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Ingredients of Effective Kingdom Ministry

7/7/2019

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Adding even one ingredient can make a huge different for food.
For example, add zucchini to get moist brownies. Add fresh apples for sweet coleslaw. Add avocado for rich pudding. If you add each of the ingredients from God’s way instead of the world’s way (Luke 9), you have the recipe for effective kingdom ministry. 

Listen to Jesus as He describes eight ingredients of kingdom ministry
​in Luke 9:
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1. Trust God’s power and authority
Jesus sent the twelve to proclaim the kingdom of God and to perform healing with power and authority over demons and diseases. He told them to take nothing, find housing, and leave if not received as a testimony against them. They went among the villages preaching the gospel and healing everywhere (Luke 9:1-6). Trust God’s power and authority to proclaim His kingdom and perform healing.

2. Surrender available resources
Jesus told the twelve to feed the multitude with five loaves and two fish for 5,000 men. Jesus instructed them to recline in groups of 50 each. He blessed, broke, and gave the disciples bread to set before the multitude. They had 12 baskets left over (Luke 9:7-17). Surrender available resources and trust God to provide what’s lacking.

3. Deny self and take up cross 
While praying alone, Jesus asked His disciples, “Who do you say that I am?" Peter said, "The Christ of God." He said the Son of Man must suffer many things, be rejected by religious authorities, killed and raised up on the third day. Jesus said to deny self, take up cross daily, and follow Him. He who saves his life loses it, but whoever loses his life for Christ will save it. It’s unprofitable to gain the world and lose your soul (Luke 9:18-27). 
Deny self, take up cross, and follow Him to save my life.

4. Listen to God
He took Peter, John and James to pray with Him on the mountain. The three saw His glory with Moses and Elijah standing with Him. A voice said, "This is My Son, My Chosen One; listen to Him!" (Luke 9:28-36). 
Listen to God as most important priority. 

5. Marvel at God’s greatness 
The disciples couldn’t cast out a demon. Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit and healed the boy. They were amazed at the greatness of God. Despite receiving great praise for His works, Jesus said the Son of Man would be betrayed by men (Luke 9:37-45). Marvel at God’s greatness, even when betrayed by men.

6. Serve the least
After the disciples argued who would be the greatest,Jesus said they must receive Him like a child since the least is the greatest (Luke 9:46-48). Serve the least and disenfranchised.

7. Partner with other believers
Don't hinder anyone casting out demons in Christ's name since he who’s not against you is for you. When the Samaritans didn’t receive Him, Christ said the "Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them" (Luke 9:49-56). Partner with others in the body of Christ for healing.

8. Follow God completely
He told His followers the Son of Man had no home. Let the dead bury their own dead, but proclaim fully and everywhere the kingdom of God. Saying good-bye to your family and not putting your hand to the plow proves unfitness for kingdom of God (Luke 9:57-62). Follow God completely and separate from any hindrances.

Action Steps: Which of the eight ingredients of kingdom ministry will you put into practice this coming week?
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Develop Closer Relationships Between Fathers and Children (Insights in Prophets)

4/28/2013

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To release God's healing for closer heart relationships between fathers and children, surrender your heart to teach whole Bible so you create desire for instruction, unified marriage, purified people, hate oppression, give financially to God's kingdom and expect God to write a scroll of remembrance.  

Surrender Your Heart to Show God's Greatness
Malachi told Israel that God showed love by loving Jacob and hating Esau. He turned his mountains into a wasteland called The Wicked Land.  God continually demolished it to prove His greatness to Israel. They did not honor and respect God like a son to His father. The priests despised His name by sacrificing crippled or diseased animals on the altar they would not offer to their governor. God was displeased and found these useless fires unacceptable. They shamed and cheated Him by sacrificing blemished animals instead of offering acceptable males they vowed to give. Israel was to show nations that God was to be feared as a great king (Mal. 1:1-14). Surrender your heart to show God's greatness to unbelievers.

