ARCC Sermons

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February 26th

The bible reading for today is in Numbers 7,8.

It has been a year and a half since Israel left Egypt. The Tabernacle has been raised to completion. Now God gives Moses instructions for the dedication of “His Place”...” the Tent of Meeting”...the Tabernacle.

Each chieftain of the 12 tribes of Israel was to bring an offering to the Lord. And it turns out, the offerings were to be exactly the same. “No bragging rights allowed here.”

The people had been generous in giving to the construction of the Tabernacle. Now they showed the same enthusiastic generosity for its dedication. Each clan brought their dedication gift on the day of their God-given order...over twelve consecutive days.

What was God doing? I believe that God, among other things, was turning the Israelites into “Promised Land givers”.

They had been slaves for four hundred years...they had a slave’s mindset...as slaves, they were takers...always unsure of provision.

As Promised Land givers they were assured that God is always faithful to provide for His kids...and Promised land kids are assured that God notices their gifts from the heart...so they gave generously and joyfully and humbly.

Wow...may the Lord transform us into “Promised Land givers” too

One more thing about Promised Land givers is seen in this chapter’s last verse.

“Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with the Lord...and he heard the voice of God speaking to him from above the mercy seat.”

Promised land people need promised land leaders...leadership that meets with God and knows His voice.

Faith followers of the Lord...when the congregation dedicated the Tabernacle...giving it into God’s hands for His use...they were giving themselves into God’s hands for Him to use them and their stuff anyway He desired.

What an exciting way to live...with God...receiving...giving..and expecting God to use us every day...in faith-filled ways...in faith stretching ways...in faith challenging ways...in faith risking ways...because He provides exactly what we need.

That sounds like abundant living...O yes You promised us that Lord Jesus...Thanks

Have a great day

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February 25th

The bible reading is in Numbers chapters 5,6.

The people of Israel are a little over one year into their journey to the land of promise. God has already organized and ordered the congregation of 2,000,000 people.

He has “organized” them into clans. And He has also “ordered” them in a particular place for camping and for traveling. Now God is zeroing in on making Israel into a Promised Land people...which means, a purified people....pure in body and soul.

Our reading begins with instructions from God for how to deal with lepers and how to deal with dead bodies. Those lepers with sores that had discharges were to be kept away from the Tabernacle and the rest of the community...until declared by a priest to be clean.

And anyone, especially a priest, who touched a dead body, were considered unclean and must be separated from the Tabernacle and community until ceremonial cleansing could be offered.

“Separate them from the camp...put them outside the camp.”

Some have suggested this may be the first inkling of a hospital and specialized care for infectious disease...that would come from open sores of the leper and from the decayed bodies of the dead.

Could this have also been a way for God to teach the people of the magnitude and gravity of sin’s effect...even upon God’s treasured people...disease and death...all the way from Adam’s fall to Israel’s rebellions?

The wages of sin and sinning has always been and still is death and you can add disease and fear and unbelief and more sinning and on and on.

Even the best of Abraham’s and Israel’s descendants could not overcome death and disease...because they couldn't overcome their nature...the nature they inherited from Adam and Eve....the nature of sin and sinning...which was illustrated at every funeral and every cleansing ceremony and every daily burnt offering sacrificed.

So some impatient Levite hollars...” get them out of the camp...lepers and dead bodies and those that touched them. Get them out of here. I don't want to see them when I come back.

The separation of the clean and the unclean was serious. Why?...

Short answer...“God lived in the camp”. God and anything unholy could not share Holy Ground.

Remember now...God is preparing a Promised Land people. And what kind of thinking/living people would that be?

Remember when God told Moses to take off his shoes?

The ground he was standing on near the burning bush was holy ground...and Moses needed to start thinking that way.

There is something way better....better than having God live in the camp of His people...

How about God living in the heart of His people... That’s where Jesus comes in.

Have a good day

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February 23rd

The Bible reading for today is in Numbers chapters 1 and 2.

When we read the record of Numbers, we are reading the 4th book of the “Pentateuch”...Pentateuch meaning “5 books/5 scrolls.”

