Finding the Messiah in Leviticus December 26

Finding the Messiah in Leviticus December 26
Leviticus 25:39-55


God said that neglecting the poor was a sin. Permanent poverty was not allowed in Israel. Financially secure families were responsible to help and house those in need. Many times we do nothing, not because we lack compassion, but because we are overwhelmed by the size of the problem and don’t know where to begin. God doesn’t expect you to eliminate poverty, nor does he expect you to neglect your family while providing for others. He does, however, expect that when you see an individual in need, you will reach out with whatever help you can offer, including hospitality.

Remember in the coming year, you can not do everything-but you must do something. Secure your family. Offer a bed to those  who need a place to rest. The solution is not large acts, but small acts done with great love!

Finding the Messiah In Leviticus December 25

Finding the Messiah In Leviticus December 25

Leviticus 25:23-38

Sleep is a parable that God is God and we are mere men. God handles the world quite nicely while a hemisphere sleeps. Sleep is like a broken record that comes around with the same message every day: Man is not sovereign. Man is not sovereign. Man is not sovereign. Don't let the lesson be lost on you. God wants to be trusted as the great worker who never tires and never sleeps. He is not nearly so impressed with our late nights and early mornings as He is with the peaceful trust that casts all anxieties on Him and sleeps.” John Piper

Today, is Christmas whether we worked or not to make it happen!  The birth of Christ is a fact, not matter how many Herod’s of this world opposes it.  just as it is true, Christ is most often birthed in our heart, despite our opposition.  Merry Christmas!

Finding the Messiah in Leviticus, December 24

December 24

Leviticus: 25:8-22

In Leviticus 25:3-4  He (God) told Moses they couldn’t sow during that year.  “The land is to have a rest.” (Vrs 5) Have you ever heard of a company that would take a year off every six years?  No way!  That’s crazy! We have to make money!  We have to produce!  We can’t miss all those opportunities!  Many business owners (and customers) think it’s weird enough when a Christian company like Chik fill a-closes on Sundays.  Yet, they remain one of the most profitable fast food corporations, as well as one of the most respected, in the world.

Their corporate leaders understand this basic principle that God first gave to the Israelites.  By  letting the land lie fallow, they allowed the depleted nutrients to restore themselves.  This even seemed weird to the Israelites, since they didn’t have county extension agents to perform agricultural soil testing.  God revealed the right thing for them to do, asking them to trust him on faith.  (Today farmers usually rotate crops that draw out different nutrients-and utilize chemical restoration-so they never have to let the land sit fallow. Groeschel C. (2011) THE REST IS UP TO YOU. In WEIRD.  (2011 Ed). Grand Rapids, MI : Zondervan

Today, the eve of Christ Child’s birth is celebrated.  In Christ, like the land, man must rest.  In Christ, we are made righteous, perfect and holy.  All striving, work and effort must stop and faith in Christ begins!  

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesian 2:8-10

Finding the Messiah in Leviticus December 23
Leviticus 24:17-25:7


As you enter the tabernacle, on your right is a small, rectangular, low wooden table covered in gold, about the size of a coffee table. On it are a couple of golden plates, each of which holds a stack of round unleavened loaves of bread. There are also one or more pitchers for wine on the
table, but the main feature is the bread.


The priests are responsible for keeping the light burning and the table supplied with bread. The bread is changed every week on the Sabbath, but the lamp stand has to be seen to more often – at least daily. Only pure olive oil can be used in the lamp, and it is carefully prepared according to custom from beaten olives. The loaves of bread are each made from two measures of flour and each stack is sprinkled with frankincense.


The drink offerings and the bread displayed on the table belonged to the priests. When the bread was changed each week, it was distributed for the priests and their families to eat in approved places.”


“The sanctuary is a place of priestly fellowship in front of the curtain that conceals the ark. The incense altar shows it is a place of prayer. The meal and drink offerings on the table are reminiscent of the bread and wine of the last supper that Jesus shared with his disciples, and that he commanded us to eat in remembrance of him. The twelve loaves speak of the twelve tribes showing that God fellowships with all Israel at this table, not just the “priests. The two stacks foretell the Jewish and Gentile parts of the church that are united in one fellowship through Christ. The lamp burning olive oil from beaten olives speaks of the light he gives to us through the presence of his Holy Spirit. As the oil comes from beaten olives, so the Holy Spirit enlightens our spirits because of what Jesus suffered on our behalf.”
Excerpt From: John Turner. “Lessons from Leviticus.” iBooks. https://itun.es/us/9oBi1.l

Advent is a reminder mankind redemption was well planned and provided for ahead of time.


