"Without The Shedding of Blood"---- Nothing

"Then indeed, even the first covenant had ordinances (regulations).... Moses...sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, saying, 'This is the blood of the covenant'....And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no remission/ forgiveness." (From Hebrews 9:1, 19-22)

Verse one reveals that both Covenants had/have, "regulations."  And could we say, the greatest ordinance is everything in the tabernacle, "and all the people," were sprinkled with blood?  It is no less true of, "the true Tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man."  Even when my Dad was in seminary in the 1930's, they were calling this "slaughterhouse religion."  Much of modern Christianity gives silent consent to this assessment.  Yet there it is, from the Holy Spirit Himself, "all the people," covered in The Blood. 

So you see, it is only by, through, and in the Blood of Jesus that you and I and anyone who desires fellowship with our Maker enters such fellowship, enters the Kingdom, is, "born of the Spirit," and can defeat the Enemy in life, "they have overcome (conquered) him (Satan) by means of the Blood of the Lamb" (Amplified).  There is absolutely no other way.  People love to talk of, "born again," and being saved and worship and prayer and the "church in the market place" and politics and "we should all get out there"----------- but there still remains, "the Blood of the Covenant,..and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness"---------- of sin, no one's name in, "the Book of Life."

Just a little later in the Epistle, we are given a great invitation, "Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus (10:19)."  This is the objective of Eternity, indeed, of The Eternal One Himself.  

"Come into the Holy of Holies,

Enter by the Blood of the Lamb

Come into His presence with singing

Worship at the throne of God

Lifting holy hands

To the King of kings

Worship Jesus"
 
Now, in Jesus Christ, we are "there," we are in, "the Holy of Holies," in "His Presence," and, "with Me in My Throne"!

Father, in Jesus' Name, if there is anything of Your, "ordinances," which I have relegated to the unimportant, I have done it to my own loss-- Blessed, "ordinances"!  Amen.
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* Note:  Excuse the awkward sentence in last's evening's communication.  Also, I have found that the price quoted on the network I was using had more hidden fees than I am used to--- still working on it.
* New Article:  www.apf327.blogspot.com

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"

Hebrews 12:2

"Top To Bottom"

"A tabernacle was set up."  (Hebrews 9:2, NIV)

------ and still is.  Only the Present Tabernacle is that, "which the LORD pitched and not man." 

The "earthly tabernacle" was what one writer describes as "the portable dwelling place for the divine presence"; sounds good.  I am not going to apostatize here, but I like the "idea" of a "portable dwelling place."  It implies the "mobility" of God.  If you read Numbers 9:15-23, you discover that the Blessed Trinity went where He liked, when He liked----- and His People moved with Him.   

The word, "Tabernacle," can also mean "the [in-dwelling] Presence of God, the Shekhina."  The very idea of the Tabernacle, however, revealed that what some call "intimacy with God" was not available to humanity after the Fall and before the shed Blood, death and resurrection of Jesus.  The "indwelling Presence of God" was in the midst of the Hebrew camp, but not in the hearts of the people.  Only the high priest was allowed into, "The Most Holy Place," the "indwelling Presence;" the rest of humanity was not. 

The tabernacle represents the "language" of separation.  You have the outer court, the inner court, and the, "Most Holy Place," which was separated by a thick veil, viz., "screen, divider, or separator."  Hebrews 9:8 says, "The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still functioning."  Yet we read that when Jesus died on His Cross, "Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom...."  This is how the grace of God works, "....from top to bottom."  And now, because of that, "top to bottom," act of King Jesus on the cross, because of Him Who, "came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made...of this creation," and because Jesus, "entered the Most Holy Place once for all," well, "Walk right in, sit right down, baby let your hair hang down."
(Sorry )

Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You for inviting me in also.  Amen.
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Read the best interpretation of socialism I can recall at:  www.apf327.blogspot.com

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"

Hebrews 12:2

What No Religion Ever Dared To Offer

"But we cannot discuss these things in detail now....But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood....The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still functioning....But when Christ came as High Priest...He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His Own Blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption." (From Hebrews 9:1-12, NIV)

This is my theme for the journey through Hebrews, "....we cannot discuss these things in detail now."  I wrote earlier today more about God's writing, "into," and, "in," our hearts and minds, but did not want to become tedious to you.  So here we are in chapter nine.

Central to the Book of Hebrews is Jesus Christ as our, "Great High Priest."  The earthly high priests, "entered the inner room...once a year...."  Jesus Christ, "entered...once for all...."  The earthly high priests came and went from, "the Most Holy Place."  Jesus lives there, and because He does, so can you and I.  The First Covenant People could not enter the Most Holy Place because there was no one good enough to take them there.  Now, because of Jesus, all who surrender their lives to Him may enter, stay, and live there----------- in God---------------- eternally.     

