II Chronicles 30:9, 18-20
The Lord your God is gracious and compassionate. He will not turn His face from you if you return to Him.
Although most of the many people who came from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun had not purified themselves, yet they ate the Passover, contrary to what was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, "May the Lord, who is good, pardon everyone who sets their heart on seeking God--the Lord, the God of their ancestors--even if they are not clean according to the rules of the sanctuary." And the Lord heard Hezekiah and healed the people.
When Hezekiah became king in Judah, he immediately set out to clean out the Temple so they could worship God again, and he began the worship by celebrating the Passover, and he invited all the Israelites to come to Jerusalem to seek the Lord and worship Him (vs. 6-9). So there were people from all Israel joining with Judah and Benjamin to celebrate this feast.
But some who had come a long way, had not had opportunity to follow the "letter of the law" to be ceremonially clean, and they participated anyway. When King Hezekiah learned this, he prayed for them, and God heard his prayer and accepted them.
So even in the Old Testament times, God is wanting to accept us just as we are, if we turn to Him in repentance to seek His face.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Friday, July 1, 2016
Thursday, June 30, 2016
Pay Much Closer Attention
Hebrews 1:14- 2:4
Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation? --
The answer, of course, is yes. These are God's holy angels in Heaven who refused to follow Lucifer in his rebellion, but stayed faithful to God.
For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. --
We are told so often throughout all of the Old and New Testaments to "pay attention." Here, we are encouraged to pay much closer attention, the reason is that One much greater than angels has accomplished a much greater work. If we don't pay much closer attention to focus on these things, we are vulnerable to easily slip off of that Rock of Truth.
For if the word spoken through angels (the Law) proved unalterable, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense, --
This says that the Old Testament Law was not ever to be changed in any way, neither added to nor reduced to ignore parts, and everyone who didn't obey it was accountable.
How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken by the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard, --
How could we ever talk our way out of being held accountable for ignoring what Christ Jesus our Lord did for us. Jesus, Himself, taught His disciples what He was doing and what it would accomplish for us, and the writer of Hebrews says that God made it real to them that heard it.
God also bearing witness with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will. --
This says that God had the disciples perform miracles and supernatural signs and wonders to let the hearers know that what was being preached was His Truth. And then God gave His Holy Spirit to live in those who believed and put their trust into what Jesus finished on the Cross and His Resurrection, and were given the gifts of the Holy Spirit so they could also teach others this Truth, and be believed by their hearers. These gifts were according to His own will; He gave different gifts to different people, so that they could work together helping one another to get everything done.
So the Law was given, and had to be obeyed; then Jesus was born, lived, taught, was Crucified, and rose from the dead. This is much greater than the Law, because He fulfilled all of that Law that dealt with the sacrificial system, so it never needs to be acted out again. Now we are responsible to pay much closer attention to respond to Jesus, Who is so much greater than the angels, to take to heart what He finished for us, in our place; and to not drift away little by little back into the world's ways.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation? --
The answer, of course, is yes. These are God's holy angels in Heaven who refused to follow Lucifer in his rebellion, but stayed faithful to God.
For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. --
We are told so often throughout all of the Old and New Testaments to "pay attention." Here, we are encouraged to pay much closer attention, the reason is that One much greater than angels has accomplished a much greater work. If we don't pay much closer attention to focus on these things, we are vulnerable to easily slip off of that Rock of Truth.
For if the word spoken through angels (the Law) proved unalterable, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense, --
This says that the Old Testament Law was not ever to be changed in any way, neither added to nor reduced to ignore parts, and everyone who didn't obey it was accountable.
How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken by the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard, --
How could we ever talk our way out of being held accountable for ignoring what Christ Jesus our Lord did for us. Jesus, Himself, taught His disciples what He was doing and what it would accomplish for us, and the writer of Hebrews says that God made it real to them that heard it.
God also bearing witness with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will. --
This says that God had the disciples perform miracles and supernatural signs and wonders to let the hearers know that what was being preached was His Truth. And then God gave His Holy Spirit to live in those who believed and put their trust into what Jesus finished on the Cross and His Resurrection, and were given the gifts of the Holy Spirit so they could also teach others this Truth, and be believed by their hearers. These gifts were according to His own will; He gave different gifts to different people, so that they could work together helping one another to get everything done.
