Our Lamb Was NOT Consumed!

1 Kings 18:37-39

37 "Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that You are the LORD God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again.”

38 Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench. 39 Now when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, “The LORD, He is God! The LORD, He is God!”

(Elijah and the prophets of Baal.)

In the Old Testament, the lamb for the "sin offering" was to be burned up completely in the fire; NOTHING LEFT OVER.  Back then, they could only offer a lamb without blemish but still imperfect. 

When Elijah squared off with those 500 prophets of Baal, the fire that fell from heaven not only burned up the sacrifice he offered but everything else as well, including the wood, the stones, even the water in the trench!  It was ALL CONSUMED.

This demonstrated that under the Old Covenent, the fire of God's judgment was GREATER THAN THE SACRIFICE. 

When Jesus, the "FINAL sacrifice for sin," took all the fiery judgment, wrath and indignation of God in His body, He was NOT consumed!  He lived to cry out WITH A LOUD VOICE, "FINISHED!"  His offering was not consumed because He was the sinless Lamb of God.  His sacrifice was PERFECT!!!  

Our Sacrifice, Jesus, was GREATER THAN THE FIRE!!!  HALLELUJAH!!!

The Love OF The Father

1 John 2:15

Do Not Love the World

"15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him."

At first glance, this verse seems to condemn you for being worldly because you don't love God enough.  How many of you have heard in your life about not being "worldly?  Probably more than a few.  It's a popular topic of preachers everywhere, as if admonishing people NOT to be worldly produces godliness.  Read carefully:  Nothing could be further from the truth.

Why is it that some Christians seem more "worldly" than others?  Is it really because they don't love Jesus as much as they should?  Or is it because they don't read the Bible or pray enough?  I know!  It's because they don't attend church regularly.  While all those things are important, they are not the real reason. 

How does God define "worldliness?" According to this verse.  "If anyone loves THE WORLD, the love OF The Father is not in him."  Jesus, writing thorough Paul, doesn't say, "the love FOR" the Father.  No.  He says "the love OF the Father..."

THIS PERSON DOES NOT KNOW HOW MUCH HE IS LOVED BY THE FATHER.   

The love "OF" the Father is the consciousness on our part of how much WE ARE LOVED by Him.  The focus is not on how much we love Him.  The so-called "worldly Christian" does not have a consciousness of just how MUCH GOD LOVES HIM.  He may even believe God is, if not outright angry at him, He is at least mildly disappointed.

The more you hear preaching that reminds you of your righteousness in Christ, that ALL your sins--past, present, future--are put away, meaning NOT imputed to you, THE LESS WORLDLY YOU BECOME.

Church, it is sin conscious that makes someone "worldly," not a lack of love FOR God.  They are the ones who struggle to overcome bad habits and are caught in the viscious cycle of destructive behavior patterns.  It's impossible to get out from under when you think your right standing is dependent on your performance.  

Thank God, IT ISN'T. 

The Scriptures plainly tell us that "The strength of sin is THE LAW."  1 Corinthians 15:56.  So why is it that preachers keep dishing out a laundry list of do's and don'ts in an effort to control outward behavior?  Simple: THEY DON'T TRUST GOD.  They don't trust grace.  I submit to you that preacher doesn't understand how much he is loved by God.

That's a shame because THE ONLY ANTIDOTE FOR SIN IS GRACE.  They don't understand that they are hamstringing their congregations, rendering them unable to live holy lives, they'd probably stop.  

"Oh, you grace people!  When you tell someone that all their sins for their entire life are forgiven, you give people a license to sin," say the law-centric.

News flash:  PEOPLE DON'T NEED A "LICENSE" TO SIN.  They do just fine without one.

According to the Bible, IT IS THE LAW THAT PRODUCES LICENTIOUSNESS, not Grace.  Grace produces right living.  Grace is the ONLY cure for "worldliness."  Now do you understand why the devil fights so hard against the real gospel?      