I think that the title, Numbers, is interesting. The English translations call it “numbers”, from Greek and Latin versions. The most common Hebrew title is ”in the wilderness”, more descriptive of almost 38 years of Israel’s wanderings in the wilderness.

But the second Hebrew title grabs me the most:”and he spoke”...not Moses speaking, but God speaking to Israel. The most important thing that happened during the wilderness wanderings of Israel.

The sad part about that title? .Israel was slow to listen to God speaking...and even slower to live in harmony with His words. Which led to 38+ years of wasted living.

That is a warning to all believers, wouldn't you say?

Now to the text...“God spoke to Moses, in the tent of meeting...in the second month of the second year after Israel came out of Egypt....” take a census of the congregation, God said... and assemble the leaders of the twelve clans.”...and Moses and Israel did what God said.”

Again, God invites Moses to meet with Him in the Tabernacle. The cloud of God’s presence hovered over the Tent of Meeting. The people in the camp can see it!!!

“Wonder what God is saying to our leader.” I have to believe that one main reason why God invited Moses to the tent, “to His Place,” was to show the people that God was giving Moses “authority” in the congregation. Not because Moses was so much better than everyone...but because he was God’s choice for the task.

So, when the people “self centeredly” refused to follow Moses’ leadership, God was letting them know that they were refusing His.

Moving on...Let us remember, at this time in our reading, God is preparing Israel to march into Canaan, ready for battle. The census is taken in order to form a roster of fighting men...20 years of age and up.

The book of Numbers looks ahead to the invasion of the land that God promised to Abraham and his descendants.

So why was the land so important?...because it would be from that land that the Messiah promised would come from there. It would be in that land that the One perfect sacrifice for sin would die to save sinners to eternal life.

The land was important because it “cradled” Jesus...and it “crucified” him...just as God the Father planned. There had to be “this” promised land...because there had to be Jesus!!

Looking forward to hearing God speak to us in Numbers.

And one more thing...a trip, that would only take 2 weeks on foot, lasted 40 years. We will discover why....in the rest of the story.

Have a great day

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February 24th

The Bible reading for today is in Numbers chapters 3 & 4.

These two chapters deal with God’s work in and through the life of Aaron and his priestly line. Remember our reading in Leviticus 10...God ordained Aaron and his sons as priests. They had not been ordained priests for a whole day before Aaron lost his oldest two sons to the fiery judgment of God right there in the Tabernacle.

That would have been a hard day for any father...especially for one who had been a part of their training.

Aaron was ordained the High Priest. He knew the important job that was given to him by God. He was the intercessor for the congregation before Holy God. And he was responsible to train up his replacement. He knew that upon his death the responsibilities of High Priest would be passed down to his oldest living son.

He must have thought that he had many good years left to train Nadab and Abihu so that one of them could follow him as High Priest. But it didn't work out that way.

“Did I not make sure that they understood God’s instructions? Am I to blame for their death?” Undoubtedly, Aaron was upset and confused about this terrible and sad situation. Was there anyone to comfort him? The boys had neglected the direct instructions of God. They filled their sensors with strange fire...fire other than that from the bronze altar.

And they were about to enter the Holy of Holies...in which only their father was allowed. And the fiery glory of the Lord struck them to death.

Moses was given the job to comfort his older brother...and he gave Aaron....”God’s answer” to the situation...

Quote...“Those who come near me must regard me as “holy”...and before all the people “I” must be “glorified.”

Aaron’s sons were ordained to “come near God”....but instead of regarding God as “holy” with His fire...they regarded God “as common” by using unholy fire in their worship...thus failing to “glorify God” before all the people.

Interesting isn't it...how God dealt with Aaron’s heart with the truth?...and since God is love, God gave this hurting spiritual leader “truth in love” to heal his broken heart.

There was something else that God did for Aaron after the funeral of his boys.

He ordained the tribe of Levi (Aaron and Moses’ clan) to serve Aaron and his two youngest sons in the work of the Tabernacle. They wouldn't do the work of the priest, but they would assist them in any way that was needed.

Aaron lost two sons. But God gave him a host of sons to serve alongside him for the next forty years before he died.

