Man’s Heart – Between God and Satan
By Odon Bulamba (14th March 2003)
Many people on earth they think they are human beings but before God they are already dead. Many people think they are human beings but before God they are like animals.
I have a picture here and on this first page there is an angel of God, it’s the one with the wings (I’m not saying that this is what an angel looks like). On the other side is the devil and it is black (I’m not saying the devil looks like this). In the middle is mans heart. Above the devil is some bats. On the angels side there are stars. It seems like the angel and the devil pull mans heart. So what can we learn from this?
The life we have doesn’t belong to us. This life is a credit for us and we must give this life back to the one who gave it to us. One day God will come and say, “where’s your life?” and this life will be given back to God, but as we are still on this earth Satan tries to steal our life, he tries to pull our heart towards sin and God on the other side tries to pull our heart towards good. But the third decision is ours - will I go to God or to the devil and as Christians we are called to know who we are and what side we are. Do we belong to the devil, to God or ourselves?
Let’s try to think about something here, we all know who the devil is, of course we draw him with a tail and horns but I think he’s not like that, maybe one day when we talk about demons and we’ll talk about that. So above the devil there are bats, we all know what bats are. What are they? Has anyone never seen a bat? What is this animal? Jessica says, “ it’s a mammal”
My question is, it’s a mammal so do mammals have wings? So it’s also a bird? So it’s a monster? Because it has wings, it has clothes, and also teeth and it can give birth and give the milk and you’ll see it’s a strange animal. This animal lives as they want. It can come here in this house and hang on a wall no problem. There is only one thing that scares this animal, what is it?
Light is the only thing. But he’s not scared of anyone; a bat is not scared of anything except light. When it’s dark it becomes a bird to fly and they like flying, their eyes can easily see, that’s when they go to gardens and eat the fruit, so they all work in darkness. When day comes the bat goes back in a state of innocence.
Have you ever seen a bat during the day? How are they? Sleeping, yes they look nice and cute and you’ll think they are polite, and because they cover their eyes you will think they are ashamed, you’ll think they are humble. And there is one more thing as my sister said; the feet are up and the head is down always. It’s the opposite of us because we have our feet down and our head up. But the bat does the opposite and the power of darkness does the same thing.
This power of darkness isn’t afraid of anything. You might have been a Christian for 100 years, you can pray and cast out demons but if in your life you don’t have God’s light, the power of darkness will follow you. The power of darkness will fly in your garden, which is the spirit of God. The power of darkness will come and eat up what is in your heart. When the light comes this power will hide. This power will show it’s humble, and how can this light be in us if we don’t allow God to rule our lives
1Jn 3:10 By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious anyone that does not practice righteousness is not of God nor the one that does not love his brother
So if you don’t practice righteousness in your life it’s now time to practice righteousness so God will see that you are his child. And for instance if you don’t love the people around you its now time to start loving them so you will be called children of God.
Too many people say they know love but I think they are mistaken. Sometimes children say that a bat is a bird and sometimes they say it’s an animal. It’s the same for us, sometimes we say that we love but we don’t know what love is. And for some Christians they cannot even define what love is to the point God says “how can you say you love me when you don’t love your brother?” How can I say that I love God and I have a problem with Sylvie and I don’t like her? How can I say to myself I’m a child of God if I don’t practice righteousness?
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Monday, March 8, 2010
God's Grace
By Hayley Boud
“For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, not of yourselves but a gift from God. Not as a result of works lest any should boast for we are created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”Eph 2:8-10
Grace
Grace as defined by the dictionary is the love and kindness God gives to people.
Grace is something we get without deserving it. We all make mistakes and at times we can mess things up but God is always without mistake and always holy. Because he is so pure and without sin and because we sin often....we don’t deserve to get anything from God at all. We don’t do anything that is more amazing than what God can do and therefore we don’t do anything that deserves His love, we don’t do anything that deserves His forgiveness or His presence or His help. We don’t do anything special and we make the same mistakes time and time again and yet He still loves us and forgives us and perseveres with us.
If my friend makes the same mistake day after day...I get tired. After a while I will decide not to be her friend anymore. But God never gives up on us and this is God’s grace. The fact that He loves us while we don’t deserve it and continues to love us.
According to the Greek dictionary the meaning of grace is a favour done without expectation of return. God loves us and He doesn’t have a motive behind it.
God doesn’t love us so He can gain something but He loves us simply because of His grace. I might be your friend so I can use your swimming pool (for example) but for God, He is our friend because He loves us and this is grace because He doesn’t expect anything in return. Even if I don’t love God back...He will still love me.
We can show other’s this same kind of grace also in our behaviour. We can show others that we love them even when they don’t deserve it. We can forgive them when they aren’t sorry. We can give them our time, our prayers, our money, our support etc to people who may not appreciate it, or don’t understand our effort, or don’t love us back, or don’t say thank you or give us the encouragement that we need. We can give our love through our actions to others even when they may not have the means to repay us. We can our love give to others through our actions even when they don’t have anything of interest for us.
We can continue to love others even when they make the same mistakes time and time again. We can continue to forgive them and forget even when they continue to hurt us or disappoint us. We can continue to show kindness even when they are rude to us. We do this because this is grace and we were saved through this kind of grace. When we show grace to others...there is an opportunity for them to be saved. When they see that we continue to love them, respect them, keep peace with them...when they see this love... they will see God’s grace in us and this will save their souls.
The best and easiest way to love someone continually is to love their soul. We have to look past the outward and look deeper.
According to some theologians, God’s grace is “the will of God being fulfilled in our lives”
This means that God has a plan for us. His grace is when that plan or that intention that He has for us is being achieved.
So if I’m sick...it’s God’s grace because through that sickness His plan for me to become more compassionate, to be able to spend more time with Him, to be able to have more time meditating on the Word of God when I take my rests and more time to pray or think of others. Being sick has made me care more about others when I see them sick or with problems which has made me pray more sincerely. This is God’s will for my life...to become a new and better person and so His will is being fulfilled through the sickness which means it’s God’s grace that I have been sick.
Whatever situation I am in....I can praise God and know it’s because of His grace. Also, we can always remember that God’s grace is there for us because we have eyes that see, ears that hear, hands and legs and we are not living on the street eating out of rubbish cans.
So whatever we do have, we have to thank God for that and remember that it is only by God’s grace. If I have something that other’s don’t, I don’t have to think it’s because I’m so clever, or because I work harder or I’m stronger....it’s only because of God’s grace.
Some people are extremely clever but they can’t find a job. Some are extremely beautiful but can’t find a husband. Some are very hard workers but can’t find enough money. Some are untalented and yet they become rich and famous. Sometimes we can see people who are not very intelligent and yet they have very good jobs. So it’s only by God’s grace if you have something and it’s very important to remember that so we don’t judge others, so we don’t lift ourselves up.
It’s also important to remember that so we don’t get discouraged. If I don’t have what I need, or if I see other people with things that I don’t have....it’s God’s grace because He knows better our needs than we do. If I believe being rich will make me happy – God knows better than me, if that is true or not. He also knows the right time to bless us. He cares more about our souls than our physical bodies because the soul is eternal and He cares more about what will make us grow and become better people.
So...if you are facing a difficulty...just remember it’s God’s grace because through that He is teaching you something and moulding you into a better person. If you have more than others...just remember it is God’s grace and not because you are better than others. If you have less than others...remember the things you do have and praise God for that (focus more on what you do have) and remember that God’s grace means He will bless you at the right time and He knows what will be a good blessing for your soul.
Remember God has a plan for your life and everything that He does is done for the good of your soul.
Saved
According to the dictionary it means to help somebody to avoid harm. To make it possible for someone to avoid danger, injury etc. So when God is telling us that it is by God’s grace we are saved...we have to understand that He is helping us to avoid a danger or avoid some kind of injury or harm. So what is this danger?
According to the Greek dictionary, the Greek Word for “save” is Sõzõ, which means salvation in regard to:
1. Physical Salvation.
Being saved from a temporary danger or physical suffering
E.g. when the disciples were on the boat and they thought they were going to drown and they yelled out, “save us Lord”. Mat 8:25. It can relate to sickness, financial struggles, relationship problems; any problem that needs a solution. When we cry out to God and ask Him to save us from that situation.
2. Spiritual Salvation
Being saved from an eternal danger and spiritual suffering.
Praise God because we have been saved from hell. That is eternal suffering and it is only by God’s grace that we have been saved from such a danger.
This should make us feel extremely happy for our own soul but it should also make us feel extremely afraid for our friends and family who are still in danger. We have the chance to help others to avoid danger. We must make the effort. When I walk, sometimes I see glass on the footpath and because I’m afraid a child will stand on it, I pick up the glass and I put it in the bin because I care about the child’s physical well being. How much more should I care about people’s spiritual well being?
3. Sin
By God’s grace we can overcome our sin. We can be delivered from temptation. God’s grace is more powerful than satan.
