LEVITICUS – A HOLY PEOPLE’s ACCESS to The HOLY GOD – Chapter Nine & TEN

Contributing commentaries by pastors Sonny Islas, Albert Lopez and James Fire
Complete Study of Leviticus by pastor Chuck Smith 

LEVITICUS 9 & 10: “JAW-DROPPING DISPLAYS OF GOD’S PLEASURE AND DISPLEASURE” – by Sonny Islas, Facebook video.

INTRODUCTION: At this point in the Book of Leviticus, Aaron and his sons begin their service unto the LORD and His people. Everything was made ready for them, even them and now it’s NOT show time, but serve time!

Every true servant of God gets to a place “where the rubber meets the road.” In other words, “it’s time to put this car or these tires to the test!” For us, like Aaron and His sons, it’s when we finally put into practice all that we’ve learned from God’s Word.
For example, I’ve been teaching my son Blue how to drive lately and soon he will have to take all that he’s learned into traffic - where the level of his driving skills will be tested (Blue’s doing a good job by the way – I’m very proud of him).

Every time you come to church to hear God’s Word then exit this building, it’s then “where the rubber meets the road.” All that you learn gets put to the test (Obviously Here first then out there). How well did you receive God’s instructions and how well will you obey those instructions is the question? The Christian’s goal should be to learn and to know all that God has said, in order to believe it, love it, obey it, and share it.
In chapter 9 we’ll read about a jaw-dropping display of God’s pleasure and in chapter 10, we’ll read about a jaw-dropping display of God’s displeasure.

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CROSSING The ‘T’s TTUF STUDY 1st THESSALONIANS Ch. Four

~ by James Fire

For another great teaching in 1st Thessalonians (and 2nd later on), check out pastor Pat Lazovich from Calvary Chapel Sierra Vista!

1st THESSALONIANS Chapter Four
INTRODUCTION: Until we see the LORD face to Face, we will always, this side of eternity, be incomplete regarding the fullness with which GOD intends to see us in Christ. There will always be room for improvement. To grow in Christ is to grow in holiness and in love – and this is not at all a burden, but a blessing. We always think of love as a blessing, but holiness?

Too often we get notions that holiness is restrictive, a lifestyle of deprivation. Certainly true holiness does restrict us from sin and deprives us of wickedness, transgression, and rebellion – but these, rather than holiness are truly the burden. Ask the drug addict strung out on dope and laying in the street whether or not he considers drugs to be a joy ride or not. Ask religious people whose lives are filled with “do’s” and “don’ts” in order to strive to achieve right standing with GOD, apart from the grace of GOD – and fail miserably: these are certainly burdens as well as the ‘free thinker’ who is too sophisticated for ‘organized religion’ and instead delves into New Age spirituality (what we used to call the occult) and suddenly finds themselves under the binding influence of demons!

It’s as we partake of Christ and all of His blessed attributes, that we grow in the blessedness that is Christ Himself. In that place, there is peace, contentment, rest, security, love, and joy as found nowhere else in this fallen world! This is the place where GOD is our refuge, our high tower, and our strength – where the evil of this world can’t affect us; where hatred can’t influence us, where fear has no hold on us; where afflictions can’t discourage us.
Being Christ-like means that nothing of this world compels us: only the Spirit of GOD and those things that compel Him (JOHN 8:29).

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CONFUSED BY AN ANGEL: THE ROMA DOWNEY DILEMMA - By Dr. Greg Reid

The following is an unedited, unabridged article by Greg Reid of Youthfire! ministries (I have provided some additional links for the readers consideration. Note: some of these websites are directly from New Age/Spirituality and New Thought teachers who are not at all biblical Christians)! To view this article as originally published on Greg's site, go here.

Roma Downey first came into our lives and hearts as “Monica,” the angel in training in the successful television series, “Touched by an Angel”. A feel-good, moral and new-age tinged show, many people’s memory of Roma was her angel character saying, in an angelic Irish brogue, “God luvs ya!”

Years passed. Suddenly, Roma Downey and her husband Mark Burnett lit up the media sky with their successful television miniseries, The Bible. Christians – especially those with fond memories of Monica – were thrilled at the presentation of the Bible by what seemed to be the newly evangelical team of Mark Burnett and Roma Downey, founder of Lightworks media production company. The church embraced them – no questions asked. (Note: Even the name of their production company, Lightworkers, is very telling. In the New Age, a “lightworker is “any being dedicated to the cultivation of inner presence and the elevation of awareness in self and other selves. This being is called a lightworker and is an evolutionary step toward a state of “Light Being.”)

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LEVITICUS – A HOLY PEOPLE’s ACCESS to The HOLY GOD – Chapter SEVEN & EIGHT

Contributing commentaries by pastors Sonny Islas, Albert Lopez and James Fire

Complete Study of Leviticus by pastor Chuck Smith 

LEVITICUS 7 AND 8: “ORDAINED UNTO THE LORD” – by Albert Lopez, Facebook video.

