Worship

The Eastern Gate

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Thus saith the Lord GOD; “The gate of the inner court that looketh toward the east shall be shut the six working days; but on the Sabbath it shall be opened, and in the day of the new moon it shall be opened.  And the prince shall enter by the way of the porch of that gate without, and shall stand by the post of the gate, and the priests shall prepare his burnt offering and his peace offerings, and he shall worship at the threshold of the gate: then he shall go forth; but the gate shall not be shut until the evening.  Likewise the people of the land shall worship at the door of this gate before the LORD in the Sabbaths and in the New Moons.”
Ezekiel 46:1-3

Ezekiel has received a vison from the LORD of the redeemed of the house of Israel/Judah in a right  relationship and fellowship with Him.  That day has not come.

It will come when the Messiah Jesus Christ comes down to earth, and after destroying all the enemies of Israel/Judah’s enemies, He will also return the earth to its pre-fall condition.  There is so much more to this.  The time this is speaking of is called the Millennium (1000) when Jesus Christ in His resurrection body rules the world from Jerusalem for one thousand years.

Christ Jesus fulfilled all the Law.  He is the  essence of the Law.  Believing in Him, trusting Him alone is our only means of salvation.

The LORD Hates Hypocrisy…

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sI will also stretch out Mine hand upon Judah, and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place, and the name of the Chemarims with the priests; and them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops; and them that worship and that swear by the LORD, and that swear by Malcham; and them that are turned back from the LORD; and those that have not sought the LORD, nor enquired for Him.
Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord GOD: for the day of the LORD is at hand: for the LORD hath prepared a sacrifice, He hath bid His guests. And it shall come to pass in the day of the LORD’S sacrifice, that I will punish the princes, and the king’s children, and all such as are clothed with strange apparel.  In the same day also will I punish all those that leap on the threshold, which fill their masters’ houses with violence and deceit.
Zephaniah 1:4-9

The LORD hates hypocrisy as it shows in the above verses.  He hates it, especially among His own people.

You can see that they were worshiping idols made by men, false gods, which are inspired by demons (Leviticus 17:7;  Deuteronomy 32:17; 2 Chronicles 11:15; and Psalm 106:37) for example.  You could also read Psalms 115 and 135 to see what the value and worth is of any idol.  It can do nothing for you, but keep you in the darkness of evil.

Judah was worshiping the heavenlies – the stars, sun and moon and other idols; and at the same time worship the LORD,  The worshiping of idols, and then in pretense worshiping the LORD on the Sabbath is hypocrisy.

You might say to me, “No one worships idols in our country,” but we do.  Power, prestige, money (a big bank accounts), science, government, etc..  I hope you get the point.

May we who are Christians come the conclusion that only GOD is to be worshiped, honored and feared (I do not want to offend Him in any way).  I want to live for Him; and the only way I can do that is through the gift of grace through Jesus Christ who paid my sin debt on the cross, was buried – carrying my sins away, leaving them there in the grave, then, He came out of that grave alive.  Because He did that for me, He alone deserves my allegiance completely; not partial, but wholly.

For The Sake Of The LORD’S Mercy and Truth

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Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto Thy name give glory, for Thy mercy, and for Thy truth’s sake. Wherefore should the heathen say, “Where is now their God?” But our God is in the heavens: He hath done whatsoever He hath pleased.
Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.  They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not: they have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not: they have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat.  They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them.
O Israel, trust thou in the LORD: He is their help and their shield.
O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD: He is their help and their shield.
Ye that fear the LORD, trust in the LORD: He is their help and their shield.
The LORD hath been mindful of us: He will bless us; He will bless the house of Israel; He will bless the house of Aaron. He will bless them that fear the LORD, both small and great.  The LORD shall increase you more and more, you and your children.
Ye are blessed of the LORD which made heaven and earth.  The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD’S: but the earth hath He given to the children of men.  The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence.  But we will bless the LORD from this time forth and for evermore. Praise the LORD.

Psalm 115:1-18

I do not know how many people, Christians especially, know that idols are really demons.  That is not my opinion, it is from what God says in His word.

