A Thanksgiving Prayer

We Give Thanks

Our Father in Heaven,
We give thanks for the pleasure
Of gathering together for this occasion.
We give thanks for this food
Prepared by loving hands.
We give thanks for life,
The freedom to enjoy it all
And all other blessings.
As we partake of this food,
We pray for health and strength
To carry on and try to live as You would have us.
This we ask in Jesus Name,
Amen

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THE SCAPEGOAT

THE SCAPEGOAT
THE CEREMONIAL PART OF THE SIN OFFERING
MADE ON THE “DAY OF ATONEMENT
LEV. 16: 1-34: A brief history of the Egyptian captivity of Israel. Jacob [heal catcher; supplanted] was the second son of Isaac and Rebekah. After an encounter with God; who appeared to him at the brook Jabbok and wrestled with him until the “break of day” until his thigh was “out of joint” because Jacob refused to let him go until he received a blessing. Jacob’s name was changed to Israel. [Prince of God] See Gen. 32:22-32. As a result of this incident Israel walked with a limp the rest of his life; And Jews will not eat of the meat of that part of an animal around the “hollow” of the thigh that shrank when it was touched by God until this day. See Gen. 32:32.
As a result of Jacob’s marriage to the two daughters of Laban, Leah and Rachel and their “handmaids” [Jacob loved Rachel but was required to marry Leah the eldest first because of the customs of the Hebrews at that time. See Gen. ch. 29-31] Jacob; now Israel fathered 12 sons Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Issachar, Gad, Asher, Zebulon, Joseph and Benjamin. These men became fathers of the 12 “Tribes of Israel. At a later time the tribe of Joseph was divided into two half tribes of Manasseh and Ephraim and the tribe of Joseph ceased to exist.
Joseph Jacob’s first son by Rachel became known as “My son of old age” and received special favors from Jacob including a “coat of many colors” that was made of material and decorated as a garment of Royalty. This made his brothers very jealous and they developed a scheme to deceive their father into believing that he was dead. They killed a kid of a goat and dipped his coat in its blood and took it to Jacob and convinced him that Joseph had been slain br ravenous beast. In the mean time they sold him to Midianite merchantmen for twenty pieces of silver. These men in turn sold him to Potiphar, an officer of the Pharaoh of Egypt and he was carried into Egypt as a slave. See Gen. ch. 37.
While he was in Egypt he grew in favor with the Pharaoh because of his wisdom and ability to interpret dreams and was soon married to Pharaoh’s daughter and advanced his authority over all of Egypt.
While in Egypt Pharaoh had a dream about 7 well favored kine [cattle] that grazed in a meadow and 7 ill favored kine [cattle] that were on the brink of the river. And Pharaoh slept and dreamed a second dream about 7 ears of corn came up on one stalk full and good and 7 thin ears of corn that were blasted with an east wind came up afterward and they devoured the 7 full ears .Pharaoh called for his wise men who failed to interpret the dream. Then he was informed of a young man among the Hebrews that was able to interpret dreams and when Joseph was brought to Pharaoh he gave him a warning of seven good years of harvest and seven bad years of harvest that would bring famine upon Egypt and adjoining nations that would eat up the bounty of the seven prosperous years. See Gen. ch. 41. After this warning Pharaoh recognized that Joseph had the “spirit of the Gods” with him and made him ruler over all of Egypt. by giving him the title of Prime Minister and gave him the Asenath the daughter of the priest of On for his wife.
At this time Joseph was @ 30 years of age. In his position as Prime Minister of Egypt during the seven years that the ground produced plentifully Joseph ordered that the excess of grain be placed in storage for future need.
Gen 41:55-57 “And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread: and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do. And the famine was over all the face of the earth: and Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt. And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because that the famine was so sore in all land”.
Now to avoid a lot of typing I suggest that the reader continue to read from the book of Genesis chapters 42-50 to learn how Jacob and his family that totaled “seventy souls” that became permanent residents
of Egypt. See Gen. 46:26 and Ex. 1:5. From this time of @ 1060 BC to @ 1490 BC 430 years the Israelites had multiplied to an estimated three million Jews that were happy in Egypt until “Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph“. Ex 1:8. And great persecution were put upon the children of Israel including the slaying of every male child born to a Jewish family but save the female babies in an attempt to stop the growth of these people of God. And the people of Israel began to “call on God” and God heard them and sent them a man named Moses and his brother Aaron to be his spokesman. The story of the ten plagues and the Passover is found in the book pf Exodus chapters # 6-12 After the LORD commanded Pharaoh to “Let my people go”. See Ex. 5:1, 7:16, 8:1, 21, 9:1, 13, 10:3-4. Then after the LORD passed over Egypt at midnight on the 14th. day of Nissan the tenth plague of death to the first born of of the Egyptians in every household died because the doorposts were not marked with blood as the houses of the Israelites who believed God when he said; Ex 12:13-14 “And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. [Note: most people have heard that "At midnight the death angel will pass over you"; No place in the Bible is the words "death angel" mentioned. It was the God Jehovah that passed over Egypt that night and caused those without faith to feel his wrath.]
And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the Lord throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever”. Thus they celebrated the feast of “Unleavened Bread in the land of Egypt.
After this the Jews began their long journey from Egypt to Canaan, the land of promise.
Exodus; 19:1-2 ” In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai. For they were departed from Rephidim, and were come to the desert of Sinai, and had pitched in the wilderness; and there Israel camped before the mount”.
At this point God commanded Moses to Sanctify Mt. Sinai and to set bounds that the people not touch the mountain for it is Holy unto the LORD. Then God instructed Moses to meet him on the mountain and there he gave him the “Law of God” written on tablets of stone. In addition to this he gave him specific instructions concerning the Feast Days; [Holy Days] and the ceremonial law recorded in the book of Leviticus. See my article; “The five offerings of Leviticus”.
One of the “High Holy Days” was the Day of Atonement. See Leviticus chapter # 16.
Remember that at this time the Priesthood was “set in order” with Aaron as the High Priest and his sons making up the Aaronic Priesthood. The Tabernacle has been erected according to instructions from God. The “Ark of the Covenant with the mercy seat between the Cherubims” is in place behind the Holy vail. The Golden Candlestick and the Altar of incense are in place in the Holy Place within the Tabernacle. The “Laver” for the Priest to bathe in before entering the Tabernacle was in place just outside of the door. “LAVER

