Let God Be Magnified

Everyone -

My wife and I just got back from Jamaica. It was wonderful. But what is so frustrating and interesting at the same time is how so much poverty and so much luxury can co-exist in the same area.

After you land at the airport it takes you about 2 hours (or more) to reach your resort. Along the way all you see are these half-completed homes and shacks that look like they may fall with the next hurricane (and these shacks are completed!). These homes are made out of concrete and are usually two stories each. They look like they might be the size of a very nice two-story apartment if the individual rooms were separated from each other. As you look at the homes, they generally have reinforcement wire sticking out like a Rastafarian’s hair that had been dreaded for about 10 years. There are pillars that stand alone holding nothing but the sun as it rises and falls. These homes will one day be beautiful structures, but as they are they stand as a reminder of the poverty and difficulty life brings to a Jamaican. Yeah mon.

!

As we were coming home the bus driver explained why these concrete homes were so incomplete. The cost of the average home is around $15,000 US dollars which is a terribly large sum of money for these people. And the average mortgage has an interest rate of around 40%! So it’s no wonder not many are unable to own homes. But it turns out that these people will work off of cash and build their home little by little as they have allowance. He said sometimes it takes around 20 years to complete a house and often the job is passed onto the next generation in the family.

Imagine the patience and dedication!

Isn’t this just like our Father? This reminds me of how He is building up His church and His people little by little and in His way and on His time.

“For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it. For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” – 1 Corinthians 3:9-11

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” – Ephesians 2:10

“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.” – Ephesians 2:19-22

This idea of the “cornerstone” being a metaphor for Jesus or the coming Messiah (same thing) is an important concept that God uses over and over. In the Old Testament is it used three times with this meaning:

Psalm 118:22; Isaiah 28:16; Zechariah 10:4

And this idea obviously had a considerable impact on the Apostles and disciples of Jesus as they used it seven times in the New Testament in reference to Him:

Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:10; Luke 20:17; Acts 4:11; Ephesians 2:20; 1 Peter 2:6; 1 Peter 2:7

It’s importance is obvious. Anything that is not based upon the foundation of Jesus Christ that has already been established is futile and worthless. In fact, all that exists has been made through Him:

“All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.” – John 1:3

Most of all, Christianity is based upon Him. He is the object by which all else is measured. He is the foundation by which all decisions are made. He is the support upon which all rests and all depend for without Him none would be saved:

“And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” – Acts 4:12

Is He your cornerstone? What part are you playing in this building He is making? Are you watching it being made or are you participating in it’s construction? And most of all, since He may not return in our lifetime (come, Lord Jesus), is this building we are making going to be a generational affair? What do your children know of Him? What do your friends know of Him?

“Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men.” – Colossians 3:23

Take care, Eriek

PS: please pray for those on Jamaica. As of this writing Hurricane Dean is about 24 hours from hitting the island with the most fierce wind that Jamaica has ever had – sustained winds of 150mph from a potential Category 4 hurricane.

As I was preparing for a lesson something struck me as odd. In the book of Judges, there are five instances where, as the text declares, Israel “did evil in the sight of the Lord.” After each of these instances, we see that God “sold them into the hand” of a king or strengthened that king so that they would rule over Israel as a punishment for their disobedience:

Judges 3:8,14

Judges 3:12

Judges 4:1-3

Judges 6:1-6

Judges 13:1

In each case after having been sold into the hands of their enemies by God, we see that Israel cries out to the Lord. In response to these cries, He, in His grace and mercy, sends a Judge to help them. These cries from Israel are true in all cases but the final instance in Judges 13:1 which is what got me thinking.

In this case, Israel does not cry out to God yet He sends a deliverer named Samson. Now many of us have heard the story of Samson and his strength as he toppled a temple by pushing aside two columns crushing all those who were inside, including himself. But why, in this case, didn’t Israel cry out to God and why, therefore, did He send a deliverer?

A little analysis and background would be helpful here.

Starting in Judges 13:2 we see that a family of the tribe of Dan was to be blessed with a special child – Samson. The woman is instructed by the angel of the Lord not to drink “wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing” (Judges 13:4). Why? Because the angel of the Lord has told her that he is to be a special child called out by the Lord:

“For behold, you shall conceive and give birth to a son, and no razor shall come upon his head, for the boy shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb; and he shall begin to deliver Israel from the hands of the Philistines.” – Judges 13:5

Now, at a surface level, who does that remind you of? Perhaps Jesus?