They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared not.  Deuteronomy 32:17

And they shall no more offer their sacrifices unto devils, after whom they have gone a whoring. This shall be a statute for ever unto them throughout their generations. Leviticus 17:7

But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.  Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils. 1 Corinthians 10:20-21

In Psalm 134:15-18 the Psalmist says nearly the same as verses 4 – 8 of Psalm 115.  The worship, exaltation of any thing, or any one other than the Most High God whose Son is Jesus Christ is worshiping demons.

We are to give glory to the LORD for the sake of His mercy and truth,  There is only one way into God’s presence and that  is through Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son who died in our place, for our sins.  He died on a cross.  He had no sin, but became sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.  Worship Him for His mercy and truth’s sake.

You become like what  you worship.  Always worship Jesus for what He has done, and because of who He is.

Giving Thanks To The LORD

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Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon His name, make known His deeds among the people.  Sing unto Him, sing psalms unto Him, talk ye of all His wondrous works.  Glory ye in His holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.
Seek the LORD and His strength, seek His face continually.
Remember His marvellous works that He hath done, His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth;  O ye seed of Israel His servant, ye children of Jacob, His chosen ones. He is the LORD our God; His judgments are in all the earth.  Be ye mindful always of His covenant; the word which He commanded to a thousand generations;  even of the covenant which He made with Abraham, and of His oath unto Isaac; and hath confirmed the same to Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant, saying, “Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance;” when ye were but few, even a few, and strangers in it. And when they went from nation to nation, and from one kingdom to another people;  He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, He reproved kings for their sakes, ” Touch not Mine anointed, and do My prophets no harm.”
Sing unto the LORD, all the earth; shew forth from day to day His salvation.  Declare His glory among the heathen; His marvellous works among all nations.  For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised: He also is to be feared above all gods.  For all the gods of the people are idols: but the LORD made the heavens.  Glory and honour are in His presence; strength and gladness are in His place.
Give unto the LORD, ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and strength.  Give unto the LORD the glory due unto His name: bring an offering, and come before Him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness. Fear before Him, all the earth: the world also shall be stable, that it be not moved.
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice: and let men say among the nations, “The LORD reigneth.”  Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof: let the fields rejoice, and all that is therein.
Then shall the trees of the wood sing out at the presence of the LORD, because He cometh to judge the earth.
O give thanks unto the LORD; for He is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.  And say ye, “Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather us together, and deliver us from the heathen, that we may give thanks to Thy holy name, and glory in Thy praise.
Blessed be the LORD God of Israel for ever and ever. And all the people said, “Amen,” and praised the LORD.

1 Chronicles 16: 8-36

Some of the things I see in this song which was written by David, and sang by the choir on the day they brought the ark of God into the city of David.

This song tells us several acts that are involved in thanksgiving to the LORD, who alone is the One worthy of thanksgiving:

  1.  Give the LORD thanks, and call on His name, and tell of His great deeds He has done;
  2.  Seek the LORD, and His power;
  3.  Sing unto Him along with the rest of the world;
  4.  Give to the LORD glory and strength, give unto Him the glory that is due Him;
  5.  Creation rejoices in the LORD, when God’s people are rejoicing in the LORD, and living for Him;
  6.  Give thanks unto the LORD, because He is good, and His mercy endures forever;
  7.  Let us be continuing in thanksgiving, surrender our lives to Him.

He will come and judge the earth.

The LORD can be found in the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who came to earth as a man, lived a sinless life, was tried by wicked men for crimes He did not commit, was found guilty, and sentenced to die on a wooden cross.  He became sin for us was away from the Father, because He had become our sin, taking the full wrath of God.  Jesus was buried, and He rose again came out of the grave very much alive.

When one believes and confesses that Jesus is Lord, and believes in their heart that He rose from the dead, they will be saved unto eternal life. Romans 10:9-10.

Partial Obedience – Disobedience

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In the lessen of King Saul we learn that obedience is what God requires.  Saul did not obey the LORD.

