Lighthouse Baptist Church • 1842 Otts Chapel Road • Newark, DE 19702 • www.lbcde.org


Thursday, October 11, 2012

Why I didn't say "Mitt" on Pulpit Freedom Sunday

Last Sunday was declared "Pulpit Freedom Sunday" by several groups for religious freedoms in our country.  You can see the idea here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=pvwcfjAF5Pw#!

I wanted to give some brief statements about my perspective of this and why I went about my systematic preaching through Joshua and preached the Gospel as well as Biblical separation of believers, but did not publicly endorse a candidate from the pulpit.

First of all, I believe feverishly in the freedom and responsibility of every Pastor under God to speak the truth of the Word of God without limitation of fear, finances, respect, "separation of state", advantage of tax exemption, etc.  It is our duty to Preach the Word without respect to regulation because we know that we serve only one Master who we will stand before one day for account of our ministry.  Jehovah God and Jesus the Cornerstone and Head of the church must be our only "speech writer".

However, preaching from my pulpit to vote for Mitt Romney is not "Preaching the Word".  It is my responsibility as Pastor to exhort believers to be good stewards of their democratic process and to 1. Vote.  It is my responsibility as Pastor to preach to people to 2. Vote Biblically and Morally.  - I cannot express to you how far more important voting for Biblical Marriage and "life" are than voting trade and taxes.  There certainly are Biblical messages to be preached against socialism, welfare, etc. and the entitlement policies of the present Administration; but as believers, we are in the moment of a terrible attack on Christian belief, bias, immorality, etc. ---- I must preach for every believer to uphold these Biblical truths by their vote.  However, I do not feel though that I need to make the verbal application of "Mitt Romney" from the pulpit.  I care little for the power of the IRS - we must tithe despite tax exemption - but preachers must teach people "how to fish" by giving them solid Biblical teaching of how to structure their entire life and not only their vote.  If I tell people how to vote from year to year, they may do it because I am their pastor.  If I teach them Biblical principles of what is godly for a nation - they will vote Biblically because God told them to do it.

We have two candidates that are devoid of any fruit of being born again.  By their fruit, they are unbelievers.  I do not wish to vote for either of them personally...but I will.  I will vote for Mitt Romney because I have only two choices.  Believers today do not have the power or influence to put forth a "Biblical candidate".  I hate the cliche's of "a don't vote is an Obama vote", but I realize that one of these two men will win.  I can only vote for what is the closest to the Scriptural mandates for society in the Bible that is before me.

I don't remember anyone asking the "lesser of two evils" question about Reagan.  He spoke good "Christianize", but do the actions of his own morality and the practices of Mrs. Reagan show the fruit of salvation?  Until Christ returns is it not always a choice between the "lesser" of the evils?

I like what an acquaintance of mine (Joe Roof) posted last week:  "Every Sunday is Pulpit Freedom Sunday".  Pastors must keep "Preaching the Word".  Some will say that this blog accomplished the same as if I had declared who to vote for from the pulpit.  The vital difference is that I am telling you who I am PERSONALLY voting for and why from a laptop, not telling you who to vote for from the position of the sacred desk.

So, if you are among the folks of LBC, do not fear that your Pastor bows to the IRS.  I will keep preaching the Word as long as God's grace gives me courage and breath.  If we live that Word that I preach, we also will vote according to the will of God.  I will give you one thought beyond that to chew on.......God's will for who we should vote for in November may be different than who is His will to put into the USA as President. Figure that riddle out Biblically :)

pw

Thursday, August 2, 2012

Historic Events

It has been a while since I have written because the church staff has been so consumed with finishing the details of our new auditorium.

We are so excited to be having the first services there this Sunday, August 5th.  The following Sunday we will have our Dedication Sunday complete with extended morning 9:15am service and dinner on the grounds.  I will be preaching the first section of the Dedication and Dr. Bob III (Chancellor of BJU) will be preaching the second portion of the service.  It should be awesome!

I am realizing now that this is a turning point for our church.  A landmark of sorts.  I do not exactly know what the future holds, but we want to depend heavily upon the Lord and be used to spread His excellencies in our community and around the world through missions.

Please pray that we will be used in a great way for the Lord's glory alone!

1Peter 2:9But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

Pastor Witmer

Sunday, April 29, 2012

A New Broom Sweeps Clean

I was extremely encouraged this morning as Evangelist Jerry Sivnksty preached the Word. There have been many opinions that have come and gone about bringing in an Evangelist.

