Sanctifying the Temple of God

 

As I was praying recently, the Holy Spirit lifted me up in the Spirit of Revelation and showed me what the sanctification process of the believer is. This follows in line with our previous post on God's chosen place of worship. The Apostle Paul was exhorting the Thessalonian believers and prayed a blessing over them: And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Thessalonians 5:23

The Holy Spirit showed me that the layout of the early tabernacle of Moses typed the triune being of man – Body, Soul and Spirit = Outer Court, Inner Court and Holiest of Holies. Just as Moses was instructed to sanctify the tabernacle and all the furniture and vessels used in sacrificial service, so must the believer be sanctified completely.

Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood. For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.

Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry. And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. Hebrews 9:18-23

We often think of ourselves as priests to God (which we are), however Jesus Christ is the High Priest. He is the one in charge of service. He is the One over the house of God. Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; and having an high priest over the house of God; let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Hebrews 10:19-22 And just to understand that baptism is an outward sign, but not meant to literally “wash away our sins”, Peter typed Noah and his family being saved in the ark to baptism: The like figure whereunto even baptism does also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 3:21

We are God's workmanship – His master building. What? Know you not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which you have of God, and you are not your own? For you are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 He desires to live in us by the Holy Spirit. Just as our previous lesson taught us, we worship in the Spirit. No longer a literal temple or tabernacle, but “a body hast thou prepared me.” Hebrews 10:5

We worship God in the Spirit and in truth. Jesus told her, "Woman, believe Me, the hour comes, when you shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. You worship you know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour comes, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeks such to worship Him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in truth." John 4:21-24

God's Chosen Place of Worship

 You shall keep My Sabbaths and reverence My Sanctuary. I am the LORD. Leviticus 19:30

During prayer, this morning, as I was praying on the point: Hallowed (Holy) is Your Name, the Holy Spirit brought this verse to my mind. So I got out my Hebrew translation of the Bible and looked up this verse. It reads: אֶת-שַׁבְּתֹתַי תִּשְׁמֹרוּ, וּמִקְדָּשִׁי תִּירָאוּ:  אֲנִי, יְהוָה which can be translated: You will guard My rests and My place of Holiness you shall reverence/awe/fear. I AM YHVH or the One who said "let there be and it was".  This verse is found in the heart of the Torah. The Jewish people for hundreds of years have read through the Torah (five books of Moses or Pentateuch) each year by reading one portion a week. This verse is found in the Torah portion called Kedoshim.

Then, the Holy Spirit directed my attention to another verse found in Deuteronomy 16:6, "But at the place which the LORD thy God shall choose to place His Name in, there thou shalt sacrifice the passover..." God was telling the children of Israel, "You can't just worship Me wherever you decide is best or the way you think is right." Then, He led me to John chapter 4 where Jesus is standing in a Samaritan village by the well, talking with a woman of ill repute. Although, she lived a life that was a far cry from a life of virtue, we can see that she was brought up in a religious home, because she knew what to look for in the qualities of the Messiah. During their religious dialogue, Jesus told her, "Woman, believe Me, the hour comes, when you shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. You worship you know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour comes, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeks such to worship Him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in truth." John 4:21-24

In Isaiah 66:1-2, we read: Thus says the LORD, The heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool: where is the house that you build Me? and where is the place of My rest? For all those things has My hand made, and all those things have been, says the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembles at My Word. We read from Hebrews 10:5: Wherefore when He comes into the world, He says, Sacrifice and offering You would not, but a body have you prepared Me. The Apostle Paul was quoting from Psalm 40, showing how the Messiah was the fulfillment of these verses. 

God once dwelt in buildings of men's hands. First, in the tabernacle of Moses and later in the Temple of Solomon. But His ultimate goal was not a house of wood and stone, but a body. Jesus told His disciples, For where two or more are gathered together in My Name, there am I in the midst of them. Matthew 18:20 So many people gather together in a building to worship God, and there is nothing wrong with that. But often times, they worship the building more than the Almighty God. This is idolatry. We are encouraged to gather together in the Name of the Lord. Not in the name of our faith or denomination. Not to be seen of others or to be able to say, "I go to church every Saturday/Sunday."

