Daily Bible Portion (Tuesday)
Daily Bible Portion – 3 of 7
"AFTER THE DEATH"
(Weekly Reading>>Leviticus 16:1-18:30, Ezekiel 22:1-16, Hebrews 9:6-28, Romans 3:19-28; 9:30-10:13, 1 Corinthians 5:1-13, 2 Corinthians 2:1-11; 14-17)
Hezekiah's story took place during the feast of Passover. By living in obedience to God's Word we pass-over from the realm of sin and death into the realm of life. At King Hezekiah's invitation, a remnant from the House of Israel (Northern Kingdom) joined their brothers from the House of Judah (Southern Kingdom) for the Passover feast in Jerusalem. This was their first coming together in many years and it broke down the dividing wall of animosity that stood between the two houses. The House of Israel from (the Northern Kingdom) who came to the Passover were so convicted by the freedom and healing they had received from obedience to this Feast that they went about tearing down all Judah's idols and cleansing the House of Judah (the Southern Kingdom) before returning home to purify their own homelands. Blessings pursued them following their acts of obedience and once again Godly order was birthed in their hearts and in the land (Jeremiah 31:31-33; Hebrews 8:8-10; Ephesians 2:11-18).
We see this in Jesus's day when He brought restoration to the House of Israel and the House of Judah and all were healed. The life and teachings given to Moses still reveal the present day order for our lives. Scripture records this in Act 15:19-21 through the words of James, the half brother of Jesus, who was the head of the Jerusalem council of disciples and elders.
The Covenant of Moses is the teaching and instruction booklet to live fully in the Abrahamic Covenant (Galatians 3:7, 29). It gives us our identity, salvation and basis for the Davidic Covenant (the priest order of Melchizedek) and re-news the Covenant (New Covenant). By returning to the vow our ancestors (and ourselves) made at Mount Sinai, to keep His Word, the Gospel, and walk in it through Christ, we become consecrated. (Deuteronomy 29:14-15).
We consecrate our temple (our body) by making a distinction between clean and unclean practices and associations in our lives. We remove all defilement from our lives, homes and bodies by making clean choices following the instructions found in Christ's Word. We are no longer living for ourselves but for Jesus, as we desire for Him to accomplish His good purposes in our lives. This calls for us to leave our earthly fleshly sinful nature and walk in our heavenly calling. This is called the walk of sanctification/holiness on the highway of Holiness (Isaiah 35:3-10; Ephesians 4:17-5:21; Romans 13:9-14; Colossians 3:5-10; 1 Timothy 1:17-27; 1 Peter 1:22-2:10; Romans 6:1-14).
What happened in Hezekiah's time will also happen to us when we return to Christ's righteousness. Our hearts will repair and our temples become holy again. We will go throughout Judah and Israel – and into the Nations – to cleanse the land of unrighteousness and lawlessness. God will strengthen us and deliver us from all our enemies when we truly worship Him with all our heart, soul and mind.
The story of atonement through Jesus is also recorded in John 1:6. It is written that John came in the Spirit of Elijah to bear witness to the true Light of the world, Christ Jesus the Messiah. John was crying out in the wilderness as a demonstration that the Bride of Jesus is found in the wilderness. These same instructions, that were applied to our ancestors, generations ago, still apply to the believer today. There are two ways of being in the wilderness. One is being outside of the Land of Israel and the other is not walking in the principles(Torah). If we identify with one or both of these we too are in the wilderness. John was calling to God's people to return and respond to Christ's invitation. John quoted the words of the prophet Isaiah (John 1:23).
How do believers make straight the way for God(Yahweh)? By recognizing when we are outside God's ways, repenting and coming into His right order(Deut 5:32-33). His Spirit will give us power to walk this out. We are called to consecrate ourselves by removing and resisting all that defiles us so that the Glory of God may dwell in us. Likewise, we must refuse to accept anything that separates us from His anointing and blessings. Choosing not to walk in the way of the world, and disengaging ourselves from willful sin that contaminates us such as wrong attitudes and unforgiveness makes straight the way for God's return within us. We need to recognize occasions to bless and endeavor to serve people, elevating and encouraging them at every opportunity.
continues tomorrow
"AFTER THE DEATH"
(Weekly Reading>>Leviticus 16:1-18:30, Ezekiel 22:1-16, Hebrews 9:6-28, Romans 3:19-28; 9:30-10:13, 1 Corinthians 5:1-13, 2 Corinthians 2:1-11; 14-17)
Hezekiah's story took place during the feast of Passover. By living in obedience to God's Word we pass-over from the realm of sin and death into the realm of life. At King Hezekiah's invitation, a remnant from the House of Israel (Northern Kingdom) joined their brothers from the House of Judah (Southern Kingdom) for the Passover feast in Jerusalem. This was their first coming together in many years and it broke down the dividing wall of animosity that stood between the two houses. The House of Israel from (the Northern Kingdom) who came to the Passover were so convicted by the freedom and healing they had received from obedience to this Feast that they went about tearing down all Judah's idols and cleansing the House of Judah (the Southern Kingdom) before returning home to purify their own homelands. Blessings pursued them following their acts of obedience and once again Godly order was birthed in their hearts and in the land (Jeremiah 31:31-33; Hebrews 8:8-10; Ephesians 2:11-18).
