WHO IS GOD? All Hail the Power...

And I like Daniel confess that I am but a speck and am told to love Him and keep His commandments, which ultimately amount to love. (Dan 9:4) And I like the Isrealites am warned by Joshua to love God and follow His commandments. (Joshua 22:5; Joshua 23:11)

Who is God? All hail the power...

God is so much more than power. He is great, yes, He is holy, yes, but there is so much more, so much deeper emotions and thoughts run through the Creator. He sent His Son to earth not out of meanness but out of kindness. And in Him if I keep His word, His love is made perfect. (1 John 2:5, 1 John 3:16-17). God is manifested in Jesus, God and Love Incarnate (1 John 4:9). And in this love, God demonstrates His power to save us and rejoice with us in His comfort of us. (Zephaniah 3:17) After all, while we are all lost in our sins, God committed His love to us and sent Jesus to die for us. (Romans 5:8) So that even when He says “No”to our prayers He is only doing it for all of our good. Events affect everyone and everything and He is in control but He is not a controlling God. What He does, whether He intervenes or not, all of His decisions are based in love. His love is perfected and His power is demonstrated when our love for each other is manifested in deeds of love, kindness, and compassion. (1 John 4:12). We are exhorted over and over to remember that God is love and in that love there is no fear, of losing that love, of having to earn that love, or of never being forgiven. (1 john 4:16,18) For God has taken care of all things for us.And so He sends His son, His grace and His love. (2 John 3) The Lord's greatest power is in His love. And He is gentle and loving. (Song of Solomon 3:5) And there is much love that He has for us. (Song of Solomon 4:1,7).  

Teach Me that I might teach

When we walk in His light, allowing Him to control us, we are teaching all that this is what the Father wants. Especially when those on the outside looking in (whether or not they believe in the power of God) see our joy. There is utmost joy in God as we receive His eternal and unending comfort because of our surrender to Him. (Colossians 2:2) And in this way can we abound in love for one another, and teach others to give Him praise and glory that they may abound and those they contact may abound and so forth. (1 Thessalonian 3:12). Paul urges us through Timothy to hold to the teaching of God's love. (1Timothy 1:13)

I am the Lord Your God

And all He asks us to do is love Him, walk in His commands, and obey Him. (Deuteronomy 19:9) and if we do these things He will bless us. (Deuteronomy 30:6). Over and over He explains His desires for us and what we can do to please Him. These more than any other passages are the defining moments of God. He is a God that is trustworthy, open, merciful and full of grace. And His blessings are many. (Deuteronomy 7:9,13) Over and over He repeats the request to follow His commandments to love Him and walk in His ways. (Deuteronomy 19:9) He is The Lord our God and gives us explicit commands how to acknowledge this by accepting Him and His love. 

There are no Jews, no Greeks, etc (the people of the church)

t God tells us from the get-go to love each other. Have love in our hearts and bear no grudges toward one another. In that way we will be keeping His commandments. He wants us to be in obedience to the extent that not even food or clothing should be com-mingled with food or clothing that God doesn't want us to use. And He tells us to be hospitable to people not in our general community. Why? Because He loves and wants all people to come to Him, and food and clothing are not given the same consideration as other people, at least by God. He loves living beings. He uses inanimate objects. That's the difference. (Leviticus 19:18,19,34)

Who am I? My relationship with God through prayer

God considers me among His highest and most valuable possessions. Not only that but He considers me as useful to Him and helpful. (Song of Solomon 1:9). He considers me beautiful. (Song of Solomon 1:15) And He considers me gentle and harmless and loving in nature and He wants me with Him. (Song of Solomon 2:2-14) And He excites me to love Him. (Song is Solomon 5:2) In fact, I want to spend every waking moment with Him, even though I am told to not disturb Him (Song of Solomon 3:5, 8:4). But I am mindful of Jesus telling His apostles not to prohibit the children from coming to sit by Him. And He loves me to come by Him and to sit with Him. (Song of Solomon 4:1,7; 6:4)

