King James Daily Bible Study: No Restrictions, Just Apply
Date: Saturday February 19, 2011
Chapters: Numbers 14-15
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com/bible-february-19
Details of Today's Reading: The people murmur at the account of the ten spies, Joshua and Caleb try to ease the people, God's anger toward the people, Moses and Aaron plead before the people and God, the murmurers are forbidden to enter the promised land, and a repeat of the laws concerning sin, ignorance, and the sabbath.
Hello My Friend/Guest,
The word murmur is defined as a continuous low indistinct sound, as of distant voices, a mumbled, complaint, or private expression of discontent. Did you ever get around someone who constantly murmured, no matter how blessed they were they still had something to complain about? Maybe you are even like that or have been in the past? Now, there are going to be times when we are going to complain about something, but when it starts affecting everyone else that is when we need to remind ourselves just how blessed we are. The Bible says, “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;” - Philippians 2:13-15.
The Israelites had reached the promised land, twelve men, one from each tribe, were sent to search out the land, it was a beautiful sight, clusters of grapes so big that two people had to carry them were amongst this glorious land. However, when the men returned, all but two said we can not go over, the people are great and big and will destroy us. This caused a great disturbance with the congregation, so great that they wanted to stone Moses and Aaron.
“And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night. And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness! And wherefore hath the LORD brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt? And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt. Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel...But all the congregation bade stone them with stones. And the glory of the LORD appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation before all the children of Israel. And the LORD said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have shewed among them? I will smite them with the pestilence, and disinherit them, and will make of thee a greater nation and mightier than they.” -Numbers 14:1-5,10-12.
Murmuring not only affects our relationship with others, it affects our relationship with God. He will bless us with so much and show us His love with the hopes of a little bit of acknowledgment and thanksgiving, but if all He gets is complaining He will start taking things away from us. “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” - Galatians 6:7,8.
God was so angry with the congregation that He was about to get rid of everyone, but Moses interceded on their behalf and pleaded with God not to destroy them all. “And now, I beseech thee, let the power of my lord be great, according as thou hast spoken, saying, The LORD is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation. Pardon, I beseech thee, the iniquity of this people according unto the greatness of thy mercy, and as thou hast forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now. And the LORD said, I have pardoned according to thy word:” - Numbers 14:17-20.
The word longsuffering means enduring injury, trouble, or provocation long and patiently. God is longsuffering, He endures our troubles and waits patiently for us to come to Him. He really does not want to see anyone destroyed. “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” - II Peter 3:9. Jesus Christ intercedes on our behalf and pleads before God to pardon all who come to Him for repentance.
While God did pardon them, He did not allow any of the murmurers to enter the promised land. For forty years the Israelites were to live in the wilderness, until every one of the current generation died off, all except Caleb and Joshua were restricted to enter the land flowing with milk and honey.
“Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice; Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it:..Doubtless ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun. But your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, them will I bring in, and they shall know the land which ye have despised. But as for you, your carcases, they shall fall in this wilderness.” - Numbers 14:22,23,30-32.
I was looking for a picture the other day on the internet and came across this sign that said God loves everyone, but underneath it said restrictions apply. The word restriction means prohibited, forbidden, God's love is not prohibited or forbidden. Put your hand in a lions cage and see what happens to it? God created the laws for the Israelites so they would learn to fear Him, trust Him, and obey His Word. Rules are not meant to restrict us, but protect us. In fact, the laws were written specifically for the ones who deliberately break the laws, not the ones who try to live right. “But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully; Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;” - I Timothy 1:8-10.
Salvation is a gift, there is no restrictions, no work needed to receive it, you just have to believe in God and His Son. God will not allow anyone to enter the promised land until we apply Jesus Christ to our souls. “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation...For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” - Romans 10:9,10,13.
Don't let murmurers get to you, when they start complaining remember Christ is with you, He is guiding and protecting you through every area of your life, even when you do not realize it. When you start to murmur remember how blessed you are and how much God has done for you, even if you have to endure chastisement from time to time. Everything we go through in life is preparing us for a much better place, a place promised to all who believe in His Son. “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” - John 14:1-3.
Jesus Christ Revealed: Today Jesus is revealed through the glory of God (14:22). “Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:” - Hebrews 1:3.
Thanks and God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Learn How Jesus Can Set You Free: http://www.godsprice.com
Visit I'm Following Jesus: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com
Subscribe To This Devotional: devotions@imfollowingjesus.com
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Friday, February 18, 2011
King James Daily Bible Study: You Are Valuable To God
King James Daily Bible Study: You Are Valuable To God
Date: Friday February 18, 2011
Chapters: Numbers 12-13
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com/bible-february-18
Details of Today's Reading: God rebukes the murmuring of Aaron and Miriam, Moses' brother and sister, Miriam is struck with leprosy, then healed at the prayer of Moses, twelve men are sent to search the promised land of Canaan, and their report of their findings.
Hello My Friend/Guest,
Perhaps one of the most frustrating things as a Christian is the constant criticism we face because we choose to follow Jesus Christ. Family, friends, and even other Christians reject us, mock us, and make us feel as though we have some type of plague. Jesus says, “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.” - Matthew 10:22. We are going to face adversity because we chose Christ, but we can endure all through Christ who dwells in us and is our strength. Together we can say, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me...But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 4:13,19.
Aaron and Miriam were probably the most influential people in the camp, Aaron, a prophet, and the head of the service of God, Miriam, a prophetess, and first rank among the women of Israel. Both were discontent and began complaining about Moses. God heard the complaining and called them all out of the tabernacle.
“And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman. And they said, Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the LORD heard it. (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.) And the LORD spake suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam, Come out ye three unto the tabernacle of the congregation. And they three came out. And the LORD came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth. And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream. My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house. With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?” - Numbers 12:1-8.
The marriage of Moses with a foreign woman was not prohibited, so long as she was not of the heritage of Canaan. What Miriam was really upset about was the fact that Moses had authority over her. She thought that since she and Aaron were prophets that they also had a say in the leadership of the Israelites. What she failed to realize was that God Himself gave Moses the orders on what to do, so, when she questioned Moses' marriage to a foreigner, God took it personally as if she was questioning His orders. God will defend His people, Jesus said, “But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” - Matthew 18:6.
If you are living right by God you can expect criticism from fellow Christians. Why? It could be several reasons, jealousy, envy, but perhaps the number one reason why Christians knock other Christians is due to sin in their lives. If a person is living in sin he is much more prone to search and point out others in hopes that no one would find theirs out. Jesus said, “For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?” - Matthew 7:2,3.
God promises to always take care of and protect His faithful servants, but fear can often get the best of us, which keeps us from letting God bless us with what He really wants to give us. The time had come for the Israelites to see the promised land, the land flowing with milk and honey. God instructed Moses to send twelve men, one from each tribe, to check it out.
“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Send thou men, that they may search the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel: of every tribe of their fathers shall ye send a man, every one a ruler among them. And Moses by the commandment of the LORD sent them from the wilderness of Paran: all those men were heads of the children of Israel...And they returned from searching of the land after forty days. And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word unto them, and unto all the congregation, and shewed them the fruit of the land. And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it. Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there...And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it. But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.” - Numbers 12:1-3,25-31.
If you have trusted in and accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior, then you are a child of God, in fact, you are a saved child of the living God. Praise God! And because of that God wants to bless you even more simply for the fact that you believe in His Son. Do you think that those who live in the world do not see how bless you are? Oh, they might criticize and mock you, but they see how much God has done for you. More often then none we hinder ourselves from receiving those blessings because we are afraid of what they will do to us. Jesus said, “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.” - Matthew 10:28-31.
