Tag: holy
Thankful for godly leadership!
Scripture reading for March 13th: Judges 18-21
Key Scriptures: Judges 18:18-20 “When these men went into Micah’s house and took the carved image, the ephod, the other household gods and the cast idol, the priest and said to them, “What are you doing?” The answered him, “Be Quiet! Don’t say a word. Come with us, and be our father and priest. Isn’t it better that you serve a tribe and clan in Israel as priest rather than just one man’s household?” Then the priest was glad. He took the ephod, the other household gods and the carved image and went along with the people.”
The tribe of Dan had turned to idolatry and a form of religion. They had no King or did not remember the Lord and His Word. This story tells of an idolatrous family and tribe whose priest served for dishonest gain!
Thankful for godly leadership: God commands leaders to live godly examples and not work for money but for Him! “Surely you remember, brothers, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you. You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed.” (1st Thessalonians 22:9-10)
Our Great High Priest!
Scripture reading for October 21st: Hebrews 7
Key Scriptures for over-comers: Hebrews 7: 23-26 “Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; but because Jesus lives forever, He has a permanent priesthood. Therefore He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them. Such a High Priest meets our need–one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens.”
Levitical priests were appointed by men and served until their deaths. When they went before God, they needed a sacrifice for their own sins as well as the sins of the people they represented. But Jesus Christ became a priest after the order of Melchizedek based on several amazing truths. He was appointed a Priest forever by God’s oath, not by men. He could serve as a permanent Priest because of His endless life, being raised from the dead. He offered Himself, His body and blood, as the atonement sufficient to pay the penalty of the sins of all mankind and He sat down, His work of salvation finished once for all!
Observations for over-comers: Jesus Christ, our High Priest, meets every need we have or will ever have. He alone can save us completely! “The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind: “You are a Priest forever, in the Order of Melchizedek.”” (Psalm 110:4, Hebrews 7:17)
Holy Separation to God!
Scripture reading for August 4th: 2nd Corinthians 6
Key scriptures for over-comers: 2nd Corinthians 6:14, 16-18 “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. . . .For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said, “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and the will be My people.” “Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” “I will be a Father to you, and you will be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”
Paul warned the Corinthians to be careful in their relationships and close associations with people from the world. Unbelievers have nothing in common with believers, and are in fact spiritually hostile to God and His people. God wants to live in each believer and be their God totally and for each believer to belong exclusively to Him. This requires a separation of what is holy from that which is profane or worldly. Our bodies are now the temple of the Holy Spirit and are set apart to God for His use. We are to separate from all that would defile God’s temple or tempt us to compromise our relationship with God!
Observations for over-comers: Separation from evil influences, unbelievers, and sinful practices is mandatory for over-comers. Separation to God for His purposes is the best approach, as all else will drop off. “Then Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, “You have been unfaithful; you have married foreign women, adding to Israel’s guilt. Now make confession to the Lord, the God of you fathers, and do His will. Separate yourselves from the peoples around you and from your foreign wives.” (Ezra 10:10-11)
The Glorious Throne!
Scripture reading for December 4th: Revelation 4
“After this I looked and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first hear speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here and I will show you what must take place after this.” At once I was in the Spirit and there before me was a throne in heaven with Someone sitting on it. And the One who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne.” (Revelation 4:1-3)
John received a supernatural revelation of the unseen reality that was invisible to all humans without divine assistance. The first thing John described was the throne. The throne had Someone sitting on it. John could only describe that “One” as having the appearance of sparkling gems and radiating the colors of a rainbow completely encircling Him. Jasper is crystal clear and carnelian is brilliant red. John had no physical description other than the glorious color and blazing light coming in flashes of lightning and peals of thunder. (Revelation 4:5)
Around this brilliant throne, there were twenty-four other thrones with elders dressed in white with crowns of gold. In the center of the throne, there were four living creatures and they never stopped crying, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is , and is to come.” (Revelation 4:8) The elders responded to their worship by falling down and casting their crowns before the throne crying, “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things, and by Your will they were created and have their being.” The unseen realities around God’s Holy Throne throb with worship, light, and glory! By God’s amazing grace, we who believe on Jesus will see this eternal throne in our glorified bodies!
Overcome by Glory!