There are some interesting parallels that develop here. But first we need to look and understand what a Nazirite was and did. Let’s go to Numbers.

The fundamental issue with the vow of an Israelite who decides to become a Nazirite was total dedication to the Lord (Numbers 6:2). He was to abstain from a multitude of items that would render him unclean or not pure such as those listed in verses 3-12 such as:

1. not eating anything produced at all by the grape vine (including seeds and skin)

2. he shall not cut his hair all the days of his vow

3. he shall not go near a dead person (even family members)

Now when you get down to particular rules and regulation, the parallels between Jesus and Samson begin to break down. But that’s to be expected – Jesus is God and these are vows of men. But when you look at the overarching themes of both Samson’s dedication and Jesus’ dedication it paints an interesting picture.

Themes

A. Both Jesus and Samson were born to woman who was barren and had no children:

“There was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren and had no children.” – Judges 13:2

“Mary said to the angel, ‘How an this be, since I am a virgin?’” – Luke 1:34

B. In both cases, the birth of the male child was proclaimed by an angel of the Lord:

“For behold, you shall conceive and give birth to a son, and no razor shall come upon his head, for the boy shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb; and he shall begin to deliver Israel from the hands of the Philistines.” – Judges 13:5

“The angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.” – Luke 1:30-33

C. Their titles are similar enough suggest that to a Jewish person, one term would have reminded them of the other:

“So he told her all that was in his heart and said to her, ‘A razor has never come on my head, for I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother’s womb.’” – Judges 13:17a

“and came and lived in a city called Nazareth. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophets: ‘He shall be called a Nazarene.’” – Matthew 2:23

D. A complete dedication to God is assumed and required for their roles:

...He shall be hold until the days are fulfilled for which he separated himself to the Lord…” – Numbers 6:5b

“I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.” – John 5:30

While the associations are admittedly loose, the parallels are interesting. And there is one final bit that could be considered although it is weak when analyzed deeper. And that is this: when the days of his vow are over, the Nazirite is required to bring a sacrifice to the tent of meeting:

“Now this is the law of the Nazirite when his days of his separation are fulfilled, he shall bring the offering to the doorway of the tent of meeting.” – Numbers 6:13

What is interesting, is the type of sacrifices required by the Nazirite:

“He shall present his offering to the Lord: one male lamb a year old without defect for a burnt offering and one ewe-lamb a year old without defect for a sin offering and one ram without defect for a peace offering, and a basket of unleavened cakes of fine flour mixed with oil and unleavened wafers spread with oil, along with their grain offering and their drink offering.” – Numbers 6:14,15

Do you remember what John the Baptist said of Jesus when he first saw Him?

“The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, ‘Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.’” – John 1:29

And what does the book of Hebrews say about the quality of the sacrifice of Jesus?

“how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” – Hebrews 9:14

So we see, then, that Jesus was the fulfillment of the Levitical Law that called for the sacrifice of the male lamb without defect for both/either a sin or burnt offering (Leviticus 9:3; Exodus 12:5) that typified or pointed to Christ. And we see that there are other aspects of the Nazirite’s vow fulfillment that typify Christ:

a) the death of Christ on the cross as the Passover Lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7),

b) the believer’s holy walk and complete break from the old life, pictured by the absence of leaven (1 Corinthians 5:7,8) (others think the unleavened bread pictures the sinless humanity of Christ),

c) the resurrection of Christ as prefigured by the firstfruits of the barley harvest (1 Corinthians 15:20-23)

(NOTE: for more information on these topics check out these links:)

Three Sacrifices

Grain Offering – Salt

Burnt Offerings

All of these are contained in some fashion in the requirements of the Nazirite when his days of his vow are fulfilled.