Samuel also said unto Saul, “The LORD sent me to anoint thee to be king over His people, over Israel: now therefore hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the LORD. “Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt.  Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.”
And Saul gathered the people together, and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand footmen, and ten thousand men of Judah.  And Saul came to a city of Amalek, and laid wait in the valley.  And Saul said unto the Kenites, “Go, depart, get you down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them: for ye shewed kindness to all the children of Israel, when they came up out of Egypt.” So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites.  And Saul smote the Amalekites from Havilah until thou comest to Shur, that is over against Egypt.  And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.  But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.
Then came the word of the LORD unto Samuel, saying, “It repenteth Me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following Me, and hath not performed My commandments.” And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD all night.
1 Samuel 15:1-11

The LORD, through Samuel had given king Saul a command to go and destroy the Amalekites, because they had not treated Israel right when they were in the wilderness.

Now,  I know what people of today in the year 2025 are thinking as we read this event; “That is genocide,” or “That is very cruel,” yet that is God’s way of dealing with evil.  Who are we to question our Creator?  If God gives a command to do something, then we need to do it when, and where He says; and with haste.

As followers of Jesus Christ – Christians, we are to love our neighbors, and our neighbor maybe an enemy.   We must first deal with the evil within ourselves.  At a time a few years back, I was in prayer, and concerned about the evil I saw in the world, and I asked the Lord, “Why do you allow evil in the world? You could with the snap of Your finger destroy evil.”  Then this thought came to my heart and mind, “If God were to destroy evil, He would need to destroy me.”  That has been my answer for that question ever since then.

God will be compassionate to whom He will be compassionate.  He is merciful to whom He will be merciful.  The LORD God is wiser, and smarter than billions of the wisest people working together.

Something to think about concerning the complete destruction of a group of evil people is that the Amalakites is that there was evidently one that was shown mercy who grew up, and one of the descendants of Agag, was born as Haman in the  book of Esther.  Haman tried to kill all the Jews in Persia, but He failed.

When we fail to obey the commands of God we sin.  Even if we succeed in obeying in part of the command, and fail in the hard part, we have been disobedient children.  King Saul lost the kingdom – a dynasty that could have been his, but He failed to obey the LORD.

We are not redeemed, we are not saved, we are not justified by keeping commandments, but Jesus tells us, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15).  Since we are justified by grace through faith, then we will desire to keep His commandments, because we love Him.  If You do not have a desire to always be on the right side of God, and do His will, then you are not justified by grace through faith.

Jesus Christ died for our sins; we were  a rebellious, disobedient, and evil people; yet God so loved us He sent His only begotten Son – Jesus Christ – to  go to the cross, become the curse of sin, taking the judgment that we  deserved, dying for us.  He was buried, and He rose again.  Because He rose again we can come to Him, confessing Him as Lord, and believing in our hearts that God raised Him from the dead, and He saves us unto eternal life.

Will you trust Him today?  It is His will that you do so.

She Prayed for a Child, and the LORD Heard Her Prayer

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In chapter one of First Samuel we find a woman who is the a wife of a man named Elkanah.  One wife has children; and Hannah has so far been without a child, but so yearns for a son from God. She has prayed, and vowed to the LORD, that when the child is weaned she will give him to the LORD.

Now she has conceived, and has a son she named Samuel.  When Samuel is weaned she takes him to Eli, and to God, with sacrifices according to the word of God, and leaves Samuel, at that time a small boy, with Eli who has some wicked sons who are priests; whom Eli knows are wicked, yet does nothing about it.

After Hannah leaves her son she prays another prayer,

And Hannah prayed, and said,

“My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in Thy salvation.  There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside Thee: neither is there any rock like our God.
“Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by Him actions are weighed.  The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength. They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.
“The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: He bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up. The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: He bringeth low, and lifteth up. He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD’S, and He hath set the world upon them.  He will keep the feet of His saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.
“The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the LORD shall judge the ends of the earth; and He shall give strength unto His king, and exalt the horn of His anointed.”

1 Samuel 2:1-10

Hannah shows a great heart of praise and worship to the LORD for the blessings which God has given her.  She recognizes Him as being supreme in power.  He is the One who brings death, and the  One who gives life.

He breaks His adversaries, and He judges the end of the earth.  He also exalts the one His anointed king.

O, may we as followers of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, be always faithful to pray for more of God’s children to come to Him.  Then when they come to Him may we continue to pray and served the Lord.  Amen.

