Offering a sacrifice

Offering a sacrifice was the means by which a sinful human being could gain access to a Holy GOD. All the different offerings and the manner in which they should be sacrificed is described in Leviticus chapters 1 to 7 of the Holy Bible. They are the burnt, grain, peace, sin and trespass offering. Animals, birds and grain were used for the offerings. GOD commanded Moses to instruct His people, the Israelites to keep this statute to make atonement for their sins. The sacrifices had to be offered at the altar of the Tabernacle of Meeting.

JESUS

JESUS became the perfect and complete sacrifice for us.  Heb 9, 10
He offered Himself to GOD willingly as a living sacrifice.  Eph 5:1-2.
He also laid down His life as the sacrificial Lamb for the sin of the whole world for all time.  Phil 2:8, Heb 10:7
He was the Temple of GOD as He worshiped GOD alone.  Matt 4:10, John  2:19-21, Heb 9:11
He is worshiped in heaven now and will be worshiped by all.  Phil 2:10-11
He was a sacrifice without blemish.  Is 53:9
He came in human flesh. His Flesh was torn and His Blood was shed.
JESUS was anointed.  Acts 10:38
Frankincense was a prophetic gift at His birth.  Matt 2:11
JESUS’ life of selflessness pleased GOD.  Matt 3:17
JESUS’ sacrifice was once and for all, perfected forever.  Heb 10:12-14

Offering a sacrifice according to The new covenant

• Now we look back  at the perfect sacrifice of The Lamb of GOD.

I can have access to GOD only in the name of JESUS.
The old path is no more functional because the new path is completed.
JESUS is the only bridge between man and GOD.
I need to offer myself willingly to JESUS. My life consists of my time, strength, talents, skills, resources and possessions. I need to know His will and do His will, forsaking the way of the world.

Romans 12:1-2 (NKJV)
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

1 Peter 4:1-3 (NKJV)
Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,
that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.
For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles--when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries.

• JESUS offered the sacrifice that was complete and pleasing to GOD. The only sacrifice I can offer is to live my life ‘IN CHRIST.’

Colossians 2:6-10 (NKJV)
As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,
rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.
Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.
For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;
and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

• I need to live as the temple of GOD.

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 (NKJV)
Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

Matthew 15:11 (NKJV)
Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man."

• My offering has to be without blemish.

Hebrews 10:19-22 (NKJV)
Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus,
by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh,
and having a High Priest over the house of God,
let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

Matthew 5:23-24 (NKJV)
Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,
leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

• In the Old Testament eating blood was forbidden.

I should not identify myself with the life of animals or birds.

Leviticus 3:17 (NKJV)
'This shall be a perpetual statute throughout your generations in all your dwellings: you shall eat neither fat nor blood.' "

Leviticus 17:10-11 (NKJV)
'And whatever man of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who dwell among you, who eats any blood, I will set My face against that person who eats blood, and will cut him off from among his people.
For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.'

• Blood sacrifice means identifying myself with CHRIST.

JESUS identified Himself with me and I need to identify myself with His life.

John 6:53-56 (NKJV)
Then Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you.
Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.
For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed.
He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.

Galatians 2:20 (NKJV)
I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Colossians 3:3 (NKJV)
For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

• Accepting rebuke from the righteous is as oil in my offering.

Psalms 141:5 (NKJV)
Let the righteous strike me; It shall be a kindness. And let him rebuke me; It shall be as excellent oil; Let my head not refuse it. For still my prayer is against the deeds of the wicked.

• Praise arising from my heart with thanksgiving is as frankincense.

It has to be a continual offering.

Psalms 116:17 (NKJV)
I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving, And will call upon the name of the Lord.

Hebrews 13:15 (NKJV)
Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.

• Having given myself  to GOD, I need to live for others.

Ephesians 5:1-2 (NKJV)
Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.
And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

Hebrews 13:16 (NKJV)
But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

• The attitude of my heart should be humble and repentant.

Psalms 51:16-17 (NKJV)
For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart-- These, O God, You will not despise.

Matthew 9:13 (NKJV)
But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice.' For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance."

• A complete offering - Like JESUS let me say...

Hebrews 10:7 (NKJV)
Then I said, 'Behold, I have come-- (In the volume of the book it is written of Me)-- To do Your will, O God.' "

Jabez - That I May Not Cause Pain

That I may not cause pain

If you have caused pain to others directly or your loved ones are suffering because you are in pain, call on God like Jabez, asking Him for a blessing. Receive His blessing to be a blessing to others.

God granted him what he requested

God grants every request that comes to Him in Jesus’ name which is according to His will.

John 14:13-14 (NKJV)
And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.

Numbers 6:22-27 (NKJV)
And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
"Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, 'This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them:
"The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace." '
"So they shall put My name on the children of Israel, and I will bless them."

May the God of Jabez bless you indeed!

