Tag: Holiness

Posted in Hiding His Word

Your Reasonable Service

Posted on by Melissa Lynne

2 Chronicles 24:1–25:28; Romans 12:1-21; Psalm 22:19-31; Proverbs 20:8-10

Your Reasonable Service
[Paul] beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. – Romans 12:1-21

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The King Hearkened to the Princes of Judah
But Jehoiada waxed old, and was full of days when he died; an hundred and thirty years old was he when he died. And they buried him in the city of David among the kings, because he had done good in Israel, both toward God, and toward his house. Now after the death of Jehoiada came the princes of Judah, and made obeisance to the king. Then the king hearkened unto them. – 2 Chronicles 24:15-17

Wrath Came Upon Judah
And they left the house of the LORD God of their fathers, and served groves and idols: and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this their trespass. – 2 Chronicles 24:18

God Sent Prophets – Spirit of God Came Upon Zechariah
Yet he sent prophets to them, to bring them again unto the LORD; and they testified against them: but they would not give ear. And the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, which stood above the people, and said unto them, Thus saith God, Why transgress ye which stood above the people, and said unto them, Thus saith God, Why transgress ye the commandments of the LORD, that ye cannot prosper? because ye have forsaken the LORD, he hath also forsaken you. –  2 Chronicles 24:19-20

The Conspired Against Him (Zechariah), and Stoned Him
And they conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at the commandment of the king in the court of the house of the LORD. Thus Joash the king remembered not the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but slew his son. –  2 Chronicles 24:21-22a

The LORD Look Upon It, and Require It
And when he died, he said, The LORD look upon it, and require it. And it came to pass at the end of the year, that the host of Syria came up against him: and they came to Judah and Jerusalem, and destroyed all the princes of the people from among the people, and sent all the spoil of them unto the king of Damascus. For the army of the Syrians came with a small company of men, and the LORD delivered a very great host into their hand, because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers. So they executed judgment against Joash. –  2 Chronicles 24:22a-24

His Servants Conspired Against Him and Slew Him on His Bed
And when they were departed from him, (for they left him in great diseases,) his own servants conspired against him for the blood of the sons of Jehoiada the priest, and slew him on his bed, and he died: and they buried him in the city of David, but they buried him not in the sepulchres of the kings. – 2 Chronicles 24:25

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I Will Declare Thy Name Unto My Brethren
I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee. Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel. For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard. – Psalm 22:22-24

Who Can Say, I am Pure from My Sin?
Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin? – Proverbs 20:9

I am pure from my sin because of the blood shed for me on Calvary by my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I could never say I have made my heart clean because He alone makes my heart clean. It is by His mercies that I am able to present my body as a living sacrifice. It is my reasonable service. Glory and Honor and Praise to JESUS!

What is My Reasonable Service?
To present my body as a living sacrifice
To be not conformed to this world
To be transformed by the renewing of my mind
To prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.
To not think of myself more highly than I ought to think.
To think soberly, according as God hath dealt to me a measure of faith.
To see that while there are many members we are all one body.
To see that being many we are one body in Christ and every one members one of another.
To see that we don’t all have the same office.
To use my gifts according to the grace that is given to me.
To let love be without dissimulation.
To abhor that which is evil.
To cleave to that which is good.
To be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love.
To in honour prefer one another.
To not be slothful in business.
To be fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.
To rejoice in hope.
To be patient in tribulation.
To continue instant in prayer.
To distribute as necessary to the saints.
To be hospitable.
To bless them that persecute me.
To bless them and not to curse them.
To rejoice with those that rejoice.
To weep with them that weep.
To be of the same mind one toward another.
To mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate.
To be not wise in my own eyes.
To recompense to no man evil for evil.
To provide things honest in the sight of all men.
To live peaceable with all men, if it be possible and as much as I can.
To avenge not myself but give place to wrath (knowing God said, vengeance is mine and I will repay).
To feed my enemy if he is hungry.
To give my enemy a drink if he is thirsty.
To not be overcome of evil but overcome evil with good.

Posted in Hiding His Word

Let Them Be Silent

Posted on by Melissa Lynne

One Year Bible Passages – Exodus 28:1-43; Matthew 25:31 – 26:13; Psalm 31:9-18; Proverbs 8:12-13

Let Them Be Silent
My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me. Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies’ sake. Let me not be ashamed, O Lord; for I have called upon thee: let the wicked be ashamed, and let them be silent in the grave. Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous. – Psalms 31:15-18

First gifts
And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron’s garments to consecrate him, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office. – Exodus 28:3

I love how the artisans are said to be “filled with the spirit of Wisdom.” Artistic ability of any kind is a gift from God, as is Wisdom. Expressions of art through things like needlework and sculpting were some of the earliest gifts that we read about in the Bible, and crafts such as these done as unto the Lord or for the Kingdom purposes is using your skills with wisdom. I imagine an artist would do their best work filled with the Holy Ghost? Don’t I do my best work, whether in an occupation or crafting, if I am filled with the Holy Ghost and anointed for that purpose? This passage was a great encouragement to me.