I am reminded of the transfiguration of the Lord Jesus. He had taken Peter, James and John up into the mountain with Him, and while He was praying, He became transfigured before them, in that His face shone like the sun and His clothes were pure white and sparkly. Moses and Elijah also appeared talking to Him. Peter was so overwhelmed by the awe of this moment that he cried out, "Lord, it is good for us to be here: if You will, let us make here three tabernacles; one for you, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah." Matthew 17:4 Peter, not yet filled with the Holy Ghost, was unaware of the Eternal purposes of God. He, at that moment, thought what so many have thought over the years - This is such a great move of God that we need to start a new church or denomination based on this revelation. That was not and is not God's will. 

God's will is that He lives among us by the Spirit. The next-to-the-last chapter of the Bible, we find John hearing a voice out of heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God." Revelation 21:3

Walking in the Spirit

Yesterday, I had had the thought to go to a nature preserve several miles from my house. It’s the one I had only been to once before. Late in the evening, I really felt impressed to go, so I went. I got out of the car with my walking stick and my sandals on my feet - which I had purchased at a kibbutz in Israel.

I started out my walk singing “Just a Closer Walk With Thee.” Then, I asked the Lord to be sanctified by every step I took. As I rounded a curve, a mourning dove flew up from the path to a great oak tree and perched in the branches. 

I continued on the path looking at all the wild flowers growing in the meadow and the majestic trees of the field. The trees had wild grape vines with small tender grapes draped on the trees. 

The path that I was walking was at the back of a farm. To the south, there was a barn with goats and chickens in the barnyard. When I had walked about 3/4 of a mile a hawk flew up from the underbrush and startled me, as it mounted up on its wings. 

The sky to the west looked dark and angry, but I walked the rest of the path and turned back. The birds of the air started to scatter and a little bunny rabbit hopped into the bushes. Suddenly, I was reminded of a song a friend of mine wrote and recorded when I was about 12 years old - I was standing on a mountain looking toward the sky when I saw a storm approaching and I feared that I would die. I saw the creatures run and seek a better place to hide, heard the thunder roll down in my soul and I bowed my head and cried. Now the clouds were  moving faster, lightning flashing bright, clouds so dark they hid the sun and it seemed that it was night, but all once there was a feeling like I’d never had before up above the storm you should have heard me sing God has given me eagle’s wings. All at once the Spirit lifted me high above it all, I never even had to move my wings, the Holy Spirit had control. I was soaring high above my circumstances, my confusion and all my pain, though I had spent many years in the old barn yard I was always an eagle by His name. 

Spread you’re wings little eagle and fly. You weren’t born to live in the valley, you were born to soar through the sky. Don’t let your trials bring you down or drive your spirits to the ground. Mount up with wings little eagle and fly. 

By Steven Shelley

I began to see how the Holy Spirit was showing me from my youth that I was His. (I was born in a small town called Valley). 

I recognized the Presence of the Holy Spirit and just then the wind began to blow through the trees so strong I thought they would topple. There came such an awe of reverence, I thought I would fall on my face! I knew that it was more than a storm - God was in all this. I begin to worship all the way back to my car. 

Then I asked the Holy Spirit to give me the interpretation of all this. When I got home, He showed me all the symbols:

Dove in the oak tree- Psalm 56 The dove in distant oak is the name of the psalm in Hebrew. 

The wild flowers of the field - Luke 12:27 NIV “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.

Birds of the air - Matthew 6:27 NIV Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

Tender grapes on the vine - John 15 I am the vine, you are the branches. 

Song of Solomon 2:13 ...and the vine with tender grapes give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.

The trees of the field- Isaiah 55:12 For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

Rushing wind - Acts 2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

Ezekiel 3:12 Then the spirit took me up, and I heard behind me a voice of a great rushing, saying, Blessed be the glory of the LORD from his place.

Mounting up on wings - Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Finally, after seeing all these symbols, and how the Holy Spirit walked with me physically and spiritually, I opened my evening devotional “God at Eventide” and it said, “We walk together.”