Teach Whole Bible to Create Desire for Instruction
If priests did not set their heart to listen or honor God, He sent a curse and cut off their descendants. He made a covenant of life and peace with Levi so they could reverence His name. True instruction was in his mouth as he walked in peace and uprightness turning many from sin. Priests should preserve knowledge so men would seek instruction from the messenger of the Lord Almighty. But they turned from the way, violated the covenant with Levi and their teaching caused many to stumble. God caused them to be despised and humiliated before everyone since they did not follow His ways showing partiality in matters of the law (Mal. 2:1-9). Teach whole Bible to turn people from sin and create desire for instruction. 

Guard Your Spirit for Unified Marriage to Bear Godly Offspring
Judah broke faith with one another by marrying the daughter of a foreign god. God did not accept their offerings because they broke their marriage bond through divorce. He sought godly offspring from the one flesh relationship between husband and wife. Husbands who guarded their spirit prevented breaking faith with the wife of their youth since God hated divorce (Mal. 2:10-16). Guard your spirit for unified marriage to bear godly offspring.

Participate with God to Purify His People and Hate Oppression
They wearied Him saying those who did evil were pleasing to Him and questioning whether there was a God of justice. No one could stand the refiner's fire of God's coming as He purified the Levites like gold and silver. Judah's and Jerusalem's righteous offerings would be acceptable. God would judge sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers. He was against those who defrauded laborers of their wages, oppressed the widows and fatherless, and deprived aliens of justice without fearing God (Mal. 2:17-3:5). Participate with God to purify His people and hate oppression of others.

Give Financially to God's Kingdom and Reap His Blessing
His people should return to God and His word so He would return to them. He cursed Israel because they robbed Him of tithes and offerings. Bringing the whole tithe into the storehouse brought food into His house. By testing Him, they saw Him open the floodgates of heaven to pour out so much blessing that there was no room for it. He prevented pests from devouring crops and fruit from their  fields. All nations called them blessed in a delightful land (Mal. 3:6-12). Give financially to God's kingdom and reap His blessing.

Expect God to Write a Scroll of Remembrance By Fearing Him
Israel said it was futile to serve God since evildoers prospered and those who challenged God escaped. The Lord listened and wrote a scroll of remembrance for people who feared Him and talked with each other. He distinguished between those who served God as His treasured possession and those who did not (Mal. 3:13-18). Expect God to write a scroll of remembrance by fearing Him.

Release God's Healing for Closer Heart Relationships Between Fathers and Children 
A day would come to burn the arrogant and every evildoer. For those who revered God's name, the sun of righteousness would rise with healing so they leaped like calves released from the stall. They trampled down the wicked like ashes under their feet. Malachi commanded Israel to remember the law God gave Moses at Horeb. He would send Elijah before the dreadful day of the Lord to turn the hearts of fathers to their children and hearts of children to their fathers or else curse the land (Mal. 4:1-6). Release God's healing for closer heart relationships between fathers and children.


To release God's healing for closer heart relationships between fathers and children:
1. Surrender your heart to teach whole Bible
2. Turn people from sin
3. Create desire for instruction
4. Guard your spirit for unified marriage
5. Bear godly children
6. Participate with God to purify His people
7. Hate oppression of others
8. Give financially to God's kingdom and reap His blessings
9. Expect God to write a scroll of remembrance

 

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Choose Spiritual Leaders Who Practice and Teach God's Word (Insights in Prophets)

4/4/2013

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The following describe how to choose spiritual leaders who practice and teach God's word:
1. Follow God's Word to form an intimate relationship with Him as you surrender and confess your sins daily to God
2. Experience God's glory as you pray together to bear fruit-bearing disciples that heal people in all nations through the Holy Spirit
3. Follow God's word in organizing how the body of Christ prays together to let Christ have first place in the church and city

Follow God's Word in Organizing How the Body of Christ Prays Together
Ezekiel saw a wall surrounding the temple area. A man measured from the east gate to the outer court including the wall; threshold of the gate; alcoves for the guard; portico, width of the entrance and projecting walls inside the gateway. He measured the outer court from the inside of the lower gateway to the outside of the inner court. He measured the north gate, south gate and gates to the inner court. In the portico of the gateway contained two tables where burnt, sin, and guilt offerings were slaughtered. Outside the inner gate within the inner court were two rooms for Levites, sons of Zadok, in charge of the temple and altar (Ezek. 40:1-47). Follow God's word in organizing how the body of Christ prays together.

