Leaders bring ark to Jerusalem

1 Chronicles 15:4-13

The God of Heaven and earth, is keen on things being done according to order. The evidence of this can be seen throughout all creation. The heavens are layered specifically, and according to detail, the oceans are divided and set to flow in various directions, even the trees are designed to take root in the ground, but give fruit above the surface. Order is important to God, and He expects His people to live in such a way, that their lives are also lived according to structure, and order. Order brings balance, and structure allows for one to develop and mature at healthy rates. Operating in chaos only leads to dysfunction, and unhealthy lifestyles.

In our text, king David gathered all the priests of Israel (862 of them), to sanctify themselves before bringing the ark of the Lord God of Israel, back to Jerusalem. David mentioned to the men, how they failed before to follow God’s order of how things were expected to be done, and that he refused to disobey God a second time. So, the men wisely sanctified themselves before God, and were then permitted to transport the ark safely.

God always required proper instructions to be followed in seeking Him, and in carrying out His plans. As finite beings who rely on God for breath, and all other necessities of life, we are in no position to say anything against how God expects things to go. Only our obedience, and positive attitude are what we should give to God, in appreciation for all the things He does daily for us. If God did not excuse king David, whom He loved dearly, neither are we are exempt from committing to God’s order.

Walk in love,

Ell

David delivers ark to Obededom

1 Chronicles 13:5-8, 13-14

The ark of the covenant, which bears many other names as well, was the place where God’s presence dwelled among the children of Israel. Wherever the ark was carried, God Himself dwelled there in the midst. In the same way God abides in the hearts of all men today, is how it was in king David’s day with the presence of God abiding in the ark. The ark of the covenant was to be respected, and treated as if God’s very being was amongst the people, so treating the ark in any disrespectful manner would result in death. Sounds harsh, but it actually happened in our text, when one of the men who drove the ark on a new cart, accidentally touched it, and was instantly put to death. This was indeed a tragic mistake, but we must also be mindful of how we behave in the presence of God, or we too could suffer unfortunate punishment.

After singing, and praising God around the ark, king David became afraid, after witnessing the incident with Uzza, until he decided to take the ark to Obededom, and rest it there for a while. It matters not how much you sing, dance, speak in tongues, or exhibit any other form of worship, when God’s presence is not respected, He’ll be sure to make everyone aware of it. While the ark rested in the house of Obededom for three months, the entire household was blessed. While it’s not stated how God blessed the family, any blessing from God, whether it be health, wealth, or other material prosperity, is always a great thing!

Does God reside in your heart? Do you carry Him with you, everywhere you go? Do you respect the presence of God in your heart, the same as if He was literally walking with you daily? If not, be careful, because refusing to honor God can lead to unpleasant circumstances, but reverencing Him will always lead to joyful experiences!

Walk in love,

Ell

Duties of the Levitical priesthood

Deuteronomy 18:1-5

When God calls someone to do a specific assignment, He designs their purpose in such a way as to keep all distractions from hindering their production. For example, Jesus was sent to the earth to fulfill a very unique task, so God thought it unnecessary for Him to delve in the normal dealings of man, including marriage, sexual relations, and other things, that possibly could have distracted Him from His purpose. Another example involves Samson, who was assigned to be a Nazarite, and vowed to be separate from others, while consecrating himself to God. The vow of a Nazarite involved abstinence from wine and strong drink, refraining from cutting one’s hair off the head during the whole period of the continuance of the vow, and avoiding contact with the dead; all of which eliminated possible distractions from fulfilling God’s purpose. Our text introduces the Levites, one of the twelve tribes of Israel, who God also set aside for a special purpose.

Only the Levites were allowed to be a part of the priesthood, where they would be able to stand, and minister in the name of the Lord. Unlike the rest of Israel, the Levites were given a separate agenda to live by. They weren’t allowed to share in the inheritance with Israel, they lived by offerings made by fire to the Lord, they received specific portions of all sacrifices, and they received the firstfruits of the land and animals.

