ARCC Sermons

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February 17th

The Bible reading today is in Leviticus chapters 14,15.

Our reading yesterday and today introduces us to the laws concerning leprosy and the cleansing necessary to re-enter the presence of God at the Tabernacle.

You’ll notice in our reading that it was possible for the disease to be healed, but the healed victim still needed to be cleansed in order to approach the presence of God.

The Bible says, “As long as a person has the disease he is unclean. And as long as he is unclean he must live alone, outside the camp.”

And that means until the leper was pronounced clean by the priest, the leper was forbidden to live among the congregation inside the camp. Also until the leper was pronounced clean by the priest, the leper was forbidden to worship at the court of the tabernacle.

What a high price to pay for one’s leprous condition...for one’s ceremonial uncleanness....especially when it was of no fault of their own. No fellowship with God’s people, and No entering the presence of God for worship at the Tabernacle.

All of this concerning the laws of leprosy and uncleanness had nothing to do with an Israelite’s eternal salvation. This was entirely about a redeemed sinner’s daily fellowship with God and fellowship with the other faith followers of God.

God was saying...”I want my redeemed to come before Me...but I want them to come according to My Holiness....

God was speaking about an attitude of the heart. Let me illustrate. I once heard the story of how England won the world soccer championships in 1966. At the end of the game, the English team captain, Bobby Moore, stood upon a platform and received the World Cup for the team.

When asked later how he felt in that moment, he said,” Quite dirty. With the Queen sitting close by in her pristine dress and hat, all I could think about was wiping my dirty hands and feet off.”

Just like Bobby Moore before the Queen’s majesty, so must God’s people be in their hearts and minds when approaching the presence of God for worship, we must humbly want to be holy for He is Holy, we must not be careless and thoughtless or preoccupied with prideful thoughts of ourselves as we approach His holy presence. We must humbly want to wipe our dirty hands and feet off as we stand on our own platform of victory in Jesus.

The leper had been healed. A wondrous victory over disease had taken place.....Certainly, a wonder-filled accomplishment.

But the miraculously healed leper had to be cleansed and sanctified by the priest outside and inside the camp for seven days before he could approach the presence of God at the Tabernacle.

Wonder why the cleansing ceremony lasted 7 days outside the camp and 7 days inside the camp? I have a thought. Lepers were disgusting to people. People treated them with disdain and total lack of love and personal respect.

Perhaps the priest would know that the healed person’s scars went deeper than their skin...all the way to their souls. Perhaps the fourteen days were to help him get a start on forgiving those who had treated him so terribly.

Yes, he could understand the hygenic laws of separation. But where was the “mercy seat living” by God’s people?

And maybe the fourteen days were to help him in one more way...to begin to get past the “shame” he had lived with for so long.

God had a plan and He was working it...all of it pointing to The Way...Jesus!

Mark 1:40...”If you are willing, you can make me clean.”...A leper to Jesus in Galilee...”I know that you're not obligated to help me, I don't deserve your help. For you see, my kind have no hope. I am” willing...be clean!” (Jesus)....what a Savior...

Have a great day

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February 16th

The Bible reading today is in Leviticus chapters 11,12,13.

I need to pick up a very important message in chapter 10 before we proceed. It’s the story and lesson from the sudden death of two young men...Nadab and Abihu...two sons of Aaron.

For seven days these two brothers, along with their father, went through God’s ordination to the newly instituted priesthood of Israel. Much of the exercise of ordination took place in the presence of the congregation of Israel.

This was a big deal. God was setting these men apart from all other Israelites. They had the privilege and responsibility to represent Israelites before God for His blessing...His favor for the nation.

These men would be dealing with everything holy unto God. This was serious.

How serious?....Dead serious. One day these brothers are elevated to positions only God can give. The next day their funerals are being planned. What happened?

The text in chapter 10 says that the brothers did something in the Tabernacle that God, nor Moses and Aaron assigned them to do.

They chose “strange fire” to burn the incense before the veil in the Tabernacle. In other words, they burned the incense with a fire that didn't come from the bronze altar...as God commanded. And...the fire from God struck them dead right where they stood in the Tabernacle. “Like lightning”, some have surmised.

Wow...many must have asked in secret, “wasn't that an excessive judgment from God?...especially since these new priests were young...and new to their duties...?”

I remember having the same thought...after reading 2 Samuel 6...Where Uzzah reached out to steady the ark when an ox stumbled. And God struck him dead. “No one was to touch the ark in transport” just the poles that 4 priests were to use to lift and carry the ark.

