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Feb 5

Leviticus 5-7, Proverbs 5

More facts about Leviticus. 

90% of the book is God speaking.
Exodus was God approaching man (the building of the tabernacle), Leviticus is how man approaches God (offerings and sacrifices)
Exodus is about God's deliverance of the people, Leviticus is about the peoples dedication to God
Exodus is about how God saved the people, Leviticus is about how we are serve the Lord. 

Leviticus was written covering 1 month on Mt. Sinai and God speaks around 90% of the time in the book. 
The first half of the book is about Justification (our way to God) the second half of the book is Sanctification (our walk before God)

*This portion of scripture we use as one of our  foundations to Convergence House of Prayer. 

Lev. 6:12 The fire on the altar must be kept burning; it must not go out. Every morning the priest is to add firewood and arrange the burnt offering on the fire and burn the fat of the fellowship offerings on it. 

Lev. 6:13 The fire must be kept burning on the altar continuously; it must not go out. 

*The cost of immorality: if only more believers would pay attention to it's harsh reality. First the warning from Solomon 

Prov. 5:3 For the lips of an adulteress drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil; 

Prov. 5:4 but in the end she is bitter as gall, sharp as a double-edged sword. 

Prov. 5:5 Her feet go down to death; her steps lead straight to the grave. 

Prov. 5:6 She gives no thought to the way of life; her paths are crooked, but she knows it not. 

Prov. 5:7 Now then, my sons, listen to me; do not turn aside from what I say. 

Prov. 5:8 Keep to a path far from her, do not go near the door of her house, 

*The lack of wisdom by not listening to counsel, mentors, church leaders (pastors). Cannot tell you how many times this has happened!

Prov. 5:12 Saying, “Oh, why didn’t I do what they told me?
Why did I reject a disciplined life? 

Prov. 5:13 Why didn’t I listen to my mentors,
or take my teachers seriously? 

Prov. 5:14 My life is ruined!
I haven’t one blessed thing to show for my life!”

Prov. 5:22 An evil man is held captive by his own sins; they are ropes that catch and hold him. 

Prov. 5:23 He will die for lack of self-control; he will be lost because of his incredible folly.

*Take delight in your spouse! Work it out...remain faithful, it's worth it!!

Prov. 5:18 ¶ Let your wife be a fountain of blessing for you. Rejoice in the wife of your youth. 

Prov. 5:19 She is a loving doe, a graceful deer. Let her breasts satisfy you always. May you always be captivated by her love. 

Prov. 5:20 Why be captivated, my son, with an immoral woman, or embrace the breasts of an adulterous woman? 

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Feb 4

Leviticus 1-4, Proverbs 4

I am just starting Leviticus. Here again, God is laying out the infrastructure on how to live before him. Israel was positioned to move into Canaan. God is establishing them as a Kingdom of priests. He is making them distinctive as they possess the land. It's a call to holiness. Being set apart to Him. 

I pulled some interesting info about Leviticus and the importance of the book. 

Importance of Leviticus

Leviticus is probably one of the most ignored books in the bible and has derailed many a “read-through the bible” program. The regulations and sacrificial system seems to have very little application to a Christian today. While Christians will leave Leviticus as one of the last books of the bible to study, it is the first book studied by a Jewish child [2]. However, the book of Leviticus has profound meaning for Christians today as well.

  • No book of the bible contains more of the direct words of God than Leviticus.
  • Leviticus is quoted about 40 different times in the New Testament [3].
  • A proper understanding of the book of Hebrews is impossible without an understanding of Leviticus.
  • The Christian doctrine of atonement (the idea of transferring our guilt and sin to Christ) is foundational in Leviticus.
  • Leviticus gives us a glimpse of the holiness of God.
  • Leviticus calls Christians today to a life of holiness before our God.

Prov. 4:23 Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. 

Prov. 4:24 Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. 

Prov. 4:25 Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. 

Prov. 4:26 Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm. 

Prov. 4:27 Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil. 
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Feb 2

Exodus 19-21, Proverbs 27

Moses ascends up Mt. Sinai and the Lord reveals himself with thunder and lightning and fire. The people tremble at this and yet Moses walks through the "dark cloud" and into God's presence. What and event! So many things come to mind when I read the chapter (Ex. 19). 

The elevation of Mt. Sinai is over 7,400 ft. Above is a glimpse from it's summit. Who knows how far Moses had to climb until he met the Lord in the cloud and basically disappeared in it. All I know is that it was a wonder to see the Lord displayed by smoke, thunder, shaking and fire before over 2 million people on it. 

Great stuff from Proverbs 27

Prov. 27:2
Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; someone else, and not your own lips. 

Prov. 27:6 Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses. 

Prov. 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.

Prov. 27:19 As water reflects a face, so a man’s heart reflects the man. 

Prov. 27:21 The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but man is tested by the praise he receives. 