Being a priest during these days, was similar to being a king, where only the sons of priests could assume the same role. God knew that ministering in His name was an integral part of His divine plan, so He needed the priests to focus all of their attention on carrying out their assignment. Has God called you to do something special in this life? I’m certain He did, whether you know it, or not. While carrying out His will for your life, be certain to remove all possible distractions from your path, so that all your focus and attention can be directed toward the purposes of God.

Walk in love,

Ell

Always keep the faith

2 Peter 1:1-15

Fighting the good fight of faith, standing strong in the will of God, being steadfast, unmovable, and always abounding in the works of the Lord are easily attainable by following the apostle Peter’s simple advice, in this text. Many preach, or teach that remaining true to God can be done by following their own personal steps to success, but we learn from Peter, which example works best, where one will never fall, nor give up on their spiritual journey.

In order to maintain a solid connection to God, during all of life’s struggles, tests, and trials, one must first be diligent in their commitment to God, while also being faithful, virtuous, ever-learning, sound-minded, patient, and godly in character, behavior, and actions. Our faith is what keeps our hope and trust in God, and keeps us grounded in His Word. The virtue of a man is shown through how he acts and behaves, and defines the depth of his character. Growing in the knowledge of God, and of Jesus Christ, fills the believer with all the necessary tools and ammunition necessary to effectively walk according to godliness, and avoid every trap, and snare set by satan, to cause them to falter. Having a sound mind, and patience, runs hand in hand. In order for one to operate in patience, they must first have their minds fixed on God, and unaffected by unholy thoughts and ideas. People who are wise and patient, typically avoid unnecessary falls that those who are unwise tend to experience. All these admonitions, coupled with the command to love, are required for the child of God to always remain fruitful, and never be barren in the knowledge of God. As we grow in godliness, our faith level increases as well, thus solidifying the bond already established between us and the Father.

Walk in love,

Ell

Solid reasons for hope

2 Peter 1:16-21

Living day-to-day in a fallen world, where men are becoming more corrupt, sickness and disease seems to be spreading more rapidly than ever before, and the family structure has been marred to the point it no longer mirrors God’s original structure, are reasons many people lose hope in seeing a better tomorrow. Without hope, dreams die, trust fades, and ideas become crippled, causing the solid foundation on which hope is built upon, to never be established. Contrary to worldly ideals, where men invest their hope in things that offer temporary satisfaction, children of God should build their hope on things eternal. When our confidence is placed in money and other material things, we’ll lose that same hope when those things are gone, or are in short supply. On the contrary, the resources God offers never run out, and can be dispersed at a moment’s notice, if ever we have need of them. Our heavenly Father has enough love to deposit into the hearts of every human on the face of the earth. His mercy is also everlasting, and His truth has endured through every generation, past and present. When we hope in the glory of God, and the promises He made, we can rest assured, we won’t be ashamed, because “hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us” (Romans 5:5 KJV).

What allows the believer to remain hopeful in the midst of perversion, persecution, and all manner of evil is, the power of the Holy Spirit working within them. God’s very Spirit imbues the children of God with power to resist evil, walk consistently in faith, and consider others, despite dealing with their own struggles. The body of Christ is one single unit, so when one member suffers, the whole body should seek and assist. All those who are patiently awaiting our coming Savior, should build the hope in others, by encouraging them to continue in the works of the Lord. The narrow path that leads to righteousness gets lonely at times, but I’m convinced there are more than enough saved folk still in there earth, to strengthen each other at all times.

Walk in love,

Ell

This is My Son; listen to Him

Luke 9:28-36

The story of Jesus, and His transfiguration on a mountain, is a very familiar one, and full of valuable details; some of which go unnoticed by the casual Bible reader. But, the more you study this text, the greater understanding you’ll develop of Christ’s purpose on the earth.

