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Congregation of the Living Word, a Messianic Jewish Congregation
Parshat Shemini: Do Not Defile The Temple Of The Holy Spirit - English only. Just after Nadab and Abihu died, God told Aaron that he and his sons could not drink wine or strong drink before going into the Tabernacle. God wanted them to discern between the holy and the profane, and between the unclean and clean. Is there a connection between what we eat and drink with the Tabernacle of God? This is an English translation of the podcast posted April 28, 2025.
The annual Torah cycle reading for this week, Achre Mot, Leviticus chapters 16 through 18, takes place - literally as it says - "after the death" of Aaron's two sons, Nadab and Abihu. And it begins with a warning about what Aaron must do, so that he "die not," as well. The Erev Shabbat (Friday evening) begins there, and with a description of the 'two goats' associated with the Day of Atonement, or Yom Kippur. What then follows is another of the most "politially-INcorrect" sections in Scripture. And the fact that it IS tells us just how far into perversion the world has gone. And there is a warning here, too. The fact that SO much of what is today accepted as PC means that His Truth is now guaranteed to offend many. https://hebrewnationonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/SSM-5-9-25-Achre-Mot-teaching-podcast-xxx.mp3 it? As Yahushua warned in prophecies like Matthew chapter 24, we are currently seeing what is almost certainly the beginning of the period of the Greatest Deception in human history. So this Sabbath Day midrash begins with a warning, from Paul's Second Letter to the Thessalonians: those who do not have a "love of the Truth" will probably not survive what is coming. "Achre Mot: It Only STARTS with Love of the Truth" https://hebrewnationonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/WT-CooH-5-10-25-Achre-Mot-Love-of-Truth-Rightly-Divide-the-Word-podcast-xxx.mp3 The combined two-part reading and Sabbath midrash: https://hebrewnationonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/WT-CooH-5-10-25-Achre-Mot-Love-of-Truth-Rightly-Divide-the-Word-podcast-xxx.mp3
Congregation of the Living Word, a Messianic Jewish Congregation
Parshat Shemini: Do Not Defile The Temple Of The Holy Spirit - Spanish only. Just after Nadab and Abihu died, God told Aaron that he and his sons could not drink wine or strong drink before going into the Tabernacle. God wanted them to discern between the holy and the profane, and between the unclean and clean. Is there a connection between what we eat and drink with the Tabernacle of God? Recorded April 26, 2025. Parshat Shemini: No envilezcas el templo del Espíritu Santo - sólo en español. Justo después de la muerte de Nadab y Abihu, Dios le dijo a Aaron que él y sus hijos no podían tomar vino ni sidra antes de entrar al Tabernáculo de Dios... para discernir entre lo limpio y lo inmundo. ¿Habrá una conexión entre lo que comemos y bebemos con el Tabernáculo de Dios? Grabado el 26 de abril de 2025.
Nadab and Abihu approached God with strange fire, and were immediately struck down. Some say strange fire refers to false signs and wonders, others theorized they were drunk - but what is this 'strange' fire, and is it still around today? And - if there's a strange fire, what is the 'real' fire? Torah Portion: Sh'mini / Eighth שְּׁמִינִי Support Rise on Fire Ministries by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/rise-on-fireRead transcript
Join Mark Call of Shabbat Shalom Mesa fellowship for a two-part look at parsha "Shmini," Leviticus chapters 9 through 11. The Erev Shabbat (Friday evening) reading begins with the story of the "eighth [shmini] day" and the events leading to the deaths of Aaron's two eldest sons. And it completes with the instruction of what is "food," and what is not. The confluence certainly suggests there is a connection, regardless of what we may have been told by many who, "by your traditions, make the commandments of YHVH of no effect." The Erev Shabbat reading: https://hebrewnationonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/SSM-4-25-25-Shmini-teaching-podcast-xxx.mp3 As seems to be so often the case, the Torah portion story this week has a relevance to current events that demonstrates the timelessness of the message, as the lawless claim that "no one is above the law," has become a sick joke. Mark notes that there has been much discussion over the centuries of why "Aaron kept his peace," or remained silent, after the death of his two oldest sons, Nadab and Abihu. One of the explanations might be that he realized, after the 'golden calf,' that he, himself, had arguably deserved, but been spared, a similar fate. So, why those two? What did they really do? Even though Scripture explicitly tells us, questions remain. Because, "to whom much is given, much is expected." Shmini: "No One is Above the Law. And they Knew, or Should Have Known." https://hebrewnationonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/WT-CooH-4-26-25-Shmini-NO-One-is-Above-the-Law-Knew-or-Should-Have-podcast-xxx.mp3 The combined two-part reading and Sabbath midrash:
Torah Portion -Sh'mini: (Leviticus 9–11) - Strange Fire & The Death of Nadab and Abihu by Shawn Ozbun
וַיִּקְחוּ בְנֵי־אַהֲרֹן נָדָב וַאֲבִיהוּא אִישׁ מַחְתָּתוֹ וַיִּתְּנוּ בָהֵן אֵשׁ וַיָּשִׂימוּ עָלֶיהָ קְטֹרֶת וַיַּקְרִיבוּ לִפְנֵי ה' אֵשׁ זָרָה אֲשֶׁר לֹא צִוָּה אֹתָם׃ Now Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu each took his fire pan, put fire in it, and laid incense on it; and they offered before ה' alien fire, which had not been enjoined upon them.
Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu put coals of fire in their incense burners and sprinkled incense over them. In this way, they disobeyed the LORD by burning before him the wrong kind of fire, different than he had commanded.Leviticus 10:1 NLT
Return of the Man-Child (8) (audio) David Eells – 4/16/25 Father, in Jesus' Name, we thank You so much, Lord, that we can fellowship around Your Word. We know and trust in Your Word that is going to reveal to us those things that we need to know for the days to come and things that will enable us to cooperate with You in this process of sanctification and holiness, and also in the ministry of the Lord. We thank You that the Lord Jesus is coming in His people in order to fulfill in His Church that which You stated You would do from the beginning. We thank You, Lord, that You have taught us that what has been shall be, so that we can see how history repeats and see how wonderfully You have told us in the Word exactly what You are going to do. In the name of Jesus, Amen. Well, we left off in Matthew 4, where we saw wonderful things that God is going to repeat in our day. The Lord had told me that everything that happened in the Gospels and in the Book of Acts would be repeated in our day, except that the cast of characters would be multiplied many times over, as more people are born into the world. The same thing has happened in history, but now it just happens with more people. Let's pick up right after Jesus was anointed and had been tempted of the devil. Note that the Bible speaks about a “great light” that He was going to bring into the world, especially the world of God's people. (Mat.4:12) Now when he heard that John was delivered up, he withdrew into Galilee; (13) and leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the borders of Zebulun and Naphtali: (14) that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying, (15) The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, Toward the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, (16) The people that sat in darkness Saw a great light, and to them that sat in the region and shadow of death, To them did light spring up. What could this light be other than the Lord Jesus Himself? Not only that, but what the Lord Jesus was sharing with people was the command to repent and believe. Light is necessary in both of these areas if we want to walk in the Kingdom of God. We are walking out of one kingdom and into another. We are walking out of the kingdom of the world, much like walking out of Egypt, and we are walking into the Kingdom of God, which means under His Lordship and guidance. I believe the next verse begins with a revelation of that. (Mat.4:17) From that time began Jesus to preach, and to say, Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. That just happens to be a perfect quote from John the Baptist, who said, Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand (Mat.3:2). Of course, John went on in verse 7 to say to the Pharisees, who were coming to be baptized because it was a politically correct thing to do, (Mat.3:7) Ye offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? (8) Bring forth therefore fruit worthy of repentance (What does someone who has repented look like? What kind of fruit should they have?): (Mat.3:9) and think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father … Don't a lot of Christians say the same thing? “Hey, I'm a Christian; I had my experience with the Lord years ago and accepted Jesus as my personal Savior.” Yes, but do you have fruit worthy of repentance? I believe that the light is going to come to the Church, which has not even understood what repentance means. The first thing Jesus did was to take up where John left off. You notice that when we left off in verse 12, He realized that John was delivered up, and that's when Jesus came into this particular area of the country where they said they saw great light. Like John, He said, “Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Repentance is necessary for the next revelation, which is the Gospel of the Kingdom. For those who repented, Jesus shared the Gospel of the Kingdom, the Good News of the Kingdom of God. My friend Xavier once went to share with an apostate preacher who was living in fornication. He had the “greasy grace” that says, “It's okay; the Lord will forgive me. That's what the Gospel is all about, right? Forgiveness.” But no, that's not it. That's just a part of the Gospel. There is forgiveness, and then there is sanctification. Forgiveness is just a way to have a relationship with God until sanctification has done its work. There was another man in this church who recognized that the preacher was a sinner, but he told Xavier, “It would be wrong for you to judge him.” Of course, Xavier was sharing verses with the man, and the truth is that, yes, there is judgment. There is judgment in the Church. John the Baptist was judging when he said, “Ye offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruit worthy of repentance.” He wanted to see their repentance. He did not want to see somebody say they were sorry and then continue on in their debauchery. The word “repentance” is metanoia, which means “to change your mind; to go the other way.” We have the authority to do this. We have the authority to change our mind and go the other way because of what Jesus did at the cross. He took away our sins; He delivered us out of the power of darkness; He made us free from sin. (Heb.10:14) For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. When Xavier and I spoke about this, here's one of the verses I shared with him: (1Co.6:9) Or know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? What Kingdom of God is he referring to? The Kingdom of God is where God rules over you. It's not some place you go to after you leave this earth. It's some place you enter into when you repent. Notice what he's saying. (1Co.6:9) Or know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived (there is much deception out there concerning this): neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with men, (10) nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. Where are you to inherit the Kingdom of God? Here and now. As a matter of fact, some people are waiting to go to Heaven to inherit the Kingdom of God. They will never see Heaven if they wait. You have to enter the Kingdom of God here and now, and you enter it through repentance and faith. Faith gives you the blood covering and repentance gives you the opportunity of entering the Kingdom. Without repentance, you cannot enter the Kingdom. John the Baptist came in order to preach repentance to prepare the way for the coming of the Lord in their life. The Lord does not come into your life without repentance. If you received the first-fruits of Christ, which is a born-again spirit, and do not go on to get a born-again soul through your obedience to the truth (1 Peter 1:22,23), you are going to be an unprofitable servant. A “servant” refers to someone who has come to Him in one form or another. You will be an unprofitable servant who is good for nothing but to be cast out and trampled under the feet of men and cast into outer darkness. (Mat.5:13) Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost its savor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under foot of men. (Mat.25:30) And cast ye out the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth. Now notice what he says in the next verse. (1Co.6:11) And such were some of you: but ye were washed (He is saying, “Some of you people were in these same sins, but you were washed.”), but ye were sanctified, but ye were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God. The Lord demands repentance for you to enter into His Kingdom, which is where He is King over you. That's how you enter His Kingdom. If you look elsewhere in 1st Corinthians, Paul said somewhat of the same thing. (1Co.5:3) For I verily, being absent in body but present in spirit, have already as though I were present judged him that hath so wrought this thing. Paul judged him. Was he wrong in that he judged? No. Paul had the Spirit of God and what he wrote here was from the Spirit of God. He judged him because this man was in willful disobedience, had not repented of his sin, and had not believed the Gospel. If you believe the Good News that Jesus took away your sin, then your faith has power to walk away from anything. Everyone who believes can repent and walk away. Belief is not merely mental assent, like it is in most of the Church. (1Co.5:5) To deliver such a one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh (I would say that's judgment! He is turning him over to the curse.), that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. People will repent when they are turned over to the devil. This is very common. If you want to know why you are living under that curse, you should question whether or not you are in willful disobedience or whether you have repented of everything and are walking by faith because the devil does a great job of bringing people to repentance. Many people come to the Lord because of what the Lord permits the devil to do. (1Co.5:6) Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? (He means that, in the Body of Christ, there are people who are fornicators, liars, and thieves.) (1Co.5:7) Purge out the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump (“Purge out the old leaven”; in other words, get rid of them.), even as ye are unleavened. For our passover also hath been sacrificed, [even] Christ: (1Co.5:8) wherefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. (9) I wrote unto you in my epistle to have no company with fornicators; (10) not at all [meaning] with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous and extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world: (11) but as it is, I wrote unto you not to keep company, if any man that is named a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such a one no, not to eat. Well, this parishioner who was not in the fornication, but was saying that you could not judge the pastor who was in it, was saying, “Hey, Jesus ate with publicans and sinners.” But Paul tells you here quite clearly, “If any man that is named a brother be” in one of these sins, no, not to eat with him. It is not only abstaining from eating with him physically, but spiritually, as well, because he's talking about keeping the Feast of Unleavened Bread. We eat when we study the Word of God. Jesus said, Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees (Mat.16:6). In other words, “Don't eat their leaven; don't partake of their doctrine.” Paul goes on to say, (1Co.5:12) For what have I to do with judging them that are without? Do not ye judge them that are within? So there was judgment; there was judgment from John the Baptist and judgment from Jesus, concerning people who are in willful disobedience and do not want to repent and believe the Good News that they don't have to walk in their sins anymore. Clearly, there is judgment from the Bible, and that pastor and parishioner were trying to condemn Xavier for judging willful disobedience and lack of repentance when he was merely showing them what the Father had said in His Word. Look at what the Lord says in Ezekiel. (Eze.3:18) When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life … How is it judgment when you say, “Hey, that's fornication and you can't enter the Kingdom like that”? They say, “Oh, but I'm saved.” No, you're not saved, as long as you walk in willful disobedience. You are not in the Kingdom. “Be not deceived,” Paul said, but speak “to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life.” (Eze.3:18) When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thy hand. So God is saying, “If you don't tell them they're sinning, if you don't tell them, ‘Look, you can't enter the Kingdom of Heaven (which has to be entered here, by the way), while you are in willful, outward immorality,' then I will require his blood at your hand.” It's the very opposite of what those people say. They do not want to repent, so they try to condemn the person who brings the message. Notice, the Lord said, “When I say to the wicked.” We just read what God said to the wicked. You can tell anybody what God said to the wicked, whether you are judging or not. That's a moot point. The question is, are they going to enter the Kingdom by repentance? Or are they going to try to shift the blame over on you? The truth is, He says to have no company with them, to cast out the old leaven. If a person will not confess his sins but try to justify them or think that they are acceptable in the sight of the Lord because of the blood of Jesus, there is no hope for him. By the way, Jesus' blood does not cover willful disobedience. (Heb.10:26) For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more a sacrifice for sins, (27) but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and a fierceness of fire which shall devour the adversaries. It says, If we walk in the light (Walking in the light is not walking in sin. Everyone would agree with that.) as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another (He tells you, “Don't have any fellowship with people walking in willful disobedience.” Period.), and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanseth us from all sin (1Jn.1:7). That's a wonderful promise! If you will repent and believe and walk in the light, He will cleanse you of that sin. (1Jn.1:8) If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (9) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If a person doesn't want to confess his sin and wants to justify himself and hold onto his sin and wants to blame you for condemning him or bringing Scriptures showing where the Father has condemned him, then this person is not going to have any part of the Kingdom of God. The Lord says it very plainly, and we have to tell him the exact truth here concerning this. The light of the Gospel has to come. The true light of what repentance actually means is going to be brought on the scene here pretty quickly, folks. The overwhelming majority of Christianity don't understand what repentance is. They don't have any hope that repentance could actually deliver them from their sin and that they will not have to worry about that sin or walk in that sin anymore because of what Jesus did at the cross. He took their sin and nailed it on that cross. You do not have it anymore. Repentance and faith are necessary. Back to where we were in Matthew, we found that Jesus took up where John left off. The next thing He does is to go out and gather His disciples. (Mat.4:18) And walking by the sea of Galilee, he saw two brethren, Simon who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishers. (19) And he saith unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you fishers of men. (20) And they straightway left the nets, and followed him. (21) And going on from thence he saw two other brethren, James the [son] of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them. (22) And they straightway left the boat and their father, and followed him. Jesus has just begun His ministry here. The people whom He was going to were seeing a great light and He was gathering together His “elders” of the Church. He was raising up His forefathers of the Church, like Jacob raised up the 12 patriarchs, who were the elders of the Church. As you know, from here on out, He carried them with Him, demonstrating to them the truth of the Gospel by His works of healing, delivering, setting free, etc., so that they could live in the Kingdom of God. In the Kingdom of God, all the promises come to pass; the Kingdom of God is where God rules. We pray; Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so on earth (6:10). When God's Kingdom comes on Earth, it is as it is in Heaven. Is there any sickness in Heaven? Are there any demon-possessed people in Heaven? Is there anybody lacking in Heaven? The provision of God's Kingdom is total and complete in this earth, and we want to enter into it because that's where all of God's provision is. (Eph.1:3) Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly [places] in Christ. He's blessed us with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places in Christ. As we enter into Christ, we have all these spiritual blessings that God has in His Heavenly Kingdom. He is gathering up His disciples, with whom He is going to walk, and send them forth into a much broader path than He could walk in. They, in turn, were going to raise up disciples who were going to do the same thing in a geometric progression that was going to bring a great revival. This is a type and shadow of the Man-child ministry that's coming, in whom Jesus is come to be manifested. Jesus raised up disciples in whom He was manifested here, and the same thing is going to happen in our day. Disciples are going to be raised up as forefathers to the Church of our day, except there will be many more because the Man-child is not an individual, but a corporate body. It goes on to say, And Jesus went about in all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom (Mat.4:23). So He preached repentance, and then He preached the Gospel of the Kingdom. What is the Gospel of the Kingdom? Gospel means “Good News,” the Good News of the Kingdom. The Good News is that you can enter into God's Kingdom on Earth through repentance and faith. Well, God's Kingdom is where God rules in your life, and this is the Good News, that you can walk in obedience to God; you can walk in the Kingdom of God, under the leadership and rulership of God. The reason we know that you can do this now is because of what Jesus did at the cross. He made reconciliation: He took your sinful life and nailed it on that cross, and He gave up His Life. Do you believe it? Do you believe that He sanctified you on that cross? That He washed you on that cross? That He delivered you from sin on that cross? The Bible says in Romans 6:18 that He made you free from sin. He delivered you. See, here is the great light that is going to come. Most of the Church believes that the only opportunity you have is forgiveness from God, and that is the beginning, but that is not the great revelation that God's people are going to get. They already know that. The great revelation is that the Bible is actually true. Jesus actually did deliver you from your sin; He actually did heal your body; He actually did deliver you from the curse; He actually did deliver you out of the power of darkness. Hallelujah! He did this. This is going to come as a sudden shock to a lot of people, but the Gospel is actually true; it's not just a nice saying, but it's actually true. I want to backup a little here. (Mat.4:16) The people that sat in darkness Saw a great light (He was talking about His people), and to them that sat in the region and shadow of death, To them did light spring up. He's referring to walking in the light, which was what Jesus was about to show them. He was about to show them that they can walk in the light and be delivered of their sin, washed of all unrighteousness (1 John 1:7-9). This is the Good News that most of the Church has never heard. Oh, they have heard the Gospel, but they didn't realize it was really true. They never had any faith, only mental assent. Folks, He is talking about the nature of sin, about delivering you out of the power of darkness. It does not have any power over you. That is an awesome revelation that's going to come to the Church through the raising up of this Man-child ministry and disciples who walk in the steps of Jesus Christ. Then Jesus went out to demonstrate this by “preaching the gospel of the Kingdom and healing all manner of