Praying for the Mid-east conflicts

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. Romans

Comments, thoughts and reflections welcome.

Psalm 1 How  blessed are those who reject the advice of the wicked, don’t stand in the way of those who practice evil, don’t sit where scoffers sit!  Instead, their delight is in Adonai’s commands.  They meditate day and night on His word, not the word of humanity.  They are like trees that are planted by streams— they bear their fruit in season, their leaves never wither, and everything they do succeeds. This is our promise and we ask it for the believers in the Mid- east at this time. Not so the wicked, who are like chaff that is driven by the wind.  For this reason the wicked won’t stand up to the judgment, nor will those who practice evil stand at the gathering of the righteous.  For Adonai watches over the way of the righteous,  whose righteousness is in Christ Jesus, but the way of the one who practices evil is doomed. And do by your Word, Lord, we stand against the actions of the practicers of evil in the Mid-east today.  We call on your Spirit to do Your Will in that place; releasing the captives, protecting the innocent and avenging the oppressed.

the pain of the innocent

Matthew 4:4,7,10,17 and 20 “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of Adonai.”  “Do not put Adonai your God to the test.” “Worship Adonai your God, and serve only him.”  “Turn from your sins to God, for the Kingdom of God is near!” “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 5:3,4 “How blessed are the poor in spirit! for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.  How blessed are those who mourn! for they will be comforted.   Words to meditate upon.  Words to keep when rising up, going down, at home, in the way, on the hand, on the forehead, on the doorway…immersed completely in his word.  These words can be applied to the events all around us that are contrary to God’s word in prayer and His power will be released as we continue to pray.  As Aaron and Hur held up the hands of Moses and the battle was to the people of God so let us raise the plight of believers and the innocent before the throne. The battle is not only physical, but also spiritual.  Let us not be weary to pray and the victory will be the Lord’s.   If you’ve been to the cross… See you at the throne…

 

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Receive and don’t look back…

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. Romans

Comments, thoughts and reflections welcome.

Isaiah 6:1-7

  In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple.

  Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.

 And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!”

  And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke.

  And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!”

  Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar.

  And he touched my mouth and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.”

When our guilt due to our sin is taken away, why would we want it back? Why would we return to it?

   “your guilt is taken away…”

We stand before a holy God, we stand in our guilt and He tells us that our sin-caused guilt is removed.  We stand before the cross on which He died so that sin could be removed.  We stand condemned by our wrongs and He sets us free of the penalty of death and gives us life, again.  Why then would we even consider returning to our sin?

Israel did, repeatedly.  And only we know whether we continue to stand condemned or proceed in his grace to live that new life.  Let go of the past, let go of the sin.  Grasp hold of His salvation, and let the change begin and bear fruit.  What does our life testify to?  Renewal, restoration?

  “Your guilt is taken away…”

Receive and don’t look back.

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A free exchange…our sin for His righteousness

Ezekiel 42

Then he brought me out into the outer court, by the way toward the north; and he brought me into the chamber which was opposite the separating courtyard, and which was opposite the building toward the north. 2 Facing the length, which was one hundred cubits (the width was fifty cubits), was the north door. 3 Opposite the inner court of twenty cubits, and opposite the pavement of the outer court, was gallery against gallery in three stories. 4 In front of the chambers, toward the inside, was a walk ten cubits wide, at a distance of one cubit; and their doors faced north. 5 Now the upper chambers were shorter, because the galleries took away space from them more than from the lower and middle stories of the building. 6 For they were in three stories and did not have pillars like the pillars of the courts; therefore the upper level was shortened more than the lower and middle levels from the ground up. 7 And a wall which was outside ran parallel to the chambers, at the front of the chambers, toward the outer court; its length was fifty cubits. 8 The length of the chambers toward the outer court was fifty cubits, whereas that facing the temple was one hundred cubits. 9 At the lower chambers was the entrance on the east side, as one goes into them from the outer court.

10 Also there were chambers in the thickness of the wall of the court toward the east, opposite the separating courtyard and opposite the building. 11 There was a walk in front of them also, and their appearance was like the chambers which were toward the north; they were as long and as wide as the others, and all their exits and entrances were according to plan. 12 And corresponding to the doors of the chambers that were facing south, as one enters them, there was a door in front of the walk, the way directly in front of the wall toward the east.

13 Then he said to me, “The north chambers and the south chambers, which are opposite the separating courtyard, are the holy chambers where the priests who approach the LORD shall eat the most holy offerings. There they shall lay the most holy offerings—the grain offering, the sin offering, and the trespass offering—for the place is holy. 14 When the priests enter them, they shall not go out of the holy chamber into the outer court; but there they shall leave their garments in which they minister, for they are holy. They shall put on other garments; then they may approach that which is for the people.”