You are very valuable to God, do not be afraid, get up and dust yourself off, God is speaking to you, one on one, He wants to assure you that everything is going to be alright and He's got your back. “Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” - Romans 8:33-39. Praise God!
Jesus Christ Revealed: Today Jesus is revealed through Moses, who was very meek (humble). “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” - Matthew 11:29.
Thanks and God Bless You, I am praying for you, enjoy your weekend,
Christina
Learn How Jesus Can Set You Free: http://www.godsprice.com
Visit I'm Following Jesus: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com
Subscribe To This Devotional: devotions@imfollowingjesus.com
Date: Friday February 18, 2011
Chapters: Numbers 12-13
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com/bible-february-18
Details of Today's Reading: God rebukes the murmuring of Aaron and Miriam, Moses' brother and sister, Miriam is struck with leprosy, then healed at the prayer of Moses, twelve men are sent to search the promised land of Canaan, and their report of their findings.
Hello My Friend/Guest,
Perhaps one of the most frustrating things as a Christian is the constant criticism we face because we choose to follow Jesus Christ. Family, friends, and even other Christians reject us, mock us, and make us feel as though we have some type of plague. Jesus says, “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.” - Matthew 10:22. We are going to face adversity because we chose Christ, but we can endure all through Christ who dwells in us and is our strength. Together we can say, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me...But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 4:13,19.
Aaron and Miriam were probably the most influential people in the camp, Aaron, a prophet, and the head of the service of God, Miriam, a prophetess, and first rank among the women of Israel. Both were discontent and began complaining about Moses. God heard the complaining and called them all out of the tabernacle.
“And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman. And they said, Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the LORD heard it. (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.) And the LORD spake suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam, Come out ye three unto the tabernacle of the congregation. And they three came out. And the LORD came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth. And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream. My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house. With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?” - Numbers 12:1-8.
The marriage of Moses with a foreign woman was not prohibited, so long as she was not of the heritage of Canaan. What Miriam was really upset about was the fact that Moses had authority over her. She thought that since she and Aaron were prophets that they also had a say in the leadership of the Israelites. What she failed to realize was that God Himself gave Moses the orders on what to do, so, when she questioned Moses' marriage to a foreigner, God took it personally as if she was questioning His orders. God will defend His people, Jesus said, “But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” - Matthew 18:6.
If you are living right by God you can expect criticism from fellow Christians. Why? It could be several reasons, jealousy, envy, but perhaps the number one reason why Christians knock other Christians is due to sin in their lives. If a person is living in sin he is much more prone to search and point out others in hopes that no one would find theirs out. Jesus said, “For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?” - Matthew 7:2,3.
God promises to always take care of and protect His faithful servants, but fear can often get the best of us, which keeps us from letting God bless us with what He really wants to give us. The time had come for the Israelites to see the promised land, the land flowing with milk and honey. God instructed Moses to send twelve men, one from each tribe, to check it out.
“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Send thou men, that they may search the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel: of every tribe of their fathers shall ye send a man, every one a ruler among them. And Moses by the commandment of the LORD sent them from the wilderness of Paran: all those men were heads of the children of Israel...And they returned from searching of the land after forty days. And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word unto them, and unto all the congregation, and shewed them the fruit of the land. And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it. Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there...And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it. But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.” - Numbers 12:1-3,25-31.
If you have trusted in and accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior, then you are a child of God, in fact, you are a saved child of the living God. Praise God! And because of that God wants to bless you even more simply for the fact that you believe in His Son. Do you think that those who live in the world do not see how bless you are? Oh, they might criticize and mock you, but they see how much God has done for you. More often then none we hinder ourselves from receiving those blessings because we are afraid of what they will do to us. Jesus said, “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.” - Matthew 10:28-31.
You are very valuable to God, do not be afraid, get up and dust yourself off, God is speaking to you, one on one, He wants to assure you that everything is going to be alright and He's got your back. “Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” - Romans 8:33-39. Praise God!
Jesus Christ Revealed: Today Jesus is revealed through Moses, who was very meek (humble). “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” - Matthew 11:29.
Thanks and God Bless You, I am praying for you, enjoy your weekend,
Christina
Learn How Jesus Can Set You Free: http://www.godsprice.com
Visit I'm Following Jesus: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com
Subscribe To This Devotional: devotions@imfollowingjesus.com
Thursday, February 17, 2011
King James Daily Bible Study: Lustful Desires
King James Daily Bible Study: Lustful Desires
Date: Thursday February 17, 2011
Chapters: Numbers 10 - 11
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com/bible-february-17
Details of Today's Reading: The silver trumpets, the camp moves forward, the blessing pronounced by Moses, the burning at Taberah, the people lust for flesh to eat instead of manna, Moses complains of his charge and God gives him help, flesh is promised, and their severe lust brings death upon them.
Hello My Friend/Guest,
Did you ever hear the saying, “Be careful what you wish for.”? We all have desires that go beyond our needs and God is perfectly fine with that. In fact, Jesus says, “Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” - Mark 11:24. God desires to fulfill the desires of His children, just like any parent would reward their child with gifts that he desires when obedient, God does the same for us. Now, we have to be careful that we do not get lustful over the things we desire. To be lustful means to be so consumed with the desire that it's all you think about. When we get to that point we will do anything to get what we desire and that is usually when we do something really stupid to get it. That is where the saying, “Be careful what you wish for.” comes into play. The Bible says, “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” - James 1:13-15.
It had been over two years that the Israelites were set free and embarked on their journey to the promised land. During that time God gave the commands and laws, had Moses and the people build the Tabernacle, and consecrated Aaron and the rest of the Levites to serve in His ministry. The time had come for the camp to move forward, first, God commanded Moses to make two silver trumpets.
“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Make thee two trumpets of silver; of a whole piece shalt thou make them: that thou mayest use them for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps. And when they shall blow with them, all the assembly shall assemble themselves to thee at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation...When ye blow an alarm, then the camps that lie on the east parts shall go forward...But when the congregation is to be gathered together, ye shall blow, but ye shall not sound an alarm...And if ye go to war in your land against the enemy that oppresseth you, then ye shall blow an alarm with the trumpets; and ye shall be remembered before the LORD your God, and ye shall be saved from your enemies.” - Numbers 10:1-3,5,7,9.
Part of the reason a person can get caught up in lustful desires is that they will not move forward. I have been there, I have kept myself from moving forward by holding on to something that gave me joy and the desire to have it return. All it did was hinder me from seeing the blessings that I truly had waiting for me. God has so much more waiting for us if we would just move forward and get out of the past. He is blowing the trumpets, it is time to move forward. “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.” - I Corinthians 2:9,10.
Another reason a person can get caught up in lustful desires is impatience, we have no problem waiting a couple of days, weeks, or even months, but when those months turn to years we can get a little impatient, maybe even start complaining. After two years of eating manna, some of the Israelites were getting tired of it and started complaining.
“And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat? We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick: But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes...Then Moses heard the people weep throughout their families, every man in the door of his tent: and the anger of the LORD was kindled greatly; Moses also was displeased. And Moses said unto the LORD, Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favour in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me? ” - Numbers 11:4-6,10,11.
