Need A Cleansing?

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Today is Wednesday January 27, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of Exodus chapters 29-31. If you would like to read the chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this URL onto your browser: http://www.readytofollow.com/bible-january-27

Title: Bible Study: Need A Cleansing?

There are so many blessings in life that we truly have no idea how blessed we are, just by the little things we do every day. For instance, after a hard day of work or play nothing feels better than taking a hot shower, it not only cleanses you, it refreshes you and gives you a boost too. Now, it is not just the water that cleanses us, but the soap and cloth is also needed or the water will not be as effective. As Christian's we are blessed with another way in which we are cleansed a cleansing that only comes from the blood of Christ. The second we accept Jesus as our Savior we are cleansed by His blood, of all our sins, it is as if this entire weight of filth just washes instantly off of your body, you feel refreshed and vibrant, ready to take on any situation you are faced with. Now, that is a cleansing! Praise God!

Think about just how blessed we are to have Jesus here today! You know, it seems too good to be true that all we have to do to be washed clean of our sins is to call on Jesus. I guess the simple things are the hardest to believe, but there is more merit in the simple things than there is in the complicated. For instance, God instructed Moses on what the priests (Aaron and his sons) were to do in order to be cleansed to even be able to communicate with God. In order for the Israelite's to communicate and reconcile their relationship with God, they needed to go before a priest with their sacrifices and offerings, but in order for the priest to be able to minister to them and accept the sacrifice for God they too had to be cleansed from all their sins. Now, keep in mind that these things had to be done daily, “And this is the thing that thou shalt do unto them to hallow them, to minister unto me in the priest's office: Take one young bullock, and two rams without blemish, And unleavened bread, and cakes unleavened tempered with oil, and wafers unleavened anointed with oil: of wheaten flour shalt thou make them. And thou shalt put them into one basket, and bring them in the basket, with the bullock and the two rams. And Aaron and his sons thou shalt bring unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and shalt wash them with water. And thou shalt take the garments, and put upon Aaron the coat, and the robe of the ephod, and the ephod, and the breastplate, and gird him with the curious girdle of the ephod: And thou shalt put the mitre upon his head, and put the holy crown upon the mitre. Then shalt thou take the anointing oil, and pour it upon his head, and anoint him.” - Exodus 29:1-7. They needed to sacrifice, not one, but three animals in order to hallow (sanctify or cleanse) themselves. The anointed oil represents the Holy Spirit, when the priest poured the oil on his head the Spirit of God came upon him and allowed them to be able to communicate with God, which also reminds us that the Holy Spirit is a separate person, yet one with God.

Now, being cleansed to minister to the people was just the beginning, every morning and evening a lamb was to be offered upon the altar in order to keep continual communication with God. “Now this is that which thou shalt offer upon the altar; two lambs of the first year day by day continually. The one lamb thou shalt offer in the morning; and the other lamb thou shalt offer at even: And with the one lamb a tenth deal of flour mingled with the fourth part of an hin of beaten oil; and the fourth part of an hin of wine for a drink offering. And the other lamb thou shalt offer at even, and shalt do thereto according to the meat offering of the morning, and according to the drink offering thereof, for a sweet savour, an offering made by fire unto the LORD. This shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD: where I will meet you, to speak there unto thee.” - Exodus 29:38-42. The only way that God will communicate with us is by offering a continual sacrifice to Him. When we accept Jesus Christ into our lives, God accepts Him as the sacrifice, which in turn cleanses us from our sins and allows us to be able to communicate with Him.

Although we get a good cleansing from the blood of Jesus, it is important to realize that we need to do more for it to be effective. If we truly want God in our lives and have a relationship with Him we still need to offer a daily sacrifice to Him. That sacrifice is ourselves, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” - Romans 12:1,2. We are to offer ourselves as a living spiritual sacrifice, daily, not just once in a while, but every day. Otherwise we will never grow in our relationship with God. We do this by having a relationship with Jesus, learning God's Word, praying, and learning His Will for your life. So, maybe you have done some things that you shouldn't have done and gotten away from God, I am sure you feel ashamed and filthy, but it is time to get good cleansing. Just call on Jesus and He will cleanse you. “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” - I John 1:7. Praise God!

Enjoy the rest of your day/night and God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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