Thank God today, for the many lights that point to Jesus!

Finding the Messiah In Leviticus. December 22

Finding the Messiah In Leviticus. December 22
Leviticus 24:1-16

“Inside the tabernacle were three articles of furniture. 

Directly ahead of you as you enter, and near to the veil at the far end, stood the altar of incense. It was a small, enclosed, flat topped stand about waist high, like a kitchen counter, and about 18 inches, or 500cm square, with four projections called “horns” sticking up on the corners. As you might imagine from its name, it was used to burn incense. Viewed from the position of God on the mercy seat above the ark on the other side of the veil, it was the nearest article of furniture.

On your left is the golden lamp stand hammered from a solid one talent lump of gold. A talent was a measure of weight that was about 60kg. The lamp stand has seven branches extending from its single base. Each branch is decorated with flower shapes and supports a golden oil lamp to help light the sanctuary. A talent of gold, depending on purity and the system you use for weights and measures, would be about the size of two or two and a half house bricks. Gold is very ductile but this item must have had a thin tubular construction or been quite small. All the images we have of it that offer a sense of scale are from the much later second temple period, so we really haven't got a good idea of its original size or construction.”

“All of the equipment and furniture of the tabernacle and its use are prophetic in various ways of the life and ministry of Christ. They were intended to teach Israel important spiritual principles and to prepare them for the coming of their Messiah. We can look back on these things and see how marvelously and prophetically instructive they were.”

One of my favorite Christmas Carols is; Come thou long expected Jesus. The lyrics are the story of the tabernacle. Come, Thou long expected Jesus Born to set Thy people free; From our fears and sins release us, Let us find our rest in Thee. Israel's strength and consolation. . .

Excerpt From: John Turner. “Lessons from Leviticus.” iBooks. https://itun.es/us/9oBi1.l

This Advent and Christmas what fears and sins do you need to be set free from?

Finding the Messiah December 21

Finding the Messiah December 21
Leviticus 23:33-44

The Festival of Tabernacles, also known as the Festival of Ingathering, was a special celebration involving the whole family (see 23:34; Exodus 23:16; Deuteronomy 16:13-14). Like
Passover, this festival taught family members of all ages about God’s nature and what he had done for them and was a time of renewed commitment to God. Our families also need rituals of celebration to renew our faith and to pass it on to our children. In addition to Christmas, we should select other special days to celebrate God’s good provision.

Ask yourself prayerfully, how this Christmas season, you can involve the whole family in celebrating Christ’s Birth?

Finding the Messiah In Leviticus. December 20

Finding the Messiah In Leviticus. December 20
Leviticus 23:15-32

Amazingly; God timed the most important events in Jesus saving work to coincide with the Jewish festivals of Leviticus 23. God gave these feasts about 1500 year earlier, as road signs of the coming Messiah.

If God can arrange all of history to the second, from thousands of years in the past, from an ancient book called Leviticus, don’t you think He is capable of helping us with all the obstacles of our lives? He Is able to help us walk in victory over the challenges of Christmas!

Today will you bend your knee to the Messiah, as the Master of all of your Life ? May we submit to his Lordship over the days and hours of our lives. Let us make him the center of a
celebrations, not just Christmas! In every task, pleasing or unpleasant, may we spend our time praising Christ and loving His children!

Finding the Messiah in Leviticus. December 19

Leviticus 23:1-14

The feasts of Israel were not mere holidays to be observed on the nearest Monday in order to provide a long weekend. Each was a symbolic occasion or season designed to teach a truth which God wants to impart to his people, to drive home a basic truth which is fundamental to human happiness. That is why they were spaced and timed and regulated, their observance specially appointed and carefully predicted. As we go through them you will be able to see where we are in history right now, where the nation of Israel is in God's program for it, what has been fulfilled in the past, and what lies yet unfulfilled in the future. And, as we have seen all through this book, things which were literally and historically true of the nation of Israel are also pictures of God's spiritual program with each one of us today. Every believer in Jesus Christ proceeds through this same order of spiritual development. That is what makes this a most fascinating chapter.