Around The Heavenly Throne

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After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, “Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.”  And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and One sat on the throne.  And He that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.  And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.  And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.  And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.  And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.  And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying,

“Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.”

And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to Him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, the four and twenty elders fall down before Him that sat on the throne, and worship Him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,

Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created.

Revelation 4:1-11

An Ascription Of Praise To God

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Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
Jude 1:24-25

Jude has written a short and powerful epistle,  including the very old words of Enoch, who was the seventh from Adam, the second coming of Jesus Christ. Words of encouragement for those who will believe, and trust the LORD God.

These last two verses of Jude are called a Doxology, A song of praise to the Most High God.  He is the One capable of keeping us from falling. He is the One who will present us faultless in the presence of His glory,  It is with much joy to the only all wise God our Savior.  To Him be all glory majesty, dominion and power now and forever more.  All praise and glory be to God our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Praising The Holy One Of Israel

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Isaiah reminding the people, in his hearing, of the power of God in their deliverance from Egypt hundreds of years prior to this day of which he is speaking.

The song is still good for the Christian and one that needs to be expressed and remembered continually. God is still Holy, Righteous, and Just. He is worthy of our worship and praise.

And in that day thou shalt say, O LORD, I will praise Thee: though Thou wast angry with me, Thine anger is turned away, and Thou comfortedst me.
Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; He also is become my salvation. Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. And in that day shall ye say, “Praise the LORD,” call upon His name, declare His doings among the people, make mention that His name is exalted.
Sing unto the LORD; for He hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth. Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.

Isaiah 12:1-6

Do we as Christians remember from where we came? Do we remember the way we were before we called on the name of Jesus, and was born again?

The way we often speak evil words, and sow evil thoughts, and treat other people it seems that we have. If we are honestly seeking to glorify the LORD with our lives let us make our lives a song of praise and worship. Being filled continually with the Holy Spirit we will sing songs, and make melody in our hearts to the Lord, submitting to Him in all things. Husbands will love their wives as Christ loved the Church and give Himself for her; and wife will submit to her husband. Children will be obedient to their parents. Fathers will not provoke their children to wrath. Employees will do their work as unto the Lord. Employers will pay their employees well, and bless them (Ephesians 5:18-6:24). These are evidences of one filled with the Spirit.

Words of praise and worship to the Lord, singing them to the Lord, with a heart for Him comes from the Spirit of God the Holy Spirit. Everyone who has been born again has the Holy Spirit living within them, but we are not always filled with the Spirit, and that is mostly because we have let sin enter our lives. Keeping short accounts with God is a necessity when it comes to our sin against Him.

God the LORD of hosts is the Holy One of Israel is calling you to trust in Him, by believing in His only Son Jesus Christ who died for our sins on the cross, He was buried carrying our sins away. and He arose and came out alive forever more.

 

Exalting The Holy, Righteous, and Just GOD

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I leave no comments only to say, the following is a song of worshiping the One who created all things so He is worthy of our worship, honor, and praise.

The LORD reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof. Clouds and darkness are round about Him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of His throne.
A fire goeth before Him, and burneth up His enemies round about. His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled. The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
The heavens declare His righteousness, and all the people see His glory. Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship Him, all ye gods.
Zion heard, and was glad; and the daughters of Judah rejoiced because of Thy judgments, O LORD. For Thou, LORD, art high above all the earth: Thou art exalted far above all gods.
Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: He preserveth the souls of His saints; He delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked. Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart. Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness.

Psalm 97:1-12

Place Of Worship

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The woman saith unto him, “Sir, I perceive that Thou art a prophet. Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.” Jesus saith unto her,
“Woman, believe Me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him.”
John 4:19-23

God’s Truth Endures Through All Generations

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Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before His presence with singing.
Know ye that the LORD He is God: it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name.  For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth to all generations.

Psalm 100:1-5

The Earth Shall Praise You, O LORD

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I will praise Thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto Thee.  I will worship toward Thy holy temple, and praise Thy name for Thy lovingkindness and for Thy truth: for Thou hast magnified Thy word above all Thy name.
In the day when I cried Thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul.
All the kings of the earth shall praise Thee, O LORD, when they hear the words of Thy mouth.
Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the LORD: for great is the glory of the LORD. Though the LORD be high, yet hath He respect unto the lowly: but the proud He knoweth afar off.
Though I walk in the midst of trouble, Thou wilt revive me: Thou shalt stretch forth Thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and Thy right hand shall save me.
The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: Thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of Thine own hands.