Holy Unto the Lord
And thou shalt make a plate of pure gold, and grave upon it, like the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD. – Exodus 28:36

The words “HOLINESS TO THE LORD” actually have the same connotation as belonging to the Lord. Set apart for the Lord.

Everyone knows who Aaron is by the words he wears fastened to the front of his turban. They know Who he belongs to. He stands out. If I am part of the royal priesthood (and I am), shouldn’t I stand out too? Shouldn’t everyone know whose I am and what I am about not by Words on my forehead but by the way I live my life?

Sheep and Goats
“When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:” – Matthew 25:31-34

The distinction between the sheep and the goats was about who they followed and in this instruction about how they cared for people. This should be a great encouragement for anyone who lives with neglect, abuse, or any other form of suppression. When I care for those, I am caring for Jesus.

Immediately after the passage about the sheep and goats, the religious leaders meet and conspire to kill Jesus. And then, at the end of today’s passages, one of the once marginalized women comes and anoints Jesus with oil. Such a beautiful act of gratitude and love. We can make judgments against those that are conspiring or against the disciples for their reaction to the anointing of oil, but we probably should first examine our own heart and make sure that we are not having the same reactions and attitudes toward others.

Fear of the Lord
I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions. The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate. – Proverbs 8:12-13

Prudence – wise in practical affairs; caution with regard to practical matters.

Arrogancy – offensive display of superiority or self-importance; overbearing pride.

Froward – willfully contrary; not easily managed

Posted in Hiding His Word

His Law is the Apple of My Eye

Posted on by Melissa Lynne

God gives His Law: He is Holy
And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled. – Exodus 19:16

And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die. And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not. And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was. – Exodus 20:18-21

God wants a face-to-face meeting with the Israelites to give them His law. When it is time for the meeting, they become afraid. An up-close encounter with God can be as troubling as it is comforting. God is a holy God, and Israel couldn’t see, feel, hear God, and not be acutely aware that He is altogether perfect and holy, and they were not.

Jesus confronts distortion of God’s Law – Be Ye Holy
“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.”

“Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.” – Matthew 23:25-26; 28

The leaders of Jesus’ day were more concerned with what others thought than faithful obedience to God’s Law. These leaders knew the law and knew it very well. The law (as we read in the passages today from Exodus) was given by a loving God instructing a people who had never lived any way but as slaves. They needed direction and guidance.

Now, fast forward to this passage in Matthew. Jesus is angry because the religious leaders have taken His law and are now using it to control people rather than to teach them to be holy, as He is holy. How often do I fall into this same trap? Clean me up, Lord, that I can be holy as You are holy. As a child of God, I ought to desire to be pure and holy rather than to appear so.

God’s Law is the Apple of My Eye
Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye. Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart. – Proverbs 7:2-3

Treasure, honor and share His commands. Keep them. Bind them into everything you do. Love His commandments always. They are the “apple of my eye,” and I have written them on my heart.

He is My Strength and Shield
The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him. The Lord is their strength, and he is the saving strength of his anointed. Save thy people, and bless thine inheritance: feed them also, and lift them up for ever. – Psalms 28:7-9

David learned that God would not fix everything or make everything perfect for him. But, God would give David protection and strength to fight and overcome his trials. I am so thankful that God does the same thing for us.  God doesn’t promise to fix every problem we face, but oh yes, He does promise to give us what we need to overcome them.

Passages for today: Exodus 19:16-21:21; Matthew 23:13-39; Psalm 28; Proverbs 7:1-5

Oh Heavenly Father, Thank you for Your Word. Thank You for your instruction and guidance. Thank You that it was given in Love because You are Love. Help me to show that same Love. I want to be Holy as You are Holy, Lord. Please shine Your Light on those things in my cup that needs cleaning. Please help me to cease worrying about the outside of my cup and what others think about that. Help me to focus on You. I love Your Word. Holy Ghost, help me to always treasure, honor, and LOVE it. I cannot do it without You filling me again and again. Father, You are my strength and my shield. I love you, Jesus. My Eternal God, I thank You for sending Your precious Son to pay the ultimate price on the Cross that I can even ask for Your Help and thank You and praise You today. Please help me to hold fast against the trials and temptations that come against me today. In Jesus Name, I pray. Amen! Amen!

Posted in Hiding His Word

The Nazarite (one who is separated)

Posted on by Melissa Lynne

Numbers 6:1-2 – And the Lord spake unto Moses saying, speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, when either man or  woman shall separate themselves to vow a vow of a Nazarite, to separate themselves unto the Lord.

Mark 12:11 – When they shall lead you and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.

Mark 13:13 – and ye shall be hated by all men for my name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

Psalm 49:15 – But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah.

Psalm 49:20 – Man that is in honor and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.