I cannot express to you enough the ministry benefits of evangelists in my personal life. These men were not in any wise perfect, but they were my heroes. As a boy in West Virginia, my pastor would bring in these Evangelists and they would light up the pulpit with the authoritative preaching of God's Word. To me they were like prophets of old walking straight from the desert sticking their bony fingers in our faces and saying "Thou art the man!"

The shepherding, consistent in-depth teaching of a pastor is irreplaceable, but it is so refreshing to hear a gifted man of integrity bellowing out the pointed Word. I was overwhelmed to see people under the influence of the Spirit coming to deal with God at the altar. One older woman passed by me and I could hear her sobs as God softened her heart to pliable clay.

You may wonder if I get jealous at such willing response when I tend the folds week in and week out and sometimes see little visible response: well, yes - I do wish to see people walk the aisle under God's influence in response to my preaching. But, I believe I have matured and learned after 20 years of preaching that the pastor's work is often the sanctification that works gently over time to transform the sheep into the image of Christ. It is not always pointed and powerful on the spot decisions. One thing I can truly say - my heart was thrilled this morning at the work of God in the people. May the Lord continue to work this week and may His power fall to His own glory alone and not to the glory of any pastor or evangelist.

Love to God and to you.

p.s. If you don't understand the title of this post, I will tell you it is a saying among pastors about the work of an evangelist coming into your church. Sometimes, it greatly helps the spirit of the church when a fresh preacher's voice is heard (a new broom). :)

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Sanctify Yourselves

On Sunday, February 19th, I am preaching on Joshua 3 about "sanctifying yourselves."  Below are the 175 Verses where the Old Testament references the word "sanctify".  It is a very interesting command and truth that the Lord uses those things set apart as holy to Him.