The complaining Israelites could not see the blessings they had before them, only what they left behind. The problem with one person complaining is that it causes others, even the most faithful to start complaining, Moses began complaining to God about their complaining. We all complain from time to time and when that happens we have to take a deep breath and remind ourselves just how far we have come and how blessed we are. God's number one concern is to provide us with the things we need, He will always provide us with the essentials first, then comes the desires. “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;” - Philippians 2:13-15.
God did give into their desire and promised to provide them with food other than manna, “And say thou unto the people, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow, and ye shall eat flesh: for ye have wept in the ears of the LORD, saying, Who shall give us flesh to eat? for it was well with us in Egypt: therefore the LORD will give you flesh, and ye shall eat. Ye shall not eat one day, nor two days, nor five days, neither ten days, nor twenty days; But even a whole month, until it come out at your nostrils, and it be loathsome unto you: because that ye have despised the LORD which is among you, and have wept before him, saying, Why came we forth out of Egypt?” - Numbers 11:18-20.
Some of the Israelites were so lustful of their desire that when they did receive it they became greedy and the desire overtook them. “And there went forth a wind from the LORD, and brought quails from the sea, and let them fall by the camp, as it were a day's journey on this side, and as it were a day's journey on the other side, round about the camp, and as it were two cubits high upon the face of the earth. And the people stood up all that day, and all that night, and all the next day, and they gathered the quails: he that gathered least gathered ten homers: and they spread them all abroad for themselves round about the camp. And while the flesh was yet between their teeth, ere it was chewed, the wrath of the LORD was kindled against the people, and the LORD smote the people with a very great plague.” - Numbers 11:31-33.
The biggest problem with receiving lustful desires is the consequences after receiving them. Nothing good ever comes out of receiving lustful desires. “Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” - Romans 6:11-14.
Ever want something so bad and after you received it you realized it was not worth the effort? God already knows what we need and gladly gives them to us as well as the desires of our heart. The key to receiving those desires is trusting Him and waiting for Him to give them to us on His time. He will bless us with so much more simply by being patient. “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” - Hebrews 12:1,2. Praise God!
Jesus Christ Revealed: Today Jesus is revealed through the two trumpets were made of silver, silver in the Bible stands for truth. “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” - John 14:6.
Thanks and God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Learn How Jesus Can Set You Free: http://www.godsprice.com
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Date: Thursday February 17, 2011
Chapters: Numbers 10 - 11
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com/bible-february-17
Details of Today's Reading: The silver trumpets, the camp moves forward, the blessing pronounced by Moses, the burning at Taberah, the people lust for flesh to eat instead of manna, Moses complains of his charge and God gives him help, flesh is promised, and their severe lust brings death upon them.
Hello My Friend/Guest,
Did you ever hear the saying, “Be careful what you wish for.”? We all have desires that go beyond our needs and God is perfectly fine with that. In fact, Jesus says, “Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” - Mark 11:24. God desires to fulfill the desires of His children, just like any parent would reward their child with gifts that he desires when obedient, God does the same for us. Now, we have to be careful that we do not get lustful over the things we desire. To be lustful means to be so consumed with the desire that it's all you think about. When we get to that point we will do anything to get what we desire and that is usually when we do something really stupid to get it. That is where the saying, “Be careful what you wish for.” comes into play. The Bible says, “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” - James 1:13-15.
It had been over two years that the Israelites were set free and embarked on their journey to the promised land. During that time God gave the commands and laws, had Moses and the people build the Tabernacle, and consecrated Aaron and the rest of the Levites to serve in His ministry. The time had come for the camp to move forward, first, God commanded Moses to make two silver trumpets.
“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Make thee two trumpets of silver; of a whole piece shalt thou make them: that thou mayest use them for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps. And when they shall blow with them, all the assembly shall assemble themselves to thee at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation...When ye blow an alarm, then the camps that lie on the east parts shall go forward...But when the congregation is to be gathered together, ye shall blow, but ye shall not sound an alarm...And if ye go to war in your land against the enemy that oppresseth you, then ye shall blow an alarm with the trumpets; and ye shall be remembered before the LORD your God, and ye shall be saved from your enemies.” - Numbers 10:1-3,5,7,9.
Part of the reason a person can get caught up in lustful desires is that they will not move forward. I have been there, I have kept myself from moving forward by holding on to something that gave me joy and the desire to have it return. All it did was hinder me from seeing the blessings that I truly had waiting for me. God has so much more waiting for us if we would just move forward and get out of the past. He is blowing the trumpets, it is time to move forward. “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.” - I Corinthians 2:9,10.
Another reason a person can get caught up in lustful desires is impatience, we have no problem waiting a couple of days, weeks, or even months, but when those months turn to years we can get a little impatient, maybe even start complaining. After two years of eating manna, some of the Israelites were getting tired of it and started complaining.
“And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat? We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick: But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes...Then Moses heard the people weep throughout their families, every man in the door of his tent: and the anger of the LORD was kindled greatly; Moses also was displeased. And Moses said unto the LORD, Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favour in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me? ” - Numbers 11:4-6,10,11.
The complaining Israelites could not see the blessings they had before them, only what they left behind. The problem with one person complaining is that it causes others, even the most faithful to start complaining, Moses began complaining to God about their complaining. We all complain from time to time and when that happens we have to take a deep breath and remind ourselves just how far we have come and how blessed we are. God's number one concern is to provide us with the things we need, He will always provide us with the essentials first, then comes the desires. “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;” - Philippians 2:13-15.
God did give into their desire and promised to provide them with food other than manna, “And say thou unto the people, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow, and ye shall eat flesh: for ye have wept in the ears of the LORD, saying, Who shall give us flesh to eat? for it was well with us in Egypt: therefore the LORD will give you flesh, and ye shall eat. Ye shall not eat one day, nor two days, nor five days, neither ten days, nor twenty days; But even a whole month, until it come out at your nostrils, and it be loathsome unto you: because that ye have despised the LORD which is among you, and have wept before him, saying, Why came we forth out of Egypt?” - Numbers 11:18-20.
Some of the Israelites were so lustful of their desire that when they did receive it they became greedy and the desire overtook them. “And there went forth a wind from the LORD, and brought quails from the sea, and let them fall by the camp, as it were a day's journey on this side, and as it were a day's journey on the other side, round about the camp, and as it were two cubits high upon the face of the earth. And the people stood up all that day, and all that night, and all the next day, and they gathered the quails: he that gathered least gathered ten homers: and they spread them all abroad for themselves round about the camp. And while the flesh was yet between their teeth, ere it was chewed, the wrath of the LORD was kindled against the people, and the LORD smote the people with a very great plague.” - Numbers 11:31-33.
The biggest problem with receiving lustful desires is the consequences after receiving them. Nothing good ever comes out of receiving lustful desires. “Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” - Romans 6:11-14.
Ever want something so bad and after you received it you realized it was not worth the effort? God already knows what we need and gladly gives them to us as well as the desires of our heart. The key to receiving those desires is trusting Him and waiting for Him to give them to us on His time. He will bless us with so much more simply by being patient. “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” - Hebrews 12:1,2. Praise God!
Jesus Christ Revealed: Today Jesus is revealed through the two trumpets were made of silver, silver in the Bible stands for truth. “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” - John 14:6.
Thanks and God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Learn How Jesus Can Set You Free: http://www.godsprice.com
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Wednesday, February 16, 2011
King James Daily Bible Study: The Light
King James Daily Bible Study: The Light
Date: Wednesday February 16, 2011
Chapters: Numbers 8-9
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com/bible-february-16
Details of Today's Reading: The seven lamps of the sanctuary, the consecration of the Levites and their service, a special day to observe the Passover, and the cloud that dwelt over them.