When we are tempted to become angry, or to gossip, or talk rudely or whatever our temptation is...we can remember that God’s grace is enough:
According to 1 Cor 10:13 no temptation has overtaken you that is different to what other’s are tempted by and God is faithful and will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able but with that temptation He will provide a way of escape so that you may be able to endure it.
Whatever temptation we are facing, we have to remember that God has promised to make a way out so all we have to do is look for the way out and take that direction. If my temptation is smoking then I have to look for the way that God has given me to escape the temptation. It might be praying, it might be going for a walk, it might be talking to someone.
If my temptation is to get angry, I have to look for the escape God has provided. It might be holding my tongue, it might be walking away, it might be praying, it might be going for a walk, it might be breathing techniques.
Whatever my temptation is, I have to look for the escape God has provided and take it. This is how God is saving us on a daily basis by helping us to avoid danger (avoid sin).
“For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, not of yourselves but a gift from God. Not as a result of works lest any should boast for we are created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”Eph 2:8-10
Grace
Grace as defined by the dictionary is the love and kindness God gives to people.
Grace is something we get without deserving it. We all make mistakes and at times we can mess things up but God is always without mistake and always holy. Because he is so pure and without sin and because we sin often....we don’t deserve to get anything from God at all. We don’t do anything that is more amazing than what God can do and therefore we don’t do anything that deserves His love, we don’t do anything that deserves His forgiveness or His presence or His help. We don’t do anything special and we make the same mistakes time and time again and yet He still loves us and forgives us and perseveres with us.
If my friend makes the same mistake day after day...I get tired. After a while I will decide not to be her friend anymore. But God never gives up on us and this is God’s grace. The fact that He loves us while we don’t deserve it and continues to love us.
According to the Greek dictionary the meaning of grace is a favour done without expectation of return. God loves us and He doesn’t have a motive behind it.
God doesn’t love us so He can gain something but He loves us simply because of His grace. I might be your friend so I can use your swimming pool (for example) but for God, He is our friend because He loves us and this is grace because He doesn’t expect anything in return. Even if I don’t love God back...He will still love me.
We can show other’s this same kind of grace also in our behaviour. We can show others that we love them even when they don’t deserve it. We can forgive them when they aren’t sorry. We can give them our time, our prayers, our money, our support etc to people who may not appreciate it, or don’t understand our effort, or don’t love us back, or don’t say thank you or give us the encouragement that we need. We can give our love through our actions to others even when they may not have the means to repay us. We can our love give to others through our actions even when they don’t have anything of interest for us.
We can continue to love others even when they make the same mistakes time and time again. We can continue to forgive them and forget even when they continue to hurt us or disappoint us. We can continue to show kindness even when they are rude to us. We do this because this is grace and we were saved through this kind of grace. When we show grace to others...there is an opportunity for them to be saved. When they see that we continue to love them, respect them, keep peace with them...when they see this love... they will see God’s grace in us and this will save their souls.
The best and easiest way to love someone continually is to love their soul. We have to look past the outward and look deeper.
According to some theologians, God’s grace is “the will of God being fulfilled in our lives”
This means that God has a plan for us. His grace is when that plan or that intention that He has for us is being achieved.
So if I’m sick...it’s God’s grace because through that sickness His plan for me to become more compassionate, to be able to spend more time with Him, to be able to have more time meditating on the Word of God when I take my rests and more time to pray or think of others. Being sick has made me care more about others when I see them sick or with problems which has made me pray more sincerely. This is God’s will for my life...to become a new and better person and so His will is being fulfilled through the sickness which means it’s God’s grace that I have been sick.
Whatever situation I am in....I can praise God and know it’s because of His grace. Also, we can always remember that God’s grace is there for us because we have eyes that see, ears that hear, hands and legs and we are not living on the street eating out of rubbish cans.
So whatever we do have, we have to thank God for that and remember that it is only by God’s grace. If I have something that other’s don’t, I don’t have to think it’s because I’m so clever, or because I work harder or I’m stronger....it’s only because of God’s grace.
Some people are extremely clever but they can’t find a job. Some are extremely beautiful but can’t find a husband. Some are very hard workers but can’t find enough money. Some are untalented and yet they become rich and famous. Sometimes we can see people who are not very intelligent and yet they have very good jobs. So it’s only by God’s grace if you have something and it’s very important to remember that so we don’t judge others, so we don’t lift ourselves up.
It’s also important to remember that so we don’t get discouraged. If I don’t have what I need, or if I see other people with things that I don’t have....it’s God’s grace because He knows better our needs than we do. If I believe being rich will make me happy – God knows better than me, if that is true or not. He also knows the right time to bless us. He cares more about our souls than our physical bodies because the soul is eternal and He cares more about what will make us grow and become better people.
So...if you are facing a difficulty...just remember it’s God’s grace because through that He is teaching you something and moulding you into a better person. If you have more than others...just remember it is God’s grace and not because you are better than others. If you have less than others...remember the things you do have and praise God for that (focus more on what you do have) and remember that God’s grace means He will bless you at the right time and He knows what will be a good blessing for your soul.
Remember God has a plan for your life and everything that He does is done for the good of your soul.
Saved
According to the dictionary it means to help somebody to avoid harm. To make it possible for someone to avoid danger, injury etc. So when God is telling us that it is by God’s grace we are saved...we have to understand that He is helping us to avoid a danger or avoid some kind of injury or harm. So what is this danger?
According to the Greek dictionary, the Greek Word for “save” is Sõzõ, which means salvation in regard to:
1. Physical Salvation.
Being saved from a temporary danger or physical suffering
E.g. when the disciples were on the boat and they thought they were going to drown and they yelled out, “save us Lord”. Mat 8:25. It can relate to sickness, financial struggles, relationship problems; any problem that needs a solution. When we cry out to God and ask Him to save us from that situation.
2. Spiritual Salvation
Being saved from an eternal danger and spiritual suffering.
Praise God because we have been saved from hell. That is eternal suffering and it is only by God’s grace that we have been saved from such a danger.
This should make us feel extremely happy for our own soul but it should also make us feel extremely afraid for our friends and family who are still in danger. We have the chance to help others to avoid danger. We must make the effort. When I walk, sometimes I see glass on the footpath and because I’m afraid a child will stand on it, I pick up the glass and I put it in the bin because I care about the child’s physical well being. How much more should I care about people’s spiritual well being?
3. Sin
By God’s grace we can overcome our sin. We can be delivered from temptation. God’s grace is more powerful than satan.
When we are tempted to become angry, or to gossip, or talk rudely or whatever our temptation is...we can remember that God’s grace is enough:
According to 1 Cor 10:13 no temptation has overtaken you that is different to what other’s are tempted by and God is faithful and will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able but with that temptation He will provide a way of escape so that you may be able to endure it.
Whatever temptation we are facing, we have to remember that God has promised to make a way out so all we have to do is look for the way out and take that direction. If my temptation is smoking then I have to look for the way that God has given me to escape the temptation. It might be praying, it might be going for a walk, it might be talking to someone.
If my temptation is to get angry, I have to look for the escape God has provided. It might be holding my tongue, it might be walking away, it might be praying, it might be going for a walk, it might be breathing techniques.
Whatever my temptation is, I have to look for the escape God has provided and take it. This is how God is saving us on a daily basis by helping us to avoid danger (avoid sin).
Saturday, March 6, 2010
The Tabernacle
By Colleen Podmore
Exodus 26:1-37
Imagine for a moment that you have been transported back in time. It is about 1500BC, and you’re standing on a hill overlooking the Israelite camp in the desert.
What things do you notice? In the centre of the camp there is a fenced area with the Tabernacle, the Bronze Altar and the Laver inside.
What does the Tabernacle look like? It is like a big ugly rectangular box covered with animal skins, 30cubits long and 10 cubits wide. (A cubit is 18in, therefore 45ft long by 15ft wide – 15m x 5m)
[A tennis court is 78ft long and 39ft wide (24m x 8m)
This room is 5m wide, so the length would be three times a long. Does this surprise you? Did you think it was smaller, bigger?]
Imagine that you begin to walk closer to the fence. When you get up close you reach out and touch the material. What is it? What colour is it?
It is made of finely twisted linen and is probably white (Ex 27:9). White linen as we know represents righteousness. And it is appropriate that the Tabernacle is surrounded by a curtain representing righteousness.
Indeed one of God’s names is Jehovah Tsidkenu, which means ‘The LORD our Righteousness’ (Jer 23:6)
Righteousness means to be morally right or justifiable. In other words blameless, guiltless, holy, innocent, just, sinless. Are we righteous? No, but Jesus is our righteousness. Only through Him can we come near to a Holy God.
Romans 3:20, “Therefore no one will be declared righteous” and
Romans 3:21, “But now a righteousness from God...has been made known..”