In Exodus, we read where God told Moses that the firstborn male, of every Hebrew family, “especially” “belonged to Him”.

So what did that mean? It meant that the firstborn male was to act as the family priest. But that was about to change. God was transferring the priestly duties of the firstborn sons to the Levites.

Why the Levites? you ask. Maybe it was because of their zeal for God...maybe it was because of a faith that was courageous enough to choose God over their nation.

Remember when Moses came down off Mt Sinai to find the people dancing in worship of a “golden calf”? Remember what Moses said? “Those who are on the Lord’s side come stand by me.” And only the “Levites” gathered around Moses. And God used them in His judgment against Israel as they strapped on their swords and executed 3000 that day at God’s command.

Obviously, God was looking for faithful men...courageous men... to stand with Him...and with those whose hearts were aligned with God’s. As we can see, Israel needed Aaron to intercede with God for them. They were fortunate to have him.

We needed Jesus to intercede with God for us. And we are eternally fortunate to have him.

Have a great day

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February 22

53 days ...Thank you, James, for helping me put the Bible in a year podcasts out each morning. I still think the music you wrote and played for introducing the comments is just right.

The Bible reading today is in Leviticus chapters 26,27...the last two chapters of this book.

These two chapters deal with the blessings and the curses of the relationship between Israel and God per the covenant that God made with Moses at Mt Sinai...

God was going to use His people to spread the good news of His glory throughout the world. And He would do it in His sovereign creative and often demonstrative ways.

Remember, God promised to be their God. And God promised to make them His “faith-filled” people. And God would keep His promises!

And by the way...that is our testimony today of the gospel....”God always keeps His promises.”

So now, in these last two chapters, we get a fuller glimpse of just how God was going to get the message of His glory to the world. He would “bless” His obedient covenant people...not perfect people...but repentant people... every day.

And He would bless them so greatly...so powerfully...so mercifully...so publicly...That the people who lived around them and sojourned in the same wilderness with them...would see...would marvel...would wonder...would pass on to others what they were amazed at...and would come to a place where they would be receptive to the Israelite’s message of the one true God.

But what is the second way that God would use His people to get the message of His glory to the world? God would look upon His unrepentant, rebellious people and “curse” them...curse their plans, curse their families, curse their crops, curse them with fear and panic,...curse them with wasting diseases that would take their eyesight and cause their hearts to fail...curse them with enemies that would show no mercy.

And finally the greatest curse of all: God’s decree that He would set His face against them.

The same people who lived near the Israelites and saw the great and mighty blessings that He was capable of giving His people...Would be the same people that would witness the mighty terrible hand of God that cursed the unfaithfulness of His own people.

“What would this devine, this God do to those outside the congregation of His chosen ones...

What must my family and I do to worship this one true God?

So Even this Mosaic “Conditional” Covenant would be used by God to make a faith-filled people for Himself...And use the blessings and the curses of the covenant to get the message of His glory to the world.

Now, in case this Mt. Sinai agreement between Israel and God confuses us...

...let’s remember our Genesis reading...

600 years before the exodus of Israel from Egypt, God made an “unconditional” covenant/promise to Abraham and his descendants. The fundamental difference between that covenant and the one God made with Israel through Moses on Mt Sinai is expressed by one little word...“If”.

In the Genesis record, we don't find the word “if” in the promise God made to Abraham. It does not say, “If” you and your offspring do this, I'll give you the land. And it does not say, “if” you and your descendants will do that, I'll make you a nation.”...

According to the ancient “covenant-making” procedures of Abraham’s time, two parties to a covenant had to walk between the bloody halves of an animal to seal the deal.

However, it was only the blazing torch of God and the smoking pot of God that passed between the animal body parts...Abraham never walked through.

God walked through the blood path...for himself...and then He walked through the blood path for Abraham and his descendants.

God was saying, “If I don't keep my promise to be your God, give you a land, and make you a nation, then you can kill me and stomp your feet in my blood. And if you don't keep your promise to me to be my people and continue in our covenant relationship, then you can kill “me” in your place and stomp in my blood.

You ask...”Is that the end of the story? Not quite...

This Old Testament Covenant foreshadows the gospel!

