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Who Are We Listening To?

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Numbers 7; Psalms 23; Acts 27 “…So Paul warned them, ‘Men I can see that our voyage is going to be disastrous and bring great loss…Since the harbor was unsuitable to winter in, the majority decided that we should sail on…’” Acts 27:9, 10, 12 “The Lord is my shepherd…he guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me…” Psalm 23:1, 3, 4 Paul’s response to the storm at sea was dramatically different from the rest of the ship’s passengers. His warning about proceeding with the journey, and later, his prophetic promise that no lives would be lost, reflected that Paul was listening to his Shepherd. While the ship’s captain was influenced by the majority of the passengers, Paul was led by the Spirit. Even when we travel through the darkest valley, the presence of our Shepherd through his indwelling Spirit is with us. We need not fear. Who are we listening to in our storm or dark val...
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On or In?

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Numbers 5-6; Psalms 22; Acts 26   “’The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.’ So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.” Numbers 6:24-27 This priestly blessing of speaking the Lord’s name over the Israelites points to the day when the Lord’s presence will be in them, not just on them. Jesus Christ instructed his disciples to baptize the nations “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). The living presence of God himself now indwelt his disciples through the Spirit. “I in them and you in me. May they may be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me” John 17:23). It is the indwelling presence of Jesus through the Spirit which releases the glory, grace, and peace of God in our lives. Jesus, as our permanent high priest, has come to bless us with ...
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Offered to God

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Numbers 3-4; Acts 25 “The Lord also said to Moses, ‘I have taken the Levites from among the Israelites in place of the first male offspring of every Israelite woman. The Levites are mine, for all the firstborn are mine. When I struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, I set apart for myself every firstborn in Israel, whether man or animal. They are to be mine. I am the Lord.’” Numbers 3:11-13 The writer of Hebrews reminds us that the Israelite Tabernacle was an earthly copy of the reality in heaven. The assignment of the tribe of Levi as priests, in place of the firstborn of every Israelite woman, points us to the Church as the kingdom of priests, “a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God” (1 Peter 2:9). We are the “church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven” (Hebrews 12:23). To experience salvation from sin is to be set apart for service to God. Why, then, is the gospel so often presented as what God has done and will do for us? This is only half of t...
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Felix was Afraid

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Numbers 1-2; Acts 24   “Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. As Paul discoursed on righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, ‘That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient I will send for you.’” Acts 24:24, 25 Paul’s life and beliefs were on trial in Caesarea; yet he did not avoid the convicting aspects of the gospel. Paul was not focused on defending himself; but rather, on representing Jesus Christ as his ambassador. After he heard Paul share the gospel, Felix became afraid because he came under the conviction of the Holy Spirit. Without this conviction and fear of the Lord, there is no repentance. Without repentance, there is no salvation. A gospel of faith in Christ and his gift of righteousness, without preaching repentance, self-control, and clarity on eternal judgment is incomplete. Without the complete pictu...
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Heads Held High

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Leviticus 26-27; Acts 23   “’I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt so that you would no longer be slaves to the Egyptians; I broke the bars of your yoke and enabled you to walk with heads held high.’” Leviticus 26:13 God’s redemption of his people from slavery in Egypt inspired the American slaves to pray for their own freedom. God hears those cries for freedom from slavery of every kind, no matter where they issue from. Christ is our Redeemer, the salvation of all who call out to him for forgiveness and freedom from the slavery and penalty of sin. The evidence of our freedom is evident in how we walk and carry ourselves. Freedom from the yoke or bar of slavery enables us to walk with our heads held high. Our Redeemer is “our glory and the lifter of our heads” (Psalm 3:3). What enslavement are we crying out to be freed from?   Are we walking with our heads held high, or are we bowed down under a yoke? “Lord Jesus, you are my Redeemer and glory, the lifter of my ...
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Eyes on the Lord

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Leviticus 25; Psalms 25-26; Acts 22 “To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul; in you I trust…He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way…Who, then, is the man that fears the Lord? He will instruct him in the way chosen for him…My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only he will release my feet from the snare…May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope is in you.” Psalm 25:1, 9, 12, 15, 21 Our primary enemy is sin and the temptation of Satan to get us ensnared in a sin-stronghold. It is in humility that we learn how to live in God’s ways and avoid the snares of sin. The fear of the Lord positions us to obey him, listen to his Word, and value unbroken fellowship with him. When we fix our eyes on Jesus, we “throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles” (Hebrews 12:1). It is in pursuing Jesus as our primary focus each day, that integrity and uprightness will protect us. Jesus is our shield and defender. Our hope is in the Lord. “Lord Jesus, y...
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Firstfruits Wave Offering

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Leviticus 23-24; Psalms 24; Acts 21   “…’When you enter the land I am going to give you and you reap its harvest, bring to the priest a sheaf of the first grain you harvest. He is to wave the sheaf before the Lord so it will be accepted on your behalf; the priest is to wave it on the day after the Sabbath. On the day you wave the sheaf you must sacrifice as a burnt offering to the Lord a lamb a year old without defect, together with its grain offering of two-tenths of an ephah of the fine flour mixed with olive oil – an offering made to the Lord…” Leviticus 23:9-13 The resurrection of Jesus the Messiah on the day after the Sabbath during the Passover Feast is the fulfillment of the firstfruits offering. Jesus was the firstfruit of the resurrection, with the spiritual harvest of the churches from every nation to follow. Jesus was the sacrificial lamb offered in atonement for our sin. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit is the oil offering which binds the grain flour of the Church toge...
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