone to work toward one purpose and mission (Ex. 35-36). Moses next gives instructions on how to equip workmen to handle God's word accurately in every good work (2 Tim. 2:15; 3:16-17).

Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood overlaid with pure gold inside and out and gold molding around it. He cast four gold rings, two on each side, and poles of acacia wood overlaid with gold. He placed the poles in the rings to carry the ark. Bezalel made a mercy seat of gold and two cherubim of gold at both ends. The cherubim had wings spread upward with faces toward the mercy seat (Ex. 37:1-9). Construct a platform under God's direction so the word and cross of Christ will be heard and applied in full view of the world.

He made the table of acacia wood overlaid with pure gold and gold molding around it. He cast four gold rings placed on the four corners. He made poles of acacia wood overlaid with gold to carry the table. He made gold utensils, including dishes, pans, bowls and jars, to pour out libations (Ex. 37:10-16). Construct a user interface so people readily and easily access God's word.

He made the gold lampstand, a hammered work with its base, shaft, and cups shaped like almond blossoms along with bulbs and flowers in one piece. It had six branches with three on each side. He made seven lamps with gold snuffers and trays (Ex. 37:17-24). Create the platform and user interface skillfully and beautifully to encourage people to interact with God's word so they see His glory.

He made the altar of incense with acacia wood overlaid with gold and gold molding around it. He made two gold rings on opposite sides of the altar as holders for poles to carry it. He made poles of acacia wood overlaid with gold. He made holy anointing oil and pure, fragrant incense of spices, the work of a perfumer (Ex. 37:25-29). Equip workmen in God's word who pray fervently and handle His word accurately to be prepared for every good work.

He made the altar of burnt offering of acacia wood and horns overlaid with bronze on its four corners. He made bronze utensils of the altar, including pails, shovels, basins, flesh hooks and firepans. He made a grating of bronze network underneath the altar. He cast four rings on the ends as holders for the poles. He made poles of acacia wood overlaid with bronze to carry the altar. He made a bronze laver and bronze base from the mirrors of the women who served at the doorway of the tent of meeting (Ex. 38:1-8). Lead workmen in God's word who see themselves through the mirror of His word in repentance and confession of sin.

He made the court of fine twisted linen and 20 pillars with 20 bronze sockets. He made silver hooks and bands with silver overlay on their tops. A weaver of blue, purple and scarlet material wove fine twisted linen to make the screen of the gate of the court. The pegs of the tabernacle and the court were bronze (Ex. 38:9-20). Motivate workmen in God's word who prioritize intimacy with God.

Bezalel of the tribe of Judah and Oholiab of Dan, an engraver, skillful workman and weaver in blue, purple, scarlet and fine linen, made all that the Lord commanded Moses for the tabernacle of testimony. All the gold used in the work of the sanctuary set aside for the worship of God cost 29 talents and 730 shekels. The silver cost 100 talents and 1,775 shekels; (a beka a head or half a shekel for each one who passed over whoolder than 20 years was 603,550 men. Casting the sockets of the sanctuary and veil (one talent per socket) cost 100 talents of silver. The hooks for the pillars, tops overlay and bands cost 1,775 shekels. The bronze of the wave offering for sockets to the doorway of the tent of meeting, bronze altar and grating, utensils, sockets and pegs cost 70 talents and 2,400 shekels (Ex. 38:21-31). Write a business plan listing specific costs and trusting God to provide the money.

Here are mechanisms to equip workmen of the word:
1. Construct a platform under God's direction so His word and cross work of Christ will be heard and applied in full view of the world
2. Construct a user interface so people readily and easily access God's word
3. Create the platform and user interface skillfully and beautifully to encourage people to interact with God's word so they see His glory
4. Equip workmen in God's word who pray fervently and handle His word accurately to be prepared for every good work
5. Lead workmen in God's word who see themselves through the mirror of His word in repentance and confession of sin
6. Motivate workmen in God's word who prioritize intimacy with God
7. Write a business plan listing specific costs, how money will be raised and break-even analysis

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Preparing for Ministry in a Post-Modern Society (Insights in Law)