disease.” Most of the Church does not understand that you have a right to healing, that you are not under the curse because you are a new creation. They don't understand that old things have passed away and all things have become new (2 Corinthians 5:17). They don't understand that you have been delivered of sin (Romans 8:2) and God accounts you righteous through your faith in Him (Romans 4:3), your faith in what the Bible says. It needs to be real faith. This is the light, the sudden revelation that a lot of the Church is going to get and that some of you have already received. (Mat.4:23) And Jesus went about in all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of disease and all manner of sickness among the people. (24) And the report of him went forth into all Syria: and they brought unto him all that were sick, holden with divers diseases and torments, possessed with demons, and epileptic, and palsied; and he healed them. (25) And there followed him great multitudes from Galilee and Decapolis and Jerusalem and Judaea and [from] beyond the Jordan. He was demonstrating the Gospel that these people were not guilty anymore, demonstrating that God was forgiving them by healing them and delivering them of every curse that came upon them. Those curses came because of their disobedience to God and also because of the sin they inherited when they were born. They were born into sin. Some people say, “Well, God made me this way.” What does that have to do with anything? You were born in sin, you came into this world with the nature of sin, and so you say, “Because I was born this way, I'm supposed to keep it”? That will not float, folks. In the Kingdom of Heaven, you need to repent of this. Let's read more of how Jesus demonstrated the Gospel. (Mat.8:16) And when even was come, they brought unto him many possessed with demons: and he cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all that were sick: (17) that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our diseases. He carried His disciples with Him and demonstrated to them how to minister and administer this Gospel of the Kingdom. Everyone who repented and believed could have these gifts because they were no longer under the curse, as they were no longer under sin. That's the Great News of the Kingdom. God not only forgave them, He washed and cleansed them, He healed them, He delivered them, and He took away every other form of the curse. It was just like the Passover. The Passover was the Death Angel, the Destroyer, passing over them because they actually had the blood upon the doorpost (Exodus 12:23). How do you get the blood upon your doorpost? The Bible is pretty plain about that. (1Jn.1:7) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanseth us from all sin. The blood of Jesus cleanses us of all sin. Walk in the light. You take those steps in the light because of repentance and God will wash you, cleanse you and deliver you. We see here something that is going to be fulfilled in our day on a much larger scale. The Man-child ministry is going to go forth to deliver, heal, bless, and demonstrate the Gospel. Not only that, there will be the saving of souls who are in bondage to sin, which many of you have experienced, but many more are going to experience that. Do you know how we know this is going to be repeated? Because this was a repetition in itself; this had happened before. You ask, “When did it ever happen before?” Well, go back and look in the Old Testament because in Hebrews 3, the author compared Moses' house and Christ's house. There is a comparison because Moses was the Man-child in his day and he did the exact same thing that Jesus did, even bringing the same Gospel. Let me show you how we can see that. I know that it's in the types and shadows, but when it's pointed out to you, you can see it. For instance, when Jesus was anointed, the Bible tells us that He was given the throne of David, His father (Luke 1:32). Jesus was to rule over Israel, and His anointing was compared with the anointing that David had to rule over Israel. That is what's happening to Moses here. (Exo.3:1) Now Moses was keeping the flock of Jethro (whose name means “His excellence”), his father-in-law … Why is Moses' father-in-law called “His excellence”? Because his father-in-law was also the Father of the Bride. Is that not still true today? Exactly so. Moses was keeping the flock. Remember, David was keeping the flock before he was anointed to be king. Moses was doing the same thing. (Exo.3:1) Now Moses was keeping the flock of Jethro, his father-in-law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the back of the wilderness, and came to the mountain of God, unto Horeb. (2) And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned … Moses saw this sight and wanted to go investigate and when he did, he stepped onto holy ground, meaning he became holy. The Lord told him to take his shoes off, that he was standing on holy ground, and Moses did not want to be separated from holiness (Exodus 3:5). He was holy before God, and this is where he got his ordination to lead his people out of bondage in Egypt. As a matter of fact, the Lord said, And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land (Exo.3:8). “I am come down.” Is that not what the Lord said in Hosea 6:2-3? He said there that He would come as the latter rain on the morning of the third day, and that's exactly what's going to happen. The Lord is coming down to deliver His people out of bondage in Egypt, which is a representation of the world. (Exo.3:16) Go, and gather the elders of Israel … That's the first thing the Lord told Moses to do, the same thing Jesus did. He gathered the elders of Israel. Who was Israel? Israel was Jacob and Jacob raised up 12 patriarchs, which is exactly what Jesus raised up, 12 patriarchs. So there you have it. It's a perfect parallel here. “Go and gather the elders of Israel.” Why? It's because they were to walk with Moses, just like those elders walked with Jesus. The Gospel had to be demonstrated; the power of God was demonstrated to them. They were to walk in the same path. (Exo.3:16) Go, and gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto them, the Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, hath appeared unto me, saying, I have surely visited you, and [seen] that which is done to you in Egypt: (17) and I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt … There it is. He's going to deliver them from the curse of Egypt, the affliction of Egypt. He had said, “I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians.” Who are the Egyptians? The Egyptians are the old man, the old flesh, the bondage to the flesh. What He's saying is, “Look, I'm going to deliver you from the god of this world (that is, the old man, the flesh), and I'm going to deliver you from the curse because you've been obeying them both.” That is the Gospel of the Kingdom, which is what Jesus was preaching. (Exo.3:17) And I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Amorite, and the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite, unto a land flowing with milk and honey. These were the “ites” that represented the old man, the same thing the Egyptian represented, which was the one who had brought them into bondage. You are not supposed to be in bondage to your flesh anymore. The Lord has already delivered you at the cross; it has already been done. He has already accomplished it. That's the Good News of the Kingdom. Why is God bringing them into the Promised Land? He's doing it in order to put to death those people who were ruling in the land. The Israelite was to rule in the land, not these people. He brought the Israelites in there for the purpose of putting them to death. Most Christians today want to live with the old man, but when Israel did that and let the enemies stay in the land, they became thorns in their side for the rest of their life. So the Jews did not inherit all of the land the Lord gave them, and they lived under a curse, under warfare, because they did not obey God. He said, “You take up your sword and go in there. I will be with you. You put them to death and take their house to live in and raise up your crop, your fruit in that land” (Deuteronomy 7). That's the Gospel. (Exo.3:18) And they shall hearken to thy voice: and thou shalt come, thou and the elders of Israel, unto the king of Egypt, and ye shall say unto him, the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, hath met with us (As if He had not been there all along! Actually, He came down in a much mightier way than He had ever done in the 400-odd years that they had been in bondage, and that's how He is about to come today. He's about to come in a more powerful way than any of us have ever experienced, for the purpose of delivering His people out of Egypt and out from under the god of this world.): and now let us go, we pray thee, three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God. They had to serve God in the wilderness. Moses was taking the elders of Israel with him at this time, just as Jesus was, and demonstrating unto them the Gospel. Here is the gathering of the elders again. (Exo.4:29) And Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel. When Jesus gathered the elders, He was not gathering together the apostates. He started all over, which is what He is going to do this time as well. He is not going to the apostates, but He will start all over with some new, humble people who did not go to Bible school. He is going to raise them up. Paul is one of those who obviously went to Bible school, but He had to prove that He could do it, and He did. But what is represented by Moses and Aaron here? We're looking at a parallel of what Jesus did and now we see Moses and Aaron, but it had said earlier, And thou (Moses) shalt speak unto him (Aaron), and put the words in his mouth (Exo.4:15). Moses was to put the words in Aaron's mouth? That's a little like what the Lord does to us, which is what He's about to say. (Exo.4:15) … And I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do. (16) And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people; and it shall come to pass, that he shall be to thee a mouth, and thou shalt be to him as God. Interesting. He is likening Moses to God, like Jesus was to God. Now let me say, if a Man-child comes in our day, Who is it Who is going to be with him, putting words in his mouth? Jesus, Who is God! Moses is being used of God, and Aaron is being used as his prophet to speak his words, to do his work, and to take the staff that he did to do the miracles. In this case, we're seeing Aaron as the Man-child and Moses as Jesus in the Man-child or behind the Man-child to do the works. (Exo.4:29) And Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel (This is much like Jesus did; His Father God was in Him doing the works. Jesus was the spokesman, the mouthpiece; He gathered together His disciples and did the miracles, and Aaron is doing the same thing here.): (Exo.4:30) and Aaron spake all the words which the Lord had spoken unto Moses, and did the signs in the sight of the people. So it was Aaron speaking the words and doing the works, just like Jesus did. “Aaron” means “bright” or “illumined.” He represents the glory of God shining out of a person, like this says: (2Co.3:18) But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit. There are three glories: star glory, moon glory, and sun glory (1 Corinthians 15:40-41). It gets brighter and brighter and brighter. This is the shining forth of God in His people. He is coming in “Aaron,” His first-fruits. Jesus was called the first-fruits (1 Corinthians 15:20), and there is a first-fruits in our day. David also represented the first-fruits and Joseph, as well. It is not the only fruits, just the first-fruits. He is planning on doing this with His whole Body. (Exo.4:31) And the people believed: and when they heard that the Lord had visited the children of Israel, and that he had seen their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped. This was a monumental time in their history because they were about to be delivered out of bondage to the old man, the Egyptian, Pharaoh, the god of this world, and to the curse they were under because they were serving them. (Exo.5:4) And the king of Egypt said unto them, Wherefore do ye, Moses and Aaron, loose the people from their works? … Some people think you have to put up with your “works” the rest of your life, that there is nothing you can do about it because you're always going to be a “sinner saved by grace.” That is an anti-Christ gospel. They were setting the people free from their works, from their service to the old man and to the devil, who is the god of this world that ruled over them, like Pharaoh did. They were being set free and the devil did not like it. “Get you unto your burdens.” In other words, “Get back under the heavy weight of your burden.” (Exo.5:5) And Pharaoh said, Behold, the people of the land are now many, and ye make them rest from their burdens. This is what the Lord brought us out of bondage for, to enter into His rest and to cease from our own works, the works of the flesh. We do not serve the flesh anymore. We serve the spiritual man now. This is the Gospel of the Kingdom, and it sets people free. Even the devil had to admit that they were setting them free from their works. (Exo.6:9) And Moses spake so unto the children of Israel: but they hearkened not unto Moses … You cannot set someone free unless they believe the Gospel of the Kingdom. Moses came there to set the Israelites free. God ordained him on Mount Horeb, representing the Kingdom of God, to go and bring them out of bondage and take them to that mountain, too, but they had to believe him first because the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth (Rom.1:16). (Exo.6:9) … But they hearkened not unto Moses for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage. God had to do a work in them before they could actually receive this light of the knowledge of the Kingdom. (Exo.6:10) And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, (11) Go in, speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt … The word “Pharaoh” means “temple of the sun.” He was God to the Egyptians. They believed he was divinity, believed that he was the sun god. Pharaoh was not the Son of God and not even a close facsimile to the Son of God, but he was usurping God's position over the people of God. The devil does that today. He usurps the position of the Son of God over the people of God, and they do not know that the one they're serving is the devil. They don't know that they're serving the old man that serves the devil, which is the Egyptian. We know that the Egyptian represents the old man because when the Israelites went through the Red Sea, Paul called it a “baptism.” In the baptism, the old man died in the Red Sea, and the Israelite came up on the other side; the new man, the spiritual man came up out of the water. The carnal man died and the spiritual man was made alive, so we know this parable is true. (Exo.6:11) Go in, speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, that he let the children of Israel go out of his land. Do you suppose this Man-child is going to have this same authority to tell the devil to set God's people free? Well, Jesus was doing it. He commanded the devil to loose them; He commanded the sickness to come out of them; He delivered their mind from the fogginess of their fallen state. And, yes, this is what not only the Man-child but the witnesses and the elders who are raised up by the Man-child are going to do. They're going to have the authority to say, “Turn them loose, devil,” and it's going to happen. (Exo.6:12) And Moses spake before the Lord, saying, Behold, the children of Israel have not hearkened unto me; how then shall Pharaoh hear me, who am of uncircumcised lips? Does the devil have to listen to you when you tell him to turn people loose if they do not believe? No. When you preach the Gospel and they believe it, only then do you have the authority to say, “Turn them loose, devil.” This is exactly what Moses complained of. He was saying, “Hey, they don't believe me yet, so why would Pharaoh listen?” (Exo.6:13) And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, and gave them a charge unto the children of Israel, and unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt. That was their ordination, their command from God, Who said, “Bring them out. You have the authority to do this.” Jesus had the same authority, by the Isaiah 61 anointing, which Luke 4:18 also speaks about. (Isa.61:1) The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening [of the prison] to them that are bound. Who were they bound to? They were in bondage to their old man, in bondage to the devil, and they were living under the curse. Jesus took care of all three and that was all involved in the Gospel of the Kingdom. Now we know that Moses, too, was dealing with the Gospel of the Kingdom and trying to get those people to believe what he said. Praise the Lord! (Exo.12:21) Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel (I'd like to point out to you that these elders were with him exactly as the disciples of Jesus, all the time, and he was demonstrating to them the Gospel. Actually, here is the Gospel in a nutshell.), and said unto them, Draw out, and take you lambs according to your families, and kill the passover. We're told that they had to eat all of the lamb (Exodus 12:8-10) and that the blood was to be put on the doorposts (Exodus 12:7), so that the Death Angel, the Destroyer, would pass over them and smite the Egyptians (Exodus 12:13). Jesus said, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, ye have not life in yourselves (Joh.6:53). Most of the Church is refusing to eat the body and drink the blood of Jesus Christ. The Bible says, The life of the flesh is in the blood (Lev.17:11). They are refusing the life of Christ through unbelief. Moses is not able to exercise any authority over Pharaoh because of their unbelief. Jesus was the bread Who came down out of Heaven (John 6:51) that gives life to the world, and that was His Body, the Word of God. We are also told this: (Exo.12:15) Seven days (that is the last seven “days”) shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses (This is the house that we live in. There shall be no leaven, no polluting the pure Word of God.): for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel. This is a dire warning to God's people that during the Tribulation period, you cannot continue onward believing the doctrine of these apostate religions. (Mar.8:15) … Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod, too, because there are many who are worshipping the government. They're worshipping their country, their nation; they're pledging allegiance to a wicked, worldly nation. This is not to say that you aren't supposed to submit to them in every way, except when God tells you to do otherwise. Your allegiance is to the Lord, and you will bow to no one else. We see here that Moses was leading them to partake of the body and blood of Christ, and this was causing a Passover so that they did not have to live under the curse. Praise be to God! (Exo.12:29) And it came to pass at midnight, that the Lord smote all the first-born in the land of Egypt, from the first-born of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the first-born of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the first-born of cattle. (30) And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead. In every house there was one dead. So if we are the house, there has to be one dead, and that's the old man. He is the firstborn of Egypt, born of the flesh, born of the world. He is dead and we know that he is dead, and we are free because of what Jesus did at the cross because we were crucified with Christ. The Lamb was slain here, but the Bible says, we were crucified with Christ and it is no longer we who live, but it is Christ Who lives in us (Galatians 2:20). That is the new man and that is how faith in the Gospel works. We continue to believe what the Bible says, that, “Yes, this old man is dead. He was put to death, so I don't have to serve him anymore because he is dead, and he was crucified with Christ. Now the new man lives and rules in me.” That new man is Christ in you, the hope of glory (Col.1:27). We behold with unveiled face as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, and are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit (2Co.3:18). Like Aaron, who was the “brilliance,” the shining forth of the Lord in him, so the people of God will be. (Exo.12:31) And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve the Lord, as ye have said. Pharaoh finally gave up, and the devil is going to turn God's people loose. The god of this world, the sun god, the one who imitates the Lord and usurps His authority over God's people, is going to turn them loose, is going to obey the command of Moses. When does that happen? It happens when they, “the people,” believe they're no longer in bondage to Satan because the Gospel, the Good News of the Kingdom, is the power of God to save the one who believes. It's the power to save them from the old man, from the devil, and from the curse. You will be delivered of those three things when you believe and continue to walk in the faith of the Gospel that sets free. (Exo.17:5) And the Lord said unto Moses, Pass on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel; and thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the river, take in thy hand, and go. (6) Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. Here, Moses was still demonstrating the power of God's provision for God's people. Jesus multiplied the fishes and the loaves, and here Moses was still demonstrating it with the authority and the power of God to the elders and the people. (Exo.18:12) And Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, took a burnt-offering and sacrifices for God: and Aaron came, and all the elders of Israel, to eat bread with Moses' father-in-law before God. Praise the Lord! This is, once again, Jesus raising up His elders and the Man-child in our day, raising up the elders to be free from the bondage of Satan and free from the bondage of the flesh. The harvest started getting bigger and bigger, and more and more people started coming into the Kingdom, just as it was also said about Jesus. (Exo.24:1) And he said unto Moses, Come up unto the Lord, thou, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; and worship ye afar off: (2) and Moses alone shall come near unto the Lord; but they shall not come near; neither shall the people go up with him. As you know, Moses went up on the mountain and was caught up unto the throne of God. This is the first mention of the 70 elders. He had already mentioned them, but now He refers to them as the “seventy.” We have already discussed Jesus raising up the elders, but He also raised up the 70. (Luk.10:1) Now after these things the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself was about to come. (2) And he said unto them, The harvest indeed is plenteous, but the laborers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he send forth laborers into his harvest. Obviously, the 12 were not enough. This was a great revival for many hungry people; there was a need. Even with Moses, his father-in-law Jethro had said, “You're going to kill yourself trying to serve all the people by yourself” (Exodus 18:14-18). Then Jethro gave Moses the wisdom from God to raise up elders unto the people to judge them, meet their needs, and so on (Exodus 18:19-26). Jesus said, Go your ways; behold, I send you forth as lambs in the midst of wolves (Luk.10:3). (4) Carry no purse, no wallet, no shoes; and salute no man on the way. (5) And into whatsoever house ye shall enter, first say, Peace be to this house. (6) And if a son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon him: but if not, it shall turn to you again. (7) And in that same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the laborer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house. (8) And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you: (9) and heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. The Kingdom of God is where people are healed, delivered, prospered, blessed, delivered from sin, etc. (Luk.10:10) But into whatsoever city ye shall enter, and they receive you not, go out into the streets thereof and say, (11) Even the dust from your city, that cleaveth to our feet, we wipe off against you: nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh. That is judgment; He brought judgment. These people brought judgment upon the ones who refused the Gospel. They cleaned their shoes off as a judgment against them. Don't believe that God did not do something about that because He goes on, (Luk.10:12) I say unto you, it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city. (13) Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which were done in you, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. (14) But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the judgment, than for you. God bless you, saints! Just remember, the Good News of the Gospel of the Kingdom is about to be preached with mighty power, and a great revival is going to go forth from it. God bless you!