Jabez - Keep Me From Evil

Keep me from evil

God has set His boundary line around each individual. This could be related to the boundaries of houses or traffic lanes on the roads. Stepping beyond that boundary means stepping into your neighbour’s territory. It amounts to trespassing or transgressing and that is sin. Sin is evil. The consequence of evil is pain. God’s boundary lines are the laws of love and He maintains the boundaries of each individual. We are not to encroach the territory of another person, materially, physically, emotionally or spiritually to harm him. or her. This is the gist of the last 6 commandments.

Exodus 20:12-17 (NKJV)
"Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.
"You shall not murder.
"You shall not commit adultery.
"You shall not steal.
"You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
"You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor's."

There is evil outside the boundary. The devil ensnares us into crossing the boundary lines. He tempted Eve to eat the fruit forbidden by God. Boundary is set to protect us from danger. The Fox Glacier in New Zealand is a very beautiful sight but ropes demarcate a boundary, crossing which, can be extremely dangerous! Thousands of visitors jump over the ropes disregarding the DANGER sign, to take photographs standing close to the glacier. Two young brothers did the same when the great glacier happened to crash down on them. The unfortunate parents were bereaved of their only two precious sons on that day! The warning is clear. DON”T CROSS THE BOUNDARY!  The word ‘Cancer’ makes anyone react, because of the devastation it can cause in the body. It is triggered off by one cell, which for some reason decides to grow and multiply beyond its boundary!
                                          

Pride                                                                         
                                            I
     Rebellion _ O _Transgression
                                            I Oppression
                                           V
                                                               
Matthew 6:13 (NKJV)
And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

James 1:13-15 (NKJV)
Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.
But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.
Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.

God takes the responsibility to bless, provide for and protect within His territory of each person and also maintains it. There is peace and rest within this boundary. The Lord judges here between people.

Around midnight, a few years ago, thieves invaded our home, took the car key and drove away in the sports car that belonged to our son. Being far away from home at that time, my husband and I were shaken by the news. Imagine thieves inside the house where your children are asleep! The Lord was in control and He gave us peace. He had put a boundary line around the children which the thieves couldn’t cross. The car was of course outside the boundary because it wasn’t meant for us!

Psalms 16:5-6 (NKJV)
O Lord, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You maintain my lot.
The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Yes, I have a good inheritance.

Isaiah 49:15-16 (NKJV)
"Can a woman forget her nursing child, And not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, Yet I will not forget you.
See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; Your walls are continually before Me.

Psalms 121:7 (NKJV)
The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul.

Psalms 147:12-14 (NKJV)
Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O Zion!
For He has strengthened the bars of your gates; He has blessed your children within you.
He makes peace in your borders, And fills you with the finest wheat.

Falling short of God’s boundary is also sin. Neglecting my duty towards others means not matching up to God’s plan for me. God’s love released through my life is the reflection of His glory. I need to diligently take responsibility to wisely do all that God expects me to do, within the area of authority He has given me. Therefore I need to clearly know the boundary God has set for me. I learn this from my map book, the Bible. I am led in this path by the GPS - Gentle Promptings of the Spirit!!

Romans 3:23 (NKJV)
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Matthew 5:16 (NKJV)
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Romans 13:8 (NKJV)
Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.

My life is like a child painting to fill in a square. I leave patches unpainted and I paint beyond the lines.  Some of us falter more in the former, holding back. others falter in the latter and go too far.  Filling in well is a life of fulfillment. Painting outside the line is a life of evil and oppression and is dangerous. When I let God, the professional painter Who drew the square, take me in His hand, a perfect job is done! The Holy Spirit is my Teacher. His grace fills in where I lack. His precious blood also wipes clean what I paint outside the lines!

Psalms 32:8 (NKJV)
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.

Jabez - Your Hand Would Be With Me

Your hand would be with me

I want my territory enlarged and I need your hand to lead me beyond my old boundary. I dare not step into new territory without the security and safety of God’s guiding hand. A person who is released from prison after a long period would seek someone for guidance to start the new life. It is like a child entering a new large play room holding the hand of the parent. When we enter new territory for studies, work or to live, it would be wise to get advise and help from one who has been there before. The Lord works through people. He extends His helping hand through people.

Psalms 16:8 (NKJV)
I have set the Lord always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.

Psalms 63:7-8 (NKJV)
Because You have been my help, Therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice.
My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me.

Isaiah 41:13 (NKJV)
For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, Saying to you, 'Fear not, I will help you.'

What a beautiful, comforting picture to have before your eyes as you now enter with apprehension and fear, the unknown new enlarged territory that you desired and asked for. The Lord is on your right side, turned towards you. Your little right hand is in the Lord’s big right hand. His left hand is embracing you. He is looking down into your frightened face saying, “Don’t be scared. I’ll help you!”