15 Now when he had finished measuring the inner temple, he brought me out through the gateway that faces toward the east, and measured it all around. 16 He measured the east side with the measuring rod, [fn1] five hundred rods by the measuring rod all around. 17 He measured the north side, five hundred rods by the measuring rod all around. 18 He measured the south side, five hundred rods by the measuring rod. 19 He came around to the west side and measured five hundred rods by the measuring rod. 20 He measured it on the four sides; it had a wall all around, five hundred cubits long and five hundred wide, to separate the holy areas from the common.

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What implications does this have for us today?  First, there is to be some type of separation indicating what is holy and what is common.  Define holy and common.  The offerings are divided into three groups, grain, sin, and guilt.  What is significance about each?  Holy was so holy, even the garments were changed and kept separate.  What does this say of God’s nature?  We are made in His image, can we learn from that?  The image has been tarnished and warped by sin.  To what extent?  God is holy and only the righteous and clean can enter His presence.

Let’s begin with holy and common.  In another translation, holy areas is called sanctuary and the common is called profane.  Holy/sanctuary comes from ‘godesh’  is defined as:

apartness, holiness, sacredness, separateness

a) apartness, sacredness, holiness

1) of God

2) of places

3) of things

b) set-apartness, separateness 

Pasted from <http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H6944&t=NKJV>

Common/profane is chol and is defined as:

1) profaneness, commonness, unholy, profane, common, sand 

Pasted from <http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H2455&t=NKJV>

There were two clearly defined areas within the temple area.  One is the area into which all can come for the purpose of worship and cleansing from sin.  The other is the area reserved for the priests who moved between the people and the Lord.  Carrying the offerings and wishes from one to the other.  The area into which all can come is called by the Lord a common area or opposite of holy, profane because it is contaminated with sin.  The area in which the priests serve is called holy for it has been cleansed and as we shall see it contains the presence of God.

Today because of the supreme sacrifice of Jesus Christ, we  can come freely into the presence of God.

“…Hebrew 7:22, 24-27  by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant….But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood.  Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

 For such a High Priest was fitting for us, [who is] holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens;  who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself….”

So now, we too have left the common and we become holy in salvation  finding ourselves separated from the unbeliever on the basis of our salvation.  Not due to anything we have done, but based solely upon what Christ has done.  As the areas are so clearly defined and separated, we also can be seen as  different as a result of our salvation demonstrated through our love for one another,  our freedom from sin’s curse,  our lifestyle now consecrated to the will of God.

As to the offerings what was the significance of the offerings, also called holy?  In Christ’s sacrifice for us can we conclude that they are part of that offering?  Let’s begin with the first, called grain offering in one translation and meat offering in another.  This comes from the word minchah:

1) gift, tribute, offering, present, oblation, sacrifice, meat offering

a) gift, present

b) tribute

c) offering (to God)

d) grain offering 

Pasted from <http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H4503&t=NKJV>

Essentially this is an offering that can take many forms.  The next, sin offering  is from the word chatta’ah:

1) sin, sinful

2) sin, sin offering

a) sin

b) condition of sin, guilt of sin

c) punishment for sin

d) sin-offering

e) purification from sins of ceremonial uncleanness

Pasted from <http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H2403&t=NKJV>

This offering had a specific purpose to ask for forgiveness from sin.  Aren’t we glad we have that in Christ?  The third was trespass offering, called guilt in some translations.  This word is ‘asham defined as:

1) guilt, offense, sin, guiltiness

a) offense, sin, trespass, fault

b) guilt, guiltiness

c) compensation (for offense)

d) trespass or sin offering

Pasted from <http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H817&t=NKJV>

From this we can conclude that the priests were receiving from the people offerings to be presented to the Lord for their guilt of sin and that offering could be in several forms.  Today we have the offering of Christ for our sins at the cross.

“…John 3:16  “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life….”

A free gift from God to us to make a way for us to return to the relationship unhindered by sin that He designed at creation.  Can we say thank you?  We have been made clean by the one sacrifice on the cross.  We can enter the holy place of prayer and commune with our God because Christ has been our sacrifice and has made us clean.  Do we owe a debt?  Would seem so but the debt was paid by Christ.  There is nothing we can do to repay Christ.  But our life can be a reflection of His mercy to others so that they too may come to the same place.  Perhaps what we can gain most from this passage is again the imprint of Christ on the cross laid out on this temple.  A promise of the coming of Christ and salvation for all of creation.  We too can be a reflection of this temple, a place where others can see Christ and the free exchange of our sin and guilt for His righteousness.