Experience God's Glory as You Pray Together
The man measured the temple including the portico, entrance, projecting walls, and outer and inner sanctuary, considered the Most Holy Place. On the doors of the outer sanctuary were carved cherubim and palm trees like those carved on the walls. The north and south rooms facing the temple courtyard were the priests' rooms where they ate the grain, sin and guilt offerings. They did not go into the outer court until they left behind their ministry garments. He measured inside the temple area along with the east, north, south and west side. A wall separated the holy from the common. Ezekiel saw the glory of the God of Israel enter the temple through the gate facing east. His voice was like the roar of rushing waters and the land was radiant with His glory. The Spirit lifted and brought him into the inner court and God's glory filled the temple (Ezek. 40:48-43:5). Experience God's glory as you pray together in the body of Christ. 

Follow God's Word to Form an Intimate Relationship with Him
A man inside the temple said this was the place of his throne and for the soles of his feet to live among the Israelites forever. They never again defiled His holy name by spiritual adultery and idols so that God could live among them forever. The man described the temple so Ezekiel could share it with Israel in order for them to be ashamed of their sins. Ezekiel wrote down the design of the temple and measurements of the altar, its arrangements, exits, entrances, regulations and laws so they could follow the plan. God told him the regulations for sacrificing burnt offerings and sprinkling blood on the altar. A young bull would be burned in the designated part of the  temple area as a sin offering by the Levites, of the family of Zadok.  Ezekiel put blood on the four horns of the altar, four corners of the upper ledge and around the rim to purify and make atonement for it. On the second day, he offered a male goat without defect for a sin offering with the altar purified. For seven days he offered a male goat daily for a sin offering to be accepted by God. From the eighth day on, the priests presented the burnt and fellowship offerings on the altar (Ezek. 43:6-27). Follow God's word to form a pure, surrendered and intimate relationship with Him among His people. 

Choose Spiritual Leaders Who Practice and Teach God's Word 
The outer gate of the sanctuary remained shut because the God of Israel entered through it. The prince entered and left by the portico of the gateway. Ezekiel saw God's glory filling the temple. He told Ezekiel to listen closely concerning the temple's regulations regarding its entrance and sanctuary exits. Rebellious Israel brought uncircumcised foreigners in heart and flesh into God's sanctuary. They put others in charge of it. Levites who worshiped idols bore sin's consequences by not coming near to serve as priests or with the holy offerings. Descendants of Zadok who faithfully carried out their duties could enter the inner court and minister before God wearing linen clothes, turbans and undergarments. They taught His people the difference between the holy and the common and distinguish between the unclean and clean. The priests judge disputes according to God's ordinances (Ezek. 44:1-31). Choose spiritual leaders who practice and teach God's word to others.

Surrender and Confess Your Sins Daily to God
They assigned the Most Holy Place to part of the land as the sacred portion for the priests and an adjoining portion for Israel. God told them to use accurate scales. One sheep was taken from every flock of 200 for grain, burnt and fellowship offerings to make atonement for Israel. The prince provided sin, burnt, grain, drink and fellowship offerings. The priest used blood of the sin offering on the temple doorposts, four corners of upper ledge of the altar and gateposts of the inner court. A sin offering was done on the seventh day of the month for anyone who sinned unintentionally or through ignorance. On the Sabbath, the inner court gate was opened for the priest to sacrifice the burnt (six male lambs and a ram without defect) and fellowship offerings while the people worshiped in God's presence at the entrance. Every day a year-old lamb without defect and a grain offering (sixth of an ephah with a third of a hin of oil to moisten the flour) was sacrificed as a regular burnt offering. Ezekiel saw the sacred rooms where the priests cooked the guilt and sin offerings and baked the grain offerings. He saw the kitchens in the outer court where they cooked the sacrifices of the people (Ezek. 45:1-46:24). Surrender and confess your sins daily to God so you can prepare spiritual people.