Romans 3:22, “this righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe”
Romans 5:19, “...through the obedience of one man the many will be made righteous”
Can you see over the top of the fence? How high is the fence? (5cubits – 7.5ft – 3.5m)
You walk around the fence and see an opening on the east side. It has a curtain across the opening. What colour is the curtain? Are there any designs on it?
The opening is quite wide 20 cubits – 10m. The curtains hang on 4 pillars (probably of acacia wood), which were set on bronze bases.
There are three curtains that block all out except the priests, those anointed by God to minister before Him, to come near to Him. The curtain we have just entered through is the gate of the courtyard, the way into the Tabernacle is known as the door and the curtain before the Most Holy Place where the Ark of the Covenant is kept is the veil.
Jesus said: “I am the gate: whoever enters through me will be saved” (John 10:9).
There was no other way to enter the Tabernacle except through the gate. There is no other way to enter heaven except through Jesus. We only can enter God’s presence one way. It would be no good trying to climb over the fence or under the fence. It would be no good just trying to be good, or going to church or being baptised. Our righteousness comes through faith and trust in Jesus and in this way we enter through the gate.
Jesus is the open door, what God has opened, no-one can shut (Rev3:7,8) and the veil was torn in two when Jesus died on the Cross, making a way for believers to go directly into God’s presence (Matt 27:51)
Imagine as you walk into the courtyard, what do you see in front of you? You see in front of you the Bronze Altar and the priests burning a sacrifice, a burnt offering. The smell is like a Sunday roast and the aroma is wafting heavenward toward God who finds it a pleasing aroma, because the person who has offered it wants to say thanks to God and to praise and worship Him.
Psalm 100:4 says: “Enter His courts with thanksgiving and His courts with praise, give thanks to Him and praise His Name”
We also come into God’s presence with thanksgiving and praise.
You notice that the priests have no shoes, maybe the ground is dirt, maybe sand. What do you think? You follow a priest towards the Tabernacle and see him stop at the bronze laver or basin, and wash his hands and his feet before going into the Tabernacle.
In the same way, we confess our sin and receive cleansing (sanctification), before coming into God’s presence.
You follow him, and you look up at the Tabernacle, the place where God dwells. It is huge, much bigger than you thought from a distance. You see 5 huge pillars standing 10 cubits high (15ft-5m), made of wood but covered with thin sheets of beaten gold, that are resting in silver bases, and behind the pillars is the second curtain, the door of the Tabernacle: beautiful blue, purple and crimson linen fabric. (Ex 26:37)
Do we dare to step into this Holy Place? How are we feeling? Fearful, excited, overwhelmed, tiny, small, inadequate?
We step through the curtains into the Holy Place and look down at our feet.
There is no mention of floor coverings in the Bible and we have no shoes on our feet. We are standing on holy ground, just as Moses was when told to take off his sandals as he moved towards the burning bush (Ex 3:5)
Psalm 84:10 says, “Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.”
We look around and see the furnishings. On our left, the golden Lampstand has been lit as it is evening and Aaron and his sons will keep it burning all night, tending the wicks and adding more oil. (Ex 27:20-21; 30:8).
In front of the veil is the golden altar of incense and on our right is the golden table with the showbread on it. The sons of Levi, the Kohathites who were responsible for carrying these items were not allowed to look at them or they were killed (Numbers 7:9)
At the far end we see the veil shielding the Ark of the Covenant where God dwells enthroned between the cherubim and where once a year, the priest goes to sprinkle blood for the forgiveness of the sins of Israel on the Day of Atonement or Yom Kippur (Lev 16:1-34)
The veil is of pure white linen with its beautifully embroidered cherubim in blue, purple and crimson.
Imagine for a moment the size of this room we have stepped into? How long is it? How wide? 20cubits long and 10cubits wide 10cubits high. (30ft x 15ft x 15ft) 10m x 5m x 5m.
It’s a huge area and as you look up towards the ceiling high above you see the tabernacle or curtain that is the first covering. It is the same curtain as the veil in front of the ark, embroidered with Cherubim, winged creatures that protect and guard the glory of God. Perhaps they are flying, their wings outstretched in full flight and you are amazed at their beauty!
Psalm 61:4, “I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of Your wings”
Finally we notice the walls. Huge beams of acacia wood (common in the Sinai peninsula and a dark, hard wood), covered with gold, standing side by side on silver bases. The beams are 10 cubits long and a cubit and a half wide (15ft high and 2.25ft wide – 4.5mx1.8m) (Ex 26:16), and it is over this framework that the 4 coverings are draped.
First the tabernacle, then the tent of goat’s hair, then two coverings, first ram’s skin dyed red, then the skin of another animal (dugongs-sea cows native to Red Sea) over the top completely sealing and waterproofing the Tabernacle (Ex 26:14)
Absolutely dazzlingly beautiful!
To conclude; if you are still inside the tabernacle let’s walk over towards one of the walls. Each of the huge beams has two prongs at the base and is held upright in huge silver bases or sockets.
Where did the silver come from for the sockets? Let us read about the Atonement Money - Ex 30:11-16
When a census was taken, any male twenty years and over paid a ransom for protection from plagues and as a covering for sin. They paid half a shekel of silver (a fifth of an ounce), regardless of how rich or poor you were. It was the same amount for everyone. And it was used for the Tent of Meeting and the people would remember that their contribution had helped to build the place where God dwelled.
Now let’s turn to Exodus 38:25-27 and read.
This silver added up to 100 talents, about 3.75tons, from a total of 603 550 men.
100 bases were made and each base therefore contained 1 talent of silver.
Now for some maths - if each man gave half a shekel and there were roughly 600 000 men, then there must have been 300 000 shekels in the silver bases and as there were 100 bases that means there were 3 000 shekels per talent or socket.
Remember each man gave half a shekel, so in one socket was the contribution of 6 000 men. To hold up one of the beams took two sockets or the contribution of 12 000 men.
“Each man could affirm, that the very dwelling place of God rested on the ransom money which he had paid for his soul.” (Soltau 1972, pg 96)
In like manner, our ransom price has been paid but not with a half shekel of silver but with the precious blood of Jesus and because we are his church we are like Living Stones and are being built into a glorious Temple, as glorious as the Tabernacle in the desert, for the praise of His glory!
Think of all the people through the ages who have been faithful, that great crowd of witnesses who passed the truth down through the ages.
Let us be found faithful also. Amen.
Lord, we stand in awe of You, of your goodness majesty and Righteousness. There is no-one like You, You alone deserve all the glory, praise and adoration that we and countless hundreds of thousands, thousands upon thousands will bring you one day.
We are amazed that You should consider making Your dwelling amongst men, in the desert, that You should even come and live within us in these latter days, by Your Spirit, giving us a new heart, placing us in Your family, taking us out of the kingdom of darkness and into the kingdom of the Son You love.
Lord help us to be faithful to Your calling. Help us to remember that to those who have been given much, much will be expected. We want to be ready to stand on the day of testing and to be found worthy.
May we be found faithful as countless others who have gone before us.
Help us Lord, Jehovah Tsidkenu, God our Righteousness, Jehovah Jesus, in Your Name Jesus. Amen.
References
1. Holy Bible (NIV)
2. Soltau, Henry, W. 1972. ‘The Tabernacle, the Priesthood and the Offerings.
Kregel Publications, USA.
Exodus 26:1-37
Imagine for a moment that you have been transported back in time. It is about 1500BC, and you’re standing on a hill overlooking the Israelite camp in the desert.
What things do you notice? In the centre of the camp there is a fenced area with the Tabernacle, the Bronze Altar and the Laver inside.
What does the Tabernacle look like? It is like a big ugly rectangular box covered with animal skins, 30cubits long and 10 cubits wide. (A cubit is 18in, therefore 45ft long by 15ft wide – 15m x 5m)
[A tennis court is 78ft long and 39ft wide (24m x 8m)
This room is 5m wide, so the length would be three times a long. Does this surprise you? Did you think it was smaller, bigger?]
Imagine that you begin to walk closer to the fence. When you get up close you reach out and touch the material. What is it? What colour is it?
It is made of finely twisted linen and is probably white (Ex 27:9). White linen as we know represents righteousness. And it is appropriate that the Tabernacle is surrounded by a curtain representing righteousness.
Indeed one of God’s names is Jehovah Tsidkenu, which means ‘The LORD our Righteousness’ (Jer 23:6)
Righteousness means to be morally right or justifiable. In other words blameless, guiltless, holy, innocent, just, sinless. Are we righteous? No, but Jesus is our righteousness. Only through Him can we come near to a Holy God.
Romans 3:20, “Therefore no one will be declared righteous” and
Romans 3:21, “But now a righteousness from God...has been made known..”
Romans 3:22, “this righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe”
Romans 5:19, “...through the obedience of one man the many will be made righteous”
Can you see over the top of the fence? How high is the fence? (5cubits – 7.5ft – 3.5m)
You walk around the fence and see an opening on the east side. It has a curtain across the opening. What colour is the curtain? Are there any designs on it?