In both instances, men who had been trained to do “God’s will His way” decided to do things “their” way....a serious disrespect to God.

But you say, “Lord, John the Baptist’s father (a Levitical priest) disrespected You and You just took his ability to talk away for 9 months.” Mute...death...big difference.

King Uzziah of Judah disobeyed God....disrespecting Him big time...by allowing the altars of false gods to remain in Judah. That’s a pretty big sin. But God just gave him leprosy for the rest of his days....instead of death. death.

Now those comparisons can stump us...unless we remember our Exodus readings. Where God told Moses, “I will show mercy unto those that I choose to show mercy.” God is God.

Moses comforted Aaron with the very words of God...”By those who are near me, I will be sanctified...before the people, I will be glorified.”

God very God was going to be glorified...through the deaths of the young men.

Maybe it would be a strong wake-up call to their Father and two younger brothers who were ordained with them.

Their being set a part for God’s use only was not a game...it was not for show...it was and always would be for God’s glory...even if it cost their lives.

Wow sounds like Jesus...submitting to the Father’s use...all for the Father’s glory. Yes, even when it cost Him His life on the cross.

Now chapters 11-13 deal with dietary laws, the purification after child birth, and the disease of leprosy. These laws and rules give good insight to healthy living. Though we are not under these laws as Christians, we still see the wisdom in them.

Let me briefly tell you what I see here. The Lord He is God. And He has every right to speak into every area of our lives for His honor and glory.

Just like those faithful Israelites, in Christ, we belong to God as His treasured ones. He is more than just interested in our lives, He wants to use every part of them for His Kingdom’s work.

He made our bodies and He wants us to partner with Him to take care of them. And in Christ, our bodies are the temple (tabernacle) of God. As Paul put it to the church members in Corinth, “Your bodies are the temple of God...anyone who destroys this temple Him shall God destroy...for the temple is holy...which temple you are.”

The way we eat should glorify God. The way we take care of new born babies and their mamas is to bring glory to God. And the way we take care of the diseased among us is important to the glory of God.

Followers of Christ...thank you for wanting to do God’s will His way...

Have a great day

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February 15

The Bible reading for today is Leviticus chapters 8,9,10.

The first part of our reading today is the story of the ordination of Aaron and his sons as priests in Israel. These men would be set apart to serve the purposes of the Lord in the Tabernacle, representing the congregation of Israel before God.

Back in our Exodus reading, we learned that God desired to make Israel “a nation of priests”. Priests are allowed into the very presence of God. And God wanted all of His chosen ones to have such access to Him.

However, the sin of the people had not yet been finally dealt with....and thus an “intermediary” (a priest) was required between Israel and God...lest God’s holiness break out and destroy His sinful people.

Only when the wickedness of Israel had finally been dealt with could the people of God become that “nation of priests” with full access into the presence of God.

Well, guess what...sin has finally been dealt with...once and for all...by Jesus...through His sacrificial death on the cross.

Now, all who believe Jesus, Jew, and Gentile, are a part of His “royal priesthood”...His holy nation...1 Peter 2.

You will hear the term, “priesthood of the believer.” That basically means believers in Jesus don't need a priest between them and God. We are welcomed into the presence of God because of what Jesus did for us.

Now that’s quite a perk for the Christian!

As we read, that perk also comes with responsibility...we see that in chapter 9.

As priests, Arron, and his sons had to offer sacrifices for themselves...first. They were not above sinning and they needed constant grace...forgiveness of their sins...and spiritual power for their daily work.

So God made gracious provision for them also through the sacrificial offerings given to the Lord on a daily basis.

I can't help but remember a verse memorized years ago at the beginning of my discipleship with Jesus. 1 John 1:9...”If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us of all unrighteousness.”

As disciples of Jesus, we must keep our sin list short. The Holy Spirit’s job is to convict us of our daily sins. It is our responsibility to humbly admit our sins, to ourselves and to God, regularly. God promises to follow that Godly sorrow for sin with cleansing that will free us to obey God with a new passion.

One more responsibility we see in the chapter of our reading..." after Arron completed all the sacrifices and all the anointings that God commanded him, he turned toward the congregation, raised his hands and blessed the people.”

This priesthood job was going to be a daily work...for life...to bless God and serve people.

In short, that’s the definition of the daily work of a disciple of Jesus Christ...glorify God and love people to Him.

And after Aaron served the people, a God-thing happened.