Think about it; when you tell a small child to stay out of the cookie jar, what's the first thing they do as soon as your back is turned?  They get into THE COOKIE JAR!  When you and I are told what to do or what not to do, we invariably end up doing what we ought not.  That was Paul's dilemma.

We need to hear MORE PREACHING about how much we are loved by God, not that we have to love God more.  How can we love if we've not first received His love?  It is absolutely critical that we understand that our Heavenly Father LOVES us far more than we can ever comprehend.  Then, and only then, when we are FILLED with His love, can we love Him back.

He paid an incalculable price to redeem us that we will never fully grasp, even in eternity.  The bigger, clearer picture we have of the Father's love FOR US, the more and more the world dims and looses it's attraction WITHOUT OUR EFFORT.

So the next time you see a brother or sister in Christ who seems worldly or is struggling with bad habits or a habitual sin, understand what's really going on:  He or she needs to be told or reminded of the Love OF the Father.

Mind Games

2 Corinthians 10:4-6

" For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,"

Spiritual warfare is a hot topic, isn't it?  There is no denying we are at war and there is a battle raging all around us.

Believers are warriors, in a sense; but the battlefield isn't "up there," in the heavenlies. We don't have to go climbing up somewhere to pull down the strongholds spoken of in the above.

Nope. THE BATTLEFIELD IS IN YOUR MIND.  Win in this arena and you win the battle in the unseen realm.

Spiritual warfare, contrary to popular opinion, is not "fighting with the devil," per sé.  In fact "WE" don't fight him:  JESUS DOES.  You and I, Church, fight to remain in faith; to remain at rest in Him, trusting Him to defend and protect us.

(For more on God's protection, follow this link:

http://emmausrevelations.blogspot.com/2015/05/psalm-91-part-1-secret-place.html)

This short passage plainly states that the weapons of our warfare are "not carnal," meaning not tangible or material.  They are "mighty in God for pulling down strongholds."  They are mighty for casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the KNOWLEDGE OF GOD.

Where are these strongholds? They're in your mind.  What are these arguments?  Sometimes they are in your own mind in the form of doubts.  Sometimes they come from outside sources like the media or other people.  "Every high thing that EXALTS ITSELF AGAINST THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD" are things like human wisdom, human reasoning or other so-called "teachings" that masquerade as the truth.

As if all that weren't bad enough, we have the devil and his tactics.  Fortunately for us he CANNOT read your mind.....BUT he can plant thoughts there that are not yours.  It's also good to bear in mind that, if the devil--a fallen angel--cannot read your mind, neither can good angels. 

Here's the thing:  As soon as you think you thought of whatever "IT" is and confess it with your mouth he's got you. Do yourself a favor:  DON'T OWN IT.  In other words, don't speak it out.  

He can only tell he's got you BY WHAT COMES OUT OF YOUR MOUTH.

Likewise, the angels of God only respond to God's word as you confess it WITH YOUR MOUTH.

(See the link below for more on this topic:

http://emmausrevelations.blogspot.com/2015/05/psalm-91-part-5-angels-watching-over-us.html)

God clearly intends for us to use the above weapons to combat those THOUGHTS. Notice He directs us to bring all our THOUGHTS "to the obedience of Christ." It doesn't say "Be obedient LIKE Christ."

What does it mean to bring our thoughts to the obedience of Christ?  The traditional teaching out there would have you believe that you must work really hard to "think like Jesus," to be obedient like He was. 

As if!  There's no way we can be obedient like Christ.  NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH.  That false teaching has you focused on you; on your behavior and your performance instead of on Jesus.  That's the essence of self-righteousness.  

Well, News Flash:  YOU ARE NOT THE HERO.  JESUS IS!

Perhaps you're quaking inside, worried sick over some situation or circumstance in your life.  But as you confess God's word, with thanks and praise, pretty soon you'll be focused back on Jesus again, not on all the wind and waves of the storm swirling around you. You'll be walking with Jesus on top of the water, above the storm, safe in His arms! 

