"The Anchor Holds In Spite of the Storm"
Pastor: Gaylen Jones
Sunday Service 10:30 A.M.
Wednesday Evening Bible Study and Prayer 7:00 P.M.
PO Box 1926
Clute, Texas 77531
[Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 8:1-13; Mathew 28:18-20; I Corinthians 10:1-33]
Pastor: Gaylen Jones
Sunday Service 10:30 A.M.
Wednesday Evening Bible Study and Prayer 7:00 P.M.
PO Box 1926
Clute, Texas 77531
[Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 8:1-13; Mathew 28:18-20; I Corinthians 10:1-33]
An Anchor, when properly placed, holds a marine vessel securely in one location and keeps it from drifting away from the captain’s desired position. Under the teachings of the Holy Spirit of God, what in Hebrew is called the Torah (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy), the Five books of Moses serve us as an Anchor to keep us from drifting away from God's good, acceptable and perfect will for our lives.
(Romans 1:1-17; Romans 5:1-2; Romans 8:1-14; Romans 12:1-8; Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 8:1-13
At the Anchor, we have come to the understanding, that the daily study of these books, along with the rest of the Scriptures, under the leadership of the Holy Spirit is the way God promised and systematically does place His Word (the oracles of God – see Romans 3:1) in our minds according to the covenant promise. As we go about practicing what He says for us to do, and not practicing what he says for us not to do, these same words become attached or grafted into our hearts. We discover that as we hear and practice doing what we hear [The shema of God - Mark 28:28:34, James 1:21-25), He becomes more and more pleased with what He does through us. Therefore to Him (יהוה) , LORD, YHVH, Yahveh, Jehovah be all the glory for the things He is doing.) As followers of Jesus the Christ (Hebrew – Yehshua Ha Mashiach), our desire is to regard the Law of God (the Torah) in the same way Jesus (Yeshua) did; when he was here. And learn to teach the same specific instructions that his disciples received from him. To continue to practice the same works that he taught them, until he returns. [I John 2:1-16] His disciples were commanded to go into all nations and make disciples. Jesus/Yeshua did not say go into all the nations and make Christians and build churches. Jesus/Yehshua said; "go and make Disciples, teaching them to do what so ever I have commanded you to do." (Mitzvot = "good works")
(Romans 1:1-17; Romans 5:1-2; Romans 8:1-14; Romans 12:1-8; Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 8:1-13
At the Anchor, we have come to the understanding, that the daily study of these books, along with the rest of the Scriptures, under the leadership of the Holy Spirit is the way God promised and systematically does place His Word (the oracles of God – see Romans 3:1) in our minds according to the covenant promise. As we go about practicing what He says for us to do, and not practicing what he says for us not to do, these same words become attached or grafted into our hearts. We discover that as we hear and practice doing what we hear [The shema of God - Mark 28:28:34, James 1:21-25), He becomes more and more pleased with what He does through us. Therefore to Him (יהוה) , LORD, YHVH, Yahveh, Jehovah be all the glory for the things He is doing.) As followers of Jesus the Christ (Hebrew – Yehshua Ha Mashiach), our desire is to regard the Law of God (the Torah) in the same way Jesus (Yeshua) did; when he was here. And learn to teach the same specific instructions that his disciples received from him. To continue to practice the same works that he taught them, until he returns. [I John 2:1-16] His disciples were commanded to go into all nations and make disciples. Jesus/Yeshua did not say go into all the nations and make Christians and build churches. Jesus/Yehshua said; "go and make Disciples, teaching them to do what so ever I have commanded you to do." (Mitzvot = "good works")
1 Our Father, we receive Your Words and hide Your commandments with us; 2 we incline our ear unto wisdom, and apply our hearts to understanding; 3 We cry after knowledge and lift up our voices for understanding; 4 we seek it as silver; and search for it as for hidden treasures; 5 We declare that we shall understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. Declaration of Proverbs 2:1-5
Modeh Ani (ּמודה אני)
Pronounced moe-DEH ah-NEE, this Hebrew phrase literally means "I give thanks" and refers to the prayer traditionally recited upon awaking in the morning.