What happened was...the rest of the story...enjoy and be blessed by Jesus!

Have a great day

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February 14th

The Bible reading for today is Leviticus chapters 5,6,7.

As some have said, and I smile because they must have read my mail, “Leviticus is a hard read...It is as untraveled as the wilderness in which Moses wrote it.”

People have said, “Who cares about sacrifices that no longer matter...who cares about diet codes that are no longer in effect?”

Can this record teach us anything? The Short answer: Plenty!

It’s God’s word... “all scripture is God-breathed and is profitable”...2 Tim.3:16.

Solomon told his grandkids “to seek wisdom like they would silver...seek understanding like you would for hidden treasures...then you will find the knowledge of God.”

So hang in there with me friends...God has some spiritual riches for us in Leviticus.

God gave the book of Leviticus to a people already redeemed...Israel...those whose faith in the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob had been counted unto them for righteousness sake.

God wasn't trying to get them spiritually saved again through the laws of the different offerings...as though they could lose their salvation by sinning. Through the offerings, God was giving His people gracious provision for “sustaining” their fellowship their love relationship with God.

That my friend is a part of the “plenty” that God has for us in this book.

Next up...These first seven chapters give us details about the five major offerings presented by the priests unto the Lord for His glory on behalf of the worshippers during the days of the Tabernacle.

First THE BURNT OFFERING it was the most common offering. The offering of a lamb or an ox (or turtle doves or pigeons by the poor) as atonement for the worshipper’s sins. So where do “atoned for” sins go...away from the sinner...as far as the east is from the west.

The offering was completely burned up. An offering given completely to God.

The priest didn't get a part of it. The worshipper didn't get a part of it. The burnt offering ascended to God only.

No glory for the priest. No glory for the worshipper. Only God!!!

People close by could certainly smell it. And people not so close by could see the smoke rise. And in those moments, even their senses told them that God, their God, deserved to be worshipped. He was and is the God of deliverance and atonement for sin...indeed the God of forgiveness.

It’s like us in our minds remembering the scriptural picture of the cross, the cross of our suffering servant, our wonderful Lord Jesus.

Just as those early Israelites went back to the altar of the tabernacle every day...either literally or just in their minds...so must we go back to the old rugged cross every day.

“...And I hear my Savior say

Thy strength indeed is small...

Child of weakness watch and pray...

Find in me thine all in all.”

“Jesus paid it all

All to Him I owe...

Sin had left a crimson stain,

He washed it white as snow.”

And what did the worshipper do when his sin or sins were atoned for in the morning “burnt offering?....”

Often the worshipper would return to the Tabernacle as soon as he could put the “grain offering” together.

And what was he doing?

Thanking God, with all of his heart and all of his produce, for such merciful forgiveness.

Wow...we see You, Jesus...even and, especially in Leviticus.

Enjoy the rest of the story friends...we will get to the other offerings in the days to come...

Have a great day

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February 13th

Our Bible reading for today is in Leviticus chapters 1,2,3,4.

The text starts out with instructions concerning the sacrificial system to be followed by the Israelites...

In particular the burnt offering.

The worshiper brings the offering to the entrance of the court of the tabernacle. It is there that a priest checks the offering for acceptance.

Note, it’s not the worshiper that is checked for acceptance at the entrance. It’s the “offering” that is checked to see if it is blemish-free. If it is not, then the worshiper is turned away until he brings a worthy sacrifice.

Wow...what a foreshadowing of Our Perfect Sacrifice...“Jesus”....not turned away at the gate, but accepted by God to the altar of the cross to make perfect atonement for my sin and yours....right there!

Lord, we worship You today. Thank You for being our offering without blemish.

Friends, the evil one continues to tell us lies. He tells us we can't come to God in worship. He tells us that we are not worthy.

May we boldly and forcefully tell him to get out of the way. We are not here to worship on the merit of our own worthiness. We’re here because of The Perfect Sacrifice’s worthiness. Jesus has checked through the gate and we are with Him!!! Isn't that awesome?!

Fellow followers of Christ, I believe that there is yet another picture in this God story.

Israel’s worship was to be a consecration of their whole lives to God.

Consider the illustration...

The whole “life” of the offering on the altar was consumed by the fire. No part of “the life” of the offering was given to something besides the fire.

So it was to be for the life of an Israelite. And so it must be for us...” all in”...lives consumed by God!

The apostle Paul, 1500 years after this recorded part of scripture, used similar terms...not to describe God’s offering for our salvation...but to describe our discipleship with Jesus.

