4/6/12

Have I got a surprise for you....


Have you ever seen this expression on a baby's face?  I have and it usually means bad news for the person next to the stack of diapers (excuse me, Huggies).  I don't remember anything before about 4 or 5 years of age, but I would guess the smile was caused by a release of intestinal gas and soon a cleanup will be necessary!!!  The days of diaper changes have been gone for many years now, but I still remember cleaning up all those little "messes".  Now, it isn't the fault of the baby, its just doing what is necessary, but when we grow up, THAT IS A DIFFERENT MATTER!!!  OK, I know that adults don't mess their pants (until they get very, very old) but they often do what just feels good without respect to the consequences.  That can lead to some very dangerous actions; the most important of which concern their immortal soul.  Aren't we glad Jesus did the right thing and not just what felt good!!! How about Moses for that matter?  He could have lived a life full of indulgence and power in the household of Pharaoh...

WEB: Hebrews Chapter 11

[24] By faith, Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, [25] choosing rather to share ill treatment with God’s people, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a time; [26] accounting the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he looked to the reward. [27] By faith, he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. [28] By faith, he kept the Passover, and the sprinkling of the blood, that the destroyer of the firstborn should not touch them. [29] By faith, they passed through the Red Sea as on dry land. When the Egyptians tried to do so, they were swallowed up.

A little thing called faith made all the difference!!!!   Doing what feels good may seem the right thing to do, but when it comes to pleasing God, it probably wouldn't do us any good.  Faith (confident trust) means doing the right thing, regardless of the circumstances.  It may be hard at times, but the results have everlasting consequences.  One last thought in this election year:Politicians and diapers have something in common; they should be changed often!!!!!!