Scripture reading for July 18th: Isaiah 5-8
In the presence of the Lord there is an awesome awareness of God’s holiness and of our sinfulness. It is always by God’s initiative that He reveals Himself to a man or woman. We can’t command a visitation although we can ask humbly. Job asked to have an audience with His maker and found himself unable to answer and repented in dust and ashes for words he had said. (Job 42:2-6) Isaiah had a visitation and saw the Lord in the year that King Uzziah died. (about 740 B.C.)
Isaiah beheld the Lord on a throne and his robe filled the temple. Above and around Him were heavenly beings called seraphs, or “burning ones”. They had six wings and were calling to each other “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty, the whole earth is full of His glory.” (Isaiah 6:3) When they spoke, their voices shook the doorposts and thresholds of the temple and smoke filled the house. It was the glory of God Almighty!
Isaiah himself began to cry out in terror of judgment in the presence of this Holy One! He immediately knew his sin would bring judgment and death. He also understood the people among whom he lived were in danger of judgment! Seeing God’s great white throne would spell disaster! (Revelation 20:11-14) God heard his confession. He sent one of the seraph’s with a burning coal from the altar. The seraph took the coal and applied it to the prophet’s mouth and his sin was taken away.
After cleansing, Isaiah heard the Lord asking a question. “Whom shall I send? And who will go for me?” Isaiah quickly responded with “Here am I, send me!” (Isaiah 6:8) God told Isaiah that He was sending him to a people whose hearts were calloused and ears were dull. (Isaiah 6:9-10) Jesus quoted these verses as he spoke to the religious people of His day. (Matthew 13:13-15)
In summary, the encounter Isaiah had with the Lord brought revelation of God’s glory. This led to recognition of his sinfulness and confession. Repentance brought cleansing. After cleansing he heard God’s call and willingly obeyed! This is a pattern for all disciples of Jesus Christ!
Lion and Lamb!
Scripture reading for December 24th: Revelation 4-5
John saw a door open in heaven and heard a voice calling him to enter. He immediately saw the brilliant throne of heaven and One seated on it. This throne was encircled by an emerald rainbow and radiated flashes of lightning and rumblings of loud thunder. There were 24 other thrones with elders seated dressed in white with golden crowns. Four living creatures that resembled animals with eyes all over them worshiped the One on the throne constantly saying “Holy,holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is and is to come.” (Revelation 4:8)
The 24 elders responded to the worship of these strange creatures with worship of their own. They fell down before the throne and cast their golden crowns before the Lord and said: “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.” (Revelation 4:11)
The worship of the elders is focused on God as creator of all things. Everything that has life draws it’s life from God. Because of His will and pleasure we have our being. Many in our culture deny God as creator but accept time and chance. Gods of good luck and fortune move them instead of the Lord, Creator of all!
John saw a scroll in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. A mighty angel spoke out: “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” (Revelation 5:2) No one was found and John began to weep profusely. But the Lion of the tribe of Judah had triumphed and He would open the scroll!
When John looked, this Lion was none other than a Lamb who had the marks of being slain. The Lamb took the scroll from the One seated on the throne and the 24 elders fell down and began to worship with a new song: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priest to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.” (Revelation 5:9-10) The Lion who is also a Lamb is the focus of all heaven and earth! Jesus Christ is His Name!
A vision of Glory!
Scripture reading for July 17th: Isaiah 5-8
The stories of encounters with the Lord in Scripture have very humbling effects on those so blessed to experience a personal visitation. It is always by God’s initiative that He reveals Himself to a man or woman. We can’t command a visitation, although we can ask humbly. Job asked to have an audience with His maker and found himself unable to answer. (Job 42:2-6) Isaiah had a visitation and saw the Lord in the year that King Uzziah died. (about 740 B.C.)
The first thing Isaiah saw was a vision of the throne room in Heaven. He saw the Lord on a throne and His robe filling the temple. Above and around Him were heavenly being called seraphs, or “burning ones”. They had six wings and used these to fly and cover their faces and feet. They were calling to each other “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty, the whole earth is full of His glory.” (Isaiah 6:3) When they spoke, their voices shook the doorposts and thresholds of the temple and smoke filled the house.