Bear Fruit-Bearing Disciples that Heal People in All Nations
Ezekiel saw water coming from under the threshold of the temple. While measuring the temple, the water went from ankle-deep to deep enough for swimming so no one could cross. Water became fresh when it emptied into the Dead Sea revealing large numbers of living fish with fishermen standing from En Gedi to En Eglaim spreading nets. The leaves on fruit trees did not wither or fruit that grew on both banks of the river remained because water flowed from the sanctuary. Their fruit was served for food and the leaves for healing. God revealed the boundaries of the land divided as an inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel. It ran from the Mediterranean Sea, Damascus, along Jordan and Wadi of Egypt. Aliens with children were considered as native-born Israelites (Ez. 47:1-23). Bear fruit-bearing disciples that heal people in all nations through the Holy Spirit.

Let Christ Have First Place in Church and City
The twelve tribes and their boundaries were listed. Bordering Judah from east to west was a sacred portion with the sanctuary in the center for the consecrated priests, the Zadokites who were faithful in serving God. The priests had territory in the best of the land holy to the Lord. The remaining area was for common use of the city including houses and pastureland to supply food for the workers. What remained on both sides of the area formed by the sacred portion and city property belonged to the prince between  the border of Judah and Benjamin. The exits of the city had gates named after the tribes of Israel. The name of the city was the Lord is there (Ez. 48:1-35). Let Christ have first place in the life of the church and city. 

Rate yourself on a scale of 1 to 10 with one being the lowest and ten the highest for the following statements:
1. I surrender daily to God through unceasing prayer
2. I confess my sins daily to God
3. I pray with others
4. I am committed to applying God's word to my life
5. I rely on the power of the Holy Spirit
6. I teach God's word to others
7. I am committed to making disciples
8. I work with a team to see the church pray together across racial and denominational lines so Christ can have first place in the city

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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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Make Christ Your All (Insights in Law)

3/2/2012

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Dr. Yu, a Chinese martyr wrote, “The Father wants us to be filled only with His Christ. Will you let Him deal so thoroughly in His love, until you are consumed with Him, having to continually depend upon Him, instead of anything of yourself? For God to take you deeper into Himself, He must expose all in you that is not of Himself. I hope that, as He shines in you, you will take Him as Grace, to deal completely, so He may possess you wholly, and bring you into His fullness in your lifetime.” In Lev. 8, God challenges each of us to make Christ our all. 

The Lord told Moses to assemble  Aaron, his sons, garments, anointing oil, bull of the sin offering, two rams and basket of unleavened bread. The congregation would watch the consecration of Aaron and his sons at the doorway of the tent of meeting. Moses told the congregation that this is "the thing which the Lord has commanded to do" (Lev. 8:1-5). God sets you apart for His purpose and will.

Moses washed Aaron and his son with water. He put on the tunic, sash, robe, ephod, breastpiece with Urim and Thummim and turban. On the front of the turban, he placed the golden plate, the holy crown, as the Lord commanded Moses (Lev. 8:6-9). Put on Christ's righteousness by faith as you claim God's promises in His word through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Moses anointed and consecrated the tabernacle and its contents. He sprinkled some of the anointing oil on the altar seven times, but poured it on Aaron's head. He clothed Aaron's sons with tunics, girded them with sashes and bound caps on them as the Lord commanded Moses (Lev. 8:10-13). God pours the Holy Spirit in great measure to set you apart for service.

Aaron and his sons laid hands on the bull's head of the sin offering. Moses slaughtered it and put blood on the horns of the altar to purify and make atonement for it. He offered up the fat in smoke and burned the bull in the fire outside the camp as the Lord commanded Moses (Lev. 8:14-17).  Confess your sins as you place full trust in Christ's death on the cross. 

Aaron and his son laid their hands on the ram's head as a burnt offering and sprinkled the blood around the altar. Moses offered up the whole ram in smoke as a soothing aroma to the Lord as the Lord commanded him (Lev. 8:18-21). Surrender fully to God as you meditate on the truths that you are dead to sin, but alive to God.

He presented a ram of ordination so Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the ram's head. Moses put blood on Aaron and his sons' right ear lobe, thumb of his right hand and big toe of his right foot. He put unleavened cake, one cake of bread mixed with oil and one wafer on the right thigh. Aaron and his sons presented them as a wave offering before the Lord and offered them up in smoke on the altar with the burnt offering. He presented the breast as a wave offering just as the Lord commanded Moses. He sprinkled anointing oil and some blood from the altar on Aaron and his sons' garments. He consecrated Aaron and his sons along with their garments (Lev. 8:22-30). Praise God that you have a new mind to hear God, new heart to love Him and new hands to serve Him.

