Feb wk 4 Reflections - More insightful ways to learn to live

OT narrative
- REALITY BITES! Lets not be prideful as a mans life is nothing but a chaff.
- Wonders of Olive oil in the olden days: Why hasnt this biological wonders been publicized?
- GUILT OFFERING:  boils and skin disease caused by acts not pleasing to the Lord????
- SCAPEGOAT does exist till today!
- LGBT in Leviticus is very explicit!
- PSALM 41 reverberates in my heart. Even your so called BFF can indeed turn against you. What I learned in this life - value your direct family members. They are with you no matter what. !
- With all the laws and regulations in Leviticus - what IF we follow them?>
- The Lord said " KEEP MY DECREES, SO THAT...". For sure it would not hurt if we as His creations try to keep his. Im sure it will be close to impossible - but doable.

PSALM 39:5: Everyone is but a breath,  even those who seem secure.[bPROVERBS 10:12: Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.Leviticus 15:21: He shall send the goat away into the wilderness in the care of someone appointed for the task. 22 The goat will carry on itself all their sins to a remote place; and the man shall release it in the wilderness.Leviticus 18:22 “‘Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman;that is detestable.Psalm 41All my enemies whisper together against me;they imagine the worst for me, saying,8 “A vile disease has afflicted him;he will never get up from the place where he lies.”9 Even my close friend,someone I trusted, one who shared my bread, has turned against me.

NT narrative

- Prophet without honor. This rings a bell. People will always associate people with their ancestors, where they come from, not what they have achieved nor what they have become. It is a sad reality and truth that we must come to terms.
- Guilt took the better of rulers: Herod did a detastable act of marrying his brothers wife thus ordered the killing of John the baptist!
- Feeding the five thousand: the magic number of God rings true yet again: 5+2 equals 7. Five loaves plus 2 fish! Also 12 basketfull of leftover, which probably represents 12 tribes of Israel.
- Walking on water: why is it that an actual account of Jesus miraculous walk on water is being used as symbology today to doing the impossible?
- Feeding four thousand according to Mark - still there were 7 leftovers of basket. And 7 breads were broken! Again, its the Lords magic number 7!
- For what profits a man who gains the whole world but loses his own soul.

Mark 7:15Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. 15 Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them.” [16] [f]

21 For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, 22 adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. 23 All these evils come from inside and defile a person.” In saying this, Jesus declared all foods clean

Feb wk 3 Reflections - Movitation for the Ritualistic Practice?

OT Narrative
- Design of the Tabernacle is awe inspiring! Even the design of the priestly garments, which begs my interest as to why of all the possible designs matches, this is the one that God has chosen to intervene.
- Burnt, grain, fellowship offering - what is God teaching us? My initial take is to ensure disciplined lifestyle of being a christ follower.
- Sin and Guilt offering - basis of law??
- Discipline, hardwork - basic tenet of getting ahead in life.

- Godly man acts in Godly ways - love the unvolable and bear patience to the unbearable.

- biblical diet : a must try approach to good health

- In Hebrew, the guilt offering comes from the word asham, meaning guilt. Restitution was necessary, and the Hebrew word for trespass comes from the word ma’al, meaning a violation of another person, either God or man, of what was rightfully his.

Here are some concrete ideas for handling guilt: 

1. Our conscience must be correctly trained. It must alert us when we have failed to do, as we ought. This requires faithful teaching:

1 Timothy 1:3, 5 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer … The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

Hebrews 5:11-12, 14 We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk not solid food! … But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

2. Not all of our sin will be known to us. This is really an extension of the first point, but it also covers those times when we just feel unworthy. The sin nature is a deep, festering pool. Now that we know the Lord instituted an offering for this, we may have confidence that this is normal and covered by the cross.

3. Confession is better than denial. First John 1:9 validates the role confession has in the life of the believer. It contains the promise of cleansing, and by faith, we know that our known failings will eventually be behind us, and our unknown failings brought to light and cleansed. Confessing unknown sinfulness is appropriate.

4. When restitution is possible, make it. When restitution is offered, accept it. Restitution is what uniquely distinguishes the guilt offering from the sin offering. Restitution brings healing, and cancels the legal and moral debt on the horizontal level between men.

5. Learn the lesson, and leave it behind you. I suspect that it is here that we drop the ball. But consider the Israelite who appears before the priest with the property of his neighbor, plus 20 percent of its value in grain, plus the ram. When all has been offered, what else is there to do? The moral and legal debt is paid. What more can he do? Nothing. Continuing to carry it around as baggage is not faith and may violate the holiness of the guilt offering and the atonement of the priest.