If you find yourself worried or afraid, 2 Tim. 2:17 says that "God has not given us a spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."  

Confess God's word and your fears will disappear.

Do you need healing?  Confess the last line of Isaiah 53:5; "...by His stripes I am healed," or any number of other verses that speak of the blood-bought right of the blood-bought congregation.  

Healing is FAR MORE than a promise.  It's a blood-bought right of the blood-bought congregation, Church.  Jesus paid DEARLY for our complete Shalom.  In fact, it was far and above an OVERPAYMENT!

(For more on that topic, follow this link:

http://emmausrevelations.blogspot.com/2014/07/shalom.html)

Need provision of any kind?  Confess Psalm 23:1; "The Lord is my Shepherd, I SHALL NOT WANT."  He is a good God and a Good provider Who takes good care of His people!

Find a verse that works for you and chew on it all day.  Write it down; post it everywhere.  Win the battle for your mind!

(For more on meditating follow this link:

http://emmausrevelations.blogspot.com/2016/04/meditate-hagah-tree-series-part-2.html)

As for "bringing every thought captive to the obedience of Christ;" Who's obedience is it? Yours?....or Christ's?  Hmm....let's see.   Arewe the obedient ones?  NOT A CHANCE! 

It is Christ Who kept all the law perfectly FOR US.  It is Christ's obedience that counts.  

He was truly The obedient One!  He was obedient unto death, even the death on the cross!

It is Christ's obedience on which we need to focus, not our own...or the lack thereof.  

When thoughts assail you that are not pure, bring to mind that Jesus' thoughts are representative of your thoughts and they are always pure.  Our thoughts are always counted as pure because He is our High Priest.  As the High Priest goes, so goes the nation. 

(For more on this topic, follow this link:

http://emmausrevelations.blogspot.com/2014/08/as-high-priest-goes-so-goes-nation.html)

That is taking every thought captive!  So, repent:  Metanoia...CHANGE YOUR MIND.  If you thought God was looking at you or your obedience to measure how you are, think again. HE ISN'T.

He is looking at you Perfect Lamb: Jesus!

Of course our old adversary, the devil, loves to plant thoughts in your mind and make you think you thought of them.  Then he knocks you on the head for thinking it!  IGNORE HIM.

You just point to Jesus and His obedience.  Remind that old liar that you are completely cleansed and righteous by His blood and seated right next to Jesus at His right hand. 

Then move on.  You don't need to claim it.  It's not yours for YOU ARE IN CHRIST.  All he has is lies, tricks and misdirection but no real power over the believer who knows what his or her rights are in Christ.

.....And that, Church, is how you beat the devil at his Mind Games.

The People Who Sat In Darkness.....

.....Have Seen A Great Light!

Matthew 4: 15-17
"The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, 15 By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles: The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, 16 And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned.”

The land of Zebulun and Naphtali make up the region in and around the sea of Galilee where Jesus seemed to spend most of His time.  In fact, He performed 3/4 of His miracles in this region and only very few in Jerusalem and other parts.  Why is that?

You'll notice it was often called "Galilee of the Gentiles." Gentiles are not, in fact never were, under law in any way.  For this reason, they were not "law-conscious."  It was precisely that lack of consciousness which allowed Jesus to perform most of His miracles there.  Amazing!

(Sea of Galilee)

The Jewish people on the other hand, particularly in and around Jerusalem, were very.....no, EXTREMELY.....conscious of the law. They had lived under it for such a long time:  1500 years in fact.  This is THE #1 REASON why Jesus was able to perform only a handful of miracles in and around that general area.

You see, miracles happen by Grace.  Grace is UN-merited favor.  They cannot be earned by somehow being "good enough," praying hard enough or long enough, faithfully attending church or serving faithfully in ministry or in some way trying to show God how much you love Him in order to merit them.