Hello My Friend/Guest,
The word eternal is defined as without beginning or end, lasting forever, and always existing. God is without beginning or end, lasts forever, and always exists. The Bible says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not...That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not...And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” - John 1:1-5,9,10,14. God and His Word is eternal and in the person of Jesus Christ. All three are One and even though you can not see Him physically, when He shows up you know it. How? God gives eternal life to every person who believes in and accepts His Son, Jesus Christ. If Christ dwells in you, you have life in you, you shine, you no longer walk in darkness, but in the Light that shines through you.
God chose the Levites to be separate from the rest of the congregation in order to serve Him in the ministry. While the Tabernacle was set up it was to be lit up constantly. Seven lamps to be exact were to be lit day and night and in the center was a candlestick. It was Aaron's personal duty, as the servant of God, to light His house, which, being without windows, provided the necessary light needed.
“Speak unto Aaron and say unto him, When thou lightest the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light over against the candlestick. And Aaron did so; he lighted the lamps thereof over against the candlestick, as the LORD commanded Moses. And this work of the candlestick was of beaten gold, unto the shaft thereof, unto the flowers thereof, was beaten work: according unto the pattern which the LORD had shewed Moses, so he made the candlestick.” - Numbers 8:2-4.
The candlestick itself was made out of pure, solid gold, symbolizing the center of the Church, who is Jesus Christ. The lamps symbolize the seven Spirits of God, which represent the Church of Christ. “And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.” - Revelation 4:5. The work of ministers is to light these lamps, by expounding and applying the Word of God. Jesus Christ is the only Light of our dark, sinful world and by His atonement, by his word and the Holy Spirit, He diffuses His light through us. “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” - Matthew 5:14-16.
God builds His Church and sends forth His Spirit to dwell in it, to sanctify and cleanse it, through the people who He dwells in to show the world as His own workmanship. God required all who worked for Him to be consecrated, cleansed, every Levite was to be consecrated and ready to serve Him.
“Take the Levites from among the children of Israel, and cleanse them...For they are wholly given unto me from among the children of Israel; instead of such as open every womb, even instead of the firstborn of all the children of Israel, have I taken them unto me. For all the firstborn of the children of Israel are mine, both man and beast: on the day that I smote every firstborn in the land of Egypt I sanctified them for myself. And I have taken the Levites for all the firstborn of the children of Israel. And I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and to his sons from among the children of Israel, to do the service of the children of Israel in the tabernacle of the congregation, and to make an atonement for the children of Israel: that there be no plague among the children of Israel, when the children of Israel come nigh unto the sanctuary.” - Numbers 8:6,16-19.
According to the Law, any person who touched dead flesh, animal or human, was deemed unclean and had to distance himself from everyone for seven days until he was cleansed. There were certain men who were defiled by human corpses, probably in the form of a burial, and could not eat the Passover meal on the day appointed. So, these men approached Moses and asked why they had to be excluded from the observance since they were doing their duty.
“And there were certain men, who were defiled by the dead body of a man, that they could not keep the passover on that day: and they came before Moses and before Aaron on that day: And those men said unto him, We are defiled by the dead body of a man: wherefore are we kept back, that we may not offer an offering of the LORD in his appointed season among the children of Israel? And Moses said unto them, Stand still, and I will hear what the LORD will command concerning you. And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If any man of you or of your posterity shall be unclean by reason of a dead body, or be in a journey afar off, yet he shall keep the passover unto the LORD. The fourteenth day of the second month at even they shall keep it, and eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. They shall leave none of it unto the morning, nor break any bone of it: according to all the ordinances of the passover they shall keep it.
” - Numbers 9:6-12.
A special day was given to allow them to observe the Passover, the Passover lamb is symbolic and a foreshadow of Christ dying on the cross. There were two other men along each side of Jesus when He was being crucified, in order to hurry the crucifixion along they broke the legs of the other two men, but when they came to Jesus they saw He had already died and did not break His legs. “Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:” - John 19:32,33. Any unclean person can go to Christ at any time to be cleansed by His blood. “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.” - I Peter 1:18-21.
All Christians, and especially ministers, should cleanse themselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord. The only way to cleanse ourselves is through Jesus Christ, we need Him first, and everything else will follow as the Light works its way through all the dark areas of our lives until we shine so bright that we are blinding to the world. “This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 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. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” - I John 1:5-9. Praise God!
Jesus Christ Revealed: Today Jesus is revealed through the Passover and the candlestick.
Thanks and God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Learn How Jesus Can Set You Free: http://www.godsprice.com
Visit I'm Following Jesus: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com
Subscribe To This Devotional: devotions@imfollowingjesus.com
Date: Wednesday February 16, 2011
Chapters: Numbers 8-9
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com/bible-february-16
Details of Today's Reading: The seven lamps of the sanctuary, the consecration of the Levites and their service, a special day to observe the Passover, and the cloud that dwelt over them.
Hello My Friend/Guest,
The word eternal is defined as without beginning or end, lasting forever, and always existing. God is without beginning or end, lasts forever, and always exists. The Bible says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not...That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not...And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” - John 1:1-5,9,10,14. God and His Word is eternal and in the person of Jesus Christ. All three are One and even though you can not see Him physically, when He shows up you know it. How? God gives eternal life to every person who believes in and accepts His Son, Jesus Christ. If Christ dwells in you, you have life in you, you shine, you no longer walk in darkness, but in the Light that shines through you.
God chose the Levites to be separate from the rest of the congregation in order to serve Him in the ministry. While the Tabernacle was set up it was to be lit up constantly. Seven lamps to be exact were to be lit day and night and in the center was a candlestick. It was Aaron's personal duty, as the servant of God, to light His house, which, being without windows, provided the necessary light needed.
“Speak unto Aaron and say unto him, When thou lightest the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light over against the candlestick. And Aaron did so; he lighted the lamps thereof over against the candlestick, as the LORD commanded Moses. And this work of the candlestick was of beaten gold, unto the shaft thereof, unto the flowers thereof, was beaten work: according unto the pattern which the LORD had shewed Moses, so he made the candlestick.” - Numbers 8:2-4.
The candlestick itself was made out of pure, solid gold, symbolizing the center of the Church, who is Jesus Christ. The lamps symbolize the seven Spirits of God, which represent the Church of Christ. “And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.” - Revelation 4:5. The work of ministers is to light these lamps, by expounding and applying the Word of God. Jesus Christ is the only Light of our dark, sinful world and by His atonement, by his word and the Holy Spirit, He diffuses His light through us. “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” - Matthew 5:14-16.
God builds His Church and sends forth His Spirit to dwell in it, to sanctify and cleanse it, through the people who He dwells in to show the world as His own workmanship. God required all who worked for Him to be consecrated, cleansed, every Levite was to be consecrated and ready to serve Him.
“Take the Levites from among the children of Israel, and cleanse them...For they are wholly given unto me from among the children of Israel; instead of such as open every womb, even instead of the firstborn of all the children of Israel, have I taken them unto me. For all the firstborn of the children of Israel are mine, both man and beast: on the day that I smote every firstborn in the land of Egypt I sanctified them for myself. And I have taken the Levites for all the firstborn of the children of Israel. And I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and to his sons from among the children of Israel, to do the service of the children of Israel in the tabernacle of the congregation, and to make an atonement for the children of Israel: that there be no plague among the children of Israel, when the children of Israel come nigh unto the sanctuary.” - Numbers 8:6,16-19.