There is Jews, Greeks, etc. (part 3)

We are His and because we are His we are interconnected to one another. Sometimes we don't realize that and we dispute with each other over trivial matters to the point of breaking up the church. But if we learn that while we are all His we are also independent thinkers and all have our own decisions, choices, experiences and wisdom we will be able to love one another as God does us, because we are like parts of the body. This is why Paul stressed this to the churches, so that they would learn this and live in peace with one another. (1 Thessalonians 5:13)

There are no Jew, no Greeks, (part 2)

God chose us, to be His church, to be His children, to live with Him forever. But what we often forget is that He chose us, and He gives us every opportunity to choose Him and His lifestyle and walk as He walked. (Ephesians1:4) The only way to do this is to become deeply rooted in Him. (Ephesians 3:17)

There are no Jews, no Greeks, no Men or Women (people of the Church)

God is such a merciful God that He not only allows us entrance through Jesus into His throne room, but also multiplies the peace and love we experience the more we approach Him in that love. (Jude 2)

I am The Lord Your God

He does not love us for our money or wisdom or beauty. He loves us for us. (Deuteronomy 7:7) What a shame we don't get it. What a shame we would rather perform for the King to earn our reward. But clearly our reward comes when we love Him and praise Him. (Psalm 91:14)

Who am I? (my relationship with God through prayer)

And God grants me the honor and privilege to be His child. (John 1:17) because when I in prayer and humility come before God and tell Him that absolutely, without question that Jesus is my Lord and savior, He promises His life is my life. (1 John 4:15). And with that love comes the privilege of going boldly before Him because the love He has for us is perfect. (1 John 4:17). That love casts out all fear, because in fear is torment, worry, short-sightness. (1 John 4:18) And love, the love of God, the love we have for God, means following after Him and His commandments. (2 John 6).

I HAVE A DREAM (blessed are the believers)

I love Paul and his writings to the Colossians and Thessalonians. He never failed to recognize their faith and that is such an exhortation to me to do the same to my brethren and to let them know what their faith has meant to me. In Colossians 1:4 Paul writes, “Since we've heard of your faith in Jesus Christ and of the love you have had toward the saints...” and in Colossians 1:8 he writes, “Who has declared unto us your love in the Spirit.” In 1Thessalonians 1:3, Paul writes, “Remembering without ceasing your work of faith and labor of love and patience and hope in the Saviour Jesus Christ in front of God our Father” and in 1Thessalonians 4:9, “But as touching brotherly love ye asked not that I write unto you for your yourselves are taught by God to love one another”. And Paul exhorts the Thessalonians in 1Thessalonians 5:8, “But let us, who are of the day, be sober,putting on the breast plate of faith, love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.” Everyone needs encouragement to stay strong. Such an outpouring and acknowledgement of love and gratitude because he knows that people have a choice to either grow in the gospel or to deny it. And we as well have that choice. And so many have chosen either side. I will gladly stand for and with those that have chosen Christ and will acknowledge their love for Him!

There are no Jews, no Greeks, etc... (people of God's family)

And of course we have been given opportunities in this life to walk according to God's word and plan especially with each other. Over and over we have been given chances to prove our love for one another, not because of anything we do, but because God loved us first enough to send His Son into the world that He die and rise again to lead us into salvation. (2 Corinthians 8:8, 2 Corinthians 8:11. It is not for us to judge which of us God loves more, those that make the rules or those that break the rules. It is for us to call each other to understand that He loves us beyond measure, whether this is through actions or through words.(Gal 5:6) We have been called to be His family. (Galatians 5:13) And God has told us how to walk in the community as well as the world, by employing the fruit of the Spirit which He has already provided us with. (Galatians 5:22). And God's news of love and peace and Hi heart full of grace travels fast when we walk in His light.

Who am I? My relationship with God through prayer.