Pronounced moe-DEH ah-NEE, this Hebrew phrase literally means "I give thanks" and refers to the prayer traditionally recited upon awaking in the morning.
Leviticus 16:1-17 (NASB)1
1 Now the LORD spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they had approached the presence of the LORD and died. 2 The LORD said to Moses: "Tell your brother Aaron that he shall not enter at any time into the holy place inside the veil, before the mercy seat which is on the ark, or he will die; for I will appear in the cloud over the mercy seat. 3 "Aaron shall enter the holy place with this: with a bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering. 4 "He shall put on the holy linen tunic, and the linen undergarments shall be next to his body, and he shall be girded with the linen sash and attired with the linen turban (these are holy garments ). Then he shall bathe his body in water and put them on. 5 "He shall take from the congregation of the sons of Israel two male goats for a sin offering and one ram for a burnt offering. 6 "Then Aaron shall offer the bull for the sin offering which is for himself, that he may make atonement for himself and for his household. 7 "He shall take the two goats and present them before the LORD at the doorway of the tent of meeting. 8 "Aaron shall cast lots for the two goats, one lot for the LORD and the other lot for the scapegoat. 9 "Then Aaron shall offer the goat on which the lot for the LORD fell, and make it a sin offering. 10 "But the goat on which the lot for the scapegoat fell shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make atonement upon it, to send it into the wilderness as the scapegoat. 11 "Then Aaron shall offer the bull of the sin offering which is for himself and make atonement for himself and for his household, and he shall slaughter the bull of the sin offering which is for himself. 12 "He shall take a firepan full of coals of fire from upon the altar before the LORD and two handfuls of finely ground sweet incense, and bring it inside the veil. 13 "He shall put the incense on the fire before the LORD, that the cloud of incense may cover the mercy seat that is on the ark of the testimony, otherwise he will die. 14 "Moreover, he shall take some of the blood of the bull and sprinkle it with his finger on the mercy seat on the east side; also in front of the mercy seat he shall sprinkle some of the blood with his finger seven times. 15 "Then he shall slaughter the goat of the sin offering which is for the people, and bring its blood inside the veil and do with its blood as he did with the blood of the bull, and sprinkle it on the mercy seat and in front of the mercy seat. 16 "He shall make atonement for the holy place, because of the impurities of the sons of Israel and because of their transgressions in regard to all their sins; and thus he shall do for the tent of meeting which abides with them in the midst of their impurities. 17 "When he goes in to make atonement in the holy place, no one shall be in the tent of meeting until he comes out, that he may make atonement for himself and for his household and for all the assembly of Israel.
1 And the LORD spake unto Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they offered before the LORD, and died; Leviticus 16:1.
This could have been a definite reference as warning to Aaron not to carry out any unauthorized intrusion into the very presence of the LORD behind that veil of the Holy of Holies, as the commentator Albert Barnes points out:
“The reference to the death of Nadab and Abihu is a notice of the occasion on which the instructions were given, well calculated to add point and emphasis to the solemn admonition to the high priest in the second verse. The death of his sons Le 10:2, for drawing near to Yahweh in an unauthorized manner, was to serve as a warning to Aaron himself never to transgress in this respect.”
We've speculate in previous years just what it was that Nadab and Abihu did that caused their deaths. Perhaps they were a bit tipsy from wine of celebration of their ordination or perhaps they weren't. Because of this warning to Aaron after the fact, we might speculate that they got a bit tipsy and their muddled thinking and forgetting to take God seriously, they moved behind that veil.
I’ve so often heard the statement that “God gave the law to Israel even though he knew they couldn’t keep it” and last season in our Torah cycle, it occurred to me to thoroughly investigate that claim and y’all might feel fortunate, (or not), to be going along for the ride! Among the laws are those which a nation would have realized on their own, are good, even without Yah’s guidance. Historians and archaeologists have compared the legal systems of those nations that were contemporary with Israel and have found that many of these nations, without benefit of Yah, created some of the very same legislation as Israel! I downloaded a paper “Torah Law: A Comparison Between the Covenant Code and the Code of Hammurabi”. Being only seven pages it only scratched the surface. So far, in our journey through Vayikra/Leviticus, we have seen a good portion of it that is specifically for the priesthood of the line of Aaron. However, we've also seen that there is a good portion also for others besides the priests.