INTRODUCTION: We finished chapter 6 and pastor James showed us that all these sacrifices we read about and continue to read about shows us and points us to our Lord and Savior Jesus; who himself was the perfect sacrifice to pay for all sin and be able not just to cover but to take away the sin of the world through his loving sacrifice.
We also learned that we ought to love one another with the same quality of love. With a Godly love that comes from Jesus. That is how people will know we are his disciples.

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GETTING APOLOGETIC on RELIGION: PART 2 of 2 - A ONCE LOST/TTUF Presentation

The following two part series was presented live at SHINE BRIGHT Church  by Kyle Peart of ONCE LOST ministries and me, James Fire (The TRUTH Under FIRE):

All cults, and false religions are identified by their view of Jesus Christ Himself. They will either take away or add to the person of Jesus. Jehovah’s Witnesses and Islam take away His Deity. Mormonism and Roman Catholicism add works as necessary for salvation, etc.

Three major religions in the world today are Mormonism aka The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints; Jehovah’s Witnesses and Roman Catholicism. We will cover these in PART 1; Kyle Peart will take PART 2 and cover other religions and spiritual movements such as Hinduism, Buddhism, New Age/Spirituality., etc.

This article is unusually long, but I've subdivided it into sections, each section treating one religion.

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GETTING APOLOGETIC on RELIGION: PART 1 of 2 - A ONCE LOST/TTUF Presentation

The following two part series was presented live at SHINE BRIGHT Church  by Kyle Peart of ONCE LOST ministries and me, James Fire (The TRUTH Under FIRE):

~ by Kyle Peart

We’ve got a lot of information to cram into the next hour so we’re going to jump right into this, but the first thing I want to start off saying is this:

We are not hear today to just compete among other worldviews; our goal is not to just bash these other beliefs and then crown ourselves as victors. No, that’s not our purpose or our heart on the matter. Although that’s often the accusation and to be quite frank, the persona often perceived from ‘instavangelists’ on social media, that is not our goal.

Our sole and main purpose today is to share the truth, which is objective, and I’ll highlight that a little later, but it’s to share the truth, which in turn captivates and directs our minds to the One Who is the truth, the One Creator, the One Redeemer of men’s souls, named Jesus Christ.

So for those that may have past experience in these beliefs, or are currently wrestling with these ideologies, know that we love you. That’s why it was Sonny’s intention to bring us together and search the Scriptures on these things because there are so many lies out there that are deceiving and leading people to destruction

And although that sounds unloving the way the world has defined love today, know that it’s no different than you giving your child a consequence for grabbing a knife: it’s solely based in educating them in what’s wrong, that’s our heart on the matter today.

We love you, and we want you to know there is a Living Hope which has been tried and tested through thousands of generations, and you can believe it here today, because that Hope is patient, and compassionate, and available to all willing to come today.

Now for the Christians in here, let me give you a gentle exhortation on what Christ calls us to when concerning these things. Because there is a thin line between leading a person to the truth and just trying to win a conversation. And believe me, this is something I am learning on a daily basis so I’m preaching to myself as well.

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LEVITICUS – A HOLY PEOPLE’s ACCESS to The HOLY GOD – Chapter FIVE & SIX

Contributing commentaries by pastors Sonny Islas, Albert Lopez and James Fire

Complete Study of Leviticus by pastor Chuck Smith 

LEVITICUS 5 & 6: “Hearts and Sacrifices on Fire” – by James Fire, Facebook video.

INTRODUCTION: In this section of LEVITICUS, we are going over the various sacrifices offered in the Temple – without which, there could be no access to GOD, one of the primary themes of this book; the other being a holy people, serving a holy GOD. The way of access to GOD - through sacrifices and offerings mentioned in chapters 1-7. Chapters 8-10 covers the sacrifices specifically for the sins of the priests.

The question may be asked, Why was the tribe of Levi appointed by GOD as the priesthood? Why not the tribe of Naphtali, or the tribe of Zebulon, or Benjamin?
Because they were zealously obedient to God after the infamous “golden calf” incident at the foot of Mt. Sinai (EXOD 32:26–29); they slew all of the idolaters (3,000 of them)! However according to God’s foreknowledge, He declared Levi’s tribe as priestly before that time (EXOD 28:1–4). 

Jacob’s prophecy that Levi’s descendants would be scattered throughout Israel (GEN 49:7) was fulfilled when God appointed them as the priestly tribe who, unlike the other tribes, would receive no land inheritance. However, in God’s sovereign and mysterious way, Jacob’s prophecy turned into a blessing because Levi’s inheritance was better than land—it was God Himself and He promised to provide for the Levites from the abundance of all of the other tribes (NUM 18:8–20).