No. GRACE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH "YOU" AND EVERYTHING TO DO WITH JESUS:

Jesus IS GRACE!  He is the GREAT LIGHT the Gentiles and sinners saw and to Whom they were attracted in droves.  He is indeed, the Light of the World!
Thank you, Abba, for sending Your Beloved Son, not only to save His People, Israel, but to save us Gentiles, too!

Yes, indeed: The people....US.....who sat in darkness have seen A GREAT LIGHT!!!

The Golden Calf

Exodus 32:1

1"Now when the people saw that Moses delayed coming down from the mountain, the people gathered together to Aaron, and said to him, “Come, make us gods that shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.' " 

400 years the Israelites were slaves in Egypt.  400 lo-o-o-ng years. Hard life; no pay. Then in relatively short order, just prior to their exodus from Egypt, their situation turned around 180°.  

It was God's doing, of course.  He even arranged to compensate them for all those years, too; back pay with interest, you might say.  That's is a who-o-o-ole lot of money!  That's why the Holy Spirit records in Psalm 105:37 that "He {God} also brought them out with silver and gold, And there was none feeble among His tribes."  They were not only very, VERY HEALTHY, every single one was very, VERY WEALTHY.   

Where did all this wealth come from?  Their Egyptian neighbors gave them "gifts of gold, silver, precious stones," all the wealth they possessed. Egypt was practically stripped of everything!  That's what they used to fashion that golden calf.  Kind of a painful reminder of how gifts can be misused when the leader is absent and their vision has either dimmed or is gone altogether, isn't it?     

Remember this for later on:  All of it--the gold and everything they had--was a "FREE GIFT." 

Gold, in the Bible, is a depiction of divine righteousness.  A calf in those days, being a beast of burden for doing hard labor, represents human effort.  The whole story of the golden calf is a picture of the righteousness by works model. In other words, "self-righteousness." 

You'll notice that all of this transpired in the absence of TRUE leadership.  Moses had just left them and had gone up on the mountain with God.  That's when the people approached Aaron with their request to have him make them "gods to go before them;" the work of human hands.  

Where did they get the idea to make a golden calf?

Remember, when they came out from Egypt?  The Jews weren't the only ones who left.  It was a mixed multitude.  Many Egyptians came along with them.  “A mixed multitude went up with them also, and flocks and herds—a great deal of livestock.”  Exodus 12:38

The Hebrew word for mixed is "Ereb."  It means "Arabia."  They were Gentiles!

After nine plagues that nearly decimated their land, some of them FINALLY wised up and figured out that this God of the Israelites was the real deal and no One to trifle with.  DUH!  They left Egypt along with the Jewish people and were most likely the ones who came up with the idea. 

Just as money or any other form of wealth can be perverted from it's proper use so, too, our own  "gold" of divine righteousness that we receive as a FREE GIFT can also be perverted from it's proper use. 

How did this golden calf come to be?  Did it just magically "appear," as Aaron said it did?  How ridiculous that story must have sounded to Moses.  Well of course it didn't just "appear."  It was the work of human hands.  Aaron's to be precise.  He made the thing and then totally lied about it!

In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit has chosen to record certain events.  While these things actually happened, each was specifically chosen to explain spiritual truths to us, like an object lesson or a visual aid.  This entire passage is a picture of the misuse and perversion of our own "GOLD--divine righteousness," which is a "FREE GIFT," and fashioning it into our own "GOLDEN CALF" of righteousness by works. This scenario spells out in no uncertain terms God's opinion of works-based or legalistic Christianity: IT IS IDOLATRY,  pure and simple or, to put it more crudely, SPIRITUAL ADULTERY.

This is the "other gospel" to which Paul was referring in the book of Galatians. It seems to have become accepted by most Churches in these last days as the real gospel.  IT'S A COUNTERFEIT.  The REAL gospel, GRACE, is barely even recognized.  It's even been labeled "heresy!"  

