Exodus 31 - 5.17.24

Scripture: Exodus 31:1-6

”Then the Lord said to Moses, “See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills— to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of crafts. Moreover, I have appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan, to help him. Also I have given ability to all the skilled workers to make everything I have commanded you:“

‭‭Observations:

Preachers and teachers are not the only people God chooses and reveals wisdom to build His kingdom. He chooses artists and other skilled people to glorify Him. He filled them with His Spirit to make what God had commanded for His temple.  God not only gave the vision, but empowered those to fulfill it.  I believe there are so many gifted people that don’t realize God is the inspiration for the talent or skill they have. 

Applications:

God’s calling cannot be put in a box.  Many people have gifts that they may not think matter. This Scripture tells us that God inspired artists and other skilled workers.  I want to look for gifts God has given others and encourage them to keep pursing their passion. I need to remember to show others the source of their gifts.  I need to remember who is the source of the gifts I’ve been given.I also need to realize that when God puts in place a big project, He will fill those to complete it with His Spirit, wisdom, understanding, knowledge and all kinds of skills. 

Before I begin a project I need to look to God and have Him show me who He is gifting to join me. 

Prayer:

Lord thank you for all the amazing things you have created and continue to create. You created your people with many gifts and abilities. I pray we would not compare ourselves to others. May we know how important the gifts you have given each of us are. There are so many gifted people serving behind the scenes. Thank you for this reminder. I pray my eyes will be open to how you want to use my gifts and how I can encourage others.  Their gifts are important and bring glory to you. You inspire people with a variety of gifts and all creation and art forms can bring glory to you. 

Amen

- Cindy Howard

Hebrews 8-05.16.24

SCRIPTURE: Hebrews 8:10 AMPC

“For this is the new covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will imprint My laws upon their minds, even upon their innermost thoughts and understanding, and engrave them upon their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”

OBSERVATION 

The old covenant involved keeping God’s commandments and laws about sacrifices and other external requirements. Although the Israelites had made a covenant promise of obedience, they did not remain faithful. They broke God’s covenant many times over. The Israelites could not remain faithful because their hearts had not truly been changed. 

A changed heart requires something greater than the OLD system of sacrifice. 

APPLICATION 

God’s HOLY SPIRIT changed EVERYTHING 

I will PUT a New Spirit WITHIN them.

“…I will put a New Spirit WITHIN them; 

I will remove the hearts of stone from their bodies, and I will give them tender hearts, SO—that they may follow my statutes and keep my ordinances and do them. Then they will be my people, and I will be their God.”

(Ezekiel 11:19-20 AMP)

Under God’s New’s Covenant, God’s law is Inside us-not as an external set of rules and regulations BUT God Himself has taken up residence to transform our hearts, activate our conscience and influence our motives—giving us a desire to obey Him.

1.      A New Heart. “I will put My Laws IN their Minds and Write them ON Their Hearts.”

2.      Intimacy with God. “I will BE their God AND they will BE my people.” In the first covenant, people continually failed to live up to their promise breaking relationship. With the New Covenant, the relationship is secured through Jesus Christ.

3.      Access to Knowing God for Everyone. “Everyone, from the least to the greatest, will already KNOW me.” The New Covenant makes every believer a Priest. Jesus tore the curtain, and every believer NOW has intimate 24/7 access to God through prayer. Every believer will have a New depth of understanding unlike anything before BECAUSE we have God’s Living Presence in our heart to reveal truth to us as we read His Word and continue to learn through Bible believing--Christ Centered Church community and godly teachers.

4.      God’s Forgiveness is assured. “I will FORGIVE their wrongdoings, and I will never again remember their sins.” The old covenant provided an incomplete forgiveness needing to make sacrifices over and over again for their sins. With The New Covenant, sin and its effect of separating people from God are eliminated. Sin’s impact is completely overcome AND there is no longer a barrier to our relationship with God.

God’s Law is inside us and His forgiveness is complete!

PRAYER

Thank YOU LORD Jesus for YOUR GIFT! YOUR Word is written on our mind and upon our inner most thoughts to guide and direct our ways. YOU are working IN us to give us the desire and power to do what pleases YOU (Phil 2:13). Thank YOU for YOUR Goodness and Grace and LOVE that is beyond compare. Today I am simply Thankful and say Bless the LORD Oh my soul and all that is within me, Bless His Holy Name. amen.

Tina L Kudelka

Hebrews 7 - 5.15.24

Scripture

Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. (Hebrews: 7: 25)

Observation

Jesus is able to save completely those who come to God through Him. Because He is alive. Because He constantly intercedes for them to the Father. This verse starts with a “therefore”. We have to look at the verses before this, to understand why. The writer of Hebrews uses scripture to prove the superiority of Christ over the Jewish traditions. Jesus is better than Moses because He is the Son of God (Heb 3:5-6). He is better than the Levetical priesthood because He does not need to offer daily sacrifices (Heb 7:27). Jesus was made a priest forever by God (Heb 7:17 and 21). Jesus was not made a High Priest because of regulation of his ancestry, as he was not born in the tribe of Levi from whom priests were appointed (Hebrews 7:16). Other High Priests die and are buried, but Jesus lives forever (Heb 7:23). He is holy, blameless, sinless and pure (Heb 7:26). Jesus is our High Priest forever. One of the most important functions of a High Priest in the Old Testament was to be an intermediary between God and the people, and to ask God’s forgiveness for the people’s sins by offering sacrifices. Jesus died for our sins once and for all, and became the ultimate sacrifice. He is the one and only mediator between God and us (1 Tim 2:5). He lives forever, and He is continually interceding for us before the Father (Hebrews 7:25). Therefore He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him! (Hebrews 7:25).

Application

We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize and empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin (Heb 4:15). That is our confidence. Our Jesus is able to save us completely forever. He lives forever and is continually making intercession for us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us, and the blood of Jesus washes us from all sin (1 John 1:7,9). So if the Devil is constantly plaguing you with the reminder of a past sin and telling you that you are not worthy of God, tell him that it is covered under the blood of Jesus, and he has no business with you, as you are forgiven and you are justified - just as if you had never sinned!  You are a child of God, and God is your Father. We have the confidence to draw close to God’s throne in prayer, calling him “Abba Father”, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need (Heb 4:16, Rom 8:15).

Prayer

Father, I thank you for making me your child. Thank you for the blood of Jesus that washes me from all sins. Thank you Jesus, because you are alive forever. Thank you because you are constantly interceding for me. Father, I draw close to the throne of grace, calling you “Abba Father” to receive your mercy and grace and help for my need. Thank you Jesus, because you are more than enough. I trust you. I love you. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

- Asha Chacko George