So the Law was given, and had to be obeyed; then Jesus was born, lived, taught, was Crucified, and rose from the dead. This is much greater than the Law, because He fulfilled all of that Law that dealt with the sacrificial system, so it never needs to be acted out again. Now we are responsible to pay much closer attention to respond to Jesus, Who is so much greater than the angels, to take to heart what He finished for us, in our place; and to not drift away little by little back into the world's ways.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Wednesday, June 29, 2016
Why God Destroys Nations
Leviticus 18:22-30
(22) Thou shalt not lie with mankind as with womankind, it is abomination.
(24) Defile not yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the Nations are defiled which I cast out from before you;
(25) And the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land vomits out her inhabitants. (Continue reading to v.30 to get the whole story.)
Romans 1:22-32
(22) Professing to be wise, they became fools.
(26) For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions, for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural (lesbians), and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts (homosexuality) and receiving in their own persons (physical health) the due penalty of their error (the unhealthy consequences of this lifestyle).
(32) And, although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same (openly), but also give hearty approval to those who practice them (they promote it).
This is an abomination, it turns God's stomach sick. And it pollutes the land so that it vomits out the people there who are doing this. This is something that causes God to destroy the peoples and nations who accept it as normal: Look at Sodom and Gomorrah, Greece was once a world power, Rome was once a super-power, all the great empires of the past that are no more.
And God will also destroy America's influence in the world. If we as God's people work together to bring God's righteous ways back into our national life, He may relent, as Nineveh repented and turned from their wicked ways at the preaching of Jonah, and God relented and didn't destroy them until the next generation.
Wake up, Church, see what is happening in our own Nation, get up off your duff and do what you can, each one of us, to promote what is right in our national life, from the grassroots up through the levels of local, state and federal government. "If My people, who are called by My Name, shall humble themselves and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, I will forgive their sins, and I will heal their land."
When each of us does what we can, then we will be a greater movement than all the deceived masses who are promoting unrighteous wickedness.
Let's get to it!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
(22) Thou shalt not lie with mankind as with womankind, it is abomination.
(24) Defile not yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the Nations are defiled which I cast out from before you;
(25) And the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land vomits out her inhabitants. (Continue reading to v.30 to get the whole story.)
Romans 1:22-32
(22) Professing to be wise, they became fools.
(26) For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions, for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural (lesbians), and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts (homosexuality) and receiving in their own persons (physical health) the due penalty of their error (the unhealthy consequences of this lifestyle).
(32) And, although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same (openly), but also give hearty approval to those who practice them (they promote it).
This is an abomination, it turns God's stomach sick. And it pollutes the land so that it vomits out the people there who are doing this. This is something that causes God to destroy the peoples and nations who accept it as normal: Look at Sodom and Gomorrah, Greece was once a world power, Rome was once a super-power, all the great empires of the past that are no more.
And God will also destroy America's influence in the world. If we as God's people work together to bring God's righteous ways back into our national life, He may relent, as Nineveh repented and turned from their wicked ways at the preaching of Jonah, and God relented and didn't destroy them until the next generation.
Wake up, Church, see what is happening in our own Nation, get up off your duff and do what you can, each one of us, to promote what is right in our national life, from the grassroots up through the levels of local, state and federal government. "If My people, who are called by My Name, shall humble themselves and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, I will forgive their sins, and I will heal their land."
When each of us does what we can, then we will be a greater movement than all the deceived masses who are promoting unrighteous wickedness.
Let's get to it!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Tuesday, June 28, 2016
Life Is In The Blood
Leviticus 17:11-12
(11) For the life of the flesh is in the blood; and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that makes atonement by reason of the life.
This is a general principle that holds true in every age. Physical life is in the blood circulating through the body giving life to all its parts. If the blood flow is cut off from any body part, that part dies. God had His people offer to God the blood of the sacrifices to show that the animal was giving its life instead of the person dying to pay the debt of the sin.
That's why Jesus shed His Blood at Calvary, as the Perfect Lamb of God, the Perfect Sacrifice, that not only covered a sin (like the animal sacrifice), but paid in full the whole debt of sinfulness that we all, each of us, owed to God.
(12) Therefore I said to the children of Israel, "No soul of you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger that sojourns among you eat blood."
So they were not to take any blood as food for themselves; nor anyone else who lived among them.
And the New Testament Church was also to still obey this principle according to the letter the Church Leaders sent to the Gentile believers:
Acts 15:29
That you abstain from things sacrificed to idols (nothing placed before God, or beside God) and from blood (here it is, no eating any blood as food) and from things strangled (not healthy to eat) and from fornication (general word for any sexual activity outside of the marital relationship): if you keep yourselves free from such things, you will do well. Farewell.