Listen...and see it...“ One of the Hebrew priests blew the ram’s horn at 9:am....in the Temple courtyard just outside of the Temple doorway...a signal...

The Passover lamb was offered on the altar...at that very hour, outside Jerusalem’s eastern gate...the blazing torch and smoking pot of God’s presence was hung on a cross...his blood ran down that cross...and his enemies, dressed in religious robes, walked through his path of blood...all of which fulfilled the promise of God made to Abraham and all those who followed God by faith...” you couldn't be faithful to me so I will be faithful for the both of us...I take the death you owe and I give the eternal promised land.

Thanks Jesus...You make sense of it all...

Have a great day

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February 21st

Today’s Bible reading is in Leviticus chapters 24,25.

Today’s text concerns Care for the Tabernacle and Care for the name of God.

The “Tabernacle” was also called “The House of God”...”The Tent of Meeting God”...”The Earthly Dwelling Place of God”...”The Sanctuary of God”...and I like what our Jewish Rabbi guide called the Tabernacle many years ago...” His Place”.

There was coming a day when The Tabernacle of God would be more than an excellent constructed tent. It would be Solomon’s Temple in Jerusalem. But after that, the House of God was in the flesh and blood of Jesus Christ...for 33 years.

And then, after Jesus’ death and resurrection and His ascension to heaven, and following the celebration of Pentecost, the Tabernacle of God was and still is in the flesh and blood of everyone who believed and believes Jesus.

That means that you and I, whom the Holy Spirit lives in, we are His Place. We are God’s House. We are the earthly dwelling place of God. We are the Holy Sanctuary of God. We are the Tent where people meet God. We are His Place.

You think we ought to take care of “His Place”? Me too.......

“Father give us inner resolve...strength, and wisdom to take care of ourselves. Help us do our part to keep our bodies and our minds and our spirits healthy and strong...until they are not.

And then give us courage to trust You even more for Your grace to make us shine especially when we don't feel on top of our game. Because, as long as we live we are still “Your Place” where others can “meet You”.

Back to the text...

Inside the Tabernacle, the priests were to care for the furnishings. Today, God gives instructions on how to care for the Lamps on the Golden Lamp Stand.

“Have the people of God bring pure oil from crushed olives. Make sure the lamps are filled with oil and the wicks are appropriately trimmed each day and night”. This would be the only light for the Tabernacle.

What a foreshadowing of Jesus our Lord....the True Light. What did He say? “I am the light...”...all the time...no wonder the priests kept the lamps burning night and day.

And what did Jesus say about His followers? “You shall be the salt and light of the world...”

He was going to give them and us the oil of the Holy Spirit that would burn bright through our lives. And He would trim the wicks of our faith through trials lived in and trials lived through.

“Thanks for trusting in us Lord...keep helping us to burn bright for Your glory.”

After this...Aaron and his sons would care for the “Table of the Presence”...or...as is translated in other texts...”The Table of the Show Bread”.

This Table and the Bread thereupon and the priests eating the bread of the Presence was a visual aid in remembering the fellowship that God wanted with His people every day.

Enough Bread was baked and offered to the Lord on Friday so that the priests could have 12 loaves to keep on the Table in the Tabernacle from the Saturday sabbath...through the end of the week. The priests would eat in communion with the Lord...around that table of spiritual fellowship...in God’s presence...together!!

The word in Hebrew for our English translation “showbread”...means “face to face.” It is a powerful foreshadowing of something very important that Jesus would provide through His death and resurrection for those who would believe Him.

No more priests...no more veil between God and His sinful people. Now there would be “face to face” fellowship between God and His own treasured ones!

What a picture...kind of reminds you of our monthly times around the Table of Christ...humbly communing with and remembering Him together.

What a fellowship we have and we are in Jesus....from the wilderness of Sinai to right where God has us today.

Have a great day

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February 20th

Our Bible reading today is in Leviticus chapters 22,23.

Today’s text begins with some warnings to Aaron and his boys. God sends them a “death threat”. You would think that the fire of God which came from the Holy place to take the life of two of Aaron’s sons, would have been warning enough for this family. And yet God chooses to warn them again against “spiritual carelessness”. God was serious...dead serious.