Sermon God's Calendar Series: Basic Human Behavior Author: Ray C. Stedman

Is the holiday of Christmas being man or God focused in your house and heart?

Finding the Messiah in Leviticus December 18

Finding the Messiah in Leviticus December 18
Leviticus 22:17-33


Romans 6:23 tells us that the price that must be paid for sin has always been death. Beginning with the coat of skin that God made for Adam and Eve in the garden, some animal had to die so that their nakedness (sin) could be covered.


In Leviticus God gives Moses the specific instructions for:
The Passover Lamb
The Lamb of Atonement
The Sin Offering
The Oblation of Vows
The Thanksgiving Offering
The Freewill Offering
The Peace Offering
The Trespass Offering
The Cleansing of Lepers
The Wave Offering
The Purification of the Unclean
The First Fruits Offering
The Offerings of Appointed Feasts
All Burnt Offerings
...all of the following had one common denominator. Regardless of which animal was to be sacrificed it was to be spotless, without blemish.


Webster describes a blemish as:
1. A mark that mars the appearance, as a stain, spot, scar, etc.
2. Any flaw, defect, or shortcoming
Without a doubt all of humanity is blemished. We have our scars, our flaws, our defects, our shortcomings.


Only one could take away the sin of Mankind; God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21 This day of advent be a day of confessing your sins, leaving them behind and thanking the Messiah for His sacrifice.

Finding the Messiah in Leviticus December 17

Finding the Messiah in Leviticus December 17
Leviticus 22:1- 16

No one was too inconsequential to be provided a way to atone for sin, return to relationship with God, and have his life restored. The most unimportant member of the community had a place at the altar. The more influential members of the community had greater responsibility and greater authority, requiring a more expensive offering, but they were not granted greater access according to God’s instructions.

No one was too poor to be able to fulfill the requirements of this provisional atonement. The price was just enough to be costly to the one offering. How much blood was poured at his altar was not the important thing to God. The important thing to God was that the sacrifice be a mark of true repentance and obedience.

The God of all creation needs nothing that we can give him. But a sacrifice that costs us little means little to him. For a man who is destitute, giving a handful of flour may leave him hungry for a day—his obedience is costly and demands an honest confession of brokenness. That is the sacrifice that God desires. A handful of flour from such a man means more to God than the blood of ten goats offered in indifference or pride out of the abundance of a rich man. Still, a rich man was required to give only one goat—as long it marked true repentance and obedience.
Third, if the price is the same for every sin, and the price must be costly to the one offering the sacrifice, ask yourself this question: when the one offering the sacrifice is the God of all creation himself, what sacrifice is sufficient? There is nothing in creation that God needs. The only thing he can possibly give that is truly costly to him is himself. And so, when, in the fullness of time, God offered the sacrifice to end all sacrifices, he gave his only Son, Jesus Christ, the second person of the Trinity. He could do no less.

Sin is deadly serious. God is indeed gracious and loving!

From Chris tiller Perfect Priest Perfect Sacrifice Sermon

Finding the Messiah in Leviticus. December 16

Finding the Messiah in Leviticus. December 16
Leviticus 21:16-24

As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house[a] to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:4,5

Fanny Crosby, the great hymn writer, was blind; so was George Matheson, author, hymn writer, and preacher. Amy Carmichael directed the work of her mission in India from her sickbed. The Scottish Presbyterian preacher Robert Murray McCheyne was often laid down by his weak heart. And the great preacher, Charles Spurgeon, had to leave London in the winter to restore his health in the south of France. Joni Eareckson Tada is a quadriplegic; yet, she is a Christian author, radio host, public speaker, and founder of Joni and Friends.

We see, then, that physical defects are not a barrier to either salvation or Christian service. All believers can surrender them-selves to the Lord Jesus and be living sacrifices for His glory, no matter what disabilities they may have. But in the OT these great Christian could not serve as a priest.

In our PC culture we have a hard time with Leviticus 21:18 No man who has any defect may come near: no man who is blind or lame, disfigured or deformed; Why? Remember, priests were a picture of the great high priest to come-Jesus! Who was perfect, without blemish, and defect!