I am such a being that I need others to go before God's throne on my behalf as well as I go before His throne. (Romans 15:30) Not that anything is impossible for God but because it is an acknowledgement of unity and love of the brotherhood. And when that happens Jesus is in our midst. Not only that but our speech and our walk must demonstrate our love for one another, not just God. (2 Corinthians 2:4) And this includes the brotherhood paying attention when I ask them to forgive each other. (2 Corinthians 2:8) All for the purpose that Christ died for all of us. (2 Corinthians 5:14) and I should not be afraid of trials or whatever comes but know that God is Love completed in His Son and that He will see us through. (2 Corinthians 6:6). I cannot depend on myself, but only on God and He will guide me perfectly.

Teach me to teach that I might learn

 Romans 12:9 speaks of how we should let love disseminate through the universe. Paul tells me there is no love that can discern evil other than God's holy love. It is in that walk that we will show others the result of Christ's sacrificial love and that while throughout His life (not just in dying the way He died) He was a cheerful giver because He saw God in every person He came in contact with, even the Pharisees. And by doing so taught all of us to do the same, to love our enemies as though we were walking hand in hand with God. Romans 13:10 and Luke 10:27 describe this communal love. My neighbor should not have ill done to him, nor should we be envious of one another, nor should we count each other's wrongs. Why? Because the whole world is our neighbor, not just those who think like we do, go to the same church as we do, are from the sane state as we are.

Who is God? All hail the power...

God's love for me is so great, so powerful and yet He wants to open about just how much in love with me He is. He knew me when I was a youth, young and idealistic and willing to follow Him to the ends of the earth. (Jeremiah 2:2) And He yearns for me to return to that, to have that image in my mind of following Him through any kind of disastrous events.

Who is God? All Hail the Power...(part2)

And God delights in me, as in Song of Solomon 7:6. He loves me, so much so that He coverts my time. He loves me as the lover in Song of Solomon 8:6 who pleaded with His loved one to place a seal over her heart. God wants me to seal my heart with His Spirit. And then He tells me I can conquer death. He tells me that love is so powerful not even a mighty flood can destroy it. (Song of Solomon 8:7)

Who is God? All hail thw power....

Love is powerful, because God is powerful. God is able to love everyone fully. (Ecclesiastes 9:1, 9:6) We cannot in the human state grasp that because we can only perceive three dimensions. But because we are God's children He is training us to trust Him that He is teaching us how to love fully. Because of this God equips us to make the most of our lives loving everybody.

When I am out of synch (part 2)

And when sin overtakes me, there is no room for love in my heart. And I feel out of sorts with everything. (Matthew 24:12) But love came to show me the way, the ultimate expression of love. (John 15:13) and it is the true way and the only way the world knows us by relationship in love and with love for one another. (John 13:35) It is Jesus' hope and prayer in John 17:26 that I become like God,I become like Jesus and we become the incarnation of love.
And with that, nothing can separate us from His love, because it would be separating ourselves from ourselves. (Romans 8:35)

When I am out of synch

Love gone awry is one of the saddest, most horrible ways of going out of synch. When someone tells you that he or she stopped loving you. It is the most agonizing of times and poignant of times. It was that way when Ammon told his sister to go away because he hated her for not committing incest with him. (2 Sam 13:15) It's that way when I want to sin and tell God to leave because He won't abide with my sin. How sad!

Teach me that I might teach

And of course, our leaders teach us to love wisdom, even to cherishing it as we would one that we love. (Proverbs 5:9) The wise after all follow and bow to the understanding of God. And the wise won't follow untoward love. (Proverbs 7:18) The wise won't allow his/her vision and decision-making faculties to be clouded by being in the throes of passion. And our leaders teach us how to be wise and strong.