12/4/2011

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Today's predominant philosophy, postmodernism, puts a high value on subjectivity. People say, "It is truth if it's true for me." Everyone can have their own truth. There are bridges with strategic potential in presenting the gospel:
1. Spiritual Sensitivity since postmodernists have tendency to be spiritual seekers
2. Experiential Spirituality since Christians have a God who is real and active in their lives and postmodernists are looking for a real personal encounter
3. Personal Spirituality since God answers prayer supernaturally and postmodernists who are spiritually minded want to have a personal interaction with spiritual forces
4. Practicality since God can meet their needs and postmodernists want answers to real problems they face in their daily lives
5. Social Needs since postmodernists are attracted to Christians who do something about real problems in society
6. Shalom since Jesus offers wholeness and postmodernists are looking for a better life like emotional comfort, happiness, peace, joy and love
7. Willing to Break Out of Former Norms since postmodernists are willing to try new religious forms if they are practical, spiritual and speak their language
8. Looking for Spiritual Guides that comes from relationship and inviting postmodernists to join us on the journey

Exodus 30 explains how to prepare yourself for ministry to postmodernists.

Make an altar of acadia wood overlayed with pure gold to burn incense. Two gold rings on opposite sides would be holders for poles to carry the altar. Put it in front of the veil near the ark of the testimony and mercy seat where God would meet with you. Aaron burned fragrant incense every morning when he trimmed the lamps. Don't offer any strange incense on this altar nor pour out a libation on it. Aaron would make atonement on its horns once a year with the blood of the sin offering throughout your generations (Ex. 30:1-10). Put on the armor of God (Ex. 29) with prayer through the power of the Holy Spirit.

God instructed every son of Israel 20 years and over to give a ransom of half a shekel for himself when taking a census so no plague would come among them. The atonement money provided for the service of the tent of meeting (Ex. 30:11-16). Make petitions for the whole church.

Make a bronze laver filled with water for washing and place it between the tent of meeting and the altar. Aaron and his sons would wash their hands and feet so they wouldn't die when they entered the tent of meeting or approached the altar while offering a fire sacrifice to the Lord (Ex. 30:17-21). Confess all known sin so you can be pure before God.

Take the finest of spices to make holy anointing oil. Anoint the tent of meeting, ark of the testimony, table and lampstand and their utensils, altar of incense, altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, and laver and its stand. Consecrate them to make them holy so whoever touched them would be holy. Anoint only Aaron and his sons and consecrate them to minister as priests to God (Ex. 30:22-33). Present your body as a living and holy sacrifice to God so He can do whatever He wants with you.

Moses would beat valuable spices to make incense, the work of a perfumer, salted, pure and holy. Put part of the incense before the tent of meeting where God would meet with Moses only (Ex. 30:34-38). Ask God for wisdom on how to minister the gospel so others can understand and embrace it.

Here is your checklist to prepare for ministry to postmodernists:
1. Put on the armor of God by prayer through the power of the Holy Spirit
2. Make petitions and intercede on behalf of the church
3. Confess all known sin to God
4. Present your body as a living and holy sacrifice so God can do whatever He wants
5. Ask God for wisdom to attractively minister the gospel seasoned as were with salt

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Wait Before Work (Insights in Law)

11/25/2011

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A Fuller Seminary survey of 1050 Reformed and Evangelical pastors in 2005-06 showed only 26% of pastors regularly had personal devotions and felt they were adequately fed spirituality. We get the idea that the model of success is to make something happen with programs and work hard to make people happy. Henri Nouwen said the main obstacle to love for God is service for God. We can’t really serve Him unless we love Him. We make room for God by taking time to be with Him. We wait before work.

God sets aside the priests for His purpose as they take one young bull, two rams without blemish, unleavened bread, cakes and wafers mixed with oil to be put in one basket. He instructs them to wash Aaron and his sons with water at the doorway of the tent of meeting. "Put the tunic, robe of ephod, breastpiece and turban on Aaron. Take anointing oil and pour it on his head, while anointing him along with his sons as a perpetual priesthood (Ex. 29:1-9)." True fellowship with God comes as you place your faith in Christ's sacrifice and become washed by the word of God in the power of the Holy Spirit.

"Sacrifice the bull and pour its blood on the horns of altar. Burn its flesh and offer it up in smoke outside the camp as a sin offering (Ex. 29:10-14)." Christ's sacrificial death that restores your relationship with God should lead to humility, dying to self and confessing sin.

"Offer a whole ram on the altar to be a soothing aroma, an offering by fire, as a burnt offering to the Lord (Ex. 29:15-18)." Give your all to God by surrendering your heart and life to Him.

"Slaughter the other ram, take its blood and put it on the lobe of Aaron's and his sons' right ears, thumbs of their right hands, big toes of their right feet. Sprinkle anointing oil on Aaron and his sons’ garments to be reserved exclusively for God. Take the bread and wafer in the hands of Aaron and his sons as a wave offering before the Lord (Ex. 29:19-25)." Christ's life through His blood transforms how you hear, work and walk.