175 O.T. verses relating to “Sanctify” Genesis 2:3 3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made. KJV Exodus 13:2 2 Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine. INDI KJV Exodus 19:10 10 And the Lord said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes, KJV Exodus 19:14 14 And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes. KJV Exodus 19:22 22 And let the priests also, which come near to the Lord, sanctify themselves, lest the Lord break forth upon them. KJV Exodus 19:23 23 And Moses said unto the Lord, The people cannot come up to mount Sinai: for thou chargedst us, saying, Set bounds about the mount, and sanctify it. KJV Exodus 20:8 8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. KJV Exodus 20:11 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. KJV Exodus 28:3 3 And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron's garments to consecrate him, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office. KJV Exodus 28:38 38 And it shall be upon Aaron's forehead, that Aaron may bear the iniquity of the holy things, which the children of Israel shall hallow in all their holy gifts; and it shall be always upon his forehead, that they may be accepted before the Lord. KJV Exodus 28:41 41 And thou shalt put them upon Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him; and shalt anoint them, and consecrate them, and sanctify them, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office. KJV Exodus 29:1 29 And this is the thing that thou shalt do unto them to hallow them, to minister unto me in the priest's office: Take one young bullock, and two rams without blemish, KJV Exodus 29:21 21 And thou shalt take of the blood that is upon the altar, and of the anointing oil, and sprinkle it upon Aaron, and upon his garments, and upon his sons, and upon the garments of his sons with him: and he shall be hallowed, and his garments, and his sons, and his sons' garments with him. KJV Exodus 29:27 27 And thou shalt sanctify the breast of the wave offering, and the shoulder of the heave offering, which is waved, and which is heaved up, of the ram of the consecration, even of that which is for Aaron, and of that which is for his sons: TO DO SOME ACT OR SIGN TO SHOW THIS IS SET APART KJV Exodus 29:33 33 And they shall eat those things wherewith the atonement was made, to consecrate and to sanctify them: but a stranger shall not eat thereof, because they are holy. KJV Exodus 29:36 36 And thou shalt offer every day a bullock for a sin offering for atonement: and thou shalt cleanse the altar, when thou hast made an atonement for it, and thou shalt anoint it, to sanctify it. KJV Exodus 29:37 37 Seven days thou shalt make an atonement for the altar, and sanctify it; and it shall be an altar most holy: whatsoever toucheth the altar shall be holy. TO DETERMINE OR DISTINGUISH AS HOLY KJV Exodus 29:37 37 Seven days thou shalt make an atonement for the altar, and sanctify it; and it shall be an altar most holy: whatsoever toucheth the altar shall be holy. KJV Exodus 29:43 43 And there I will meet with the children of Israel, and the tabernacle shall be sanctified by my glory. KJV Exodus 29:44 44 And I will sanctify the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar: I will sanctify also both Aaron and his sons, to minister to me in the priest's office. KJV Exodus 29:44 44 And I will sanctify the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar: I will sanctify also both Aaron and his sons, to minister to me in the priest's office. KJV Exodus 30:29 29 And thou shalt sanctify them, that they may be most holy: whatsoever toucheth them shall be holy. KJV Exodus 30:29 29 And thou shalt sanctify them, that they may be most holy: whatsoever toucheth them shall be holy. KJV Exodus 30:30 30 And thou shalt anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office. KJV Exodus 31:13 13 Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you. KJV Exodus 40:9 9 And thou shalt take the anointing oil, and anoint the tabernacle, and all that is therein, and shalt hallow it, and all the vessels thereof: and it shall be holy. KJV Exodus 40:10 10 And thou shalt anoint the altar of the burnt offering, and all his vessels, and sanctify the altar: and it shall be an altar most holy. KJV Exodus 40:11 11 And thou shalt anoint the laver and his foot, and sanctify it. KJV Exodus 40:13 13 And thou shalt put upon Aaron the holy garments, and anoint him, and sanctify him; that he may minister unto me in the priest's office. KJV Leviticus 6:18 18 All the males among the children of Aaron shall eat of it. It shall be a statute for ever in your generations concerning the offerings of the Lord made by fire: every one that toucheth them shall be holy. KJV Leviticus 6:27 27 Whatsoever shall touch the flesh thereof shall be holy: and when there is sprinkled of the blood thereof upon any garment, thou shalt wash that whereon it was sprinkled in the holy place. KJV Leviticus 8:10 10 And Moses took the anointing oil, and anointed the tabernacle and all that was therein, and sanctified them. KJV Leviticus 8:11 11 And he sprinkled thereof upon the altar seven times, and anointed the altar and all his vessels, both the laver and his foot, to sanctify them. KJV Leviticus 8:12 12 And he poured of the anointing oil upon Aaron's head, and anointed him, to sanctify him. KJV Leviticus 8:15 15 And he slew it; and Moses took the blood, and put it upon the horns of the altar round about with his finger, and purified the altar, and poured the blood at the bottom of the altar, and sanctified it, to make reconciliation upon it. KJV Leviticus 8:30 30 And Moses took of the anointing oil, and of the blood which was upon the altar, and