The opening is quite wide 20 cubits – 10m. The curtains hang on 4 pillars (probably of acacia wood), which were set on bronze bases.
There are three curtains that block all out except the priests, those anointed by God to minister before Him, to come near to Him. The curtain we have just entered through is the gate of the courtyard, the way into the Tabernacle is known as the door and the curtain before the Most Holy Place where the Ark of the Covenant is kept is the veil.
Jesus said: “I am the gate: whoever enters through me will be saved” (John 10:9).
There was no other way to enter the Tabernacle except through the gate. There is no other way to enter heaven except through Jesus. We only can enter God’s presence one way. It would be no good trying to climb over the fence or under the fence. It would be no good just trying to be good, or going to church or being baptised. Our righteousness comes through faith and trust in Jesus and in this way we enter through the gate.
Jesus is the open door, what God has opened, no-one can shut (Rev3:7,8) and the veil was torn in two when Jesus died on the Cross, making a way for believers to go directly into God’s presence (Matt 27:51)
Imagine as you walk into the courtyard, what do you see in front of you? You see in front of you the Bronze Altar and the priests burning a sacrifice, a burnt offering. The smell is like a Sunday roast and the aroma is wafting heavenward toward God who finds it a pleasing aroma, because the person who has offered it wants to say thanks to God and to praise and worship Him.
Psalm 100:4 says: “Enter His courts with thanksgiving and His courts with praise, give thanks to Him and praise His Name”
We also come into God’s presence with thanksgiving and praise.
You notice that the priests have no shoes, maybe the ground is dirt, maybe sand. What do you think? You follow a priest towards the Tabernacle and see him stop at the bronze laver or basin, and wash his hands and his feet before going into the Tabernacle.
In the same way, we confess our sin and receive cleansing (sanctification), before coming into God’s presence.
You follow him, and you look up at the Tabernacle, the place where God dwells. It is huge, much bigger than you thought from a distance. You see 5 huge pillars standing 10 cubits high (15ft-5m), made of wood but covered with thin sheets of beaten gold, that are resting in silver bases, and behind the pillars is the second curtain, the door of the Tabernacle: beautiful blue, purple and crimson linen fabric. (Ex 26:37)
Do we dare to step into this Holy Place? How are we feeling? Fearful, excited, overwhelmed, tiny, small, inadequate?
We step through the curtains into the Holy Place and look down at our feet.
There is no mention of floor coverings in the Bible and we have no shoes on our feet. We are standing on holy ground, just as Moses was when told to take off his sandals as he moved towards the burning bush (Ex 3:5)
Psalm 84:10 says, “Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.”
We look around and see the furnishings. On our left, the golden Lampstand has been lit as it is evening and Aaron and his sons will keep it burning all night, tending the wicks and adding more oil. (Ex 27:20-21; 30:8).
In front of the veil is the golden altar of incense and on our right is the golden table with the showbread on it. The sons of Levi, the Kohathites who were responsible for carrying these items were not allowed to look at them or they were killed (Numbers 7:9)
At the far end we see the veil shielding the Ark of the Covenant where God dwells enthroned between the cherubim and where once a year, the priest goes to sprinkle blood for the forgiveness of the sins of Israel on the Day of Atonement or Yom Kippur (Lev 16:1-34)
The veil is of pure white linen with its beautifully embroidered cherubim in blue, purple and crimson.
Imagine for a moment the size of this room we have stepped into? How long is it? How wide? 20cubits long and 10cubits wide 10cubits high. (30ft x 15ft x 15ft) 10m x 5m x 5m.
It’s a huge area and as you look up towards the ceiling high above you see the tabernacle or curtain that is the first covering. It is the same curtain as the veil in front of the ark, embroidered with Cherubim, winged creatures that protect and guard the glory of God. Perhaps they are flying, their wings outstretched in full flight and you are amazed at their beauty!
Psalm 61:4, “I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of Your wings”
Finally we notice the walls. Huge beams of acacia wood (common in the Sinai peninsula and a dark, hard wood), covered with gold, standing side by side on silver bases. The beams are 10 cubits long and a cubit and a half wide (15ft high and 2.25ft wide – 4.5mx1.8m) (Ex 26:16), and it is over this framework that the 4 coverings are draped.
First the tabernacle, then the tent of goat’s hair, then two coverings, first ram’s skin dyed red, then the skin of another animal (dugongs-sea cows native to Red Sea) over the top completely sealing and waterproofing the Tabernacle (Ex 26:14)
Absolutely dazzlingly beautiful!
To conclude; if you are still inside the tabernacle let’s walk over towards one of the walls. Each of the huge beams has two prongs at the base and is held upright in huge silver bases or sockets.
Where did the silver come from for the sockets? Let us read about the Atonement Money - Ex 30:11-16
When a census was taken, any male twenty years and over paid a ransom for protection from plagues and as a covering for sin. They paid half a shekel of silver (a fifth of an ounce), regardless of how rich or poor you were. It was the same amount for everyone. And it was used for the Tent of Meeting and the people would remember that their contribution had helped to build the place where God dwelled.
Now let’s turn to Exodus 38:25-27 and read.
This silver added up to 100 talents, about 3.75tons, from a total of 603 550 men.
100 bases were made and each base therefore contained 1 talent of silver.
Now for some maths - if each man gave half a shekel and there were roughly 600 000 men, then there must have been 300 000 shekels in the silver bases and as there were 100 bases that means there were 3 000 shekels per talent or socket.
Remember each man gave half a shekel, so in one socket was the contribution of 6 000 men. To hold up one of the beams took two sockets or the contribution of 12 000 men.
“Each man could affirm, that the very dwelling place of God rested on the ransom money which he had paid for his soul.” (Soltau 1972, pg 96)
In like manner, our ransom price has been paid but not with a half shekel of silver but with the precious blood of Jesus and because we are his church we are like Living Stones and are being built into a glorious Temple, as glorious as the Tabernacle in the desert, for the praise of His glory!
Think of all the people through the ages who have been faithful, that great crowd of witnesses who passed the truth down through the ages.
Let us be found faithful also. Amen.
Lord, we stand in awe of You, of your goodness majesty and Righteousness. There is no-one like You, You alone deserve all the glory, praise and adoration that we and countless hundreds of thousands, thousands upon thousands will bring you one day.
We are amazed that You should consider making Your dwelling amongst men, in the desert, that You should even come and live within us in these latter days, by Your Spirit, giving us a new heart, placing us in Your family, taking us out of the kingdom of darkness and into the kingdom of the Son You love.
Lord help us to be faithful to Your calling. Help us to remember that to those who have been given much, much will be expected. We want to be ready to stand on the day of testing and to be found worthy.
May we be found faithful as countless others who have gone before us.
Help us Lord, Jehovah Tsidkenu, God our Righteousness, Jehovah Jesus, in Your Name Jesus. Amen.
References
1. Holy Bible (NIV)
2. Soltau, Henry, W. 1972. ‘The Tabernacle, the Priesthood and the Offerings.
Kregel Publications, USA.
Friday, March 5, 2010
Justification (Part I)
Man’s Heart – Between God and Satan
By Odon Bulamba (14 March 2003)
This is a good opportunity and a time to meet together. Praise God because He gives us the grace to meet. God is good and his kindness is great, nobody can say God is not good. In everything he does He’s good and perfect and if we meet together tonight its because God is good and because He’s perfect in everything he does. Before we start tonight we’re going to pray, all of us, we’re going to ask God to forgive us and to help us have a good heart.
One more time we have the grace, but one day this Grace will end. It’s like someone who is very hungry, starving, and when she’s given food the person eats with great appetite. They feel that their stomach gets something, but at some stage the stomach is full and that’s it. They have no appetite anymore; in the end they don’t want to eat anymore. With Gods grace it’s the same thing. God gave the grace to the world because the world is starving and each person is called to eat from this grace. But one day there will not be grace anymore. Woe to the one who didn’t get this grace.
Tonight we’re going to talk again about justification. How can we know where we’re up to before God? How can you know who you are before yourself? It’s true that some people don’t know exactly who they are. One day I was asked this question. “God wasn’t black, Jesus Christ wasn’t black why do you believe in Jesus“? This is a harsh question. I said “Who told you my brother that I’m black”? And he said “Yes you are black” I showed him my shoes, that day I was wearing black shoes I said “Do you think I’m like this?” he said “not really but your race is called black race” and when you say not really it means that I’m not black, and he thought he was white, but he wasn’t white either. Who is white amongst us? Who is this colour? - Nobody. Although you call yourself white you’re not white, although I call myself black I’m not black.
If I look in depth what a colour is our eyes can never determine a colour, because sometimes our eyes are full of mistakes, maybe one day we’re talk about it.
So we must know ourselves as Christians we must know who we are and we must also know the God in whom we put our trust.
A few years ago there was a war in 1945. A German went to war. He found a mirror, he said this is a treasure I must bring it back home because in my village there were no mirrors, and it was like Africa 100 years ago; a white man could offer an African a mirror in exchange for 500kg of gold and I think that in New Zealand you had the same story too.
