The Clarion, June 2023
Welcome
With the coming of summer and families planning for graduation parties and vacations, this can be a very busy time. During busy times we have a tendency to pull back on other things that may be considered less important or things that we can do later. So many times people will put off things like going to volunteer at a hospital or nursing home or even giving blood or taking the time for an elderly neighbor. Whatever it may be, let’s try to find someone who could replace us for a few days. The Bible tells us to do good, and when we have to take a pause, well, those we do good for, they are not able to take a pause. So doing good can also be finding a replacement when you are not able to be there.
The Mishkan, the House of Holiness, Part 5
We have seen that the most important thing to God is holiness and purity, in the book of Leviticus it is mentioned 152 times alone. We ended last month with Scriptures about purity. Peter tells us that we are a royal priesthood, but if we do not understand the priesthood, how can we be that priesthood? Let’s look at
1 Peter 2: 9-10, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”
Peter was quoting Exodus 19:5-7, “Now if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, you will be My treasured possession out of all the nations—for the whole earth is Mine. And unto Me you shall be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you are to speak to the Israelites.”
Peter lived in the time of the temple, he was there when Yeshua drove out the money changers. As Matthew 21:13 tells us what Yeshua said, “It is written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer’; but you are making it a den of robbers.”
Yeshua was quoting Jeremiah 56:7, “‘Has this house, which is called by My name, become a den of robbers in your sight? Behold, I Myself have seen it,’ declares the Lord.”
Yeshua knew that God’s house was to be holy. Peter also knew all about the “Garments of Splendor” that were worn by the High Priest. Exodus 28: 1-5 says, “Send for your brother Aaron and his sons Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. They are the ones I have chosen from Israel to serve as My priests. Make Aaron some beautiful clothes that are worthy of a high priest. Aaron is to be dedicated as My high priest, and his clothes must be made only by persons who possess skills that I have given them. Here are the items that need to be made: a breast piece, a priestly vest, a robe, an embroidered shirt, a turban, and a sash. These sacred clothes are to be made for your brother Aaron and his sons who will be My priests. Use only gold and fine linen, woven with blue, purple, and red wool, for making these clothes.”
The white linen represented purity. The Hebrew root word bd for linen is also the same root word used for separation. John 19:23 tells us that Yeshua’s tunic was seamless, like the kind that the high priests wore. Yeshua was also set apart or separated from the world as we too must be set apart and separated from this world. Yeshua prays in John 17: 17-19, “They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; Your Word is truth. Just as You sent Me into the world, I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify (set-apart) Myself, so that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth.”
He goes on to say, and all those who come after them; that’s us! Yeshua is our great High Priest, (Hebrews 4:14), and now He wears the garments of the priesthood. Revelation 1:13b says this, I saw one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and wrapped around the chest with a golden sash.”
Exodus 28 : 36-38 also tells us this about the high priest’s garments, “You shall also make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it, like the engravings of a signet, ‘Holy to the Lord.’ You shall fasten it on a violet cord, and it shall be on the turban; it shall be at the front of the turban. It shall be on Aaron’s forehead, and Aaron shall take away the guilt of the holy things which the sons of Israel consecrate, regarding all their holy gifts; and it shall always be on his forehead, so that they may be accepted before the Lord.”
Revelation 3:12 says, “The one who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name.”
Revelation 22:3-4 says, “There will no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve Him; they will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads.”
The forehead also represents our thoughts as Philippian 4:8 tells us, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” The Armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-17) which is used to fight the spiritual battle is not just garments and weapons, but it also represents a lifestyle that we are to walk in with the Lord. This is what Isaiah says about our garments. Isaiah 61:10, “I will rejoice greatly in the Lord, my soul will be joyful in my God; for He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness, as a groom puts on a turban, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.”
Revelation 19:7-8 says, “Let’s rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, because the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His bride has prepared herself. It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.”
Now we are a royal priesthood being built into the temple as Ephesians 2:19-22 says, “ So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Messiah Yeshua Himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.”
1 Corinthians 3:16-17 says, “Don’t you know that you are God’s temple and that the Holy Spirit dwells among you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.”
1 Peter 2: 5 says, “And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by people, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Messiah Yeshua .”
This reminds me of the song, “Lord Prepare Me to be a Sanctuary” by Randy Scruggs,
“Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary, pure and holy, tried and true; with thanksgiving, I’ll be a living sanctuary for you.”
If we are to be holy because God resides in us, then we are to offer sacrifices to God. Hebrews 13:15 tells us this, “Through Him then, let’s continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips praising His name. And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”
But God even goes further than this as Romans 12:1-2 says, “Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”
So let’s conclude with this, if God is so particular about His sanctuary, and about holiness and purity, then how about our sanctuary of worship, our churches?
Today our worship leaders think they are in a rock band and people are on their phones and some even drinking their coffee and others either talking or not participating in worship. Our church leaders are not setting the example either, many of our pastors do not even believe in what they are preaching . People do not prepare their hearts before worship, and they come with sin, and a lifestyle of worldliness. There is no repentance from the heart. There is no separation from the world. There is no longer a reverence for God or the things of God. Our dress and our ways prove that we are not prayerful people or godly people and God sees it all and He rejects it all. God is the same yesterday and today and tomorrow. We think that because of the Messiah, God has changed, but He has not. God is holy and we are to be holy also, and that means in our homes, our churches, and at work or school, everywhere we go, and in everything we do. Remember, we are the Temple of the Holy Spirit. God said, “Build Me a Mishkan, and I will dwell among them,” (Exodus 25:8). Is God dwelling in your Mishkan?
HAPPY 3rd BIRTHDAY
For three years now we have put out our monthly Clarion.
So we want to start our fourth year with some new changes.
We hope that you have enjoyed the Clarion these past 3 years,
but as everything goes in life things change,
and we hope that our changes will be to your liking.
Kids Corner: Coloring Sheet :
Your children will enjoy the Inspectors’ videos on our website.
Just in case you missed it:
Back in December we started a new website for teens and young adults, it’s called
Safety Zone for Teens.com. This website is a place where teens and young adults can take a pause, and turn around, and reset. We have had good results and we ask that you pray for this website that it will help those who come on it.
Our Social Media Videos have resulted in many people heading over to our “First Aid Kit” on both our websites. If you have not seen any of our social media videos stop by either website today, or you can view them on YouTube. If you are going through a crisis today or know someone who is, visit the “First Aid Kit” on either of our websites.
Our Podcasts are on a variety of subjects, and the Clarion Call is a shout out about things that everyone should be concerned about.
We have Teaching Videos for teens and young adults and for your 3-6 years old on both websites.
We have five different Bible Studies you can do on Judeochrisitanclarion.com, either by podcast on our website or wherever you listen to your podcasts, or simply read them on our website, or maybe you may want to print them, all is possible. Start at: In the Beginning and work your way to Paul and the Elementary Principles are great for new church members or believers.
We also have the Weekly Torah Portion and teachings on all the Jewish Feasts on podcasts or written at JudeoChristianClarion.com.
Kids Corner is great for coloring sheets and puzzles for kids and adults on Judeochristianclarion.com.
And every month we have a new Teaching Moment and quarterly a new Teaching Letter that you can read and share with others.
If you have not read our Sandigrams then you are missing an opportunity for you to share with those who may be in need to read just this. Our Encouraging Moments on podcast are also good to share with those who need to hear an encouraging word.
And our Brochures are on many topics and you can print them out.
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