But the priests needed more help to skin all the burnt offerings. So their relatives, the Levites, helped them until the work was completed and the priests could make themselves holy. The Levites were more diligent in making themselves holy than the priests were. 2 Chron 29:34 (God's Word)
The priests (remember, as father or husband you are the priest of your home) needed the help of other family members to handle spiritual matters because their family was more diligent then they were! Ouch!
diligent adj. attentive, conscientious, devoted, ernest, passionate, sincere, steadfast, studious, untiring, zealous
Don't put your kids in the place of having to lead in spiritual matters. They should be working on their personal salvation, not everyone else's in the house, including yours. Don't make your wife be the one covering your home in prayer. She may be an awesome prayer warrior but YOU are the priest. Fight your way into God's presence and blessings and prepare the way for her to be free and even more effective in praying for your family and your needs!
Friday, June 24, 2011
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
As for me and my house... Part 2
(Part two of trying to finish my last point from Sunday's sermon)
SANCTIFY THE LAND - 2 Chronicles 31:1
Now when all this was finished, all Israel who were present went out to the cities of Judah and broke the sacred pillars in pieces, cut down the wooden images, and threw down the high places and the altars--from all Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh--until they had utterly destroyed them all.
Even though they had cleaned the the temple, which took them 16 days, the "land" still needed to be cleaned up. Monday I told you how the pillars and wooden images represented the sexual immorality of our day.
What about the high places and altars? God had directed them that the only legitimate places of worship were at Gibeon (where the tabernacle was) and in Jerusalem (where the ark was). But they had erected altars all over the land, mostly in high places. Often, they worshipped false "gods," but even if they were worshipping Jehovah God, their worship was illegitimate because it was in disobedience, rebellion against God.
Where are your high places, your illegitimate worship? It can be lots of things, anything that is more important in your life than it should be. And it is definitely anything that gets in the way of your worship of God.
Hobbies. Friends. Television. Football (or whatever your favorite ball is). Golf. Fishing or boating. Hunting. None of these things are necessarily bad, but when they get in the way of more important things or take away your ability to serve God as He deserves, they are idols, places of rebellion in your life!
Even work, obviously a necessity, can be an idol. Especially those of us who are climbing the corporate ladder, and those addicted to their jobs. Spending more effort and time on our jobs than the reason for our jobs (our kids and spouse) is crazy when you think about it!
Two ways to easily measure your priorities is the amount of time you spend on something and the amount of money you spend on something. Sometimes, getting things in order is as easy as putting away the golf clubs and grabbing a basketball instead - put priority on your spouse and kids. And check that budget - how much discretionary spending is on them and how much is for you? Ouch! We're supposed to be the first ones to sacrifice, not the last.
God, help us reorganize our priorities. Help me keep the main things, the main things. Starting with You; then my family, those in my house; then my personal ministry, what You have gifted me to do for you. Keep me in check by your Holy Spirit. And as I spend them wisely, bless my time and finances to be more effective and enjoyable for my family.
SANCTIFY THE LAND - 2 Chronicles 31:1
Now when all this was finished, all Israel who were present went out to the cities of Judah and broke the sacred pillars in pieces, cut down the wooden images, and threw down the high places and the altars--from all Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh--until they had utterly destroyed them all.
Even though they had cleaned the the temple, which took them 16 days, the "land" still needed to be cleaned up. Monday I told you how the pillars and wooden images represented the sexual immorality of our day.
What about the high places and altars? God had directed them that the only legitimate places of worship were at Gibeon (where the tabernacle was) and in Jerusalem (where the ark was). But they had erected altars all over the land, mostly in high places. Often, they worshipped false "gods," but even if they were worshipping Jehovah God, their worship was illegitimate because it was in disobedience, rebellion against God.
Where are your high places, your illegitimate worship? It can be lots of things, anything that is more important in your life than it should be. And it is definitely anything that gets in the way of your worship of God.
Hobbies. Friends. Television. Football (or whatever your favorite ball is). Golf. Fishing or boating. Hunting. None of these things are necessarily bad, but when they get in the way of more important things or take away your ability to serve God as He deserves, they are idols, places of rebellion in your life!
