1. PRESENTATION!

“1I 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.” (Rom 12:1)

This is to believers after regeneration (saved).

• The word “beseech” is παρακαλέω, (par-ak-al-eh’-o), which means to call, to exhort, to encourage. It can mean to send for, summon, invite.
• The word “mercies” is οἰκτιρμός, (oyk-tir-mos’), which means pity, compassion, favor, grace, mercy.
• The word “present” is παρίστημι, (par-is’-tay-mee), which means I bring, present, prove, come up to and stand by, am present.
• The word “sacrifice” is θυσία, (thoo-see’-ah), which means sacrifice; a sacrifice, offering.
• The word “service” is λατρεία,(lat-ri’-ah), which means service rendered to God, worship.

Do you get the picture?

2. TRANSFORMATION!

“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.” (Rom 12:2)

The word “transformed” is μεταμορφόω,(met-am-or-fo’-o), which means, I transform, transfigure.

In other words, the believer, according to Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, can choose to be indoctrinated and influenced by this world or by the renewing of the MIND based in the Word of God.

The word “renewing” is ἀνακαίνωσις,(an-ak-ah’-ee-no-sis), renewing; a renewal or change of heart and life.

A steady diet of the Word of God changes one’s thinking.

Conclusion: If we can get people to come under the fountain of TRUTH, the TRANSFORMING work of the Holy Spirit will take over and begin the process of conforming people into the image of Christ.

Introduction: Does it seem like people today are getting away with cheating, lying, deceiving, and manipulating others? Where is JUSTICE? Will there be JUSTICE this side of heaven? Do you ever get angry because you are attempting to do RIGHT but things seem to go wrong – with a host of troubles and trials? And at the same time, we see those who mock God, the Bible, and are diametrically opposed to what God-fearing men and women believe, but they seem blessed.

1. The Psalmist writes about this JUSTICE!

“10O God, how long shall the adversary reproach? shall the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever?” (Psalm 74:10)

2. Paul writes about this JUSTICE!

“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” (Gal 6:7,8)

3. Micah writes about this JUSTICE!

“He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” (Micah 6:8)

4. John writes about this JUSTICE!

“9And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: 10And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?” (Rev 6:9, 10)

This will be a time during the tribulation when righteous believers will be martyred because of their faith in Jesus Christ…..but keep reading the book of REVELATION…..

“And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years……6Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.” (Rev. 20:4-6)

Introduction: Let me remind you that people are both watching what we do, and listening to what we say. Why? To see if they line up with one another. The Pharisees were notoriously known for telling people what to do but not doing it themselves.

1. Jesus pointed that out:
“Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, 2Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat: 3All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.” (Matt 23:1-3)

Parents and grandparents do this sometimes unknowingly. But most children when they get a certain age can see through this pretense and hypocrisy. Our prayer: Lord search our hearts.

2. James pointed out that as believers in the Word of God, we should obey the Word of God!

“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” (James 1:22)

Often we set a double standard, even though we have good intentions. Going to Church and Sunday School is good. But what is better than that is going home and fleshing out the truth of the Word of God by the power of the Holy Spirit, especially in our relationships with others.

3. Paul pointed out that people are reading us!

“1Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you? 2Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: 3Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. 4And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: 5Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God.” (2Cor 3:1-5)

The old saying is true: “I can’t HEAR what you are saying because I SEE what you are doing. At times, do you wonder what people are reading?

4. Paul also pointed out the we are to follow Jesus Christ as others are watching and following!

“1Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.” (2Cor 11:1)

Praise the Lord for godly leadership! Please understand that men will fail you at times. Yet, JESUS will NEVER FAIL YOU!

Introduction: Far too often, do you find yourself taking God’s BLESSINGS for granted? Probably most of us do. Therefore, at times we need to be REMINDED of the BLESSINGS of the Lord on our life, and why we are BLESSED.

1. Longevity of Life is a BLESSING from the Lord!

“10The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.” (Psa 90:10)

The Psalmist reminds us that if a person lives 70 years in this life, it is because of the Lord’s GOODNESS. Perhaps, we may live 80 years. Time will tell. Whatever time left, our Lord is to be PRAISED!

2. Longevity of Life is a BLESSING from the Lord to use your God-given influence more!

“2So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” (Psa 90:12)

If you get a birthday card in the mail from your Pastor, this verse of Scripture is likely to be used.

3. Longevity of Life is a BLESSING from the Lord to use your God-given influence more; therefore, we need to be GRATEFUL!

“14O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. 15Make us glad according to the days wherein thou hast afflicted us, and the years wherein we have seen evil.” (Psa 90: 14,15)

In good times and bad, give THANKS to Jesus!