Moses said to boil the flesh and eat it with the bread, which was in the basket of the ordination offering. They were to burn the remainder of the flesh and the bread in the fire. The were not to go outside the doorway of the tent of meeting for seven days until the ordination and atonement were fulfilled. They remained day and night for seven days to keep the charge of the Lord so they would not die as the Lord commanded through Moses (Lev. 8:31-36). Take much time to feed on God's word through prayer in maintaining a fresh relationship with Him. 

To make Christ your all:
1. Determine to be set apart for God's purpose and will
2. Put on Christ's righteousness by faith as you claim God's promises in His word through the power of the Holy Spirit
3. Ask God to fill you with the Holy Spirit
4. Confess your sins as you place full trust in Christ's death on the cross
5. Surrender fully to God as you meditate on the truths that you are dead to sin, but alive to God
6. Praise God that you have a new mind to hear God, new heart to love Him and new hands to serve Him
7. Take much time to feed on God's word through prayer in maintaining a fresh relationship with Him 
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Draw Close to God in a Fresh, Pure and Authentic Way (Insights in Law)

2/25/2012

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Greater than 400 years ago, St. Ignatius Loyola encouraged prayerful reflection on the events of the day to detect God’s presence and discern His direction for anyone through the Daily Examen:
1. Become aware of God’s presence by looking back at the events of day through partnering with the Holy Spirit.
2. Review the day with gratitude by paying attention to the small things. 
3. Pay attention to your emotions. 
4. Choose one feature of the day and pray from it. 
5. Look toward tomorrow and ask God to empower you for the challenges ahead.  
Lev. 6-7 has a similar spirit encouraging people to draw close to God in a fresh, pure and authentic way. 

If  a person lied to his neighbor in regard to something delivered for safekeeping, a pledge, a robbery, extorted from his neighbor or found what was lost, he sinned and became guilty. He would restore its full value plus one-fifth more as restitution to the one it belonged. He brought a ram without defect as a guilt offering to a priest. This atoned and forgave the offender before the Lord (Lev. 6:1-7). Confess your sin to God and restore stolen property with restitution to receive forgiveness from both God and the offended party. 

The burnt offering would remain upon the hearth on the altar all night until morning and the fire kept burning. The priest took off his garments, put on other garments and carried the ashes outside the camp to a clean place. Fire would be kept burning continually on the altar (Lev. 6:8-13). 
Surrender yourself completely and continuously to God.

Aaron and his sons presented a grain offering before the Lord in front of the altar. They lifted up a handful of fine flour with its oil and incense and offered the grain offering up in smoke on the altar as a soothing aroma to the Lord. Aaron and his sons ate the remainder as unleavened cakes in a holy place. They presented half of the offering in the morning and the other half in the evening. It was prepared and well stirred with oil on a griddle as baked pieces and burned entirely (Lev. 6:14-23). Pray continuously in the power of the Holy Spirit to grow your relationship with God.

The sin offering would be slain in the same place as the burnt offering. The priest who offered it for sin ate it in a holy place. Anyone who touched its flesh became consecrated. The earthenware vessel in which it was boiled would be broken. If boiled in a bronze vessel, it would be scoured and rinsed in water. No sin offering with blood would be eaten, but burned with fire (Lev. 6:24-30). Be broken over sin to maintain experiential peace with God. 

The burnt offering and guilt offering was killed in the same place while it its blood was sprinkled around the altar. The priest offered up its fat in smoke by fire as a guilt offering so every male could eat of it. The priest made atonement and presented any man's burnt offering and grain offering baked in an oven (Lev. 7:1-10).  Offer yourself to God without delay to become pure without sin. 

A law of sacrifice of peace offerings was offered by way of thanksgiving with unleavened cakes mixed with oil. Present one of every offering as a contribution to the Lord, which belonged to a priest who sprinkled the blood of peace offerings. The flesh of the sacrifice of his thanksgiving peace offering would  be eaten on the day of his offering. If any flesh was eaten on third day, he who offered it would not be accepted it reckoned to his benefit. One would not eat any fat or blood of an animal being offered. You would bring fat with the breast and present it as wave offering before the Lord. This was law of burnt offering, grain offering, sin offering, guilt offering, ordination offering and sacrifice of peace offering, which the Lord commanded Moses at Mount Sinai (Lev. 7:11-38).  Maintain a fresh relationship with God by appealing to the blood and cross work of Christ.