Even work, obviously a necessity, can be an idol. Especially those of us who are climbing the corporate ladder, and those addicted to their jobs. Spending more effort and time on our jobs than the reason for our jobs (our kids and spouse) is crazy when you think about it!
Two ways to easily measure your priorities is the amount of time you spend on something and the amount of money you spend on something. Sometimes, getting things in order is as easy as putting away the golf clubs and grabbing a basketball instead - put priority on your spouse and kids. And check that budget - how much discretionary spending is on them and how much is for you? Ouch! We're supposed to be the first ones to sacrifice, not the last.
God, help us reorganize our priorities. Help me keep the main things, the main things. Starting with You; then my family, those in my house; then my personal ministry, what You have gifted me to do for you. Keep me in check by your Holy Spirit. And as I spend them wisely, bless my time and finances to be more effective and enjoyable for my family.
Monday, June 20, 2011
As for me and my house...
I didn't get to flesh out that last point yesterday and it was so important. But since it's just us today, I'll go a little farther than I could have gone yesterday.
SANCTIFY THE LAND - 2 Chronicles 31:1
Now when all this was finished, all Israel who were present went out to the cities of Judah and broke the sacred pillars in pieces, cut down the wooden images, and threw down the high places and the altars--from all Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh--until they had utterly destroyed them all.
First, they sanctified the temple, took them 16 days. And now it's time for the land! Not just your home, the places and possibilities of worship. Now into your daily life, your lifestyle, job, school, relationships. Every single aspect of your life, the whole land.
They broke down the sacred pillars and cut down the wooden images. The significance for you and me is they represent sexual sin. Is there a greater plague on mankind especially male-kind, than the sexual immorality that we are faced with every day? Pornography is the great unspoken addiction. Men struggle in silence because of the shame.
Today, begin tearing down those places in your life that bring the opportunities for sexual impurity. Think about it this way - a recovering alcoholic can't afford to leave a six-pack in the fridge. What can you not afford to leave around?
And not just for yourself. For those men that have young sons, you need to recognize the pandora's box of curiosity, excitement and even adrenaline that can be unleashed the first time your son sees what you left lying around! Or on screen. Clean it up, break the hold it has on you, cut it down or cut it out!
God, today help us be real, help us be mature and admit what we need, not chase after what we want. Help us daily realize the impact on our children of what we allow into our life! Forgive us for not being pure in our thoughts, hearts and bodies. Cleanse us by Your blood! Show us those places we need to clear out, those things we need to break or cut down. And give us the strength to do it. Amen!
Tomorrow, the high places...
SANCTIFY THE LAND - 2 Chronicles 31:1
Now when all this was finished, all Israel who were present went out to the cities of Judah and broke the sacred pillars in pieces, cut down the wooden images, and threw down the high places and the altars--from all Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh--until they had utterly destroyed them all.
First, they sanctified the temple, took them 16 days. And now it's time for the land! Not just your home, the places and possibilities of worship. Now into your daily life, your lifestyle, job, school, relationships. Every single aspect of your life, the whole land.
They broke down the sacred pillars and cut down the wooden images. The significance for you and me is they represent sexual sin. Is there a greater plague on mankind especially male-kind, than the sexual immorality that we are faced with every day? Pornography is the great unspoken addiction. Men struggle in silence because of the shame.
Today, begin tearing down those places in your life that bring the opportunities for sexual impurity. Think about it this way - a recovering alcoholic can't afford to leave a six-pack in the fridge. What can you not afford to leave around?
And not just for yourself. For those men that have young sons, you need to recognize the pandora's box of curiosity, excitement and even adrenaline that can be unleashed the first time your son sees what you left lying around! Or on screen. Clean it up, break the hold it has on you, cut it down or cut it out!
God, today help us be real, help us be mature and admit what we need, not chase after what we want. Help us daily realize the impact on our children of what we allow into our life! Forgive us for not being pure in our thoughts, hearts and bodies. Cleanse us by Your blood! Show us those places we need to clear out, those things we need to break or cut down. And give us the strength to do it. Amen!
Tomorrow, the high places...
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