Passage: 1 Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it and laid incense on it and offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, which he had not commanded them. 2 And fire came out from before the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD. 3 Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the LORD has said: ‘Among those who are near me I will be sanctified, and before all the people I will be glorified.'” And Aaron held his peace. (Leviticus 10:1-3) Song: Only a Holy God by Dustin Smith, Jonny Robinson, Michael Farren, and Rich Thompson Lyrics: Who else commands all the hosts of heaven Who else could make every king bow down Who else can whisper and darkness trembles Only a Holy God What other beauty demands such praises What other splendour outshines the sun What other majesty rules with justice Only a Holy God Come and behold Him The One and the Only Cry out sing holy Forever a Holy God Come and worship the Holy God What other glory consumes like fire What other power can raise the dead What other name remains undefeated Only a Holy God Who else could rescue me from my failing Who else would offer His only Son Who else invites me to call Him Father Only a Holy God Only my Holy God Prayer: This is another day, O Lord. I know not what it will bring forth, but make me ready, Lord, for whatever it may be. If I am to stand up, help me to stand bravely. If I am to sit still, help me to sit quietly. If I am to lie low, help me to do it patiently. And if I am to do nothing, let me do it gallantly. Make these words more than words, and give me the Spirit of Jesus. Amen. -The Book of Common Prayer
For today’s installment of our 40 Days Meditation series, our brother Miguel Vargas provides commentary on Ex 24:1-18. Listen below, download here, or search for Words from the Brothers on your favourite podcasting app. Then he said to Moses, “Come up to the Lord, you and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and worship from afar. Moses alone shall come near to the Lord, but the others shall not come near, and the people shall not come up with him.” Moses came and told the people all the words of the Lord and all the rules. And all the people answered with one voice and said, “All the words that the Lord has spoken we will do.” And Moses wrote down all the words of the Lord. He rose early in the morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel. And he sent young men of the people of Israel, who offered burnt offerings and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen to the Lord. And Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and half of the blood he threw against the altar. Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it in the hearing of the people. And they said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.” And Moses took the blood and threw it on the people and said, “Behold the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.” Then Moses and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel went up, and they saw the God of Israel. There was under his feet as it were a pavement of sapphire stone, like the very heaven for clearness. And he did not lay his hand on the chief men of the people of Israel; they beheld God, and ate and drank. The Lord said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain and wait there, that I may give you the tablets of stone, with the law and the commandment, which I have written for their instruction.” So Moses rose with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up into the mountain of God. And he said to the elders, “Wait here for us until we return to you. And behold, Aaron and Hur are with you. Whoever has a dispute, let him go to them.” Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. The glory of the Lord dwelt on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days. And on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud. Now the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel. Moses entered the cloud and went up on the mountain. And Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights. Ex 24:1-18
Numbers 3 briefly tells us of the genealogy of Aaron, the High Priest, and of his 4 sons (two of whom Nadab and Abihu, were slain by Yahweh on the opening day of the Tabernacle) – the priests – the other 2 sons being Eleazar and Ithamar. Verses 5-39 outlines the duties of the Levites. As a result of their faithfulness, in the tragedy of the idolatry associated with the golden calf, the Levites became the ministers who acted for the LORD and in service of the Tabernacle. The Levites answered Yahweh's call: “Who is on My side?” There were 3 sons born to Levi, who was Jacob's 3rd son. Levi's sons were Gershom, Kohath and Merari. These were responsible for the carrying of the Tabernacle and its furniture. The special items of furniture were carried by the Kohathites. The numbers of adult males for the 3 clans is stated in the record. Verses 40 to 51 speaks of the redemption of the firstborn males of the Levites and of their cattle. The valuation for the male Levites was 5 shekels of silver per person. Psalm 148 completes the Deuteronomy Psalms. The writer, in verses 1 to 12, calls upon every created being to praise Yahweh. Even the inanimate natural created objects to praise the Almighty Creator. Verses 13 and 14 tell us that the greatest praise is due to the LORD because of the redemptive work of our God in raising up “a horn of salvation” for His people Israel and for His saints (the faithful followers of our Lord Jesus Christ). Note how these words are quoted by Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, in Luke 1 verses 68 and 69. Psalms 149 and 150 are the conclusion to the Psalms; just as Psalms 1 and 2 were the introduction. The Book of Psalms is brought to a crescendo in these two Psalms (149 and 150). Psalms 149 and 2 are companion Psalms which carry the same essential message – the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ will be established by the power of the Almighty. None can prevent the kingdom from coming; and the Almighty's wisdom is to be found among those who submit to the divine authority: all resistance will be totally crushed. So the two Psalms bookend the Book of the Psalms. Psalm 149 calls upon the righteous to be glad and rejoice in their king. The humble will extol the triumph of their God. Together with their praises is a readiness to avenge all wickedness in high places (2 Corinthians 10:4-6). Psalm 150 is a song that was accompanied by a massive orchestra composed of all manner of instruments. It calls upon everything with breath to praise the Name of Yahweh. Every verse of the song commences with Hallelujah, meaning praise Yah; and the Psalm concludes with Hallelujah. Let everyone of us praise God with our lips; but more importantly let us glorify Him by the way we live. In Luke 13 the enemies of the Lord maliciously attack him by drawing his attention to the Galileans, who Pilate had slaughtered as they were sacrificing in Jerusalem. Jesus tells his audience of Judeans of a recent event where a wall in Siloam – Jerusalem's backyard – fell on many Judeans. Did it happen because they were bad sinners? No, on both counts – but both tragedies provided opportunities for reflection and repentance. This is followed in chapter 13 by the parable of the barren fig tree which represents Israel's failure to bring forth fruit to God. Jesus next, on the Sabbath day heals a woman with an unclean spirit. The parables of the mustard seed and the leaven come next in the record. Then the record speaks of the parable of the narrow door, through which every disciple must strive to enter. Our Lord Jesus Christ laments over Jerusalem – to be torn down stone by stone as the leprous house. He will be welcomed in the Kingdom, when they would say, “Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord” (Psalm 118 verse 26). Chapter 14 of Luke begins with Jesus healing a man on the Sabbath day. That man had clearly been planted as a test for Jesus. Would he heal on the Sabbath day? The Lord was invited to speak at a dinner for Pharisees and Jesus gives advice in the parable of the wedding feast. Then came another parable about the great banquet to which each invited class found excuses not to attend. These people who were called by the gospel to come to the wedding feast of the Son of God all adjudged themselves unworthy of eternal life in the kingdom. As a result of their rejection we have graciously been offered a place. Two parables follow which tell us that as disciples of Jesus we must about count the cost of discipleship and wholeheartedly pursue that goal. Every disciple of our Lord must accept the peace that our Sovereign offers to us through the emissaries of the gospel and then make peace with Him: Ephesians 2 verses 11 to 22. The chapter concludes with the need for zest and salt among our Master's disciples. Salt speaks of sincerity in Christ's disciples as we are told in 1 Corinthians 5 verses 6 to 8.
Often, the short account of Nadab & Abihu is lifted from its context, and in doing so, important learning from this text is missed. This study will focus not only on the sins of these two men but also on the actions of their father and brothers. A sermon given by Greg Chandler on March 2, 2024.
‘Sanctified' means recognized as holy, set apart from the commonplace; treating spiritual situations with all reverence. Far above all other considerations, this must be our spirit when we approach God. Our Leviticus reading today shows us the dramatic and disastrous result of a failure to do this.Think of the atmosphere at the tabernacle in the manifestation of the actual presence of God when “the glory of the LORD appeared to all the people. And fire came out from before the LORD and consumed the burnt offerings …” [9 v.23,24]. The effect of this should have created reverence and humility. This should have been their feeling in worship from then on,- and initially it was! . “They shouted and fell on their faces”[v.24].Aaron had 4 sons, all were involved in assisting their father and today's chapter tells us how tragedy overwhelmed two of them. In the way we speak today we might judge that their position of importance went to their heads! Nadab and Abihu “each took his censer and put fire in it and laid incense on it and offered unauthorized fire before the LORD which he had not commanded them” [10 v.1]The result was terrifying for they “died before the LORD” as fire from him “consumed them” [v.2] Moses then says to Aaron, “Among those who are near me I will be sanctified, and before all the people I will be glorified” [v.3]There is a vital lesson here for everyone who seeks to serve God and have a living relationship with him: this applies to followers of Jesus just as much as to Israelites. Examples of a failure to do this come to mind. One is the practice of the christening of babies in many churches instead of baptism when they grow to understanding – christening is not even hinted at in Scripture. Baptism is expressed as “an appeal to God for a good conscience” [1 Peter 3 v.21] The eunuch was told by Philip he could be baptised “if you believe with all your heart.” (Acts 8 v.37)Baptism brings a person into a state of sanctification. When Paul was saying farewell to the Ephesian elders (Acts 20 v,17- 38 he said, “now I commend you to God and the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified” [v.32] God's word builds us up, it constantly reminds believers they are sanctified.A final point: baptism gives believers the responsibility, as we read today in 2 Corinthians, to try to encourage others through the example of Christ in us, “for we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved … a fragrance from life to life.” [2 v.15,16] Christ, “through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.” [v.14] What “fragrance” can we spread today? .
Exodus 24 is a pivotal chapter in the Bible that details the formal ratification of the covenant between God and the people of Israel at Mount Sinai. This event underscores the establishment of Israel as a nation bound to God through agreed-upon laws and commitments. Key Events in Exodus 24: 1.Divine Invitation to Leadership: •God instructs Moses to ascend Mount Sinai, accompanied by Aaron, his sons Nadab and Abihu, and seventy elders of Israel. They are to worship from a distance, with Moses alone approaching closer to God.  2.Presentation and Acceptance of God's Laws: •Moses conveys all of God's commands and ordinances to the people. In unison, they respond, committing to obey all the words spoken by the Lord.  3.Covenant Rituals: •Moses documents God's words, constructs an altar at the mountain's base, and erects twelve pillars representing the twelve tribes of Israel. Young men offer burnt and peace offerings. Moses collects the sacrificial blood, using half to consecrate the altar and reading the “Book of the Covenant” aloud to the people. They reaffirm their commitment, and Moses sprinkles the remaining blood on them, symbolizing the binding nature of the covenant.  4.Encounter with the Divine: •Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and the seventy elders ascend and witness a manifestation of God, described as a sapphire-like pavement under His feet. They see God and partake in a meal, signifying fellowship and the sealing of the covenant.  5.Moses' Extended Stay on the Mountain: •God summons Moses further up the mountain to receive the stone tablets inscribed with the law and commandments. Moses, accompanied by his aide Joshua, instructs the elders to await their return, delegating Aaron and Hur to handle any arising matters. Moses enters the cloud-covered mountain, where he remains for forty days and nights, during which he receives detailed instructions from God.  Theological Significance: •Covenant Confirmation: The chapter formalizes the covenant between God and Israel, establishing a foundational relationship based on mutual commitments. The rituals performed, including sacrifices and the sprinkling of blood, emphasize the seriousness and sanctity of this agreement. •Divine Revelation: The leaders' encounter with God highlights the accessibility of divine revelation to chosen representatives, reinforcing the concept of mediated communication between God and His people. •Law as Foundation: The giving of the tablets signifies the importance of a written code of conduct, serving as a tangible guide for the Israelites' ethical and religious life. Historical and Cultural Context: The practices described, such as altar construction, sacrificial offerings, and covenant meals, align with ancient Near Eastern customs of treaty-making and religious ceremonies. The use of blood in covenant rituals symbolizes purification and the binding nature of agreements, reflecting the cultural milieu of the time. Reflections for Today: Exodus 24 invites contemporary readers to reflect on the themes of commitment, obedience, and the sacredness of covenants. It underscores the importance of communal assent to shared values and laws, the role of leadership in spiritual journeys, and the profound experience of encountering the divine.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/sendme-radio--732966/support.