sprinkled it upon Aaron, and upon his garments, and upon his sons, and upon his sons' garments with him; and sanctified Aaron, and his garments, and his sons, and his sons' garments with him. KJV Leviticus 10:3 3 Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the Lord spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace. KJV Leviticus 11:44 44 For I am the Lord your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. KJV Leviticus 16:19 19 And he shall sprinkle of the blood upon it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it, and hallow it from the uncleanness of the children of Israel. KJV Leviticus 20:7 7 Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the Lord your God. KJV Leviticus 20:8 8 And ye shall keep my statutes, and do them: I am the Lord which sanctify you. KJV Leviticus 21:8 8 Thou shalt sanctify him therefore; for he offereth the bread of thy God: he shall be holy unto thee: for I the Lord, which sanctify you, am holy. KJV Leviticus 21:8 8 Thou shalt sanctify him therefore; for he offereth the bread of thy God: he shall be holy unto thee: for I the Lord, which sanctify you, am holy. KJV Leviticus 21:15 15 Neither shall he profane his seed among his people: for I the Lord do sanctify him. KJV Leviticus 21:23 23 Only he shall not go in unto the vail, nor come nigh unto the altar, because he hath a blemish; that he profane not my sanctuaries: for I the Lord do sanctify them. KJV Leviticus 22:2 2 Speak unto Aaron and to his sons, that they separate themselves from the holy things of the children of Israel, and that they profane not my holy name in those things which they hallow unto me: I am the Lord. KJV Leviticus 22:3 3 Say unto them, Whosoever he be of all your seed among your generations, that goeth unto the holy things, which the children of Israel hallow unto the Lord, having his uncleanness upon him, that soul shall be cut off from my presence: I am the Lord. KJV Leviticus 22:9 9 They shall therefore keep mine ordinance, lest they bear sin for it, and die therefore, if they profane it: I the Lord do sanctify them. KJV Leviticus 22:16 16 Or suffer them to bear the iniquity of trespass, when they eat their holy things: for I the Lord do sanctify them. KJV Leviticus 22:32 32 Neither shall ye profane my holy name; but I will be hallowed among the children of Israel: I am the Lord which hallow you, KJV Leviticus 22:32 32 Neither shall ye profane my holy name; but I will be hallowed among the children of Israel: I am the Lord which hallow you, KJV Leviticus 25:10 10 And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubilee unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family. KJV Leviticus 27:14 14 And when a man shall sanctify his house to be holy unto the Lord, then the priest shall estimate it, whether it be good or bad: as the priest shall estimate it, so shall it stand. KJV Leviticus 27:15 15 And if he that sanctified it will redeem his house, then he shall add the fifth part of the money of thy estimation unto it, and it shall be his. KJV Leviticus 27:16 16 And if a man shall sanctify unto the Lord some part of a field of his possession, then thy estimation shall be according to the seed thereof: an homer of barley seed shall be valued at fifty shekels of silver. KJV Leviticus 27:17 17 If he sanctify his field from the year of jubilee, according to thy estimation it shall stand. KJV Leviticus 27:18 18 But if he sanctify his field after the jubilee, then the priest shall reckon unto him the money according to the years that remain, even unto the year of the jubilee, and it shall be abated from thy estimation. KJV Leviticus 27:19 19 And if he that sanctified the field will in any wise redeem it, then he shall add the fifth part of the money of thy estimation unto it, and it shall be assured to him. KJV Leviticus 27:22 22 And if a man sanctify unto the Lord a field which he hath bought, which is not of the fields of his possession; KJV Leviticus 27:26 26 Only the firstling of the beasts, which should be the Lord's firstling, no man shall sanctify it; whether it be ox, or sheep: it is the Lord's. KJV Numbers 3:13 13 Because all the firstborn are mine; for on the day that I smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I hallowed unto me all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast: mine shall they be: I am the Lord. KJV Numbers 6:11 11 And the priest shall offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering, and make an atonement for him, for that he sinned by the dead, and shall hallow his head that same day. KJV Numbers 7:1 7 And it came to pass on the day that Moses had fully set up the tabernacle, and had anointed it, and sanctified it, and all the instruments thereof, both the altar and all the vessels thereof, and had anointed them, and sanctified them; KJV Numbers 7:1 7 And it came to pass on the day that Moses had fully set up the tabernacle, and had anointed it, and sanctified it, and all the instruments thereof, both the altar and all the vessels thereof, and had anointed them, and sanctified them; KJV Numbers 8:17 17 For all the firstborn of the children of Israel are mine, both man and beast: on the day that I smote every firstborn in the land of Egypt I sanctified them for myself. KJV Numbers 11:18 18 And say thou unto the people, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow, and ye shall eat flesh: for ye have wept in the ears of the Lord, saying, Who shall give us flesh to eat? for it was well with us in Egypt: therefore the Lord will give you flesh, and ye shall eat. KJV Numbers 16:37 37 Speak unto Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, that he take up the censers out of the burning, and scatter thou the fire