So why did these people love mirrors? A mirror has significance in their lives. This mirror means something of great value in these people’s lives. So this German went to war and he took the mirror, he said I want to bring this mirror back with me if God allows me to come back healthy then this mirror means something. He was married to a beautiful girl maybe she was even prettier then Delilah, maybe even pretty as you are my sisters here.
This man was very proud of his wife and he thought the best gift to bring back to his wife was the mirror. The war lasted 5 years, during those 5 years the woman was the wife somewhere, and the man somewhere else. Because the war was going on everybody was in great trouble, sometimes the wife didn’t have time to look after her body so what happened when the German solider came back? He said this is what I bought you back and she was very happy with the gift. She opened it and looked at it and said “what’s that?” he said, “look again” she said, “no I don’t want to I can see a monster’, the man said, “no this is you” she said “no, that’s not me, I know myself, I know myself better than this thing.”
At that time the woman lived with her mum and her mum was old she had no teeth and the man said ok give me my mirror back. The wife said “no mum come here and see come and see what kind of second wife my husband came back with” and the mum was angry, “what is that? Who gave him the right to marry another wife when he went to war he was told to be careful and honest but he comes back with another wife” and the mum said “show me this wife” and she looked at the mirror and said “what kind of woman is this, she’s ugly, she has no teeth, you are not ashamed to marry someone like that” and the man said “mum that’s you” and she said “No I might hate, curse you because you are playing with my personality.
This is exactly the image of the Church of God. From time to time Jesus wants to see us, and when he visits us he sees a change in us. When he see this change he knows that if he tells us “Odon you have changed” then I might discuss or disagree with Him. So I find it better for you, to give you the mirror, the Word of God. Look at yourself, and when I look at it I’m the first one to say, “this is a monster” I’ll say, “what kind of word is it there are no teeth and I will argue with it”
James 1:23-25 Because if any man is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man looking at his natural face in a glass; For after looking at himself he goes away, and in a short time he has no memory of what he was like. But he who goes on looking into the true law which makes him free, being not a hearer without memory but a doer putting it into effect, this man will have a blessing on his acts.
So when we don’t practice the Word of God we are compared to this wife and her mum because they were given a mirror and they didn’t admit whom they were. So with justification everyone must look at himself inside, you must observe yourself and know who you are. Without witnesses you’re be alone and you will ask yourself who am I, and when you ask yourself who am I, this is where God will come and show you who you really are.
By Odon Bulamba (14 March 2003)
This is a good opportunity and a time to meet together. Praise God because He gives us the grace to meet. God is good and his kindness is great, nobody can say God is not good. In everything he does He’s good and perfect and if we meet together tonight its because God is good and because He’s perfect in everything he does. Before we start tonight we’re going to pray, all of us, we’re going to ask God to forgive us and to help us have a good heart.
One more time we have the grace, but one day this Grace will end. It’s like someone who is very hungry, starving, and when she’s given food the person eats with great appetite. They feel that their stomach gets something, but at some stage the stomach is full and that’s it. They have no appetite anymore; in the end they don’t want to eat anymore. With Gods grace it’s the same thing. God gave the grace to the world because the world is starving and each person is called to eat from this grace. But one day there will not be grace anymore. Woe to the one who didn’t get this grace.
Tonight we’re going to talk again about justification. How can we know where we’re up to before God? How can you know who you are before yourself? It’s true that some people don’t know exactly who they are. One day I was asked this question. “God wasn’t black, Jesus Christ wasn’t black why do you believe in Jesus“? This is a harsh question. I said “Who told you my brother that I’m black”? And he said “Yes you are black” I showed him my shoes, that day I was wearing black shoes I said “Do you think I’m like this?” he said “not really but your race is called black race” and when you say not really it means that I’m not black, and he thought he was white, but he wasn’t white either. Who is white amongst us? Who is this colour? - Nobody. Although you call yourself white you’re not white, although I call myself black I’m not black.
If I look in depth what a colour is our eyes can never determine a colour, because sometimes our eyes are full of mistakes, maybe one day we’re talk about it.
So we must know ourselves as Christians we must know who we are and we must also know the God in whom we put our trust.
A few years ago there was a war in 1945. A German went to war. He found a mirror, he said this is a treasure I must bring it back home because in my village there were no mirrors, and it was like Africa 100 years ago; a white man could offer an African a mirror in exchange for 500kg of gold and I think that in New Zealand you had the same story too.
So why did these people love mirrors? A mirror has significance in their lives. This mirror means something of great value in these people’s lives. So this German went to war and he took the mirror, he said I want to bring this mirror back with me if God allows me to come back healthy then this mirror means something. He was married to a beautiful girl maybe she was even prettier then Delilah, maybe even pretty as you are my sisters here.
This man was very proud of his wife and he thought the best gift to bring back to his wife was the mirror. The war lasted 5 years, during those 5 years the woman was the wife somewhere, and the man somewhere else. Because the war was going on everybody was in great trouble, sometimes the wife didn’t have time to look after her body so what happened when the German solider came back? He said this is what I bought you back and she was very happy with the gift. She opened it and looked at it and said “what’s that?” he said, “look again” she said, “no I don’t want to I can see a monster’, the man said, “no this is you” she said “no, that’s not me, I know myself, I know myself better than this thing.”
At that time the woman lived with her mum and her mum was old she had no teeth and the man said ok give me my mirror back. The wife said “no mum come here and see come and see what kind of second wife my husband came back with” and the mum was angry, “what is that? Who gave him the right to marry another wife when he went to war he was told to be careful and honest but he comes back with another wife” and the mum said “show me this wife” and she looked at the mirror and said “what kind of woman is this, she’s ugly, she has no teeth, you are not ashamed to marry someone like that” and the man said “mum that’s you” and she said “No I might hate, curse you because you are playing with my personality.
This is exactly the image of the Church of God. From time to time Jesus wants to see us, and when he visits us he sees a change in us. When he see this change he knows that if he tells us “Odon you have changed” then I might discuss or disagree with Him. So I find it better for you, to give you the mirror, the Word of God. Look at yourself, and when I look at it I’m the first one to say, “this is a monster” I’ll say, “what kind of word is it there are no teeth and I will argue with it”
James 1:23-25 Because if any man is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man looking at his natural face in a glass; For after looking at himself he goes away, and in a short time he has no memory of what he was like. But he who goes on looking into the true law which makes him free, being not a hearer without memory but a doer putting it into effect, this man will have a blessing on his acts.
So when we don’t practice the Word of God we are compared to this wife and her mum because they were given a mirror and they didn’t admit whom they were. So with justification everyone must look at himself inside, you must observe yourself and know who you are. Without witnesses you’re be alone and you will ask yourself who am I, and when you ask yourself who am I, this is where God will come and show you who you really are.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Ministry of Pastor (Part VIII)
By Odon Bulamba (10th Nov 2000)
QUESTION: what is the difference between a pastor and an elder
The difference is: among the pastor’s requirements, elders lack a few things they must work on. The pastor is meant to fulfill all pastors’ requirements. For example, Paul was an elder in the church, 1 Peter 5:1 but because he was not married, he couldn’t be a pastor. But he would decide together with the pastor. Elder can miss one to three requirements.
According to the Word, the pastor is someone blameless, so if people blame you, it means you are not able to do that work. You must pray God will help you be blameless. It doesn’t mean that Satan will not try to find a way to get you and reproach you as he did with Job. His friends were the ones who condemned him. Satan tries to prove to the pastor he is not worthy of the job, but Titus chapter 1 tells us that the pastor is even a friend to pagans.
Unbelievers also will testify who the pastor is. A shepherd who finds a lost sheep, he doesn’t leave this sheep but he takes it back, although the sheep doesn’t belong to him. He will look after it. So the pastor also has a contact with pagans. The pastor might come into a pub and talk with the drunkards, tell them the good news. Most pastors today are the pagan’s enemy. And if you want to be saved, they ask you to go to church; they can’t tell them the good news as they walk along with you. He can’t find the time to discuss with you in a garden. He just waits for you to come to church.
The pastor is a pastor everywhere. A shepherd doesn’t remain just in his sheep pen; he sometimes goes away to the top of the hills, or down a valley to find grass. So he can leave the sheep’s pen. This is to say that your sheep might also go to other churches. Never tell your sheep, you belong to me, you stay here and never go to other churches.
This is a problem in churches today. The pastor will ask you where you went to church last Sunday and if you can say, I went to x church, you must explain why. That will be a problem. And because you don’t want to create problems you might lie and say you stayed home because you were not well. You will deceive the pastor because he didn’t ask a good question.
So Pastors accept your sheep to wander around and learn other things. Many pastors don’t want that because somewhere else, they might be taught something against their denomination and he might lose souls.