Listen: “I beseech you, therefore, brethren by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service of worship.”

Paul was “all in”...and he exhorted Roman believers to be the same...even unto death.

One more thing about the burnt offering, Friends. It was an experience not soon forgotten by the worshipper. His animal offering was accepted at the gate of the tabernacle. Then with some bridle, the worshipper led the animal to the altar...killed the animal...and put it on the altar one-piece piled upon another.

Who put the animal on the altar at the Tabernacle? The worshipper in need of forgiveness. Who put our offering on the altar of the Cross? We did...sinners in need of forgiveness...in need of eternal salvation!

Jesus, You were and are our offering for atonement...I'm afraid that Your Cross has become to easily forgotten by Your worshippers. We’re sorry Lord...forgive us.

Friends...let us not forget Jesus today... let's praise Him and go “all in” as His disciples.

Have a great day

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February 12th

The Bible reading today is in Exodus chapters 39,40.

The text says that “Moses finished the work.”

I remember Jesus using similar words. The setting was Galgatha, a Roman crucifixion, and Jesus was the centerpiece of three accused criminals worthy of execution. Except, Jesus was perfectly innocent. He wasn't dying for His own sins. He was dying for mine and yours.

Right before He breathed His last breath on the cross, Jesus said, “It is finished.” Jesus had completed the work that the Father had sent Him to do...He satisfied the just and righteous judgment of God upon sin by dying in our place.

The text says Moses “finished the work”. But that was only in reference to the Tabernacle. When Jesus “finished the work”, it was in reference to the eternal salvation of all who would believe Him above all else.

One more time we see just how much better Jesus is than everyone and everything else. Thank You, Jesus.

Now a flashback...“Show me Your glory...” Back in Exodus 33, we read that Moses asked God to show him His glory. For days...and into months...Moses had been talking and listening to God...through the cloud, through the smoke, through the fire of heaven which had settled upon the mountain.

“Show me Your glory...” I want to say, “Moses, you saw His glory in the burning bush...you saw His glory in the plagues...you saw His glory in the Red Sea crossing. You saw His glory in the victory over the Amalakites. You saw His glory when you struck Mt Horeb and freshwater supplied a thirsty nation.

But maybe Moses meant something else entirely.

By the way...I do believe that the “glory of God”, at least in part, is seen and experienced in His powerful works and His sufficient and ever active presence...in my life, yours and around the world.

God told Moses that He would not allow him to see the “glory of His face”, but He would hide Moses in the cleft of a rock there on Mt Sinai. Then pass by him and put His hand over him.

And guess what happened...the “glory of God’s bright and amazing presence” shone from Moses’ face for days.

Tell Moses, that from where we’re sitting, he got a great dose of the glory of God. I'm sure he wasn't disappointed and wouldn't trade it for anything.

Maybe that was what Moses was asking for from God, to see the glory of His face with his earthly eyes...I don't blame him...not one bit.

Reminds me of an old old hymn written by Fanny Crosby and music by

William Kirkpatric in the year of 1890. “He Hideth My Soul”

I love these lyrics...

“A wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord...a wonderful savior to me...He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock...where rivers of pleasure I see.”

“He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock that shadows a dry thirsty land.

He hideth my life in the depths of His love, and covers me there with His hand.

She didn't have earthly sight from 6 weeks after birth, but Fanny Crosby, in Christ, was apparently given spiritual eyes to see the glory of the Lord like most never do until heaven. Thank you Miss Crosby.

Now back to the text to close...

Moses finished the work of the Tabernacle. And soon after, the cloud of God’s presence, which led the congregation by day, covered the tent and the glory of God filled the tabernacle.

From that day forward, the presence of God was always in the house!!!

That was Good!

Then Jesus came...the Glory came down...not in a cloud or fire...but in the person of Jesus. Then He left for a while but sent the Holy Spirit to us...the glory of God to live within us...that’s better!

Have a great day

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February 11th

The Bible reading for today is in Exodus chapters 36,37,38.

These three chapters, along with the final two chapters of Exodus, tell us what “God activity” was going on at the Sinai encampment in the last weeks and months before they broke camp to proceed on their wilderness journey toward the promised land.

In these last months, Moses certainly communicated with his Tabernacle contractors, Bezalel and Oholiab. Moses kept them up with how God was stirring up the people to give toward the Tabernacle build. His contractors kept Moses informed about the spirited and excellent work that was being done on the Tabernacle. They gave credit to Moses for his discernment to choose heart and talent over just talent...when it came to workers.