yonder; for they are hallowed. KJV Numbers 16:38 38 The censers of these sinners against their own souls, let them make them broad plates for a covering of the altar: for they offered them before the Lord, therefore they are hallowed: and they shall be a sign unto the children of Israel. KJV Numbers 20:12 12 And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them. KJV Numbers 20:13 13 This is the water of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with the Lord, and he was sanctified in them. KJV Numbers 27:14 14 For ye rebelled against my commandment in the desert of Zin, in the strife of the congregation, to sanctify me at the water before their eyes: that is the water of Meribah in Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin. KJV Deuteronomy 5:12 12 Keep the sabbath day to sanctify it, as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee. KJV Deuteronomy 15:19 19 All the firstling males that come of thy herd and of thy flock thou shalt sanctify unto the Lord thy God: thou shalt do no work with the firstling of thy bullock, nor shear the firstling of thy sheep. KJV Deuteronomy 22:9 9 Thou shalt not sow thy vineyard with divers seeds: lest the fruit of thy seed which thou hast sown, and the fruit of thy vineyard, be defiled. KJV Deuteronomy 32:51 51 Because ye trespassed against me among the children of Israel at the waters of Meribah-Kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin; because ye sanctified me not in the midst of the children of Israel. KJV Joshua 3:5 5 And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the Lord will do wonders among you. KJV Joshua 7:13 13 Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow: for thus saith the Lord God of Israel, There is an accursed thing in the midst of thee, O Israel: thou canst not stand before thine enemies, until ye take away the accursed thing from among you. KJV Joshua 7:13 13 Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow: for thus saith the Lord God of Israel, There is an accursed thing in the midst of thee, O Israel: thou canst not stand before thine enemies, until ye take away the accursed thing from among you. KJV Joshua 20:7 7 And they appointed Kedesh in Galilee in mount Naphtali, and Shechem in mount Ephraim, and Kirjath-arba, which is Hebron, in the mountain of Judah. KJV Judges 17:3 3 And when he had restored the eleven hundred shekels of silver to his mother, his mother said, I had wholly dedicated the silver unto the Lord from my hand for my son, to make a graven image and a molten image: now therefore I will restore it unto thee. KJV Judges 17:3 3 And when he had restored the eleven hundred shekels of silver to his mother, his mother said, I had wholly dedicated the silver unto the Lord from my hand for my son, to make a graven image and a molten image: now therefore I will restore it unto thee. KJV 1 Samuel 7:1 7 And the men of Kirjath-jearim came, and fetched up the ark of the Lord, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the Lord. KJV 1 Samuel 16:5 5 And he said, Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the Lord: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice. KJV 1 Samuel 16:5 5 And he said, Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the Lord: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice. KJV 1 Samuel 21:5 5 And David answered the priest, and said unto him, Of a truth women have been kept from us about these three days, since I came out, and the vessels of the young men are holy, and the bread is in a manner common, yea, though it were sanctified this day in the vessel. KJV 2 Samuel 8:11 11 Which also king David did dedicate unto the Lord, with the silver and gold that he had dedicated of all nations which he subdued; KJV 2 Samuel 8:11 11 Which also king David did dedicate unto the Lord, with the silver and gold that he had dedicated of all nations which he subdued; KJV 2 Samuel 11:4 4 And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house. KJV 1 Kings 8:64 64 The same day did the king hallow the middle of the court that was before the house of the Lord: for there he offered burnt offerings, and meat offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings: because the brasen altar that was before the Lord was too little to receive the burnt offerings, and meat offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings. KJV 1 Kings 9:3 3 And the Lord said unto him, I have heard thy prayer and thy supplication, that thou hast made before me: I have hallowed this house, which thou hast built, to put my name there for ever; and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually. KJV 1 Kings 9:7 7 Then will I cut off Israel out of the land which I have given them; and this house, which I have hallowed for my name, will I cast out of my sight; and Israel shall be a proverb and a byword among all people: KJV 2 Kings 10:20 20 And Jehu said, Proclaim a solemn assembly for Baal. And they proclaimed it. KJV 2 Kings 12:18 18 And Jehoash king of Judah took all the hallowed things that Jehoshaphat, and Jehoram, and Ahaziah, his fathers, kings of Judah, had dedicated, and his own hallowed things, and all the gold that was found in the treasures of the house of the Lord, and in the king's house, and sent it to Hazael king of Syria: and he went away from Jerusalem. KJV 1 Chronicles 15:12 12 And said unto them, Ye are the chief of the fathers of the Levites: sanctify yourselves, both ye and your brethren, that ye may bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel unto the place that I have prepared for it. KJV 1 Chronicles 15:14 14 So the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel. KJV 1 Chronicles 18:11 11 Them also king David