Daily Bible Portion (Monday)
Daily Bible Portion – 2 of 7
"COUNT"
(Weekly Reading>>Numbers 4:21 to 7:89, Judges 13:2-25, Acts 21:17 to 22:29, John 7:53 to 8:11)
Contamination
Today, many congregations tolerate people who have contaminated hearts and lifestyles. These days a growing number of pastors have given in to a more politically correct model of handling sin - through a non-biblical type of grace called compromise. Grace without responsibility coddles sin.
Shouldering the sinner contaminates the congregation. True leadership applies Yahweh’s Kingdom principles (instruction) to rid contamination in the camp. This is where true grace is found. Love, grace and mercy are all established in the Torah. When new testament writers speak about these they are quoting from the foundation of scripture the Torah or "Instruction".
Only obedience brings holiness into the lives of the Lord’s people. The sin of assumption and dishonor can become a stronghold in areas where bitterness, jealousy, pride, retaliation, judging others, murmuring etc. reside, especially listening or speaking negatively about others without them physically being present. This sin is called gossip and slander or lashon hara in Hebrew. The contamination of slander can spread infecting all in its path. When the disease of gossip and slander reaches epidemic proportions divorce, loss of friendships, divisions and even the collapse of a congregation can result. Other sins of dishonor such as sexual immorality can bring personal judgment as well as judgment on the whole community if tolerated within its midst. Proper application of Torah principles through the Spirit of Christ strengthens and keeps the camp healthy and holy. When we have the courage in love to attend to those who cause contamination there will be a blessing for all. This is the principle of loving our neighbor. Sadly, statistics report that where there has been continued assumption and dishonor, attempts to restore are rarely received. When rebellion and lawlessness are allowed to abound the Lord’s name[authority, position, character] is profaned bringing curses personally and corporately.
Cleaning the Camp
The Lord/Yahweh meets with us relationally, presence to presence/panim el panim (face to face). If we come to our neighbor in Christ and wrong him causing an offense, we wrong Christ Himself as He is in each of us and His presence is between the two. This is likened to the two cherubim over the ark in the Holy of Holies. Therefore, we are not speaking solely to our neighbor but before the Lord, the Creator of the universe.
Cleaning the Camp: We Have Wronged Our Neighbor
If a person who wronged his neighbor was not aware he caused an offense and afterward realizes, he is commanded to go and offer his neighbor forgiveness and make it right with him. If, when he humbly approaches he finds the neighbor not wanting to receive him for whatever reason, then the person making the restitution has fulfilled the law of forgiveness and is set free from the law of sin and death.
If a person found he has wronged his neighbor and humbly approaches with forgiveness but is told by that neighbor he has to think about it. That neighbor is choosing not to deal with it and has dishonored both the petitioning person and Christ by deliberately withholding forgiveness.
Not offering closure is a form of control. Even if the neighbor does not feel he has unforgiveness towards that individual, and feels warranted in putting that person on hold until a time in the future, it still does not make it a right action before the eyes of the Lord/Yahweh. Withholding spiritual release is a form of judgment that degrades an individual. If he does not offer forgiveness quickly to that person his own sin will not be forgiven him and he then is the defiled one. He has spiritually bound himself. His sin will remain on him, but the person offering the olive leaf will be set free by the Lord (Ezekiel 18:21-32).
The Lord warns us to quickly offer forgiveness to the neighbor we have offended and not delay, and for the neighbor to respond just as quickly to receive that forgiveness.
The Lord/Yahweh is so serious about believers not retaining offenses even into the next day that He warns us to not let the sun go down before we have forgiven each other. The Lord wants believers to keep very short accounts. This is why we are to offer forgiveness when people seek it.
continues tomorrow...
"COUNT"
(Weekly Reading>>Numbers 4:21 to 7:89, Judges 13:2-25, Acts 21:17 to 22:29, John 7:53 to 8:11)
Contamination
Today, many congregations tolerate people who have contaminated hearts and lifestyles. These days a growing number of pastors have given in to a more politically correct model of handling sin - through a non-biblical type of grace called compromise. Grace without responsibility coddles sin.
Shouldering the sinner contaminates the congregation. True leadership applies Yahweh’s Kingdom principles (instruction) to rid contamination in the camp. This is where true grace is found. Love, grace and mercy are all established in the Torah. When new testament writers speak about these they are quoting from the foundation of scripture the Torah or "Instruction".