The Christ Child - would Grow to become God’s perfect sacrifice for man’s sin. Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered 9 and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him Hebrews 5:8,9

Finding the Messiah in Leviticus. December 15

Finding the Messiah in Leviticus. December 15
Leviticus 21:1-15

A special standard of holiness was expected of priests, with an even more stringent code of conduct for the high priest.

“We periodically encounter scandals where some “political leader, public official, teacher, evangelist, banker or other public figure has failed to live up to standards expected of them. When 'ordinary' people breach some of the same standards there is comparatively little excitement, perhaps none at all. Those who have been appointed to serve should honor their responsibilities by exemplary care over their behavior. People expect more of them, and so does God. People in public office or who have key responsibilities cannot afford to give way to emotion, descend to the common level, and do what they wish just because others do.
When you are called to belong to God's kingdom of priests and to serve him in any capacity under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, more is expected of you. Everything you do and every decision you make has the potential to reflect on him. Bad decisions defile our children and heritage. They can limit our effectiveness as ministers of the gospel and potentially damage the faith of others. If you are one of the moral guardians, even by association, then your conduct must be moral.”

As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house[a] to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:4,5

Take 5 minutes and think of all the morality Christ and Christmas has added to the world? Adoption, charity, etc.

Excerpt From: John Turner. “Lessons from Leviticus.” iBooks.

Find the Messiah in Leviticus

December 14
Leviticus 20:9-27


Sacrificing children to the gods was a common practice in ancient religions. The Ammonites, Israel’s neighbors, made child sacrifice to Molek (their national god) a vital part of their religion. They saw this as the greatest gift they could offer to ward off evil or appease angry gods. God made it clear that this practice was detestable and strictly forbidden.


Almighty God’s, character made human sacrifice unthinkable. (1) Unlike the pagan gods, he is the God of love, who does not need to be appeased-because he loves mankind made in his image. And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, Exodus 34:6. (2) He is the God of life, who prohibits murder and encourages practices that lead to health and happiness See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. 16 For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess. Deuteronomy 30:15-16. (3) He is the God of the helpless, who shows special concern for children May he defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy; may he crush the oppressor. Psalm 72:4. (4) He is the God of unselfishness who, instead of demanding human sacrifices, sacrificed himself for us. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.Isaiah 53:5.


Verse seven of today’s verses, God declare’s He makes us holy. So who on earth-man or woman, receives God’s favor? pause Those who are holy! Leviticus 20:8 Keep my decrees
and follow them. I am the Lord, who makes you holy. Holiness and anointing are either attained by perfectly keeping all of God’s decrees, in the entire history of OT, no one made it. Or in faith trusting God’s Messiah to make you holy!

Finding the Messiah in Leviticus December 13

Finding the Messiah in Leviticus December 13
Leviticus 19:32-20:8


Leviticus 19:32 Stand up in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. I am the Lord. People find the Messiah when we treat others as God has treated us.


People often find it easy to dismiss the opinions of the elderly and avoid taking time to visit with them. But the fact that God commanded the Israelites to honor the elderly shows how seriously we should take the responsibility of respecting those older than we are. Their wisdom gained from experience can save us from many pitfalls. How do you show respect and honor to your elders? Tyndale (2012-02-17). Life Application Study Bible NIV (Kindle Locations 161257-161260). Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.. Kindle Edition.


May I suggest, during Christmas and through out the year-take some time to gift, engage, visit and talk to the Elderly. Holiness is never just a warm feeling, but how we treat others

Finding the Messiah In Leviticus December 12

Finding the Messiah In Leviticus December 12

Leviticus 19:17-31

The Old Testament Law gave protection for the poor and the foreigner and a reminder that God owned the land; the people were only caretakers. Laws such as this showed God’s generosity and liberality. As people of God, the Israelites were to reflect his nature and characteristics in their attitudes and actions.

During advent how is God’s generosity and liberality being shone through your actions? Verse Eighteen states “‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord. Is that being expressed in your life and and your family this advent?

Finding the Messiah in Leviticus December 11

Finding the Messiah in Leviticus December 11
Leviticus 19:1-16

“We have said that holiness is not about separation or about behavior, but chapters 19 and 20 might tend to make one wonder. They introduce themselves by saying that Israel should be holy because their God is holy. Obviously that does not mean God is separated in some way from certain aspects of his creation or that he is a rule keeper at heart. Any separation on God's part is a consequence of his dedication to the purpose of loving and caring for his creation. The rules he makes are part of that purpose.