Who am I? (my relationship with God through prayer) (part 3)

And I recognize that God brought to the feasting to live with Him. Although life is tough and there are many bumps in the road, God will not leave us. (Song of Solomon 2:4,5; And God is heart sore for me. (Song of Solomon 5:8) God builds for me and other like me a home and seeks me with a lover's intensity. (Song of Solomon 3:10)

Who Am I....my relationship with God through prayer

God designated the Levites to be in charge of the tablernacle (Number 3:6-9) and who will help. He also charges me to be in charge of my tabernacle, my bodies as Paul talks about in 1 Corinthians. He is quite specific about what the Levites are to do in and with the tabernacle. (Numbers 4; Numbers 8; 1 Chronicles9:27-29; Ezekiel 8:24-34) And if I truly listen, He is specific with me.

WHO AM I?.... my relationship to God through prayer

God was also specific with the Levites and what they were to supervise/manage. (Numbers 1:50) and how they were to serve. Only the Levites were to pitch tents around the tabernacle and to keep His word. Is that what God does for me? I truly believe when I go to Him in prayer and love He tells me how to serve and guard His word and distribute it as well.

I am the Lord Your God (part 3)

And love is so wonderful that no matter how often we sin we are forgiven because we are his children. (Hoaea 3:1) God loves us so much that He frees us from what binds us and therefore demonstrates He truly is love. (Hosea 11:4)  

I am the Lord your God (part 2)

Love=God. God is love. When God told Moses “I am who am” love was included in that. God doesn't want any to come to harm, but He wants us all to live in peace. He has a great heart and wants all reconciled to Him. (Proverbs 10:12) Love is productive, and not in terms of personal gain but in terms of nourishing and caring for others. Love doesn't get frustrated but nourishes. (Proverbs 15:17), And God will not bear grudges but understands that both life and love are processes that we as humans have to make our way through, rather than to be beat down for not understanding how to do certain of the processes or for not even being able to do those processes, (Proverbs 17:9) Love is patient. And yet love exposes sin. This is so much of where Proverbs 27:5 is going, and puts me in mind of Paul's rebuke of Peter when Peter wouldn't sit with the Gentiles because of the Jewish Christians. Love exposed that Peter should have been sitting with all and not just the Jews. And Paul did so in a manner that may not have please our Equal Opportunity committes today but demonstrated to the leader of the church in Jerusalem at that time that not even he is without sin.

I am the Lord Your God

What amazes me is that the God of power is also the God of love. And He made that choice. God is love and God is choosing to love and to be the God who loves beyond measure. While as God He is righteous, He is performing acts of righteousness out of love for us. His righteousness is for love not the other way around. Righteousness is the act of pure love. Just as David's love for Jonathan was pure and his concern out of pure love, God's love is pure, and His concern genuine. (2 Sam 1:26)

Teach me to teach (part 3)

The Levites also showed how not to follow, that is by not hastening when they were so instructed by God through Joash to gather money to repair God's house. (2 Chronicles 24:5) But then they obeyed God and were blessed. (2 Chronicles 24:11) and as men of God who were the leaders commanded the Levites to bring various items into His house (offerings and vessels specifically) (2 Chronicles 34:9; Ezra 8:29-33)

Teach me to teach (part 2)

And David himself appointed specifically Levites to praise and ministered to God's ark,where His word was held. The Levites or specific members of the tribe were in charge of the vessels and instruments of the sanctuary (1 Chronicles 9:26-29). as well as clothing and jewels (1 Chronicles 29:8) Again it was delegated to certain of the Levites. And the leadership was passed down from David to Solomon to see God's will was carried out. (1 Chronicles 29)

Teach me so that I may teach

The Levites were separated to carry God's Word. (Numbers 10:8) As Christians we are separated from the world to carry His Word in season and out of season. (Ephesians 4:2-4) David knew if God said to do something a certain way it had better be done that way. (1 Chronicles 15:2). And because of His help, the Levites felt as though they could carry the responsibility. (1 Chronicles 15:26)

