Hello My Friend/Guest,

Today is Friday January 30, 2009 and we are continuing our studies on the book of Exodus.

Today's Message: Following God's Commands
Many Christian's are unaware that God reveals specific commands to us when we read His Word. It is of great importance that we read the entire Bible so that we know what they are. By followingHis commands we are not only obeying Him,we are being blessed as well.

Today's Bible Reading: Exodus Chapters 38-39
You can read the chapters by clicking on the link above, if it does not work you can copy and paste this link into your browser: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%2038-39&version=9

The children of Israelcompleted the Tabernacle at Mount Sinai as Godcommanded Moses. "Thus was all the work of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation finished: and the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did they.And they brought the tabernacle unto Moses, the tent, and all his furniture, his taches, his boards, his bars, and his pillars, and his sockets,And the covering of rams' skins dyed red, and the covering of badgers' skins, and the vail of the covering,The ark of the testimony, and the staves thereof, and the mercy seat, The table, and all the vessels thereof, and the shewbread,The pure candlestick, with the lamps thereof, even with the lamps to be set in order, and all the vessels thereof, and the oil for light,And the golden altar, and the anointing oil, and the sweet incense, and the hanging for the tabernacle door,The brasen altar, and his grate of brass, his staves, and all his vessels, the laver and his foot,The hangings of the court, his pillars, and his sockets, and the hanging for the court gate, his cords, and his pins, and all the vessels of the service of the tabernacle, for the tent of the congregation,The cloths of service to do service in the holy place, and the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and his sons' garments, to minister in the priest's office.According to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so the children of Israel made all the work. And Moses did look upon all the work, and, behold, they had done it as the LORD had commanded, even so had they done it: and Moses blessed them." (Exodus 39:32-43). The Israelites set an example to those who have backslid away from God. Just as they were blessed by turning to God and following His commands, we too can be.

The Ark of the Testimonycontained the Covenant between God and His people. It was a wooden chest overlaid with gold, both inside and out. "And they shall make an ark of shi*tim wood: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof.And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, within and without shalt thou overlay it, and shalt make upon it a crown of gold round about.And thou shalt cast four rings of gold for it, and put them in the four corners thereof; and two rings shall be in the one side of it, and two rings in the other side of it.And thou shalt make staves of shi*tim wood, and overlay them with gold.And thou shalt put the staves into the rings by the sides of the ark, that the ark may be borne with them.The staves shall be in the rings of the ark: they shall not be taken from it.And thou shalt put into the ark the testimony which I shall give thee.And thou shalt make a mercy seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof." (Exodus 25:10-17). The Ark was a type of Christ, who alone can atone for sin.

The woodis a representation ofChrist'shuman nature, as foretold by Isaiah the prophet, "For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:2-5). His description is in contrast to the tree that the Ark was made of. it was made from the wood of theshi*tim tree which grew in the deserts and is a symbol of the barren world system.

The lid of the Ark was made of pure gold and was called the Mercy Seat, the gold represented His divine nature, for He is both fully God and fully man. It covered the Law that had been placed in the Ark. The Mercy Seat represents mercy and salvation from sin. It is also symbolic ofChrist, the perfect, sinless Son of God who provides a way for us to find mercy and salvation.He isour High Priest and atonement for our sins. "Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people." (Hebrews 2:17). God came here in the flesh of Jesus Christ in order for us to find mercy and salvation from our sins. The Ark was behind the veil, inside the Holy of Holies, which is where the Lord was present. However, without the presence of the Lord, all the services of the Tabernacle would have been meaningless.

The same can be said today, one can read the Bible, go to church, and pray, but without the presence of God we are not going to get very far.It is of great importance that we daily ask for the Power of God to indwell in us.One thing is clear, all who accept Jesus and are baptized are filled with the Holy Spirit, which means that God does indwell in us. However, we must be willing to acknowledge Him. We can not move forward nor know the will of God unless we make an effort to get to let the Holy Spirit work in us. In order for the Holy Spirit to work in us we need to daily read His Word,aswe prayerfully read the Word of God daily and worship the Lord, His indwelling presence will grow, bringing meaning to our lives and showing is His Will.

Today's Psalm: 19:7-9
"The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether."

Today's Prayer:
Dear God,
Wet our appetite for spiritual food that brings nourishment, growth and experience as we partake of the Bread of Life.May our hearts hunger for the wonderful promises, provisions, and principles revealed throughout Your Holy Scripture.As we regularly feast on these nourishing nuggets we become mature and strengthened so that we can trust You in times of famine.Keep us tasting and keep us trusting.In Jesus' name..............Amen.

Have a wonderful day/night and weekend.
God Bless,
Christina

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