Reflecting God - "A Cleansing Sacrifice" The Global Church of the Nazarene of Lenexa, Kansas, United States for Friday, 18 December 2015 - Embrace Holy Living

Reflecting God - "A Cleansing Sacrifice" The Global Church of the Nazarene of Lenexa, Kansas, United States for Friday, 18 December 2015 - Embrace Holy Living -
RG AUDIO 121815

Hebrews 9:1 Now the first covenant had both regulations for worship and a Holy Place here on earth. 2 A tent was set up, the outer one, which was called the Holy Place; in it were the menorah, the table and the Bread of the Presence. 3 Behind the second parokhet was a tent called the Holiest Place, 4 which had the golden altar for burning incense and the Ark of the Covenant, entirely covered with gold. In the Ark were the gold jar containing the man, Aharon’s rod that sprouted and the stone Tablets of the Covenant; 5 and above it were the k’ruvim representing the Sh’khinah, casting their shadow on the lid of the Ark — but now is not the time to discuss these things in detail.

6 With things so arranged, the cohanim go into the outer tent all the time to discharge their duties; 7 but only the cohen hagadol enters the inner one; and he goes in only once a year, and he must always bring blood, which he offers both for himself and for the sins committed in ignorance by the people. 8 By this arrangement, the Ruach HaKodesh showed that so long as the first Tent had standing, the way into the Holiest Place was still closed. 9 This symbolizes the present age and indicates that the conscience of the person performing the service cannot be brought to the goal by the gifts and sacrifices he offers. 10 For they involve only food and drink and various ceremonial washings — regulations concerning the outward life, imposed until the time for God to reshape the whole structure.

11 But when the Messiah appeared as cohen gadol of the good things that are happening already, then, through the greater and more perfect Tent which is not man-made (that is, it is not of this created world), 12 he entered the Holiest Place once and for all.

And he entered not by means of the blood of goats and calves, but by means of his own blood, thus setting people free forever. 13 For if sprinkling ceremonially unclean persons with the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer restores their outward purity; 14 then how much more the blood of the Messiah, who, through the eternal Spirit, offered himself to God as a sacrifice without blemish, will purify our conscience from works that lead to death, so that we can serve the living God!

"A Cleansing Sacrifice" by Author: Marlene Chase
My paternal grandmother tended to avoid anything to do with the church. “You Christians always talk about blood, and I find that offensive,” she would say. I always felt sad that she never came to faith. The unredeemed person cannot understand it when we sing about Jesus’ precious blood. “In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” (Hebrews 9:22).
God gave strict specifications for the tabernacle built under Moses, detailing its size, materials, and contents. It was the dwelling place of God, a holy habitation, and the children of Israel held it in great reverence. Only the priest could enter the Most Holy Place and then only once a year, after he had made sacrifice for his own sins. It is hard to imagine how many animals were sacrificed for the sins of the people. Yet, “they were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper” (Hebrews 9:9). It took the sinless Lamb of God to do that!
Hymn for Today: "The way of the Cross means sacrifice" by Mary E. Maxwell

1. The way of the Cross means sacrifice,

  As to God you yield your all

To be laid on the altar, the place of death,

  Where fire will surely fall.

Refrain: ’Tis the way of the Cross, are you willing for this?

  What does bearing the Cross mean to you?

You who’ve given yourself, your all to God!

    To God are you wholly true?

2. As the voice of song and prayer we raise,

  How easy to say, We give all;

Till some rougher cross lies just before,

  And sterner is duty’s call.

Refrain: ’Tis the way of the Cross, are you willing for this?

  What does bearing the Cross mean to you?

You who’ve given yourself, your all to God!

    To God are you wholly true?

3. Do you falter then, or, true to death,

  Just die on the cross in the way,

Till the fulness of life from the Living One

  Is filling you day by day?

Refrain: ’Tis the way of the Cross, are you willing for this?

  What does bearing the Cross mean to you?

You who’ve given yourself, your all to God!

    To God are you wholly true?

4. 

’Tis the plan of life, for you die to live,

  One with Jesus crucified;

With the life alone to be lived through you,

  Of the Risen, the Glorified.

Refrain: ’Tis the way of the Cross, are you willing for this?

  What does bearing the Cross mean to you?

You who’ve given yourself, your all to God!

    To God are you wholly true?

Thought for Today:"then how much more the blood of the Messiah, who, through the eternal Spirit, offered himself to God as a sacrifice without blemish, will purify our conscience from works that lead to death, so that we can serve the living God!" Hebrews 9:14.

Please pray:Thanking God for His sacrifice to be His witnesses of His Love and Peace towards all people.
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