Now here is a set of instructions or ‘laws’ that are included in Torah that are only for the high priest and for nobody else. This is a good example to impress that each person in Israel was to keep their own part of ‘the law’ and together, when they fulfilled each their own part in Torah, then Torah was fulfilled by Israel as a community. This is a way of looking at these first five books that we never touched upon in my past Protestant affiliation. The text here was specifically for one of the two observances that the world is quite familiar, Passover being one and Yom Kipper or Day of Atonement, the other. This day had two purposes. One was to cover the sins of Israel for the preceding year and the other was to cleanse and sanctify the central worship tabernacle and all the articles within.
16 And he shall make an atonement for the holy place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins: and so shall he do for the tabernacle of the congregation, that remaineth among them in the midst of their uncleanness. Leviticus 16:16.
This was the only time that the high priest was allowed to enter that most sacred space of The Almighty and He was required to bring in with him the blood of the bull (for sin offering) and the ram (for burnt offering) after he had washed and dressed in the high priest regalia. After that he presided over the lottery with the goats. One goat would be ‘for the Lord’ and the other would be the one that would carry the sins of the people into the wilderness. The details of this component of Yom Kipper are laid out in today and tomorrow’s readings.
The other important component in this special day of personal ‘affliction’ which Israel interpreted as fasting and reviewing their lives through introspection was the blood. We’ll focus more on the blood later in this week. The people were to “afflict their souls” at this time. The Hebrew for ‘afflict’ is עָנָה `anah aw-naw' :—abase self, afflict(-ion, self), answer, chasten self, deal hardly with. This may not necessarily include fasting, however the main thrust of anah is to deal with one’s self in humility and without bias or pride—in a spiritual sense to take a good look at one’s self without the puffing effects of leaven (equated with pride). This notion is so timely having just arrived at the edge of the Passover observance in real time for this year!
4 He shall put on the holy linen coat, and he shall have the linen breeches upon his flesh, and shall be girded with a linen girdle, and with the linen mitre shall he be attired: these are holy garments; therefore shall he wash his flesh in water, and so put them on. Leviticus 16:4.
This is a completely white ensemble. Adam Clarke states that:
“He shall put on the holy linen coat - He was not to dress in his pontifical garments, but in the simple sacerdotal vestments, or those of the Levites, because it was a day of humiliation; and as he was to offer sacrifices for his own sins, it was necessary that he should appear in habits suited to the occasion. Hence he has neither the robe, the ephod, the breastplate, the mitre, etc.; these constituted his dress of dignity as the high priest of God, ministering for others and the representative of Christ: but now he appears, before God as a sinner, offering an atonement for his transgressions, and his garments are those of humiliation.”
Rabbi J.H. Hertz stated from a First Fruits of Zion article that:
“When men are summoned before an earthly ruler to defend themselves against some charge, they appear downcast and dressed in black like mourners. Israel appears before God arrayed in white, as if going to a feast, confident that all who return penitently to their Maker will receive not condemnation but pardon at His hands.”
The complimentary verse in the FFOZ (First Fruits of Zion) ministry’s comments is fascinating to consider.
“This above quote only holds true for those who have relied on the Messiah’s atonement.”
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Romans 8:1.
Take note: All the ‘over-comers’ in the last book of the Bible, will also be dressed in white.
5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. Revelation 3:5.
Surely, when we might faint and grow a bit weary and want to hide in a corner for a while because the world is becoming overwhelming, we can take heart—get strength. Some days are like that. We get to feeling that it's a “dog eat dog” world and we're wearing milk bone underwear. Just thinking of that meme will lift our spirits a tad and maybe enough that we begin praising Him that is bringing us through this mad world. We do ourselves or anyone else no earthly good if we sink to such low levels that our Father God needs to send us an INTERVENTION! If catching the news through mainstream OR alternate news is overwhelming then we can do our own intervention and turn. it. OFF! Take a break! Take a little trip to places that are mentioned in the book of Philippians by the good Rabbi Sha'ul/Paul. These are good places. They might even be healing places. In a chair by the chicken run is one of my vacation places during the summers. Yours perhaps, will be a nearby park in the city or just in your back yard. When I was a teenager, the library was the place I went for a 'time out' to recharge. The ultimate safe space for us is in our prayer closet.