Concluding Thoughts

So why did God send Samson when Israel didn’t cry out for help after they “did evil in the sight of the Lord”? While not definitive, the illustration of the Nazirite has some interesting similarities to the sacrifice of the Nazarene, our Lord Jesus Christ. In this case, after the Old Testament closed there was a period of 400 years where there were no recorded prophetic utterances. During this time Israel fell more and more wayward from God and his statutes and commandments. There is no record of Israel crying out to God for help or, for that matter, the desire to have help. But in God’s grace and mercy He sent His Son to save us. We didn’t ask for it. We don’t deserve it. Yet, He loves us so much that He provided a way for us to avoid the His righteous and justified wrath through His Son Jesus Christ our Lord. How wonderful He is!

“For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even die. But God demonstrates His own love towards us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.” – Romans 5:6-11

The Following is a sermon that the great theologian J. Dwight Pentecost gave at the Dallas Theological Seminary Chapel service. It has some amazing insight on the relationship between the Temple of God and His people. He contrasts the Old Testament Temple with that of the New Testament Temple – us.

So as the Tabernacle of the nation Israel was to reveal the Father, our role, as believers, is to reveal the Father to a world in darkness. Through which we carry on the ministry of Jesus Christ who was sent first, and in part, to reveal the Father.

A New Temple

Given by J. Dwight Pentecost September 1, 2006 at Dallas Theological Seminary Chapel Service

“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.” – 1 Corinthians 6:19.20

Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you.

You are a temple in which God dwells.

Background:

“He erected the court all around the tabernacle and the altar, and hung up the veil for the gateway of the court. Thus Moses finished his work.” – Exodus 40:33

Moses was giving careful instruction about the erection and formation of the Tabernacle. Piece by piece the articles of furniture were installed. When he finished the work a cloud covered the congregation and the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle. Moses was not able to enter because of the glory of the Lord.

“who alone possess immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.” – 1 Timothy 6:16

Paul writes that God dwells in light into which no man can enter.

“Shekinah.” The outshining of the essential glory that belongs to the God of Glory.

Saul of Tarsus on his way to Damascus saw a great light shining from Heaven and such was its brilliance that he was left blinded.

It was the brilliance of the outshining of the glory of God.

The Synoptic Gospels and their story of the Transfiguration: they exhaust language to try and describe the brilliance of the outshining of the face and of the clothing of Jesus Christ.

The glory that filled the Tabernacle was probably no less than the light that blinded Saul or that radiated from the person of Jesus Christ at His transfiguration.

The light that emanated above the mercy seat transfigured and transformed the Tabernacle so that as men approached the Tabernacle they realized that the transformed building was the channel through which God was revealing Himself to the nation Israel.

He’s a God of glory.

That was the edifice through which God was revealing Himself – His nature, His character – to the nation that He had redeemed by blood from bondage.

“There I will meet with you; and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are upon the ark of the testimony, I will speak to you about all that I will give you in commandment from the sons of Israel.” – Exodus 25:22

The Tabernacle was designed to be a meeting place between God and His redeemed people. And in connection with the erection of the Tabernacle God had made it very clear, “I will meet with you there.”

It was not meant to attract the nation to itself but became the transformed vehicle through which God revealed Himself.

“For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand outside.
I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God
Than dwell in the tents of wickedness.” – Psalm 84:10

We can see why David could write so graphically, so beautifully, so gloriously about the power of His God. The doorkeeper is not a casual visitor at the door for he positions himself at the door and takes that door a his place of residence.

David had such a glorious concept of God because he spent time in God’s presence and what which was transfiguring and transforming the physical building was transforming David himself.

He’s learning of God and he can pass that on in the songs that he wrote to be sung to the praise and glory of God.

In the New Testament Jesus Christ came into the world to reveal the Father:

“No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.” – John 1:18

Explained = declared = introduced = revealed.

Jesus Christ’s ministry up the point of His death was not to provide a sacrifice for sins because we were not saved by the life of Christ but by His words and by His works.

Jesus was revealing the Father.

“And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” – John 1:14 (dwelt = tabernacled)

He came and “tabernacled” among us. So that the physical body of Christ becomes the channel through which the God of all glory revealed Himself to those whom He’d come to save.

Jesus fulfilled that which the Tabernacle was a prototype, a foreshadow – to reveal the Father.

And when Jesus was challenged about His claim to be the Son of God in John 8:28 He said (paraphrase) “my words and my works are a revelation of My Father because they aren’t My words but My Father’s words, and not My works but My Father’s works.”

