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Holiness To The Lord

February 11
Daily Reading – Exodus 39-40 / Matthew 26:1-25

GOD SAID:

Exodus 39:30 And they made the plate of the holy crown of pure gold, and wrote upon it a writing, like to the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD.

GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

    As Christians we are called by God to be different from the rest of the world. It’s known as Holiness. It means to be dedicated specifically for something or separated out of the rest. Christians are called to live a life separated from this world and dedicated to the Lord.

     This separation is not in our location from society. How would we ever reach a lost world if we couldn’t share with them how God, through his Son Jesus and His death on the cross saved our soul. In Jesus’ prayer for us in John 17:15 He said; “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.” Jesus was not praying that we would be taken from the world, but rather that worldliness would be taken out of us. The priests in Exodus had an engraved gold plate attached to the headdress they wore when going before the Lord that read, “HOLINESS TO THE LORD.” It was a statement and reminder of who, and what they were to be. Set apart, dedicated, separated from the sinfulness of the world outside.

      In 1 Peter 1:14-15 it tells us how to be Holy. It says; “As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;”  Live as, and for Jesus.

GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

       Is our life an engraved banner that says we are dedicated to the Lord and separated from worldliness? Does what we do, say, and where we go say clearly “HOLINESS TO THE LORD?”

If your life was the banner for HOLINESS
what would the world see HOLINESS as?

     
Living In His Word Ministries
    “Getting people into the Word of God…
                               … and the Word of God into people.”

Dr. Franklin J. Senters Th.D.
Founder and Executive Director
Hebrews 2:12

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In Our Mission

February 9 & 10
February 9 – Daily Reading – Exodus 36-38 / Matthew 25:31-46
February 10 – NO Daily Reading

GOD SAID:

Exodus 38:22 And Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, made all that the LORD commanded Moses.

GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

    Come on let’s brainstorm. What is the next great church building program we can think of? Maybe if we had a trapeze act somewhere during the message. How about a flame thrower on one side of the platform and every time the preacher says Hell, or Devil, or Satan a huge flame shoots out across the stage. OK, those ideas might be a bit extreme, but I think maybe you get the idea. Sometimes we make our mission to serve God a bit more complicated than God intended it to be.

    In today’s verse we see a very plain truth. Bezaleel simply did what God had told him to do through Moses. Nothing extra. No extra candle holders, no extras altars, no rugs or curtains not asked for. He simply did what God had asked him to do. At the same time, he did not leave anything out. He didn’t cut any corners. He didn’t say, “hey I have a better idea, what if we did this instead?” He just did what he was gifted, and called upon to do.

      I wonder at times if we are not making our mission to serve God so complicated that the next generation says to themselves, I could never do that. Or maybe we have cut so many corners that they think, I don’t want to do that. The mission of going into all the world and discipling those we reach is very simple. Let’s go back to the marching orders God has given in His word, and just follow His directions.

GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

     I’m not minimizing ministry. There are times of trials. There is a requirement to study to show ourselves approved unto God. Yet there are times of great joy. There are days we usher people off the path of destruction to the Lord.

Does the Mission of Serving God seem impossible?

THE WEEK IN REVIEW:

      Each item listed begin with “In Our…” Yet in all “Our” lists in life, it’s always true that God is present in every detail. He empowers, encourages, and is present:

● In Our Midst
● In Our Ministry
● In Our Meditation
● In Our Membership
● In Our Motivations
● In Our Mission

Just face it, God loves you and wants to be around you.
He’s A Very Present Help In every part of our lives.

SUNDAY’S:

        Today we suggest you read and study whatever the Lord has laid on your Pastors heart. Whatever scripture he uses for today’s messages were given to him by God for your specific needs

I guess the Psalmist said it best in;
Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.

Living In His Word Ministries
    “Getting people into the Word of God…
                               … and the Word of God into people.”

Dr. Franklin J. Senters Th.D.
Founder and Executive Director
Hebrews 2:12

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In Our Motivations

February 8
Daily Reading – Exodus 34-35 / Matthew 25:1-30

GOD SAID:

Exodus 35:21 And they came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing, and they brought the LORD’S offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation, and for all his service, and for the holy garments.

GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

    I have heard that some people feel as if the churches today just want people’s money. That organized religion is nothing more than a scheme to con people out of their hard-earned cash. Well consider a few things for a moment. The majority of churches out there today are not considered Mega-churches. I’m not suggesting that all large church bodies are trying to con people, but 90% of churches in America run less than 350 people. 50% of churches have a church body of less than 100. Which leads to the belief that if this is a con to get rich quick, it’s a really poor one.