For the believer, our guilt offering is Jesus Christ. Restitution is our responsibility, and confession and cleansing are offered to us. Even if it is a recurring sin, we need to confess it and leave the guilt behind us.

Christ Our Guilt Offering

We are guilty of violating the Lord’s holy things. We are guilty of unknown sins, and we have wronged our neighbors. The good news comes from the prophet Isaiah who wrote:

Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many and he will bear their iniquities (Isaiah 53:10-11).

Messiah was prophesied to be our guilt offering. The word “justify” means to declare “not guilty.” The moral and legal debt is canceled, but there is more. The author of Hebrews wrote:

And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: “This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts; and I will write them on their minds.” Then He adds: “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.” And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin (Hebrews 10:10-18).

Jesus Christ, our sin offering, is the eternal solution to our guilt. He offered Himself for your guilt, but you must acknowledge your guilt and accept this guilt offering He made for you. Then you can rejoice in the knowledge that you will be made holy.

(https://bible.org/seriespage/6-guilt-offering-leviticus-514-67-71-6) 

Proverbs 9:11-12

11 For through wisdom[a] your days will be many, and years will be added to your life. If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer.

Proverbs 9:13-18

“Stolen water is sweet; food eaten in secret is delicious!”

Psalm 37

1 Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong; 2 for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away.

Proverbs 10:3-4New International Version (NIV)

3 The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked. Lazy hands make for poverty,  but diligent hands bring wealth.

Proverbs 10:5New International Version (NIV)

5 He who gathers crops in summer is a prudent son,  but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.

NT Narrative
- After baptism comes trial and testing!!
- Basic tenet of Christianity - Jesus came to heal the sick, and tend to the sinners!
- Parable of the sower reminded us that words not practiced is useless!

- Jesus always taught in parables. Stories does bring home a point better than describing an event per se.

- Actions does speak louder than words! Jesus prayed. Healed. Turned water into wine. Fed the five thousand. Confronted tyrants. Counseled the sick. Commanded the wind to stop. He is THE WORD!
- Faith does heals! 

- As long as a persons ways are blameless then there is nothing to be afraid of.

Mark 2:13-3:6

 17 On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

27 Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. 28 So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”

Feb wk 2 Reflections - Disgust, Promises, Magnificence!

OT narrative
-  Of all church workers, why would God be specific about consecration or separation of priests and levites? Other than leading Gods people and pointing them toward salvation, what sets them apart? Is it their unique gifts?Skills? If so, does it mean they will be rewarded as well, if their tasks are fulfilled?
- THE GOLDEN CALF - is a powerful reminder to all of us that if we are not careful, the culture of a country we live in can engulf us, can eat us slowly, can penetrate deep into our daily consciousness. To the naive Israelites, being inside the enclaves of Egypt for hundred of years, somehow the pagan culture has seeped in.
- Moses has a deep and lasting relationship with God (no wonder one song was written which describes him being a friend of God). Their friendship is so deep that he even pleaded to God to blot out his name yet God still did not do so.
- GLORY OF GOD - seeing a radiant face reminds us of the wonders, beauty, magnificence and majesty of God. Yet despite this promise, why do we continue to behave and act the way we act??
- DISGUST! - yes this is how I felt when I read somewhere that the narrative of of the temple and tabernacle that God so skillfully designed were to be destroyed only by man!


PROVERBS 8:17
17 17 I love those who love me,     and those who seek me find me.

Proverbs 9:7-8

7 Whoever corrects a mocker invites insults; whoever rebukes the wicked incurs abuse. 8 Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you;rebuke the wise and they will love you.

Proverbs 9:9-10

9 Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning. 10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,  and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Proverbs 10:1-2

10 The proverbs of Solomon: A wise son brings joy to his father,    but a foolish son brings grief to his mother.2 Ill-gotten treasures have no lasting value,  but righteousness delivers from death.

PSALM 32:10
¹⁰ Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in him.

PSALM 33:18

But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,

NT narrative

- What you did to the least of your brother you did to me.

- Oldest tactic to gain mileage in any human endeavors - strike the leader, and the followers will disperse!
- Powerful reminder of Jesus - "those who live by the sword, die by the sword. "
- Despite seeing Jesus in the flesh, Him walking on water, making miracles water changing to wine, the disciples still doubted and deserted him, how much more of us in our day and age.
- The high priests of their days only showed the bias of their belief system, It showed how shallow their letter for letter interpretation of the law of Moses. Question is - do we blame them for following the law to the letter? Or they should have known better? Does this behavior goes beyond just the scripture? That we need to go beyond what is said in any rule, and examine the principle behind it.
- Pride takes the better part of Peter. While Moses submissive heart earned him the Trust of God, Peter succumbed to disowning God with his ego, arrogance and pride
- BLOOD MONEY - now  I know where this term originated from!

Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial - Matthew 26:31

31 Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: “‘I will strike the shepherd,     and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’[b]

Feb WK 1 Reflections - More revelations and Ten Commandments Origin

OT Narrative

• First borns are special. I know, because I am. 
• But what makes them special is not so much as to the heirarchy but to the commemoration of the scripture truth about the passover in EGYPT. Science tells us the reason for the Egyptians first born death during the passover is due to the doubling of their rice daily supplement to weather the drought. Scripture supported by science, ultimately, we ought to trust more towards the Divine power of God that transcends all scientific explanations!
• Proverbs comforts us that when an enemy is up on our tail, they will be 'destroyed' by their own wicked ways. My takeaway-remain faithful to Gods words.
• God knows his people too well that he even leads and directs them to a longer route even to what might seem as their detriment only to find out its for their betterment!
• WOW, what a promise! "Moses, stay still, the LORD will FIGHT for you!" Whew!
• All throughout the night, the Lord divided the waters with a strong easterly wind. Contrary to what science channel tells us of Tsunami causing the waters to split!  
• Origin in management is in SCRIPTURE!!! Read thru Exodus 18!
• Surround yourself with good people who can help carry, not add, the load! (Meaning of Moses hands being lifted up!)
• Proverbs reminded us of being watchful with the adultery as a sin. Strange and revealing as the first part of proverbs warns against adultery more than thieves, murder etc. Is Solomon (believed to be writer of Proverbs) warning us against his OWN sins? 
• Why would God specify the construction of HIS tabernacle?
• Is Egyptian law too lax or too Pharaoh focused that God had to intervene in making one for the israelites?
• Or there is no law for slaves instead it applied to citizens ??
• Wisdom is better than Gold! Wisdom stays. Gold goes!

Exodus 18
17 Moses’ father-in-law replied, “What you are doing is not good. 18 You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone. 19 Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes to him. 20 Teach them his decrees and instructions, and show them the way they are to live and how they are to behave. 21 But select capable men from all the people—men who fearGod, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officialsover thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. 22 Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you. 23 If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.”

Exodus 14:13

13 Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will seethe deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. 14 The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

Exodus 13:17

17 When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” 18 So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea.[a] The Israelites went up out of Egypt ready for battle.

Proverbs 6:12-15

A troublemaker and a villain,  who goes about with a corrupt mouth,13     who winks maliciously with his eye,  signals with his feet and motions with his fingers,14  who plots evil with deceit in his heart— he always stirs up conflict.15 Therefore disaster will overtake him in an instant; he will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy.

Proverbs 6:16-19New International Version (NIV)

16 There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him:       
        a lying tongue,  hands that shed innocent blood, a feet that are quick to rush into evil, and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.

PROVERBS 8

10 Take my instruction instead of silver,
    and knowledge rather than choice gold,
11 for wisdom is better than jewels,
    and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.

NT Narrative

• Jesus driving our robbers inside his fathers temple. 
• This is thought provoking ! If we as Gods people consider our bodies are the holy temple of the Lord, even a trivial thing as bad vice, bad decision, bad thought patterns could be 'cleaned up' by HIS presence in our hearts!
• Jesus knows his stuff!!! Even logical reasoning with the Pharises, he's keenly aware and astute in his dealings with their logic! Way to go Jesus! 
• Underpromise and OVERDELIVER! Time and again this principle is illustrated in scripture. (see Parable of the two sons!)
• Hypocrisy is as old as the bible! (Jesus hated the pharises due to their outward show of holiness, only to end up being corrupt on the inside).
• Jesus hated the Pharisees so much as to expose their evil deeds and hearts!
• Blind leading the blind! 
• Matthew kept mentioning about HIS second coming! 
• Parable of the talents reminded us to pursue our dream, exercise our gifts, so people will be blessed even more and not waste our time on worthless pursuits.

Matthew 21:23-46New International Version (NIV)

The Authority of Jesus Questioned

23 Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you this authority?”

24 Jesus replied, “I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 25 John’s baptism—where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or of human origin?”

They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ 26 But if we say, ‘Of human origin’—we are afraid of the people, for they all hold that John was a prophet.”

27 So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.”

Then he said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

Matthew 23:1315 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are.