Practice the five points of the Daily Examen:
1. Become aware of God’s presence by looking back at the events of day through partnering with the Holy Spirit.
2. Review the day with gratitude by paying attention to the small things. 
3. Pay attention to your emotions. 
4. Choose one feature of the day and pray from it. 
5. Look toward tomorrow and ask God to empower you for the challenges ahead.   


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Watch What God Does When You Are Reconciled to Him (Insights in Law)

2/10/2012

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Human strategies cut us off from the greatest blessings that only come from God. Watch what God does when you are reconciled to Him and grow in your personal relationship with God through the power of the Holy Spirit.   

God spoke from the tent of meeting that any man should bring a male animal without defect as a burnt offering to the doorway of the tent of meeting. He laid his hand on the bull's head to be accepted as he made atonement for himself. After it was killed, Aaron's sons, the priests, sprinkled the blood on the altar at the doorway of the tent of meeting. They burned the pieces of the animal on the altar as a burnt offering. The priests offered up the smoke as a soothing aroma to the Lord (Lev. 1:1-9). Christ's sacrificial death on the cross forgives your sin and reconciles you to God.

Offer the male sheep or goats without defect as a burnt offering that is killed on the side of the altar northward before the Lord. Aaron's sons sprinkled its blood on the altar and burned the cut up pieces  on the fire. Wash the entrails and legs with water. The priest offered up the smoke as a smoothing aroma to the Lord (Lev. 1:10-13). Trust in Christ's death completely for the forgiveness of your sin. 

Make burnt offering of turtledoves or young pigeons if birds are used. The priest brought it on the altar, offered it up in smoke and drained its blood on the side of the altar as a soothing aroma to the Lord (Lev. 1:14-17). God accepts everyone, even the poor, when they have faith in Christ's death on the cross.

Pour oil and put frankincense on a grain offering of fine flour to the Lord. The priest offered up a handful in smoke as a soothing aroma to the Lord. The remainder of the most holy of offerings belonged to Aaron and his sons (Lev. 2:1-3). Christ's sacrificial death on the cross enables you to have a relationship with God.

The grain offering baked in an oven, griddle or pan contained unleavened cakes of fine flour mixed with oil. The priest brought it to the altar and offered it up in smoke as a soothing aroma to the Lord (Lev. 2:4-10).  God provides the Holy Spirit to allow you to grow in your relationship with God. 

Make no grain offering with leaven or honey. Bring offering of first fruits to the Lord but it should not ascend for a soothing aroma on the altar. Season with salt every grain offering so the salt of the covenant of God is not lacking from it (Lev. 2:11-13). God desires an intimate relationship with you.  

Put oil and lay incense on a grain offering of early ripened things or grits of new growth. Priest offered up in smoke its memorial  portion (Lev. 2:14-16). Praying for the power of the Holy Spirit causes growth in your relationship with God. 

Thank God for reconciling you to Him through Christ's sacrificial death for your sins. Pray for the power of the Holy Spirit to cause growth and intimacy in your relationship with God.   





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Resist Being Squeezed into the World's Mold (Insights in NT)

1/30/2012

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In John 18, you learned how to speak God's word openly as His disciple and fulfill your destiny by persevering in the midst of betrayal, endure persecution, resist temptation toward comfort, embrace your role as Christ's disciple, take up your cross and seek God's kingdom by bearing witness to the truth. John 19 teaches the core attitudes in being His disciple so you can identify with Christ without reservations and resist being squeezed into the world's mold.  

Pilate scourged and soldiers put a crown of thorns on Jesus. After clothing Him in a  purple robe, they said, "Hail, King of the Jews!" Pilate told the chief priests and officers to crucify Him themselves since he found no guilt in Jesus. The Jews said He should die because He made Himself out to be the Son of God. Jesus told Pilate that any authority over Him was given from above and those who delivered Him to Pilate had greater sin. When the Jews said Jesus opposed Caesar by saying He was a king, Pilate delivered Him to be crucified (John 19:1-16). Trust God's sovereignty during tough times. 