Proverbs 10:27a; 28a – fear of the Lord prolongeth days; hope of the righteous shall be gladness.

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The Lord is speaking to me today about the Nazarite. I feel like I have separated myself unto the Lord. I pray that God helps me to be found faithful in all that He requires and asks me to do. Please God give me strength and help in this hour, from Your Word or from any source You chose. Please God give me discernment.

The Nazarite (means one separated) was a person who was separated completely to the Lord. Absention from wine, the symbol of natural joy, was the expression of  devotedness which found all it’s joy in the Lord. The long hair of the Nazarite, was naturally a reproach to others.  It was a visible sign of the Nazarite’s separation and willingness to bear reproach for the Lord’s sake. The Nazarite found the perfect fulfillment in Jesus who was holy, harmless, undefiled, “separate from sinners” and utterly set apart to the Father and allowed no mere natural claim to hinder or divert Him.

Scripture references for above statements:

Wine an expression of joy –

Psalm 104:15a – and wine that maketh glad the heart of man

Joy in the Lord –
Psalm 97:12 – Rejoice in the Lord, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness. 
Habakkuk 3:18 – Yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will joy in the God of my salvation. Philippians 3:3 – For we are the circumcision which worship God in the spirit and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
Philippians 4:4 – Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
Philippians 4:10 – But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.

Hair as a reproach to men –

1 Corinthians 11:14 – Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?

Holy, Harmless, Separate –

Hebrews 7:26 – For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners and made higher than the heavens. 

Set apart to the Father –

John 1:18 – No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
John 6:38 – For I came down from heaven not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

No natural claim will hinder him –

Matthew 12:46-50 – While he yet talked to the people, behold his mother and his brethren stood without desiring to speak with him. Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee. But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother and sister ad mother.

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These passages and the study regarding the Nazarite was a real encouragement for me. Often this walk is so difficult because of the loneliness. Sometimes for me though the loneliness is right in the middle of a crowd. Often it seems there is no where to fit. I don’t fit with one crowd or the other. Lord help me! I ASK YOU, PLEASE HELP ME WITH THIS and TO BE CONTENT WHEREVER YOU MAY HAVE ME. In JESUS Name. Amen!!!

Posted in Hiding His Word

Thy Word Have I Hid in My Heart – Be Holy, Be Whole

Posted on by Melissa Lynne

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Daily Scripture

“For I am the Lord that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.” ~ Leviticus‬ ‭11:45‬

“And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes? And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing. But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth. And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.” ~ Mark‬ ‭5:25-34‬

Study

Holy – specially recognized as or declared sacred; dedicated or devoted to the service of God; having a spiritually pure quality

Whole – containing all the elements properly belonging; undivided; in one piece; not broken, damaged, or impaired; intact; nothing broken and nothing missing.

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In the One Year Bible today we were in Leviticus 11 and Mark 5. Here are some things about these passages that spoke to me as I read, studied, and meditated on the Word. I love it anytime when I can see correlations and passages tied together.

Holiness is the key theme of Leviticus. The word “holy” appears more often in Leviticus than in any other book of the Bible. Israel was to be holy or totally consecrated to God. Holiness was to be expressed in every aspect of life, making what was to be lives of purity. Because of who God is and what he has done, his people were to dedicate themselves fully to him. Isn’t that the same He requires of us?

Peter quoted Leviticus in 1 Peter 1:13-16 – “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 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; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”

In the passage from Mark, we have a woman who had a blood issue for 12 years. She had been to doctors and used all she had seeking a solution. No one had been able to help and her issue was destroying her. By the very laws that were given in Leviticus she would have been considered unclean. She would have been restricted from both religious or social life. Could her identity as “unclean” be why she touched but the hem of His garment? I have read that the hem of a Rabbi’s garment was also called wings. It reminds me of Malachi 4:2a ~ But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings. The woman with the issue of blood had heard of Jesus and reports of others being healed and she went to Him. Once there she touched the hem of Jesus garment and she was not disappointed. She was healed, made whole, and clean.

Meditation

In Leviticus, we learn that uncleanness spreads like germs. When someone or something touches anything unclean, it becomes unclean.

In Mark, we learn that cleanness and holiness also spreads. Jesus is clean, and whatever He touches or whoever touches Him becomes clean…or as our passage says, “whole!”

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I like the following song, “Holy is the Lord.”  It holds a special place in my heart because our mission team sang this song during the church conferences we held in Romania.

Prayer

Oh Father, thank you so much for Your Word that is a lamp and a light to me. Help me to listen and obey to keep my life and heart set apart and holy. Help me to stay close enough to hold to the hem of Your garment, Lord that I may live healed and whole. Nothing missing, nothing broken. Help me to be holy as You are holy. May I never settle for less. And when I fall short help me heed correction and warnings and to look to You and Your Word always for my direction. Thank You that through Jesus and His shed blood I can stand before You now, Father. Help me to always, always remember the price paid for me to be made clean. In Jesus Name. Amen.