Prov. 27:23 Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds; 

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Feb 2

Exodus 33-35, Proverbs 1

This portion of scripture is so rich in truth. I can write forever....huh, but I won't  :-)    I am pulling verses and adding a quick comment.

Ex. 32:33   The LORD replied to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me I will blot out of my book.  

Our names are written in the book of life, God puts them there. If people refuse to come to Christ and die in there sins, He is forced to blot them out. Future study here.

Ex. 33:7   Now Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp some distance away, calling it the “tent of meeting.” Anyone inquiring of the LORD would go to the tent of meeting outside the camp. 

The "tent of meeting" is a little picture of the Prayer Room in our House of Prayer. A set place to inquire of the Lord. 

Ex. 33:8-11   8 And whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people rose and stood at the entrances to their tents, watching Moses until he entered the tent.  9 As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the entrance, while the LORD spoke with Moses.  10 Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshiped, each at the entrance to his tent. 11The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent. 

This has always been in God's heart. Face to face friendship with the Lord. I love Joshua...because the pillar of the cloud of God's presence came to the entrance of the tent of meeting. Even though Moses returned to camp, Joshua didn't. Once you are consumed by God's presence in the cloud of His glory, it is hard to go back! He is kinda like an Anna.

Exodus 33:13 If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.” 

Friendship with God is hungry to know His ways not just his works. Teach me...so I may know you. The result is favor!

Ex. 33:14   The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” 

His Presence (the Holy Spirit) now is in us and leads us and we find rest as we do His work!

Ex. 33:15   Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.  16 How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?” 

All or nothing with Moses. "Your Presence or nothing!" We are distinguished by the Presence! It should be noticeable to the people we encounter. Especially the enemy. 

Ex. 33:17-18
  17 And the LORD said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.” 18   Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.” 

Friendship and Favor get results. Boldness for more increases! 

To much already. Alot highlighted in Exodus 33   ---  Blessings!


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Feb 2

Exodus 16-18, Proverbs 26

Lots here. Manna and Quail from heaven...for 40 years! Water from a rock as was commanded to Moses by the Lord.
Joshua defeating the Amalikites. The importance if keeping the leaders hands up in battle. Aaron and Hur have always been heros for me here especially in the days I was serving my senior pastor. So much symbolism and truth here.
In Exodus 18, Jethro's councils Moses about building a Leadership Culture. You cannot lead alone and you must form teams to share the responsibility of ministry. Consider this, if you have 2 million people and lets say 1 million of those are adults. Moses would have needed to train around 100,000 leaders to get to the number of leaders who lead groups of 10. He needed to train them, then deploy them. More work on the front end, yeah, but in the long run it becomes more effective and efficient.
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Feb 2

Exodus 25-27, Proverbs 29

Prov. 29:2 When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan. 

Prov. 29:4 By justice a king gives a country stability...

Prov. 29:7 The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern. 

Prov. 29:15 The rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a child left to himself disgraces his mother. 

Prov. 29:17 Discipline your son, and he will give you peace; he will bring delight to your soul.

Prov. 29:18 Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but blessed is he who keeps the law. 

Prov. 29:25 Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe. 
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Feb 2

Exodus 22-24, Proverbs 28

Exodus 23:  29 But I will not drive them out in a single year, because the land would become desolate and the wild animals too numerous for you.  30 Little by little I will drive them out before you, until you have increased enough to take possession of the land. 

God sees that conquest “little by little” secures the land taken. Sometimes we can move ahead to fast in “taking land” that we fail to inhabit the places we have found victory in. There is a connection between increase and possession. 
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Feb 2

Readings and Thoughts Today

Read: Genesis 41-43 and Psalm 68

Friendship with God leads to favor and favor gives way to promotion. I wonder if the prison was a promotion as well. Most often I see promotion as something that feels good. Let's say Joseph was promoted to the prison and then again promoted to the palace. He is definitely moving up the government mountain by the way of a prison. Kinda weird. I recognize that God does things that appear backward to me, but it is forward to Himself. The promotion to the prison led him directly to the promotion to the palace. Joseph stayed faithful and connected to God in both places. 

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Feb 2

Exodus 7-9 Proverbs 23

Prov. 23:6
Do not eat the food of a stingy man, do not crave his delicacies; 

Prov. 23:7
for he is the kind of man who is always thinking about the cost. “Eat and drink,” he says to you, but his heart is not with you. 

More thoughts on generosity, well the opposite of generosity. Interesting thought about being stingy and the attitude of the heart.




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Jan 3

A New Year a New Redesigned Blog

As you have noticed I redesigned my blog. I was never satisfied with the previous designs so I began looking into new ones. I have been learning a lot about what goes into a blog web site from content to plugins to widgets to banners to sidebars to comments...the list can go on and on. I have to

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About Greg Simas

My blog is here http://www.gregsimas.org/

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