1 Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved... 4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. 5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. Philippians 4:1; 4-9.
Here's a meme from a ministry called bulldozerfaith.com to take with you today. I came across this group for the very first time today. They appear to be credible and indeed part of the remnant. But search them out for yourselves, as you should for any of the content in these here daily offerings. Meanwhile, the sun is shining here today and yesterday evening was truly a proof of the arrival of spring. I was walking down to the coop and I looked up and I'd guess about two hundred and fifty feet in front of me, on the little rise just in the treeline where the goat paddock fence once was, there was a bear! It appeared that when he saw that I saw him (or her), it spooked and turned and lumbered up the path. It was too big to be a cub and too small to be an adult and my guess is that he was born a winter ago. I made loud noise, telling him to “go home, nothing to see here” as he bounded out of sight. It's evident that if we're hunting for downed trees to harvest for the wood stove next winter, we're going to have to be aware of where and how we walk!
This could have been a definite reference as warning to Aaron not to carry out any unauthorized intrusion into the very presence of the LORD behind that veil of the Holy of Holies, as the commentator Albert Barnes points out:
“The reference to the death of Nadab and Abihu is a notice of the occasion on which the instructions were given, well calculated to add point and emphasis to the solemn admonition to the high priest in the second verse. The death of his sons Le 10:2, for drawing near to Yahweh in an unauthorized manner, was to serve as a warning to Aaron himself never to transgress in this respect.”
We've speculate in previous years just what it was that Nadab and Abihu did that caused their deaths. Perhaps they were a bit tipsy from wine of celebration of their ordination or perhaps they weren't. Because of this warning to Aaron after the fact, we might speculate that they got a bit tipsy and their muddled thinking and forgetting to take God seriously, they moved behind that veil.
I’ve so often heard the statement that “God gave the law to Israel even though he knew they couldn’t keep it” and last season in our Torah cycle, it occurred to me to thoroughly investigate that claim and y’all might feel fortunate, (or not), to be going along for the ride! Among the laws are those which a nation would have realized on their own, are good, even without Yah’s guidance. Historians and archaeologists have compared the legal systems of those nations that were contemporary with Israel and have found that many of these nations, without benefit of Yah, created some of the very same legislation as Israel! I downloaded a paper “Torah Law: A Comparison Between the Covenant Code and the Code of Hammurabi”. Being only seven pages it only scratched the surface. So far, in our journey through Vayikra/Leviticus, we have seen a good portion of it that is specifically for the priesthood of the line of Aaron. However, we've also seen that there is a good portion also for others besides the priests.
Now here is a set of instructions or ‘laws’ that are included in Torah that are only for the high priest and for nobody else. This is a good example to impress that each person in Israel was to keep their own part of ‘the law’ and together, when they fulfilled each their own part in Torah, then Torah was fulfilled by Israel as a community. This is a way of looking at these first five books that we never touched upon in my past Protestant affiliation. The text here was specifically for one of the two observances that the world is quite familiar, Passover being one and Yom Kipper or Day of Atonement, the other. This day had two purposes. One was to cover the sins of Israel for the preceding year and the other was to cleanse and sanctify the central worship tabernacle and all the articles within.
16 And he shall make an atonement for the holy place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins: and so shall he do for the tabernacle of the congregation, that remaineth among them in the midst of their uncleanness. Leviticus 16:16.
This was the only time that the high priest was allowed to enter that most sacred space of The Almighty and He was required to bring in with him the blood of the bull (for sin offering) and the ram (for burnt offering) after he had washed and dressed in the high priest regalia. After that he presided over the lottery with the goats. One goat would be ‘for the Lord’ and the other would be the one that would carry the sins of the people into the wilderness. The details of this component of Yom Kipper are laid out in today and tomorrow’s readings.