Apr. 6 Numbers 3, 4


Apr. 6
Numbers 3, 4

Num 3:1 Now this is the history of the generations of Aaron and Moses in the day that Yahweh spoke with Moses in Mount Sinai.
Num 3:2 These are the names of the sons of Aaron: Nadab the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
Num 3:3 These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the priests who were anointed, whom he consecrated to minister in the priest's office.
Num 3:4 Nadab and Abihu died before Yahweh, when they offered strange fire before Yahweh, in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children. Eleazar and Ithamar ministered in the priest's office in the presence of Aaron their father.
Num 3:5 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
Num 3:6 "Bring the tribe of Levi near, and set them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister to him.
Num 3:7 They shall keep his requirements, and the requirements of the whole congregation before the Tent of Meeting, to do the service of the tabernacle.
Num 3:8 They shall keep all the furnishings of the Tent of Meeting, and the obligations of the children of Israel, to do the service of the tabernacle.
Num 3:9 You shall give the Levites to Aaron and to his sons. They are wholly given to him on the behalf of the children of Israel.
Num 3:10 You shall appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall keep their priesthood. The stranger who comes near shall be put to death."
Num 3:11 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
Num 3:12 "Behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn who open the womb among the children of Israel; and the Levites shall be mine:
Num 3:13 for all the firstborn are mine. On the day that I struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I made holy to me all the firstborn in Israel, both man and animal. They shall be mine. I am Yahweh."
Num 3:14 Yahweh spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, saying,
Num 3:15 "Count the children of Levi by their fathers' houses, by their families. You shall count every male from a month old and upward."
Num 3:16 Moses numbered them according to the word of Yahweh, as he was commanded.
Num 3:17 These were the sons of Levi by their names: Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari.
Num 3:18 These are the names of the sons of Gershon by their families: Libni and Shimei.
Num 3:19 The sons of Kohath by their families: Amram, and Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.
Num 3:20 The sons of Merari by their families: Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to their fathers' houses.
Num 3:21 Of Gershon was the family of the Libnites, and the family of the Shimeites: these are the families of the Gershonites.
Num 3:22 Those who were numbered of them, according to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, even those who were numbered of them were seven thousand five hundred.
Num 3:23 The families of the Gershonites shall encamp behind the tabernacle westward.
Num 3:24 The prince of the fathers' house of the Gershonites shall be Eliasaph the son of Lael.
Num 3:25 The duty of the sons of Gershon in the Tent of Meeting shall be the tabernacle, and the tent, its covering, and the screen for the door of the Tent of Meeting,
Num 3:26 and the hangings of the court, and the screen for the door of the court, which is by the tabernacle, and around the altar, and its cords for all of its service.
Num 3:27 Of Kohath was the family of the Amramites, and the family of the Izharites, and the family of the Hebronites, and the family of the Uzzielites: these are the families of the Kohathites.
Num 3:28 According to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, there were eight thousand six hundred, keeping the requirements of the sanctuary.
Num 3:29 The families of the sons of Kohath shall encamp on the south side of the tabernacle.
Num 3:30 The prince of the fathers' house of the families of the Kohathites shall be Elizaphan the son of Uzziel.
Num 3:31 Their duty shall be the ark, the table, the lamp stand, the altars, the vessels of the sanctuary with which they minister, and the screen, and all its service.
Num 3:32 Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest shall be prince of the princes of the Levites, with the oversight of those who keep the requirements of the sanctuary.
Num 3:33 Of Merari was the family of the Mahlites, and the family of the Mushites. These are the families of Merari.
Num 3:34 Those who were numbered of them, according to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, were six thousand two hundred.
Num 3:35 The prince of the fathers' house of the families of Merari was Zuriel the son of Abihail. They shall encamp on the north side of the tabernacle.
Num 3:36 The appointed duty of the sons of Merari shall be the tabernacle's boards, its bars, its pillars, its sockets, all its instruments, all its service,
Num 3:37 the pillars of the court around it, their sockets, their pins, and their cords.
Num 3:38 Those who encamp before the tabernacle eastward, in front of the Tent of Meeting toward the sunrise, shall be Moses, and Aaron and his sons, keeping the requirements of the sanctuary for the duty of the children of Israel. The stranger who comes near shall be put to death.
Num 3:39 All who were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron numbered at the commandment of Yahweh, by their families, all the males from a month old and upward, were twenty-two thousand.
Num 3:40 Yahweh said to Moses, "Number all the firstborn males of the children of Israel from a month old and upward, and take the number of their names.
Num 3:41 You shall take the Levites for me (I am Yahweh) instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel; and the livestock of the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the livestock of the children of Israel."
Num 3:42 Moses numbered, as Yahweh commanded him, all the firstborn among the children of Israel.
Num 3:43 All the firstborn males according to the number of names, from a month old and upward, of those who were numbered of them, were twenty-two thousand two hundred seventy-three.
Num 3:44 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
Num 3:45 "Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites instead of their livestock; and the Levites shall be mine. I am Yahweh.
Num 3:46 For the redemption of the two hundred seventy-three of the firstborn of the children of Israel, who exceed the number of the Levites,
Num 3:47 you shall take five shekels apiece for each one; after the shekel of the sanctuary you shall take them (the shekel is twenty gerahs):
Num 3:48 and you shall give the money, with which the remainder of them is redeemed, to Aaron and to his sons."
Num 3:49 Moses took the redemption money from those who exceeded the number of those who were redeemed by the Levites;
Num 3:50 from the firstborn of the children of Israel he took the money, one thousand three hundred sixty-five shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary:
Num 3:51 and Moses gave the redemption money to Aaron and to his sons, according to the word of Yahweh, as Yahweh commanded Moses.
Num 4:1 Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying,
Num 4:2 "Take a census of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, by their families, by their fathers' houses,