I personally visit many churches, Catholics, Methodists, even mosques to see what is there. How can I criticize a Muslim when I don’t know what a mosque is, or an Imam?
How can I say that Muslims can’t pray or fast if I have never done it with them? So I must be there to see how they do things, to have a testimony to give. I can’t believe all the Christian books written like a cold war, Pentecostals can’t stand the Baptists and the Baptists can’t stand the Apostolic and so on. So I must go and see what it is, and if I see mistakes, I pray for that church so that they might see again.
I said that pastors shouldn’t lock up their sheep in a pen, as many usually say, “This is my Christian”. Pastor, you must know that Hayley is not your Christian. Hayley belongs to God. So know your place and your authority. When you are given Christians always remember these Christians belong to God and not to you.
If someone came to you with a NZ $1 million jewel, and told you, “Steve, keep this for me”. I think that all your thoughts, your heart and all your life will be there, and if someone walks past the room where the jewel is, you will feel you must check. At every minute, every move in the house, you will go and check on it, because you know this is very valuable and it doesn’t belong to you. So if you lose this jewel, it will cost me a lot and this is what pastors must do with their sheep: know they are jewels of great value in God’s eyes, and they don’t belong to them.
They record their member’s names in big books,
- Steve was baptized in a Pentecostal church, Nathanael was baptized in a Baptist Church so his name will be recorded in the Baptist church book. And when others come to visit they show them the book,
- This is our Christian and his name is in our book.
So pastors, make sure their names are recorded in the celestial book and not in your church book. This is very important.
QUESTION: what is the difference between a pastor and an elder
The difference is: among the pastor’s requirements, elders lack a few things they must work on. The pastor is meant to fulfill all pastors’ requirements. For example, Paul was an elder in the church, 1 Peter 5:1 but because he was not married, he couldn’t be a pastor. But he would decide together with the pastor. Elder can miss one to three requirements.
According to the Word, the pastor is someone blameless, so if people blame you, it means you are not able to do that work. You must pray God will help you be blameless. It doesn’t mean that Satan will not try to find a way to get you and reproach you as he did with Job. His friends were the ones who condemned him. Satan tries to prove to the pastor he is not worthy of the job, but Titus chapter 1 tells us that the pastor is even a friend to pagans.
Unbelievers also will testify who the pastor is. A shepherd who finds a lost sheep, he doesn’t leave this sheep but he takes it back, although the sheep doesn’t belong to him. He will look after it. So the pastor also has a contact with pagans. The pastor might come into a pub and talk with the drunkards, tell them the good news. Most pastors today are the pagan’s enemy. And if you want to be saved, they ask you to go to church; they can’t tell them the good news as they walk along with you. He can’t find the time to discuss with you in a garden. He just waits for you to come to church.
The pastor is a pastor everywhere. A shepherd doesn’t remain just in his sheep pen; he sometimes goes away to the top of the hills, or down a valley to find grass. So he can leave the sheep’s pen. This is to say that your sheep might also go to other churches. Never tell your sheep, you belong to me, you stay here and never go to other churches.
This is a problem in churches today. The pastor will ask you where you went to church last Sunday and if you can say, I went to x church, you must explain why. That will be a problem. And because you don’t want to create problems you might lie and say you stayed home because you were not well. You will deceive the pastor because he didn’t ask a good question.
So Pastors accept your sheep to wander around and learn other things. Many pastors don’t want that because somewhere else, they might be taught something against their denomination and he might lose souls.
I personally visit many churches, Catholics, Methodists, even mosques to see what is there. How can I criticize a Muslim when I don’t know what a mosque is, or an Imam?
How can I say that Muslims can’t pray or fast if I have never done it with them? So I must be there to see how they do things, to have a testimony to give. I can’t believe all the Christian books written like a cold war, Pentecostals can’t stand the Baptists and the Baptists can’t stand the Apostolic and so on. So I must go and see what it is, and if I see mistakes, I pray for that church so that they might see again.
I said that pastors shouldn’t lock up their sheep in a pen, as many usually say, “This is my Christian”. Pastor, you must know that Hayley is not your Christian. Hayley belongs to God. So know your place and your authority. When you are given Christians always remember these Christians belong to God and not to you.
If someone came to you with a NZ $1 million jewel, and told you, “Steve, keep this for me”. I think that all your thoughts, your heart and all your life will be there, and if someone walks past the room where the jewel is, you will feel you must check. At every minute, every move in the house, you will go and check on it, because you know this is very valuable and it doesn’t belong to you. So if you lose this jewel, it will cost me a lot and this is what pastors must do with their sheep: know they are jewels of great value in God’s eyes, and they don’t belong to them.
They record their member’s names in big books,
- Steve was baptized in a Pentecostal church, Nathanael was baptized in a Baptist Church so his name will be recorded in the Baptist church book. And when others come to visit they show them the book,
- This is our Christian and his name is in our book.
So pastors, make sure their names are recorded in the celestial book and not in your church book. This is very important.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Ministry of Pastor (Part VI)
By Odon Bulamba (10th Nov 2000)
When we talk about pastors, there are 2 categories:
1. Pastors inspired by demonic powers. They hold that ministry from Satan, they are false pastors
2. Pastors chosen by God
And we must know who are these pastors and discern their spirit. The Bible tells us something essential: if a blind leads another blind they will both fall into a pit and everything will be lost. So Christians must open their eyes, ask God for discernment, a vision so that we know who are those who lead us.
Both, true and false pastors are helped by true and false elders. Elders also have the same abilities as pastors have. So if you are not chosen by God, and if you are asked by your pastor to be an elder in a church, be careful. First of all know what kind of calling it is, who is calling you to work for him: the Spirit of God or the pastor’s will? If Jesus calls you to work for him, you will be rewarded for that but if a man calls you to help him in God’s work, woe to you.
Example: Here, we are at Sylvie’s place, and someone comes and starts gardening outside. At night, he comes and asks to be paid. The very first thing Sylvie or Michael will say, “Who asked you to do this work?” Woe to you! If you have committed yourself to a service that God has not asked you to do, woe to you! Watch out for the right calling. God is not a man, He never jokes, so let us not joke with Him either. He says: our “yes must be yes and our no must be no.” I must not be influenced by anything or anyone to do what God didn’t ask me to do. Never and never must I please man, if God doesn’t allow me.
Pastors and servants of God, accept it too! If Christians say, “This is the truth, this what I have found to be the truth”, don’t let your heart be troubled or hurt, don’t fall into anger and make harsh decisions, just understand the situation and praise God. Most pastors and servants of God today think highly of themselves, higher than others, holier than others and they forget Jesus’ commandment for the one who wants to be first must be the slaves of others.
Let us be careful and let us look after the flock God gave us. We will be judged according to our own lives as pastors, and then to the souls we had to look after. So pastors will be judged twice: for their lives and for the church’ lives. So be ready to accept the load and to sacrifice your life for your flock.
The best thing to overcome: pray a lot, read the Word and know it, and he must take out what is in his eye before taking it out of other people’s eyes, so that people will not blame him and see the same problem in him.
In my country, someone went hunting one day in the forest, and he found a skull on the road. The skull said,
- Good morning, my friend.
- A talking skull!! Am I dreaming or is it real? And shyly he said “Good morning”. Looking right and left, If the skull moves, I’ll flee.
He fled. Two meters further down, the skull was there again.
- “Hello my friend.”
- “Why are you here?”
- “You answer me with confidence that’s why I always follow you. I want to tell you that if today I am a skull it’s because I have lost the flesh that was over my bones. Even my brain is not there anymore, everything is gone, but bones. Do you know why? Because I always saw people’s mistakes and never mine. So when I told an eye, “You misbehaved” and I condemned the eye, I cast out my eye; no eye, same for the ears, the nose and everything that was covering my face is gone and all these parts reproached my own faults but I refused to change. That’s why I am just a skeleton today.”
The person reported that event to the chief, and he invited all the members of the village to tell them about this incredible thing. They thought about it and found out that the one who had met the skull, not only hunt animals but hunt souls as well. It means that when we are pastors, servants of God, we might realise one day all the Christians have fled when we don’t look after our own bodies.
If people reproach your faults and you don’t want to change, this is what happens. Jesus said that nobody is perfect, so help each other through prayers, when you see your pastor’s mistakes, pray for him. Do not go and inform anyone what you saw, but kneel down in your room and tell God and God will help him. It is not propaganda and I am not against pastors but I tell you this because one day you might do this work, you will help other pastors, other Christians to build up God’s work properly.
May God bless you and may His power always be with you.
Let us finish our time tonight, we will pray and each one will pray for each family, and for their work.
When we talk about pastors, there are 2 categories:
1. Pastors inspired by demonic powers. They hold that ministry from Satan, they are false pastors
2. Pastors chosen by God
And we must know who are these pastors and discern their spirit. The Bible tells us something essential: if a blind leads another blind they will both fall into a pit and everything will be lost. So Christians must open their eyes, ask God for discernment, a vision so that we know who are those who lead us.