Leviticus chapter 9 tells of Aaron officiating at the altar on the eighth day. Verses 1-2 Aaron offered for himself the sin offering and the burnt offering. Verses 3-22 Aaron offers for the people the sin offering, burnt offering and peace offering. Verses 23-24 the glory of Yahweh appears and He consumes His portion of the offerings. Chapter 10 outlines the disruption of the ceremony through the sin of Nadab and Abihu. Verses 1-7 Nadab and Abihu, evidently under the influence of strong drink, offer strange fire and are struck dead. Verses 8-11 Aaron warned against the influence of strong drink. Verses 12-20 Moses attempts to complete the ceremony by instructing the priests to eat the people's portion of the offerings: a) the remainder of the peace offering)verses 12-13; cp. Leviticus 9:4, 17); b) the remainder of the peace offering (verses 14-15; cp. Leviticus 9:21); c) the remainder of the sin offering (Verses 16-20; cp. Leviticus 9:15). The above breakdown has been copied from brother John Martin's book, “The Schoolmaster – an exposition of the Book of Leviticus”. Psalm 108 is a song of David's in which he expresses thanks for past deliverance and expresses his confidence in Yahweh's continued help. In verses 1-4 David describes his unshakable conviction in God's stedfast love and the awesome deeds God has done for His people. Therefore the Psalmist will compose songs of praise to his Sovereign. Songs that will be acknowledged by all nations who have beheld the mighty power of the God of Israel. The LORD has promised deliverance to His faithful saints. Verses 7-10 recounts successful battle campaigns. Verses 11-13 are a plea for help against the Edomites having suffered earlier setbacks. The writer's confidence will stay firm. Psalm 109 is a Psalm of David. It is in first application calling for the LORD to execute retribution against David's treacherous counsellor, Ahithophel. But the Psalm is Messianic and principally applies prophetically to our Lord Jesus Christ and his betrayer, Judas Iscariot. Of this we can certain since the Apostle Peter speaks of Judas, when quoting this Psalm in Acts 1:16-20. It is verse 8 of the Psalm which was quoted. Why were such judgements called upon Judas? Because he failed to show pity to “the poor and needy man” (verses 16 and 22). The extortion era mentioned in this song were the priests of Israel, who paid Judas 30 pieces of silver for his part in the betrayal. The Psalm reveals much about the base character of Judas of which the gospels are silent. But the treachery of Judas was to no avail for Yahweh's care and love encompassed His Anointed; and delivered him. 2 Corinthians is often called Paul's great letter of comfort. Chapter 1 tells us that one purpose of suffering is to render the sufferer a reservoir of compassion and comfort for others. The Apostle described his rock as the One who raised the dead (compare 1 Corinthians 15:32 – details can only be conjecture). The coming of Timothy with the news he carried about the response of the believers at Corinth was a tonic that revived his spirit. Chapter 2 provided further advice for what to do next if the wrongdoer was to be fully recovered. The chapter tells us that in Troas he pondered his blessings in our Lord Jesus Christ. His imagery is drawn from the practices which accompanied the Roman Triumphal procession. His ironic language contrasts the Apostles' sufferings for proclaiming the Gospel's message with the indifferent and lavish lifestyle of the Corinthian believers. Paul concludes the chapter by a declaration that it is God who he seeks to please and not fickle people driven by their own motives.
Numbers 3 – The Levites and Their Role in Israelite Worship Numbers 3 details the census and duties of the Levites, the tribe set apart for religious service in Israel. This chapter explains their responsibilities, their unique status among the tribes, and the substitution of the Levites for Israel's firstborn sons. Understanding the historical and cultural context of this passage provides deeper insight into Israel's priesthood and the organization of worship in the ancient Near East. 1. The Role of the Levites (Numbers 3:1-13) Numbers 3 begins by listing the sons of Aaron—Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar—who were appointed as priests. However, Nadab and Abihu died after offering “unauthorized fire” before the Lord (Leviticus 10:1-2). This reinforces the seriousness of priestly duties and the necessity of following God's precise instructions. God then designates the entire tribe of Levi to assist the priests in caring for the Tabernacle, Israel's central place of worship. The Levites are given as a substitute for the firstborn sons of Israel, whom God originally claimed after the Passover in Egypt (Exodus 13:2, Exodus 13:11-16). In ancient cultures, firstborn sons were often dedicated to religious service, but God chose to replace Israel's firstborn with the Levites as a special class of religious servants. Historical Context: •Many ancient civilizations, including the Egyptians and Mesopotamians, had hereditary priesthoods. In contrast, Israel's priesthood was unique in that it was not open to all Levites—only Aaron's descendants could serve as high priests, while other Levites handled the Tabernacle's maintenance and transport. •The concept of dedicating firstborns to deities was widespread in the ancient world. The Israelites, however, did not practice human sacrifice (as seen in Canaanite religions); instead, they dedicated their firstborn to God's service or redeemed them with a substitute. 2. The Census of the Levites (Numbers 3:14-39) Moses is commanded to count all male Levites from one month old and older. This is different from the earlier military census, which counted men 20 years and older (Numbers 1). The Levites were not warriors but were responsible for religious duties. The Levites were divided into three major clans based on the sons of Levi: •Gershonites (7,500 men) – Responsible for the Tabernacle's curtains and coverings. •Kohathites (8,600 men) – Carried the most sacred objects (Ark of the Covenant, lampstand, altar, etc.). •Merarites (6,200 men) – Managed the structural components (wooden frames, bars, and bases). The total number of Levite males was 22,000. Historical Context: •The organization of religious service based on family groups was common in ancient priesthoods. •The Ark of the Covenant, which the Kohathites carried, was seen as the holiest object in Israel. Similar sacred chests existed in Egypt and Mesopotamia, but Israel's Ark uniquely represented God's presence rather than a physical idol. 3. Redemption of the Firstborn (Numbers 3:40-51) Since the firstborn of Israel originally belonged to God, a substitution was required. There were 22,273 firstborn males, slightly more than the 22,000 Levites counted. To account for the extra 273 firstborns, a redemption fee of five shekels per person was paid to the priests. Historical Context: •Redemption fees were a common practice in the ancient Near East. Five shekels was a significant amount, reinforcing the sacred value of the firstborn. •The use of silver in religious transactions was common in the region. Many cultures had temple-based economies where silver was a primary currency for offerings. Key Lessons from Numbers 3 in Historical Context 1.God's Sovereign Choice – The Levites were chosen to serve instead of the firstborn sons, showing that God's decisions override human customs. 2.Order and Organization – The strict division of Levite duties ensured proper worship, just as ancient temple systems had clear roles for priests and assistants. 3.The Holiness of Worship – The tragic deaths of Nadab and Abihu highlight the importance of following God's instructions exactly in religious practices. 4.The Concept of Redemption – The ransom for the firstborn symbolizes the broader biblical theme of redemption, which is later fulfilled in Christ's sacrifice. Numbers 3 provides a detailed look at Israel's priesthood, reflecting both practical and spiritual principles that set the nation apart from surrounding cultures. The Levites played a crucial role in preserving the holiness of Israel's worship, ensuring that God's presence remained among His people.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/sendme-radio--732966/support.
Far too often, we make up our own ideas of what constitutes true worship. Today, we'll discuss the difficult passage of Leviticus 10 when Nadab and Abihu are killed by God for offering strange fire. We'll look at this passage, understand it in its context, and see how it still can guide us to true worship. Join us! DISCUSSION AND STUDY QUESTIONS: 1. What was the background of the Levites and how did that relate to their role among the Children of Israel? Why was this role necessary? 2. What did Nadab and Abihu do that was wrong? Why should they have known better? 3. Why was Nadab and Abihu killed? What was wrong with what they did? Why was “death” a necessary response to their sin? 4. How was the standard for the priests higher than for the average person in the nation of Israel? How was the standard for Nadab and Abihu even higher than for the average priest who was just starting out? 5. What were some possible reasons for their dereliction of duty? How might alcohol have contributed to their sin? What principle did the Lord give in verses 8 & 9? What present application might this have for us, considering that we are all priests before the Lord? 6. In verses 6 & 7, what did Moses prohibit Aaron and his sons from doing? Why? 7. In verses 16-18, what did Aaron's other sons, Eleazar and Thamar, fail to do? What might this indicate about the general attitude they all had towards learning the precepts of the Lord? How do people still demonstrate this attitude today? 8. The podcast pointed out that a key theme of this chapter (and the whole book of Leviticus), is to follow the Lord's instructions when we approach Him. How might we apply this principle to our lives today? 9. The podcast also pointed out that Leviticus 10 teaches us about making a distinction between what is profane and what is holy. How do we learn these principles? If we do distinguish between what is profane and holy, how should this impact what we fill our lives with? 10. The podcast cites Jesus' teaching in John 4:23-24 about true worship. What is true worship and how does it come about in the heart and life of a believer? 11. Finally, in light of this passage and John 4:23-24 and Hebrews 13:15, who decides what constitutes true worship? As New Covenant believers, what should we fill our minds with, in order to offer the Lord true worship? Check out our Bible Study Guide on the Key Chapters of Genesis! Available on Amazon! To see our dedicated podcast website with access to all our episodes and other resources, visit us at: www.keychapters.org. Find us on all major platforms, or use these direct links: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6OqbnDRrfuyHRmkpUSyoHv Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/366-key-chapters-in-the-bible/id1493571819 YouTube: Key Chapters of the Bible on YouTube. As always, we are grateful to be included in the "Top 100 Bible Podcasts to Follow" from Feedspot.com. Also for regularly being awarded "Podcast of the Day" from PlayerFM. Special thanks to Joseph McDade for providing our theme music.
The story of Nadab and Abihu highlights the importance of having a holy heart in service to God, as their carelessness in offering "strange fire" resulted in immediate judgment. While Aaron's failure to eat the sin offering was also a ritual violation, his heart's grief over the loss of his sons led to God's mercy, showing that God values the condition of the heart over ritual observance. Ultimately, Jesus, as the perfect High Priest, fulfills the law's requirements with a holy, pure heart, allowing believers to approach God's holiness with confidence and offering a model of true worship that transcends mere rituals.
Greg Bryan teaches and explores the book of Leviticus, often considered a difficult book of the Bible. Greg points out that ancient Jews used the book of Leviticus to begin training their children in the law of God because they believed the laws given in Leviticus were the hub of Hebrew life. The New Testament quotes Leviticus a hundred times, and a thorough understanding of Leviticus helps understand the book of Hebrews.Key concepts discussed in the podcast include:•Scale: The immense gap between the holiness of God and the sinfulness of people. Leviticus emphasizes God's holiness and the pervasiveness of sin.•Sacrifice: Leviticus is filled with bloody sacrifices, teaching that sin is destructive and requires a payment. The blood of animals was used to cover sin. There were multiple types of offerings, such as burnt offerings, grain offerings, fellowship offerings, sin offerings, and guilt offerings. These sacrifices visually expressed the cost of sin.•Substitution: The animal sacrifices were a substitute for the people. The sacrifices in Leviticus are anticipatory, pointing towards a better sacrifice, a better high priest, and a better altar in Jesus.•Surrender: Greg teaches how believers are called to surrender their lives to God on a daily basis.The podcast also covers the role of priests, who served as intermediaries between God and the people by offering sacrifices. The ordination of the priests involved blood being placed on their right ear, thumb, and big toe, symbolizing that they would hear, work, and walk with God. The hosts explore the laws about ritual purity found in Leviticus, including regulations about food, childbirth, skin diseases, and bodily discharges. The book also contains an account of Aaron's sons, Nadab and Abihu, who offered unauthorized fire before the Lord and died.. Greg also notes that God wants to be part of every area of life.
Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Leviticus 10-12; Acts 16 Click HERE to give! Get Free App Here! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on 'The Daily Radio Bible' for a daily 20-minute spiritual journey. Engage with scripture readings, heartfelt devotionals, and collective prayers that draw you into the heart of God's love. Embark on this year-long voyage through the Bible, and let each day's passage uplift and inspire you. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible, where we embark on a transformative journey through the scriptures to witness the life of Jesus, the true source of our existence. I'm Heather, your host for today's episode, and I'm excited to have you join us as we draw nearer to the fire of God's love. As we continue our exploration of the Book of Leviticus, we delve into the story of Aaron's sons, Nadab and Abihu, exploring themes of obedience and faithfulness. We'll also journey to the New Testament in Acts 16, where the Apostle Paul's encounters reveal the power of the Holy Spirit. Join us as we uncover the lessons these scriptures hold for us today, emphasizing the importance of living in the life-giving fire of God's presence rather than succumbing to the desire for control. Together, we'll open our hearts to experience the joy and peace found in the Holy Spirit, reflecting on how this divine gift transforms us from within. So grab your Bible, find a quiet space, and let's dive into today's reading, seeking to draw closer to Jesus and to one another in faith. Stay tuned for an inspiring time of scripture, reflection, and prayer. Remember, you are loved. TODAY'S DEVOTION: In Leviticus today, we hear about Aaron's sons, Nadab, and Abihu, priests to the Lord. They conjure up some strange fire. They put some coals of fire on their incense burners and sprinkle the incense over them. In this way, they are making some strange fire. This is not the prescribed way. This was their way. They were trying to conjure up something new, perhaps. Perhaps they were trying to manipulate or control this fire to grant them fortune or power or honor. It was about control, and this strange fire ended up consuming them. We're told that they were judged because of it. They were consumed by fire. Fire blazed forth from the Lord's presence and burned them up. They died before the Lord. In the Acts reading today, we read of a different kind of fire. We see the Holy Spirit descend in tongues of fire. This is a fire that is bestowed on us and received, not manipulated. It is given to us not through our own efforts or designs. Instead, it descends upon us. It's a gift. It seems like all of us in some way want to work with strange fire and gain control on our own. It's no different now than it was in the book of acts. The slave owners in Acts 16 have a girl that tells fortunes. This is strange fire. The political leaders in town who wanted to pacify the mob were playing with strange fire. The jailer who drew his sword to kill himself for fear of his own execution, this too is strange fire. Strange fire is all about wanting to control and manipulate to ensure our future and get what we want. Whether it's fortune, power, or honor, we all want to make strange fire to get these things. Our strategies may appear to work for a while, but in the end, like Nadab and Abihu, it doubles back and ends up consuming us in the end. There are two kinds of fire. One is strange and will ultimately consume us. It is fueled by the desire to control and manipulate, to get fortune and power and honor apart from God. The other kind is the fire of God's presence that's received as a gift. It is a purifying fire. What do we do for that? We believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. We say yes to him, to his life, to his fire. We give up control and our need to coerce. This life-giving fire dwells within us. It does not consume and kill us. Instead, it purifies us and births within us life. It creates within us something new and offers us true riches, true power, true honor, and all these things are a gift. It is the holy fire of God in us. Live and walk today in the reality of the fire that comes down from heaven. It is your life, the Holy Spirit, Christ in you. This gift has been bestowed on all of us. Live in this fire today, not trying to control and conjure up your own, but resting and receiving the fire of Christ's life and spirit, living, dwelling, and thriving in you. That's a prayer that I have for my own soul. That's a prayer that I have for my family, for my friends, and for you. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord God Almighty and everlasting father you have brought us in safety to this new day preserve us with your Mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen. Oh God you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you, and find you. Bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit on all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. And now Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light. And where there is sadness, Joy. Oh Lord grant that I might not seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life. Amen And now as our Lord has taught us we are bold to pray... Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image. And nourishing us with spiritual food, now send us forth as forgiven people, healed and renewed, that we may proclaim your love to the world, and continue in the risen life of Christ. Amen. OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation. 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Leviticus 10 tells the story of Aaron's sons, Nadab and Abihu, who made a serious mistake. They offered fire and incense to God in a way that He had not commanded. Because of this, God sent fire to consume them, showing how important it is to follow His instructions exactly. Main Points in Leviticus 10: 1.Respecting God's Holiness: God wants people to worship Him the right way. Nadab and Abihu did things their own way instead of following God's rules, and they faced serious consequences. 2.God's Judgment: When they disobeyed, God acted quickly to show that He takes His commands seriously. This was a warning to others about the importance of obedience. 3.Leaders Must Set an Example: As priests, Nadab and Abihu were supposed to teach and guide the people in worship. Their mistake showed how important it is for leaders to do things the right way. 4.Staying Focused in Worship: God told Aaron and the other priests not to drink alcohol when they were serving in the tabernacle. This suggests that Nadab and Abihu might have made their mistake because they weren't thinking clearly. 5.Aaron's Reaction: After his sons died, Aaron stayed silent, showing that he accepted God's decision without arguing. Later, Moses reminded him and the other priests to be careful about what is considered holy and what is not. 6.Knowing Right from Wrong: God wants His people to understand the difference between what is holy and what is ordinary, and to treat Him with special respect. Lessons from Leviticus 10: •Worshiping God should be done His way, not ours. •Leaders have a responsibility to follow God's rules and set a good example. •God's instructions should always be taken seriously. •We should stay clear-minded and focused when serving God. Leviticus 10 is a strong reminder that worshiping God requires obedience, respect, and a serious attitude.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/sendme-radio--732966/support.
Fire shows up in the in two dramatic ways for Israel after leaving Egypt: the pillar of fire in the wilderness imparting God's preserving presence and the "strange fire" that Nadab and Abihu offered resulting in judgment. When we consider the gifts of the Spirit and their place today, which kind of fire are they more like? Listen to Pastor Brett's sermon on 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 for more.