4. Longevity of Life is a BLESSING from the Lord to use your God-given influence more; therefore, we need to be GRATEFUL and trust our Lord that our life will influence our children and families!

“16Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children. 17And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.” (Psa 90: 14,15)

Do you see God’s purpose for our life here on earth?

Conclusion: Fulfilling our Lord’s purpose in this life brings significance and security. Why not right now, make it a prayer….?

Introduction: Have you really FORGIVEN the person that has hurt you or is hurting you? Do you still harbor bad thoughts about someone? Are you kind of ANGRY? How can you MOVE ON? If you will Climb this Mountain of Forgiveness, then you will be able to MOVE ON.

1. Understand Jesus Forgave!

“4Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34)

If Jesus was God in the flesh, and He was, yet He forgave. How much more should we forgive?

2. Understand Jesus Forgives!

“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.” (Eph 1:7)

Where sin abounds, grace super Abounds! Praise the Lord!!

3. Understand Jesus gives GRACE to Forgive!

“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” (Eph 4:32)

In ourselves, we do not have the capacity to forgive consistently. That is where the power of the Holy Spirit comes in… with God’s GRACE!

4. Understand Jesus wants you to MOVE ON!

Introduction: Have you ever heard of “Sukkot”? The word means booth or tabernacle. It is the word that describes the seventh Jewish Feast (time out) found in Leviticus 23.

“33And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 34Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the LORD. 35On the first day shall be an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. 36Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: it is a solemn assembly; and ye shall do no servile work therein.” (Lev 23:33-36)

1. What was the Feasts of Tabernacles?

“Also in the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when ye have gathered in the fruit of the land, ye shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven days: on the first day shall be a sabbath, and on the eighth day shall be a sabbath. 40And ye shall take you on the first day the boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and ye shall rejoice before the LORD your God seven days. 41And ye shall keep it a feast unto the LORD seven days in the year. It shall be a statute for ever in your generations: ye shall celebrate it in the seventh month. 42Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths: 43That your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God. 44And Moses declared unto the children of Israel the feasts of the LORD.” (Lev 23:39-44)

2. How is it practiced today?

“It shall be a statute for ever in your generations:” (Lev 23:41)

3. What implications does it have in comparison with the other fall feasts in relation to Bible Prophecy?

“And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles. 17And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain. 18And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith the LORD will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.” (Zech 14:16-18)

• Return of Jesus Christ (Zech 14:4)
• Remnant of Jews (Zech 14:5,6)
• Rivers of water (Zech 14:7-8)
• Reverence to the King (Zech 14:9) 
• Renewed Jerusalem (Zech 14:10)
• Rain given or withheld (Zech 14:14)
• Remembering the Feast of Tabernacles (Zech 14:19)

Conclusion: The Feasts of Tabernacles has an amazing significance in the past, present, and future. We will celebrate this Feast during the 1,000 year reign of Christ. It may be here sooner than you expect.

Introduction: “Sometimes I’m Up, Sometimes I’m Down, Sometimes I’m Low to the ground”!

Things and people can get you down. Are you down? How can you get up when you are down? Five (5) ways:

1. A – Always remember, our Lord knows what you are going through!

“But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” (Job 23:10)

If His eye is on the sparrow, we know He watched us!

2. B – Believe and trust our Lord no matter what!

“15Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.” (Job 15:13)

Admittedly, this is “Easier said than done.”

3. C – Confess your dependence upon the Lord!

“…the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” (Job 1:21)

No matter what, we can learn to depend upon our Heavenly Father.

4. D – Don’t focus on your trouble all the time!

“Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.” (Job 14:1)

Rather, focus on how big is our God.

5. E – Exercise praying for those who criticize you!

“when he prayed for his friends.” (Job 42:10)

Doing things we would rather not takes great faith in the Lord. Especially when it comes to praying for those who criticize us.

    E – Expect a BREAKTHROUGH!

“10And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.” (Job 42:10)

“Joy comes in the morning!”

Introduction: Have you ever studied the doctrine of pneumatology? Do you recognize the word? It is the study of the Holy Spirit. Let’s take a look at the biblical role of this third person of the trinity. 

1. The Holy Spirit Convicts!

“And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9Of sin, because they believe not on me; of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.” (John 16:8-11)

Oh, how we need the Holy Spirit today!

2. The Holy Spirit Comforts!

“7Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.” (John 16:7)

When nothing else or nobody else can help, the Holy Spirit can Comfort!