As we read through this list of commandments we can see how that care is shown in many details – respecting parents, ensuring regular time for rest and contemplation, and providing for strangers and the poor. Some aspects of these commandments are particularly noteworthy and interesting:

• verse 16 shows that it is not just about what we must not do but also about what we should not neglect to do, since a great support of evil comes from our failure to stand up against wrong doing when we are not personally the target”

This advent prayerfully find for yourself how you will stand up against evil, and begin to act on it.
I.E. Give up a Christmas gift and donate to a godly cause. How are you going to support God’s holiness?

Excerpt From: John Turner. “Lessons from Leviticus.” iBooks.

Finding the Messiah December 11

Finding the Messiah December 11
Leviticus 19:1-16

“We have said that holiness is not about separation or about behavior, but chapters 19 and 20 might tend to make one wonder. They introduce themselves by saying that Israel should be holy because their God is holy. Obviously that does not mean God is separated in some way from certain aspects of his creation or that he is a rule keeper at heart. Any separation on God's part is a consequence of his dedication to the purpose of loving and caring for his creation. The rules he makes are part of that purpose.

As we read through this list of commandments we can see how that care is shown in many details – respecting parents, ensuring regular time for rest and contemplation, and providing for strangers and the poor. Some aspects of these commandments are particularly noteworthy and interesting:
Leviticus 19:15,16 shows that it is not just about what we must not do but also about what we should not neglect to do, since a great support of evil comes from our failure to stand up against wrong doing when we are not personally the target”

This advent prayerful find how for yourself you will stand up against evil, and begin to act on it.
I.E. Give up a Christmas gift and donate to a godly cause. How are you going to support God’s holiness?


Excerpt From: John Turner. “Lessons from Leviticus.” iBooks. https://itun.es/us/9oBi1.l

Finding the Messiah in Leviticus December 9

Finding the Messiah in Leviticus December 9

Leviticus 18:1-18

“Though it is popular today to tolerate or even encourage homosexuality, the Bible is clearly opposed to any form of homosexual practice.  Our society does not permit kleptomaniacs to indulge their tendencies by going about taking from others anything they please.  Whether these individuals are born with kleptomaniac tendencies, or they have acquired it as a disease of the mind, is not relevant to the issue.  Neither is an acceptable excuse or cause to give expression to the antisocial desire to steal. 

A normal sex drive gives rise to desires which we learn to control and repress in the interest of social harmony.  Most of us, men and women, whether heterosexual or otherwise, manage to avoid committing sexual crimes such as rape.  Some heterosexuals choose to remain single rather than marry.  A good proportion of those who are married manage to obey God and avoid giving social offense by not committing adultery.

Perhaps those homosexuals who wish to observe Biblical principles could manage to similarly control their urges and abstain from sexual activity that God says displeases him.  Theft is prohibited in thought ('Thou shalt not covet') as well as in deed. 

Excerpt From: John Turner. “Lessons from Leviticus.” iBooks. https://itun.es/us/9oBi1.l

Finding the Messiah in Leviticus December 8

Finding the Messiah in Leviticus, December 8 Leviticus 17

We often forget that the Israelite worship center was a slaughterhouse. It was a place where birds were torn apart with bare hands, where the plunge of knives turned livestock into dead-stock, where blood flowed in trenches, and the odor of charred flesh filled the nostrils of worshipers. Death was ever present in the house of God—a reminder of the consequences of sin.”

“We are spared the necessity of such a messy corollary to our worship. Christ’s death on the cross is the only sacrifice we need to escape the penalty due to our sin, becoming effective for us when we put our faith in him. Nothing we can do will either earn or add to our acceptance by God through Christ.”

“Yet there is this: God desires the free offering of our worship. “With Jesus’ help, let us continually offer our sacrifice of praise to God by proclaiming the glory of his name” (Hebrews 13:15). It pleases God when we praise him, not in the hope of receiving anything in return, but just because we love him for all he is and all he has done.

Our worship is always a response to God giving to us. And as his mercy and grace are infinite, so our worship must never be ending, daily, even moment by moment. Death will only modulate our singing of “Holy, holy, holy” upward to richer chords of praise.