Now "who" do you think could be behind that?  Three guesses and the first two don't count.  That's right.  The one who's sole purpose is to steal, kill and destroy.

Under the teaching of this false gospel, the church can never be very effective or flourish the way God intended.  Pastors, if you're wondering why enthusiasm is "somewhat" lagging among your flock and true revival is fleeting at best or has been just beyond their grasp, perhaps you might ask the Holy Spirit to help you unveil Jesus to your people.  That's the only way they can be transformed.  Because if all they hear are laws, rules and regulations, they will never see true and lasting breakthrough.  We are transformed by BEHOLDING JESUS, not SCOLDING.

It's bad enough that there are undesirable effects amongst our flocks.  There's the not-so-little matter of the double curse Paul mentions in Galatians 1:8-9 on the pastors who preach this heretical doctrine.  See for yourself:

8"But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, "LET HIM {the one teaching; not the people} BE ACCURSED." 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, "LET HIM {the one teaching it; not the body} BE ACCURSED." 

See?  DOUBLE CURSE.  He mentions being cursed TWICE.  Ouch!  I really hate to bring up stuff like this but I hate even more to see God's people struggling and her leaders suffering.  It's so unnecessary and so easily avoidable. 

The only antedote is to preach PURE, UNADULTERATED, RADICAL GRACE!  That way you and your church will be under a DOUBLE BLESSING!  Lives will be RADICALLY changed, healings and miracles will happen left, right, center and revival will simply explode!

As eyes are opened, hearts are transformed and old mindsets are changed by the real gospel, the Bride will rid herself at last of every last vestige of this other "gospel."  This self-focused righteousness by works heresy will be history!  She will tear down at last and completely destroy the false god known as The Golden Calf!

The Fourth Man

Psalm 103:1-5

1 "Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me,bless His holy name! 

2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: 3 Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, 

4 Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, 

5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s."

Read through the story of David's life sometime. Whether in good times or in bad, he is always praising the Lord and the Lord, The Faithful and True, always delivered him!

Others who came afterward followed his example, like the three teenagers who were thrown into the fiery furnace. 

“And he {Nebuchadnezzar} commanded certain mighty men of valor who were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, and cast them into the burning fiery furnace. Then these men were bound in their coats, their trousers, their turbans, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 

Therefore, because the king’s command was urgent, and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” “Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.””

Daniel 3:20-25 NKJV

Even the men who tossed them into it were killed because the fire was that hot.  Not these three teenagers.  Why?

Because the 4th "Man" showed up.....JESUS!

It's good to praise the Lord in everything, especially when going through a fiery trial.  Like them, because Jesus is with us, we'll come out unscathed, not even smelling like smoke.

Oh, yes:  PRAISE WORKS!

In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit would come and go because their sins could only be covered.  Not us.  We have THE ONE Who never leaves or forsakes us because our sins are cleansed, once for ALL TIME:  The fourth Man, JESUS! 

The Urim [אוּרִים֙] And Thummim [תֻּמִּ֔ים]: Part 6 - High Priest's Garment Series

Nehemiah 7:61,64-65

"61 And these were the ones who came up from Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer, but they could not identify their father’s house nor their lineage, whether they were of Israel....

"64 These sought their listing among those who were registered by genealogy, but it was not found; therefore they were EXCLUDED from the priesthood AS DEFILED. 65 And the governor said to them that they SHOULD NOT EAT OF THE MOST HOLY THINGS till a priest could consult with the Urim and Thummim."

(The genealogy of some priest's was not found.)

Everything in the Old Teatament has application or elucidates a principle to teach us more about our New Covenant.  Though we are no longer under law because Jesus fulfilled it, the Old is full of types, stories and pictures explaining the New, kind of like a dictionary.  Because we are under the New Covenant, we now study the Old not to find laws, laws and more laws but to see more of Jesus!

So how does this apply to us today?  Let's find out!

