Archive | May 2015

Leviticus 21 – Set apart as Holy

May18

Good afternoon y’all. Today we are studying Leviticus 21.

Be blessed 🙂

Reading through the chapter, it dawned on me that holiness is not a choice, it’s a command from God. It’s what we have been called into as Christians; and it’s essential if we truly want to serve God in spirit and in truth.

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“They must be set apart as holy to their God and must never bring shame on the name of God. (Leviticus 21:6a NLT)

God’s desire is for us to be sanctified and set apart for His use. He told the priests that they are to be set apart and holy for Him and they mustn’t do anything to bring shame or dishonor to His name.

This applies to us as well.1 Peter 2:9 tells us “But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light”. (NLT)

We are priests as well and God’s will for us is to be holy and set apart for His use. 1 Thessalonians 4:3 confirms this –
“God’s will is for you to be holy….”(NLT)

We mustn’t indulge in anything that will contaminate us or bring shame to the name of God. Our lives should portray Jesus in everything we say and do. There shouldn’t be any form of ambiguity that would make people question God or make them dishonor Him, based on the way we live our lives.

“No one who has a defect qualifies, whether he is blind, lame, disfigured, deformed, or has a broken foot or arm, or is hunchbacked or dwarfed, or has a defective eye, or skin sores or scabs, or damaged testicles. No descendant of Aaron who has a defect may approach the altar to present special gifts to the lord . Since he has a defect, he may not approach the altar to offer food to his God. However, he may eat from the food offered to God, including the holy offerings and the most holy offerings”. (Leviticus 21:18-22 NLT)

The priests had to be without defect. Any that had defect wasn’t allowed to minister. Though God still included them by ensuring they get to share in the meals reserved for the priests.

Thanks to Jesus, now we can all come in including those of us with physical defects. We are all included in Christ. We can boldly approach the throne of grace. Hallelujah!!!

“….You must consider them holy because I, the lord , am holy, and I make you holy”. (Leviticus 21:8b NLT)

“…I am the lord who makes them holy.” (Leviticus 21:23 NLT)

We need to understand holiness is not something we can achieve on our own.  God said to the priests; ‘I make you holy’.  This tells me we need God’s help to live a holy life. We need to yield and work in agreement with His Spirit so we can daily live a life that is holy and pleasing before Him.

Holiness should be what we long for every second, minute, hour, day of our lives.

Prayer:
Dear God thank You for the privilege to know You. Please help us live holy and not do anything that will bring shame or dishonor to Your Name. Help us get rid of the sins that contaminate us and give us grace to yield fully to Your Spirit at all times. Thank You dear Lord. In Jesus’ Name we’ve prayed. Amen.

***With God all things are possible***

Leviticus 20 – Set apart for God

May15

Good afternoon y’all. Today we are studying Leviticus chapter 20.

This chapter speaks for itself. It calls for us to look inward and ask ourselves certain questions such as : have I been living holy? Am I set apart for God? Do I do what He tells me or am I set on doing and living my life on my own terms?

Verses 7-8, 22-24 and 26 were the key verses for me today.

It clearly reminds us that we are Kingdom children and can’t live our lives any how. We have been called to holiness. Gods standard won’t change. He paid a great price for us.

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“Set yourselves apart for a holy life. Live a holy life, because I am God , your God. Do what I tell you; live the way I tell you. I am the God who makes you holy. (Leviticus 20:7-8 MSG)

“You must keep all my decrees and regulations by putting them into practice; otherwise the land to which I am bringing you as your new home will vomit you out. Do not live according to the customs of the people I am driving out before you. It is because they do these shameful things that I detest them. But I have promised you, ‘You will possess their land because I will give it to you as your possession—a land flowing with milk and honey.’ I am the lord your God, who has set you apart from all other people”. (Leviticus 20:22-24 NLT)

“Live holy lives before me because I, God , am holy. I have distinguished you from the nations to be my very own”. (Leviticus 20:26 MSG)

Let’s examine ourselves in the light of God’s word to us today. Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 13: 5 to examine ourselves every now and then.

“Test yourselves to make sure you are solid in the faith. Don’t drift along taking everything for granted. Give yourselves regular checkups. You need firsthand evidence, not mere hearsay, that Jesus Christ is in you”. (2 Corinthians 13:5 MSG)

As we examine ourselves, let’s get rid of those things that contaminate us and let’s pursue holiness without which no man can see God.

Hebrews 12:1 tells us to lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily ensnares us.

1 Peter 1:14-16 says :

“So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.” (NLT)

Prayer:
Dear Lord we thank you for today. Thank you for choosing us to be your own. Search us O God and know our heaet; test our thoughts. Point out anything you find in us that makes you sad, and lead us along the path fo everlasting life. Thank you Lord. In Jesus Name we prayed. Amen

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***With God all things are possible***