He bore His cross and was crucified with two other men. Many Jews read an inscription put on the cross, "Jesus the Nazarene, the King of the Jews" (John 19:17-22). Bear your cross and don't be concerned with others' opinions of you.  

The soldiers took Jesus' outer garments, tunic and cast lots to fulfill Scripture. Mary, Jesus' mother, His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene stood by the cross of Jesus. He told John to take his mother, Mary, into his household (John 19:23-27). Stand on the promises of Scripture when circumstances get out of control. 

When Jesus knew all things had been accomplished to fulfill Scripture, He said, "I am thirsty." When He was given sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" and gave up His spirit (John 19:28-30). Surrender your life to God by trusting in Christ's finished work on the cross. 

The soldiers did not break Jesus' legs when they saw He was dead. Blood and water came out when a soldier pierced His side to fulfill Scripture. Jesus' witness was true so those could know the truth and believe (John 19:31-37). Boast in the cross of Christ so you can be dead to the world.  

Joseph of Arimathea, a secret disciple of Jesus for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate's permission to take away Jesus' body. He and Nicodemus who came to Him at night, bound Jesus' body in linen wrappings with spices. They laid His body in a new tomb (John 19:38-42). Identify with Christ and be transformed into a bold witness of Him. 

To resist being squeezed into the world's mold:
1. Trust God's sovereignty during tough times
2. Bear your cross and don't be concerned with other'swhile being crucified to the world 
3. Stand on the promises of Scripture when circumstances get out of control
4. Surrender your life to God by trusting in Christ's finished work on the cross
5. Boast in the cross of Christ so you can be dead to the world
6. Identify with Christ and be transformed into a bold witness of Him
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Trusting in the Tangible Instead of God (Insights in Prophets)

1/10/2012

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It's so easy to place our trust in something tangible like wealth, beauty, strength and talent instead of God and His promises. The challenge of living by faith is we can't see God's kingdom at work in the natural. We pin our hopes on human resources or pursue our pleasure by relying on them. It gives rise to sinful motives and acts. Having to take a large financial loss on our dream house because we moved to another state caused me to consider whether I was trusting in money or God. King David had a crisis of faith when he trusted in a census to determine his military strength instead of trusting in God.

The Lord's anger burned against Israel and incited David to number Israel and Judah. Joab questioned why he would "delight in this thing." He and his commanders numbered 800,000 valiant men in Israel and 500,000 men in Judah who drew the sword (2 Sam. 24:1-9). Trust in human resources instead of God angers Him.

When David's heart troubled him after numbering the people, he told the Lord that he sinned greatly. He asked God to take away his iniquity for he acted foolishly. God instructed the prophet Gad to give David three consequences for his sin: seven years of famine in his land, flee three months before his foes pursued him or three days of pestilence. David's distress caused him to ask for the Lord's great mercies instead of falling into men's hands (2 Sam. 24:10-14). Confession of sin leads to Gods' mercy.  

The Lord sent pestilence and 70,000 men died from Dan to Beersheba. The angel stretched out his hand to destroy Jerusalem but the Lord stopped the calamity. David said to the Lord that he had sinned and done wrong (2 Sam. 24:15-17). Take responsibility for your sin stops further consequences.

After Gad told David to construct an altar to the Lord, he wanted to buy the threshing floor of Araunah to build it so the plague would stop. Araunah offered up free oxen so David could do a burnt offering. He bought the threshing floor and oxen for 50 shekels of silver as he did not want to offer a burnt offering for nothing. David built an altar to the Lord and offered burnt and peace offerings. The Lord was moved by entreaty for the land and the plague stopped (2 Sam. 24:18-25). Costly obedience and intercession causes God to act.

Is there something that God wants you to surrender to Him at a cost because you are not seeking Him first (Matt. 6:33; Is. 55:1).

 
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Defeating the Idol of Success (Insights in Law)

12/11/2011

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Each of us often get focused on work and activity without spending sufficient time in prayer and relaxation. It could be our business or even ministry work that have worthy goals. Most of the goals of the modern church can be accomplished without God. All we need is people, money and a common objective. Achieving success is not an automatic sign that the Holy Spirit is empowering us. Aaron crafted a golden calf when Israel became impatient over Moses not coming down from Mt. Sinai. They worshiped what they saw instead of the unseen God. Do you and me idolize success and short-term, observable outcomes?
 