Here in Nehemiah, The Children of Israel were returning to their land after seventy years of captivity in Babylon.  Some of the prests sought the listing of their names among those of the priestly tribe but they could not be found.  During their captivity their genealogy had been lost along the way.  If it could not be proven that they were priests, they would have to be excluded from partaking of the most holy things until proven otherwise.  

Why is this such a big deal?  Because the priestly tribe was given all the best food from offerings by the common people, all the best clothing, the nicest housing, the best of everything.  They would not be accorded these privileges with their fellow priests until their identity could be established.  

Notice it doesn't say that these undocumented priests "were defiled" but that they were excluded "AS DEFILED," because of their lost genealogy. They would have to be excluded until someone could consult with the "Urim and Thummin" to settle the matter.    

The Urim And Thummim.

What are these items?  They were an integral part of the high priest's garments.  The LORD had commanded Moses “And you shall put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim, and they shall be over Aaron’s heart when he goes in before the LORD. So Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel over his heart before the LORD continually.”

Exodus 28:30 

(For more on the Breastplate of Judgment, follow this link:  http://emmausrevelations.blogspot.com/2014/07/what-does-god-see-when-he-looks-at-you.html)

There has been much speculation about what these things were and how they functioned.  What really sheds some light on them, no pun intended, are the meanings of the words in Hebrew.  "Ūrim" comes from the root word, "Ūr," which means "light" in Hebrew.  Whenever you add "im [ים] on the end of any word, it's functions like our letter "s," making it plural.  "Ūrim" means "lights."  "Thummin" comes from the root word, "tom," meaning "perfection or integrity."  "Thumim" literally means "perfections completenesses."     

Whenever a writer wishes to emphasize something in Hebrew, he will either use the word twice or use the plural of the word.  For instance:  If someone died a very violent death, they would say he "died died" or that he "died deaths."  The valley where David slew Goliath, one of Israel's greatest enemies, was called the "Ephes Dammim," which means "boundary (ephes) of the BLOODS (Dammim):  plural, meaning it was very bloody.

The Urim and Thummim were used to shed perfect "lights" on their perfect "perfections or completenesses," (plural) leaving no doubt as to their true identity, positively proving them to be priests. 

                          

(Israelites returning from Babylon.)

Modern-Day Babylon?

When you hear sermons today about Babylon, either they're talking about the Babylon mentioned in the Old Testament or the great evil of the end times, drawing a picture of worldly lusts and pursuits, particularly of an immoral nature.  While that teaching has some merit, the meaning of the word in Hebrew is very telling because Babylon means "confusion."  

The Holy Spirit is drawing pictures to help us understand  a very important spiritual truth here.  #1) These undocumented priests were coming out of "Babylon:confusion"  #2) There was "confusion" over their identity.  #3)They were excluded from the most holy things until their identity was established.

What is the Holy Spirit trying to tell us?

                                   

(Identity crisis in the Church?)

Who are the priests of uncertain origin, where are they and how does this apply to the Church today?  You and I, Church:  You and I are priests and kings according to the order of Melchizedek.  

Much of the Church today is, or has been in Babylon/confusion on many things.  Our identity in Christ; the identity of real Gospel--the genuine article being grace.  What has been widely taught has been law "MIXED" with grace, the Galatian heresy that Paul preached against wa-a-a-ay back in the 1st century.  Well folks, t's back and has been wreaking havoc in the Church.  It has been preached so often and for so long that many don't even recognize the real thing.  Some even call it "heresy."  

Of course, the devil is delighted with all this "confusion."  Obviously, he is behind it all, but he's had unwitting, though unintentional, help from the pulpit. 

But the worst part of all is the priests being unable to partake of the most holy things.  These "priests," are confused about their identity in Christ and unable to partake of the most holy things because of "doctrines" they have been taught which have excluded them "as defiled."

What are these most holy things today?

The Most Holy Things Under a The New Covenent.