“Philip said to Him, ‘Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.’” – John 14:8

Jesus said to him (paraphrase), “everything I did it wasn’t I doing it, it was the Father doing it. The Father was revealing Himself through My works.”

In John 17 we see Jesus as He is about to move on to the cross and the world still needs a revelation of the Father because they’re in darkness – (paraphrase) “For the same reason that You sent me into the world I now, in turn, send them into the world.”

The work of redemption was not to be done by the twelve who would disseminate the message concerning the Son of God – that could only be accomplished by death. But He is setting them apart to carry on the work that He was first of all sent into the world to do – that is to reveal the Father.

And for that same reason He sends them into the world – to make the Father known.

How would it be done?

In the book of Acts the twelve are duplicating the miracles that Jesus performed. These miracles were not only to convince the nation that Jesus is the Son of God, but through those very miracles to reveal the nature and character of His Father.

It is in this light that Paul is saying to these Corinthians (remember 1 Corinthians 6:19,20 from beginning). God has placed you where you are in order that you might be a tabernacle through which God reveals Himself, makes Himself known, so that man will not be attracted to the Tabernacle, the Temple, but will be attracted to the person who is revealing Himself through you.

This essentially means that every believer is a Theologian – a revealer of God.

“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever;” – John 14:16

Jesus promises believers will be indwelt by the Holy Spirit.

“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. … In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.” – John 14:18.20

Jesus promises believers will be indwelt by the Son.

“Jesus answered and said to him, ‘If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.’” – John 15:23

Jesus promised believers will be indwelt by the Father.

And the Triune God who set apart the Tabernacle to be a channel through which God revealed Himself to the people of Israel has set you apart to be the channel through which He reveals Himself, makes Himself known, displays His glory. Not that people would be attracted to the Tabernacle but to the God who indwells it.

This brings us to face a very serious question.

You who are married:
If your spouse were asked to write out her concept of God through what she sees of Him in you, what would be the nature of her theology?

You who are parents:
If your children got the concept of God from what they see you doing and listening to what you say how far short, what the Scripture reveals about God, would their disclosure reveal?

To you who are students:
If your classmates receive their concept of God by what they hear you say, see you do, what would their concept be?

That is why Peter says we are living epistles read and known by all men:

“You are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by all men;” – 2 Corinthians 3:2

It is the desire of God the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit so to live through you, and speak through you that They use you as They used the Tabernacle to reveal His indescribable glory to the nation He redeemed from bondage.

You are theologians. How are you living out what the Bible describes as the “character of God”?

“And Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about Him spread through all the surrounding district. And He began teaching in their synagogues and was praised by all. And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read. And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And He opened the book and found the place where it was written,

‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,
Because He annointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor.
He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives,
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set free those who are oppressed,
To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.’

And He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, ‘Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’” – Luke 4:14-21

It was customary in the synagogues of Jesus’ day that a guest speaker would give the lesson to all those present. First a section of the Law and the Prophets was read and then the speaker would sit down to give the lesson that might tie them both together. This was the case in which our Lord found Himself on this day. It is obvious that Jesus was highly thought of within the Jewish circles since He was “being glorified” in the synagogues in which He taught and it seemed that He was a consistent attender to these synagogues since it was His custom (verse 16).

While what the Lord proclaimed is amazing – “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing” – what I find rather interesting is why He stopped where He did. For notice what the next verse is from Isaiah 61 in which He read:

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
Because the Lord has anointed me
To bring good news to the afflicted;
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to captives
And freedom to prisoners;
To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord
And the day of vengeance of our God;” – Isaiah 61:1,2

Ahhhhhh. Why did He stop there? Judgment is reserved for the Son as the Father has given it to Him as Jesus testifies:

“For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father.” – John 5:22,23

When Jesus came to this earth, He came to set up His kingdom as promised in the Old Testament prophets. Do you remember what John the Baptist proclaimed before Jesus’ ministry began?

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” – Matthew 3:2

He didn’t come for the cross. As J. Dwight Pentecost so effectively says,

“Jesus Christ’s ministry up the point of His death was not to provide a sacrifice for sins because we were not saved by the life of Christ by by His words and His works. Jesus was revealing the Father.”