According to the Law, any person who touched dead flesh, animal or human, was deemed unclean and had to distance himself from everyone for seven days until he was cleansed. There were certain men who were defiled by human corpses, probably in the form of a burial, and could not eat the Passover meal on the day appointed. So, these men approached Moses and asked why they had to be excluded from the observance since they were doing their duty.
“And there were certain men, who were defiled by the dead body of a man, that they could not keep the passover on that day: and they came before Moses and before Aaron on that day: And those men said unto him, We are defiled by the dead body of a man: wherefore are we kept back, that we may not offer an offering of the LORD in his appointed season among the children of Israel? And Moses said unto them, Stand still, and I will hear what the LORD will command concerning you. And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If any man of you or of your posterity shall be unclean by reason of a dead body, or be in a journey afar off, yet he shall keep the passover unto the LORD. The fourteenth day of the second month at even they shall keep it, and eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. They shall leave none of it unto the morning, nor break any bone of it: according to all the ordinances of the passover they shall keep it.
” - Numbers 9:6-12.
A special day was given to allow them to observe the Passover, the Passover lamb is symbolic and a foreshadow of Christ dying on the cross. There were two other men along each side of Jesus when He was being crucified, in order to hurry the crucifixion along they broke the legs of the other two men, but when they came to Jesus they saw He had already died and did not break His legs. “Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:” - John 19:32,33. Any unclean person can go to Christ at any time to be cleansed by His blood. “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.” - I Peter 1:18-21.
All Christians, and especially ministers, should cleanse themselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord. The only way to cleanse ourselves is through Jesus Christ, we need Him first, and everything else will follow as the Light works its way through all the dark areas of our lives until we shine so bright that we are blinding to the world. “This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 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. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” - I John 1:5-9. Praise God!
Jesus Christ Revealed: Today Jesus is revealed through the Passover and the candlestick.
Thanks and God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Learn How Jesus Can Set You Free: http://www.godsprice.com
Visit I'm Following Jesus: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com
Subscribe To This Devotional: devotions@imfollowingjesus.com
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
King James Daily Bible Study: Dedicate To Be Dedicated
King James Daily Bible Study: Dedicate To Be Dedicated
Date: Tuesday February 15, 2011
Chapters: Numbers 7
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com/bible-february-15
Details of Today's Reading: The offerings of the princes at the dedication of the tabernacle and at the dedication of the altar.
Hello My Friend/Guest,
The word dedication is defined as the act of dedicating or the state of being dedicated, complete and wholehearted devotion. If you know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior you can rejoice knowing that at least once in your life you dedicated you life to Christ by asking Him to save your life. One day you will see Jesus face to face and when that time comes Christ is going to give you an instant replay of our life. He is going to show you what you did or could have done to serve God and just how dedicated you were to Him while you were living here on earth. While our works do not get us to heaven, they do count in the rewards we will receive when we get to heaven. Jesus says, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” - Matthew 6:19-21. God loves a person who is wholeheartedly devoted to Him, the amazing thing is that when we are dedicated to Him, He is dedicated to us. “Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.” - Psalm 119:2.
The Tabernacle was all set up, the people were told what they needed to do, the time had finally come for the Israelites to be able to show God how dedicated they were to Him by giving the offerings God explained. After Moses sanctified the Tabernacle the princes of each of the twelve tribes stood before the tent with their offerings.
“And it came to pass on the day that Moses had fully set up the tabernacle, and had anointed it, and sanctified it, and all the instruments thereof, both the altar and all the vessels thereof, and had anointed them, and sanctified them; That the princes of Israel, heads of the house of their fathers, who were the princes of the tribes, and were over them that were numbered, offered: And they brought their offering before the LORD, six covered wagons, and twelve oxen; a wagon for two of the princes, and for each one an ox: and they brought them before the tabernacle. And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Take it of them, that they may be to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation; and thou shalt give them unto the Levites, to every man according to his service.” - Numbers 7:1-5.
One by one each prince brought their offerings to be presented before God. God loves a cheerful giver, He delights in seeing His people acknowledging Him and giving thanks for all that He has provided them with as well as giving Him some of what He gave back. “But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:” - II Corinthians 9:6-8.
Now, God knows that we are not going to be cheerful all the time, and that we are even going to be a little slothful from time to time, He accepts that, in fact, He will even tell us when we are overdoing things and need to rest. The thing we have to be careful of is saying that we are going to do something for Him and not even making an effort to do it. That is when He will have to remind us of our vow and that we are not following through. Even when we are not cheerful we can be dedicated to God, in fact, God will bless us even more for pressing forward even through the trying times in our lives. “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.” - I Peter 4:12-14.
After the princes presented their offerings Moses presented them before God on their behalf. “This was the dedication of the altar, in the day when it was anointed, by the princes of Israel: twelve chargers of silver, twelve silver bowls, twelve spoons of gold: Each charger of silver weighing an hundred and thirty shekels, each bowl seventy: all the silver vessels weighed two thousand and four hundred shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary: The golden spoons were twelve, full of incense, weighing ten shekels apiece, after the shekel of the sanctuary: all the gold of the spoons was an hundred and twenty shekels. All the oxen for the burnt offering were twelve bullocks, the rams twelve, the lambs of the first year twelve, with their meat offering: and the kids of the goats for sin offering twelve. And all the oxen for the sacrifice of the peace offerings were twenty and four bullocks, the rams sixty, the he goats sixty, the lambs of the first year sixty. This was the dedication of the altar, after that it was anointed.” - Numbers 7:84-88.
Moses was the mediator, the middleman, who presented the offerings before God, in a sense he was like a lawyer defending his client. He stood before God, the judge, presented his case, all the evidence, and pleaded before his clients life to be saved. If the judge saw that the offering was sincere He pardoned that mans or womans life for the sake of the one pleading for it. Today, Jesus is our mediator, He presents our case before God and pleads for us, all we have to do to be pardoned is offer ourselves to Him sincerely. “Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” - I Timothy 2:4-6.
God knows our hearts and whether or not we are wholeheartedly devoted to Him or really have no interest in Him beyond a prayer or two and going to church once in a while. Count it a blessing that even if you are not wholeheartedly devoted to Him Jesus wholeheartedly devoted Himself to you by giving His life for you. You only have to go before Him once and you are pardoned forever. Praise God! Even if you never do anything ever again for Him you are saved, but just imagine the blessings you will receive not only here on earth, but up in heaven when you get there simply by dedicating some time for Him. Jesus said, “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.” - Revelation 22:11-14.
We will all stand before Jesus to be judged, once we meet Him face to face it is too late, we will either walk through those pearly gates or be cast into the fire. “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” - Revelation 20:12-15. There is only one way to avoid the fire and that is by asking Jesus to save you. If you have not done so, the time is now to dedicate your life to Him so He can dedicate His life to you.
Jesus Christ Revealed: Today Jesus is revealed through voluntary offerings of the leaders which were sufficient to meet the needs. Jesus offers us everything we need, including Himself. “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 4:19.
Thanks and God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Learn How Jesus Can Set You Free: http://www.godsprice.com
Visit I'm Following Jesus: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com
Subscribe To This Devotional: devotions@imfollowingjesus.com
Date: Tuesday February 15, 2011
Chapters: Numbers 7
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com/bible-february-15
Details of Today's Reading: The offerings of the princes at the dedication of the tabernacle and at the dedication of the altar.