A God of Joy and His people Part 1 We look again in the book of Leviticus. Some of the words and phrases we commonly use come straight from the book of Leviticus. Words such as jubilee and scapegoat are commonly used today. And what husband hasn't offered a form of guilt offering to his wife! Leviticus does have important things to tell us about sin, obedience and holiness. Perhaps most importantly it tells of God dwelling with His people. So tonight we delve into Leviticus chapter 16, which is the centre and pinnacle of the book. So please do turn in your bibles to Leviticus 16. 1. Sacrifices & Atonement (Leviticus 16v1-10) Day of Atonement Chapter 16 describes the Day of Atonement! We know that God had chosen Israel to be His people and that they were to be a shining beacon of light and hope to the world! As part of the covenant made with their leader, Moses, God said that He would be their God and they would be His people! What a contrast to the nations around them that worshipped multiple ‘gods', made of stone and often thirsty for human sacrifice. The Tabernacle / Tent of Meetings Most of the activity takes place in the Tabernacle! What did the Tabernacle look like? The Tabernacle or as it is also known as, the Tent of Meeting, was a marquee divided down the middle by a curtain. There was the ‘public' side and the other side, beyond the curtain, we know as the Holy of Holies, where the Chief Priest could only enter once a year! Inside the Holy of Holies were these items, which all screamed how special this place was! Ark of the Covenant: the object representing God's presence with His people Mercy seat: the removal top of the Ark where the blood was sprinkled by the High Priest Golden censer: High priest used this to make the cloud of incense as he entered the Holy of holies! Golden pot of manna: symbolised how God had supplied the needs of His people. Aaron's rod Stone tablets of the Law: as given to Moses on Mount Sinai So what was the Day of Atonement all about? It was to be an annual event. The verses read give a summary but you can read the details in the rest of the chapter. To atone means to clean, make amends, and to substitute. Chapter 16 starts by referring back to the incident we looked at last week, with Abihu and Nadab. Through their death, the Lord states the fundamental principles for priests - only they could mediate for the nation before Him and they had to be spiritually and ceremonially clean. Lets look very quickly at 5 aspects: Offerings, Blood, Aaron, Scapegoat and the people! a. The Offerings! There were 5 offerings performed on the day of Atonement in order to cleanse and re-consecrate the Tabernacle. All included the death of an animal and therefore involved blood : 2 blood atonement sin offerings; 1 scapegoat sin offering and 2 burnt offerings b. Blood! But why was blood used to ‘cleanse'? Why not water? Did God need blood, to quench his thirst for blood? By all means, no! God didn't need blood but blood was used to show that sin had a cost - the cost was blood because life is in blood (Leviticus 17v11)! The death substitute of an animal, reflected a temporary covering or veneer, which is why it needed to be done over and over again. c. Aaron! So that's blood! What about Aaron? During his normal daily duties, he represented God before the people, and was dressed as king! A king with great honour and clothes would draw attention to his office of honour! Here, on this one day of the year, the Day of Atonement, he represented the people before God, he was dressed as a servant. Before the Lord Almighty, Aaron is stripped of honour and approaches God as a servant. So, to a certain extent, Aaron was a servant King! Before he could go into the most holy place, he had to create an obscuring cloud of incense in the Holy of Holies, to veil the glory of God so he could enter and live. No doubt the memory of his sons provided an extra incentive to follow God's rules meticulously! d. Scapegoat And all this talk of a scapegoat! There were 2 goats to be offered! One goat was sacrificed as a substitutionary sin offering for the people and its blood taken into the Holy of Holies and sprinkled on the mercy seat. Aaron, laid his hands on the second goat's head, the one kept alive, and symbolically cast the burden of sins of the nation onto the goat. It was then driven out into the wilderness, far away from the camp and was never to return! e. The people! Lastly, what about the people? What were they to do? Just sit there and be bored while this all took place? No! They were not to be passive! But rather, they were to remember this day as an addition to their annual calendar by "humbling their souls" as one translation puts v31. This involved not doing routine things such as working and feasting. They were to ponder upon the awesomeness of their God who lived amongst them, and to reflect the cost of their sin. They were also trusting that the Chief Priest was being fully obedient to the regulations! Atonement done! On this day of Atonement, the one day of the year, Atonement took place between God and His people. God's holy dwelling place and things associated with it were cleansed. The sins and disobedience of the nation of Israel, over the previous year, had left impurities as stipulated in verse 16. The cleansing blood was to symbolise the great cost of sin. If the Day of Atonement did not proceed as regulated or was forgotten one year, God could no longer be present with His people, due to the stains of sin and uncleanness of His Tabernacle or dwelling place. Holiness is what separates God from all His creation. For God alone is holy, perfect and full of glory. Exodus 15:2 "Who is like you, O God, glorious in holiness!" Or Isaiah 60:25 "To whom will you liken me, or shall I be equal?" says the Holy One. But if God was holy, how was His nation to act holy? That's what we will be discussing in the next part after a break! Right mouse click or tap here to save/download this as a MP3 file
Leviticus 9~10 Obedient Service - Part 5 Called to service! Just as it was for Aaron and the Old Testament priesthood, when we serve and minister, God's honour is released. This is done because service is to show the beauty and glory of God to others. Serving, service and ministry are never to be about what we as mere humans can get out of it. When that is the motive, God is neither honoured nor glorified. God's glory and supremacy is to be the ultimate reason for service! God is both zealous and jealous for His glory and honour to be upheld! Nadab and Abihu could testify to that I am sure! As Christians, as part of our life of true Joy, we are called to serve and minister. We are called to exhibit and show our true Joy - just as Aaron and his family were called into a lifetime of obedient service to Jehovah God. Their JOY motto was to be "Jehovah Over Yourself". For us, true joy is to be "Jesus Over Yourself". Each of us here tonight is called to perform a unique serving and ministerial function. Showing love, serving each other and giving to others are a practical outworking of our joyful obedience to God. The ministries of Nadab and Abihu were cut short and hallmarked with disobedience. Our ministry, and all Christians have one, is to be hallmarked by obedience borne out of love for God and Him alone. Devoted obedience to God borne out of a desire to see God glorified, regardless of what other people may say or think. And we are not left alone to serve in our own power! We would most certainly fail if that was the case! God Himself has lovingly equipped all those who follow Him, to serve! God the Holy Spirit, who lives inside each believer, has endowed each Christian with gifts, talents and abilities for that purpose - service! This is so that the whole church is built up and "that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ." God wants you and I to be active in service - life long service hallmarked by loving obedience to Him, which reflects our joyful dedication to Him, to His praise, honour and glory! Judged for our service! Finally, just as God's judgement was upon Nadab and Abihu, the Bible also tells us that all those who follow Jesus Christ will be judged according to what they have done, with what God gave them. That includes any spiritual gifts, talents and abilities we have! This judgement will not be for salvation, because if we have decided to follow Jesus Christ, judgement for our sins has already fallen on Him, when He died on the cross. Of our sinfulness we have been set free and declared innocent! If we here tonight, have accepted God's free offer of salvation by grace alone, through Jesus Christ alone, then we are declared right with God and in a joyous relationship with Him. Again, it is amazing! However, our belief and faith are to be visibly manifested through joyful obedient service of, and to, God! This judgement is not for your salvation but for your rewards! As followers of Jesus Christ, God will ask you and I, to give an account of ourselves, and we will be judged according to what we have done. The quality of our work will be tested and our motives exposed - either we did things for God's glory or we did them for our own glory. We will give an account of the opportunities and abilities entrusted to us as instruments of God's orchestra of joy. Conclusion! For those of us who would call ourselves Christians, the Bible is very clear - you are called to lovingly and obediently serve in some capacity. A life of true Joy is seen in obedient service to the glory of God the Father, through God the Son Jesus Christ, in the power of God the Holy Spirit who lives in you. Tonight, if you are engaging in either intentional or unintentional acts of disobedience, then you need to turn your life around to one of utter obedience to the God you profess to follow. As a Christian, you have the Holy Spirit within you, as a seal of your salvation. Your body is the temple where God now resides! You can't hide from Him, so you may as well choose to be obedient to Him in a life of joyful service, exhibiting that true Joy and the hope you have in Him! Just as joy followed Moses and Aaron's obedience in Leviticus 9, so too can it be for those of us willing to lovingly serve obediently! But if you are not a Christian yet, then please do make yourself known to us afterwards and we would love to talk to you about becoming a Christian. While you have breath, it's not too late to start this life of joyful obedience to a loving God and enter into a living and dynamic relationship of true Joy with Him. Don't leave it so late that you incur God's judgement for your sins and have everlasting separation from Him and others! God does indeed love you and He is calling you to come into a dynamic relationship of true joy with Him today. Take the opportunity today - come and follow Jesus Christ. He is calling you to respond! Right mouse click or tap here to save/download this as a MP3 file
Leviticus 9-10 Obedient Service - Part 3 A God of Judgement Now today, in the 21st century, we have a problem. We are quite comfortable with a God of love, peace, joy and kindness. In the movie Crocodile Dundee, Mick Dundee announces that "Me and God - we'd be mates". If that is the limit of our vision of God, then may I suggest that our vision and opinion of God is too small? Perhaps our God is too nice and too comfortable. Yet a problem seemingly remains. How on earth can a God of love, peace, gentleness, kindness and joy act like this against two of his dedicated servants, Nadab and Abihu? Is not that a God who is at odds with himself? The first thing we can say here about God is that while He is most assuredly a God of love, kindness and peace, He is also a God of judgement - a God who judges. That is plainly evident from this passage. We need to acknowledge him as a great lover, but also as a terrifying Judge. Not just a friend, but also a Judge! The writer of the book of Hebrews reminds us that it is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God who is a consuming fire! Remember also, that God always prefers obedience to sacrifice. We all have, I am sure, at some point liked to think of God as being all love and never judging. People say: "It will be alright in the end, because the love of God conquers all." Well, that love involves judging! The judgement of God is unbiased. God shows no favouritism and He is always just and right. It is a reflection of His mercy, that nobody can claim God is unfair. But God is not merely a God of mercy, peace and love but also as we have seen, He is a God who judges and administers justice impartially in accordance with His mercy, peace and love! A God of Wrath! Not only is He a God who judges but He is also a God who has great wrath - it is an essential, permanent and indelible part of His character! His wrath may be slow to burn, but it is still anger and wrath! The holiness of God requires that He punish sin through His wrath! What sort of God would He have been if He had not done what He did to Nadab and Abihu? What if He had said, "That's ok boys, you will get it right next time." Then He most would certainly be seen as a capricious, unjust, fickle and hostile being. It's not a popular subject these days in our churches! Most churches mumble when it comes to bible passages such as this! While most sections of our society, and indeed parts of the church, view God as a doddery benevolent being, sitting benignly in the sky in His rocking chair and mildly ‘tutting' when people disobey His commands. But God is not a benevolent Grandfather figure and neither is His wrath or anger unwarranted, immoral, cruel, fickle, spiteful or capricious! God's wrath is always to administer and mete out a divine loving justice, which corresponds to God's innate and essential characteristics and attributes of light, perfection and holiness. That's the picture given by all the Bible writers. When we speak of a perfect God in human terms, whether that is His being a wrathful judge or tremendous lover, it reflects the imperfect limitations of our humanity. We were made in the image of God and not the other way around! Secondly, God's honour was at stake! He is both zealous and jealous for His own honour and name! He can only act within the confines of His own characteristics and attributes! He must always work out of His immutable holiness! God was passionate about living at the centre of His people and there was no way He could allow renegade priests to disobediently defile His dwelling place! Nadab and Abihu were punished because they worked in His immediate presence as illustrated by verse 3 "Among those who approach me I will show myself holy; in the sight of all the people I will be honoured." If God had not punished them, then that would have made God out to be a hypocrite and a liar, acting contrary to His own essential nature and He would be seen as an impotent God with seemingly multiple personalities. This story illustrates that Nadab and Abihu had to serve as an example, which is why we have the story. Thirdly, Nadab and Abihu broke the guidelines, given by God on how to enter into His presence. They took the wrong fire, went at the wrong time and were ill prepared for such an occasion. They entered a place of God's holy presence in a sinful and disobedient state. People full of sin can never enter into a place where God resides, because God is uniquely holy, sinless and perfect without fault or defect. Nadab and Abihu chose, for whatever reason, either intentionally or unintentionally, to break God's guidelines in how, where and when to offer a sacrifice. There is no indication, however, from the Biblical text that they were eternally separated from God at their death, as in judgement of their sins. But rather it seems they were judged according to what they did with their abilities, talents and gifting as ministers in His service. Right mouse click or tap here to save/download this as a MP3 file
Leviticus 9~10 Obedient Service - Part 2 Great tragedy! Leviticus 10v1-11 These two men, Nadab and Abihu, sons of Aaron the High Priest, start their duties. They take their pans, fill them with hot coals from a fire, place aromatic incense on the coals and offer this to God as an act of worship. The fire from the glory of the Lord comes out, engulfs them and they die. What happened? They hadn't followed the strict guidelines as given by the Lord and had therefore violated all the instructions given to them. Strict regulations were required by sinful humans to be in and work in God's holy presence! How different can these two scenes be? In the first passage we looked at, fire represented God's presence and spoke of His love, warmth, purity and blessing upon His people. Here though, the fire represents a different aspect of His presence through his active holiness and therefore danger and judgement. Who were Nadab and Abihu? They were Aaron's eldest sons and had received a privileged upbringing. They had seen God working from close quarters. When Moses went up Mount Sinai to speak with God and receive the stone tablets containing the Ten Commandments, they were there. They had just spent the previous week in training for their new jobs as priests in service to God. No doubt they had witnessed at close quarters, the fire we spoke of earlier in Leviticus 9v24. So they were not only important people, but also experienced. Yet in spite of all this, they did what was contrary to the guidelines given them. They were disobedient. We don't know why they did it. It could have been satan whispering in their ears "Go on. You have a go now. Your dad did it, didn't he? So can you. Don't worry about those guidelines God gave you. it will be alright tonight, my sons. You felt good and happy, didn't you? Trust yourself." It could have been pride, jealousy or impatience that led them to disobey the strict guidelines, or in light of 10v8 perhaps too much wine! Perhaps they were caught up in the excitable fever of the joyful occasion and wanted joy like a drug! What may have seemed right to them, most certainly wasn't right to God. Perhaps they thought they were doing God a big favour by zealously embracing their roles as priests and wanting to offer as many sacrifices as they could! We will never know! But we do know, that regardless of the reason for doing so, they actively disobeyed God. They chose to do it! Not only was it a fragrant disobedience but also a flagrant disobedience. In offering a "strange" or unauthorised fire, they had disregarded God's instructions for the timing, place or manner. They had been set apart and dedicated to a life of serving God and His people and had now paid the ultimate consequence for their disobedience. Their disobedience is referred to again in Leviticus 16 in the regulations for the annual Day of Atonement. Regulations probably given to ensure that this never again occurred! Aaron, their father, was silent - stunned I would imagine! He has seen at firsthand, that in a life of true joy, God requires obedience over sacrifice. Aaron and his remaining sons were not to mourn or appear to be sorrowful. This was to signify the seriousness of Nadab and Abihu's disobedience. To us this may seem harsh, but Aaron and his remaining sons had to prioritize service to God over commitment to family. This was symbolic of Joy - Jehovah Over Yourself. Aaron and his other sons had to remain engaged in priestly duties and responsibilities. Other members of the family were allowed to mourn however. Continued in Part 3 Right mouse click or tap here to save/download this as a MP3 file
Exodus 28: The Priestly Garments Exodus 28 details God's instructions to Moses for the making of the priestly garments. These garments were designed for Aaron and his sons, who were chosen to serve as priests in the tabernacle. The chapter underscores the sacred role of the priesthood and emphasizes the importance of holiness, beauty, and divine order in worship. Below is a breakdown of the chapter: 1. Appointment of Aaron and His Sons (Verses 1-5) God commands Moses to consecrate Aaron and his sons (Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar) as priests to serve Him. Skilled craftsmen, filled with wisdom and understanding, are to make sacred garments for them. These garments were meant to: •Set the priests apart for their holy duties. •Reflect the glory and beauty of God. The materials used included gold, blue, purple, scarlet yarns, and fine linen, signifying wealth, royalty, and purity. 2. The Ephod (Verses 6-14) The ephod, a ceremonial vest, was one of the key garments: •Made of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet yarns and fine twisted linen. •Designed with two shoulder pieces to fasten it. •Two onyx stones engraved with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel were placed on the shoulders as a memorial before the Lord. •Gold chains attached the ephod to other parts of the attire. The ephod symbolized the priest carrying the tribes of Israel before God. 3. The Breastpiece of Judgment (Verses 15-30) The breastpiece, worn over the ephod, served a dual purpose of beauty and function: •Crafted with the same materials as the ephod. •A square pouch containing twelve stones arranged in four rows, each engraved with the name of one of the tribes of Israel. •Attached to the ephod with gold rings and blue cords. The breastpiece also housed the Urim and Thummim, tools used for divine guidance in judgment. 4. The Robe of the Ephod (Verses 31-35) The robe was made entirely of blue fabric: •Decorated with pomegranates made of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, alternating with gold bells along the hem. •The bells were meant to sound as the priest entered and exited the Holy Place, ensuring his life was preserved in God's presence. 5. The Turban and Gold Plate (Verses 36-39) The priest's turban included a gold plate inscribed with “Holy to the Lord.” •Fastened with a blue cord to the turban. •Served as a reminder of the holiness required in approaching God. 6. The Tunics, Sashes, and Underwear (Verses 40-43) •Tunics and sashes were made for Aaron's sons, signifying their priestly role. •Linen undergarments were provided for modesty, preventing sin in the holy place. •These garments were to be worn perpetually whenever the priests served, under penalty of death for disobedience. 6. The Tunics, Sashes, and Underwear (Verses 40-43) •Tunics and sashes were made for Aaron's sons, signifying their priestly role. •Linen undergarments were provided for modesty, preventing sin in the holy place. •These garments were to be worn perpetually whenever the priests served, under penalty of death for disobedience. Themes and Significance 1.Holiness and Set-Apartness: The priestly garments emphasized the holiness of God and the need for those serving Him to reflect that holiness. 2.Representation of the People: The names of the twelve tribes on the ephod and breastpiece illustrated the priest's role as a mediator, carrying the people before God. 3.Divine Order and Beauty: Every detail in the garments reflected God's perfection and the importance of worship being done according to His design. 4.Christ as the Ultimate High Priest: These garments point forward to Jesus Christ, our ultimate High Priest, who perfectly mediates between God and humanity (Hebrews 4:14-16). Exodus 28 teaches us the importance of reverence, preparation, and order in worship, emphasizing God's desire for His people to approach Him in purity and humility.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/sendme-radio--732966/support.