dedicated unto the Lord, with the silver and the gold that he brought from all these nations; from Edom, and from Moab, and from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines, and from Amalek. KJV 1 Chronicles 23:13 13 The sons of Amram; Aaron and Moses: and Aaron was separated, that he should sanctify the most holy things, he and his sons for ever, to burn incense before the Lord, to minister unto him, and to bless in his name for ever. KJV 1 Chronicles 26:26 26 Which Shelomith and his brethren were over all the treasures of the dedicated things, which David the king, and the chief fathers, the captains over thousands and hundreds, and the captains of the host, had dedicated. KJV 1 Chronicles 26:27 27 Out of the spoils won in battles did they dedicate to maintain the house of the Lord. KJV 1 Chronicles 26:28 28 And all that Samuel the seer, and Saul the son of Kish, and Abner the son of Ner, and Joab the son of Zeruiah, had dedicated; and whosoever had dedicated any thing, it was under the hand of Shelomith, and of his brethren. KJV 1 Chronicles 26:28 28 And all that Samuel the seer, and Saul the son of Kish, and Abner the son of Ner, and Joab the son of Zeruiah, had dedicated; and whosoever had dedicated any thing, it was under the hand of Shelomith, and of his brethren. KJV 2 Chronicles 2:4 4 Behold, I build an house to the name of the Lord my God, to dedicate it to him, and to burn before him sweet incense, and for the continual shewbread, and for the burnt offerings morning and evening, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts of the Lord our God. This is an ordinance for ever to Israel. KJV 2 Chronicles 5:11 11 And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place: (for all the priests that were present were sanctified, and did not then wait by course: KJV 2 Chronicles 7:7 7 Moreover Solomon hallowed the middle of the court that was before the house of the Lord: for there he offered burnt offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings, because the brasen altar which Solomon had made was not able to receive the burnt offerings, and the meat offerings, and the fat. KJV 2 Chronicles 7:16 16 For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually. KJV 2 Chronicles 7:20 20 Then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them; and this house, which I have sanctified for my name, will I cast out of my sight, and will make it to be a proverb and a byword among all nations. KJV 2 Chronicles 15:18 18 And he brought into the house of God the things that his father had dedicated, and that he himself had dedicated, silver, and gold, and vessels. KJV 2 Chronicles 26:18 18 And they withstood Uzziah the king, and said unto him, It appertaineth not unto thee, Uzziah, to burn incense unto the Lord, but to the priests the sons of Aaron, that are consecrated to burn incense: go out of the sanctuary; for thou hast trespassed; neither shall it be for thine honour from the Lord God. KJV 2 Chronicles 29:5 5 And said unto them, Hear me, ye Levites, sanctify now yourselves, and sanctify the house of the Lord God of your fathers, and carry forth the filthiness out of the holy place. KJV 2 Chronicles 29:5 5 And said unto them, Hear me, ye Levites, sanctify now yourselves, and sanctify the house of the Lord God of your fathers, and carry forth the filthiness out of the holy place. KJV 2 Chronicles 29:15 15 And they gathered their brethren, and sanctified themselves, and came, according to the commandment of the king, by the words of the Lord, to cleanse the house of the Lord. KJV 2 Chronicles 29:17 17 Now they began on the first day of the first month to sanctify, and on the eighth day of the month came they to the porch of the Lord: so they sanctified the house of the Lord in eight days; and in the sixteenth day of the first month they made an end. KJV 2 Chronicles 29:17 17 Now they began on the first day of the first month to sanctify, and on the eighth day of the month came they to the porch of the Lord: so they sanctified the house of the Lord in eight days; and in the sixteenth day of the first month they made an end. KJV 2 Chronicles 29:19 19 Moreover all the vessels, which king Ahaz in his reign did cast away in his transgression, have we prepared and sanctified, and, behold, they are before the altar of the Lord. KJV 2 Chronicles 29:33 33 And the consecrated things were six hundred oxen and three thousand sheep. KJV 2 Chronicles 29:34 34 But the priests were too few, so that they could not flay all the burnt offerings: wherefore their brethren the Levites did help them, till the work was ended, and until the other priests had sanctified themselves: for the Levites were more upright in heart to sanctify themselves than the priests. KJV 2 Chronicles 29:34 34 But the priests were too few, so that they could not flay all the burnt offerings: wherefore their brethren the Levites did help them, till the work was ended, and until the other priests had sanctified themselves: for the Levites were more upright in heart to sanctify themselves than the priests. KJV 2 Chronicles 30:3 3 For they could not keep it at that time, because the priests had not sanctified themselves sufficiently, neither had the people gathered themselves together to Jerusalem. KJV 2 Chronicles 30:8 8 Now be ye not stiffnecked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves unto the Lord, and enter into his sanctuary, which he hath sanctified for ever: and serve the Lord your God, that the fierceness of his wrath may turn away from you. KJV 2 Chronicles 30:15 15 Then they killed the passover on the fourteenth day of the second month: and the priests and the Levites were ashamed, and sanctified themselves, and brought in the