Daily Bible Portion (Tuesday)
Daily Bible Portion - 3 of 7
"EIGHTH"
(Weekly Reading>>>Leviticus 9:1-11:47, 2 Samuel 6:1-19, Mark 7:1-23, Acts 5:1-11, Acts 10:1-35, 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1, Galatians 2:11-16, 1 Peter 1:14-16)
Kingly and Priestly Foods
After the inauguration of the priests, God gave His first commandment. It was about food. A closer examination reveals many interesting facts about food. God is very concerned about the heart attitude of those who serve Him. Those who are called to be priests are called to serve him with their whole being: body, soul and spirit united as one/echad. If we are a royal priesthood then these instructions from our Heavenly Father are very important for us today (Exodus 19:5-6; 1 Peter 2:9). The vow we made "We hear and we will obey," pronounced at Mount Sinai by our ancestors, is the very same covenant that was also made for all following generations who were not present that day(Deut 29:15). Among the instructions we promised to keep, are the laws governing food. Food is very important to God because what we put into our body also represents the fruit of our thoughts. Physical food, just as spiritual food, can have an influence and govern every area of our lives. These instructions are for the royal priesthood, the Bride of Jesus, one who is made in His image.
Our bodies are holy(set apart), sanctified and represent the tabernacle(temple). The food (spiritual and physical) that we put into it will govern the state of our heart and mind and will expose whether we are obedient to our Father or are governed by our own preferences and self-will (1 Corinthians 3:16-17).
God desires that we prepare a place in which He may dwell (Isaiah 66:1). If we choose to ingest blood do we imagine that He will put aside His Torah principle on consuming blood or should we expect consistency in His word from the One who never changes(Mal 3:6)? Christ Jesus fulfilled the requirements of the law concerning our sin but has this fulfillment canceled or "fulfilled" all of His principles that govern the earth? This is the question we must ask ourselves regardless of what we have been told by man. Our Faith should be built on the Word of God not the word of man. As we saw in the last study Tzav(Command), blood is for atonement and is not to be offered on the altar. Blood is to be poured out on the ground. Jesus has fulfilled the atonement for our sin, but does His sacrifice nullify this law on blood and also on things He does not consider food for us? Did Jesus eat meat with blood still in it. Did he eat pork? Did He eat shellfish and other unlawful entities, or did Jesus, who now dwells within us, uphold the law and fulfill it by obeying His own word/instruction? Does it matter what we place on the altar or what we eat? What does God consider as food? These questions have as much a physical application as they do a spiritual application in our body.
To keep our temple clean and healthy God teaches what things are to be considered edible food for us. Wouldn't our Creator know what foods are best to sustain life for His creation?
Outside of His food guidelines, God did not consider anything else of the animal kingdom to be consumed or even called 'food' for us (Leviticus 11:2-47). Often, throughout Scripture, animal life and their characteristics have represented the dishonoring sinful nature of people or groups of people. Unclean species represent people out of God's order and association. The mention of clean food and unclean species were the difference between the realm of life and realm of death. The scripture mentions people can be contaminated by what they eat physically, as well as words/conversations they chew on in unwise associations. The lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life can contaminate us.
In the Garden of Eden we see the first example of clean foods and unclean species. God gave man the freedom to eat from the Tree of Life but warned him not to eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil or he would die. The Tree of Life had edible fruit with seed that could reproduce life. God established that a tree would produce fruit according to the seed which is in it.
By this same principle we can be assured that if the Tree of Life produced life then it had to had a seed of life according to God's design. In the parable of the sower we are told exactly what this seed of life is.
Adam and Eve sinned through the lust of the eye, lust of the flesh and the pride of life. They were deceived by choice and ate what was unauthorized. Mixing holy with profane made them corrupt.
Adam and Eve gained temporal power but lost the ability to walk in Gods's authority and kingdom government on the earth, which in turn brought death upon them, physically and spiritually. They had not guarded their hearts and let double mindedness and doubt lead them by mixing what seemed right in their own eyes with holiness. These three areas of lust constitute the primary strategy used by the enemy to draw Yahweh's people away from Him by appealing to their weak areas and presenting temptations that are hard to resist (Genesis 2: 15-17; 3:1-13).
Believers eating from the Tree of Life magnify its life giving characteristics.
On the other hand, believers who eat from the Tree of The Knowledge of Good and Evil also manifest its fruit, that of the sinful nature.
continues tomorrow...
"EIGHTH"
(Weekly Reading>>>Leviticus 9:1-11:47, 2 Samuel 6:1-19, Mark 7:1-23, Acts 5:1-11, Acts 10:1-35, 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1, Galatians 2:11-16, 1 Peter 1:14-16)
Kingly and Priestly Foods
After the inauguration of the priests, God gave His first commandment. It was about food. A closer examination reveals many interesting facts about food. God is very concerned about the heart attitude of those who serve Him. Those who are called to be priests are called to serve him with their whole being: body, soul and spirit united as one/echad. If we are a royal priesthood then these instructions from our Heavenly Father are very important for us today (Exodus 19:5-6; 1 Peter 2:9). The vow we made "We hear and we will obey," pronounced at Mount Sinai by our ancestors, is the very same covenant that was also made for all following generations who were not present that day(Deut 29:15). Among the instructions we promised to keep, are the laws governing food. Food is very important to God because what we put into our body also represents the fruit of our thoughts. Physical food, just as spiritual food, can have an influence and govern every area of our lives. These instructions are for the royal priesthood, the Bride of Jesus, one who is made in His image.