     God has never wanted people’s money. What He has always desired was their heart. In our verse today it says; “And they came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing, and they brought the LORD’S offering…” No one was forced or tricked into offering to God, they wanted to be a part of what God was doing in their midst. That is how God has always intended for offerings to be given, willingly. He even told Moses in Exodus 35:5 “Take ye from among you an offering unto the LORD: whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, an offering of the LORD; …” It was never a trick, gimmick, or con. It was always to be given of a willing heart and given where God was working in their midst. When we read on, we see how God blesses their willingness to give. It’s all tied to our motivations.

GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

      Still today for the church it says; 2 Cor. 9:7 “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” It has always been, as should always be a heart issue.

What motivates you to give to God?

     
Living In His Word Ministries
    “Getting people into the Word of God…
                               … and the Word of God into people.”

Dr. Franklin J. Senters Th.D.
Founder and Executive Director
Hebrews 2:12

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In Our Membership

February 7
Daily Reading – Exodus 31-33 / Matthew 24:27-51

GOD SAID:

Exodus31:2 & 6 See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah:… And I, behold, I have given with him Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan: and in the hearts of all that are wise hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded thee;

GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

    “Have you ever thought to yourself, “No one appreciates all I do.” Or, “Why doesn’t someone, anyone volunteer to help me. Can’t they see I’m swamped?” Could it possibly be that they don’t know how swamped you are? Have you thought about who might be able to do that job instead of you? Have you considered you may be taking the blessing away from someone else by doing it all yourself?” God raises up help in our membership, but we need to look for them and let them know they are needed.
 

     In Exodus 31 before God allows Moses to go down the mountain He tells him, I have raised up helpers for this work. Why was that important for God to do? Because Moses, like many leaders, is a hands on kind of guy. Remember back when Jethro had to tell him not to do all the counseling? Why? Because Moses was so busy counseling He wasn’t looking for counselors to help him. God was sure not going to let that happen again in the building of the temple. Moses was too important to burnout on this task.

      What could God use you to do if you would hand over some of the things you do right now? Before you go daydreaming and starting those new projects, find the Bezaleel and Aholiab God has sent your way. Bless them with a task for the Lord. Allow them to mess up. They may surprise you in what God can do through them.

GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

       I am preaching to the mirror in this devotion. Giving up things you have done for some time is hard. The first step is giving it to God. Make sure you know it’s His first. Then ask Him, who should be doing it.

What are you going to pray about
blessing someone with this next month?

     
Living In His Word Ministries
    “Getting people into the Word of God…
                               … and the Word of God into people.”

Dr. Franklin J. Senters Th.D.
Founder and Executive Director
Hebrews 2:12

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In Our Meditation

February 6
Daily Reading – Exodus 29-30 / Matthew 24:1-26

GOD SAID:

Exodus 30:7 And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet incense every morning: when he dresseth the lamps, he shall burn incense upon it.

GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

     To most people who know me, they know that I am an early riser. Well, early according to most people that is. Somewhere between 4 and 5:30 a.m. is my normal time to get up, make a pot of coffee, and then spend time in prayer, reading, God’s word, and writing about what I have read. That is where these Daily devotions come from. I choose to do so because there are very few interruptions at that time of day. The robo-nuisance callers have not begun their pestering calls yet. Most people are still sleeping, or taking a shower getting ready for work or school. This is a great time to be alone with God, pray, and meditate on His Word.

      While reading Exodus we find that this morning schedule was part of God’s desire for the priests of that day as well. Incense was to resemble the sweet smell of prayers offered to the Lord. David the Psalmist prayed; Psalm 141:2 “Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.” I know some of you may be thinking, “well that’s good for you preacher, but I am not a priest.” However in 1 Peter 2:5 it says; “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” Spend a little quiet time with God each day. It’ll do you well, and may cause a sweet aroma in Heaven.

GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

       In your quiet time of meditation this week, try saying this verse back to God. Psalm 19:14 “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.”

What is your daily time of meditation like?

Living In His Word Ministries
    “Getting people into the Word of God…
                               … and the Word of God into people.”

Dr. Franklin J. Senters Th.D.
Founder and Executive Director
Hebrews 2:12