I am the Lord Your God

God never leaves His people. He gives us that which we ask for – if we want Him in our lives then He is there without fail and wholeheartedly. If we deny Him, He denies us. (1 Chronicles 15:2)

Who am I? My relationship with God through prayer (part 2)

God originally taught the teachers such that the Levites were numberedand segregated (1 Chronicles 23:3; 24:7) by the polls according to age. And this was renewed by the remnant of the Levites. (Ezra 3:8) For some reason even though God told them to retire at 50, the Levites continued to work in the temple. How often are we like that, we continue doing what we do even though God tells us it's time to do something else? It's simply a matter to teach each of us that He is in control and if we continue to serve in our way rather than God's will we may hit a bump in the road and certainly won't be blessed by it.

Who Am I? My relationship with God through prayer

 God designs what work each person should do. There were tribes who were in Israel for instance that were gatekeepers (1 Chr 9:27), people who were charged with guarding God's temple such that there were no intruders in the evening. As will God charged people to be musicians (1 Chron 9:33). He charged me with being a caregiver . He even charges me to live where I live, as from the time I was in college (30 years ago) He has sent me to see and visit Kentucky and now live. Much as He charged the priests to occupy certain rooms in the Temple. (Ezekiel 40:44) and the musicians on the outside of the Temple. (Nehemiah 12:29).

Teach Me that I might teach (part 3)

God designed certain ages to serve as teachers and servants and priests from the time of His Tent of Meeting to the Temple. (Numbers 4:3, 30,47). He also designated when these men should stop doing the serving although they could still help out (numbers 8:23-26) Do His people today listen when He is specific?

Teach me to teach....(part 2)

God designs what work each person should do. There were tribes who were in Israel for instance that were gatekeepers (1 Chronicles 9:27), people who were charged with guarding God's temple such that there were no intruders in the evening. As will God charged people to be musicians (1 Chron 9:33). He charged me with being a caregiver . He even charges me to live where I live, as from the time I was in college (30 years ago) He has sent me to see and visit Kentucky and now live. Much as He charged the priests to occupy certain rooms in the Temple. (Ezekiel 40:44) and the musicians on the outside of the Temple. (Nehemiah 12:29).

Teach me that I may teach....

And there were others besides the Levites that were chosen to teach and lead. The Levites were just sent by God in order to 1) demonstrate the way into His throne room (the Holiest of Holies) and 2) to show power gone wrong in intellectual “right thinking” people. The sons of Gershon (Numbers 4:8) were assigned to the tabernacle. The tabernacle itself held the Holiest of Holies and the outer room with the lampstand, and so the sons of Gershon ensured the physicality of the tabernacle was maintained in its purity and sanctification to prepared for the presentation to God. Then each family was involved in participating with worship of God (Numbers 3:27).And each was given the appropriate way to behave in the sight of the Lord, including who to accept and listen to as leaders, what not to touch, and where not to go (Numbers 4:18-20), God also showed who He wanted as leaders and priests (Exodus 28:1) by consecrating Aaron and sons from the other families,.as well as to show how far the leaders had gotten away from what God wanted. As well God gave Israel the charge if setting themselves apart from other nations because they were God's chosen. (Numbers 3:38). In this way God demonstrated living the sanctification as Paul describes I in 1 Corinthians 12-14).

Who is God? All hail the power...

And God showed which tribe would be the leader of priests (Number 17:1-8). Also who would be the responsibility for the sin of the rest of the tribes (Numbers 18:1) and hence could go into the Holiest of Holies. This was entirely in God's control. Not only in bearing that responsibility, but God also let His people know who was in charge of maintaining the temple )Numbers 3:22, 1 Chronicles 9:20) as well as where His people would set up the temple (Numbers 1:50-53, Numbers 2:17, Numbers 3:20-25) and where He wanted the priests and High Priest to reside.(Joshua 21).

Who is God? All hail the power....