Deuteronomy 7:9 "From this you can know that the Lord your God is indeed God, the faithful God, who keeps his covenant and extends grace [mercy, loving kindness] to those who love him and observe his commandments, to a thousand generations."(Exo 20:6, Deut 5:10)
Only obedience brings holiness into the lives of the Lord’s people. The sin of assumption and dishonor can become a stronghold in areas where bitterness, jealousy, pride, retaliation, judging others, murmuring etc. reside, especially listening or speaking negatively about others without them physically being present. This sin is called gossip and slander or lashon hara in Hebrew. The contamination of slander can spread infecting all in its path. When the disease of gossip and slander reaches epidemic proportions divorce, loss of friendships, divisions and even the collapse of a congregation can result. Other sins of dishonor such as sexual immorality can bring personal judgment as well as judgment on the whole community if tolerated within its midst. Proper application of Torah principles through the Spirit of Christ strengthens and keeps the camp healthy and holy. When we have the courage in love to attend to those who cause contamination there will be a blessing for all. This is the principle of loving our neighbor. Sadly, statistics report that where there has been continued assumption and dishonor, attempts to restore are rarely received. When rebellion and lawlessness are allowed to abound the Lord’s name[authority, position, character] is profaned bringing curses personally and corporately.
Acts 7:51-53 "You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered, you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it."
Haggai 1:3-11 “Then the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet, saying, ‘Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins?’ Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘Consider your ways! You have sown much, and bring in little; you eat, but do not have enough; you drink, but you are not filled with drink; you clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; and he who earns wages, earns wages to put into a bag with holes.’ Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘Consider your ways! Go up to the mountains and bring wood and build the temple, that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified,’ says the Lord. ‘You looked for much, but indeed it came to little; and when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why?’ says the Lord of hosts. ‘Because of My house that is in ruins, while every one of you runs to his own house. Therefore the heavens above you withhold the dew, and the earth withholds its fruit. For I called for a drought on the land and the mountains, on the grain and the new wine and the oil, on whatever the ground brings forth, on men and livestock, and on all the labor of your hands.’”
Cleaning the Camp
Numbers 5:5-10 “When a man or woman wrongs another in any way and so is unfaithful to the Lord, that person is guilty and must confess the sin he or she has committed. They must make full restitution for his wrong, add one fifth to it and give it all to the person who was wronged. But if that person has no close, relative to which restitution can be made for the wrong, the restitution belongs to the Lord and must be given to the priest, along with the ram with which atonement is made for him. All the sacred contributions the Israelites bring to a priest will belong to him. Each man's sacred gifts are his own, but what he gives to the priest will belong to the priest”
The Lord/Yahweh meets with us relationally, presence to presence/panim el panim (face to face). If we come to our neighbor in Christ and wrong him causing an offense, we wrong Christ Himself as He is in each of us and His presence is between the two. This is likened to the two cherubim over the ark in the Holy of Holies. Therefore, we are not speaking solely to our neighbor but before the Lord, the Creator of the universe.
Leviticus 19:16-18 “You shall not go about as a talebearer among your people; nor shall you take a stand against the life of your neighbor: I am the Lord/Yahweh. You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him. You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord/Yahweh.”
Cleaning the Camp: We Have Wronged Our Neighbor
If a person who wronged his neighbor was not aware he caused an offense and afterward realizes, he is commanded to go and offer his neighbor forgiveness and make it right with him. If, when he humbly approaches he finds the neighbor not wanting to receive him for whatever reason, then the person making the restitution has fulfilled the law of forgiveness and is set free from the law of sin and death.
If a person found he has wronged his neighbor and humbly approaches with forgiveness but is told by that neighbor he has to think about it. That neighbor is choosing not to deal with it and has dishonored both the petitioning person and Christ by deliberately withholding forgiveness.
Matthew 5:23-26 “Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny.”
Not offering closure is a form of control. Even if the neighbor does not feel he has unforgiveness towards that individual, and feels warranted in putting that person on hold until a time in the future, it still does not make it a right action before the eyes of the Lord/Yahweh. Withholding spiritual release is a form of judgment that degrades an individual. If he does not offer forgiveness quickly to that person his own sin will not be forgiven him and he then is the defiled one. He has spiritually bound himself. His sin will remain on him, but the person offering the olive leaf will be set free by the Lord (Ezekiel 18:21-32).
John 20:23 “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
The Lord warns us to quickly offer forgiveness to the neighbor we have offended and not delay, and for the neighbor to respond just as quickly to receive that forgiveness.
Luke 17:3-4 “Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him [that day]” (Matthew 18:21-22).
The Lord/Yahweh is so serious about believers not retaining offenses even into the next day that He warns us to not let the sun go down before we have forgiven each other. The Lord wants believers to keep very short accounts. This is why we are to offer forgiveness when people seek it.
Ephesians 4:25-27 “Therefore, putting away lying, let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor, for we are members of one another. Be angry, and do not sin: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil."
continues tomorrow...
Comment