Hello My Friend/Guest,
The word dedication is defined as the act of dedicating or the state of being dedicated, complete and wholehearted devotion. If you know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior you can rejoice knowing that at least once in your life you dedicated you life to Christ by asking Him to save your life. One day you will see Jesus face to face and when that time comes Christ is going to give you an instant replay of our life. He is going to show you what you did or could have done to serve God and just how dedicated you were to Him while you were living here on earth. While our works do not get us to heaven, they do count in the rewards we will receive when we get to heaven. Jesus says, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” - Matthew 6:19-21. God loves a person who is wholeheartedly devoted to Him, the amazing thing is that when we are dedicated to Him, He is dedicated to us. “Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.” - Psalm 119:2.
The Tabernacle was all set up, the people were told what they needed to do, the time had finally come for the Israelites to be able to show God how dedicated they were to Him by giving the offerings God explained. After Moses sanctified the Tabernacle the princes of each of the twelve tribes stood before the tent with their offerings.
“And it came to pass on the day that Moses had fully set up the tabernacle, and had anointed it, and sanctified it, and all the instruments thereof, both the altar and all the vessels thereof, and had anointed them, and sanctified them; That the princes of Israel, heads of the house of their fathers, who were the princes of the tribes, and were over them that were numbered, offered: And they brought their offering before the LORD, six covered wagons, and twelve oxen; a wagon for two of the princes, and for each one an ox: and they brought them before the tabernacle. And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Take it of them, that they may be to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation; and thou shalt give them unto the Levites, to every man according to his service.” - Numbers 7:1-5.
One by one each prince brought their offerings to be presented before God. God loves a cheerful giver, He delights in seeing His people acknowledging Him and giving thanks for all that He has provided them with as well as giving Him some of what He gave back. “But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:” - II Corinthians 9:6-8.
Now, God knows that we are not going to be cheerful all the time, and that we are even going to be a little slothful from time to time, He accepts that, in fact, He will even tell us when we are overdoing things and need to rest. The thing we have to be careful of is saying that we are going to do something for Him and not even making an effort to do it. That is when He will have to remind us of our vow and that we are not following through. Even when we are not cheerful we can be dedicated to God, in fact, God will bless us even more for pressing forward even through the trying times in our lives. “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.” - I Peter 4:12-14.
After the princes presented their offerings Moses presented them before God on their behalf. “This was the dedication of the altar, in the day when it was anointed, by the princes of Israel: twelve chargers of silver, twelve silver bowls, twelve spoons of gold: Each charger of silver weighing an hundred and thirty shekels, each bowl seventy: all the silver vessels weighed two thousand and four hundred shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary: The golden spoons were twelve, full of incense, weighing ten shekels apiece, after the shekel of the sanctuary: all the gold of the spoons was an hundred and twenty shekels. All the oxen for the burnt offering were twelve bullocks, the rams twelve, the lambs of the first year twelve, with their meat offering: and the kids of the goats for sin offering twelve. And all the oxen for the sacrifice of the peace offerings were twenty and four bullocks, the rams sixty, the he goats sixty, the lambs of the first year sixty. This was the dedication of the altar, after that it was anointed.” - Numbers 7:84-88.
Moses was the mediator, the middleman, who presented the offerings before God, in a sense he was like a lawyer defending his client. He stood before God, the judge, presented his case, all the evidence, and pleaded before his clients life to be saved. If the judge saw that the offering was sincere He pardoned that mans or womans life for the sake of the one pleading for it. Today, Jesus is our mediator, He presents our case before God and pleads for us, all we have to do to be pardoned is offer ourselves to Him sincerely. “Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” - I Timothy 2:4-6.
God knows our hearts and whether or not we are wholeheartedly devoted to Him or really have no interest in Him beyond a prayer or two and going to church once in a while. Count it a blessing that even if you are not wholeheartedly devoted to Him Jesus wholeheartedly devoted Himself to you by giving His life for you. You only have to go before Him once and you are pardoned forever. Praise God! Even if you never do anything ever again for Him you are saved, but just imagine the blessings you will receive not only here on earth, but up in heaven when you get there simply by dedicating some time for Him. Jesus said, “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.” - Revelation 22:11-14.
We will all stand before Jesus to be judged, once we meet Him face to face it is too late, we will either walk through those pearly gates or be cast into the fire. “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” - Revelation 20:12-15. There is only one way to avoid the fire and that is by asking Jesus to save you. If you have not done so, the time is now to dedicate your life to Him so He can dedicate His life to you.
Jesus Christ Revealed: Today Jesus is revealed through voluntary offerings of the leaders which were sufficient to meet the needs. Jesus offers us everything we need, including Himself. “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 4:19.
Thanks and God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Learn How Jesus Can Set You Free: http://www.godsprice.com
Visit I'm Following Jesus: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com
Subscribe To This Devotional: devotions@imfollowingjesus.com
Monday, February 14, 2011
King James Daily Bible Study: Paid Wages Plus A Salary
King James Daily Bible Study: Paid Wages Plus A Salary
Date: Monday February 14, 2011
Chapters: Numbers 5-6
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com/bible-february-14
Details of Today's Reading: The unclean to be removed out of the camp, compensation to be made for trespassing, the trial of jealousy, the law concerning the Nazarites, and the form of blessing the people.
Hello My Friend/Guest,
The word wage is defined as earnings from work, a price paid for work, or compensation. A person who gets paid by the hour receives a wage or compensation per hour of work done, this amount changes according to how many hours worked. The Bible says, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” - Romans 6:23. Sin is any wrong doing in ones life, whether he committed the sin recently or years ago, all have sinned and owe a payment for that sin, the payment owed for even that one little sin is death, death is the permanent end of all functions of life. We can not work enough to pay the wages we owe for sin, therefore, Jesus came to compensate for us.
Before Jesus came the people also had to pay wages for committing sin, along with a sin or trespass offering one had to pay compensation to the one they caused sin upon, if they did it upon themselves they had to give the compensation to the priest.
“Speak unto the children of Israel, When a man or woman shall commit any sin that men commit, to do a trespass against the LORD, and that person be guilty; Then they shall confess their sin which they have done: and he shall recompense his trespass with the principal thereof, and add unto it the fifth part thereof, and give it unto him against whom he hath trespassed. But if the man have no kinsman to recompense the trespass unto, let the trespass be recompensed unto the LORD, even to the priest; beside the ram of the atonement, whereby an atonement shall be made for him.” - Numbers 5:6-8.
Got sin in your life that you have forgotten? Still wrestling with something that happened years ago? God forgives all, He wants you to forgive all as well. He will tell you when you need to repent of something from the past, He will tell you when you need to forgive others, and He will even tell you when you need to ask others to forgive you, even from years past. In order for us to move on and grow as a Christian we need to seek forgiveness and be forgiving. “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” - Matthew 6:14,15.
God gave special commands to those who were Nazarites, a Nazarite was a person who vowed to separate himself or herself from the worldly things, giving total commitment to God. Now, this does not mean that the person would be sin free, but it would mean that they would live their lives centered on God and do their best to avoid the temptations that would cause them to sin.
“Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When either man or woman shall separate themselves to vow a vow of a Nazarite, to separate themselves unto the LORD: He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink, and shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat moist grapes, or dried. All the days of his separation shall he eat nothing that is made of the vine tree, from the kernels even to the husk. All the days of the vow of his separation there shall no razor come upon his head: until the days be fulfilled, in the which he separateth himself unto the LORD, he shall be holy, and shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow. All the days that he separateth himself unto the LORD he shall come at no dead body.” - Numbers 6:2-6.