The gist of Levitical writing is that God is in control. Even down to how we value things on this earth and what we consider as important. Even to the separation of male, female, and child; even to the evaluation of what is truly holy and what is unclean among the created beasts. While the priests make the estimation of the holiness of a value of beasts, God ultimately controls those evaluations. God determines who has the authority and responsibility to make those evaluations. (Leviticus 27:1-34)

And as Jesus says the traditions, the words, the literal words, became more important than the Spirit of God and the legalities involved more critical and essential than the intent of God. (Mark 7:9-13) Jesus is trying to impress upon the Jews and us that it is God who is in control, not the interpretation of words by men.

Teach me that I may teach....

Great s God that from the very beginning gave His people teachers and life's examples of how He wants us not to just exist but to really live. He gave the Israelites the Levites to teach them about sanctifying and blessing. (Numbers 8:6-20) This was to show His people how to separate themselves from what displeases God. And yet He knew there is humanness to be self-righteous, surely, as well as out-and-out rivalry between those sects trying to overtake leadership as teachers and spiritual leaders. (Number 16) instead of humbly following the task that God gave them. Sound familiar? These priests were also to be put to death if they peeked in the Holiest of Holies which was only intended for the High Priest and God.(Numbers 4:19, 28) God specifies who He wants as a Levite (Numbers 3:17) much as all of His children have been given a specific task in the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12).

Who am I? My relationship with God through prayer

My prayer is that God put His word on my heart and that I respect Him always. (Psalms 119:38) Do I answer the Lord's call like Moses in Exodus 32:26-28? Do I put God ahead of everyone including family (Deuteronomy 33:9-10) God's covenant with me is because of my obedience to Him and His faith in me that I follow when He calls.

When I am out of synch

When I do things out of fear of what someone may do to me, when I fear someone more than I do God then I have gone completely out of synch and have made that person an idol. (2 Kings 12:17-18)

Before the Altar (where are you when you worship)

Here are some questions that come to mind when we worship recalling what Jesus preaches about in Matthew 5: Do we worship God? Do we sell out to that idol and sell God short (Leviticus 27:28)? Do we deny God out of fear or even homage for foreign gods (2 Kings 12:18)? Or do we truly give God His due (1 Kings 7:5; 2 Chronicles 5:1)? Do we consider God special enough to give Him not just every portion but a special portion of our lives (2 Chronicles 31:11-12)?

Teach us to teach (for our leaders)

Leaders teach us accountability and responsibility for treasures of God, His soul, His love, His Spirit, His heart, all of which is more precious than the treasures of the Levites looked after in 1 Chronicles 26:20-26. Leaders teach us accountability and responsibility to ensure breaches in the foundation and walls of our spiritual buildings are repaired. (2 Kings 12:4,5). Leaders dedicated the spoils of wars that were won by the hand of God to maintaining the house of the LORD. (1 Chronicles 26:27), as do we with our own spiritual buildings within us. And leaders teach us to give God the glory, both physically outwardly and inwardly and spiritually with depth. Because God is in us, God is maintaining us each step we make to maintain the spiritual temple within us.

Who am I? My relationship to God with prayer

When I give God my earnest plea for something for which my heart yearns, and then dedicate that which I yearn for to Him, He will bless me over and over. (I Samuel 1:11,22). When He sees my sacrifice to Him, when He sees my humility, He is pleased, because He knows that this what I am yearning for I would not give up for any reason unless I loved Him more than the object of my heart He see my heartfelt best.

Who I give control to determines God’s pleasure in me. Who I dedicate myself to determines perhaps not how I live in this life (i.e., rich or poor, warm house or cardboard box) but my life with Him forever. (Deuteronomy 20:5)Who I praise for my victories determines this as well. (Psalm 30:1)

We are His

Prince. Princess. Amazing God willing to give us the privilege of being His children (John 1:12-13). He doesn't want us to hide this. In 3 out of 4 of the gospels but especially Matthew 5, Jesus wants us to display God's blessings and shine as He shines.

