21/2/18 – Exodus 29, Exodus 30 Mark 6:7-29 Proverbs 5:15-23

Today’s Contributions are from Pastor Cliff Henderson

The Holy Annointing Oil
Exodus 30 v 33
Whoever compounds any like it or whoever puts any of it on an outsider, shall be cut off from his people.

The Israelites used oil for many purposes, eating, lighting, food, medicinal, cosmetic, for keeping insects from the animals, etc., etc., you could say oil was common and used by everyone.
Here in Exodus 30 v 22 we read of the Holy Annointing oil, a special compound directed by God, this oil was not to be used for common purposes, it was to be for Israel a unique Annointing oil. God was very specific in the ingredients that were to be used and the exact amount of each ingredient in the making of this Holy Annointing oil.
This oil was only to be used for Holy purposes, hence its name given by God to Moses “Holy Annointing oil” it was to be used to Annoint the furnishings and utensils of the Tabernacle, including the Holy of Holies, also to be used in Annointing the High priest  and priests who would minister at the tabernacle, and in later years would be used to annoint Kings and Prophets.
This was Holy Annointing oil and there was to be none made  like it v32-33 it could not be substituted it was Holy. This oil was to be the equivalent of the Holy Spirit that was poured out on those 1st century believers on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2)
Today friends we need to learn the lesson that there is no substitute for the Annointing Holy Spirit, no methods of men or gimmicks that we see so much of in today’s  Church can ever match the Annointing of the Holy Spirit.
Without Him we can do nothing, how much we need the annointing of the Holy Spirit on our lives and service for Him today, there can be no substitute for the power of God.
I for one want the real thing, let us never settle for anything less, than what God has promised to give us, “ How much more will your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him”
Be filled  be annointed with the Holy Spirit today.

Sent Out

Mark 6 v 7-13
And He called the twelve to Himself and began to send them out two by two and gave them power over unclean spirits.

A little later Jesus would send out a further seventy two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go, at this time He said the harvest is great but the labourers are few Luke 10 v1-2.
84 labourers out on the mission field, 84 workers helping to bring in this vast harvest of humanity into the Kingdom of God.
The Lord would have sent more if more could have been found who were willing to go, hence His exhortation to pray for labourers, the harvest is great the labourers are few.
It is still the same today the harvest is indeed great the labourers are few. There are more than enough Christians in every area in every region to get the job of bringing in this whitened harvest of souls into God’s Kingdom, but not every Christian is a labourer, and there is a great danger that the whitened harvest becomes the ruined harvest.
Today God wants to remind us that He has sent us, “As the Father sent Me even so send I you, Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every person”.
Let us not be like the son in the parable that Jesus told who said  that he would go and work at his fathers command in his fathers field, but despite of all his good intentions he didn’t go. How disappointing this must have been  to the Father who was relying on his son to get the job done.
Are we involved in the greatest job this side of heaven, “ He that wins souls is wise” the harvest is great and today we have been given a great job to do.
He has sent us, Have we gone?
My prayer today is for every believer to become a labourer.

Faithful

Proverbs 5 v15-23
The whole of Proverbs chapter 5 is a stark warning to all of mankind about the perils of sexual immorality and in particular in today’s reading to those who are married to be faithful to the one you are married to until death parts you.
How many millions wish that they had heeded these wise words of scripture, and have found out to their cost that their lives were on the verge of total ruin.
Where sin abounds His grace abounds more and I thank God for all those who have fallen that if they repent there is forgiveness and cleansing and healing. Psalm 51 reveals David’s fall and restoration of this particular sin.
Jesus  lifted the bar even further than committing the physical act of adultery when He said, “ You have heard that it was said to those of old you shall not commit adultery, but I say to you whoever looks on a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart” Matthew 5 v 27-28.
We are also reminded today that we have one who is our husband Isaiah 54 v 5 and we are His bride, and we are to remain faithful to Him all the days of our lives.

The bible mentions 3 types of adultery.
1. Sexual adultery
2. Adultery without intercourse
3. Spiritual adultery, ( idolatry, covetousness and apostasy are spoken of as spiritual adultery Jeremiah 3 v6 & 8 v9, Ezekiel 16v32, Hosea  chapters 1-2-3 and Rev 2 v22.
An apostate Church one which refuses to continue to follow, obey, or recognise God’s Word as the final authority is an adulteress Isaiah 1 v21 Ezekiel 23 v 4,7 and 37.
The Jews were described by Christ as an adulteress generation Matt 12 v39.
As believers let us not commit spiritual adultery, but remain true to the one we love, so that when this life is over and we stand before Him, we shall hear those words “Well done you good and Faithful servant”