Few of us are born into a godly life and remain in it, most of us get away from it at one point in their lives to return later in life or do not even know Christ until later in life, Samson is a testimony of that. The key to living a godly life is Jesus Christ and allowing Him to live in and through us, He separates us from the world and even other Christians who do not live their lives the way they should. “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” - II Corinthians 6:17,18. Now, that does not mean we are to be a hermit, but it does mean that we should not fellowship with them, become one with them.
When we make a vow to live our lives for God and do not follow through we are going to face some difficulties until we get right with Him. “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” - Galatians 6:7,8. The worse decision we can make is to tell God we are going to do something and do not follow through with it. Yet, God knows our flesh and that we are going to mess up from time to time, He also knows our heart and whether or not we truly want Him in our lives or not. He will bless us tremendously when we do all we can to live our lives for Him.“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” - I John 1:9.
God promised the Israelites that He would bless them for their obedience. “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them, The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel, and I will bless them.” - Numbers 6:22-27.
God puts His name upon all who put their faith and trust in His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus not only paid the wages for our sins for us He gives us a salary as well. The word salary is defined as money paid for work being done, or something obtained or received, it's a gift. That salary is eternal (forever) life with God in His Kingdom. A person who gets paid a salary gets compensated one amount no matter how many hours worked. He can work 1 hour or 100, regardless he gets paid the same amount. Jesus explains it this way, “For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard...So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first... And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house, Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day. But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.” - Matthew 20:1,2,8,11-14. It does not matter if you were born into the godly life, left then came back, or just got saved today you will receive the same salary. Praise God!
Jesus Christ Revealed: Today Jesus is revealed through the Nazarite, who separated himself from the world. We are blessed through the Son. “Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.” - Luke 6:22.
P.S. Happy Valentine's Day! Remember, Jesus loves you.
Thanks and God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Learn How Jesus Can Set You Free: http://www.godsprice.com
Visit I'm Following Jesus: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com
Subscribe To This Devotional: devotions@imfollowingjesus.com
Date: Monday February 14, 2011
Chapters: Numbers 5-6
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com/bible-february-14
Details of Today's Reading: The unclean to be removed out of the camp, compensation to be made for trespassing, the trial of jealousy, the law concerning the Nazarites, and the form of blessing the people.
Hello My Friend/Guest,
The word wage is defined as earnings from work, a price paid for work, or compensation. A person who gets paid by the hour receives a wage or compensation per hour of work done, this amount changes according to how many hours worked. The Bible says, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” - Romans 6:23. Sin is any wrong doing in ones life, whether he committed the sin recently or years ago, all have sinned and owe a payment for that sin, the payment owed for even that one little sin is death, death is the permanent end of all functions of life. We can not work enough to pay the wages we owe for sin, therefore, Jesus came to compensate for us.
Before Jesus came the people also had to pay wages for committing sin, along with a sin or trespass offering one had to pay compensation to the one they caused sin upon, if they did it upon themselves they had to give the compensation to the priest.
“Speak unto the children of Israel, When a man or woman shall commit any sin that men commit, to do a trespass against the LORD, and that person be guilty; Then they shall confess their sin which they have done: and he shall recompense his trespass with the principal thereof, and add unto it the fifth part thereof, and give it unto him against whom he hath trespassed. But if the man have no kinsman to recompense the trespass unto, let the trespass be recompensed unto the LORD, even to the priest; beside the ram of the atonement, whereby an atonement shall be made for him.” - Numbers 5:6-8.
Got sin in your life that you have forgotten? Still wrestling with something that happened years ago? God forgives all, He wants you to forgive all as well. He will tell you when you need to repent of something from the past, He will tell you when you need to forgive others, and He will even tell you when you need to ask others to forgive you, even from years past. In order for us to move on and grow as a Christian we need to seek forgiveness and be forgiving. “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” - Matthew 6:14,15.
God gave special commands to those who were Nazarites, a Nazarite was a person who vowed to separate himself or herself from the worldly things, giving total commitment to God. Now, this does not mean that the person would be sin free, but it would mean that they would live their lives centered on God and do their best to avoid the temptations that would cause them to sin.
“Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When either man or woman shall separate themselves to vow a vow of a Nazarite, to separate themselves unto the LORD: He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink, and shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat moist grapes, or dried. All the days of his separation shall he eat nothing that is made of the vine tree, from the kernels even to the husk. All the days of the vow of his separation there shall no razor come upon his head: until the days be fulfilled, in the which he separateth himself unto the LORD, he shall be holy, and shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow. All the days that he separateth himself unto the LORD he shall come at no dead body.” - Numbers 6:2-6.
Few of us are born into a godly life and remain in it, most of us get away from it at one point in their lives to return later in life or do not even know Christ until later in life, Samson is a testimony of that. The key to living a godly life is Jesus Christ and allowing Him to live in and through us, He separates us from the world and even other Christians who do not live their lives the way they should. “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” - II Corinthians 6:17,18. Now, that does not mean we are to be a hermit, but it does mean that we should not fellowship with them, become one with them.
When we make a vow to live our lives for God and do not follow through we are going to face some difficulties until we get right with Him. “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” - Galatians 6:7,8. The worse decision we can make is to tell God we are going to do something and do not follow through with it. Yet, God knows our flesh and that we are going to mess up from time to time, He also knows our heart and whether or not we truly want Him in our lives or not. He will bless us tremendously when we do all we can to live our lives for Him.“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” - I John 1:9.
God promised the Israelites that He would bless them for their obedience. “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them, The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel, and I will bless them.” - Numbers 6:22-27.
God puts His name upon all who put their faith and trust in His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus not only paid the wages for our sins for us He gives us a salary as well. The word salary is defined as money paid for work being done, or something obtained or received, it's a gift. That salary is eternal (forever) life with God in His Kingdom. A person who gets paid a salary gets compensated one amount no matter how many hours worked. He can work 1 hour or 100, regardless he gets paid the same amount. Jesus explains it this way, “For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard...So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first... And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house, Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day. But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.” - Matthew 20:1,2,8,11-14. It does not matter if you were born into the godly life, left then came back, or just got saved today you will receive the same salary. Praise God!
Jesus Christ Revealed: Today Jesus is revealed through the Nazarite, who separated himself from the world. We are blessed through the Son. “Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.” - Luke 6:22.
P.S. Happy Valentine's Day! Remember, Jesus loves you.
Thanks and God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Learn How Jesus Can Set You Free: http://www.godsprice.com
Visit I'm Following Jesus: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com
Subscribe To This Devotional: devotions@imfollowingjesus.com
Sunday, February 13, 2011
King James Daily Bible Study: Appointed By God
King James Daily Bible Study: Appointed By God
Date: Sunday February 13, 2011
Chapters: Leviticus 3-4
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com/bible-february-13
Details of Today's Reading: The sons of Aaron, their duties in the Tabernacle, the Levites taken from among the Israelites, the numbering of the Levites, the services appointed to them, and their duties.
Hello My Friend/Guest,
A matrix is something that develops from an original state, an example would be a master or leader that sets the example for others to follow. God, who is master of all, set the example of all of us to follow through Jesus Christ. Jesus Said, “If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.” - John 13:14-16. God has given us all skills that enable us to do the work He calls us to do, part of being employed by God is serving Him in whatever duties He appoints us. Jesus, who is the Son of God, was a servant, He followed the will of God even though He could have done anything He wanted to do. As Christians, we too are to follow the matrix by serving Him in the duties He calls us to do.
