Where to Serve

Take heed to thyself that thou offer not thy burnt offerings in every place that thou seest:But in the place which the Lord shall choose in one of thy tribes, there thou shalt offer thy burnt offerings, and there thou shalt do all that I command thee.” Deuteronomy 12:13-14

There is a place, that the Lord has for us to serve and worship. It is not in every place we see. It is not on every high hill and under every green tree.

In Exodus 40 we read how the Lord’s presence came down on the tabernacle, after it was finished.

”…So Moses finished the work. Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle…the cloud of the Lord was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.” Exodus 40:33-38

This signified the Lord’s presence, the place where He would dwell, and the place where He set His name. The place for Israel to serve and worship.

Did a sign ever come from down from Heaven again like this?

Yes it did.

”[T]hey were all with one accord in one place.

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

And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.” Acts 2:1-3

On the day of Pentecost visible fire, came down from Heaven, and rested upon upon the Lord’s Church, the organization He instituted, the place where He promised to be until the end of the world.

Jesus said to Peter, the little stone, ”[U]pon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”  Matthew 16:18

Peter  himself tells us,” To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, 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.” I Peter 2:4-5

It was upon Christ the big rock, not upon the little rock Peter that Christ built his Church. Peter, in the book of  I Peter explains this to us too. He tells us  that we are stones. He tells us that when we are builttogether on Christ ( who is the chief cornerstone vs. 6), we are able to offer acceptable sacrifices to God. It is not when we are by ourselves. It is not singular stone. It is  the stones that are built up together  that are able to offer acceptable sacrifices to God.

It is the Lord’s Church!

”[U]pon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”  Matthew 16:18

”For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Matthew 18:20

And it is in His Church, where the Lord wants us to serve!
” Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” Hebrews 10:25

Thoughts on the Call to Service

We read in John chapter 13, how Jesus washed His disciples’ feet.

”Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash hisfeet, but is clean every whit…” John 13:10

Jesus said, that those that are washed are clean every bit, and don’t need to wash, except for their feet.

We read in the book of Exodus that when Aaron and his sons were anointed to be priests, blood was put on them, and they were washed.

”And Aaron and his sons thou shalt bring unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and shalt wash them with water.” Exodus 29:4

This action was never repeated.

God’s Word calls Christians a royal priesthood.

” But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:” I Peter 2:9

When we were saved, the blood was applied to our lives, and we too were washed.

”In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:” Colossians 1:14

”And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”  I Corinthians 6:11

Our own salvation is a once in a lifetime experience. It is never repeated.

”By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” Hebrews 10:10

Yet we read in Exodus 30, that Aaron and his sons should wash their feet before they came near the altar of the Lord to minister and to serve.

“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

Thou shalt also make a laver of brass, and his foot also of brass, to wash withal: and thou shalt put it between the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar, and thou shalt put water therein.

For Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet thereat:

When they go into the tabernacle of the congregation, they shall wash with water, that they die not; or when they come near to the altar to minister, to burn offering made by fire unto the LORD:

So they shall wash their hands and their feet, that they die not: and it shall be a statute for ever to them, even to him and to his seed throughout their generations.” Exodus 30:17-21

We as men aren’t worthy to come to the Lord, until the blood of Jesus  and His righteousness is applied to our account. But, when the Blood is applied we have the ability to serve the Lord, and that in an acceptable manner.
Referring to the inability of man to clean himself up, it  has been said that the call for salvation is “Come as you are”. But in service the Bible tells us, “Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.”  Psalm 29:2

The Lord wants those to approach Him, to live Holy lives, and get any known sin out of the way.

”Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place?

He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.

He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.” Psalm 24:3-5

“For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright.”  Psalms 11:7

”And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? And if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? Offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept they person? saith the LORD of hosts.” Malachi 1:8

These have been just a few thoughts. God bless.

Thoughts on the Call to Service

We read in John chapter 13, how Jesus washed His disciples’ feet.

”Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit…” John 13:10

Jesus said, that those that are washed are clean every bit, and don’t need to wash, except for their feet.