In the presence of the Lord, Isaiah began to cry out in terror! He immediately knew his sin would bring judgment and death. He understood that all people among whom he lived were also sinful and were in danger of judgment! Seeing God’s great white throne would spell disaster! (Revelation 20:11-14) But God saw his heart and heard his confession. He sent one of the seraph’s with a burning coal from the altar. The seraph took the coal and applied it to the prophet’s mouth.
After cleansing, Isaiah heard the Lord ask: “Whom shall I send? And who will go for me?” He quickly responded with “Here am I, send me!” (Isaiah 6:8) God told Isaiah that He was sending him to a people whose hearts were calloused and their ears were dull. They would become further hardened for ignoring Isaiah’s preaching! (Isaiah 6:9-10) Jesus quoted these same verses as he spoke to the religious people of His day. (Matthew 13:13-15)
In summary, the encounter Isaiah had with the Lord brought revelation of God’s glory. This led to recognition of his sinfulness and confession. Repentance and confession brought cleansing by God’s grace through fire from the altar. After cleansing he heard God’s call and willingly obeyed! This is a pattern for all disciples of Jesus Christ today!
Holy, Holy, Holy!
Scripture reading for December 25th: Revelation 4-5
Chapter 4 begins a vision that occurred when John saw a door open in heaven and heard the voice of Jesus say: “Come up here and I will show you what must take place after this.” (Revelation 4:1b) John was immediately in the Spirit and found himself standing before a glorious throne in heaven, beholding the One that was seated there!
This throne was surrounded by twenty-four other thrones, on which were seated twenty-four elders dressed in white and crowned with golden crowns. (Revelation 4:4-11) Before the throne were seven lamps that were blazing and a sea of glass like crystal. These seven lamps are the seven spirits of God. John also saw four living creatures around the throne. These creatures were covered with eyes and had the appearance of various animals: lion, ox, eagle, and one had the face of a man. These creatures had a mission of worship. “Day and night they never stopped saying: “HOLY, HOLY, HOLY is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.” As they gave thanks, the twenty-four elders would fall on their faces and lay their crowns before the throne and say: “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.” Worship and thanksgiving were and are ongoing around the throne in heaven. The elders worshiped God as Creator of all things!
John next noticed a scroll in the right hand of the One seated on the throne. An angel asked a question, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” (Revelation 5:2) A search was made and no one was found who was worthy and John began to weep. “Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.” John then saw a Lamb, standing in the center of the throne and He took the scroll from the One (God). This brought a new song of worship from the elders, angels, and every creature in heaven and earth! “To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever.” (Revelation 5:13)
Dressed to Meet with God!
Scripture reading for January 29th: Exodus 28-31
A priest’s job is to mediate between men and God. Men who are dealing with God must be holy and proper. If those assigned and prepared for this job were not obedient, death could result and did on occasion! (Leviticus 10:1-6) Just as God gave great detail in how his Tabernacle would be built, He also gave great detail about the men who would serve in His house! They had to pay attention to detail again.
Two other stones, the urim and thummin were also in the breastpiece, right over Aaron’s heart. (Exodus 28:30) These stones were to enable Aaron to make godly decisions in accordance with God’s will. These stones’ names mean “lights” and “perfections”. They have to do with the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden only in God.
The turban for Aaron’s head was also made of fine linen. It had a special gold plate with “Holy to the Lord” engraved on it. Aaron was to wear that plate on the front of his turban whenever he ministered. (Exodus 28:36-39)
So it is that Jesus Christ is our High Priest forever living to make intercession for us! (Hebrews 7:23-25) He carries our names on his breastpiece like precious stones and we are over His heart! In Him are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge! (Colossians 2:2-3) He stands as the only mediator between God and man, a mixture of earthly (He is a man) and heavenly (He is God). (1st Timothy 2:5-6) Let’s face it, Jesus is dressed to meet with God on our behalf! He is better than Aaron or his line because he lives forever. He is seated because his work is finished for our redemption. He is royalty in heaven and on earth! He offered Himself as the sacrifice for our sins. What a Savior!
One of the important lessons in this part of Scripture is this: are you dressed to meet with God? It is not so much a matter of clothes as it is of our heart. Are we going to Jesus as our way to the Father? Do we go in faith in His sacrifice? Are we going humbly? Are we seeking the proper attire of holiness? Examin yourself today and get dressed to meet with God!
“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to symphathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are–yet without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence so that we may receive mercy and find help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:14-16