Both, true and false pastors are helped by true and false elders. Elders also have the same abilities as pastors have. So if you are not chosen by God, and if you are asked by your pastor to be an elder in a church, be careful. First of all know what kind of calling it is, who is calling you to work for him: the Spirit of God or the pastor’s will? If Jesus calls you to work for him, you will be rewarded for that but if a man calls you to help him in God’s work, woe to you.
Example: Here, we are at Sylvie’s place, and someone comes and starts gardening outside. At night, he comes and asks to be paid. The very first thing Sylvie or Michael will say, “Who asked you to do this work?” Woe to you! If you have committed yourself to a service that God has not asked you to do, woe to you! Watch out for the right calling. God is not a man, He never jokes, so let us not joke with Him either. He says: our “yes must be yes and our no must be no.” I must not be influenced by anything or anyone to do what God didn’t ask me to do. Never and never must I please man, if God doesn’t allow me.
Pastors and servants of God, accept it too! If Christians say, “This is the truth, this what I have found to be the truth”, don’t let your heart be troubled or hurt, don’t fall into anger and make harsh decisions, just understand the situation and praise God. Most pastors and servants of God today think highly of themselves, higher than others, holier than others and they forget Jesus’ commandment for the one who wants to be first must be the slaves of others.
Let us be careful and let us look after the flock God gave us. We will be judged according to our own lives as pastors, and then to the souls we had to look after. So pastors will be judged twice: for their lives and for the church’ lives. So be ready to accept the load and to sacrifice your life for your flock.
The best thing to overcome: pray a lot, read the Word and know it, and he must take out what is in his eye before taking it out of other people’s eyes, so that people will not blame him and see the same problem in him.
In my country, someone went hunting one day in the forest, and he found a skull on the road. The skull said,
- Good morning, my friend.
- A talking skull!! Am I dreaming or is it real? And shyly he said “Good morning”. Looking right and left, If the skull moves, I’ll flee.
He fled. Two meters further down, the skull was there again.
- “Hello my friend.”
- “Why are you here?”
- “You answer me with confidence that’s why I always follow you. I want to tell you that if today I am a skull it’s because I have lost the flesh that was over my bones. Even my brain is not there anymore, everything is gone, but bones. Do you know why? Because I always saw people’s mistakes and never mine. So when I told an eye, “You misbehaved” and I condemned the eye, I cast out my eye; no eye, same for the ears, the nose and everything that was covering my face is gone and all these parts reproached my own faults but I refused to change. That’s why I am just a skeleton today.”
The person reported that event to the chief, and he invited all the members of the village to tell them about this incredible thing. They thought about it and found out that the one who had met the skull, not only hunt animals but hunt souls as well. It means that when we are pastors, servants of God, we might realise one day all the Christians have fled when we don’t look after our own bodies.
If people reproach your faults and you don’t want to change, this is what happens. Jesus said that nobody is perfect, so help each other through prayers, when you see your pastor’s mistakes, pray for him. Do not go and inform anyone what you saw, but kneel down in your room and tell God and God will help him. It is not propaganda and I am not against pastors but I tell you this because one day you might do this work, you will help other pastors, other Christians to build up God’s work properly.
May God bless you and may His power always be with you.
Let us finish our time tonight, we will pray and each one will pray for each family, and for their work.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Ministry of Pastor (Part V)
By Odon Bulamba (10th Nov 2000 )
The Bible says the pastor must look after God’s business and he must not be arrogant but today, everywhere in the world, those called pastors always want the first place.
Proverbs 27: 2
2 Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth;
a stranger, and not thine own lips.
But what we see today is terrible. The pastor feels uncomfortable, and he feels in him a burden he must release and when he meets someone, he must tell that person he is a pastor.
But you were not born with the name “pastor”. My name is not pastor, my name is pastor when I played this role but in normal life, I am Odon, that’s it. And because they want more respect from others, the Ecumenical Council did something: they try to find a sign to show you are a pastor; wear black shirts with a white collar. Anyone who sees you will know you are pastor.
But no!! God didn’t ask for that. Your works will show who you are. And what are these colors, black and white, darkness and light together? They are neither hot nor cold. The Bible says that these people will be spewed up. The people who use these colors, might have a black and white soul too. I don’t know why they choose these colors, when God said that a light can shine everywhere, near and far, everyone will see where the light is.
Those who smoke even 100 metres away from you will show others where they are, although the cigarette is tiny, anyone will still see something is there. So, it’s even more for us who have such great light in us.
The pastor must not be quick tempered, but he must be peaceful and gentle. But go and visit Police stations and you will see pastors with problems with the government, problems with their wife and more. What kind of pastor is this who appears in front of a court to be judged? The Bible says that, we are the one who will judge the world, the law is under the power of the Bible.
Some pastors come back home, let’s say Michael is pastor and Sylvie his wife, and at work a patient disturbed him and he thought he would ring. His wife answers:
- How are you?
- Not good. I will come back home.
He arrives at home angry, and instead of knocking at the door he kicks it. He is not drunk. The door opens with a kick, and he comes in furious. He puts aside his pastor’s uniform, he puts his Christian heart aside and he is now wearing Goliath.
- Sylvie, I want to eat.
- I am not ready, I just need two minutes.
-
Deep in his heart he feels right to unload all his anger on her.
- And you are never ready, you are always late, you do this and that…
His son comes in:
- Dad, what’s wrong?
- Shut up! Go away!
Two minutes later, a brother comes to visit:
Knocking… and everybody looks at each other: who will open the door?
The pastor opens the door.
- Ah brother! Welcome. Nice to see you. Take a seat.
He changes his attitude and shows hypocrisy and the brother will see there is no problems in here. So pastors want to show holiness outside their house, but in their home it’s nothing but a mess. Let’s be careful with this. Pastors must be fair and holy, self-controlled, attached to the message of God, not the message coming from the Baptist or Pentecostal church.
For example, in Africa, to be baptized by the Holy Spirit you must speak in tongues. As we visited churches, when we met with the church leaders, they would first ask, “Are you filled with the Holy Spirit? Do you also speak in tongues?” But this is only one gift, there are many others. And if you don’t speak in tongues, they put you aside. You are not of their people.
Go to the Baptists:
- Do you speak in tongues?
- Yes, I speak in tongues.
- So, you don’t belong to us.
Go to the Seventh Day Adventists:
- When do you go to church?
- On Sundays.
- Oh, we do on Saturdays. You don’t belong to us.
Where are we? Are you Christians or not? To be filled with the Holy Spirit is a sin for them. Not to be filled is a sin. Speaking in tongues, you don’t belong here, not speaking in tongues, you don’t belong here. So, who do I belong to? We must know the divine doctrine and not the rules churches make. Let’s follow the Word of God. The Bible says that you can’t add or remove anything from it.
Titus 2:7-8
7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works:
in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,
8 Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary
part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.
The servant of God must be an example and most of them after sharing the Word with other Christians, say, “Remember when we started we asked the Holy Spirit to lead and teach us because it’s written in John 16:14 the Holy Spirit will teach us. So when I preach, it’s not me, the person you see who preaches.” As long as they act with the power of the Holy Spirit, they are pushed to say what they say. But when they stop preaching, they go back to their normal old lifestyle.
And you will see pastors who drink alcohol, smoke, become prostitutes, steal, love money, don’t have faith, and those who join the world to act and be one of them. Is this the light that will put darkness to shame? The light that comes into the darkness also becomes darkness. This is terrible. Pastors must know where they are up to.
Let’s walk like Paul who said to follow his example as he follows Jesus’ example. But pastors today don’t do that. If you follow your pastor example, you will see mistakes, you will see that Christian life is meaningless. So what should I do, Christian, if I witness this? I must pray for my pastor that God may help him and make him strong to walk like Jesus walked. Christians, servants of God, we must know we have such a great responsibility to take care of God’s flock.
Pastors are married, so pastors’ wives must also comply with God’s standards. But this is what we see: about 75% of them are worse than parrots. They speak far too much, they criticize everything and comment on everything. It is better to close your mouth with the pastor’s wife and keep quiet, woe to me if I speak! They are the very ones that Christians fear!
‘If I tell my problem to my pastor, and he tells his wife, all the newspapers in NZ will publish it.’
There is a saying that goes: “pastors marry radios stations”, because they can’t keep quiet and are never tired. A radio station can actually spread better than a newspaper. All messages come and go all the time: if a piece of news comes at 12 and the next piece at 13, the radio will never say no, they will broadcast everything. It doesn’t even take 2 seconds.
Let’s say Michelle has a problem and she tells the pastor’s wife.
- I have a problem, this and that.
According to Titus 2, the pastor’s wife must advice young ladies how to live in their house. When the young lady comes and tells her problem the pastor’s wife thinks in her heart:
- I’ve got the latest piece of news to publish. I must tell others.
And as she talks to the visitor, she thinks afterwards:
- I’m going to phone Marcia, this sister and others.