The imprint of the cross reflected…

Ezekiel 40:28-37

Then he brought me to the inner court through the southern gateway; he measured the southern gateway according to these same measurements. 29 Also its gate chambers, its gateposts, and its archways were according to these same measurements; there were windows in it and in its archways all around; it was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide. 30 There were archways all around, twenty-five cubits long and five cubits wide. 31 Its archways faced the outer court, palm trees were on its gateposts, and going up to it were eight steps.

32 And he brought me into the inner court facing east; he measured the gateway according to these same measurements. 33 Also its gate chambers, its gateposts, and its archways were according to these same measurements; and there were windows in it and in its archways all around; it was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide. 34 Its archways faced the outer court, and palm trees were on its gateposts on this side and on that side; and going up to it were eight steps.

35 Then he brought me to the north gateway and measured it according to these same measurements— 36 also its gate chambers, its gateposts, and its archways. It had windows all around; its length was fifty cubits and its width twenty-five cubits. 37 Its gateposts faced the outer court, palm trees were on its gateposts on this side and on that side, and going up to it were eight steps.

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Some differences between the outer court and inner court gateways can be noted.  One, the inner court is not as expansive as the outer court.  This brings to mind the statement by Jesus that broad is the way and narrow is the way.  Not quite a fit here for He used it to tell about the way to destruction vs the way to life.  However, we can use it to point to the evidence that of believers there are many who simply come to the cross and progress no further.  There are a few who, like Paul, press on for the prize; these who will receive a crown.   The space taken up by the inner court is less than that taken up by the outer court.  The number of steps is increased, perhaps requiring more effort.  What stands out is that the inner court reflects the outer court in the shape of the cross.  The imprint of Christ on the temple yet to be seen.  May His imprint be upon our temples as well.

We are His temple…

Ezekiel 40:20-27

On the outer court was also a gateway facing north, and he measured its length and its width. 21 Its gate chambers, three on this side and three on that side, its gateposts and its archways, had the same measurements as the first gate; its length was fifty cubits and its width twenty-five cubits. 22 Its windows and those of its archways, and also its palm trees, had the same measurements as the gateway facing east; it was ascended by seven steps, and its archway was in front of it. 23 A gate of the inner court was opposite the northern gateway, just as the eastern gateway; and he measured from gateway to gateway, one hundred cubits.

After that he brought me toward the south, and there a gateway was facing south; and he measured its gateposts and archways according to these same measurements. 25 There were windows in it and in its archways all around like those windows; its length was fifty cubits and its width twenty-five cubits. 26 Seven steps led up to it, and its archway was in front of them; and it had palm trees on its gateposts, one on this side and one on that side. 27 There was also a gateway on the inner court, facing south; and he measured from gateway to gateway toward the south, one hundred cubits.

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Describing the temple with its gateways and courts gives an image of Christ on the cross.  We are told

our bodies are temples.

“…1 Corinthians  6:19   What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost [which is] in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?…”

If we extend  our arms outward to the sides and we form a cross.  Our sins crucified Christ on the cross.

“…1 Peter 2:24  who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness–by whose stripes you were healed….”

By accepting that sacrifice we become a temple of the Holy One.  Ezekiel sees this temple and it bears the imprint of the cross long before Christ came.  We are proof Christ  came as promised for he lives in each believer.

“…1 John  3:24  Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us….”

The gateways are at the head and the hands; the north, and south are the hands; the east is the head. These are  entries to the temple. The word of God enters through our mind and with our mouth we confess him to others.  Our hands are out-stretched in welcome and love; receiving what He has done for us.  They extend his message to others through service and caring.  May we ever be expressive temples of God’s love to all humanity!  Blessed be the name of the Lord.

Another Award Post

Wednesday, September 26, 2012                                        

10:10 AM

I am honored.  A thank you to Holly from  Holly Michael’s Writing Straight  for the Reader’s Appreciation Award.  For those who enjoy the inspiration from great photography a visit to her blog is a must.

The rules for this award are: Post seven interesting things about yourself, Nominate 5 people who in turn will post on their page the award with the link to the giver, Let them know about the nomination. Thank the blogger who nominated you and link back to their blog.

Instead of seven things about myself, here’s seven of my favorite musical statements, which should tell something about me. ( Borrowing this from you, Holly.)

1.  I have personalized this verse:

I delight in the law of the Lord

and in this law I meditate day and night

I am like the tree planted by streams of water

it yields fruit in season, its leaf does not wither

all that I do will prosper.