We read in the book of Exodus that when Aaron and his sons were anointed to be priests, blood was put on them, and they were washed.

”And Aaron and his sons thou shalt bring unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and shalt wash them with water.” Exodus 29:4

This action was never repeated.

God’s Word calls Christians a royal priesthood.

” But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:” I Peter 2:9

When we were saved, the blood was applied to our lives, and we too were washed.

”In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:” Colossians 1:14

”And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”  I Corinthians 6:11

Our own salvation is a once in a lifetime experience. It is never repeated.

”By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” Hebrews 10:10

 Yet we read in Exodus 30, that Aaron and his sons should wash their feet before they came near the altar of the Lord to minister and to serve.

“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

Thou shalt also make a laver of brass, and his foot also of brass, to wash withal: and thou shalt put it between the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar, and thou shalt put water therein.

For Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet thereat:

When they go into the tabernacle of the congregation, they shall wash with water, that they die not; or when they come near to the altar to minister, to burn offering made by fire unto the LORD:

So they shall wash their hands and their feet, that they die not: and it shall be a statute for ever to them, even to him and to his seed throughout their generations.” Exodus 30:17-21

We as men aren’t worthy to come to the Lord, until the blood of Jesus  and His righteousness is applied to our account. But, when the Blood is applied we have the ability to serve the Lord, and that in an acceptable manner.
Referring to the inability of man to clean himself up, it  has been said that the call for salvation is “Come as you are”. But in service the Bible tells us, “Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.”  Psalm 29:2

The Lord wants those to approach Him, to live Holy lives, and get any known sin out of the way.

”  Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place?

 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.

 He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.” Psalm 24:3-5

“For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright.”  Psalms 11:7

”And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? And if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? Offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept they person? saith the LORD of hosts.” Malachi 1:8

These have been just a few thoughts. God bless.

 

Where to Serve?

^“Take heed to thyself that thou offer not thy burnt offerings in every place that thou seest:But in the place which the Lord shall choose in one of thy tribes, there thou shalt offer thy burnt offerings, and there thou shalt do all that I command thee.” Deuteronomy 12:13-14

There is a place, that the Lord has for us to serve and worship. It is not in every place we see. It is not on every high hill and under every green tree.

In Exodus 40 we read how the Lord’s presence came down on the tabernacle, after it was finished.

”…So Moses finished the work. Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle…the cloud of the Lord was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.” Exodus 40:33-38

This signified the Lord’s presence, the place where He would dwell, and the place where He set His name. The place for Israel to serve and worship.

Did a sign ever come from down from Heaven again like this?

Yes it did.

”[T]hey were all with one accord in one place.

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

And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.” Acts 2:1-3

On the day of Pentecost visible fire, came down from Heaven, and rested upon upon the Lord’s Church, the organization He instituted, the place where He promised to be until the end of the world.

Jesus said to Peter, the little stone, ”[U]pon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”  Matthew 16:18

Peter  himself tells us,” To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, 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.” I Peter 2:4-5

It was upon Christ the big rock, not upon the little rock Peter that Christ built his Church. Peter, in the book of  I Peter explains this to us too. He tells us  that we are stones. He tells us that when we are built together  on Christ ( who is the chief cornerstone vs. 6), we are able to offer acceptable sacrifices to God. It is not when we are by ourselves. It is not singular stone. It is  the stones that are built up together  that are able to offer acceptable sacrifices to God.

It is the Lord’s Church!

”[U]pon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”  Matthew 16:18

”For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Matthew 18:20

And it is in His Church, where the Lord wants us to serve!
” Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” Hebrews 10:25

 

At the Feet of Jesus

“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 10:40-42

We read this in Church, this past week. What struck me was that Martha, was trying to serve the Lord. She was, or at least that is what she told herself. Martha was so busy “serving the Lord” that she didn’t have time to serve the Lord. There  have been times in my life, where I have been doing stuff “for the Lord”, that I put off taking time for Him. To serve is good, but it is needful to take time, to sit and listen at the feet of Jesus!