44.k. “Wilderness” – 8.q. “For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God”

 

 

Exodus 28:1  “Then bring near to you Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, from among the people of Israel, to serve me as priests—Aaron and Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty. You shall speak to all the skillful, whom I have filled with a spirit of skill, that they make Aaron’s garments to consecrate him for my priesthood.

 Hebrews 5:1-5   For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.  He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins just as he does for those of the people.  And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was.  So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”;

 Exodus 31:3-5  The LORD said to Moses, “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah  and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship,  to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze,  in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft.

God appointed those who were called from the people to serve as priests. He also gave intelligence and ability, with knowledge for craftsmanship to others who were called to make the garments for the priesthood. God called and appointed those who were to serve as priests. As well, God gifted those who were to make special garments for this priesthood. (A calling and gifting with a filling of the Spirit of God ) 

We are all called to repent, believe, trust, follow, and obey. Likewise, upon answering this call, we are filled with the Holy Spirit of God and gifted for service to the honor and glory of Him. The natural talents of people are still gifting from God. No one can say it is by their own hard work and dedication, for the seeds of talent are planted by God, watered by God, and harvested for His intended plans and purposes. Whatever the gifting it is essential to note that these gifts of talent are for the honor and glory of Jesus Christ. Any use of your talents for self-reliance, worth, honor, or praise is robbing honor and glory from Jesus. Being good with your hands and/or brains are gifts from God to be used for His honor and glory. Use your gifts for His honor and glory.

34.b. “Do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.”

 

 Matthew 18:1  At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.

 Psalms 51:10-13   Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.  Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me.  Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.  Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you.

 Acts 3:19   Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out,

 Acts 28:27    For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed; lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.’

 1 Corinthians 14:20     Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.

 Psalms 131:1-2   O LORD, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me.  But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me.

 Isaiah 57:15    For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.

 Luke 14:11     For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

 James 4:10     Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

I have much to say about humbleness, repentance, belief, grace, mercy, etc… However, as your read these Scriptures of God’s Word, let the Holy Spirit guide your thoughts accordingly for they are full of wisdom, knowledge, and understanding of the Holiness of God and the lowliness of man. For with the right heart and mind, these Words of God will speak into your life.

Abounding in Steadfast Love

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away”

Psa 89:1   I will sing of the steadfast love of the LORD, forever; with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations. For I said, “Steadfast love will be built up forever; in the heavens you will establish your faithfulness.”

Psalms 36:5     Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.

Psalms 92:2     to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night,

Isaiah 25:1     O LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you; I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure.

Numbers 23:19    God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?

Titus 1:2     in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began

Psalms 119:90     Your faithfulness endures to all generations; you have established the earth, and it stands fast.

Psalms 146:6     who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever;

Nehemiah 1:5    And I said, “O LORD God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments,

Nehemiah 9:17    They refused to obey and were not mindful of the wonders that you performed among them, but they stiffened their neck and appointed a leader to return to their slavery in Egypt. But you are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and did not forsake them.

Luke 1:50     And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.

Hebrews 6:18     so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.

Do you ever question God’s faithfulness, promises, steadfast love, mercy, and truthfulness?  Keeping a proper mindset toward God requires us to have a continual desire to know and understand Him more and more.  Having a hunger and thirst for Him that is not quenchable.   Having heart, mind and soul choice to honor and obey Him because of who He is, what He has done, and what He has promised to do.  When you read His word believe it.  When you read His word praise Him.  When you read His word trust it.  When you read His word rely on it.  When you read His word cling to it. When you read His word obey it.  Praise the creator and author of all there is because He has reached out to His creation and offered eternal life to all who would choose to be forgiven of their sin through the precious blood of Jesus Christ.

While He may be found

Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.  And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.  And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

Psalms 32:6  Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found; surely in the rush of great waters, they shall not reach him.

Proverbs 1:28   Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but will not find me.

Isaiah 49:8   Thus says the LORD: “In a time of favor I have answered you; in a day of salvation I have helped you; I will keep you and give you as a covenant to the people, to establish the land, to apportion the desolate heritages,

Isaiah 55:6   “Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near;

Luke 19:42-44   saying, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.  For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side  and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”

John 7:34  You will seek me and you will not find me. Where I am you cannot come.”

2 Corinthians 6:2  For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

Psalms 34:2-5   My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad.  Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together!  I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.  Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.

Psalms 4:3   But know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself; the LORD hears when I call to him.

2 Corinthians 1:4   who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

Titus 2:12  training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,

“Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near”. “In a time of favor I have answered you; in a day of salvation I have helped you;”. “Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found;” The day of salvation is now and yet for some it will never again come or be open to their eyes and hearts.  They have rejected and set their heart against God, rejecting Him, and salvation through Jesus Christ.  It is very hard to watch and see people who are like this but many of us too were at such a place in our lives at some time.  We heard but we rejected, we saw but we discounted, and we chose to follow thoughts of those who cling to what is present in this world.  To those who choose to listen, follow and obey God there is peace, joy, hope, love and promise of eternity with God in heaven.  To those who continually reject His salvation there is promise of eternity in hell separated from God, forever tormented.  Now is the day of salvation.  Now is the time to believe, repent, follow and obey. God wants you to come to Him just as you are.  You are not required to get right before you come to Him.  He is standing at your heart’s door knocking seeking to come in and transform you into a life with Him.  Come as your are He is knocking.  Come now in this day of salvation.  All changes in your life and how you see life this side of eternity will come at His leading and your willingness to let Him be Lord of your life – your everything.