The Revelation of the Name of God

 This morning, as I began to pray before the Lord, the Holy Spirit drew my attention to a phrase in Hebrew from the book of Genesis. In Hebrew, verse 3 reads: וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים, יְהִי אוֹר; וַיְהִי-אוֹר    A transliteration of this verse is: Vai'yom'ehr Elo'Heem, "Ye'hi Ohr, Vai'Hee Ohr" or the English translation: And God said, "Let there be light and there was light."  The Name of God in Hebrew is spelled: יְהוָה which was erroneously translated into English as Jehovah. Although many scholars have tried to pronounce it, the correct translation was lost many centuries ago by the Jewish sages who were attempting to protect the usage of His holy Name. 

I have always wandered at the pronunciation, however, I do not feel that pronouncing it would have some magical effect. In the ancient Hebrew thinking, it wasn't how your name sounded that identified you, rather it was the meaning behind the name. The first man's name was Adam, which in the Hebrew meant from the ground or red - as the clay man was taken from was red. Noah's name meant rest, as he would bring a rest to the earth. Many years ago, I discover a phrase in Hebrew that is recorded in the book of Revelations. The verse is found in Revelation 1:8, Jesus speaking, "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending," saith the Lord, "which is, and was, and which is to come, the Almighty." which read in Hebrew is: ההוה והיה ויבוא  I have believed for years this was the meaning of the Name of God. 

However, the Holy Spirit made real to my spirit, this morning, that while this meaning has some reflection on the Name of God, the more accurate meaning comes from the very first words of God in creation: Let there be- and there was.  יְהִי - וַיְהִי   Then He took me through scriptures to show me how His Name is only an extension of His Word. His Word is a creative force. His Name is a reflection of Who He is - Creator.  By the Word of the LORD יְהוָה were the heavens made; and all the hosts of them by the breath of His mouth. Psalms 33:6.  The Apostle Paul, when writing to the Hebrews, enunciated this very clearly: Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the WORD of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. Hebrews 11:3

 This is why Yeshua (Jesus) was the Word made flesh (John 1:14) and Who being the brightness of His glory, and the EXPRESS IMAGE OF His person, and upholding all things by the WORD of His power...(Hebrews 1:3) He could clearly declare, "I Am come in My Father's Name" (John 5:43) or later in John He said, "I and My Father are one" (John 10:30). This is why He could speak to the winds and waves and His Word calmed the storm or why He could declare, "Lazarus, come forth" and a man who had been dead and buried for 4 days would arise from His death and sit down and have a meal with Him. 

 But for those who have been truly born again, of His Spirit, as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His Name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the WORD was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John 1:12-14 

This promise is for every believer who repents of their sins, is baptized in THE NAME of our Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 2:38) and you will receive the divine life of God - the very Spirit that dwelt inside of Jesus. For He said, "It is the spirit that gives life, the flesh profits nothing: the WORDS that I speak to you, they are spirit, and they are life." John 6:63  He is the WORD and His WORDS are spirit and they are LIFE. 

Showing Himself through the Lattice on Passover

My beloved is like a buck or a young deer: 

behold he stands behind

our wall, he looks forth at the windows,

 showing himself through the lattice. 

Song of Solomon 2:9

Early in the month of March, I had decided to request off of work for Passover eve/day (April 15/16). During holy week, I had asked the Lord what He would have me to do – go to a seder (Jewish Passover meal), go out of town, host a Passover meal with my family, etc. I never felt a direct leading of the Spirit of the Lord, and have been wanting to go camping. I decided on Wednesday that that's probably what I would do. I talked with my sister who lives on a large rural property north of Indianapolis and she agreed that would be fine. So, on Friday, I headed up north, stopping on the way to get basic supplies for a small seder to commemorate the Lord's supper. It was a beautiful afternoon and I got my camp set up and shared in a small communion with my sister. I went to bed around 9pm and was awakened by a coyote pack yipping and barking in the close vicinity. I would have recorded it, except I fell back asleep to quickly because it was raining hard outside my tent.