Obviously we don't sacrifice animals anymore, right?  What did those sacrifices portray?  Every single one of them depicted an aspect of Jesus' once-for-all sacrifice.  There are five offerings alone listed in the book of Leviticus and one found only in Numbers.  There was the Burnt Offering, The Grain Offering, the Peace Offering, the Sin Offering and Trespass Offering."  Five to describe ONE!

The only one not listed in Leviticus, The Ashes of the Red Heifer, is found only in Numbers.  For more on this topic, follow the link below which leads you through a nine-part study of an ordinance that King Solomon, in all his wisdom, couldn't figure out.  If you get it, guess what?  You're smarter than Solomon!!

http://emmausrevelations.blogspot.com/2015/10/what-in-your-water-part-1-of-9.html

What do we do today to "show forth the Lord's death, till He comes?"  WE PARTAKE OF COMMUNION.  Since His one sacrifice suffices once for all time, animal sacrifices are no longer needed nor are they accepted by God.  So, we partake of the elements of bread and wine IN REMEMBRANCE of Jesus.

Every benefit accorded to us priests because of Jesus' sacrifice:  Healing, breakthrough, revelation, provision, protection are ours.  We are taken care of in a way that the world is not.  We get the best of everything from God! 

But when our people are not told they are the righteousness of God in Christ or that God is angry with them when they mess up, they feel distant from God.  Their true identity is not being preached to them:  That they are hid with Christ in God, precious in His sight forever righteous. 

Jesus said to His disciples in the upper room when He broke the bread and gave them the cup:  "Do this IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME."  But what do we often hear?  Instead of making it a REMEMBRANCE of Jesus, we call to remembrance our sins that He has already taken away.  

Partaking In An Unworthy Manner.

Some Christians have been told,  "Don't partake of communion unless you have confessed all your sins.  You might get sick and die!" The preacher who says such things doesn't realize believers are CLEANSED OF ALL SIN FOR THEIR ENTIRE LIVES FROM THE MOMENT THEY ACCEPTED JESUS AS THEIR SAVIOR.  

How can you confess to be forgiven when your sins were all cleansed for all time the moment you were born again?  THEY ARE GONE!  You cannot be made more right with God than you already are.

Church, between us and God, sin is a done deal.  That's what "NO CONDEMNATION" means.  We no longer confess our sins in order to be forgiven; WE CONFESS THEM BECAUSE WE ALREADY ARE.  

You see, we are regenerated spirits but we're still in unregenerated bodies.  From time to time, we commit sins.  Our confession to God is now not to be made right with Him but that we are powerless to overcome it and we need His help. Instead of asking Him to forgive what has Lready been put away, thank Him for your right standing and His Finished work.  That sin or destructive behavior which has you bound will lose it's power over you.  It will be broken in your life simply by continually confessing,"l am the righteousness of God in Christ," even in the midst of committing your sinful behavior.

This great misconception that one must pass the communion elements by if you have sin in your life is not what "partaking in an unworthy manner," means.  If by unworthy they mean confessing sins you have committed, NEWS FLASH:  EVERYBODY IS UNWORTHY.....including the preacher who said it.  

It is not the PERSON who is unworthy:  It is the MANNER that is unworthy.  

Remember the paralytic who's friends tore up the roof of a house in Capernaum (probably Peter's home) so they could get him in front of Jesus?  The first thing he said to the man was "Your sins are forgiven."  Why did He say that?  Because if he felt condemned before God because of his sins, he would not be able to receive his healing."  He needed to know he had right standing with God.  THEN Jesus said, "Rise; take up your bed and walk."  Immediately he did so, stood on his feet and walked out of the house. He now carried that which formerly had carried him! 

So what does it mean to partake unworthily?  Here it is in a nutshell:

Discerning the Lord's body means you recognize that HIS BODY was broken, beaten, scourged and bruised SO THAT YOUR BODY WOULD BE PHYSICALLY, MENTALLY AND EMOTIONALLY WHOLE.  