Who is Jesus? (Lamb of God)

Jesus dedicated His blood, and hence God dedicated His blood, when dying on the cross. (Hebrews 9:18) All because the power of God exists above everything we can do, He wants our best and because of that, or rather regardless of that, He gives us His best. Not only that but God’s most important gift is eternity with Him. Paradise come full circle. God gives us an inheritance through Jesus as His children, children of the King, who will sit with Him in His throne room. (I Chronicles 28:12).

When I am out of synch

I can be doing what is right and good and still be out of synch. Year after year the Jews went to Jerusalem to the festivals of dedication and yet they still didn’t understand Jesus. (John 10:22) They were solemn, said the right words, (Numbers 7:1-89, 1 Samuel 8:65, II Chronicles 7:5-10) giving the right promises and even made the second dedication in Ezra 6:16-17. And yet they didn’t realize that Jesus was dedicated by God Himself when He was baptized. (Matthew 3:13-17)

Before the altar (part 4)

I am after all instructed not to delay my best. (Exodus 22:29) Nor will God fail to look upon me with favor if I give up what I truly love and am working toward.I am also instructed how to clean up my act (Leviticus 27:28) and how to treat everyone, not bypassing anyone in order to bring my best to God or in gifting others. (Matthew 15:5) After all the man left to die in the road was passed by Pharisees and priest who justified leaving the man there by having something better to do, or worse, tending to people in a more apropos venue. I will not be blessed if I do this.

 

The example exists of dedicating the “spoils of war” to God. (2 Samuel 8:10-11, 1 Chronicles 18:11). This exists so we don’t forget God and try to take the credit for ourselves for those victories against whatever is a burr in our sides. God wants us to remember that God is in control of our lives.

Before the altar (part 3)

Do I come before the altar at my leaders’ request or instruction, especially  Christ’s and dedicate where I worship and how I worship, as in 2 Chronicles 2:4, to Him? Do I take God seriously enough to listen to my leaders (that ultimately He put in place) and dedicate my whole body in worship, as the Jews did the Temple (which Paul describes as a Temple)? And am I willing to do so, not only in word but in thought and in the stillness of when I am quiet? God doesn’t want me kicking and screaming to do His will, but more to be like Isaiah and say, “Here I am Lord, send me”.

Give us this day....

God places our leaders with the responsibility of leading the congregation in even the smallest of areas but especially to dedicate with thanksgiving and joy in the entire congregation. In fact, His people seek out leaders to do this, much as in Nehemiah 12:27-43. God also directs His people and us to dedicate our homes to Him. The intensity of this is magnified because if we as His people do not dedicate our lives and homes (where the physicality of our lives exists) to Him, we will lose our blessing to another man, as foretold in Deuteronomy 20:5.

Teach me to teach....

Our leaders lead us in giving thanks and praising God for what He has done for us. In faith, the example exists that we call upon them to lead as us in dedications of joy collectively. (Numbers 12:27)

Before the Altar (part 2)

Directly opposite to this, Genesis 22:9-12 gives the process when we obey God and do everything as He wants. He shows that He is pleased by giving us the desires of our heats (Psalms 37:4) and again and again in 1 Samuel 1:11-28, 2 Samuel 23:16, and 2Chonicles 7:16. This is not always an easy road. It may mean sacrificing what we love the most as in Judges 11:30-42 when Jephthah promised God that he would give Him what ever came out His door if God would grant him victory. Which he did, and what came out of Jephthah’s door was his only child, his daughter. Imagine how hard that was to have to give up your only child because of a vow you made to God. Nevertheless he made good on the vow.

 

What does dedication  of temples and people indicate? It indicates our worship is all about God. It indicates that even if the first covenant God made with His people didn’t work because of His people, The second one surely does, because our lives are dedicated to God through the blood of Christ. (Hebrews 10:20)