Num 4:3 from thirty years old and upward even until fifty years old, all who enter into the service, to do the work in the Tent of Meeting.
Num 4:4 This is the service of the sons of Kohath in the Tent of Meeting, the most holy things.
Num 4:5 When the camp moves forward, Aaron shall go in, and his sons, and they shall take down the veil of the screen, and cover the ark of the Testimony with it,
Num 4:6 and shall put a covering of sealskin on it, and shall spread over it a cloth all of blue, and shall put in its poles.
Num 4:7 On the table of show bread they shall spread a blue cloth, and put on it the dishes, the spoons, the bowls, and the cups with which to pour out; and the continual bread shall be on it.
Num 4:8 They shall spread on them a scarlet cloth, and cover the same with a covering of sealskin, and shall put in its poles.
Num 4:9 They shall take a blue cloth, and cover the lampstand of the light, and its lamps, and its snuffers, and its snuff dishes, and all its oil vessels, with which they minister to it.
Num 4:10 They shall put it and all its vessels within a covering of sealskin, and shall put it on the frame.
Num 4:11 On the golden altar they shall spread a blue cloth, and cover it with a covering of sealskin, and shall put in its poles.
Num 4:12 They shall take all the vessels of ministry, with which they minister in the sanctuary, and put them in a blue cloth, and cover them with a covering of sealskin, and shall put them on the frame.
Num 4:13 They shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth on it.
Num 4:14 They shall put on it all its vessels, with which they minister about it, the fire pans, the flesh hooks, the shovels, and the basins; all the vessels of the altar; and they shall spread on it a covering of sealskin, and put in its poles.
Num 4:15 "When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sanctuary, and all the furniture of the sanctuary, as the camp moves forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to carry it: but they shall not touch the sanctuary, lest they die. These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the Tent of Meeting.
Num 4:16 "The duty of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest shall be the oil for the light, the sweet incense, the continual meal offering, and the anointing oil, the requirements of all the tabernacle, and of all that is in it, the sanctuary, and its furnishings."
Num 4:17 Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying,
Num 4:18 "Don't cut off the tribe of the families of the Kohathites from among the Levites;
Num 4:19 but thus do to them, that they may live, and not die, when they approach to the most holy things: Aaron and his sons shall go in, and appoint them everyone to his service and to his burden;
Num 4:20 but they shall not go in to see the sanctuary even for a moment, lest they die."
Num 4:21 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
Num 4:22 "Take a census of the sons of Gershon also, by their fathers' houses, by their families;
Num 4:23 you shall count them from thirty years old and upward until fifty years old; all who enter in to wait on the service, to do the work in the Tent of Meeting.
Num 4:24 This is the service of the families of the Gershonites, in serving and in bearing burdens:
Num 4:25 they shall carry the curtains of the tabernacle, and the Tent of Meeting, its covering, and the covering of sealskin that is above on it, and the screen for the door of the Tent of Meeting,
Num 4:26 and the hangings of the court, and the screen for the door of the gate of the court, which is by the tabernacle and around the altar, and their cords, and all the instruments of their service, and whatever shall be done with them. Therein shall they serve.
Num 4:27 At the commandment of Aaron and his sons shall be all the service of the sons of the Gershonites, in all their burden, and in all their service; and you shall appoint their duty to them in all their responsibilities.
Num 4:28 This is the service of the families of the sons of the Gershonites in the Tent of Meeting: and their duty shall be under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.
Num 4:29 "As for the sons of Merari, you shall number them by their families, by their fathers' houses;
Num 4:30 you shall count them from thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old, everyone who enters on the service, to do the work of the Tent of Meeting.
Num 4:31 This is the duty of their burden, according to all their service in the Tent of Meeting: the tabernacle's boards, its bars, its pillars, its sockets,
Num 4:32 and the pillars of the court around it, and their sockets, and their pins, and their cords, with all their instruments, and with all their service: and by name you shall appoint the instruments of the duty of their burden.
Num 4:33 This is the service of the families of the sons of Merari, according to all their service, in the Tent of Meeting, under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest."
Num 4:34 Moses and Aaron and the princes of the congregation numbered the sons of the Kohathites by their families, and by their fathers' houses,
Num 4:35 from thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old, everyone who entered into the service, for work in the Tent of Meeting.
Num 4:36 Those who were numbered of them by their families were two thousand seven hundred fifty.
Num 4:37 These are those who were numbered of the families of the Kohathites, all who served in the Tent of Meeting, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the commandment of Yahweh by Moses.
Num 4:38 Those who were numbered of the sons of Gershon, their families, and by their fathers' houses,
Num 4:39 from thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old, everyone who entered into the service, for work in the Tent of Meeting,
Num 4:40 even those who were numbered of them, by their families, by their fathers' houses, were two thousand six hundred thirty.
Num 4:41 These are those who were numbered of the families of the sons of Gershon, all who served in the Tent of Meeting, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the commandment of Yahweh.
Num 4:42 Those who were numbered of the families of the sons of Merari, by their families, by their fathers' houses,
Num 4:43 from thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old, everyone who entered into the service, for work in the Tent of Meeting,
Num 4:44 even those who were numbered of them by their families, were three thousand two hundred.
Num 4:45 These are those who were numbered of the families of the sons of Merari, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the commandment of Yahweh by Moses.
Num 4:46 All those who were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron and the princes of Israel numbered, by their families, and by their fathers' houses,
Num 4:47 from thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old, everyone who entered in to do the work of service, and the work of bearing burdens in the Tent of Meeting,
Num 4:48 even those who were numbered of them, were eight thousand five hundred eighty.
Num 4:49 According to the commandment of Yahweh they were numbered by Moses, everyone according to his service, and according to his burden. Thus were they numbered by him, as Yahweh commanded Moses.