Psalm 138:1-8

The Goodness of God Endures Eternally

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Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? The goodness of God endureth continually.
Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.
Thou lovest evil more than good; and lying rather than to speak righteousness. Selah.
Thou lovest all devouring words, O thou deceitful tongue.
God shall likewise destroy thee for ever, He shall take thee away, and pluck thee out of thy dwelling place, and root thee out of the land of the living. Selah.
The righteous also shall see, and fear, and shall laugh at him: “Lo, this is the man that made not God his strength; but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness.”
But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever.
I will praise Thee for ever, because Thou hast done it: and I will wait on Thy name; for it is good before Thy saints.

Psalm 52:1-9

The Light of God

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And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,  “Speak unto Aaron, and say unto him, ‘When thou lightest the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light over against the candlestick.’ ”   And Aaron did so; he lighted the lamps thereof over against the candlestick, as the LORD commanded Moses.  And this work of the candlestick was of beaten gold, unto the shaft thereof, unto the flowers thereof, was beaten work: according unto the pattern which the LORD had shewed Moses, so he made the candlestick.
Numbers 8:1-4

Who Is This Man?

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And the same day, when the even was come, He saith unto them,
“Let us pass over unto the other side.”
And when they had sent away the multitude, they took Him even as He was in the ship. And there were also with Him other little ships.  And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.  And He was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake Him, and say unto Him, “Master, carest Thou not that we perish?”  And He arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea,
“Peace, be still.”
And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.  And He said unto them,
“Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith?”
And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, “What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
Mark 4:35-41

Like A Refiners Fire

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“Behold, I will send My messenger, and he shall prepare the way before Me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, He shall come,” saith the LORD of hosts.  “But who may abide the day of His coming? And who shall stand when He appeareth? For He is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap: and He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and He shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.  Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years.  And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not Me,” saith the LORD of hosts.
Malachi 3:1-5

…The glory of the LORD came into the house…

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Afterward he brought me to the gate, even the gate that looketh toward the east: and, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and His voice was like a noise of many waters: and the earth shined with His glory. And it was according to the appearance of the vision which I saw, even according to the vision that I saw when I came to destroy the city: and the visions were like the vision that I saw by the river Chebar; and I fell upon my face.  And the glory of the LORD came into the house by the way of the gate whose prospect is toward the east.  So the spirit took me up, and brought me into the inner court; and, behold, the glory of the LORD filled the house.  And I heard Him speaking unto me out of the house; and the man stood by me.  And He said unto me, “Son of man, the place of My throne, and the place of the soles of My feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel for ever, and My holy name, shall the house of Israel no more defile, neither they, nor their kings, by their whoredom, nor by the carcases of their kings in their high places.  In their setting of their threshold by My thresholds, and their post by My posts, and the wall between Me and them, they have even defiled My holy name by their abominations that they have committed: wherefore I have consumed them in Mine anger.  Now let them put away their whoredom, and the carcases of their kings, far from Me, and I will dwell in the midst of them for ever…”
Ezekiel 43:1-9

The LORD is Righteous and Holy

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The LORD is righteous in all His ways, and holy in all His works.  The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon Him, to all that call upon Him in truth.
He will fulfil the desire of them that fear Him: He also will hear their cry, and will save them.  The LORD preserveth all them that love Him: but all the wicked will He destroy.
My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD: and let all flesh bless His holy name for ever and ever.