"The wave offering was to be cooked and eatened by the priests for their ordination. Heave offering was to be a tax to support the Levites. The peace offering signified thanksgiving and sense of wholeness (Ex. 29:26-28)". Christ brings wholeness as you sense your need of Him, feed upon Him continually and trust His provision.

"The holy garments of Aaron will be for his sons in future generations so they can be anointed and ordained. For seven days he shall put them on when he enters the tent of meeting to minister in the holy place (Ex. 29:29-30)." Being in God's presence for long periods of time provides grace to serve Him.

"Boil the ram in a holy place so Aaron and his sons could eat its flesh along with the bread in the basket by which atonement was made. Burn any of the flesh and bread that remains until morning instead of eating it (Ex. 29:31-34)." Meditate on God's word while in His presence.

"Ordain Aaron and his sons through seven days. Each day offer a bull as a sin offering and purify the altar (Ex. 29:35-37)." Remind yourself daily how Christ restored your relationship with God so you will die to self and confess your sins.

"Offer two one-year-old lambs daily in the morning and at twilight with a grain offering and drink offering as a soothing aroma. It would be a continual burnt offering throughout all generations at the tent of meeting where He met with Israel. God consecrated the tent of meeting, the altar and Aaron and his sons to minister as priests to Him. He would dwell among them and be their God so they could know He is Lord (Ex. 29:38-46)." Your total surrender to God determines your success and takes priority over your ministry.

Are you taking time to be with God or always busy serving Him? Spend one hour this morning or evening to just listen and bask in God's love for you. If a Scripture comes to mind, meditate on it. Thank God for His various attributes and tell how much you love Him in response to His love for you.

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How to Embrace Your Promised Land (Insights in Psalms)

11/5/2011

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If we don't eat, we become malnourished. The same applies to spiritual food or feeding on the bread of life, God's word. From a survey of 1050 Reformed and Evangelical pastors in 2005-06, 81% said there was no regular discipleship program or effective effort of mentoring their people or teaching them to deepen their Christian formation at their church. Only 25% of their church’s membership attended a Bible Study or small group at least twice a month. 26% of pastors said they regularly had personal devotions and felt they were adequately fed spirituality. Psalm 106 explains how to have a balanced spiritual diet so you can embrace your promised land.

Seek God's Glory
Praise and and thank God for His goodness and eternal love. The proper response is to speak of His mighty deeds and show forth His value by practicing righteousness continuously (Ps. 106:1-3). Seek God's glory by speaking of His mighty deeds and practicing righteousness.

Ask God's Favor
Ask God to show favor to His people and intervene with salvation. Celebrate with His people when He prospers them with gladness (Ps. 106:4-5). Ask God to favor His people so you can celebrate with them.

Confess Your Sin
We have sinned, committed iniquity and behaved wickedly like our fathers who rebelled at the Red Sea when they forgot His miracles in Egypt. God saved and redeemed Israel from the enemy. They finally believed His words when He made His power known in drying up the sea and covering Pharaoh's army with the water (Ps. 106:6-12). Repent of sin in response to "Red Sea" or miracle experience in your life.

Listen to God
They quickly forgot His works, didn't wait for His counsel, coveted food intensely in the wilderness and tempted God. He gave them their request and sent a wasting disease among them (Ps. 106:13-15). Listen to God and don't forget His miracles in your life.

Obey God's Word
The earth swallowed Dathan and the company of Abiram when they envied Moses and Aaron. A fire consumed the wicked (Ps. 106:16-18). Obey God's word and don't envy or rebel against His appointed leaders.

Stand in the Gap for Your City
They worshiped a golden calf and exchanged their glory for the image of an ox. They forgot their Savior who did awesome things by the Red Sea. Because Moses stood in the breach to turn away God's wrath, He didn't destroy them. They despised the pleasant land, didn't believe His word, grumbled in their tents and didn't listen to the Lord's voice. God swore that He would scatter them among the nations (Ps. 106:19-27). Stand in the gap for your city instead of worshiping idols so they can enter into the "promised land."

Pray Against Sexual Sin and Materialism
They ate sacrifices to Baal-peor so that the plague broke out, but Phinehas interceded. He removed the plague in response to Phinehas' prayers and it was reckoned to him for righteousness (Ps. 106:28-31). Intercede against sexual sin and materialism that plagues the church and our culture.