Our bodies are holy(set apart), sanctified and represent the tabernacle(temple). The food (spiritual and physical) that we put into it will govern the state of our heart and mind and will expose whether we are obedient to our Father or are governed by our own preferences and self-will (1 Corinthians 3:16-17).
God desires that we prepare a place in which He may dwell (Isaiah 66:1). If we choose to ingest blood do we imagine that He will put aside His Torah principle on consuming blood or should we expect consistency in His word from the One who never changes(Mal 3:6)? Christ Jesus fulfilled the requirements of the law concerning our sin but has this fulfillment canceled or "fulfilled" all of His principles that govern the earth? This is the question we must ask ourselves regardless of what we have been told by man. Our Faith should be built on the Word of God not the word of man. As we saw in the last study Tzav(Command), blood is for atonement and is not to be offered on the altar. Blood is to be poured out on the ground. Jesus has fulfilled the atonement for our sin, but does His sacrifice nullify this law on blood and also on things He does not consider food for us? Did Jesus eat meat with blood still in it. Did he eat pork? Did He eat shellfish and other unlawful entities, or did Jesus, who now dwells within us, uphold the law and fulfill it by obeying His own word/instruction? Does it matter what we place on the altar or what we eat? What does God consider as food? These questions have as much a physical application as they do a spiritual application in our body.
Ezekiel 33:25 "Therefore say to them, thus says the Lord GOD: 'You eat meat with blood, you lift up your eyes toward your idols, and shed blood. Should you then possess the land?'"
1 Corinthians 10:20-21 "Rather, that the things which the Gentiles [Nations] sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord's table and of the table of demons."
1 Corinthians 10:20-21 "Rather, that the things which the Gentiles [Nations] sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord's table and of the table of demons."
To keep our temple clean and healthy God teaches what things are to be considered edible food for us. Wouldn't our Creator know what foods are best to sustain life for His creation?
- Animals that have both a split hoof and chew their cud (avoiding their blood and fat).
- Sea or water life that has both scales and fins.
- Birds of a non-aggressive or non-scavenger in nature.
- Insects that fly which have jointed legs for hopping on the ground.
Outside of His food guidelines, God did not consider anything else of the animal kingdom to be consumed or even called 'food' for us (Leviticus 11:2-47). Often, throughout Scripture, animal life and their characteristics have represented the dishonoring sinful nature of people or groups of people. Unclean species represent people out of God's order and association. The mention of clean food and unclean species were the difference between the realm of life and realm of death. The scripture mentions people can be contaminated by what they eat physically, as well as words/conversations they chew on in unwise associations. The lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life can contaminate us.
Galatians 5:16-18 "I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law [of sin and death]."
Galatians 6:7-9 "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful [lawless] nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit [lawful], from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up" (Proverbs 23:7).
In the Garden of Eden we see the first example of clean foods and unclean species. God gave man the freedom to eat from the Tree of Life but warned him not to eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil or he would die. The Tree of Life had edible fruit with seed that could reproduce life. God established that a tree would produce fruit according to the seed which is in it.
Genesis 1:12 "The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good."
By this same principle we can be assured that if the Tree of Life produced life then it had to had a seed of life according to God's design. In the parable of the sower we are told exactly what this seed of life is.
Luke 8:11 "This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God.
Adam and Eve sinned through the lust of the eye, lust of the flesh and the pride of life. They were deceived by choice and ate what was unauthorized. Mixing holy with profane made them corrupt.
Matthew 7:17-18 "Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit."
Matthew 12:33 "Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit."
Matthew 12:33 "Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit."
Adam and Eve gained temporal power but lost the ability to walk in Gods's authority and kingdom government on the earth, which in turn brought death upon them, physically and spiritually. They had not guarded their hearts and let double mindedness and doubt lead them by mixing what seemed right in their own eyes with holiness. These three areas of lust constitute the primary strategy used by the enemy to draw Yahweh's people away from Him by appealing to their weak areas and presenting temptations that are hard to resist (Genesis 2: 15-17; 3:1-13).
Believers eating from the Tree of Life magnify its life giving characteristics.
Galatians 5:22-24 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law [of sin and death]. And those who are Messiah's have crucified the flesh [dishonoring sinful nature] with its passions and desires."
On the other hand, believers who eat from the Tree of The Knowledge of Good and Evil also manifest its fruit, that of the sinful nature.
Galatians 5:18-21 "Now the works of the flesh [dishonoring sinful / lawless nature] are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God."
Romans 7:5 "For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law [of sin and death] were at work in our members to bear fruit to death."
Mark 7:20-23 "What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man."
Romans 7:5 "For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law [of sin and death] were at work in our members to bear fruit to death."
Mark 7:20-23 "What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man."
continues tomorrow...