Such worship resounds with goodness. In this sense, it is no “sacrifice” at all; it takes nothing away from us but only gives. Worship is a circular system of blessings. God is the source, and we are the happy participants.

[I pray]

Lord, may my praise to you flow more freely than the blood of bulls in temple days. I worship you for your great goodness to me.”

Excerpt From: Thomas Nelson. “NLT, Personal Worship Bible, eBook.” iBooks. https://itun.es/us/B1p_7.l

Finding the Messiah in Leviticus December 6

Leviticus 16:1-14

Take some time and study the differences between the old and new sacrifice.

Old System of Sacrifice                                     New System of Sacrifice 

Was temporary (Hebrews 8:13)                       New Is permanent (Hebrews 7:21) 

Aaron first high priest (Leviticus 16:32)         Jesus only High Priest (Hebrews 4:14) 

From tribe of Levi (Hebrews 7:5)                       From tribe of Judah (Hebrews 7:14) 

Ministered on earth (Hebrews 8:4)                       Ministers in heaven (Hebrews 8:1-2) 

Used blood of animals (Leviticus 16:15)              Uses blood of Christ (Hebrews 10:4-12) 

Required many sacrifices (Hebrews 10:1-3)         Requires one sacrifice (Hebrews 9:28)

Can you find the Messiah in Leviticus?

Finding the Messiah in Leviticus December 5

Finding the Messiah in Leviticus December 5 Leviticus 15:16-33

The verses in this section are not implying that sex is dirty ordisgusting. God created sex for (1) the enjoyment of married couples, (2) the continuation of the race, and (3) the preservation of the covenant. Everything must be seen and done with a view toward God’s love and ultimate authority. Sex is not separate from spirituality and God’s care. God is concerned about our sexual habits, for they form and reveal our relationship to our heavenly Father. He designed us, including our sexuality, as wonderfully complex and unified spiritual creatures. We tend to separate our physical and spiritual lives, but there is an inseparable intertwining. God must be Lord over our whole being—including our sex lives. In what ways do you acknowledge your relationship with God in your sexuality? Read Ephesians 5:21-33. What “profound mystery does our Sexuality reveal? How does this section reveal both God’s demand for Holiness and how Jesus Christ meets that demand?

Finding the Messiah in Leviticus 12-2-2016

Finding the Messiah in Leviticus Friday 12-2 Leviticus 14:27-42
“WEARING OUR SPIRITUAL ATTIRE
LEVITICUS 11:1 – 14 : 57

I, the LORD, am your God. You must be holy “because I am holy (11:44).

[i reflect]

A wedding invitee was digging postholes on his ranch when he suddenly remembered the wedding, which was to begin in less than half an hour. He hopped into his pickup truck and raced off to the church. At first congratulating himself on managing to slip into a pew before the bride began her procession, he soon noticed other guests casting glances his way. This was a formal wedding—and he was in dirty work clothes! He was mortified.

To borrow some biblical imagery, we must be clothed in righteousness by washing our robes in the blood of the Lamb if we are to worship him who dwells in unapproachable light.

The lyric to an angelic praise chorus begins this way: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty” (Revelation 4:8). The triple use of “holy” indicates complete holiness. God is not somewhat holy or essentially holy, but wholly holy.

Singing such a song is all well and good for angels who have never sinned. But what about us? How can we, who swim in the sin-polluted pool known as humanity, presume to come near to God and declare his “declare his holiness? Our clothes have a lust smudge here, a bitterness stain there, and a selfishness tear at the hem.

God chooses to see us as righteous if we ask to be clothed in “Christ’s righteousness and washed in his blood. And he wants us, in addition, to do our best at bringing our actual behavior in line with our granted position before God. Do a mental assessment of your spiritual attire. What is preventing you from worshiping him “in the splendor of his holiness” (Psalm 29:2)?

[I pray]

O Lord, help me to see how the sin I play with is not a toy but a weapon turned upon me. Make my feet swift as I flee sin.

(I respond]

Who is the holiest person you know? Get together with him or her and ask to hear the hard-earned lessons this person must “earned lessons this person must have learned about climbing the stairway of sanctification.”
Excerpt From: Thomas Nelson. “NLT, Personal Worship Bible, eBook.” iBooks.