Psalm 145:17-21

Abundant In Goodness And Truth

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And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD.  And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed,
“The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.”
And Moses made haste, and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshipped.  And he said, “If now I have found grace in thy sight, O Lord, let my Lord, I pray thee, go among us; for it is a stiffnecked people; and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for Thine inheritance.”
Exodus 34:5-9

All the kings of the earth shall praise Thee, O LORD, when they hear the words of Thy mouth.           Psalm 138:4
Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man; who have purposed to overthrow my goings.             Psalm 140:4

They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them.             Proverbs 28:4

…I know you by name

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And Moses said unto the LORD, “See, Thou sayest unto me, ‘Bring up this people:’ and Thou hast not let me know whom Thou wilt send with me. Yet Thou hast said, ‘I know thee by name, and thou hast also found grace in My sight.’  Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in Thy sight, shew me now Thy way, that I may know Thee, that I may find grace in Thy sight: and consider that this nation is Thy people.”  And He said,
“My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.”
And he said unto him, “If Thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence.  For wherein shall it be known here that I and Thy people have found grace in Thy sight? Is it not in that Thou goest with us? So shall we be separated, I and Thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth.”  And the LORD said unto Moses,
“I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in My sight, and I know thee by name.”
And he said, “I beseech Thee, shew me Thy glory.”
Exodus 33:12-18

Bless the LORD, O house of Levi: ye that fear the LORD, bless the LORD.
Psalm 135:20

Open rebuke is better than secret love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
Proverbs 27:5-6

The Problem with Pluralism

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And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, “To morrow is a feast to the LORD.”             Exodus 32:5

The above text is from hearing that Moses has been gone for a few days, and the people are desiring to have some semblance of spiritual leadership. They decide to set up a golden calf. It is probably so that Aaron feared for his life if he rejected their requests so he request their golden ear rings and such other that they have, and makes this object of rejection of holy GOD.

In an attempt to keep the people reminded of Jehovah/YHWH, Aaron builds an altar, it seems, to worship the true God. It falls short of what God calls for. He is a Jealous God. There can be no other that His people worship. His jealousness is named in the second commandment (Exodus 20:5), and it is mentioned once again in Exodus 34:14,”For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God…” That is exactly what Aaron had led them to do.

There is only One God and He is known by Father, Son and Holy Spirit. He can only be known through His Son Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world who died on the cross to redeem us from sin, He was buried not only to show that He died but to carry away our sin, guilt and condemnation; and He rose again and came out of the grave for our justification. Through Him alone can we know God, and worship Him as we ought.

People and Jesus

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Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and He shall sustain thee: He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.  Psalm 55:22

But Jesus withdrew Himself with His disciples to the sea: and a great multitude from Galilee followed Him, and from Judaea, and from Jerusalem, and from Idumaea, and from beyond Jordan; and they about Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they had heard what great things He did, came unto Him. And He spake to His disciples, that a small ship should wait on Him because of the multitude, lest they should throng Him.
For He had healed many; insomuch that they pressed upon Him for to touch Him, as many as had plagues. And unclean spirits, when they saw Him, fell down before Him, and cried, saying, “Thou art the Son of God.”  And He straitly charged them that they should not make Him known.  Mark 3:7-12

There were many people who had heard of Jesus, and His great works of ministry; healing the sick, lame walk, blind see, even raising some from the dead. Though they saw these mighty things, and some of those experienced them does not mean they believed Him, becoming His followers.

We of Adam’s race love excitement. If it is not for personal entertainment, it is for selfish reasons, such in the above case; personal healing. It is growing in the realm of Christianity that we are drawn to where “Things are happening” and it does not matter if the word of God is being proclaimed or not. If it is proclaimed it is too often ignored, not heard, and God is not glorified.

In this day and age we ought to live to point others to Jesus Christ. Living in this world and living this life is not about you or me. For the Believer, the follower of Christ, it is solely about Him.

We live in a “Me too” culture, which makes it all about “Me”. This life is about Him. He was sent by the Father to die on the cross for our sins, was buried carrying our sins away, and He rose bodily from the grave justifying forever those who believe Him.

I believe Him. How about you? If you have not done so, now is the time to call out to Him in repentance and faith. He will hear and He will save you.

Worshiping God

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Jesus saith unto her,
“Woman, believe Me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh 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

Perfected Praise

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And the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple; and He healed them. And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, “Hosanna to the Son of David;” they were sore displeased, and said unto Him, “Hearest Thou what these say?” And Jesus saith unto them,
“Yea; have ye never read, ‘Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings Thou hast perfected praise?’ “   Matthew 21:14-16