The other important component in this special day of personal ‘affliction’ which Israel interpreted as fasting and reviewing their lives through introspection was the blood. We’ll focus more on the blood later in this week. The people were to “afflict their souls” at this time. The Hebrew for ‘afflict’ is עָנָה `anah aw-naw' :—abase self, afflict(-ion, self), answer, chasten self, deal hardly with. This may not necessarily include fasting, however the main thrust of anah is to deal with one’s self in humility and without bias or pride—in a spiritual sense to take a good look at one’s self without the puffing effects of leaven (equated with pride). This notion is so timely having just arrived at the edge of the Passover observance in real time for this year!
4 He shall put on the holy linen coat, and he shall have the linen breeches upon his flesh, and shall be girded with a linen girdle, and with the linen mitre shall he be attired: these are holy garments; therefore shall he wash his flesh in water, and so put them on. Leviticus 16:4.
This is a completely white ensemble. Adam Clarke states that:
“He shall put on the holy linen coat - He was not to dress in his pontifical garments, but in the simple sacerdotal vestments, or those of the Levites, because it was a day of humiliation; and as he was to offer sacrifices for his own sins, it was necessary that he should appear in habits suited to the occasion. Hence he has neither the robe, the ephod, the breastplate, the mitre, etc.; these constituted his dress of dignity as the high priest of God, ministering for others and the representative of Christ: but now he appears, before God as a sinner, offering an atonement for his transgressions, and his garments are those of humiliation.”
Rabbi J.H. Hertz stated from a First Fruits of Zion article that:
“When men are summoned before an earthly ruler to defend themselves against some charge, they appear downcast and dressed in black like mourners. Israel appears before God arrayed in white, as if going to a feast, confident that all who return penitently to their Maker will receive not condemnation but pardon at His hands.”
The complimentary verse in the FFOZ (First Fruits of Zion) ministry’s comments is fascinating to consider.
“This above quote only holds true for those who have relied on the Messiah’s atonement.”
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Romans 8:1.
Take note: All the ‘over-comers’ in the last book of the Bible, will also be dressed in white.
5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. Revelation 3:5.
Surely, when we might faint and grow a bit weary and want to hide in a corner for a while because the world is becoming overwhelming, we can take heart—get strength. Some days are like that. We get to feeling that it's a “dog eat dog” world and we're wearing milk bone underwear. Just thinking of that meme will lift our spirits a tad and maybe enough that we begin praising Him that is bringing us through this mad world. We do ourselves or anyone else no earthly good if we sink to such low levels that our Father God needs to send us an INTERVENTION! If catching the news through mainstream OR alternate news is overwhelming then we can do our own intervention and turn. it. OFF! Take a break! Take a little trip to places that are mentioned in the book of Philippians by the good Rabbi Sha'ul/Paul. These are good places. They might even be healing places. In a chair by the chicken run is one of my vacation places during the summers. Yours perhaps, will be a nearby park in the city or just in your back yard. When I was a teenager, the library was the place I went for a 'time out' to recharge. The ultimate safe space for us is in our prayer closet.
1 Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved... 4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. 5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. Philippians 4:1; 4-9.
Here's a meme from a ministry called bulldozerfaith.com to take with you today. I came across this group for the very first time today. They appear to be credible and indeed part of the remnant. But search them out for yourselves, as you should for any of the content in these here daily offerings. Meanwhile, the sun is shining here today and yesterday evening was truly a proof of the arrival of spring. I was walking down to the coop and I looked up and I'd guess about two hundred and fifty feet in front of me, on the little rise just in the treeline where the goat paddock fence once was, there was a bear! It appeared that when he saw that I saw him (or her), it spooked and turned and lumbered up the path. It was too big to be a cub and too small to be an adult and my guess is that he was born a winter ago. I made loud noise, telling him to “go home, nothing to see here” as he bounded out of sight. It's evident that if we're hunting for downed trees to harvest for the wood stove next winter, we're going to have to be aware of where and how we walk!
1 NASB www.lockman.org for daily reading and KJV in commentary unless otherwise stated.
Daily Torah Bites ©
anne@anchorchurchsurfside.com
Ten Commandments
1
2 I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
2
4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
3
7 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
4
8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: 10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: 11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
5
12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
6
13 Thou shalt not kill.
7
14 Thou shalt not commit adultery.
8
15 Thou shalt not steal.
9
16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
10
16 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.