Why?

The priests were 24-7 testaments of God, His character, and His will and ways. And if they became careless in their spiritual lives it could cost people their faith and even their lives.

May we remember that the priests were always pointing the congregation to a hope even beyond the land of promise....always pointing the people to the Perfect Priest and Intercessor to come...Jesus...the perfect Sacrifice/the Once and for all Sacrifice (to take away sin) to come...Jesus...!!!!

Speaking of spiritual leaders...at home...in church...on the job...in the classroom. God has blessed us with you. We are praying for you.

In chapter 23, God gives Moses instructions for celebrating “special occasions”...” holy times” for the people to focus on God.

God starts with the celebration of Sabbath Days. Once a week the people of God were to set aside their normal work and instead, rest...remembering who gave them rest from their torturous bondage in Egypt. Rest...remembering who gives them rest from the penalty of sin...God...

And by the way, who is our Sabbath...our rest from everything burdensome?... Jesus!!

I'll mention one or two more of the “holy times” to be celebrated by Israel.

The Feast of Passover...Israelites remembering how God passed over them in Egypt one night...withholding judgment upon the firstborns in their homes...because of covenant blood on their doorposts.

And Lord Jesus...thank You for being our Passover lamb...that took the death we owed...upon yourself...that we might live forevermore with You!

And The Feast of First Fruits. 50 days after the Passover feast...celebrating the goodness of God who gives the harvest to His people...not only to support them but to support neighbors and sojourners passing by.

During the celebration, the congregation would bundle the “first fruits”

of grain stalks into what they called “sheafs”. Then they would begin to wave them toward heaven as “wave offerings” of praise to God.

Remember what Paul told the Church at Corinth using the Wave Offering as the illustration? He said, inspired of the Holy Spirit, that Jesus’ resurrection was the “First Fruit” of the entire harvest of believers who will one day rise from the dead at Christ’s second coming.

Every chapter pointing toward the promised son...the promised Messiah...Savior...and Lord..our Jesus Christ!

One more thought...At the end of chapter 22, God reminds Moses of something very important. Important to him and to us...“I am the Lord and I will sanctify you even as I brought you out of Egypt.”

How powerful was God in delivering Israel out of Egyptian bondage? All-powerful. And He promised Moses that He would supply ample grace / ample power to sanctify and transform him into the Godly man he was to be.

With the same power that Jesus saved us, He will change us into Godly men and women.

Now that is quite a salvation...from here to heaven.

Have a good day

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February 19th

Today’s Bible reading is in Leviticus chapters 19,20,21.

Everywhere we read in the book of Leviticus we are confronted with just how important “holiness” must be to God. (“Be ye holy as I am holy.” ...As we find in our text today.)

That doesn't sound optional to me. It sounds like God’s expectation for His children.

“So Lord if holiness is what You want for us, help us to desire it every day in our lives.

So, to begin with, let us look at some definitions of “holiness.”

A holy life is a “separated life”. Like God’s divinity separates Him from everyone and everything else, our union with God, by grace through faith in Christ, separates us from everything not Godly.

A holy life is a “different life”. Different from what you ask? Different from the world....especially in our views of life and God.

Different from whom, another asks? Well, different from everyone who does not have “God-life” in him through Christ. A holy life is a “set apart life”...set apart to God...for His use only. A holy life is a “pure life”...pure in body and soul...free from the contamination of unrepented sin. A holy life is a “consecrated life”...a life dedicated to one main thing...the glory and fame of God. A holy life begins when “God is our greatest love”...when we love Him more than we love the pleasures of sin.

Wow. I can't help but remember Jesus speaking of the greatest commandment...”Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.” That is holiness...when God is our greatest love!

152 times the word holy is mentioned in Leviticus...

God was elevating the value of His character to His people. And calling them to desire and display His likeness...His Holiness...in love, in grace, in mercy, in faithfulness, in righteous living, in justice, in generosity, in courage, in boldness, in determination, in fullness of joy....just to name a few.

Time and time again we read in our text that God told Moses to speak to the priests of holy living...to daily consecrate their lives to the glory of God and the fulfilling of His purposes.