So if we, God's New Testament Church, stay away from these four things in particular, then our lives will go well, will succeed: but if we ignore or twist any of these principles, then we will not do well; we will be sick, we will have relationship problems, things just will not go very well for us in any area. When we take seriously the life principles God teaches us in His Manufacturer's Instructions, our lives will go well, we will be successful in what we do. But if we think we know better, and that times have changed and things that were destructive before aren't any more, then we will face the consequences of our choices, we will suffer the failures that come with acting against the way God designed this World and this Earth and this Universe to run.
It's our choice.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
(11) For the life of the flesh is in the blood; and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that makes atonement by reason of the life.
This is a general principle that holds true in every age. Physical life is in the blood circulating through the body giving life to all its parts. If the blood flow is cut off from any body part, that part dies. God had His people offer to God the blood of the sacrifices to show that the animal was giving its life instead of the person dying to pay the debt of the sin.
That's why Jesus shed His Blood at Calvary, as the Perfect Lamb of God, the Perfect Sacrifice, that not only covered a sin (like the animal sacrifice), but paid in full the whole debt of sinfulness that we all, each of us, owed to God.
(12) Therefore I said to the children of Israel, "No soul of you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger that sojourns among you eat blood."
So they were not to take any blood as food for themselves; nor anyone else who lived among them.
And the New Testament Church was also to still obey this principle according to the letter the Church Leaders sent to the Gentile believers:
Acts 15:29
That you abstain from things sacrificed to idols (nothing placed before God, or beside God) and from blood (here it is, no eating any blood as food) and from things strangled (not healthy to eat) and from fornication (general word for any sexual activity outside of the marital relationship): if you keep yourselves free from such things, you will do well. Farewell.
So if we, God's New Testament Church, stay away from these four things in particular, then our lives will go well, will succeed: but if we ignore or twist any of these principles, then we will not do well; we will be sick, we will have relationship problems, things just will not go very well for us in any area. When we take seriously the life principles God teaches us in His Manufacturer's Instructions, our lives will go well, we will be successful in what we do. But if we think we know better, and that times have changed and things that were destructive before aren't any more, then we will face the consequences of our choices, we will suffer the failures that come with acting against the way God designed this World and this Earth and this Universe to run.
It's our choice.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Monday, June 27, 2016
How Blessed Is The Man
Psalm 40:4
How blessed is the man --
How happy, prosperous, aware of the benefits is the person, the male or female member of mankind.
Who has made the Lord his trust, --
The one who has decided to choose the Lord God, the Maker of everything that exists, to be the One to believe, trust in and follow, to love and obey.
And has not turned to the proud, --
Who has not let pride turn him away from the simplicity of honestly and openly trusting.
Nor to those who lapse into falsehood. --
Who has not slipped off the rock (v. 2) or thoughtlessly turned to the right or to the left, forgetting to "be careful" and "pay attention" to what God wants for us.
O my Father, You have told me over and over, all through Your love letter to me, the Bible, to be careful to pay attention to the principles presented there; the attitudes and choices You have set before me to follow Your ways, to obey Your Manufacturer's Instructions for the operation of this world You have made for us. Thank you for Your Spirit of Truth Who lives in my spirit, to teach me Your ways and to strengthen me to do what is needed to accomplish Your will for me. That I may complete my part of Your great Plan of the Ages, decided before anything began to exist, and put into motion at the Creation.
Father, keep me steadfast on that Rock, that I may never lapse into any way contrary to Your righteous Plan. And I know that Your love for me and for all of Your Creation will do only what is good for us, and will bring to You all the credit, all the glory, for having done it all.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
How blessed is the man --
How happy, prosperous, aware of the benefits is the person, the male or female member of mankind.
Who has made the Lord his trust, --
The one who has decided to choose the Lord God, the Maker of everything that exists, to be the One to believe, trust in and follow, to love and obey.
And has not turned to the proud, --
Who has not let pride turn him away from the simplicity of honestly and openly trusting.
Nor to those who lapse into falsehood. --
Who has not slipped off the rock (v. 2) or thoughtlessly turned to the right or to the left, forgetting to "be careful" and "pay attention" to what God wants for us.