God sent His Son to the earth, to redeem man back unto Himself. This act alone proves the value and worth of man, and should inspire all to appreciate God more. There was no other way by which man could be rejoined with God, except a perfect sacrifice was offered. Jesus, was the sacrifice that atoned for the sins of all men. Before Jesus accomplished “his decease” at Jerusalem, He would often take time to pray alone. Knowing the task at hand would be gruesome and impossible to accomplish on human strength alone, Jesus wisely took time often, to talk with His Father, to gather strength and courage to follow through until the end. Yes, Jesus was God in the flesh, but that same flesh was just as ours; susceptible to feelings, pain, and other intense emotions. I cut one of my fingers at work a few years ago, and I literally felt as if I was dying, but I can’t begin to imagine the pain Jesus felt as He was beaten, stabbed, and tortured beyond belief.

In our text, Jesus took a few of His disciples into a mountain with Him, to pray, but they fell asleep, while He continued with His purpose. When the men had finally awoken, they saw Jesus, standing with Moses, and Elijah. Unaware of their conversation (Jesus and the ancient prophets spoke of His “decease”, or the time of His death), Peter felt honored to be in such a presence, then offered to erect tabernacles for the three anointed men. While men care more for carnal things, God cares more for souls. Rather than entertain Peter’s request, God simply commanded the men to hear the words of Jesus, and obviously obey them. God’s words confirmed what Jesus had previously told the disciples moments prior when He said, “For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father’s, and of the holy angels” (vs. 26).

When we study and obey the words Christ spoke, we’ll gain a better understanding of our purpose in this life, strength to endure daily, wisdom to know and discern good from evil, and the courage necessary to be bold in this evil and perverse generation. “Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not, keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me” (John 14:23-24).

Walk in love,

Ell

The coming Day of the Lord

 

2 Peter 3:11-15, 17-18

The life of the disciple of Christ is a growth process. Every day God blesses one to enjoy, presents the opportunity for the believer to grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord, and Savior, Jesus Christ. Those who have invested numerous years of devoted commitment to godliness, should be to a point where they look for, and desire “the day of God”. During the baby stages of one’s conversion, it’s expected for a babe in Christ to harbor desires for those things they once enjoyed, including the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, but as one matures and develops a greater understanding of life’s purpose, they become transformed, by the renewing of their minds, and seek only a more permanent, and sustained future; one where God will make new heavens and a new earth, and only righteousness will dwell there. This present world offers things that will only be dissolved in the end, but what God has prepared for His children offers eternal benefits that will be enjoyed forever!

In the same way an athlete invests hours into intense and vigorous exercise, so that their bodies, and minds will be at tip-top shape when the time comes to perform, all children in the family of God should devote their time to studying, learning, and desiring more knowledge of the awesome God they’re awaiting to meet, so that they too can perform well on the earth, until He comes to deliver their reward.

Walk in love,

Ell

One day like one thousand years

2 Peter 3:8-10

One thing many people are ignorant of is, God’s timing, and how it is not the same as the time man is confined to. In fact, God resides outside of time, and is not limited, nor affected by it in any way. He is a timeless being, who existed before the beginning of the beginnings. As AMAZING as that sounds, I don’t understand, nor can I explain how that’s possible, but based on the irrefutable evidence I see on a daily basis, I believe every word inspired by Him, and written in the Bible.

Knowing that our time on earth is limited, should provoke every man to seek counsel from the One who exists outside of time. Unfortunately, many are willingly ignorant of this fact, and choose to live as though their end is secure, while living according to their own wills. Time that’s wasted can never be regained, and it’s sad how countless hours a day are spent on actions and habits that do nothing to please God, bring glory to His name, nor strengthen the faith or character of a man. It’s interesting to see a sports team strive hard to win a game, as the time slowly expires; contributing effortless physical and mental exertion to come out victorious. I say this often, and I’ll say it again, “God cares nothing about sports!” The time men spend shooting balls in hoops, kicking balls through goals, or swinging golf clubs from the greens, could be used learning, growing, and spreading the message of the Gospel all around the world.