Exodus 24 is a significant chapter in the narrative of the Israelites' covenant relationship with God, forming a pivotal moment in their journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. The chapter can be divided into several key sections, each rich in meaning and theological insight. 1. The Covenant Affirmed (Exodus 24:1–8) Moses is instructed by God to ascend the mountain along with Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy elders of Israel. This group represents the leadership and the broader community of Israel. God reaffirms His covenant with the Israelites, and Moses serves as the mediator between God and His people. •Moses Communicates God's Words: Moses recounts all the laws and decrees given by God to the people. In response, the Israelites affirm their commitment: “Everything the Lord has said we will do” (v. 3). This underscores the importance of obedience and the people's initial willingness to uphold their covenant with God. •The Covenant Ceremony: Moses writes down God's words and builds an altar with twelve stone pillars, representing the twelve tribes of Israel. Young men offer burnt offerings and fellowship sacrifices. Moses then sprinkles half the blood on the altar and the other half on the people, symbolizing the binding nature of the covenant. Blood signifies life and atonement, sealing the agreement between God and His people. 2. The Vision of God's Glory (Exodus 24:9–11) Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and the seventy elders ascend the mountain and experience an extraordinary vision of God's presence. •A Glimpse of Divine Majesty: They see a manifestation of God under whose feet was “something like a pavement made of lapis lazuli, as bright blue as the sky” (v. 10). This vision reflects the holiness and transcendence of God. •God's Grace and Fellowship: Despite witnessing God's glory, they are not consumed by His holiness. Instead, they share a meal in His presence, symbolizing communion and peace with God. This act reinforces the relational aspect of the covenant, where God is not distant but desires fellowship with His people. 3. Moses Ascends to Receive the Law (Exodus 24:12–18) God calls Moses higher up the mountain to receive the stone tablets inscribed with the law and commandments. •Divine Instructions: God invites Moses into His presence to receive the written covenant, which solidifies the laws given verbally. This act symbolizes the permanence and authority of God's Word. •Moses' Obedience: Accompanied by his assistant Joshua, Moses ascends the mountain, leaving Aaron and Hur in charge. This delegation of leadership shows the structure and responsibility within the community. •The Glory of the Lord: For six days, the mountain is covered by a cloud, representing God's glory and holiness. On the seventh day, Moses enters the cloud, symbolizing God's invitation into His presence. Moses remains there for forty days and forty nights, a period of divine revelation. Theological Themes and Applications 1.Covenant and Commitment: This chapter underscores the seriousness of the covenant relationship between God and His people. The Israelites' commitment highlights the importance of obedience in a covenantal relationship. 2.The Mediator's Role: Moses acts as a mediator, foreshadowing Jesus Christ, who serves as the ultimate mediator of the new covenant (Hebrews 8:6). 3.God's Holiness and Grace: The vision of God's glory reminds us of His holiness, while the meal shared with Him reveals His desire for fellowship with humanity. 4.Worship and Reverence: The detailed rituals in this chapter demonstrate that worship involves reverence, sacrifice, and a response to God's Word. 5.Divine Revelation: God's law, written on tablets, signifies the importance of His Word as a guide for life. It also emphasizes the need for leaders like Moses to faithfully receive and share God's message with the people. Reflection Questions 1.How does the covenant in Exodus 24 point forward to the new covenant established by Christ? 2.In what ways do we experience God's presence and glory in our lives today? 3.How can we ensure our commitment to God's Word is as steadfast as the Israelites' initial pledge, despite their later failures? This chapter invites us to reflect on our covenant relationship with God, the importance of obedience, and the grace extended to us through Jesus Christ.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/sendme-radio--732966/support.
Bishop Darryl Fitzwater and Adam explore the Eucharist as a sacrifice and its impact. Their discussion includes an examination of Old Testament examples, such as the story of Nadab and Abihu, as well as worship practices in Northern Israel. Additionally, they reflect on the significance of apostolic succession and the importance of orderly worship. For questions or comments, contact us at darryl@ascensionwv.org.
Sermon Series: “The Incarnation: God's Unwavering Commitment to His World” Sermon Text: Luke 1:5-17, 76-79 Sermon Title: “Love Means Always Saying You're Sorry” Sermon Slides: SLIDE 1 – Sermon Title Slide SLIDE 2 – Today's Big Idea: True Love Means True Repentance. But True Repentance Isn't our Chore … it's God's Grace! SLIDE 3 – Point 1: God's Unwavering Commitment … Sends His True Prophet. (Lk. 1:5-17) SLIDE 4 – 1 Chronicles 24:1-8 – “The divisions of the sons of Aaron were these. The sons of Aaron: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. But Nadab and Abihu died before their father and had no children, so Eleazar and Ithamar became the priests … David organized them according to the appointed duties in their service … They divided them by lot, all alike, for there were sacred officers and officers of God … the eighth [lot fell] to Abijah.” SLIDE 5 – Insert a Copy of Point #1 of Sermon SLIDE 6 – Numbers 6:1-3 – “And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When either a man or a woman makes … the vow of a Nazirite, to separate himself to the Lord, he shall separate himself from wine and strong drink.” SLIDE 7 – Ephesians 5:18 – “Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit.” SLIDE 8 – Insert a Copy of Point #1 of Sermon SLIDE 9 – Point 2: God's Uncompromising Communion … Requires Our True Repentance. (Lk. 1:76-79) SLIDE 10 – Romans 12:1 – “I appeal to you therefore … by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” SLIDE 11 – Romans 2:4 – “Do you presume on the riches of his kindness … not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?” SLIDE 12 – Insert a Copy of Point #2 of Sermon SLIDE 13 – 2 Corinthians 7:10 – “For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.” SLIDE 14 – Four Uses of This Sermon for Our Church and Lives. SLIDE 15 – Christmas Isn't About Sentiment … It's About Our Salvation. SLIDE 16 – Our Relationship with God Comes by Subtraction, not Just Addition. SLIDE 17 – Where Do We Need to Repent … To Prepare this Advent? SLIDE 18 – John is God's Preparation … for Jesus, God's Incarnation.
Host: Emily Hatfield | Released Wednesday, November 20, 2024 On this episode of Wifey Wednesdays, Emily discusses the tabernacle, and book of Leviticus, Nadab and Abihu, and the promised land. Throughout these accounts, God gives us a beautiful picture of His love and grace, His willingness to be near to us, and His seriousness when […]
Host: Emily Hatfield | Released Wednesday, November 20, 2024 On this episode of Wifey Wednesdays, Emily discusses the tabernacle, and book of Leviticus, Nadab and Abihu, and the promised land. Throughout these accounts, God gives us a beautiful picture of His love and grace, His willingness to be near to us, and His seriousness when […]
And Moses spoke thus unto the sons of Israel; and they heard not Moses for distress of spirit, and for hard service. And Jehovah spoke unto Moses, saying, Come, speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, and let him send the sons of Israel out of his land. And Moses spoke before Jehovah, saying, Behold the sons of Israel have not heard me; and how shall Pharaoh hear me, and I am uncircumcised in lips? And Jehovah spoke unto Moses and unto Aaron, and gave them a command unto the sons of Israel, and unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, to lead forth the sons of Israel out of the land of Egypt. These are the heads of their fathers' houses: the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel; Hanoch and Pallu, Hezron and Carmi; these are the families of Reuben. And the sons of Simeon; Jemuel, and Jamin, and Ohad, and Jachin, and Zohar, and Shaul the son of a Canaanitish woman; these are the families of Simeon. And these are the names of the sons of Leviticus according to their births; Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari; and the years of the life of Leviticus were a hundred and thirty and seven years. The sons of Gershon; Libni and Shimei, according to their families. And the sons of Kohath; Amram, and Izhar, and Hebron, and Uzziel; and the years of the life of Kohath were a hundred and thirty and three years. And the sons of Merari; Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of Leviticus according to their births. And Amram took Jochebed his father's sister for a woman; and she bare him Aaron and Moses; and the years of the life of Amram were a hundred and thirty and seven years. And the sons of Izhar; Korah and Nepheg, and Zichri. And the sons of Uzziel; Mishael and Elzaphan, and Sithri. And Aaron took him Elisheba, the daughter of Aminadab, the sister of Nahshon, for a woman; and she bare him Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. And the sons of Korah; Assir and Elkanah, and Abiasaph; these are the families of the Korahites. And Eleazar Aaron's son took him one of the daughters of Putiel for a woman; and she bare him Phinehas. These are the heads of the fathers of the Levites according to their families. This is the Aaron and Moses to whom Jehovah said, Lead forth the sons of Israel from the land of Egypt according to their armies. These are those who spoke to Pharaoh king of Egypt, to lead forth the sons of Israel from Egypt. This is the Moses and Aaron. And it was in the day that Jehovah spoke unto Moses in the land of Egypt, And Jehovah spoke unto Moses, saying, I am Jehovah; speak thou unto Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I speak unto thee. And Moses said before Jehovah, Behold I am uncircumcised in lips, and how shall Pharaoh hear me? Exodus 6:9-30 Stammering Arcana Coelestia 7225. [2] From these passages it is evident that “to be uncircumcised” denotes to be impure; and as everything impure is from impure loves, which are the love of the world and the love of self, therefore by “uncircumcised” is signified that which impedes the influx of good and truth. Where these loves are, the inflowing good and truth are extinguished, for they are contraries, like heaven and hell. Hence by the “uncircumcised ear” is signified disobedience, and by the “uncircumcised heart” the rejection of good and truth, which is especially the case when these loves have fortified themselves with falsity as with a wall. [3] That Moses, because he stammered, calls himself “uncircumcised in lips,” is for the sake of the internal sense, that thereby might be signified that they who are in falsities, who are represented by Pharaoh, would not hearken to the things that would be said to them from the law Divine, because they who are in falsities call the truths which are of the law Divine, falsities; and the falsities which are contrary to the truths of the law Divine they call truths, for they are wholly in the opposite. Hence by them the truths of doctrine are not perceived otherwise than as impure; even heavenly loves appear to them impure. Moreover,
What happened with Nadab and Abihu, and how does any of this tragedy point to Christ? Click here for that and more as we continue our study of “Christianity in Leviticus”!
Well it was typically right around this time of year when, every year, as a kid, our family would pack up our bags, load up the car, and travel up to Lutsen, Minnesota. Anyone ever been up to Lutsen before? It's a beautiful area. It's also an area that's four hours away, by car, from the cities. Which, for me as a kid, might as well have been eternity.So, like most kids, in an effort to offset the boredom that I would experience during the four-hour long drives, I began to develop and perfect my road trip set up, which involved stuffing all my drawing supplies into the cupholder and against the window to my left, placing my CDs and no-skip Sony Walkman to my right, usually on top of an overhanging suitcase of some sort, and then stacking a pile of Sports Illustrated for Kids magazines about a foot tall on the floor below my feet. I'd get that set up just right, squeeze on into what remained of the seat, and then buckle in for the journey. And it was typically about 20-30 minutes later when I'd begin wonder, “Why are we still parked in the driveway?” “Why have we yet to go anywhere?” I mean, I'm clearly ready to go. Why isn't this car moving yet?” I'm guessing you've been there before. And if so, then believe it or not, you know something of what readers of the Bible can, at times, experience when reading through these first few chapters in the book of Numbers — a kind of fidgeting, watch-checking, growing sense of impatience.Why We Grow ImpatientAnd there's a reason for that. The fact that we've now, by this time in the narrative, been gearing up to go somewhere for quite some time. What I mean is that, ever since Exodus chapter 19, following God's miraculous rescue of his people, the Israelites, from Egypt, we've been parked in the wilderness of Sinai. And not with intention of staying there indefinitely. But, with the intention of eventually moving on from there, to the Promised Land – the land of Canaan. And yet, as Exodus comes to its close and gives way to Leviticus, and Leviticus comes to its close and gives way to Numbers, in Sinai we yet remain. And so, as readers of the story, we begin to wonder, “Why are we still parked in the driveway?” “Why have we yet to go anywhere?” I mean, I'm clearly ready to go. Why isn't this thing moving yet?”But here's where our true colors really show, as a people. Here's where it becomes clear that either we've already forgotten the significance of all that's been going on throughout this stop in Sinai, or we never really grasped the significance of it all in the first place. Here's what I mean: it was while in Sinai, that God made a covenant with this people and gave them the Law (Exodus Ch. 20-24). And it was while in Sinai, that God took up his earthly residence in the Tabernacle (picture a somewhat large, tent-like structure), filling it with his glory as a cloud (Ex. 40). It was while in Sinai that this Tabernacle (dwelling place of God) became the Tent of Meeting between God and his people. And that was through the establishment of the Priesthood and the sacrificial system. And so, had the people not lingered in Sinai, and had not all the events of the second half of Exodus and the entirety of Leviticus occurred while here in Sinai, then we'd be looking at quite a different picture at this point. A people who still have no formal relationship with God, still have no experience of nearness to God, and still have no covering for their sin before God, heading into the Promised Land alone. You know why we so often get impatient as a people? So often ask, “God, why are we still parked here?” It's because though we do, by nature, desire comfort, and though we do, by nature, desire prosperity, and though we do, by nature, desire to dwell in the Promised Land, the land flowing with milk and honey – we do not by nature desire God. We desire his stuff, we desire his space. And we think our salvation lies in getting it, rather than getting him. We disregard the ultimate treasure, God himself, and go out in search of pocket-change instead. It is a mercy, absolute mercy, brothers and sisters, that God parks us from time-to-time in the wilderness. It's there we often realize that what we really need in life is God. And if we gain him, we will have gained all we ever needed. Israel was parked in Sinai for that: Creation of a relationship with God through covenant, experience of that relationship in God's presence, a presence enabled by the mediation of the priests and the sacrificial system.Now, here's the thing though. By Numbers 1, all those boxes have been checked. And we're still not going anywhere. We're going to yet stay here in Sinai till Numbers chapter 10. Why? With covenant made, Tabernacle created, sacrifices in motion — What is it that's still lacking?We're going to attempt to answer that question through the remainder of this sermon. And we'll do so, Lord-willing, with the help of three R's: Roles, relationships, and realities.1. RolesLet's begin with roles. And this first point will be our longest of the three. Roles. God is going to assign roles for his people to play throughout their journey in the wilderness. First one we're going to look at is that of the priest. You can see in Numbers 3:1-3,“These are the generations of Aaron and Moses at the time when the Lord spoke with Moses on Mount Sinai. These are the names of the sons of Aaron: Nadab the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 3 These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the anointed priests, whom he ordained to serve as priests.”Now, if you were with us back in the fall of 2022 for our series through Leviticus, you might remember that the role of the priest involved carrying out the daily sacrifices upon the altar of the Tabernacle — sacrifices which served as a necessary covering for both their sins as well as the sins of the people. But the people who could qualify for this role represented only a very small percentage of the total population of Israel. From all those belonging to the 12 tribes we narrow down to those belonging to one tribe, that of Levi. From those belonging to the tribe of Levi, we narrow down to descendants of Aaron. Is it only this small percentage of the people who get a role to play? Is it the priests, and then everyone else simply along for the ride? Enter, a new role, the Levite.LevitesTurn back with me to Numbers 1:50-51,“But appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of the testimony, and over all its furnishings, and over all that belongs to it. They are to carry the tabernacle and all its furnishings, and they shall take care of it and shall camp around the tabernacle. When the tabernacle is to set out, the Levites shall take it down, and when the tabernacle is to be pitched, the Levites shall set it up. And if any outsider comes near, he shall be put to death.” So here's another role, that of the Levite, whose job it is to set up, take down, transport, and guard the Holy Tabernacle at which the priests offer the sacrifices. So the Priests, the smallest group, they carry out the sacrifices at the Tabernacle. The Levites (a slightly larger group — those remaining from the tribe of Levi who were not also in the line of Aaron), they guard and carry the Tabernacle. So the funnel widens once. It's going to widen again. Turn back with me, once more, to the very beginning of Numbers, chapter 1:1-3.SoldierNumbers 1:1-3,“The Lord spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tent of meeting, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying, 2 “Take a census of all the congregation of the people of Israel, by clans, by fathers' houses, according to the number of names, every male, head by head. 3 From twenty years old and upward, all in Israel who are able to go to war…”Here's a third role — that of soldier. This represents the largest group, pulling from the remaining eleven of the twelve total tribes. And as we can see down in verse 46 of chapter one, the total number of those who receive this role is 603,550. Which, quick note here…When God first called Abraham and said, “I'll make of you a people, like the stars in the sky and the sand on the shore for number,” does anyone know how many descendants he had at that time? …Zero. So, book of Genesis, God says “I'll provide for you a nearly uncountable number of descendants…beginning at…zero.” And, wouldn't you know, a few hundred years later, here in Numbers, more than half a million descendants of Abraham walking around, and that's only including the men in the camp who are old enough for war. Does God keep his promises?So priests, Levites, soldiers — three distinct roles for the people of God to receive prior to heading out on their journey. Three distinct roles that though very different from one another, clearly depend upon one another in order to function. For, how are the priests going to carry out the sacrifices at the Tabernacle if the Levites fail to guard the Tabernacle and it ends up becoming defiled? And how are the Levites going to guard the Tabernacle, if the soldiers fail to guard them when enemy armies approach?And how are either the Levites or the soldiers going to dwell anywhere near the camp, and guard anything at all, if the priests fail to carry out the daily sacrifices? See in this design, the priest cannot say to the Levite “I have no need of you.” Neither can the Levite say to the soldier, “I've no need of you.” Rather, it is when and only when all of these roles are working properly together, that the camp of Israel will be able to move forward as one — out of Sinai, into the Promised Land. How about us? How about our camp? Do we have a role to play here? God says we do. He says in Ephesians 4 that there are certain roles he's given. Some, apostles prophets. Some the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers. And those for the sake of equipping the largest role of all — the saints (that's all of us). Equipping the saints for the work of ministry — that's your job description. My job description — the work of ministry. The work of helping one another attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God. That's the role God's given us to play. So we should ask, “how am I doing in that role? How am I leaning-in for the good of the whole? And how might I lean-in just a little more in effort to build this body, and help us move forward as one?” God gave roles for the Israelites to play within the camp back then. He gives us roles to play within his church today. So, why have we not yet left Sinai? What is it we still lack? First R — roles. God's people had roles they still needed to receive. Second R, relationships. This one will move a bit quicker. 