2. Oh God,  You are my God

And I will ever praise You

Oh God, You are my God

And I will ever praise You

I will seek You in the morning

And I will learn to walk in Your ways

And step by step You’ll lead me

And I will follow You all of my days  – Rich Mullens  http://youtu.be/yF2pSvB-ztI

3. When I am down and, oh my  soul, so weary;

When troubles come and my heart burdened be;

Then, I am still and wait here in the silence,

Until you come and sit awhile with me.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;

You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;

I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;

You raise me up: To more than I can be. – Selah  http://youtu.be/2DorNUsi5LE

4. Kyrie Eleison, Lord God Have Mercy

Have mercy on me o God in your goodness

Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin

Restore to me the joy of your salvation

Christe Eleison Christ have Mercy – ?  I have it done by Integrity Worship Singers and could not find it online.

5.  At the foot of the cross

Where grace and suffering meet

You have shown me Your love

Through the judgment You received

And You’ve won my heart

Yes You’ve won my heart

Now I can

Trade these ashes in for beauty

And wear forgiveness like a crown

Coming to kiss the feet of mercy

I lay every burden down

At the foot of the cross

At the foot of the cross

Where I am made complete

You have given me life

Through the death You bore for me

I’m laying every burden down

I’m laying every burden down – Kathryn Scott  http://youtu.be/F359YqwKyk4

6.  He hath shown  thee

Oh man

What is good and what the Lord requires of thee

But to do justly

And to love mercy

And to walk humbly with thy God. — Maranatha Singers, Micah 6:8  http://youtu.be/CIJIqwCIPcw

7.  Open the eyes of my heart Lord,

Open the eyes of my heart,

I want to see You. I want to see You.

To see You high and lifted up,

Shining in the light of Your glory.

Pour out Your power and love,

As we sing holy, holy, holy.

Holy, holy holy. Holy, holy, holy.

Holy, holy, holy, I want to see You. – Paul Baloche  http://youtu.be/qPzrXxnKoSQ

And now I would like to nominate the following bloggers for this award:

1. Greenlightlady  http://greenlightlady.wordpress.com/2012/09/12/cat-calling/  a blog combining pics and story with scripture to present a powerful message.
2. WatermyflowersLord http://watermyflowerslord.wordpress.com/    Water my flowers Lord  a blog that encourages and inspires.  SR
3. A miniature clay pot   http://aminiatureclaypot.wordpress.com/  a blog by a women who was in the theatre in Colorado that was shot up by a gunman.       Mary with a smile.
4. Biltrix  http://biltrix.com/   Biltrix a group of five writing for Catholic evangelism and in the fight against abortion.
5. Adoptingjames http://adoptingjames.wordpress.com/   a blog written by someone who wants to adopt and for those who have or are adopted.  Some really good reading here.

Finally I want to thank Holly Michael’s Writing Straight  again for this nomination.  gracie

Pride goes before a fall…

Ezekiel 28:1-10

 

The word of the LORD came to me again, saying, 2 “Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD:

​

​​“Because your heart is lifted up,

​​And you say, ‘I am a god,

​​I sit in the seat of gods,

​​In the midst of the seas,’

​​Yet you are a man, and not a god,

​​Though you set your heart as the heart of a god

3 ​​(Behold, you are wiser than Daniel!

​​There is no secret that can be hidden from you!

4 ​​With your wisdom and your understanding

​​You have gained riches for yourself,

​​And gathered gold and silver into your treasuries;

5 ​​By your great wisdom in trade you have increased your riches,

​​And your heart is lifted up because of your riches),”

​

6 ‘Therefore thus says the Lord GOD:

​

​​“Because you have set your heart as the heart of a god,

7 ​​Behold, therefore, I will bring strangers against you,

​​The most terrible of the nations;

​​And they shall draw their swords against the beauty of your wisdom,

​​And defile your splendor.

8 ​​They shall throw you down into the Pit,

​​And you shall die the death of the slain

​​In the midst of the seas.

​

9 ​​“Will you still say before him who slays you,

​‘​I am a god’?

​​But you shall be a man, and not a god,

​​In the hand of him who slays you.

10 ​​You shall die the death of the uncircumcised

​​By the hand of aliens;

​​For I have spoken,” says the Lord GOD.’ ”

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When the Lord speaks it is so.  May we find ourselves at the foot of the cross, covered by the blood of Christ, raised with him to new life that when the Sovereign Lord looks upon us he sees his Son’s shed blood for our sin and speaks favorably to us.  We have the promise of a relationship with Him that was denied this king.  This king paid dearly for the pride within him.  Let us recognize that who we are and what we do is only because He is. Be careful to give the praise to the Lord God Almighty.