3. The Holy Spirit Baptizes!

“12For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. 13For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.” (1Cor 12:12,13)

The word baptized is in the aorist tense in the Greek; therefore, it represents a past event (the moment one is saved), not a futuristic “sensational” speaking in tongues experience after a person is converted. Charismatic teaching claims this term “baptism of the Holy Spirit” is a second blessing after a person is saved. However, a careful grammatical analysis debunks this teaching. Rather, the New Testament reveals the terms “Be filled with the Spirit.” This is not the same as “baptism of the Spirit.” This is ongoing as one submits to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

4. The Holy Spirit Guides!

“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” (John 14:16,17)

Will you pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit?

5. The Holy Spirit Leads!

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” (Rom 8:14)

My prayer is for more sensitivity to the Holy Spirit’s leading. Do you agree?

6. The Holy Spirit Fills!

“8And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.” (Eph 5:18)

Empty me of Self….fill me Holy Spirit!

7. The Holy Spirit Seals!

“3In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.” (Eph 1:13-14)

That is security!

8. The Holy Spirit Inspires!

“16All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” (2Tim 3:16,17)

9. The Holy Spirit Illumines!

“13Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (1Cor 2:13,14)

10. The Holy Spirit can be grieved or quenched!

“And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” (Eph 4:30)

“19Quench not the Spirit.” (1Thess 5:19)

The Holy Spirit is our FRIEND!

11. The Holy Spirit testifies of Jesus!

“But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me.” (John 15:26)

This is important! Jesus wanted us to know this.

 12. The Holy Spirit Glorifies Jesus!

“13Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 14He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.” (John 16:13,14)

Keep in mind, ultimately Jesus gets the GLORY!

Conclusion: Since the Bible reveals all of these wonderful truths concerning the Holy Spirit, it seems obvious that we should cooperate with the Holy Spirit.

From a CHRISTian Perspective 

Introduction: What does this Jewish holiday mean to CHRISTians? This devotion will compare and contrast both the Old Testament and the New Testament perspective of the Jewish Feasts called “Yom Kippur.”

1. The Sacrifices offered! (Lev 16:15-17; Matt 27:33-37)

“And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull, 34They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink. And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots. 36And sitting down they watched him there; And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.” 

“15Then shall he kill the goat of the sin offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within the vail, and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat: 16And he shall make an atonement for the holy place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins: and so shall he do for the tabernacle of the congregation, that remaineth among them in the midst of their uncleanness.”

In the Old Testament, the high priest would repeat this sacrifice year after year. Why? Because it only COVERED the people’s sin. But in the New Testament, Jesus Christ’s sacrifice was ONCE and for ALL! Why? Because His blood not only COVERS the believer’s sin but continually CLEANSES the believer from sin!

The writer under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, writes the following to clarify this truth:

“12Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. 13For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: 14How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” (Heb 9:12-14)

“But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. 4For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.” (Heb 10:3, 4)

There’s POWER in the BLOOD! Have you been washed in the BLOOD of the LAMB?

Again: “11And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: 12But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 13From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. 14For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.” (Heb 10:11- 14)

Hallelujah! What a Savior!!

2. The Holiest of All, behind the veil! (Heb 9:3-11)

“3And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all; 4Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; 5And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly. 6Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God. 7But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: 8The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: 9Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience… 11But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building.”

Again the writer explains: “23It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: 25Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; 26For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.” (Heb 9:23- 26)

Now through faith in Jesus Christ and by His BLOOD, we have access to His THRONE of GRACE, into the holiest of all.

Introduction: In our last devotion we studied the subject of the Jewish Feast called “Yom Kippur” or “Day of Atonement.” Remember these feasts were “TIME OUTS”! Every year these 7 feasts are celebrated in Israel. While the Church derives benefits from these Jewish Feasts, they were given by God to the Jews to practice every year. The Day of Atonement is observed 10 days after the Feasts of Trumpets, or the New Year.

These 10 days leading up to the Feasts of Yom Kippur – Day of Atonement – are the most solemn and holy days of the year. It is a time to get right with God, confess sin, and make restitution where it is needed.

1. Present (Lev 16)

Remember the 2 goats (slain and scape)? These were a foreshadowing of the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ. Some Jews are still waiting for their Messiah. However, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ has already been born, died on a cross for our sins, and risen from the grave. Presently, there is not a temple standing on the Temple Mount for the Jews to go into the Holy Place and worship, while the high priest goes where the Ark of the Covenant was located sprinkling the blood on the mercy seat 7 times.

Therefore, they pray at the Western Wall in hopes of their soon coming Messiah to appear.

2. Future (Ezek 40-47; Zech 14:4-14; Rom 11:26) (Zech 12:10)