2. RelationshipsFor this one, I'll ask you to turn with me to Numbers Chapter 5. I know we're jumping around quite a bit this morning, but I believe it's worth it because it's going to help us better understand this section as a whole. So, Number 5, verse 5, and I want you to listen for the emphasis: And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel, when a man or woman commits any of the sins that people commit by breaking faith with the Lord, and that person realizes his guilt, he shall confess his sin that he has committed. And he shall make full restitution for his wrong, adding a fifth to it and giving it to him to whom he did the wrong.”God is establishing here rules for relationships. Rules for regulating and righting wrongs within relationships. Neighbor-to-NeighborAnd this first rule here, verse 5, applies to neighbor-to-neighbor relationships. It says, “if you wrong your neighbor, here's what you must do to make it right. You first confess your sin, then give back the full amount, plus a fifth, to that person to whom you did the wrong.” Clearly, God is concerned with the health of neighbor-to-neighbor relationships within the camp. Now, just as we moved in concentric circles in terms of roles — soldiers, Levites, priests. So once more we'll move in concentric circles in terms of relationships. Neighbor-to-neighbor at the widest point in the funnel. Moving further in we come to the relationship between spouses.Spouse-to-SpouseChapter 5:11,“And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 12 “Speak to the people of Israel, If any man's wife goes astray and breaks faith with him,” And now if we had time to read from there through the rest of chapter 5 we'd discover a public process laid out for righting wrongs between spouses. A process that would either result in proving the husband's accusation was unfounded, his wife has been faithful, and her good name should thus be reinstated within the community. Or, in proving her husband's accusation was accurate, his wife has been unfaithful, and she will receive from God the curse of barrenness as her punishment. Either way, a sense of justice, and righting of wrongs, will be recovered in the relationship between spouses.Neighbor-to-neighbor relationships. Spouse-to-spouse relationships. What's at the innermost circle? Our own relationship with God. We see this final movement, chapter 6, with the Law of the Nazirite.Self-to-GodWe can see the set up for it in Numbers chapter 6:1, “And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When either a man or a woman makes a special vow, the vow of a Nazirite, to separate himself to the Lord.”See, we're looking at the level of the individual — his or her relationship to the Lord. And we're seeing a means laid out here for the individual to especially dedicate him or herself, solely to the Lord, for a set amount of time.Again, if we had time to read the rest of this chapter, chapter 6, we'd see that the Nazirite vow involves not cutting your hair, consuming alcohol, nor going near a dead body throughout the time of the vow. And when the time of the vow was over, you'd conclude by bringing with you a very costly gift to sacrifice at the altar before God — one male lamb, one ewe lamb, one ram, a basket of unleavened bread — you'd even cut the hair you'd grown throughout the time of the vow and put that, as well, upon the altar. And then you'd burn it all up, right then and there, before the Lord, as a way of communicating to him, “Lord, I am fully yours, all I have is yours.”So, relationships — with neighbor, with spouse, and with God. God is concerned to have health in all these spheres, all the way through the camp. Once again, we'll ask, how about us? Are we dwelling in right relationships in all three categories?Is there perhaps a wrong you need to right between you and another person in your community group?Is there a wrong you need to right between you and a spouse, a family member, even a close friend? Is there not necessarily a wrong to be righted, but an opportunity, for a time, to intensely pursue the Lord with a passion, persistence, and commitment perhaps you never have before? God gave relationship rules and regulations for the Israelites to abide by within the camp. He gives relationship rules and regulations for us to abide by within his church. So, why have we not yet left Sinai? What is it we still lack? First R — roles. God's people had roles they still needed to receive. Second R, relationships. God's people had rules for their relationships that still needed to be established. Third, final R — reality. A reality finally to be experienced. 3. RealityNow, for this, we really need to draw our attention all the way back to one of the first things God said at the outset of this season in Sinai. Back before the establishment of the priests and sacrifices, back before the construction of the Tabernacle, just after the making of a covenant with his people. And I'll just read this one to you, from Exodus 25:8, where God said, “And let them make me a sanctuary that I may dwell in their midst.” Let them make me a sanctuary, because… I don't merely aim to make a covenant with them. I don't merely aim to dwell within their general vicinity. I don't merely desire to bring their priests near to carry out sacrifices while all the rest remain scattered elsewhere. Rather, I aim to dwell in their midst.And now with all the pieces finally in place, God is going to do exactly that — turn this aim into reality. Numbers, chapter 2, verse 1. Go there with me, I want you to behold this verse. Numbers 2:1,The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, “The people of Israel shall camp each by his own standard, with the banners of their fathers' houses. They shall camp facing the tent of meeting on every side.”On every side.Now, here in Numbers, for the very first time, this people are going to form as one around God. God is going to be their central heartbeat filling and sustaining them all with life. God is going to be their sun, keeping them together within his orbit. God is going to dwell in their midst, they are going to camp facing him. With Moses and the priests to his immediate east, where the doors of his Tabernacle open. Moving clockwise from there, will be the Levites making up the central ribbon. Then, to the east once more, will be the tribe of Judah, clockwise from there, the remaining eleven tribes all around.Their new reality, as a people, will from now on involve: Waking up with God in their midst, laying down with God in their midst, working with God in their midst, resting with God in their midst, seeing him as their center, seeing him as their core, seeing the God whose delight it is to live among his chosen people and gladly pour out upon them his abundant joy and love. And, if this is hard for you to imagine, like, you just have a really hard time believing God actually desires to live amongst his people, is actually delighted to live amongst his people, is actually glad to make them glad with his presence…Then look with me at his first act upon assembling his people together as one. What is it, we could ask, that comes most naturally to God, upon the bringing together of his people? Cursing? Frustration? Annoyance? Ambivalence? When he, for the first time, has his people gathered all round, what is, we could say, his knee-jerk, immediate reaction? To bless.The first words out of his mouth are blessing. Go with me to Numbers 6:22, final word here, and it is the capstone of all that's gone on thus far,The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 23 “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them, 24 “The LORD bless you and keep you [hold you, protect you, be your shelter and shield]; 25 the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you [as his face made Moses' to shine, so now may his smile shine upon you and pour forth its bright rays into your heart and life]; 26 the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace [Give you his Shalom, give you his experience of, “All is right, and all is full, and all is well because my God is here and he loves me]. “This is the blessing that, as one writer puts it, now readily flows forth from God, ushering forth from the Central Tent — encompassing the whole, and casting the light of his face on every Israelite within its bounds (Morales, 166).This is the great reality of God's people now realized. And brothers and sisters, it is only a foretaste of a greater reality still to come. For just as God assembled his people in the wilderness, so will he assemble us into his kingdom. Where it will be declared, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God (Rev. 21:3). Where God will bless us, keep us, and make his face to shine upon us in the face of his very own son whom we will then behold (Rev. 22:4).That is, my brothers and sisters, where we are headed. And we are headed there as a people, as a body, as a camp, trekking through the wilderness together, and onward into glory. The TableAnd this is what now brings us to the table. For at this table, we eat together as God's people — bought with his blood, sealed by His Spirit, bound for his Kingdom to behold his face and experience his peace forever.
28 “Then bring near to you Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, from among the people of Israel, to serve me as priests—Aaron and Aaron's sons, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. 2 And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty. 3 You shall speak to all the skillful, whom I have filled with a spirit of skill, that they make Aaron's garments to consecrate him for my priesthood. 4 These are the garments that they shall make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a coat of checker work, a turban, and a sash. They shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother and his sons to serve me as priests. 5 They shall receive gold, blue and purple and scarlet yarns, and fine twined linen. 6 “And they shall make the ephod of gold, of blue and purple and scarlet yarns, and of fine twined linen, skillfully worked. 7 It shall have two shoulder pieces attached to its two edges, so that it may be joined together. 8 And the skillfully woven band on it shall be made like it and be of one piece with it, of gold, blue and purple and scarlet yarns, and fine twined linen. 9 You shall take two onyx stones, and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel, 10 six of their names on the one stone, and the names of the remaining six on the other stone, in the order of their birth. 11 As a jeweler engraves signets, so shall you engrave the two stones with the names of the sons of Israel. You shall enclose them in settings of gold filigree. 12 And you shall set the two stones on the shoulder pieces of the ephod, as stones of remembrance for the sons of Israel. And Aaron shall bear their names before the Lord on his two shoulders for remembrance. 13 You shall make settings of gold filigree, 14 and two chains of pure gold, twisted like cords; and you shall attach the corded chains to the settings. 15 “You shall make a breastpiece of judgment, in skilled work. In the style of the ephod you shall make it—of gold, blue and purple and scarlet yarns, and fine twined linen shall you make it.16 It shall be square and doubled, a span[a] its length and a span its breadth. 17 You shall set in it four rows of stones. A row of sardius,[b] topaz, and carbuncle shall be the first row; 18 and the second row an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond; 19 and the third row a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst; 20 and the fourth row a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper. They shall be set in gold filigree. 21 There shall be twelve stones with their names according to the names of the sons of Israel. They shall be like signets, each engraved with its name, for the twelve tribes.22 You shall make for the breastpiece twisted chains like cords, of pure gold. 23 And you shall make for the breastpiece two rings of gold, and put the two rings on the two edges of the breastpiece. 24 And you shall put the two cords of gold in the two rings at the edges of the breastpiece. 25 The two ends of the two cords you shall attach to the two settings of filigree, and so attach it in front to the shoulder pieces of the ephod.26 You shall make two rings of gold, and put them at the two ends of the breastpiece, on its inside edge next to the ephod.27 And you shall make two rings of gold, and attach them in front to the lower part of the two shoulder pieces of the ephod, at its seam above the skillfully woven band of the ephod. 28 And they shall bind the breastpiece by its rings to the rings of the ephod with a lace of blue, so that it may lie on the skillfully woven band of the ephod, so that the breastpiece shall not come loose from the ephod. 29 So Aaron shall bear the names of the sons of Israel in the breastpiece of judgment on his heart, when he goes into the Holy Place, to bring them to regular remembrance before the Lord. 30 And in the breastpiece of judgment you shall put the Urim and the Thummim, and they shall be on Aaron's heart, when he goes in before the Lord. Thus Aaron shall bear the judgment of the people of Israel on his heart before the Lord regularly. 31 “You shall make the robe of the ephod all of blue. 32 It shall have an opening for the head in the middle of it, with a woven binding around the opening, like the opening in a garment,[c] so that it may not tear. 33 On its hem you shall make pomegranates of blue and purple and scarlet yarns, around its hem, with bells of gold between them, 34 a golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, around the hem of the robe.35 And it shall be on Aaron when he ministers, and its sound shall be heard when he goes into the Holy Place before the Lord, and when he comes out, so that he does not die. 36 “You shall make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it, like the engraving of a signet, ‘Holy to the Lord.' 37 And you shall fasten it on the turban by a cord of blue. It shall be on the front of the turban. 38 It shall be on Aaron's forehead, and Aaron shall bear any guilt from the holy things that the people of Israel consecrate as their holy gifts. It shall regularly be on his forehead, that they may be accepted before the Lord. 39 “You shall weave the coat in checker work of fine linen, and you shall make a turban of fine linen, and you shall make a sash embroidered with needlework. 40 “For Aaron's sons you shall make coats and sashes and caps. You shall make them for glory and beauty. 41 And you shall put them on Aaron your brother, and on his sons with him, and shall anoint them and ordain them and consecrate them, that they may serve me as priests. 42 You shall make for them linen undergarments to cover their naked flesh. They shall reach from the hips to the thighs; 43 and they shall be on Aaron and on his sons when they go into the tent of meeting or when they come near the altar to minister in the Holy Place, lest they bear guilt and die. This shall be a statute forever for him and for his offspring after him.
24 Then he said to Moses, “Come up to the Lord, you and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and worship from afar. 2 Moses alone shall come near to the Lord, but the others shall not come near, and the people shall not come up with him.” 3 Moses came and told the people all the words of the Lord and all the rules.[a] And all the people answered with one voice and said, “All the words that the Lord has spoken we will do.” 4 And Moses wrote down all the words of the Lord. He rose early in the morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel. 5 And he sent young men of the people of Israel, who offered burnt offerings and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen to the Lord.6 And Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and half of the blood he threw against the altar. 7 Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it in the hearing of the people. And they said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.” 8 And Moses took the blood and threw it on the people and said, “Behold the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.” 9 Then Moses and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel went up, 10 and they saw the God of Israel. There was under his feet as it were a pavement of sapphire stone, like the very heaven for clearness. 11 And he did not lay his hand on the chief men of the people of Israel; they beheld God, and ate and drank. 12 The Lord said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain and wait there, that I may give you the tablets of stone, with the law and the commandment, which I have written for their instruction.” 13 So Moses rose with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up into the mountain of God. 14 And he said to the elders, “Wait here for us until we return to you. And behold, Aaron and Hur are with you. Whoever has a dispute, let him go to them.” 15 Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. 16 The glory of the Lord dwelt on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days. And on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud. 17 Now the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel.18 Moses entered the cloud and went up on the mountain. And Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.