Show Patience
When they were rebellious against His Spirit at the waters of Meribah, Moses spoke rashly (Ps. 106:32-33). Societal and church breakdown tempts God's people towards rashness and impatience.

Reject Idols of Success
Israel did not destroy the peoples as He commanded, but mingled with the nations, learned their practices and served their idols, which became a snare to them. They sacrificed their sons and daughters to the demons and shed innocent blood to the idols of Canaan. They polluted the land with their blood, became unclean and played the harlot with their deeds (Ps. 106:34-39). Reject idols by not mingling with the culture or sacrificing your children to the gods of success and upward mobility.

Do Spiritual Warfare
Therefore, God allows the nations and enemies to rule, oppress and subdue them under their power. Many times He would deliver them, but because of their rebellion, they sank down in their iniquity (Ps. 106:40-43). Disobedience to God enables the world, flesh and devil to rule, oppress and subdue you.

Pray Fervently
When God heard their cry out of distress, He remembered His covenant and showed compassion in the presence of their captors (Ps. 106:44-46). God responds compassionately when His people cry out with heartfelt prayer.

Praise God Continually
Save, gather us from among the nations, give thanks to His name and glory in His praise. Bless the God of Israel eternally (Ps. 106:47-48). God rescues His people when they praise His name and ask for His help.

As you consider the above headings, where is God convicting you? As the Holy Spirit to build you up in that area, and begin to practice that spiritual discipline.

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How to Deal with Sin (Insights in Prophets)

10/22/2011

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A person can't make progress in living the Christian life unless he or she confesses their sin. Pride causes a person to despise God's word. Severe consequences like family chaos and even death, will result from unconfessed sin. In addition, it gives occasion for the world to reject God. David shows both the negative and positive example on how to deal with sin.

Conviction
Nathan came to David and told a story about a rich man with many flocks and herds while a poor man had only a little ewe lamb. A traveler came to the rich man who wouldn't provide a meal from his flock. Instead, he took the poor man's lamb. David said this rich man deserved to die and must make restitution for the lamb fourfold because he had no compassion (2 Sam. 12:1-6). Stories touch peoples' hearts to convict them of sin.

Confession
Nathan said David was the rich man in the story who God anointed king over Israel, delivered and gave him Saul's house and wives along with the house of Israel and Judah. Nathan asked why he despised the Lord's word by doing evil in killing Uriah with the sword and taking his wife. Because of David's sin, the sword would never depart from his house and God would expose the evil in his household before Israel when his companion had sex with his wives. David confessed his secret sin to the Lord and Nathan said He took it away so he wouldn't die. The sin resulting in a child being born and dying gave opportunity for the Lord's enemies to reject God (2 Sam. 12:7-15a). Confess sin to remove it even though there are consequences.

Beloved
David inquired of God and fasted all night for his sick child. On the seventh day, the child died and David worshiped God. He comforted his wife Bathsheba and they gave birth to Solomon who Nathan named, beloved of the Lord (2 Sam. 12:15b-25). God loves you and works out His gracious purpose in spite of sin.

Battle
Joab fought against Rabbah in Ammon and captured the royal city. Instead of receiving glory over the victory, Joab asked David and his army to capture it. He brought out its spoil in great amounts and sawed everyone among the cities of Ammon (2 Sam. 12:26-31). Fight the spiritual battle in confessing sin until God is victorious over the world, flesh and devil.

Consider the following questions:
1. Are you or a person in relationship with you dealing with sin?
2. If you are the one in sin, ask God to show you why. If a friend is in sin, ask God to reveal a story and/or key questions to touch their heart. so he or she is convicted of their sin.
3. Pray for conviction of sin in your heart along with your friend's heart (Gal. 6:1).
4. Instead of hiding and rationalizing away sin, confess it to others of the same gender and pray for one another so you and they may be healed (1 John 1:9; James 5:16).

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Obedience in Building God's Kingdom (Insights in Psalms)

Confession of Sin Leads to Fruitfulness (Insights in Law)

Deal Seriously With Sin Before It Crushes You (Insights in Law)

How To Get Others Right With God (Insights in Law)

Cleansing Yourself to Pursue Intimacy with God (Insights in Prophets)

Mechanisms to Equip Workmen of the Word (Insights in Law)

Preparing for Ministry in a Post-Modern Society (Insights in Law)

Wait Before Work (Insights in Law)

How to Embrace Your Promised Land (Insights in Psalms)

How to Deal with Sin (Insights in Prophets)

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