Jesus, the Baptizer

 Scripture:

“John answered them all, “I baptize you with water, but one more powerful than I am is coming – I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

John lets us know some powerful truth in this passage. People thought he was the Christ, the anointed Messiah that was coming to Israel.His reply was that he was only preparing the way for the Christ. He told them that he was only baptizing in water for repentance, but that Jesus would baptize in the Holy Spirit and fire. John’s introduction of Jesus was not savior of the world, but baptizer in the Holy Spirit and fire.

Application:

Jesus did come to save the world from their sins, but at His introduction by His forerunner, He was described as baptizing people with the Holy Spirit and fire. This happened on the Day of Pentecost, but He still baptizes us with the Holy Spirit. He is still the baptizer. We should pursue, not only salvation and forgiveness of sins. We should pursue a constant in-filling of the Holy Spirit. I want to live life full of the Spirit and fire. I want to fulfill the will of Jesus in my life. I want to be fully surrendered and I want to do everything he wants me to do. 

Prayer:

Lord, I give myself to You. Baptizer me once again in Your Spirit. I hunger for Your. I thirst for You. You are my everything. Light the fire inside of me again  and let it never go out. Let me live the true Spirit-filled life. Let Your Spirit fill me and overflow onto others. Let me be fully aligned with You and Your will at all times. Let me be sensitive to Your voice and do all You speak to me. 

Your Son,

Jeff

God’s Provides Enough for us to Obey

 Scripture:

“I will command my blessing for you in the sixth year so that it may yield the produce for three years,” ‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭25‬:‭21‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

 In this passage, God told the Israelites to let their farmland have a Sabbath every seven years. They were told to let their land rest for one entire year. The problem is, in year seven, there is no crops to harvest and in the eighth year, you have to wait until the harvest. The land would actually go almost two years before there was another harvest. Knowing that, God told them He would provide enough in year six to last three years. What an awesome God!

Application:

If God can make land produce three years worth of vegetation in one year, He can provide whatever we need in order to obey Him. We need to see God as the all-sufficient one who supplies all our needs. I also see in this verse that if God asks you to do something, He will pay for it. God provides miraculously for those who follow Him closely and obediently. 

Prayer:

Father, thank You for Your provision in my life. I ask You to provide miraculously for the church I pastor and for my family. As I diligently follow You and obey Your word and will for my life, please take care of those around me and provide for every need. Provide land and buildings for our church in one of the most expensive regions of our country. Provide the resources to build something that will be a blessing to Your and Your kingdom for many years to come.

Your Son,

Jeff

Reminders

 Scripture:

“You must live in temporary shelters for seven days; every native citizen in Israel must live in temporary shelters, so that your future generations may know that I made the Israelites live in temporary shelters when I brought them out from the land of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.’”” ‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭23‬:‭42‬-‭43‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

God instituted this feast of shelters so the Israelites would never forget what He did for them when they came out of Egypt. It was to continue forever as a reminder to them. The entire nation had to live in tents for seven days each year as a reminder of the their 40 years in the wilderness where God provided for them and when He brought them out of Egyptian captivity. 

Application:

God often had the people of Israel make memorials, or reminders, of the things He had done for them. Usually, it was to be able to speak to the next generation and remind them about the goodness of God. Reminders are needed in our walk with God because it is easy to forget what He has done for us when we are in difficult times. Reminders increase our faith in the present. They encourage us to keep on moving forward because God will surely come through this next time like He has done in the past.

Prayer:

Father, You are incredible and I love You with all my heart. Teach me to set reminders of Your goodness in my life. Help me to never forget, in a moment of despair, where You have brought me from. Help me to walk humbly before You all the days of my life, pursuing You and Your will. Open the windows of heaven and provide all we need to extend Your kingdom.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Disobedience and Vomit

 Scripture:

““‘You must be sure to obey all my statutes and regulations, so that the land to which I am about to bring you to take up residence there does not vomit you out.” ‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭20‬:‭22‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

As Moses was declaring all the Laws of God to the people, he included the statement above. He said they should obey all God said so the land they were going to wouldn’t vomit them out. If the children of Israel wanted God’s favor and blessing in the land He promised them, they needed to listen to and obey every command he gave through His servant Moses. When God prepared the Promised Land for them, He said if they didn’t follow His ways the land itself would vomit them out.