I was awakened on Saturday morning by a variety of song birds chirping loudly in the woods. I could also distinguish about 3 or four different doves cooing to one another. After I got up and dressed, I decided to walk around the large field. When I was approaching the back corner where there is a small wooded area with tall grasses, suddenly two animals sprang to their feet and ran away from me into another nearby field. Just as they were clearing the trees, I realized it was two small coyotes, that had bedded down for the morning. It was only about a quarter of a mile from my campsite. While most people would have been alarmed, I felt God's presence and hand even in this.

When I arrived back to my campsite, I felt compelled to read the Song of Solomon. There is a verse that talks about the rain being over and the birds singing in the trees, also the voice of the dove being heard – so much of the experiences I had had that morning. The Jewish sages teach that the Song of Solomon is an allegory about the Israelites journey out of Egypt and through the wilderness. As a believer in the Jewish Messiah, Yeshua (Jesus), I believe it is an allegory between the Bridegroom (Yeshua) and His Bride.

After packing up my camp late in the evening, while driving back home, I glanced over to see a doe standing beside a small creek that runs beside the road. I began to weep thinking about the references to the deer in the Song of Solomon. Then I was reminded of the psalm of David, “As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul after You, O God.” Psalm 42:1

The next morning, after praying, I read from my devotional that I have used for many years, now – Daily Light on the Daily Path. This is a morning and evening devotion that is simply Scriptures placed together by believers from 18^th century – Jonathan and Samuel Bagster. So oftentimes, the Lord has spoken directly to my situation and given me direction through this book. The morning devotion was certainly good, but I found my eyes looking down to the evening section. The headline read “Draw me, we will run after thee,” which is a line from SOS 1:4. I was ecstatic, but I decided not to get ahead of myself by reading the evening portion.

After work, on Sunday, I came home and watched the Sunday morning service of a church. The pastor was speaking from Song of Solomon 2:11-12, “For lo, the winter is passed, the rain is over and gone; the flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the dove is heard in our land.” I could not wait until my evening prayer time. I opened my devotions and read the rest of my evening portion. THERE it was: Song of Solomon 2:10-13! I almost passed out in the floor from excitement. It was as if the Great Shepherd was showing Himself through the lattice. He was speaking to me over and over: “Arise my love, my fair one and come away!” SOS 2:10

I am sure there is much more He will unfold to me concerning this past weekend with Him, but I am so thankful for the glimpses that He gives us of His face.

PESACH: The Feast of Passover

"And when I see the blood, I will pass over you"

The Passover feast commemorates the exodus of the children of Israel from the land of Egypt and the passing over of the angel of death from the houses of Israel who applied the blood of a lamb to the doorposts of their house. The meal is set in an order by the Rabbis and has been this order for several thousand years. By the reading from the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, Yeshua (Jesus) was commemorating the Passover meal much the same as Jewish people do in there homes every year. The order of the service is read from the HaGadah (HA-g'DAH or also pronounced H'GAH'dah) which means “The Telling”. It tells the story of the exodus from Egypt by symbols.

There is a Seder plate which has a place for a lamb (shank bone) – the Passover sacrifice, an egg – the festival sacrifice, bitter herbs – “caused to serve with rigor” , green vegetable, Charoset (sweet salad of nuts, raisins, apples, wine and cinnamon) – because of it's similarity to the mortar used in ancient Egypt. 

A Seder in my "Upper Room"

When Yeshua celebrated the Passover with his disciples, it didn't look anything like the Leonardo de Vinci painting, where they are seated on chairs around a modern table. Rather, it was, most likely, a table that was U-shaped, called a Triclinium by the Romans and Greeks of His time.  There was a designated arrangement as to who sat where. The master of ceremony would be seated on the left side, probably the second seat in. The guest of honor would be seated to his right and then around the table was the other guests. The one seated at the last position on the right side (across from the master of ceremony was probably the servant's seat or lowest seat of honor). Based on the reading from John 13, we can make an educated guess as to who sat where.  