We see this in Jesus's day when He brought restoration to the House of Israel and the House of Judah and all were healed. The life and teachings given to Moses still reveal the present day order for our lives. Scripture records this in Act 15:19-21 through the words of James, the half brother of Jesus, who was the head of the Jerusalem council of disciples and elders.
Act 15:19-21 James said to them, "It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles[Nations/ and /or the House of Israel]who are turning to God. Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood. For Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is [still] read in the synagogues on every Sabbath."(Ephesians 2:11-18).
The Covenant of Moses is the teaching and instruction booklet to live fully in the Abrahamic Covenant (Galatians 3:7, 29). It gives us our identity, salvation and basis for the Davidic Covenant (the priest order of Melchizedek) and re-news the Covenant (New Covenant). By returning to the vow our ancestors (and ourselves) made at Mount Sinai, to keep His Word, the Gospel, and walk in it through Christ, we become consecrated. (Deuteronomy 29:14-15).
We consecrate our temple (our body) by making a distinction between clean and unclean practices and associations in our lives. We remove all defilement from our lives, homes and bodies by making clean choices following the instructions found in Christ's Word. We are no longer living for ourselves but for Jesus, as we desire for Him to accomplish His good purposes in our lives. This calls for us to leave our earthly fleshly sinful nature and walk in our heavenly calling. This is called the walk of sanctification/holiness on the highway of Holiness (Isaiah 35:3-10; Ephesians 4:17-5:21; Romans 13:9-14; Colossians 3:5-10; 1 Timothy 1:17-27; 1 Peter 1:22-2:10; Romans 6:1-14).
What happened in Hezekiah's time will also happen to us when we return to Christ's righteousness. Our hearts will repair and our temples become holy again. We will go throughout Judah and Israel – and into the Nations – to cleanse the land of unrighteousness and lawlessness. God will strengthen us and deliver us from all our enemies when we truly worship Him with all our heart, soul and mind.
Isaiah 31:6-9 "Return to Him against whom the children of Israel have deeply revolted. For in that day every man shall throw away his idols of silver and his idols of gold - sin, which your own hands have made for yourselves. Then Assyria shall fall by a sword not of man, and a sword not of mankind shall devour him. But he shall flee from the sword, and his young men shall become forced labor. He shall cross over to his stronghold for fear, and his princes shall be afraid of the banner," Says Yahweh, Whose fire is in Zion and whose furnace is in Jerusalem."
Romans 6:6-8 "For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin - because anyone who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ[Yeshua], we believe that we will also live with him."
The story of atonement through Jesus is also recorded in John 1:6. It is written that John came in the Spirit of Elijah to bear witness to the true Light of the world, Christ Jesus the Messiah. John was crying out in the wilderness as a demonstration that the Bride of Jesus is found in the wilderness. These same instructions, that were applied to our ancestors, generations ago, still apply to the believer today. There are two ways of being in the wilderness. One is being outside of the Land of Israel and the other is not walking in the principles(Torah). If we identify with one or both of these we too are in the wilderness. John was calling to God's people to return and respond to Christ's invitation. John quoted the words of the prophet Isaiah (John 1:23).
Isaiah 40:3-5 "A voice of one calling: 'In the desert prepare the way for Yahweh; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of Yahweh will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of Yahweh has spoken.'"
How do believers make straight the way for God(Yahweh)? By recognizing when we are outside God's ways, repenting and coming into His right order(Deut 5:32-33). His Spirit will give us power to walk this out. We are called to consecrate ourselves by removing and resisting all that defiles us so that the Glory of God may dwell in us. Likewise, we must refuse to accept anything that separates us from His anointing and blessings. Choosing not to walk in the way of the world, and disengaging ourselves from willful sin that contaminates us such as wrong attitudes and unforgiveness makes straight the way for God's return within us. We need to recognize occasions to bless and endeavor to serve people, elevating and encouraging them at every opportunity.
Isaiah 35: 3-8 "Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; say to those with fearful hearts, 'Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.' Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert. The burning sand will become a pool, the thirsty ground bubbling springs. In the haunts where jackals once lay, grass and reeds and papyrus will grow. And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not journey on it; it will be for those who walk in that Way."
Leviticus 16:29-31, 34 "And this [Day of Atonement/Yom Kippur] shall be a permanent statute for you: in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall humble your souls, and not do any work, whether the native, or the alien who sojourns among you; for it is on this day that atonement shall be made for you to cleanse you; you shall be clean from all your sins before Yahweh. It is to be a Sabbath of solemn rest for you, that you may humble your souls; it is a permanent statute. Now you shall have this as a permanent statute, to make atonement for the sons of Israel for all their sins once every year. And just as Yahweh had commanded Moses, so he did."
continues tomorrow
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