Find the Messiah in Leviticus 11-25-2016

Finding the Messiah in Leviticus Friday 11-25

Leviticus 11:29-47 Festival of Trumpets

In Exodus chapters 19 and 20 we read the account of God’s appearance on Mount Sinai and the initial giving of the Ten Commandments. Exodus 19:5 depicts God inviting the children of Israel into a covenant: the Mosaic Covenant. In a spectacular revelation, God manifested His presence in the smoke and fire on Mount Sinai—as He came to covenant with His people amidst the sound of a trumpet that caused the people to tremble. They promised to do everything that the Lord commanded.

This cataclysmic event was to be stamped indelibly upon the memory of the people of Israel. Every year, at the Feast of Trumpets, those same-sounding trumpet blasts reminded Israel that they were a people under covenant; a nation who had accepted the responsibilities of being God’s people. By doing so, the nation also prepared herself for the Day of Atonement, eight days later, when they would repent and find atonement for all they had done to break this covenant.

I believe that the truest fulfillment of this festival is Jesus’ offer of the New Covenant to all who would receive it. “‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you'” (Luke 22:20b).

We who have accepted the New Covenant remember this fact every time we take communion. The bread and the cup remind us of the cataclysmic events of the Lord’s death and resurrection. They remind us of our responsibilities in being New Covenant-people. We repent and show remorse for our sin in falling short of this high and holy calling. Through faith in the shed blood of Jesus, we receive the full and final atonement provided by the New Covenant.  https://jewsforjesus.org/newsletter-sep-2000/the-feast-of-trumpets

Happy Thanksgiving!

Finding the Messiah in Leviticus

Happy Thanksgiving Thursday 11-24

Leviticus 11:9-28

Festival of weeks

Festival of weeks It was in essence similar to our Thanksgiving Day which celebrates the end of the harvest. But now imagine that instead of having Christmas a month after Thanksgiving, we had another Thanksgiving Day to thank God for the abundance that the harvest brings.  The whole time would be focused on giving thanks to God.  That is what happening here only the time frame is 50 days instead of 30 days.  This feast was a great celebration of how God had provided an abundant harvest for the people once again.

But there is another aspect in Jewish history that is often overlooked when it comes to this feast.  Exodus 19:1 states that the giving of the Law at Sinai began in the third month after Passover and so later Jewish tradition related this feast to the giving of the Law at Sinai.  Thus later on during the Feast of Weeks at the time of Jesus, the synagogue prayers would refer to this feast as “the time of the giving of our law.”  The Passover and Pentecost were linked then as salvation and gratitude in the people’s lives.  They recognized that while God saved them from Egypt, without obedience to the law it meant nothing.

Today, thank God for the abundance you have. Thank God for all the people who have brought God’s word to you life.


Finding the Messiah in Leviticus November 23

Wednesday 11-23
Finding the Messiah in Leviticus 10:16-11:8
First Fruits
“Jesus is the First Fruits of the barley harvest.  He is:
•          the firstborn of Mary (Mat 1:23-25)
•          the first-begotten of God the Father (Heb 1:6)
•          the firstborn of every creature (Col 1:15)
•          the first-begotten from the dead (Rev 1:5)
•          the firstborn of many brethren (Rom 8:29)
•          the first fruits of the resurrected ones (1 Cor 15:20,23)
•          the beginning of the creation of God (Rev 3:14)
•          the preeminent one (Col 1:18)

Take extra time to thank God for the first Jesus signifies.

Finding the Messiah in Leviticus 11-22-2016

Finding the Messiah in Leviticus. Tuesday 11-22

Leviticus 10:1-15 Unleavened Bread

The Festival of Unleavened Bread reminded Israel of their escape from Egypt. For seven days they ate unleavened bread, just as they had eaten it back then (Exodus 12:14-15). The symbolism of this bread made without yeast was important to the Israelites. First, because the bread was unique, it illustrated Israel’s uniqueness as a nation. Second, because yeast was a symbol of sin, the yeast-less bread represented Israel’s moral purity. Third, the baking method reminded them to obey quickly. Their ancestors left the yeast out of their dough so they could leave Egypt quickly without waiting for the dough to rise.