Taken from The World of the Bible Gardens Ein Karem, Jerusalem

by Jim Fleming & Biblical Resources

Artist Unknown

Even though John's Gospel did not call the Last Supper a Passover Meal, it was remembered as a reclining meal (the beloved disciple reclined against Jesus' chest to ask him who the betrayer was). Knowing the Roman custom of reclining on one's left elbow would cause readers to associate John with position #2. The host customarily shared his bowl with the guest of honor. That Jesus shared his bowl with Judas, place Judas in position #3. No wonder John says, "it was night" when the betrayer left having had Jesus reclining close to his chest all night. That Peter had to signal the beloved disciple (John) to inquire about the betrayer, indicates Peter was not seated near Jesus. Because Peter was the only disciple at first to refuse to let Jesus wash his feet, he may have been pictured reclining at position (#4), normally assigned to the one expected to wash the feet of the other guests.

Upper room seder my house

Now the Seder or Order which Yeshua and His disciples followed was not as elaborate as is the Seder used in traditional Judaism, today.  It was compiled less than a century later. But many elements were the same as today.  The Lamb, the bitter herbs, and the Matzo were a must.  However, just a few decades before, the Rabbis had included the Charoset and at some point before had included the four cups of wine. We know that Yeshua probably drank the four cups of wine that were used, as Luke indicates the first cup before supper and likewise the cup after supper... Luke 22:20.  The four cups of wine are linked to a passage in Exodus 6:6-7 "Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I AM the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will free you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a outstretched arm, and with great judgments: and I will take you to me for a people, and I will be a God" 

 The first cup of wine is called Kadesh, which means sanctification (called out, separated). The second cup is the cup of the ten plagues. The third cup of wine is the cup of Redemption. This cup comes after the supper. Luke indicates it was this cup Yeshua was drinking when He declared, "This cup is the New Covenant  in my blood, which is shed for you." Luke 22:20  Finally, the last cup of wine is called the Hallel, which means praise. It is, in fact, the Hebrew root word for Hallelujah. The tradition of singing Psalm 113-118 is customary. We find, in Matthew 26:30 & Mark 14:26, "And when they had sung a hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives." This may well have been referring to Psalms 113-118 or even to 136 which is also read on Passover.

The most essential element of the Passover is not the cups of wine, rather it is unleavened bread (Matzah in Hebrew). It is made without yeast or any component that will cause the bread to rise. Therefore it is flat and dry like an American cracker or European biscuit. Matzah is pierced many times over to cook the bread even faster and not allowing any rising to occur. How well this brings to mind the prophecy of Zechariah 12:10, They shall look upon Me whom they have pierced..." 

[In the modern Seder three pieces of of matzah are placed in a three-part cloth bag called a matzah tash . Early in the service the middle piece of matzah is broken. Half is divided into large enough pieces for everyone at the table and eaten. The other half, called the afikoman, is hidden, to be found by children later and eaten by everyone as the last food of the meal. While in modern Judaism the three matzot (Plural for matzah in Hebrew) are taken as representing Priests, Levites and Israel, many scholars believe this ritual was added to the Seder service by Messianic Jews, (Jewish believers in Jesus) for whom the three matzot represent Father, Son and Holy Ghost. The second matzah - representing the Son, who called Himself the "bread of life" John 4:41;48) and who in the Matthew 26:26 says of the matzah, "This is My body" -- is broken for all and given to all (symbolically representing His death for all mankind). Yet there is a mystery, a hidden part, similar to the hidden afikoman: like the middle matzah at the Pesach meal, the Messiah appears twice in  history, in a first and second coming. All these symbolisms are hidden from non-Messianic Judaism. But like the afikoman, these truths about the Messiah will eventually be found. ] Excerpt taken from Jewish New Testament Commentary, David H. Stern, 1992, pg 80

The Heart of a Worshiper

 This morning, during my daily morning worship, the Lord began to speak to me concerning the heart of a worshiper. He took me, by the Spirit, to Bethany, which was a little village just over the Mount of Olives from Jerusalem, during the time of our Lord Jesus.  Here lived three siblings, Lazarus and his two sisters: Martha and Mary.  We find this story in the gospels of both Luke and John.  

Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.  And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. Luke 10:38-42

Then Jesus six days before the Passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment. Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him, Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein. Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.  For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.  Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead.  John 12:1-9

Martha had the heart of a servant. She wanted everything to be just right for the great Rabbi and all of his guests. I have often cooked for other people and have found myself becoming anxious because it seems that everything won't get done at the appointed time. You may have one pot cooking on the stove while the meat is on the grill and another dish in the oven. While concerning yourself with one, you remember the other is about to burn and you must stir it and then one completes its cooking time and starts to get cold while the bread is still baking for another 5 minutes. It can become stressful. And in the midst of all this, you want the table to be set nicely, with napkins folded properly and each eating utensil in its proper place. This is what Martha was experiencing when she went to Yeshua (Jesus) and asked Him, "Tell my sister to help me." Yeshua did not rebuke her for serving, but He explained to her that Mary had chosen the higher thing, that of worship. 

What I have discovered in life is, one can be serving God with all their heart and still be weighed down with burdens, stress, and anxieties of life. But when one comes into that place of worship, suddenly you are carefree. It doesn't matter what life's circumstances are. There is only one focus. 

Earlier in the week, while on my job, I had many tasks to do and very little time to accomplish it. I found myself multitasking and by the end of my day, I was so stressed and anxious! But on Wednesday morning, during my time of prayer and worship, the Spirit of the Lord came and lifted me up. Suddenly, I began singing in the Spirit about having "an undivided heart, that I might fear Your Name." I sang that all morning, and found myself so much lighter than I had been all week. It wasn't that my tasks were less. Rather, my heart was not divided. My only task in the day was to worship the Lord and while I was worshiping Him as my only task, everything else took second place. 

 Now, I want to comment on the portion from John where Mary took the pound of spikenard and anointed Yeshua's feet. Notice how the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. I imagine that everyone in the house left smelling like spikenard, that day. While singing in the Spirit, this morning, the Holy Spirit showed me Song of Solomon 1:3, "Because of the fragrance of Your pleasant oil, Your Name is as oil poured out, this is why the maidens love You." [Author's Translation] Yeshua was the fulfillment of this verse. While Mary was anointing the feet of the Messiah, she also was being perfumed with the smell. She, of all people, smelled most like Yeshua that day. The smell was on her hands and in her hair. She probably smelled that way for the rest of the week. And when we sit at the feet of the Messiah and worship him, we to begin to smell like Him. Now thanks be to God, which always causes us to be victorious in the Messiah, and makes us manifest the fragrance of His knowledge everywhere we go. For we are a sweet fragrance of Messiah, to them which are saved and to those who perish. 2 Corinthians 2:14-15 [Author's Translation]

David prayed, "Let my prayer be set forth before You as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice." Psalm 141:2

Prayers for Europe

 To all my Ukrainian and Russian readers, I pray that God grant you grace, mercy and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ during this time of war! And to each and everyone else, let us hold up our brothers and sisters in Christ in prayer. 

The Fear of the LORD

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom:

 and the knowledge of the Holy is understanding. 

Proverbs 9:10 

 

1)Praise the LORD. Blessed is the man that fears the LORD, that delights greatly in His commandments. 2)His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed. 3)Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endures forever: 4)Unto the upright there arises a light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous. 5)A good man shows favor, and lends: he will guide his affairs with discretion. 6)Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in the everlasting remembrance. 7)He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD. 8)His heart is established, he shall not be afraid, until he see his desire upon his enemies. 9)He has dispersed, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honor. 10)The wicked shall see it, and be grieved; he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away: the desire of the wicked shall perish. Psalm 112:1-10

In verse one, the Hebrew word for blessed is ASH'REI which means How fortunate or blessed is... This whole chapter enumerates the benefits of one who FEARS the LORD.