burnt offerings into the house of the Lord. KJV 2 Chronicles 30:17 17 For there were many in the congregation that were not sanctified: therefore the Levites had the charge of the killing of the passovers for every one that was not clean, to sanctify them unto the Lord. KJV 2 Chronicles 30:17 17 For there were many in the congregation that were not sanctified: therefore the Levites had the charge of the killing of the passovers for every one that was not clean, to sanctify them unto the Lord. KJV 2 Chronicles 30:24 24 For Hezekiah king of Judah did give to the congregation a thousand bullocks and seven thousand sheep; and the princes gave to the congregation a thousand bullocks and ten thousand sheep: and a great number of priests sanctified themselves. KJV 2 Chronicles 31:6 6 And concerning the children of Israel and Judah, that dwelt in the cities of Judah, they also brought in the tithe of oxen and sheep, and the tithe of holy things which were consecrated unto the Lord their God, and laid them by heaps. KJV 2 Chronicles 31:14 14 And Kore the son of Imnah the Levite, the porter toward the east, was over the freewill offerings of God, to distribute the oblations of the Lord, and the most holy things. KJV 2 Chronicles 31:18 18 And to the genealogy of all their little ones, their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, through all the congregation: for in their set office they sanctified themselves in holiness: KJV 2 Chronicles 35:6 6 So kill the passover, and sanctify yourselves, and prepare your brethren, that they may do according to the word of the Lord by the hand of Moses. KJV 2 Chronicles 36:14 14 Moreover all the chief of the priests, and the people, transgressed very much after all the abominations of the heathen; and polluted the house of the Lord which he had hallowed in Jerusalem. KJV Ezra 3:5 5 And afterward offered the continual burnt offering, both of the new moons, and of all the set feasts of the Lord that were consecrated, and of every one that willingly offered a freewill offering unto the Lord. KJV Nehemiah 3:1 3 Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brethren the priests, and they builded the sheep gate; they sanctified it, and set up the doors of it; even unto the tower of Meah they sanctified it, unto the tower of Hananeel. KJV Nehemiah 3:1 3 Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brethren the priests, and they builded the sheep gate; they sanctified it, and set up the doors of it; even unto the tower of Meah they sanctified it, unto the tower of Hananeel. KJV Nehemiah 12:47 47 And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel, and in the days of Nehemiah, gave the portions of the singers and the porters, every day his portion: and they sanctified holy things unto the Levites; and the Levites sanctified them unto the children of Aaron. KJV Nehemiah 12:47 47 And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel, and in the days of Nehemiah, gave the portions of the singers and the porters, every day his portion: and they sanctified holy things unto the Levites; and the Levites sanctified them unto the children of Aaron. KJV Nehemiah 13:22 22 And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath day. Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of thy mercy. KJV Job 1:5 5 And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually. KJV Isaiah 5:16 16 But the Lord of hosts shall be exalted in judgment, and God that is holy shall be sanctified in righteousness. KJV Isaiah 8:13 13 Sanctify the Lord of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. KJV Isaiah 13:3 3 I have commanded my sanctified ones, I have also called my mighty ones for mine anger, even them that rejoice in my highness. KJV Isaiah 29:23 23 But when he seeth his children, the work of mine hands, in the midst of him, they shall sanctify my name, and sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and shall fear the God of Israel. KJV Isaiah 29:23 23 But when he seeth his children, the work of mine hands, in the midst of him, they shall sanctify my name, and sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and shall fear the God of Israel. KJV Isaiah 30:29 29 Ye shall have a song, as in the night when a holy solemnity is kept; and gladness of heart, as when one goeth with a pipe to come into the mountain of the Lord, to the mighty One of Israel. KJV Isaiah 65:5 5 Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day. KJV Isaiah 66:17 17 They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine's flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the Lord. KJV Jeremiah 1:5 5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. KJV Jeremiah 6:4 4 Prepare ye war against her; arise, and let us go up at noon. Woe unto us! for the day goeth away, for the shadows of the evening are stretched out. KJV Jeremiah 12:3 3 But thou, O Lord, knowest me: thou hast seen me, and tried mine heart toward thee: pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and prepare them for the day of slaughter. KJV Jeremiah 17:22 22 Neither carry forth a burden out of your houses on the sabbath day, neither do ye any work, but hallow ye the sabbath day, as I commanded your fathers. KJV Jeremiah 17:24 24 And it shall come to pass, if ye diligently hearken unto me, saith the Lord, to bring in no burden through the gates of this city on the sabbath day, but hallow the sabbath day, to do no work therein; KJV Jeremiah 17:27 27 But if ye will not hearken unto me to hallow the sabbath day, and not to bear a burden, even entering in at the gates of Jerusalem on the sabbath day; then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched. KJV Jeremiah 22:7 7 And I will prepare destroyers