The Lord said to Moses that He filled Bezalel of the tribe of Judah with the Spirit of God in wisdom, understanding, knowledge and all kinds of craftsmanship. He also appointed Oholiab of the tribe of Dan and put skill in their hearts to make all God commanded Moses: tent of meeting, ark of testimony, mercy seat upon it, furniture of tent, table and its utensils, pure gold lampstand with utensils, altar of incense, burnt offering and its utensils, laver and stand, woven garments for Aaron and priests to minister in their priesthood, anointing oil and fragrant incense for the holy place to make according to His commands (Ex. 31:1-11). God provides the creativity, practical insights, technical know-how and skilled labor to succeed in business, science, technology and art.

Moses commanded Israel to observe His Sabbaths as a sign and perpetual covenant throughout their generations so they could know God who sanctified them. He who profaned the Sabbath by doing work would be killed. The Lord ceased from labor on the seventh day and was refreshed after making heaven and earth (Ex. 31:12-17). Rest every seventh day from your creative labor so you can worship God, be refreshed and not die.

When God had finished speaking with Moses on Mount Sinai, He gave him two tablets of testimony written by the finger of God (Ex. 31:18). God wants you to record what He communicates so you don’t forget.

When Moses delayed coming down from mountain, the people told Aaron to make a god since they didn't know what happened to Moses who brought them out of Egypt. Taking gold from their rings, people fashioned a molten calf with a graving tool and said this god brought them out of Egypt. After offering burnt and peace offerings to it, the people sat down to eat, drink and play. Their corruption and stubbornness caused Moses to ask God to change His mind about being angry, destroying Israel and making a great nation for Moses. Since His power brought Israel out of Egypt, the Egyptians would say God wanted to kill them.  Moses reminded God of His promise to Abraham of multiplying his descendants so they could inherit the land given to them forever. The Lord changed His mind about harming Israel (Ex. 32:1-14). Leaders influence people to either wait for long-term, eternal character qualities or seek impatiently the visible, temporal, short-term results.

Moses went down from the mountain with the two tablets of testimony that God engraved on the tablets. Moses' anger burned when he saw the calf and the dancing. He shattered the tablets, burned the calf and scattered the powder in the water for Israel to drink (Ex. 32:15-20). A leaders' right response is anger when God’s people sin by disobeying His word.

Moses asked Aaron what Israel did to him that such a great sin was brought upon Israel. Aaron answered that the people were prone to evil and threw the gold given to him "into the fire and out come this calf" (Ex. 32:21-24). A leaders' wrong response is worshiping the material instead of God.  

Moses saw how Aaron let the people get out of control to be a derision among their enemies. After the sons of Levi came to Moses being with the Lord, they killed 3000 men with the sword, dedicated themselves to Him and received His blessing (Ex. 32:25-29). True blessing comes by surrendering yourself to His will and using the sword of the Spirit, God's word, to defeat the flesh. 

Because the people sinned greatly, Moses could possibly ask God to forgive their sin of making a god of gold. Even though the Lord would blot out the sinners, He told Moses to follow His leadership through His angel going before him.  The Lord killed the people for worshiping the calf Aaron made (Ex. 32:30-35). Worshiping business, science, technology, art or material results as an end in themselves cause death in your relationship with God.

To defeat the idol of success, take time to each week to rest, recreate and return to God in worship and prayer. Make that time the highlight of your week to recenter your life. 

 






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    Mark Pomeroy

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    My goal is to ignite the hearts of people by explaining God's word in the Law, Prophets, Psalms and New Testament consecutively, much like the experience of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:32,44). I have been a missionary in Lincoln, NE, for 13 years with Christ For the City Int. and Sync with God.
     
    Sync with God is a highly versatile web app that hosts on-demand, virtual small groups. Sync is designed to connect young seekers in the faith and scripturally-trained mentors, even globally. It offers a safe, engaging interface for Millennials/Gen. Z and is readily adaptable to technical advances well into the future.

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