Jabez - Enlarge My Territory

Enlarge my territory

In           Increase the area of my land

In           Increase the number of people under my authority

Increase the number of people on whom I can have an influence
Increase the impact that I have on one or more individuals

The reason for seeking an enlarged territory could be selfish and carnal according to the natural mind. In that case the motive would be to have more and better possessions, towards self comfort or pride of life and vain glory. If we are diligent, striving and working hard, we may achieve these goals.

Proverbs 22:29 (NKJV)
Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before unknown men.

One may have as vast a territory as the world and yet have his soul so restricted as in a prison.
Jesus said,
Mark 8:36-37 (NKJV)
For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?
Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

Often we hear of people who have gained world wide recognition in sports or other areas of achievement, depressed, with their soul oppressed by the enemy.

Jeremiah 45:2-5 (NKJV)
"Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, to you, O Baruch:
'You said, "Woe is me now! For the Lord has added grief to my sorrow. I fainted in my sighing, and I find no rest." '
Thus you shall say to him, 'Thus says the Lord: "Behold, what I have built I will break down, and what I have planted I will pluck up, that is, this whole land.
And do you seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them; for behold, I will bring adversity on all flesh," says the Lord. "But I will give your life to you as a prize in all places, wherever you go." ' "

There is no peace or lasting fulfillment in finding and achieving great things for ourselves. We are asked not to seek them but we are asked to seek God’s kingdom and His righteousness.

Matthew 6:33 (NKJV)
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Matthew 25:29-30 (NKJV)
For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.
And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

It is imperative that we be profitable servants, according to Jesus’ Parable of the Talents’. If we love the Lord, we would be responsible with the task he gives us and also seek profit for His kingdom. Then He enlarges our territory for His name’s sake. His kingdom is an eternal kingdom and extends to the ends of the earth and His glory is everlasting. It is beyond time and beyond space. There are people of God who are within the boundaries of a prison cell. There are other Christians who are physically restricted or disabled, unable to get about. Yet their souls are free in Jesus like Paul and Silas, who saw their prison doors open through their songs and praises. Some such Christians are setting others across the world free through their prayers and God-inspired writings while in prison. Fanny Crosby - the blind hymn writer, John Bunyan and the Apostle Paul are good examples of this. Their spiritual boundary extends across the world, impacting lives for eternity!

Joshua 1:1-5 (NKJV)
After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, it came to pass that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' assistant, saying:
"Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them--the children of Israel.
Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses.
From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the River Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your territory.
No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you.

Psalms 2:8 (NKJV)
Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession.

While travelling to many nations, flying over various lands, I wonder why the Lord would give me such opportunities and graciously carry me around this way. At such times the Lord reminds me, “It’s because, in your closet, you have prayed for these nations!” Sometimes enjoying the comfort of the business class in the aircraft, I wonder why I would be blessed so? The Lord says to me, “You are in My business. The business of the Lord of the whole earth!” In Christ Jesus, we have authority over all evil over all the earth. We make use of this authority by praying in the name of Jesus in submission to Him.

Matthew 28:18-20 (NKJV)
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

Luke 10:17-19 (NKJV)
Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name."
And He said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.
Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

Sins such as anger, bitterness, prejudices and fears bind us with invisible cords and keep us from seeing our territories enlarged. The more the forgiveness and love I receive from the Lord, the more the forgiveness and love I can give to others and the greater the territory I gain!

Matthew 5:5 (NKJV)
Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.

2 Corinthians 10:12-18 (NKJV)
For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
We, however, will not boast beyond measure, but within the limits of the sphere which God appointed us--a sphere which especially includes you.
For we are not overextending ourselves (as though our authority did not extend to you), for it was to you that we came with the gospel of Christ;
not boasting of things beyond measure, that is, in other men's labors, but having hope, that as your faith is increased, we shall be greatly enlarged by you in our sphere,
to preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man's sphere of accomplishment.
But "he who glories, let him glory in the Lord."
For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.
Revelation 5:13 (NKJV)
And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: "Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!"

Enlarged territory means more responsibility and requires more wisdom, and more strength. A child promoted to a higher class has to start studying more complex, bigger books. We need to always replace the clothes and shoes of our growing children with bigger ones. Taller trees have roots that go deeper and taller buildings need deeper and stronger foundations.

Isaiah 54:1-3 (NKJV)
"Sing, O barren, You who have not borne! Break forth into singing, and cry aloud, You who have not labored with child! For more are the children of the desolate Than the children of the married woman," says the Lord.
"Enlarge the place of your tent, And let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings; Do not spare; Lengthen your cords, And strengthen your stakes.
For you shall expand to the right and to the left, And your descendants will inherit the nations, And make the desolate cities inhabited.

When more doors open with greater opportunities for ministry,  we need to become stronger spiritually. The more we are required to give, the more we have to receive from the Lord. Hence we need to spend more time with the Lord, seeking His face, studying the word and praying. If not, we will soon fall away like the house that was built on sand that got washed away in the storm!