1. “In Solomon’s temple there was one great brazen “sea” for the priests to wash in, and ten lavers on bases which could be wheeled about, for washing the animal victims for burnt offering, five on the N., five on the S. sides of the priests’ courts; each contained 40 “baths” (1 Kings 7:27,39; 2 Chron 4:5-6). Ahaz mutilated the bases; and Nebuzaradan carried away the remainder (2 Kings 16:17; 25:13). No lavers are mentioned in the second or Herod’s temple. Solomon’s “molten sea” was made of the copper captured from Tibhath and Chun, cities of Hadarezer king of Zobah (1 Chron 18:8), five cubits high, ten diameter, 30 circumference; one hand-breadth thick; containing 3,000 baths according to Chronicles, but 2,000 in Kings; 2,000 is probably correct, Chronicles reading is a transcriber’s error. It is thought that it bulged out below, but contracted at the mouth to the dimensions in 1 Kings 7:23-26. A double row of gourds (“knops”), 5 + 5 or 10 in each cubit, ran below the brim. The brim or lip was wrought curving outward like a lily or lotus flower. Layard describes similar vessels at Nineveh, of smaller size. The 12 oxen represent the 12 tribes of Israel the priestly nation, which cleansed itself here in the person of its priests to appear holy before the Lord. The sacrificial animals, the oxen, represent the priestly service. The “oxen” in 2 Chron 4:3 instead of “gourds” or “knops” in Kings is a transcriber’s error“.
(from Fausset’s Bible Dictionary, Electronic Database Copyright © 1998, 2003, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)
And the Altar of Burnt Offerings was in place with wood stacked in place so that the “fire would never go out”. Lev 6:12-15 “And the fire upon the altar shall be burning in it; it shall not be put out: and the priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and lay the burnt offering in order upon it; and he shall burn thereon the fat of the peace offerings. The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out. And this is the law of the meat offering: the sons of Aaron shall offer it before the Lord, before the altar“. This was a type of the “Tongues of Fire” that fell at Pentecost see Acts 2:1-4. It is the responsibility of the Church Elders to see that “Pentecostal Fire” never go’s out in the Church of today.
Le. 16:2; God tells Moses to relay a message to Aaron that he not come into the Holy Place within the vail at any time; but only once each year when he appears in a Cloud between the Cherubim in the “Mercy Seat”. At this time Aaron is instructed to first remove his royal robe of the Priesthood and wash himself in the Laver and put on the ” Linen coat, linen breeches and girded with a linen girdle and with a linen mitre [head piece] shall he be attired. And since these are holy garments he shall first wash himself in water in the laver in front of the Tabernacle, and then he shall put them on.
Then shall Aaron come into the holy place: With a young bullock [a full grown male of the cattle family [Bull, Bullock. terms used synonymously with ox, oxen, and properly a generic name for horned cattle when a full age and fit for the plough. It is variously rendered "bullock," Isa 65:25, "cow," Ezek 4:15, "oxen," Gen 12:16. Kine is used in the Bible as the plural of cow. In Isa 51:20, the "wild bull" ("wild ox" in Deut 14:5) was possibly one of the larger species of antelope, and took its name from its swiftness. Dr. Robinson mentions larger herds of black and almost harmless buffaloes as still existing in Palestine, and these may be the animal indicated.]
(from Smith’s Bible Dictionary, PC Study Bible formatted electronic database Copyright © 2003, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)
for a “sin offering” and a ram for a “burnt offering” for himself and his family. This is a type of the N.T. ministry; “The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.” 2nd. Tim. 2:6.
Then he will take of the “Congregation of the children of Israel two kids of goats [male "he goats"] for a sin offering, and one ram for a for a burnt offering. Note these animals must be taken from the congregation of Israel.
These two goats were to be presented before [the face or presence of] the LORD [Jehovah] at the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation Lev. 16:7. Both of these goats are to be presented as a “gift to God”. And through the Lot process God chooses which animal is to die and which will become “the scapegoat”.
[LOTS, CASTING BY;
Early used to decide an issue; so in choosing each of the two goats on the day of atonement (two inscribed tablets of boxwood were the lots used according to Joma 3:9), Lev 16:8, and in assigning the inheritances in Canaan (Num 26:55; 34:13), in selecting men for an expedition (Judg 1:1; 20:10), in electing a king (1 Sam 10:20), in detecting the guilty (14:41-42), in selecting an apostle (Acts 1:26), as formerly priests' offices among the 16 of Eleazar's family and the eight of Ithamar (1 Chron 24:3,5,19; Luke 1:9), in apportioning spoil (Obad 11; Joel 3:3), in dividing Jesus' garments (Matt 27:35; Ps 22:18). In Prov 16:33, "the lot is cast into the lap," i.e. into an urn or cap in the judge's lap; "but the whole disposing (Hebrew: judgment) thereof is of the Lord." Only in weighty cases resort was had to judgment by lot; it was entered on with solemnity, as God is arbiter. Sanctification of the people preceded in Josh 7:13-18.
(from Fausset's Bible Dictionary, Electronic Database Copyright © 1998, 2003, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)]
Notice verses # 8-19 The goat that the Lord chooses is the goat that must die that the blood might be first sprinkled on the “horns of the Altar” and the rest to be poured on the base or in front of the Altar as a sin offering.
Next the goat that the lot fell on “Azazel “[ Hebrew; S# 5799 Lev. 16:8,10 and 26] Goat of departure; scapegoat] would also be presented by Aaron alive before the Lord and “Aaron shall lay both of his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of Israel, and all their transgressions and all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and he shall be led away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness”. Note the words iniquities, transgressions and sins; this covered all of the faults or errors of the entire nation of Israel. This ritual ended when Jesus died on the cross for the sin “# 264″ of the world. See Rom. 10:4. 1 John 2:1-3 “If any man sin we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments”.
When the “fit man [one especially selected] led the scapegoat into the wilderness; [an uninhabited place] it represented the promise of God to make a “New Covenant with his people; Heb. 8:8-13 and 10:16-22.
” This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more”.
After he released the Goat and before he returned into the camp he was commanded to “wash his clothes and bath his flesh in water, and afterward come into the camp. Lev. 16:26.
After Aaron had completed his part of the ritual he was instructed to come into the tabernacle and “Take off the linen garments that he wore when he entered which he put on when he entered and “leave them there” and wash his flesh with water and put on the other garments and then he can make atonement for himself and the people. This describing the statement of Jude 23-” And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh”.