His broken body was not for the forgiveness of sins. That's what His shed blood accomplished.  It cleansed every sin; past present and future.

More often than not the bread and the wine are combined to say that His body and blood were both given for the forgiveness of sins.  THAT IS PARTAKING IN AN WORTHY MANNER. You must discern that His body heals us physically;  His blood cleanses from sin.  That is proper discernment.  

Why is the Holy Spirit so intent on warning us about partaking in an unworthy manner?  Because when you don't partake worthily you aren't taking full advantage of communion for your complete health and wholeness, your complete "Shalom." 

(For more on this topic follow this link:  http://emmausrevelations.blogspot.com/2014/07/shalom.html) 

This has the ultimate, unfortunate and unintended consequence of our people dying before their time.  They could have lived longer by taking God's heavenly medicine in the prescribed manner.  

Contrary to popular religious belief, you won't get sick or die if you haven't "confessed all your sins" before partaking.  That is just another false doctrine; a lie of the devil.  Some actually use it as a scare tactic in a vain attempt to get their people to live right.  IT DOESN'T WORK.  In fact, it backfires, causesing even more sin and disobedience.

Believers are sick or have died before their time because they were not taught to understand the difference between Jesus' body and blood and to take hold by faith of all that Christ died to give us.  He emptied Himself of EVERYTHING so He could give it to us.  BY HIS STRIPES WE ARE HEALED.

(For more on this topic, follow this link:  

http://emmausrevelations.blogspot.com/2014/07/by-his-we-are-healed.html)

The "most holy things" in the Church today are those described above:  FREELY AND OFTEN partaking of the Body and Blood through communion leads to our healing and complete shalom in every area.  Since you are all in Christ PRIESTS and kings, you don't need an ordained minister or priest to partake at home alone or in the company of other Christian friends.

Establishing Your Identity.

How can the "priests" have their true identity revealed?  The exact same way the priests of ancient Israel did whose genealogies were lost.  They need a "priest," a fellow believer who knows how to consult the Urim and Thummim.  They can shed "perfect lights--URIM" on their "perfect completenesses--THUMMIM" in Christ.  It can be your pastor, your Bible study leader or your friend who is helping you to understand you are not going to be complete in Christ some day:  YOU ALREADY ARE.  You are the righteousness of God in Christ.  Spiritual growth from this point on will be in the knowledge of just how complete your completenesses are.

In these last days the Lord is raising up a whole new generation of priests/King shepherds who will feed the sheep.  This new priesthood in the land--the order of MELCHIZEDEK--are shining perfect enlightenment on the people's perfect completeness in Christ!"   The old levitical priesthood that bound them up with wrong doctrine is passing away!

God says to this old order:

Jeremiah 23:1-7 

1“Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture!” says the LORD. 2 Therefore thus says the LORD God of Israel against the shepherds who feed My people: “You have scattered My flock, driven them away,' and not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for the evil of your doings,” says the LORD. 

3 “But I will gather the remnant of My flock out of all countries where I have driven them, and bring them back to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase. 

4 I WILL SET UP SHEPHERDS OVER THEM WHO WILL (#1)  FEED THEM; and  (#2) they shall FEAR NO MORE, (#3) NOR BE DISMAYED (#4) NOR SHALL THEY BE LACKING,” says the LORD. 

5 “Behold, the days are coming,” says the LORD, “That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; A King shall reign and prosper, And execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. 

6 In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will dwell safely; Now this is His name by which He will be called:  

The LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.  Yahweh Tsidkenu!

(Yahweh Tsidkenu.)

HALLELUJAH!  All you faithful preachers of the true gospel out there keep on preaching!  

Keep on shouting out the truth!  

The people need you, whoever you are, wherever you are, to reveal to them their true identity.  

You don't need to be a pastor or theologian, have any special title or position.  

You are a priest/King after the order of Melchizedek, just like Jesus.

You are the Urim and Thummim.