Cleansing 

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Numbers 8:6
“Take the Levites from among the children of Israel and cleanse them ceremonially.”

There are times in life when there is nothing so refreshing as a shower. Standing under the flow seems to refresh and invigorate, and at times, helps me even to forget whatever things are pressing in upon me. Sometimes the only reason I step away is the hot water has run cold. As refreshing as that might be, it cannot compare to how refreshing it is to stand under the flow where our sins are being cleansed. David wrote about how blessed the man is whose transgressions are forgiven and whose sin has been covered (Psalm 32:1).

When we go to the cross and allow the cleansing blood of Jesus to wash over us, we will find that the weight of sin and the plague of guilt are washed from us and we are made clean. What an amazing time it must have been for the priest to stand before the people and be cleansed of all that made them unworthy to stand before the Lord. Instead of carrying the weight of sin and guilt, why not go through the cross to the throne of grace and allow the mercy of God to give you pardon and refresh your soul.

Pastor Jim

 

Man-made Religion

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pjimgallagher's avatarJim Gallagher

Luke 18:9

 “He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others”

The chief trait of this Pharisee was the idea that he did not need God. A modern equivalent would be the person who, with his imagination and personal experience, has fabricated both a god and a religious system by which he is acceptable to his god. The Pharisees did just that. They picked out certain verses from Scripture to form what they thought God was like, then based upon that, they established behaviors they believed He would accept. The result was a group of self-righteous men who looked down upon others and rejected Christ. In contrast, we find a man who has lived a compromising life. While externally he seems to be the one whom God would reject, he is accepted because he came to God, not on his own terms…

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The Right Way

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pjimgallagher's avatarJim Gallagher

Numbers 7:9
“But to the sons of Kohath he gave none, because theirs was the service of the holy things, which they carried on their shoulders.”

About 600 years after these events, somebody got it into his head that it would be a great idea to take the Ark of the Covenant into battle. He had lost sight of who God was, and thought the Ark of the Covenant was the presence of God. So, seizing the Ark, the army marched into battle, assuming it would ensure victory. They were defeated. The Philistines captured the Ark and took it into their camp. As a result, God began to plague the Philistines, so they put the Ark on a cart, hitched to oxen, and sent the cart back to the nation of Israel, where it remained in the house of Abinadab until the time of David.

Later in I Chronicles 13…

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Lot’s Wife

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pjimgallagher's avatarJim Gallagher

 

Luke 17:32

“Remember Lot’s wife”

Lot and his family represent the Christian. Jesus tells us, if we want to save our lives, we must lose them. In other words, life, true life, abundant life, will not be found in holding things back from the Lord, but by giving up all, to follow the Lord. Matthew modeled that idea when he left his tax table, Peter and John when they left the fishing business, and you and I when we leave behind our past life, and seek to live for Christ. Unfortunately, even after we determine to follow Christ, we face temptation to return to the things from which we were saved. Satan even has a way of making the sin life which we used to live, look better than it really was. Knowing this, Paul exhorts us,

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us…

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Marriage Problems

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pjimgallagher's avatarJim Gallagher

Numbers 5:14
“If the spirit of jealousy comes upon him and he becomes jealous of his wife, who has defiled herself; or if the spirit of jealousy comes upon him and he becomes jealous of his wife, although she has not defiled herself”

This section addresses the subject of marital problems, specifically that of jealousy. If a husband suspects his wife of cheating on him, but has no evidence, only suspicion; or if she hasn’t cheated, but he becomes jealous of her, this is what they are to do. The man is to bring his wife before the priest, and the priest is to make a concoction for her to drink (holy water, dirt and dried ink). Then, if she cheated on her husband, when she drinks it, her thigh will rot and her belly will swell. What’s this all about?

The Code of Hammurabi law dates back roughly to…

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Blessing

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Numbers 6:22-27
The Priestly Blessing

“And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: ‘Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, “This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them: ‘The Lord bless you and keep you;  the Lord make His face shine upon you,  and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.”””

“So they shall put My name on the children of Israel, and I will bless them.”

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Faithful In Little

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Numbers 3:17
“These were the sons of Levi by their names: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.”

After erecting the Tabernacle in he center of the camp, the Levites were divided into three groups each with important roles as it related to the ministry. Gershon was posted in the south, Kohath in the west, Merari in the north, and Moses and the priests were in the east at the entrance of the Tabernacle. Each family had different, yet equally as important roles. Gershon’s role was to carry the exterior coverings of the tabernacle. Kohath’s was to carry the utensils and Merari was responsible for all the heavy stuff.
If you couldn’t be a priest, for sure, the coolest role would be to carry the utensils.  However, as time goes on we find that Kohathites complain about their role in the ministry. They were unhappy with the role they were called upon to play and began to covet the ministry of the priests.