“And His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.” – John 1:16-18

So Jesus was revealing the Father as He desired to set up His Kingdom. However, Israel rejected, once again, a prophet of God as He testifies:

“But as for Israel He says, ‘All the day long I have stretched out My hands to a disobedient and obstinate people.” – Romans 10:21

What Jesus showed by stopping short from finishing off Isaiah 61 was that His work would be divided into two advents. In His first advent He would do those things written in Isaiah 61:1-2a and in His second advent He will accomplish those things in verses 2b-3. Make no mistake Jesus will return in victory and for judgment. For His holiness demands judgment. Oh what a glorious day it will be when these words come true:

“And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean (note: that’s us!), were following Him on white horses. From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. And on His robe on on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” – Revelation 19:11-17

Amen! Hallelujah! It will be a great day. But in His grace, He marks out a day that those who do not know Christ can escape His righteous and just wrath: Today (Hebrews 4:7). For with regards to Jesus,

“there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” – Acts 4:12

If you truly believe that, then tell others about Jesus. Share with then the Gospel. Proclaim to the captives that there is liberty in Jesus Christ and that we can find rest in Him. God is wonderful and awesome and gracious and kind. Let others know what you know.

later Eriek

“Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands; and in the midst of I saw one like the son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded across His chest with a golden sash.” – Revelation 1:12,13

The lampstands represent the churches in seven distinct areas of the Roman province of Asia during the time of Christ. We see here, then, Christ standing in the midst of the churches. For at one point of His ministry while on earth He says, “I am the light of the world” and then before He went away He said to His disciples, “You are the light of the world.” We are to shine for Him here while He is away. The light from the lampstands here is the light that we must shine on the world while He is away. And in this verse, we see Christ standing in the midst of His church.

“So we see that this One in the midst is the Son of Man, yet God Himself. The Lord Jesus Christ has that double character, and His place is always in the midst. Jesus in the midst! No company of believers deserves to be called a Christian company that does not give Him that place. But, ‘Where two or three are gathered together in My name,’ He says, ‘there I am in the midst.’ You remember when He hung on the cross, between two thieves, He saved one of them who turned to Him in faith. When He rose from the dead, and His disciples were gathered together in the upper room, ‘There came Jesus and stood in the midst.’ In the 5th chapter of the Revelation, John looked and saw the Lamb, ‘in the midst of the throne, in the midst of the elders, and in the midst of the living creatures.’ This is the place that ever belongs to our Lord Jesus – the central place, the preeminent place. God must have Jesus in the midst.” (Ironside, “Revelation,” p. 28)

…

This is so true. We must always have Jesus as the focus of our lives. Every action, reaction, and decision should focus on Christ. Our Father puts Him in the center of all things, should we do no less? Give the glory to Him that He deserves. Do what you do for Him!

Later

Eriek

The following is a letter that I saw on the desk of a physician that I know in Bryan, Texas. He said it was a patient that he had and the experience that she had while sick.

This morning as I was resting in bed, I experienced extraordinary dreams or twilight sleep visions. I felt sensations within my body that were indescribable. By merely touching any place on my body, I was filled internally with joy, ecstasy, complete serenity. Then I saw myself being greeted by Dad, Mom and others I couldn’t identify, but which were surrounded by love, peace and smiles, and joy. Then I saw and felt myself being drawn closer and hugged in enveloping soft folds of material which were like a robe. I felt arms around me hugging me tightly and softly stroking my body. I saw this occurring as though I was standing off to the side and yet I could feel and experience what I was seeing. Then I saw that it was Jesus smiling at me while lightly touching my face. There was such complete love, joy and I see it in my mind still. I know this vision is now mine to call on when I need it or want it. I am filled with love, never before experienced. This is a gift for me. I am blessed. I am grateful. I will pass these feelings which are divine and holy as best I can, when I can. Never will I share this with anyone for it is a heavenly gift which defies explanation. I am so happy for I am LOVED. Thank you Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit for this blessing.

Knowing his will, letting go, trusting, believing, obeying. I am consumed in love, peace and joy. I want to fill my mind with good and joyful information, to dwell on God’s works instead of man’s, and where possible to pass on the serenity and joy of life. I want to remember to let God’s words out to those in need. I am surrounded by angels and I watch for them, listen to them and let my faith transform fear. Anger solves nothing and poisons the air. I want to daily pass on love and laughter, joy and comfort where and to whom I am able to do so. When in doubt, smile. Believe in what’s happening and share it with all.