Our text tells us that that while sinful high priests came with, "the blood of goats and calves," Christ Jesus, "entered the Most Holy Place...by His Own Blood...."  And it is only, "thus," that you and I obtain, "eternal redemption."  Only in the Blood of Jesus Christ may I and can I, "come[] to the Father."  Only in the Blood of Jesus may I and can I enter, "the Most Holy Place."  Only in the Blood of Jesus may I and can I enter, "the Kingdom of Heaven/God."  Only in the Blood of Jesus can I be, "born again/from above."  Only in the Blood of Jesus can I have the cleansing and forgiveness of sin, which is, as verse 9 says, "able to clear the conscience of the worshipper."  And amazingly this, "so great a salvation," offers what no religion in the history of man ever dared to offer------------------------------- "once for all"!

Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You for, "once for all."  Amen.
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New Articles:   www.apf327.blogspot.com

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"

Hebrews 12:2

The, "Better Covenant"--What Relevancy?

"For this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days....I will put my laws into their minds and write them in their hearts." (Hebrews 8:10, KJV)

The KJV is best here, "into," and, "in."  This is the "heart" of the Biblical message.  The primary, "works of God," are not "with" or "on" us, but, "into," and, "in," us.  The power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is, "Christ in you...."

I am sure some theologians out there would say of my recent devotionals, "What does this have to do with anything your recipients are going through?  How does your stuff relate to this?"--
"On Saturday, New York City Police arrested more than 700 demonstrators of a group calling itself "Occupy Wall Street.'"

or this?--- the Arab Islamists "Irvin Ten," convicted of shouting down Israeli Ambassador, Michael Oren at the University of California

or this?-- Japan Tsunami

In a world so "complex," so full of uncertainty, unemployment, rising food prices, violence, weather disasters, how can Hebrews 8 help anybody?  I don't know; that's solely up to them.  But for me, it is Life Himself.

The battle of life is between the reality of the, "words of God," and the fleshly mind, the mind which cannot see how the "world" of the photos and the "world" of, "better covenant... established on better promises," can relate.  Yet when our text becomes our reality, the battle is won.  We are victors in our Lord Jesus Christ, serving, "in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle which the Lord pitched and not man."

Since the Fall, man has been erecting his own tabernacles.  He is constantly searching for religion which will help him cope with all of this.  But I call you today to the, "better covenant,.. better promises," which is found in today's text.  When His Words are, "into their mind, and...in their hearts," the life of the photos is not hopeless despair, rather, "....But we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance,..character,..and hope."  And none of this, "disappoint[s], because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit...." 

Father, in Jesus' Name, please keep writing, "into [my] mind, and...in [my] heart[]."  Amen. 
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New Articles at:   www.apf327.blogspot.com

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"

Hebrews 12:2

I Give You "The Main Point" For Your Life Today

"Now the main point...is this: We...have...a high priest...who serves...." (Hebrews 8:a)

I also think that what follows is, "the main point," of the Bible, "the...point," to which, as our Lord called it, "the work of God," takes humanity.

For just a moment, think of our Lord Jesus Christ, "Who serves [us] in the sanctuary," right now, right in the midst of whatever is before you.  This, "main point," for humanity is also revealed in Revelation 3, "to sit with Me in My Throne."  This is none other than, "the throne of the Majesty in heaven," which is in, "the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord...."  This is, "the main point," of the Bible.  High places, priests, meeting places of brick and stone, pilgrimages, none of these were, "the main point;" they just pointed to Jesus Christ Who Is, "the main point." 

Today you have many tasks before you, some completed, and those many uncompleted which seem to mock you, even appearing as tasks which will never know an end.  But while there are times when, as Brother Lawrence called it, "Practicing The Presence," seems impossible, Jesus Christ, our, "Great High Priest...Who serves," is, "in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by a mere human being."  And while He brings us into, "the Most Holy Place," in Himself, Jesus at the same time brings, "the Most Holy Place," into us.  He, "serves," continually, never taking a "break," never weary, "there is, 'no shadow of turning,' with Thee."

Today take great comfort in the fact that you don't have to get to a meeting, a "prayer closet," some deep, emotional "worship experience," or "presence" gathering.  The Living Triune God never leaves us and we never leave Him; our state is one of continual "Presence" in Him Who ever, "serves."  "....The main point of what we are saying is this."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray that my friend and I will live in Your, "main point," at all times.  Amen.
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New Articles at: www.apf327.blogspot.com

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"

Hebrews 12:2