Christian Perfection

CHRISTIAN PERFECTION

BIBLE:Matt. 5:48.>
This statement has nothing to do with a person being without sin, fault, or error. But rather it deals with growth or maturity. This is speaking to spiritual rather than natural growth.
Paul addressees the subject of perfection in 2nd < Cor.13:9>“For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection” The word for perfection here is “katartisis” S# <STRONGS:NT:2676> (perfection by training and discipline) I want to address at this time the word “teleios” S# 5046the word Jesus uses in the text; Strong’s dictionary defines it as; full grown, complete, of full age or a man. (adult) This word is found twenty times in the New Testament.
The Christian begins the walk with God by as a baby. (new born) This new child requires care by someone who has grown and matured enough to feed, care for and teach; until he is able to care for it’s
self.” As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby” <BIBLE:1 Peter 2:2:>
If a newborn Christian does not receive proper nourishment it will die of spiritual malnutrition. This
Nourishment must include both the teaching and receiving of proper instructions from the “Word.”
Paul writes the Corinthians; “I could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, (natural
man) even as unto babes (infants, immature) in Christ.” <BIBLE:1 Cor. 3:1> He then tells them that after several
years as a church, they were still unable to eat meat offered them. They began in a great revival, (see <BIBLE:Acts ch.18;See 1st. Cor. 5:1-16.) but problems had developed among the body, some causing divisions. There were also sins of fornication, of going to law with one another, of eating meat sacrificed to idols, and of improper
conduct in many other things. Paul blames this on the fact “Some have not the knowledge of God.”1st’Cor. 15:34
also see