This is all a miracle. Thank you. I am filled with love.

- This was written in her own hand by Betty Lee Keehan on the day of her death, April 24th, 2003.

Everyone –

I was listening to a sermon the other day and there was an interesting bit of information that I thought we could all use. The pastor was discussing the Temple which was the place where God dwelled during the time of the Old Testament Israel. Only the priests could minister directly before the Ark of the Covenant above which the glory of the Lord would present Himself. However, Israel would come to the Temple to worship God because that is where He was. But, as you walked up to the Temple one of the first things you would encounter would be the altar where they made the sacrifice of the animals to atone for sin or the various other offenses where God required a sacrifice. It was meant to reinforce the price for sin and how grievous sin really was as a offense to God.

The important thing here is the fact that before the priests could go into the Temple to worship there was always an offering for sin that had to be made. You could not approach the Ark without first passing by the altar for sin offerings. Likewise, in our worship, we must admit to the sin before we may have that relationship with God. The sacrifice of the animal for the Israelite is comparable to our confession of our sin to God. It purifies us and cleanses us so that as we go to the Lord in prayer the sin that is behind us doesn’t weigh us down as we approach the glory before us.

“Seek the Lord while He may be found;
Call upon Him while He is near.
Let the wicked forsake his way
And the unrighteous man his thoughts;
And let him return to the Lord,
And He will have compassion on him,
And to our God,
For He will abundantly pardon.” – Isaiah 55:6,7

“Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called ‘Today,’ so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” – Hebrews 3:12,13

Come to the Lord while it is still ‘today’ for ‘tomorrow’ may come and there will be no opportunity. While these verses speak more to the unbeliever or to the one who has walked away or strayed from the faith, it still is relevant to us. For the longer we go without praying, the longer we go without confession, the further away God feels to us and the more worldly we become. It’s that close relationship between the believer and God that sustains us through the hard times. There is comfort in submitting and humbling yourself under the hand of the Lord. Confession allows us to submit and humble ourselves before God. It confirms He is in control and reassures that He is our Lord. Many times He is just our Savior and hardly ever our Lord. But His Lordship is just as important as His role as Savior.

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my Yoke is easy and My burden is light.” – Matthew 11:28-30

I encourage you to confess your sin before God. Admit to Him that you have fallen short of what He desires. It will strengthen your relationship with Him and bring you to a place where your love for Him is deeper.

“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory, blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.” – Jude 25

Later

Eriek

Everyone –

I was reading this morning in 2 Samuel 7 a prayer that David offered up to God. It was after David realized that he lived in all these wonderful places and yet the Ark of God, where God dwelled, lived in a tent. The Ark had been moved around from place to place over the last few years and there was some conviction on David’s heart. But when he decided to build a proper place for the Ark of God, He asked him not to do so (verse 7). For God had never asked to have a “house of cedar” before when the Ark was being shuffled around. Instead, God comes back and blesses David with a magnificent blessing (vss. 8-16) (which, by the way, is a prophetic word about Jesus ultimately, but for the immediate future it was fulfilled by David’s son, Solomon).

But what really caught me is the prayer that David offers back to God in verses 18-29. Many times when we think about prayer we think of a laundry list of things we need from God that day. David’s prayer was a reminder that prayer, while it can be used for supplication in time of need, should really be focused upon God and His character/personality/holiness, etc. This is especially true when He reveals a little bit more of Himself to you through His word or His creation. I believe that when the moment hits that you understand a little more about the greatness of God you can’t help but praise Him for all that He is because that revelation is so awesome that you have to let Him know. Ever had that happen to you? I think that is what David is doing here. David has so much, and then he wants to take care of God, but then God comes back and blesses Him more. David is then in awe and lets God know how much he loves Him.

So as we pray to God today, make sure there is as much praise as you can give Him because He deserves it. He loves to hear praises sung to Him. And I believe that there is a special blessing for our spirit that comes with praising God. It puts our heart and focus on the right things – God, and take them focus off of the wrong things – the world. God is altogether sufficient for everything we encounter. Let Him know how much you love Him.

Take care

Eriek