Likewise as the priesthood of our Melchizedek, Jesus Christ, we also have no homeland here in this world, but just as Levi inherited cities, with GOD Himself as their heritage, we look for that heavenly city, New Jerusalem and to live with our Abba Father as His heirs!

HEBREWS 11:16
But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.

Also in all these sacrifices the constant element in them all is fire – which speaks of “purification, judgment on sin, and the presence of GOD” We see all of these perfectly fulfilled in the sacrificial redemption by the LAMB of GOD – by this means, He purifies and produces a holy and pure people:

TITUS 2:13-14
13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Judgment against all of our sins is perfectly satisfied by our Holy GOD and Father:

ROMANS 3:24-26
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

And we among all saints of all time, have access to the deepest and sweetest fellowship, basking in the very presence of our LORD Jesus Christ and the love He lavishes upon us His children.

EPHESIANS 3:17-19
17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

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JESUS Our GREAT HIGH PRIEST – by Lambert Dolphin

[Read the original article here]

~ by Lambert Dolphin (to read about our dear brother Lambert and his ministry, check out his page)

In our modern world there are many gateways into religion. Roman Catholic priests are well known to many of us, but we may have met a Buddhist priest or a Hindu guru. Psychologists and Psychiatrists are not usually religious, but they are often considered ‘gateways to wholeness’. Naturopathic doctors and faith healers are available to help us when conventions meds and foods fall short. Everyone is "religious" but what god are we really serving? The Great God SELF will fail you if you stay there in his territory.

The United States once claimed to be “one nation under God…” – but truth be told we have eased (or morphed) into serving many gods.

Followers of Jesus who have sought for ultimate realities today still line up with the Bible and 4000 years of Jewish tradition heralded in the Shema. But no one, hardly, anyone, reads the Bible anymore, especially the Old Testament. This leaves us way out of touch with ultimate and unseen realities.

For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live. However, there is not in everyone that knowledge…” (1 Corinthians 8:5-7)

Surrendering all to Jesus is not easy and is a choice of the will we all ought to revisit often! That last one percent hold out on our part--resisting Jesus as lord--thwarts what Jesus really wants to do through us and for us.

A prequel to this article is Jesus is my Best Friend. Knowing Jesus as one friend among many is not quite all there is to wholeness and holiness! An old saying says, 

“If Jesus is not Lord of all, He is not your Lord at all.” 

Many cultural Christians think they know Jesus; however He may end up saying to them, “depart from me, you evildoers, I never knew you.” (Luke 13:27)

Jesus is our archegos; that is, a pioneer and trail-blazer of a new way through the wilderness of life. Jesus is our hiding place. He is not called Savior for no reason! He is not only a general, all-purpose Savior He a personal Savior! But for now, consider what the New Testament says about Jesus as our Great High Priest.

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CROSSING The ‘T’s TTUF STUDY 1st THESSALONIANS Ch. Three

~ by James Fire

1st THESSALONIANS Chapter Three

For another great teaching in 1st Thessalonians (and 2nd later on), check out pastor Pat Lazovich from Calvary Chapel Sierra Vista!

INTRODUCTION: Few things grab our attention as quickly as tragedy and heartache and when these things strike, we call out the prayer warriors and ask them to intercede on our behalf as well as our loved ones burdened with such tribulations.

Though Paul had spent so little time (only a few weeks at best) with the saints of Thessalonica, one can’t help but witness the deep-rooted affection and care he and his entourage had for these saints, many of them newly born again (this idea is conveyed when he mentions how he cared for them with motherly care, among her babes).

Have you ever experienced such a thing? I’m sure you have. . . I have, myself: that upon meeting a fellow believer you find an instantly formed bond that grows intensely and fervently over days, and weeks. Looking back over time, you marvel at the genuine love and care that seemed to virtually blossom overnight, and you can’t begin to imagine what your life would have been like without them!

Then they are struck with a life-threatening illness or a severe accident that leaves them clinging to life by a thread. Upon learning this, you feel as though all the air has been sucked out of your lungs, and with tears as freely flowing as your prayers, you seek for their good.
This was the situation in Thessalonica.

Paul was ministering to a kind of ‘spiritual nursery ward’ with these new born babes in Christ in the midst of this church of relatively young believers. Situations arose that didn’t permit Paul to stay in that city; his host Jason was being harassed and quite possibly in danger of being killed (ACTS 17:5-9) and the apostle wouldn’t jeopardize his welfare – he had to go, but with the intention of returning as soon as possible.

There were all kinds of predators lurking about, and this apostle must have felt torn between staying to oversee and protect this flock and leaving to ensure he would survive long enough to see these precious saints again.

We pick up in our study in part three of chapter three:

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