And Michelle finishes:
- Thank you so much. I am going now.
- Bye Michelle, may God bless you.
Before Michelle reaches the door, the pastor’s wife is already on the phone.
- Hello. I was blessed today. God was with me today.
- What happened dear?
- Michelle came here and told me this and that and that.
- Really? And what did you say?
- Michelle is younger than me. What do you think?
And Michelle thought she talked to a trustworthy person but when she hears this later maybe through Peter, and he will tell her Steve informed him and Steve from Hayley and Hayley from Michael and so on, this is a whole chain. It was a small problem but the whole church was informed. What’s next for Michelle? She will be broken and shocked and she might tell God, “I am disappointed with Christians, it’s better to live with pagans.” And some people say “Better to be a pagan than be a Christian like Pastor X”.
- Do you belong to this church?
- Yeah.
- I don’t. No thank you.
- Why?
- Your pastor.
Some souls refuse to come to Jesus because of the pastor! Others refuse salvation because of the pastor’s wife. Pastor’s wives be careful with the way you behave. The tongue is a little member of our body, but it can lead the whole body into a big problem. So, pastors’ wives pray for your husbands and for God’s work and do what you are supposed to do without curiosity.
The Bible tells us that pastors’ wives must have holy lives and avoid gossiping, drinking wine, they must give good advice, and on top of that, they must practice Ephesians 5:22 & 24. She must love her husband dearly and great submission must accompany this love.
Submission must be in everything, it’s not about women’s rights as women say, “This is my right.” Our law and our right is the Bible: up to you to choose and know what Master you serve. If you are a pastor’s wife, accept to live according to God’s will, and if you find it difficult ask God to help you so that you can make it.
The Bible says the pastor must look after God’s business and he must not be arrogant but today, everywhere in the world, those called pastors always want the first place.
Proverbs 27: 2
2 Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth;
a stranger, and not thine own lips.
But what we see today is terrible. The pastor feels uncomfortable, and he feels in him a burden he must release and when he meets someone, he must tell that person he is a pastor.
But you were not born with the name “pastor”. My name is not pastor, my name is pastor when I played this role but in normal life, I am Odon, that’s it. And because they want more respect from others, the Ecumenical Council did something: they try to find a sign to show you are a pastor; wear black shirts with a white collar. Anyone who sees you will know you are pastor.
But no!! God didn’t ask for that. Your works will show who you are. And what are these colors, black and white, darkness and light together? They are neither hot nor cold. The Bible says that these people will be spewed up. The people who use these colors, might have a black and white soul too. I don’t know why they choose these colors, when God said that a light can shine everywhere, near and far, everyone will see where the light is.
Those who smoke even 100 metres away from you will show others where they are, although the cigarette is tiny, anyone will still see something is there. So, it’s even more for us who have such great light in us.
The pastor must not be quick tempered, but he must be peaceful and gentle. But go and visit Police stations and you will see pastors with problems with the government, problems with their wife and more. What kind of pastor is this who appears in front of a court to be judged? The Bible says that, we are the one who will judge the world, the law is under the power of the Bible.
Some pastors come back home, let’s say Michael is pastor and Sylvie his wife, and at work a patient disturbed him and he thought he would ring. His wife answers:
- How are you?
- Not good. I will come back home.
He arrives at home angry, and instead of knocking at the door he kicks it. He is not drunk. The door opens with a kick, and he comes in furious. He puts aside his pastor’s uniform, he puts his Christian heart aside and he is now wearing Goliath.
- Sylvie, I want to eat.
- I am not ready, I just need two minutes.
-
Deep in his heart he feels right to unload all his anger on her.
- And you are never ready, you are always late, you do this and that…
His son comes in:
- Dad, what’s wrong?
- Shut up! Go away!
Two minutes later, a brother comes to visit:
Knocking… and everybody looks at each other: who will open the door?
The pastor opens the door.
- Ah brother! Welcome. Nice to see you. Take a seat.
He changes his attitude and shows hypocrisy and the brother will see there is no problems in here. So pastors want to show holiness outside their house, but in their home it’s nothing but a mess. Let’s be careful with this. Pastors must be fair and holy, self-controlled, attached to the message of God, not the message coming from the Baptist or Pentecostal church.
For example, in Africa, to be baptized by the Holy Spirit you must speak in tongues. As we visited churches, when we met with the church leaders, they would first ask, “Are you filled with the Holy Spirit? Do you also speak in tongues?” But this is only one gift, there are many others. And if you don’t speak in tongues, they put you aside. You are not of their people.
Go to the Baptists:
- Do you speak in tongues?
- Yes, I speak in tongues.
- So, you don’t belong to us.
Go to the Seventh Day Adventists:
- When do you go to church?
- On Sundays.
- Oh, we do on Saturdays. You don’t belong to us.
Where are we? Are you Christians or not? To be filled with the Holy Spirit is a sin for them. Not to be filled is a sin. Speaking in tongues, you don’t belong here, not speaking in tongues, you don’t belong here. So, who do I belong to? We must know the divine doctrine and not the rules churches make. Let’s follow the Word of God. The Bible says that you can’t add or remove anything from it.
Titus 2:7-8
7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works:
in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,
8 Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary
part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.
The servant of God must be an example and most of them after sharing the Word with other Christians, say, “Remember when we started we asked the Holy Spirit to lead and teach us because it’s written in John 16:14 the Holy Spirit will teach us. So when I preach, it’s not me, the person you see who preaches.” As long as they act with the power of the Holy Spirit, they are pushed to say what they say. But when they stop preaching, they go back to their normal old lifestyle.
And you will see pastors who drink alcohol, smoke, become prostitutes, steal, love money, don’t have faith, and those who join the world to act and be one of them. Is this the light that will put darkness to shame? The light that comes into the darkness also becomes darkness. This is terrible. Pastors must know where they are up to.
Let’s walk like Paul who said to follow his example as he follows Jesus’ example. But pastors today don’t do that. If you follow your pastor example, you will see mistakes, you will see that Christian life is meaningless. So what should I do, Christian, if I witness this? I must pray for my pastor that God may help him and make him strong to walk like Jesus walked. Christians, servants of God, we must know we have such a great responsibility to take care of God’s flock.
Pastors are married, so pastors’ wives must also comply with God’s standards. But this is what we see: about 75% of them are worse than parrots. They speak far too much, they criticize everything and comment on everything. It is better to close your mouth with the pastor’s wife and keep quiet, woe to me if I speak! They are the very ones that Christians fear!
‘If I tell my problem to my pastor, and he tells his wife, all the newspapers in NZ will publish it.’
There is a saying that goes: “pastors marry radios stations”, because they can’t keep quiet and are never tired. A radio station can actually spread better than a newspaper. All messages come and go all the time: if a piece of news comes at 12 and the next piece at 13, the radio will never say no, they will broadcast everything. It doesn’t even take 2 seconds.
Let’s say Michelle has a problem and she tells the pastor’s wife.
- I have a problem, this and that.
According to Titus 2, the pastor’s wife must advice young ladies how to live in their house. When the young lady comes and tells her problem the pastor’s wife thinks in her heart:
- I’ve got the latest piece of news to publish. I must tell others.
And as she talks to the visitor, she thinks afterwards:
- I’m going to phone Marcia, this sister and others.
And Michelle finishes:
- Thank you so much. I am going now.
- Bye Michelle, may God bless you.
Before Michelle reaches the door, the pastor’s wife is already on the phone.
- Hello. I was blessed today. God was with me today.
- What happened dear?
- Michelle came here and told me this and that and that.
- Really? And what did you say?
- Michelle is younger than me. What do you think?
And Michelle thought she talked to a trustworthy person but when she hears this later maybe through Peter, and he will tell her Steve informed him and Steve from Hayley and Hayley from Michael and so on, this is a whole chain. It was a small problem but the whole church was informed. What’s next for Michelle? She will be broken and shocked and she might tell God, “I am disappointed with Christians, it’s better to live with pagans.” And some people say “Better to be a pagan than be a Christian like Pastor X”.
- Do you belong to this church?
- Yeah.
- I don’t. No thank you.
- Why?
- Your pastor.
Some souls refuse to come to Jesus because of the pastor! Others refuse salvation because of the pastor’s wife. Pastor’s wives be careful with the way you behave. The tongue is a little member of our body, but it can lead the whole body into a big problem. So, pastors’ wives pray for your husbands and for God’s work and do what you are supposed to do without curiosity.
The Bible tells us that pastors’ wives must have holy lives and avoid gossiping, drinking wine, they must give good advice, and on top of that, they must practice Ephesians 5:22 & 24. She must love her husband dearly and great submission must accompany this love.
Submission must be in everything, it’s not about women’s rights as women say, “This is my right.” Our law and our right is the Bible: up to you to choose and know what Master you serve. If you are a pastor’s wife, accept to live according to God’s will, and if you find it difficult ask God to help you so that you can make it.
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