O my Father, You have told me over and over, all through Your love letter to me, the Bible, to be careful to pay attention to the principles presented there; the attitudes and choices You have set before me to follow Your ways, to obey Your Manufacturer's Instructions for the operation of this world You have made for us. Thank you for Your Spirit of Truth Who lives in my spirit, to teach me Your ways and to strengthen me to do what is needed to accomplish Your will for me. That I may complete my part of Your great Plan of the Ages, decided before anything began to exist, and put into motion at the Creation.
Father, keep me steadfast on that Rock, that I may never lapse into any way contrary to Your righteous Plan. And I know that Your love for me and for all of Your Creation will do only what is good for us, and will bring to You all the credit, all the glory, for having done it all.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Sunday, June 26, 2016
Reason Together With God
Isaiah 1:18-20
"Come now, let us settle the matter [let us reason together]," says the Lord. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool." --
God is pleading with His people, with us, to come to our senses (reason together) and recognize how all of our poor choices, missing the mark of perfection--sins--are complicating our lives and causing all our problems and troubles. Sins are not black, they are a deep red, a scarlet or crimson. But God is offering a way to "clean up" all the messes, making them as pristine as the new fallen snow, as bright white as the newly shorn fleece of wool.
"If you are willing and obedient," --
We need to decide to choose His ways and pay attention to do what He tells us to do.
"You will eat the good things of the land;" --
Doing what is right will result in our enjoying the benefits of this world.
"But if you resist and rebel", --
To decide to make our own ideas of what we want to do for ourselves instead of listening to and taking to heart His ways.
"you will be devoured by the sword." --
The consequences of bucking reality: by war, by the vote, by the cutting tongue.
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
"Come now, let us settle the matter [let us reason together]," says the Lord. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool." --
God is pleading with His people, with us, to come to our senses (reason together) and recognize how all of our poor choices, missing the mark of perfection--sins--are complicating our lives and causing all our problems and troubles. Sins are not black, they are a deep red, a scarlet or crimson. But God is offering a way to "clean up" all the messes, making them as pristine as the new fallen snow, as bright white as the newly shorn fleece of wool.
"If you are willing and obedient," --
We need to decide to choose His ways and pay attention to do what He tells us to do.
"You will eat the good things of the land;" --
Doing what is right will result in our enjoying the benefits of this world.
"But if you resist and rebel", --
To decide to make our own ideas of what we want to do for ourselves instead of listening to and taking to heart His ways.
"you will be devoured by the sword." --
The consequences of bucking reality: by war, by the vote, by the cutting tongue.
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Saturday, June 25, 2016
Always With Us
Hebrews 13:5-6
Let your character be free from the love of money, being content with what you have; --
Do not let getting paid be your first priority, appreciate what you already have been given; focus on enjoying what you already have, not on other things you want that you don't have yet.
for He Himself has said, "I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you, --
(Quoting Deuteronomy 31:16 and also Joshua 1:15) God promised Joshua in both of these books that He would never abandon him to his own devises, but would be faithful in staying with him through conquering all the pagan peoples who were occupying the Promised Land.
So that we confidently say, "The Lord is my Helper, I will not be afraid. What shall man do to me?" --
(Quoting Psalm 118:6) The Psalmist has applied this promise not only to Joshua, but to all of God's people. And the writer of Hebrews also has understood this promise as to all of us who have put our trust in Christ. Jesus, Himself promised to always be with us, "even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:20).
So, no matter what we face, we know that Jesus will always be with us to strengthen us in the right priorities of life. We can always choose to do what we know is right, even if the world doesn't approve, or thinks we're foolish.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Let your character be free from the love of money, being content with what you have; --
Do not let getting paid be your first priority, appreciate what you already have been given; focus on enjoying what you already have, not on other things you want that you don't have yet.
for He Himself has said, "I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you, --
(Quoting Deuteronomy 31:16 and also Joshua 1:15) God promised Joshua in both of these books that He would never abandon him to his own devises, but would be faithful in staying with him through conquering all the pagan peoples who were occupying the Promised Land.
So that we confidently say, "The Lord is my Helper, I will not be afraid. What shall man do to me?" --
(Quoting Psalm 118:6) The Psalmist has applied this promise not only to Joshua, but to all of God's people. And the writer of Hebrews also has understood this promise as to all of us who have put our trust in Christ. Jesus, Himself promised to always be with us, "even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:20).
So, no matter what we face, we know that Jesus will always be with us to strengthen us in the right priorities of life. We can always choose to do what we know is right, even if the world doesn't approve, or thinks we're foolish.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)