And while we are thinking of priests, let’s remember our Exodus reading of God’s intention to make Israel a “nation of priests”...holy unto Him.

Time and time again we hear God addressing Moses about the congregation of Israel being holy even as He is holy...not impure...but “like God”...pure in the thoughts and attitudes and actions of The Lord.

In other words....“a heart that says, “Lord, use me up for Your purposes...Here I am! Here is my body my soul and my mind for You to use in Your Kingdom’s work...as long as I live.”

Do you remember the phrase...”Holier than Thou.”...usually, it was used by one person judging another’s self-righteousness. Maybe it’s phrases like that turn us off to the truth of biblical holiness. “Well, I don't want to come across as being too religious.”

One more phrase...that gives us a hesitation to pursue holiness...”I'd rather be happy than holy any day. Happiness is our God-given right isn't it?”

In Hebrews 12:14 we read...”Strive/fight for peace with everyone, and for the “holiness” without which one will never see God.”

I know that in our union with Christ, we have His holiness, His righteousness imputed to us. That is our position in Christ in the heavenlies. Satan can accuse us all day long, but in Christ, His holiness covers and defends us in the court of heaven...isnt that awesome?!

We have a position of holiness, but there is required a “practical” holiness that believers must strive for in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Many who say they are Christians live as though they are going to see God without a life of holiness. Many on church rolls live such unholy lives, that I fear that they will one day hear the dreaded voice of Christ saying, “I never knew you. Depart from me you workers of iniquity.”

God says Be holy for I am Holy...in Leviticus....and what does that humble heart attitude look like?

1 Peter 4:11 “Whoever serves let him do so as from the strength that God supplies...so that in everything accomplished God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.”

Romans 15...”I will not venture to speak of snything except what Christ has accomplished through me.”

Leviticus 19 “Let every one of you that believes Me love and revere your mother and your father as long as you live.” (Respect them. Serve them....love them, as you would the Lord.”)

“Dont strip your vineyards bare at harvest time. Dont gather the grapes that have fallen to the ground. Leave them be...You and I want them for the poor and the sojourner.”

Holiness is important to God. That kind of life for the believer mirrors Him....magnifies Him...glorifies Him! Amen!

Have a good day

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February 18th

The Bible reading today is in Leviticus chapters 16,17,18.

I'm proud of how you have stuck with your Bible reading...even, if like me, you've been interrupted from time to time. But just in case the slow reading in Leviticus has caused you to wonder why...Leviticus?

Well.............

Genesis answers the question of how God provided Abraham with his promised nation.

Exodus answers the question of how God saves His chosen people from slavery and gets them to the land of promise.

And Leviticus answers the question of how God who is holy can relate to sinful people.

And that’s why it is a book for us today...because He is still holy and we are sinful. Iit reminds us of how we need His mercy every day....and...of our faithful mediator, Jesus, who not only atoned for our sins but also lives to intercede for us every day.

Today’s reading reminds us of the High Priest’s duties on behalf of Israel.

Before Aaron could appropriately offer sacrifices on behalf of the people of Israel, he was required to cleanse himself and atone for his own sins. Aaron’s foreshadowing of Christ’s Priesthood was never more than a shadow, especially on this point. Aaron was an intermediary like as Christ...but an imperfect one. Christ was God the Son...perfect in every way...He had no sin...thus He had no need to cleanse Himself as Aaron did.

Another duty of Aaron on the national day of atonement was the offering of two goats. A die was thrown to see which animal was killed and offered on the altar as a sin offering and which was used as the scapegoat.

After the sin offering was made, Aaron placed his hands on the head of the live goat. Then he confessed the sins of the congregation over the goat...as a symbol of God imputing the sin of the people upon the goat. Then Aaron would give the goat to a handler nearby who would then lead the goat away from the congregation...into the wilderness...a picture of how one’s sin was removed far from him...never to judge him again.

These two offerings foreshadowed what Jesus’ death accomplished for believing sinners...the sacrificial substitute to die in our place...and the taking away of our sins...no more to judge us.

Still Good News...

Have a good day.