According to verse ten of our text, “the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up”. Take a moment, and read that verse again. Go ahead, I’ll wait……….”the earth also and the works therein shall be burned up”. All the amazing buildings, monuments, stadiums, homes, cars, attractions, amusement parks, malls, and every Walmart, will be destroyed, on the day of the Lord. If reading this verse frightens you a little, good. It’s intent is to make you aware that our existence on this planet is temporary, and God has a better place prepared for us, after this life. So, why do men invest so much precious time in things that will someday be an afterthought? God doesn’t need time, we do, so it’s time that we learn to appreciate the time we’re given, and spend it wisely, because when it’s gone, judgment awaits.

After studying this lesson, I recommend everyone to invest your time doing things that bring pleasure to God. For example, instead of hating your enemies, learn to love them, and seek to draw them closer to God, rather than wish evil upon them. If you have lingering issues with a brother sister, coworker, or friend, release the grudge, forgive them, then try to make up for all the time lost during your time of separation. “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him”. (Colossians 3:15-17 KJV).

Walk in love,

Ell

Our dwelling place

Psalm 90

God takes great delight in those who bring glory to His name. Men, women, and children alike, understand that in order to benefit from God, the proper character, conduct, and attitude must first be aligned to meet His expectations. God inhabits the praises of His people, and desires only to bless and not curse them, but God can only abide, where His Spirits dwells. Expecting to receive the full benefits God provides, without first being validated by a holy lifestyle, is similar to someone attempting to get funds from an atm machine, without having an account with the bank. Only in God, can a man find true purpose, peace, and good success.

According to our text, Moses prayed, and gave thanks to God for being his dwelling place; the source of his peace, protection, and provision. Moses understood that God was indeed the creator of all things, and willingly walked in obedience to His commands. God, in turn, blessed Moses, and his descendants, even after allowing times of trouble to bring them back into right standing with His Word. Similar to the previous lesson, Moses also realized that life is only for a season, and the wisdom of God is essential in order to live every day according to His will. “… where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty”, and when God’s Spirits abides in our hearts, He has the freedom to bless, inspire, influence, and motivate us to be our best, as long as He allows us to live.

“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.” (Psalm 91)

Walk in love,

Ell

The Spirit and Bride say come

Revelation 22:14-17

After time expires for everyone on this earth, there are only two rewards given to each man, based on how he lived. The first reward is eternal union with the God of all creation, and the second is, eternal separation from the same Creator. Do you know which reward you’ll enjoy after you die?

Understanding the truth of God’s Word, requires one to hear, consider, then make a decision. Throughout the Bible, God revealed Himself plainly through signs, miracles, and wonders, that were undoubtedly proof of His existence and power, yet men willingly chose to refuse to accept Him as Lord and Savior of their lives. From then to now, all who are unjust, filthy, and refuse to obey the commandments of God, will soon be standing on the outside of the gates to the city of New Jerusalem.

Our existence on the earth is not comparable to movies, where men and women die, then have another chance to come back and correct the mistakes of their first life, instead death is forever, and when your name is called, the death angel will politely excort you from existence. For this reason, it’s crucial that we choose to live pleasing, and acceptable lives unto God, because we only get one chance on this earth. God the Father, freely welcomed all to join His royal family, without charge, or other form of payment. He only asked for men to choose wisely, whom they would serve, and accept His free gift of salvation.

Preachers preach, teachers teach, and many others warn against the dangers of sin and its consequences throughout churches and religious establishments around the globe, yet these warnings continue to fall upon deaf ears. What a sad day it will be, when all who had more than enough time to surrender to God, see the truth of His Word after their time is up. All men are invited to join Christ at His coming, but all won’t be ready to see Him in peace. Take your life more seriously, and consider whether your eternal destination will be in the presence of God, or separated from Him, in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone (the second death).

Walk in love,

Ell