Apr. 6, 7 Luke 5


Apr. 6, 7
Luke 5

Luk 5:1 Now it happened, while the multitude pressed on him and heard the word of God, that he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret.
Luk 5:2 He saw two boats standing by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them, and were washing their nets.
Luk 5:3 He entered into one of the boats, which was Simon's, and asked him to put out a little from the land. He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat.
Luk 5:4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into the deep, and let down your nets for a catch."
Luk 5:5 Simon answered him, "Master, we worked all night, and took nothing; but at your word I will let down the net."
Luk 5:6 When they had done this, they caught a great multitude of fish, and their net was breaking.
Luk 5:7 They beckoned to their partners in the other boat, that they should come and help them. They came, and filled both boats, so that they began to sink.
Luk 5:8 But Simon Peter, when he saw it, fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, Lord."
Luk 5:9 For he was amazed, and all who were with him, at the catch of fish which they had caught;
Luk 5:10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Jesus said to Simon, "Don't be afraid. From now on you will be catching people alive."
Luk 5:11 When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything, and followed him.
Luk 5:12 It happened, while he was in one of the cities, behold, there was a man full of leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell on his face, and begged him, saying, "Lord, if you want to, you can make me clean."
Luk 5:13 He stretched out his hand, and touched him, saying, "I want to. Be made clean." Immediately the leprosy left him.
Luk 5:14 He commanded him to tell no one, "But go your way, and show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing according to what Moses commanded, for a testimony to them."
Luk 5:15 But the report concerning him spread much more, and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities.
Luk 5:16 But he withdrew himself into the desert, and prayed.
Luk 5:17 It happened on one of those days, that he was teaching; and there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every village of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. The power of the Lord was with him to heal them.
Luk 5:18 Behold, men brought a paralyzed man on a cot, and they sought to bring him in to lay before Jesus.
Luk 5:19 Not finding a way to bring him in because of the multitude, they went up to the housetop, and let him down through the tiles with his cot into the midst before Jesus.
Luk 5:20 Seeing their faith, he said to him, "Man, your sins are forgiven you."
Luk 5:21 The scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, "Who is this that speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?"
Luk 5:22 But Jesus, perceiving their thoughts, answered them, "Why are you reasoning so in your hearts?
Luk 5:23 Which is easier to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you;' or to say, 'Arise and walk?'
Luk 5:24 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins" (he said to the paralyzed man), "I tell you, arise, and take up your cot, and go to your house."
Luk 5:25 Immediately he rose up before them, and took up that which he was laying on, and departed to his house, glorifying God.
Luk 5:26 Amazement took hold on all, and they glorified God. They were filled with fear, saying, "We have seen strange things today."
Luk 5:27 After these things he went out, and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the tax office, and said to him, "Follow me!"
Luk 5:28 He left everything, and rose up and followed him.
Luk 5:29 Levi made a great feast for him in his house. There was a great crowd of tax collectors and others who were reclining with them.
Luk 5:30 Their scribes and the Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, "Why do you eat and drink with the tax collectors and sinners?"
Luk 5:31 Jesus answered them, "Those who are healthy have no need for a physician, but those who are sick do.
Luk 5:32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."
Luk 5:33 They said to him, "Why do John's disciples often fast and pray, likewise also the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink?"
Luk 5:34 He said to them, "Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast, while the bridegroom is with them?
Luk 5:35 But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them. Then they will fast in those days."
Luk 5:36 He also told a parable to them. "No one puts a piece from a new garment on an old garment, or else he will tear the new, and also the piece from the new will not match the old.
Luk 5:37 No one puts new wine into old wineskins, or else the new wine will burst the skins, and it will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed.
Luk 5:38 But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved.
Luk 5:39 No man having drunk old wine immediately desires new, for he says, 'The old is better.' "

"THE BOOK OF DANIEL" Chapter One by Mark Copeland 

 "THE BOOK OF DANIEL"

                             Chapter One

The book opens with the first deportation of Jews to Babylonian captivity
(605 B.C.), and the selection  of Daniel and his three friends for
special training (1-7).  Daniel is commitment to remain undefiled is
blessed by God, and he along with his friends are given wisdom that is
acknowledged and rewarded by the king of Babylon (8-21).

POINTS TO PONDER

   *  Young Daniel's commitment to God in pagan environment

   *  How Daniel was able to keep both his faith to God and service to 
      the king

REVIEW QUESTIONS

1) What are the main points of this chapter?
   - Daniel and his friends selected for special training - Dan 1:1-7
   - Daniel's faithfulness to God rewarded - Dan 1:8-21

2) When did Nebuchadnezzar besiege Jerusalem, and who gave him victory?
   (1-2)
   - In the third year of Jehoiakim king of Judah (605 B.C.); the Lord

3) Who were to be taught the language and literature of the Chaldeans?
   (3-4)
   - Some of the children of Israel, some of the descendants of the king
     and nobles
   - Young men who were good-looking, wise, quick to learn and able to
     serve

4) How long was their training to last?  What did it include? (5)
   - Three years; daily provisions of the king's delicacies and wine

5) What four young men were selected?  What names were they given?
   (6-7)
   - Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, Azariah
   - Belteshazzar, Shadrach, Meshach, Abed-Nego

6) What did Daniel purpose in his heart? (8)
   - Not to defile himself with the king's delicacies and wine

7) How was Daniel able to keep his commitment? (8-16)
   - With politeness (he requested, not demanded)
   - With God's help (God brought Daniel into the favor and goodwill of
     the chief eunuch)
   - With persistence (rebuffed by the chief eunuch, he appealed to the
     steward)
   - With willingness to test his faith (asking for ten day trial)

8) What did God give the four young men? (17)
   - Knowledge, skill in literature, wisdom; Daniel understanding in
     visions and dreams

9) How did Nebuchadnezzar find these four young men after their
   training? (18-20)
   - Ten times better in wisdom and understanding than his magicians and
     astrologers
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)