 

Jesus instructed His disciples, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom you shall fear: Fear Him, which after He has killed has power to cast into hell; yes, I say unto you, Fear Him. Luke 12:4-5  And while reading this, we would only have a fear of God that is not reverent, rather only fear that causes one to be afraid to do anything - good or bad for God. However, the Messiah didn't stop there. He went on to say, Are not two sparrows sold for one penny, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: you are of more value than many sparrows. Also, I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God. And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemes against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven. Luke 12:6-10

In context, we see that the fear of the LORD is not constantly afraid of a vengeful and wrath God who is ready to strike us dead when we disobey. Rather, we see a loving Father who knows every detail about our life, even down to the number of hairs on our body. And He loves us so much, that we walk in reverent fear, that we not offend Him. When an earthly father has a positive relationship with his children, they are not afraid of him, rather they don't want to cause pain to their father by being disobedient. And when a righteous man has this relationship with his Heavenly Father, his Father in heaven abundantly bless him, for, The blessing of the LORD, it makes rich, and He adds no sorrow with it. Proverbs 10:22

In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and His children shall have a place of refuge. Proverbs 14:26

The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death. Proverbs 14:27

Commentary on Proverbs 3:5-6

 Trust in the LORD with all your heart,

and lean not to your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge Him, 

and He shall direct your paths. 

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the LORD with all your heart:

• Put all your confidence in Him
• Rely solely and totally on Him.
• Cast all your worries, anxieties, fears, aspirations, expectations, everything on Him.

Trust is security. It's like the clip that a mountain climber uses to secure him to the repelling rope. And when you are secure in the LORD, then your heart will not fear. But your trust can only be in Him. The first commandment God gave when He gave Moses the ten commandments was: You shall have no other gods before Me. “Before Me” in Hebrew literally translates “Before My face”. The first several commandments, in fact, deal with idolatry and worshiping other gods. I have known people who claim to be God-fearing believers, but they also dabble in other religions and pagan practices. They believe that God is OK with this. However, this is equivalent to spiritual adultery or fornication. God wants all of your heart.

 

Lean not on your own understanding:

• Don't put any stock in your own ideas.
• Your wisdom is foolish to God.
• The way you perceive is biased.
• Your thoughts are not My thoughts.

When I began to meditate on this line, I could see an old man in need of cane to support him while walking. However, instead of leaning on a very solid walking stick, he was leaning on a hollow reed. There is no support in a hollow reed and if you lean upon it, it will break and cause you to fall. This is what happens when we trust our on reasoning or perception.

In all your ways acknowledge Him:

• In everything you do, your business, your hobbies, your words, recognize Him.

To know someone in the ancient Hebrew meant an intimate acquaintance. I have had the privilege of being in close proximity of renowned people, but I could not say that I Know them. However, their spouses or children, even personal assistants could say that they Know them. They know what makes that person happy or sad, what makes them angry or what foods they like or dislike. There are a number of great people's lives I have studied and while I think I would know them, I can only know them through the stories of others that knew them. But with God, we can KNOW. First, we read His Word and the eye-witness accounts of others, but if you are born-again (that means you have been born of the Spirit of God), then you spend time in the Presence of God and you will know Him.

And He shall direct/level your paths:

• Your feet won't stumble on uneven ground.
• He will guide you with His eye (Psalms 32:8)
• When your ways please the LORD, he will make even your enemies to be at peace with you. (Proverbs 16:7)
• The way of the righteous is made plain. Proverbs 15:19

The book of Proverbs teaches that the way of the transgressor is hard. I have found myself determined to do something in life that was not God's will for me. The sad part of it is, I knew it wasn't God's will for me. However, due to God giving us free-will, He allowed me to go on the path of my choosing, but it was very unpleasant. When we walk in the perfect will of God, there may be difficulties along the way, but it is a path that is plain. He goes before us and fills in the potholes.

In the early years of the church, a work was written called the Didache. It was more or less a manual on how to be a Christian. It's opening line is “there are two ways, one of life and one of death” Proverbs 15:24 says, “The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath.” Jesus taught the disciples that He is the Way of life in John 14:6. He is the Way that pleases God. Choose Him.

My prayer for each of you is that you will choose the Way of Life.

Jonathan Hollis