Sadly, this happens often in the church. A person called by God to a particular area of ministry becomes envious of someone else’s position. This attitude leads to neglect and division. There could be no Tabernacle ministry without the carrying of the blocks, or the care of the articles of worship. If you are discouraged in your service, allow me to encourage you not to look for a new ministry, but to look at how you might be more faithful in  your role. If you are a greeter, exercise the gift of hospitality and love each person that comes in the door of the church. Did you know that the word “hospitality” means “to love strangers?“ Make them feel welcomed and comfortable that when the Bible is taught they might receive what God has for them. If you serve as a children’s church leader, be a diligent student of the Word, and come prepared to teach the kids in a way that will turn them on to the Lord and His Word. There is no better training ground for the pulpit than the children’s classes.

Jesus taught us a very important principle of ministry. He said, those who were faithful in little will be faithful in much. This is one of the most important principles to learn if you are seeking to be used by God. Our church grew very slowly. When I arrived there were approximately 15 people, almost five years later there were 30 of us. It wasn’t because we were doing the wrong things, but because God had to do a work in me before He could work through me. I had to learn to love, care for and minister to 15 sheep before the Lord would give me the care of more. That is the same for all of us. We need to learn to be faithful in the little things and remember that promotion comes from the Lord.

Pastor Jim

 

Family 

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Numbers 2:2
“Everyone of the children of Israel shall camp by his own standard, beside the emblems of his father’s house; they shall camp some distance from the tabernacle of meeting.”

God organized the campsite of Israel. The center of the camp was the tabernacle with the tribes encamped around it. Two basic principles governed setting up camp. First, the Lord was the central focus, every family was to camp within sight of the Tabernacle. They could hear the events transpire, smell the sacrifices and easily be part of what transpired there on a daily basis. Second, they were to camp under a particular banner or standard. Each tribe gathered with other tribes as they camped around the tabernacle .

It is easy to derive some clear application for our lives and our families. When you are setting up camp it is important to keep Jesus at the center. If you are having a difficult time doing this personally, it is unlikely you are doing this within your family. If you find that your spouse or children are drifting from the Lord, it might have something to do with the fact that you have also drifted away. The first step to establishing stability within the home is to put Jesus at the center of our personal lives. One way to do that is to take a quick inventory of your life. Is there anything you are involved in which is not pleasing to the Lord? If so, lay it at the cross and walk away. You will be forgiven and set free. The psalmist asked the Lord to search him in order to lead him down the right path (Pslam 139:23-24). Another way to do this is to return to your first love, and follow the example of Mary who sat at the feet of Jesus and listened to His word. Reestablish a daily time to sit with Jesus, hear Him speak from the pages of your Bible and enjoy His company.

Remember, Israel also camped together around the tabernacle. It is also important to get yourself and your family plugged into a good and healthy church, where you can be challenged and encouraged. It is there, where you should work to establish good relationships for yourself and your children. Too often we find people arrive late, leave early and wonder why the family loses interest in fellowship. You are part of a much bigger camp, and the more plugged in you get, the more benefits you will receive.

Pastor Jim

 

 

The Great Gulf

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pjimgallagher's avatarJim Gallagher

Luke 16:26

“There is a great gulf fixed . . .”

Between man and God there is a great gulf of separation. This gap is caused by sin, and makes it impossible for us to have fellowship with God. This is precisely the reason Jesus came. He bled and died on Calvary’s cross to bridge the gap; to make it possible for us to know God now, and spend eternity with Him. This life will come to an end, and when it does, only what we have done with Christ will really matter. In this story, the rich man reveals what happens to those who refuse Christ. Not only do they live separated from God, but they die that way.

Since every thing we have wears out, it is difficult for us to understand the concept of eternity. Yet, the Bible teaches us that the life to come has no end…

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Dry Times

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pjimgallagher's avatarJim Gallagher

Numbers 1

The book of Numbers receives its name from the numbering of the people that occurred in Chapter 1 and again in Chapter 26. In Chapter 1, those who came out of Egypt were numbered. In Chapter 26, 40 years later, at the end of their wilderness journey, they are numbered again. A careful look will reveal, some of the tribes grew, and some of the tribes shrank. I think there is an important application we can glean that pertains to our lives. Just as they were in the wilderness, we often find ourselves in a spiritually dry time. We may even feel like we’re just wandering around aimlessly. I think it is valuable to remember, based upon what we do in the wilderness, we can either come out having shrunk or having grown.I believe God brings us to those places in our relationship with Him, those difficult times…

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