God has always appointed certain people to do work for Him outside the Church, but He appoints specific people to work for Him in the Church. God set the Levites apart from the rest of the congregation, they were His people that would minister to the laymen and were to be the examples to follow. The sons of Aaron were to carry on the priestly duties, but the rest of the Levites were given specific duties for serving God in the Tabernacle.
“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister unto him. And they shall keep his charge, and the charge of the whole congregation before the tabernacle of the congregation, to do the service of the tabernacle. And they shall keep all the instruments of the tabernacle of the congregation, and the charge of the children of Israel, to do the service of the tabernacle. And thou shalt give the Levites unto Aaron and to his sons: they are wholly given unto him out of the children of Israel.” - Numbers 3:5-9.
Today, if you are saved, you have been appointed by God to follow the example of the Church. With that said, it is important to make sure you are in a church that has a true man of God running it, I am talking about a man that not only preaches the Word of God, but follows it and serves it just as Jesus did, who is the head of the Church. “This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;” - I Timothy 3:1-3.
Men of God are not the only ones that are to be on their best behavior, any servant of God is to be, God knows that we are going to mess up from time to time, He expects that, that is why He appoints specific people to do more for Him than others, they are His people. God chose the Levites to be those specific people.
“And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn that openeth the matrix among the children of Israel: therefore the Levites shall be mine; Because all the firstborn are mine; for on the day that I smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I hallowed unto me all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast: mine shall they be: I am the LORD.” - Numbers 3:12,13.
There is a service appointed to each of God’s people in connection with His Church, and no matter how obscure the duty is it is equally important to God. Whether you are chosen to be a pastor, a pastor's wife, a choir member, a cook, or a janitor, God appoints all of His people with specific duties for His ministry. “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:” - Ephesians 4:11,12.
The word burden is defined as, that which is carried, a load. God gave the burden, the load, of the Tabernacle and all the duties of it to the Levites, anyone over the age of thirty was appointed to work in the Tabernacle. The Levites were the smallest tribe of all the congregation, yet they were appointed the most noblest task of all.
“All those that were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron and the chief of Israel numbered, after their families, and after the house of their fathers, From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that came to do the service of the ministry, and the service of the burden in the tabernacle of the congregation. Even those that were numbered of them, were eight thousand and five hundred and fourscore, According to the commandment of the LORD they were numbered by the hand of Moses, every one according to his service, and according to his burden: thus were they numbered of him, as the LORD commanded Moses.” - Numbers 4:46-49.
As Christians, we are all appointed to carry a burden, the load of reaching the lost, those who do not know Jesus Christ personally as their Savior. Ministering the Gospel to the lost is the most noblest task that God gives us and the most rewarding as well. He will bless you tremendously for it. You do not have to do it alone, Jesus is with you. “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” - Matthew 28:18-20.
One thing we all need to be aware of is when we are doing the work of God we can expect some opposition, Satan loves to use people, things, and circumstances to burden us, but Jesus wants to take on those burdens for us. As long as we keep doing His work He will make our personal burdens lighter. “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” - Matthew 11:28-30. Praise God!
Jesus Christ Revealed: Today Jesus is revealed through Aaron, the high priest. Jesus is our high priest, “But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;” - Hebrews 9:11.
Thanks and God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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Date: Sunday February 13, 2011
Chapters: Leviticus 3-4
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com/bible-february-13
Details of Today's Reading: The sons of Aaron, their duties in the Tabernacle, the Levites taken from among the Israelites, the numbering of the Levites, the services appointed to them, and their duties.
Hello My Friend/Guest,
A matrix is something that develops from an original state, an example would be a master or leader that sets the example for others to follow. God, who is master of all, set the example of all of us to follow through Jesus Christ. Jesus Said, “If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.” - John 13:14-16. God has given us all skills that enable us to do the work He calls us to do, part of being employed by God is serving Him in whatever duties He appoints us. Jesus, who is the Son of God, was a servant, He followed the will of God even though He could have done anything He wanted to do. As Christians, we too are to follow the matrix by serving Him in the duties He calls us to do.
God has always appointed certain people to do work for Him outside the Church, but He appoints specific people to work for Him in the Church. God set the Levites apart from the rest of the congregation, they were His people that would minister to the laymen and were to be the examples to follow. The sons of Aaron were to carry on the priestly duties, but the rest of the Levites were given specific duties for serving God in the Tabernacle.
“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister unto him. And they shall keep his charge, and the charge of the whole congregation before the tabernacle of the congregation, to do the service of the tabernacle. And they shall keep all the instruments of the tabernacle of the congregation, and the charge of the children of Israel, to do the service of the tabernacle. And thou shalt give the Levites unto Aaron and to his sons: they are wholly given unto him out of the children of Israel.” - Numbers 3:5-9.
Today, if you are saved, you have been appointed by God to follow the example of the Church. With that said, it is important to make sure you are in a church that has a true man of God running it, I am talking about a man that not only preaches the Word of God, but follows it and serves it just as Jesus did, who is the head of the Church. “This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;” - I Timothy 3:1-3.
Men of God are not the only ones that are to be on their best behavior, any servant of God is to be, God knows that we are going to mess up from time to time, He expects that, that is why He appoints specific people to do more for Him than others, they are His people. God chose the Levites to be those specific people.
“And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn that openeth the matrix among the children of Israel: therefore the Levites shall be mine; Because all the firstborn are mine; for on the day that I smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I hallowed unto me all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast: mine shall they be: I am the LORD.” - Numbers 3:12,13.
There is a service appointed to each of God’s people in connection with His Church, and no matter how obscure the duty is it is equally important to God. Whether you are chosen to be a pastor, a pastor's wife, a choir member, a cook, or a janitor, God appoints all of His people with specific duties for His ministry. “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:” - Ephesians 4:11,12.
The word burden is defined as, that which is carried, a load. God gave the burden, the load, of the Tabernacle and all the duties of it to the Levites, anyone over the age of thirty was appointed to work in the Tabernacle. The Levites were the smallest tribe of all the congregation, yet they were appointed the most noblest task of all.
“All those that were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron and the chief of Israel numbered, after their families, and after the house of their fathers, From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that came to do the service of the ministry, and the service of the burden in the tabernacle of the congregation. Even those that were numbered of them, were eight thousand and five hundred and fourscore, According to the commandment of the LORD they were numbered by the hand of Moses, every one according to his service, and according to his burden: thus were they numbered of him, as the LORD commanded Moses.” - Numbers 4:46-49.
As Christians, we are all appointed to carry a burden, the load of reaching the lost, those who do not know Jesus Christ personally as their Savior. Ministering the Gospel to the lost is the most noblest task that God gives us and the most rewarding as well. He will bless you tremendously for it. You do not have to do it alone, Jesus is with you. “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” - Matthew 28:18-20.
One thing we all need to be aware of is when we are doing the work of God we can expect some opposition, Satan loves to use people, things, and circumstances to burden us, but Jesus wants to take on those burdens for us. As long as we keep doing His work He will make our personal burdens lighter. “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” - Matthew 11:28-30. Praise God!
Jesus Christ Revealed: Today Jesus is revealed through Aaron, the high priest. Jesus is our high priest, “But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;” - Hebrews 9:11.
Thanks and God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Learn How Jesus Can Set You Free: http://www.godsprice.com
Visit I'm Following Jesus: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com
Missed A Devotional: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com/daily-bible-study
Subscribe To This Devotional: devotions@imfollowingjesus.com
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