against thee, every one with his weapons: and they shall cut down thy choice cedars, and cast them into the fire. KJV Jeremiah 51:27 27 Set ye up a standard in the land, blow the trumpet among the nations, prepare the nations against her, call together against her the kingdoms of Ararat, Minni, and Ashchenaz; appoint a captain against her; cause the horses to come up as the rough caterpillers. KJV Jeremiah 51:28 28 Prepare against her the nations with the kings of the Medes, the captains thereof, and all the rulers thereof, and all the land of his dominion. KJV Ezekiel 7:24 24 Wherefore I will bring the worst of the heathen, and they shall possess their houses: I will also make the pomp of the strong to cease; and their holy places shall be defiled. KJV Ezekiel 20:12 12 Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord that sanctify them. KJV Ezekiel 20:20 20 And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the Lord your God. KJV Ezekiel 20:41 41 I will accept you with your sweet savour, when I bring you out from the people, and gather you out of the countries wherein ye have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you before the heathen. KJV Ezekiel 28:22 22 And say, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against thee, O Zidon; and I will be glorified in the midst of thee: and they shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall have executed judgments in her, and shall be sanctified in her. KJV Ezekiel 28:25 25 Thus saith the Lord God; When I shall have gathered the house of Israel from the people among whom they are scattered, and shall be sanctified in them in the sight of the heathen, then shall they dwell in their land that I have given to my servant Jacob. KJV Ezekiel 36:23 23 And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the Lord, saith the Lord God, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes. KJV Ezekiel 36:23 23 And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the Lord, saith the Lord God, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes. KJV Ezekiel 37:28 28 And the heathen shall know that I the Lord do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore. KJV Ezekiel 38:16 16 And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes. KJV Ezekiel 38:23 23 Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the Lord. KJV Ezekiel 39:27 27 When I have brought them again from the people, and gathered them out of their enemies' lands, and am sanctified in them in the sight of many nations; KJV Ezekiel 44:19 19 And when they go forth into the utter court, even into the utter court to the people, they shall put off their garments wherein they ministered, and lay them in the holy chambers, and they shall put on other garments; and they shall not sanctify the people with their garments. KJV Ezekiel 44:24 24 And in controversy they shall stand in judgment; and they shall judge it according to my judgments: and they shall keep my laws and my statutes in all mine assemblies; and they shall hallow my sabbaths. KJV Ezekiel 46:20 20 Then said he unto me, This is the place where the priests shall boil the trespass offering and the sin offering, where they shall bake the meat offering; that they bear them not out into the utter court, to sanctify the people. KJV Ezekiel 48:11 11 It shall be for the priests that are sanctified of the sons of Zadok; which have kept my charge, which went not astray when the children of Israel went astray, as the Levites went astray. KJV Joel 1:14 14 Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the Lord your God, and cry unto the Lord, KJV Joel 2:15 15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: KJV Joel 2:16 16 Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet. KJV Joel 3:9 9 Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up: KJV Micah 3:5 5 Thus saith the Lord concerning the prophets that make my people err, that bite with their teeth, and cry, Peace; and he that putteth not into their mouths, they even prepare war against him. KJV Zephaniah 1:7 7 Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord God: for the day of the Lord is at hand: for the Lord hath prepared a sacrifice, he hath bid his guests. KJV Haggai 2:12 12 If one bear holy flesh in the skirt of his garment, and with his skirt do touch bread, or pottage, or wine, or oil, or any meat, shall it be holy? And the priests answered and said, No. KJV

Friday, February 3, 2012

Power to Forgive


I have been reading the story of Joseph and have grieved with him as he was so wrongfully mistreated -  yet, when all is said and done, here is what he says to his brothers that caused him such harm:

Gen 45:5-7
Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life. (6) For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest. (7) And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. 


Gen 50:20-21 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. (21) Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.

As I have read this, I have been impressed with a key that can help me to forgive when I am mistreated.  I need to understand that the sovereignty of God has been working right alongside the "meanness" of others toward me.  What I mean is:  God never causes people to sin against me and you, but He does orchestrate that conflict to work good in me, and perhaps even good in them.  This sovereign control of our God is something that gives us strength then to forgive others.  Joseph was able to forgive and even comfort his brothers because he knew that God's hand was even in their attack of him. 

If you and I can believe and remember this, we can find strength to forgive and even thankfulness for people being mean to us!

pw