Application:

We must once again live our lives in obedience to the ways of God. He takes obedience to Him very seriously. If they people of Israel didn’t obey, the Promised Land would vomit them out. In other words, when we walk in disobedience to God and His ways, we shouldn’t expect things to go well for us. We can’t expect His blessings when we walk in disobedience. As for me, I don’t want to be vomited out of the place of God’s blessing.

Prayer:

Father, help me to walk faithful to Your calling. Let my life bring Your glory and honor. Teach me to hear Your voice and to respond with “Yes Lord” at all times. Let me live in such a way that Your blessing falls strongly on my life.  I want to serve You well and accomplish all You have planned for me.

Your Son,

Jeff

Cleansing

 Scripture:

““‘Thus you are to set the Israelites apart from their impurity so that they do not die in their impurity by defiling my tabernacle which is in their midst.” ‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭15‬:‭31‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

God has spent the last several chapters talking about cleansing impurities in our bodies, our clothes, our houses, etc. He went through a long list of things that would make us unclean, and therefore, not allowed to enter His presence. There were strict regulations for coming into the Tabernacle. These were given so that they would not die in the Lord’s presence.

Application:

My application today is to thank Jesus for being the ultimate sacrifice to get my sins and impurities cleansed because of His precious blood. So many things make us unclean, but Jesus died so we could be free from this list of obligations by putting our trust in His perfect sacrifice. It should also make us understand that God is a holy God and doesn’t like us to bring sin and iniquity or uncleanness into His presence. We may not need purification rituals, but we should take very seriously cleansing ourselves of all unrighteousness.

Prayer:

Father, purify my life this morning. Cleanse me from all unrighteousness and let me live a pure life, filled with Your favor and blessing. Thank You for the cross. Thank You Jesus for fulfilling the Law and making a way for us to have access into the holy of holies. You are incredible and I appreciate all You have done for us. Let my life be an offering for all You have done for me.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Holiness Among the Priesthood

 Scripture:

“Moses then said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord spoke: ‘Among the ones close to me I will show myself holy, and in the presence of all the people I will be honored.’” So Aaron kept silent.” ‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭10‬:‭3‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu, had just burned strange fire before the Lord. It was not done according to God’s command and His ways. When they did this, fire came out from the Lord’s presence and killed them. The Lord said to Moses, “Among the ones close to me I will show myself holy, and in the presence of all the people I will be honored.” In other words, God will deal with His priests before the People and they will honor the Lord. The priest was set apart to be holy from among the other people. 

Application:

God expects His leaders to walk in submission to His word. He expects those who are called by Him into ministry to live to a higher standard. We must learn to obey God, rather than question His ways or put Him in a box. As a leader, my life must be set apart and sanctified before the Lord. If I want to serve Him well, I must live to a higher standard and hold myself accountable to it. 

Prayer:

Father, You are great and glorious. You are amazing and I love You with all my heart. Help me to live a life that pleases You and that You can bless. Come Holy Spirit and convict me where I need convicted. Show me how to serve You well in my generation. Teach me Your ways and direct my steps. Help me to live a life that You approve of in every area. I want to see Your glory.

Yours,

Jeff

More of His Glory

 Scripture:

“Moses and Aaron then entered into the Meeting Tent. When they came out, they blessed the people, and the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people. Then fire went out from the presence of the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the fat parts on the altar, and all the people saw it, so they shouted loudly and fell down with their faces to the ground.” ‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭9‬:‭23‬-‭24‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

After Moses and Aaron did everything God had told them to do in preparing the sacrifices, the altar, the Tabernacle, etc. the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people. Then fire went out from the presence of the Lord and consumed the burnt offerings. The people couldn’t believe what they saw. They shouted and fell down on their faces when God really showed up. 

Application:

I love the presence of the Lord. I love it when He comes into a room with His incredible power and might. I love it when God manifests His presence where everyone sees it and knows it. I realize in these verses that it was great obedience that brought greater glory. After Moses and Aaron did everything they were supposed to do, God showed up in power. I want to see the Lord’s glory more and more. There is a stirring in my heart for more of God’s glory. I need to walk humbly before Him and walk in complete obedience, then He will manifest His glory more and more. I want to see Him face to face. I long for times when nobody can deny the presence of the Lord. 

Prayer:

Father, help me to be faithful to obey everything You tell me to do. Convict me where I need convicted. Change me where I need changed. Direct me clearly and I will do my best to follow You completely. Show me the way forward. I want to see Your glory. I long for Your presence. Come Holy Spirit and walk with me. Let me have an undivided heart.

Your Son,

Jeff