6 But the Lord said to Moses, “Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh; for with a strong hand he will send them out, and with a strong hand he will drive them out of his land.” 2 God spoke to Moses and said to him, “I am the Lord. 3 I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty,[a] but by my name the Lord I did not make myself known to them. 4 I also established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, the land in which they lived as sojourners. 5 Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the people of Israel whom the Egyptians hold as slaves, and I have remembered my covenant. 6 Say therefore to the people of Israel, ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment. 7 I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. 8 I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. I will give it to you for a possession. I am the Lord.'” 9 Moses spoke thus to the people of Israel, but they did not listen to Moses, because of their broken spirit and harsh slavery. 10 So the Lord said to Moses, 11 “Go in, tell Pharaoh king of Egypt to let the people of Israel go out of his land.” 12 But Moses said to the Lord, “Behold, the people of Israel have not listened to me. How then shall Pharaoh listen to me, for I am of uncircumcised lips?” 13 But the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron and gave them a charge about the people of Israel and about Pharaoh king of Egypt: to bring the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt. 14 These are the heads of their fathers' houses: the sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi; these are the clans of Reuben. 15 The sons of Simeon: Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul, the son of a Canaanite woman; these are the clans of Simeon. 16 These are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari, the years of the life of Levi being 137 years. 17 The sons of Gershon: Libni and Shimei, by their clans. 18 The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, the years of the life of Kohath being 133 years. 19 The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. These are the clans of the Levites according to their generations. 20 Amram took as his wife Jochebed his father's sister, and she bore him Aaron and Moses, the years of the life of Amram being 137 years. 21 The sons of Izhar: Korah, Nepheg, and Zichri.22 The sons of Uzziel: Mishael, Elzaphan, and Sithri. 23 Aaron took as his wife Elisheba, the daughter of Amminadab and the sister of Nahshon, and she bore him Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 24 The sons of Korah: Assir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph; these are the clans of the Korahites.25 Eleazar, Aaron's son, took as his wife one of the daughters of Putiel, and she bore him Phinehas. These are the heads of the fathers' houses of the Levites by their clans. 26 These are the Aaron and Moses to whom the Lord said: “Bring out the people of Israel from the land of Egypt by their hosts.” 27 It was they who spoke to Pharaoh king of Egypt about bringing out the people of Israel from Egypt, this Moses and this Aaron. 28 On the day when the Lord spoke to Moses in the land of Egypt, 29 the Lord said to Moses, “I am the Lord; tell Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I say to you.” 30 But Moses said to the Lord, “Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips. How will Pharaoh listen to me?”
We live in a world that downplays sin and believes humanity is naturally good. This message dives deep into the unchanging holiness of God and the cost of treating it lightly. Using the powerful stories of Ananias and Sapphira as well as Nadab and Abihu, we explore the seriousness of sin, the danger of taking God's mercy for granted, and the awe-inspiring grace that saves us through Jesus. This message will challenge you to re-evaluate how you approach God and live in the tension of His holiness, justice and grace.
We live in a world that downplays sin and believes humanity is naturally good. This message dives deep into the unchanging holiness of God and the cost of treating it lightly. Using the powerful stories of Ananias and Sapphira as well as Nadab and Abihu, we explore the seriousness of sin, the danger of taking God's mercy for granted, and the awe-inspiring grace that saves us through Jesus. This message will challenge you to re-evaluate how you approach God and live in the tension of His holiness, justice and grace.
Welcome back to the book of Leviticus, my OOBTers! Today, we're diving into the ordination of the priests and how Jesus is Our Great High Priest. How He is right beside us. Never far off. Never distant as the priests of the Old Testament were from the Israelites. I just love that, don't you? So beautiful. Together we'll see how Moses follows God's instructions for the ordination of Aaron and his sons, preparing them for service. In Leviticus 9 we recognize all the offerings we've studied already, but this time offered for the priests themselves. I can't help but notice the order of all this: sin had to be dealt with first and THEN it happened – God's glory appears in a miraculous fire that consumes the offering on the altar as a sign of God's acceptance and presence dwelling with them in the Tabernacle. And then we'll witness the Israelites fall facedown in worship (more on that in today's episode too.) They bowed down in honor of our God who wants to be with us. So good. Honestly, friends there is so much more in today's episode…the importance of keeping God's fire burning, the tragic story of Nadab and Abihu, and many laws about clean and unclean animals. Through all of this, we'll uncover the deep significance of holiness and obedience in our relationship with God. And there's that word again… holiness. My how that one has become such a valuable part of our studies in the book of Leviticus! Annndddd please be sure to listen in to the very end of this one as I have an important last-minute announcement about the podcast to share with all of you… about what one of those unexpected things life throws our way means for OOBT in the days and weeks to come. I so you hope you listen in! For the full episode show notes and more, please go to https://mfahring.com/leviticus-8-11/
Send us a Text Message.Have you ever wondered how to navigate the emotional and spiritual trials when your children stray from the path of obedience? On the Called by God podcast, the hosts, joined by special guest Ray Gosa, explore this profound question with heartfelt discussions and biblical insights. We delve into the real-life struggles parents face and draw wisdom from the stories of Aaron and Moses, focusing on the importance of being vigilant in faith. This episode underscores the necessity of gratitude and steadfastness, even when bearing the trials and suffering that come with being a follower of Christ.We reflect deeply on the tragic story of Aaron's sons, Nadab and Abihu, who faced severe consequences for their disobedience to God. As we examine Aaron's emotional turmoil and his challenge of maintaining holiness while grieving, we discuss the significant responsibilities parents hold as stewards of their children. This conversation highlights the balance between God's grace and sovereignty, and the serious nature of a relationship with God. A Call to SalvationSupport the Show.Social Media/Follow Us: Website:https://www.calledbygodpodcast.com/IG: https://www.instagram.com/cbg.podcast/Twitter: https://twitter.com/CalledbyGodPodTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@calledbygodpodcast
Playtime: 29:00 Discuss: TheologyOnline.com DOWNLOAD Open configuration options * Leviticus: In the book of Leviticus, the law of the priests, God describes the sacrifices He requires of the priests and the Israelites. In this study Bob Enyart looks at the meanings of the burnt offerings and the lamb without spot or blemish. We learn of offerings of birds and of bread, and peace offerings of bull and calf, cow, ox, and goat, and trespass offerings for sin. God here commands integrity toward our neighbors, diligence in religious service, and the consecration of the Aaron and his sons as priests. Sadly, though they were chosen to be teachers of the people and serve the Lord as priests forever, God kills two of Aaron's sons, Nadab and Abihu, for their rebellion against Him. God gave to Israel symbolic ordinances both to teach the world eternal truths and to provide a cultural fabric that would bind Israel together keeping them through the millennia as a cohesive ethnic group through whom the Messiah would come and for whom future End Times prophecies will one day be fulfilled. This 3,500-year-old book presents applications of what, thousands of years later, became modern medical practices. In some contexts an unclean person may have an infectious disease, is diagnosed from bodily discharges, and God instructs isolation, observation, and cleansing, with clothing and personal objects either washed, discarded, or even burned. God even warns that one unclean person or object can make another unclean, revealing all this thousands of years before biblical creationists discovered for the word the germ theory of diseases. God imbues blood with an intensity of symbolic meaning because without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness and because penultimately, Jesus would incense His hearers saying, If you want eternal life, drink My blood. God chose this book also to explicitly condemned all forms of sexual immorality including adultery, incest, and homosexuality. Yet, for those who obey Him, He also filled their lives with the blessings of the annual Feasts of Israel, and the eternal relief symbolized in the very real Sabbatical Years and the once-in-a-life Year of Jubilee! Finally, God's insistence on treating the poor well was anything but a foundation for a socialist or welfare state. And by the way He created us and the world, with the laws of cause and effect, no man can escape the curses that are all around him, for every act of disobedience, nor can men out give God, with the blessings that He has assured for every act of obedience. For what God expects of men in vows and tithing, He has committed Himself to give infinitely above what we ever could.
Playtime: 29:00 Discuss: TheologyOnline.com DOWNLOAD Open configuration options * Leviticus: In the book of Leviticus, the law of the priests, God describes the sacrifices He requires of the priests and the Israelites. In this study Bob Enyart looks at the meanings of the burnt offerings and the lamb without spot or blemish. We learn of offerings of birds and of bread, and peace offerings of bull and calf, cow, ox, and goat, and trespass offerings for sin. God here commands integrity toward our neighbors, diligence in religious service, and the consecration of the Aaron and his sons as priests. Sadly, though they were chosen to be teachers of the people and serve the Lord as priests forever, God kills two of Aaron's sons, Nadab and Abihu, for their rebellion against Him. God gave to Israel symbolic ordinances both to teach the world eternal truths and to provide a cultural fabric that would bind Israel together keeping them through the millennia as a cohesive ethnic group through whom the Messiah would come and for whom future End Times prophecies will one day be fulfilled. This 3,500-year-old book presents applications of what, thousands of years later, became modern medical practices. In some contexts an unclean person may have an infectious disease, is diagnosed from bodily discharges, and God instructs isolation, observation, and cleansing, with clothing and personal objects either washed, discarded, or even burned. God even warns that one unclean person or object can make another unclean, revealing all this thousands of years before biblical creationists discovered for the word the germ theory of diseases. God imbues blood with an intensity of symbolic meaning because without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness and because penultimately, Jesus would incense His hearers saying, If you want eternal life, drink My blood. God chose this book also to explicitly condemned all forms of sexual immorality including adultery, incest, and homosexuality. Yet, for those who obey Him, He also filled their lives with the blessings of the annual Feasts of Israel, and the eternal relief symbolized in the very real Sabbatical Years and the once-in-a-life Year of Jubilee! Finally, God's insistence on treating the poor well was anything but a foundation for a socialist or welfare state. And by the way He created us and the world, with the laws of cause and effect, no man can escape the curses that are all around him, for every act of disobedience, nor can men out give God, with the blessings that He has assured for every act of obedience. For what God expects of men in vows and tithing, He has committed Himself to give infinitely above what we ever could.
* Leviticus: In the book of Leviticus, the law of the priests, God describes the sacrifices He requires of the priests and the Israelites. In this study Bob Enyart looks at the meanings of the burnt offerings and the lamb without spot or blemish. We learn of offerings of birds and of bread, and peace offerings of bull and calf, cow, ox, and goat, and trespass offerings for sin. God here commands integrity toward our neighbors, diligence in religious service, and the consecration of the Aaron and his sons as priests. Sadly, though they were chosen to be teachers of the people and serve the Lord as priests forever, God kills two of Aaron's sons, Nadab and Abihu, for their rebellion against Him. God gave to Israel symbolic ordinances both to teach the world eternal truths and to provide a cultural fabric that would bind Israel together keeping them through the millennia as a cohesive ethnic group through whom the Messiah would come and for whom future End Times prophecies will one day be fulfilled. This 3,500-year-old book presents applications of what, thousands of years later, became modern medical practices. In some contexts an unclean person may have an infectious disease, is diagnosed from bodily discharges, and God instructs isolation, observation, and cleansing, with clothing and personal objects either washed, discarded, or even burned. God even warns that one unclean person or object can make another unclean, revealing all this thousands of years before biblical creationists discovered for the word the germ theory of diseases. God imbues blood with an intensity of symbolic meaning because without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness and because penultimately, Jesus would incense His hearers saying, If you want eternal life, drink My blood. God chose this book also to explicitly condemned all forms of sexual immorality including adultery, incest, and homosexuality. Yet, for those who obey Him, He also filled their lives with the blessings of the annual Feasts of Israel, and the eternal relief symbolized in the very real Sabbatical Years and the once-in-a-life Year of Jubilee! Finally, God's insistence on treating the poor well was anything but a foundation for a socialist or welfare state. And by the way He created us and the world, with the laws of cause and effect, no man can escape the curses that are all around him, for every act of disobedience, nor can men out give God, with the blessings that He has assured for every act of obedience. For what God expects of men in vows and tithing, He has committed Himself to give infinitely above what we ever could.
* Leviticus: In the book of Leviticus, the law of the priests, God describes the sacrifices He requires of the priests and the Israelites. In this study Bob Enyart looks at the meanings of the burnt offerings and the lamb without spot or blemish. We learn of offerings of birds and of bread, and peace offerings of bull and calf, cow, ox, and goat, and trespass offerings for sin. God here commands integrity toward our neighbors, diligence in religious service, and the consecration of the Aaron and his sons as priests. Sadly, though they were chosen to be teachers of the people and serve the Lord as priests forever, God kills two of Aaron's sons, Nadab and Abihu, for their rebellion against Him. God gave to Israel symbolic ordinances both to teach the world eternal truths and to provide a cultural fabric that would bind Israel together keeping them through the millennia as a cohesive ethnic group through whom the Messiah would come and for whom future End Times prophecies will one day be fulfilled. This 3,500-year-old book presents applications of what, thousands of years later, became modern medical practices. In some contexts an unclean person may have an infectious disease, is diagnosed from bodily discharges, and God instructs isolation, observation, and cleansing, with clothing and personal objects either washed, discarded, or even burned. God even warns that one unclean person or object can make another unclean, revealing all this thousands of years before biblical creationists discovered for the word the germ theory of diseases. God imbues blood with an intensity of symbolic meaning because without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness and because penultimately, Jesus would incense His hearers saying, If you want eternal life, drink My blood. God chose this book also to explicitly condemned all forms of sexual immorality including adultery, incest, and homosexuality. Yet, for those who obey Him, He also filled their lives with the blessings of the annual Feasts of Israel, and the eternal relief symbolized in the very real Sabbatical Years and the once-in-a-life Year of Jubilee! Finally, God's insistence on treating the poor well was anything but a foundation for a socialist or welfare state. And by the way He created us and the world, with the laws of cause and effect, no man can escape the curses that are all around him, for every act of disobedience, nor can men out give God, with the blessings that He has assured for every act of obedience. For what God expects of men in vows and tithing, He has committed Himself to give infinitely above what we ever could.
This chapter highlights the death of Nadal and Abihu.
Leviticus 16, 23:26–32 | The Day of Atonement from CrossPointe Coast on Vimeo. Preacher: Jeremiah Fyffe Leviticus 16, 23:26–32 2024-07-14 | ProPresenter TITLE: The Day of Atonement SCRIPTURE: Leviticus 16, 23:26–32 THE FEAST IN LEVITICUS 23 DO NOT COME INTO THE HOLY PLACE IN THIS WAY AARON SHALL COME INTO THE HOLY PLACE THIS SHALL BE A STATUTE FOREVER JESUS IS OUR ATONEMENT Leviticus 10:1–3 (ESV) Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it and laid incense on it and offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, which he had not commanded them. And fire came out from before the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord. Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord has said: ‘Among those who are near me I will be sanctified, and before all the people I will be glorified.' ” And Aaron held his peace. Hebrews 9:11–14 (ESV) But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. Hebrews 9:23–28 (ESV) Thus it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. Hebrews 10:19–22 (ESV) Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
Welcome back to "From Glory to Glory: Seven Keys to the Uncommon Spiritual Life." We are now diving into Module 5, focusing on the fifth key: Eat and Drink. Let's begin with our key scripture from Exodus 24:9-12: "Then Moses went up, also Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and they saw the God of Israel. And there was under His feet as it were a paved work of sapphire stone, and it was like the very heavens in its clarity. But on the nobles of the children of Israel He did not lay His hand. So they saw God, and they ate and drank. Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Come up to Me on the mountain and be there; and I will give you tablets of stone, and the law and commandments which I have written, that you may teach them.'” Key Takeaways: Spiritual Diet: Just as physical health relies on a balanced diet, our spiritual health depends on consuming God's Word and spending time in His presence through prayer. Biblical Meditation: Meditation involves deeply reflecting on God's Word, internalizing it, and allowing it to transform our thoughts and actions. Nourishment from God's Presence: God's presence is essential for spiritual strength and growth. It sustains us like bread and provides spiritual vitality. Revelation through Eating and Drinking: As we spiritually eat and drink, God reveals Himself to us more clearly, inviting us to deeper fellowship and understanding of His ways. Reflection Questions: When was the last time you meditated on the scriptures? Have you experienced the nourishment of God's presence in prayer? Is the Word of God alive to you, and do you see it as essential food for your spirit? How can you incorporate more spiritual "eating and drinking" into your daily routine? Declaration and Prayer Declare this over your life: "I am a partaker of God's abundant goodness and unfailing love. I open my eyes to behold the countless blessings surrounding me, the evidence of His grace and mercy overflowing in every area of my life. I confess that His goodness pursues me relentlessly, His love covers me sincerely, and His faithfulness sustains me unfailingly. I taste and see that the Lord is good in every trial and triumph. His promises are true, and His provision is more than enough. I declare that as I cultivate a heart of gratitude and praise, my perspective shifts from the temporal to the eternal, from the finite to the infinite, and I am filled with an abiding sense of joy and contentment. Today, I choose to taste and see the goodness of the Lord, enjoying each moment as a precious gift from His hand." Say this prayer: "Lord, thank You for Your goodness and faithfulness towards me. Open my eyes to see and my heart to taste the abundance of Your blessings in my life. Help me to enjoy Your goodness in both joy and trial, knowing that You are always with me and working all things together for my good. May my life be a testimony to Your goodness, drawing others to taste and see that You are indeed good. In Jesus' name, Amen." Thank you for being part of our e-course. This e-course is 100% free, thanks to the generous support of our friends and partners. Would you consider giving a one-time donation or becoming a monthly ministry partner to help us continue providing free e-courses and e-books? Visit Father's Glory for more information on events, live sessions, and donations. Thank you and God bless you. TO PARTNER AND OR DONATE TEXT GLORY TO 801801 (FOR USA & CANADA) OR VISIT: https://FATHERSGLORY.ORG PAYPAL PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/fathersgloryintl CASHAPP https://cash.app/$fathersglory