Tyndale (2012-02-17). Life Application Study Bible NIV (Kindle Locations 161334-161338). Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.. Kindle Edition.

Thank God for how he has made and gifted you uniquely. Thank God for the moral purity we have in Christ. Pray for God to teach and strengthen you to obey quicker.

Finding the Messiah in Leviticus, November 21 2016

Finding the Messiah in Leviticus, Monday 11-21

Leviticus 9:8-9:24

Sabbath

“The first of the feasts is the weekly Sabbath, a day for complete rest for all Israel.  The word Sabbath (Hebrew shabbat) means cease (hence rest) and derives from the concept of a celebration of creation, remembering that God rested from his creative works on the seventh day (Gen 2:1-3, ).  Shabbat thus became the official name for the 7th day of the week.”

The purpose of the Sabbath rest here was to reinforce the fact that God is taking care of them.  God had provided for them and so they could take a break from their work.  The Sabbath highlighted for them that same fact: God will provide and they could rest in God’s provision.  We too can rest in God and not weigh ourselves down trying to provide for ourselves.

In January 1999, the North Atlantic commercial fishing industry saw a deadly string of accidents. In a 13-day span, the Cape Fear, the Adriatic, and the Beth Dee Bob were all lost at sea off the coast of New Jersey. In all, 10 men died, five never to be found.  Investigations revealed the following facts about the three separate tragedies:  None involved a hull breach.  All three ships were piloted by veteran captains with 10 years or more in the wheelhouse. All three ships were near the end of their journey, less than 15 miles from home.  So what happened? Two of the three ships were carrying too much weight, and one was carrying its weight improperly. The Cape Fear and the Adriatic each had 10-15 tons of excess weight and the heavy seas overwhelmed them.

When we go all out without resting, we become like these ships and we carry too much on our shoulders because we think we have to do more and more.  Sabbath means that we can rest securely as we trust fully that God will provide for us no matter what we may have to endure; God has us securely.

When we fail to observe God’s rhythm of rest, we become either overloaded or improperly weighted. And we may fail to make our heavenly port. John Turner. “Lessons from Leviticus.” iBooks. https://itun.es/us/9oBi1.l

Obedience

Finding the Messiah in Leviticus Sunday 11-20
Leviticus 8:30-9:7

So Aaron and his sons did everything the Lord commanded through Moses. Leviticus 8:36

Considering the many detailed lists of Leviticus, that was a remarkable feat. They knew what God wanted, how he wanted it done, and with what attitude it was to be carried out. This can serve as a model for how carefully we ought to obey God. God wants us to be thoroughly holy people, not a rough approximation of the way his followers should be.

My Beloved!

Snippet

God loves each of us as if there were only one of us.  Augustine

Scripture

My beloved spoke and said to me,

    “Arise, my darling,

    my beautiful one, come with me. Song of Solomon 2:10 NIV

Song

My Beloved David Crowder

https://youtu.be/nQk7RQg5p3k

There's a sun coming up

In my soul, Lord, in my soul

There's a sun coming up

In my soul, Lord, in my soul

I see the light, I see the light

I see the light, I see the light

Oh, thank You, God, I see the light

Woah, woah, woah

My Beloved, bring me awake

Take me up to Your resurrection place

My Beloved, bring me awake

'Cause I wanna feel Your light on my face

There's a sun coming up

In my soul, Lord, in my soul

There's a sun coming up

In my soul, Lord, in my soul

I see the light, I see the light

I see the light, I see the light

Oh, thank You, God, I see the light

Woah, woah, Noah

My Beloved, take me away,

Over Jordan up out of this place

My Beloved, for You I'll wait

With You here 'til forever face to face

There's a sun coming up

In my soul, Lord, in my soul

There's a sun coming up

In my soul, Lord, in my soul

I see the light, I see the light

I see the light, I see the light

Oh, thank You, God, I see the light

Woah

No more sorrow, no more pain

No more darkness weighing down on me

No longer blind now I can see

Forever light, forever free

I see the light, I see the light

I see the light, I see the light

Oh, thank you, God, I see the light

Woah, woah, woah, woah...

Sentence Prayer

Jesus my beloved, bring awake to your love and grace.

Lead me to Your resurrection place

My Beloved Jesus, bring me awake

as we go, so I may feel and know the warmth of your light

in Your love, joy and peace.  Amen