Friends, two things catch my attention here. God not only commanded the building of the Tabernacle, to get it up and running, but He also worked to stir up the “hearts” of the congregation.

The building program was on the agenda. Absolutely. It was a God-thing to be sure. It would have its purpose....to the glory of God!

But God was just as interested in working on the hearts of His people.

And how do we know that He did?

Our text today says that skilled workers with hearts for the Lord and hearts for the work came from every segment of the congregation. It also says that the people in this spiritual community gave freewill offerings that went over and above what was needed for the project. In fact, Moses told the people to stop giving. That’s a heart thing...a God-thing!

And how did that Tabernacle build turn out? Well, the rest of that story is in tomorrow’s reading.

But there is one more thing...the Court of the Tabernacle.

The “tent of meeting”...the Tabernacle, sat on the west end of the court. The east end of the court included the bronze altar for burnt offerings, and the brass laver for ritual washings by the priests that signified spiritual cleansing and community dedication to God and each other.

The entire court was fenced in by a white linen cloth wall. The approaching worshiper would see the barrier of white that separated him from God’s presence in the tabernacle.

“An approaching worshiper asks under his breath...”How am I to get to God?... I am told that He is here...the cloud and the fire says it.”

Another answers the whispered words...”I heard someone say that it’s through that colorful screen gate.”

There was a twenty-foot wide gate made of white purple blue and red woven cloth. It was known as the Entrance gate.

How would a sinful Israelite get to meet with God and worship Him...

Through the gate...through the altar...through the priest...through the tabernacle...

Remember...Jesus said that I am the way...

We find out that Jesus is also the gate...

We continue...and where the altar was we see the cross...

Continuing...we see the High Priest...why...that’s Jesus...

And the Priest takes blood from the sacrifice...why...that’s Jesus’ blood from His bloody death on the cross. And the priest/Jesu .takes his own blood through the vail and placed on the mercy seat...Where God the Father accepts it as atonement for our sin .and saves us forever.

Now that’s an Exodus story to beat them all.

Thank you, Jesus!

You are always the rest of the story!

Have a great day!

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February 10th

Our Bible reading today comes from Exodus chapters 33,34,35.

The departure of Israel from Mt Sinai...

Some scholars say that the congregation of Israel stayed at Mt Sinai for close to two years.

Then God told Moses that it was time to depart.

The Ten (Words) Commandments, written on stone tablets by the “finger” of God, have been given from God to Moses and to the people of Israel.

The Tabernacle has been completed...the tent and the furnishings to God’s detailed specifications.

The priesthood was established, beginning with Aaron and his sons....from what they wore, to what they did on a daily basis on behalf of God’s covenant people.

The sacrificial system was established....for one grand purpose. “To point all Israelites to THE GREAT SACRIFICE that was to come....the eternal sacrifice that God would offer for the salvation of those who believe in the coming Messiah...Yeshua...Jesus!

Now, God and Moses are conversing at the tent of meeting.

The people see Moses heading toward the tabernacle...they see him walk into the courtyard, and they see the cloud settle on the Tabernacle. The people know that God is speaking with their leader. So they worship God in awe at the door to their own tents.

“What’s God saying to him?”...most will wonder.

“Do you think He will ever forgive us for forgetting Him and feasting and worshiping a golden calf instead of Him?”...others would whisper.

Then Moses hears God say that He will send an angel to go with them the rest of the way to the promised land.

Then the Bible says that Moses came right back and asked, “Are You not going with us?”

And God said...”If I go, I would consume you ..you stiff-necked people.”

Moses responded to God...”If You are not going...if Your presence is not with me...don't send us out from here.

Our testimony to those we meet has centered around You and our covenant relationship with You.

You promised to take us to the promised land...You promised the cloud of Your presence in the daytime and Your pillar of fire by night. You promised to go with us and we with You!

Moses once again pleaded with God for the people...Moses was their intercessor. And God said, “I will go with you...and give you rest.”

Moses was many things for Israel. A prophet to some inside and outside the camp Moses was probably thought of as a new king in town, a deliverer who loosed the chains that bind. But today’s reading, Moses was indeed an intercessor...the go-between guy...one who steps in between the accused and accuser and brings reconciliation.

“Way to go Moses”!

And then we would hear Moses say, “But Jesus is better...and not just to Canaan...but all the way to heaven!

Have a good day.