 

Jesus speaks “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect”. <

ch<BIBLE:. 8:7.> It appears Paul is placing blame on carnal unqualified teachers and pastors for conditions of the Corinthian Church.The prophet Isaiah looks at the condition of Israel in Isaiah 28:9, and laments; “Whom shall he teach knowledge, and make to understand doctrine?” Then he answered the question with, “Them that
are weaned from the milk and drawn from the breasts.” Hosea declares, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge I will also reject thee.” Ch.4:6
James advises the Christian to “Let patience have her perfect work, that you may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” Ch. 1:4 The word for perfect here is also “teleios”. James is saying don’t be too fast
to grow up; it is a process of learning, and experience that if it is properly completed will lead the person to a point of being “entire” ( complete in all parts) wanting nothing. In other words, you can grow to perfection in Jesus. Malachi; looking to the future Church says, “Ye shall go forth, and grow
up as calves of the Stall.” ch.4:2 I think he meant that there is sufficient food in the House of the Lord for a person to attain full growth without having to look elsewhere for something to satisfy the need. “If any lack wisdom let him ask God.” James 1:5
Paul after sending Timothy to Ephesus as Bishop writes to him, “Be strong in grace that is In Christ
Jesus and the things you have learned commit to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others.”
2Tim.2:2 2 This man who declared himself to be “a wise masterbuilder” of the Church 1st. Cor.3:10, uses
body parts to explain the working nature of the spiritual Body of Christ in chapter 12 of this letter.
Also states that as a part of the plan of God for the Church, there are gifts of apostleship, prophets,
teachers and miracles (power “dunamis”). Paul continues to address this need in his letter to the
Ephesians in chapter 4:11-13. Here he names the five callings of ministry in the Church, and explains the purpose of each calling or ministry. “For the perfecting (here the gr. word is “katartismos” meaning to equip. completely) of the saints, for the work of the ministry the edifying (building up) of the body of Christ.till we all come to the knowledge of the Son of God. And unto a perfect man, (teleios) unto the measure of the stature (maturity) of the fullness of Christ.”The condition of the Christian Church has changed little since this letter to the Corinthians. At the time
of this letter, he could not speak to them as “spiritual but as carnal” because they walked as men, not as “Children of God”. (spiritual) ” I have fed you with milk, and not with meat, for ye were not able to bear it, and neither are ye now able. .”1st. Cor.ch.3:1-2. He also warns in ch. 2:14; that spiritual things must be spiritually discerned. See Col 1:9.
Peter, instructs in his first epistle chapter two verse two; “As newborn babes, (infants) desire the sincere milk of the word that ye may grow thereby.” See also 2nd Pet.3:18 and Eph. 4:15.
Paul recognized the fact that he was once a child “I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I
thought as a child: But when I became a man I put away childish things. “1st.Cor.13:11.
Then in ch. 14:20 he admonishes “Brethren, be not children in understanding; but be men.”
The writer of the book of Hebrews sees an existing problem with those he is writing; and states “We have many things to say and hard to be uttered, (of interpretation) seeing ye are dull (slowful) of
hearing; For when ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one, teach you again.” Ch.5:11-12.
One of the great problems in world society causing much delinquency among the youth today is the fact; children are raising children! The same condition is prevalent in the church today. We are short in quantity of teachers that are able, by knowledge and experience to teach the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. One of the requirements for a bishop is being “apt to teach.” (Skillful) 1 Tim.3:2.
Everyone that has knowledge is not, skillful in teaching. This is the reason church leadership must be careful in selecting those that are placed inteaching positions that will impact the future spiritual growth and maturity of the body of Christ. Growth to perfection (teleios) of the Christian Church depends on the joining of knowledge of God’s word and the Holy Ghost anointing. “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in anything ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you” Phil.3:14-15 Copyright © 1999 All rights reserved.

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Next: “Let us go on unto perfection.”