John Simms Street, Windhoek North

let Us Remove The Ashes On Our Altar Of Sacrifice

  • LEVITICUS 6:8-13
  • And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
  • 9  Command Aaron and his sons, saying, This is the law of the burnt offering: It is the burnt offering, because of the burning upon the altar all night unto the morning, and the fire of the altar shall be burning in it.
  • 10  And the priest shall put on his linen garment, and his linen breeches shall he put upon his flesh, and take up the ashes which the fire hath consumed with the burnt offering on the altar, and he shall put them beside the altar.
  • 11  And he shall put off his garments, and put on other garments, and carry forth the ashes without the camp unto a clean place.
  • 12  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.
  • 13  The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out.
  • WHAT  IS  KILLING THE FIRE ON OUR  ALTAR OF SACRIFICE?
  • THERE ARE TWO  THINGS IN THIS PASSAGE THAT THE PRIESTS WERE COMMANDED TO DO  SO THAT    THE FIRE ON THE ALTAR  WOULD NOT DIE.

A. ) THE PRIEST  MUST CONSTANTLY REMOVE THE ASHES.

  • LEVITICUS 6:10 And the priest shall put on his linen garment, and his linen trousers he shall put on his body, and take up the ashes of the burnt offering which the fire has consumed on the altar, and he shall put them beside the altar.
  • IF THE PRIEST DID  NOT  REMOVE THE ASHES WE ALL KNOW  WHAT WOULD EVENTUALLY HAPPEN TO THE FIRE
  • THE FIRE WOULD DIE AND THE ALTAR  WOULD BE OVERWHELMED WITH ASHES.
  • I WANT US TO  PAY SOME SERIOUS ATTENTION TO  SOMETHING  HERE THAT SHOULD CHANGE THE WAY  WE PERSONALLY  LOOK AT THINGS IN OUR SPIRITUAL   LIVES .
  • IN THE FIRST PLACE ,THE ASHES THAT THE PRIEST IS COMMANDED BY GOD TO REMOVE COME FROM HIS PERSONAL BURNT OFFERING WHICH HE  CHOSE  TO  SACRIFICE TO GOD
  • CERTAINLY  THERE HAVE BEEN WONDERFUL SACRIFICES THAT WE HAVE PERSONALLY MADE TO GOD.
  • AND BECAUSE OF THAT ,WE HAVE  SHARED SOME INTIMATE  AND  WONDERFUL MOMENTS  WITH GOD 
  • THERE MAY HAVE  EVEN  BEEN POWERFUL  ENCOUNTERS  WITH   GOD BECAUSE OF THOSE SACRIFICES.
  • WE COULD HAVE GOT SOME POWERFUL REVELATIONS OR  EVEN MIRACLES  AS WELL
  • ESPECIALLY IF THEY WERE GIVEN WITH JOY,GOD WILL ISSUE REWARDS FOR GOD LOVES A CHEERFUL GIVER
  • BUT IF WE ALLOW OUR PAST  SACRIFICES AND BEAUTIFUL REWARDS TO CONTINUE TO FUEL OUR SPIRITUAL LIVES AND  GROWTH,BOTH THE SACRIFICES AND THE REWARDS WILL SOON   WILL SOON  EXPIRE AND BURN OUT
  • IF WE BELIEVE THAT THOSE PAST EFFORTS  WILL CONTINUE TO FUEL THE FIRE THEN THE FIRE WILL EVENTUALLY DIE OUT AND THE ASHES WILL PILE UP.
  • THOSE EXPERIENCES WE HAVE HAD ARE WONDERFUL AND THEY REMIND US OF THE HOPE WE HAVE IN GOD, BUT GOD HAS MORE THAT HE WANTS US  TO EXPERIENCE.
  • GOD IS ALWAYS DOING NEW THINGS.HE ALWAYS WANTS TO UPGRADE HIS PEOPLE SPIRITUALLY,PHYSICALLY,EMOTIONALLY AND FINANCIALLY
  • ISAIAH 43  18-26
  • Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.
  • 19  Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.
  • 20  The beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen.
  • 21  This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.
  • 22 ¶  But thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob; but thou hast been weary of me, O Israel.
  • 23  Thou hast not brought me the small cattle of thy burnt offerings; neither hast thou honoured me with thy sacrifices. I have not caused thee to serve with an offering, nor wearied thee with incense.
  • 24  Thou hast bought me no sweet cane with money, neither hast thou filled me with the fat of thy sacrifices: but thou hast made me to serve with thy sins, thou hast wearied me with thine iniquities.
  • 25  I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.
  • 26  Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou, that thou mayest be justified.
  • GOD  DOESN’T WANT YOU TO KEEP THINKING ABOUT WHAT WAS, BUT RATHER WHAT IS GOING TO BE.
  • ISAIAH 64:4  For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.
  • THINKING ABOUT WHAT IS GOING TO BE. WHAT IS GOING TO COME. WHAT GOD CAN DO WILL FUEL YOUR PASSION AND  FUEL YOUR FIRE.
  • YOU WILL BECOME CURIOUS AND  DEVELOP A HUNGER AND ATHIRST  FOR THE NEW THAT GOD WANTS TO  DO ALL THIS WILL   FUEL YOUR PASSION AND  FUEL  YOUR FIRE ALTAR.
  • YOU WILL START TO PRAY FOR THE NEW THING THAT GOD HAS PROMISED
  • JER 33:3 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

B). THIS BRINGS US TO THE SECOND THING   THAT  CAN KILL  THE FIRE:

  • THE PRIEST MUST  ADD MORE WOOD TO THE FIRE.
  • LEVITICUS 6:12 NIV
  • THE FIRE ON THE ALTAR MUST BE KEPT BURNING; IT MUST NOT GO OUT. EVERY MORNING THE PRIEST IS TO ADD FIREWOOD AND ARRANGE THE BURNT OFFERING ON THE FIRE AND BURN THE FAT OF THE FELLOWSHIP OFFERINGS ON IT.
  • THE CALL FOR THE PRIESTS WAS NOT TO JUST TO REMOVE THE ASH, BUT THEY HAD TO KEEP THE FIRE BURNING BY ADDING FRESH WOOD.
  • IF THEY ONLY REMOVED THE ASH THEN ONLY HALF THE WORK WAS BEING DONE. THEY WERE TO KEEP FEEDING THE FIRE.
  • IF THIS IS TRUE IN THE PHYSICAL WORLD WOULD IT NOT BE TRUE TO THE FIRE OF OUR SPIRITUAL LIFE?
  • WE AREN’T CALLED TO JUST REMOVE THE ASH, BUT WE ARE CALLED TO KEEP THE FIRE BURNING IN OUR LIFE BY FEEDING IT WITH FRESH SACRIFICES.
  • I AM NOT TELLING YOU TO STOP  DWELLING ON THE GOOD  EXPERIENCE FROM THE OLD FIRE
  • AM   JUST TELLING  YOU  TO START  FEEDING  YOUR FIRE EVERYDAY FROM  NOW TILL JESUS COMES.
  • WHAT IS THE WOOD THAT KINDLES THE FIRE?
  • IT WAS HARD AND OFTEN DANGEROUS FOR THE ISRAELITES TO GATHER WOOD FOR THIS FIRE, BUT YET THEY CONTINUALLY ADDED THE WOOD.
  • IT WOULD HAVE  BEEN MUCH EASIER  FOR THEM NOT TO HAVE  LET THE FIRE BURN AT ALL THAN IT WAS FOR THEM TO CONTINUALLY GET WOOD AND ADD IT TO THE FIRE.
  • BUT THE DESIRE TO OBEY  THE COMMAND THAT GOD HAD GIVEN THEM WAS GREATER THAN THEIR DESIRE FOR SAFETY AND COMFORT.
  • THIS SHOULD SPEAK SOMETHING TO US. THEY DID NOT LOVE THEIR LIVES UNTO DEATH
  • THEY WERE NOT AFRAID TO SUFFER OR DIE FOR CHRIST.THEY WERE VERY MUCH AFTER GOD
  • THEY WERE SPIRITUALLY MINDED AND SO THEY HAD LIFE AND PEACE
  • HONESTLY WE ALL SOMETIMES  LOOK AT OUR LIVES AND SEE A MISSING LINK
  • FROM TIME TO TIME  WE  WONDER WHY OUR  LIFE IS  NOT ON FIRE FOR JESUS LIKE WE  WANT IT TO BE.
  • IF THIS YOUR  CASE THEN STEP BACK  AND ASK  YOURSELF IF   YOU  HAVE UNDERSTOOD THE EFFORT TO REMOVE THE ASH AND FIND A FRESH WOOD OR SACRIFICE   IN THE FIRST PLACE
  • PSALM 50:5-6
  • Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.
  • 6  And the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God is judge himself. Selah.
  • DO YOU THINK YOU REALLY KNOW AND UNDERSTAND  GOD?
  • JER 9:23-24
  • Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:  But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.
  • DO YOU   EVEN MAKE EFFORT TO GET TO KNOW GOD’S WILL  BY STUDYING  HIS WORD?
  • DO YOU  MAKE EFFORT TO KNOW HIS MIND AND WILL FOR YOUR LIFE BY CONSTANTLY TALKING TO HIM IN PRAYER.?
  • DO YOU MAKE EFFORT TO  JOIN ANY DEPARTMENT  IN THE CHURCH AND SERVE THE LORD  WITH GLADNESS OF HEARTAND BE ENCOURAGED AND BUILT UP BY OTHER BELIEVERS IN THAT DEPARTNENT?
  • THE CHOIR,USHERING,EVANGELISM GROUPS SUNDAY SCHOOL ETC. ALL THESE DEPARTMENTS NEED HELP
  • ARE YOU AWARE THAT YOUR SACRIFICES MUST NOT BE WITHDRAWN FROM THE ALTAR OR THE FIRE WOULD DIE AND THE ASHES WILL PILE UP?
  • PSALM 50:14-17
  • Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High:
  • 15  And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.
  • 16 ¶  But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth?
  • 17  Seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee.
  • WE  COME AND GO OUT OF CHURCH AS WE LIKE. WEJOIN THE CHOIR AND ALL THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS ON OUR OWN TERMS.
  • IT IS ONLY AS WE ARE AVAILABLE.WE DON’T UNDERSTAND THAT WE NEED TO BE COMMITTED TO GOD FOR HIM TO BE COMMITTED TO US
  • ARE YOU MAKING  ANY  EFFORT TO ADD FRESH  WOOD TO THE FIRE OF YOUR  SPIRITUAL LIFE?
  • GOD  DOES NOT WANT HALF A SACRIFICE,HE DESIRES THE WHOLE SACRIFICE.
  • IT IS REALLY INTERESTING BECAUSE THE HEBREW WORD USED FOR SACRIFICE HERE IS O-LA(H).
  • IT MEANS TO BURN SOMETHING WHOLLY OR TO BE WHOLLY SACRIFICED.
  • GOD WAS TELLING THE ISRAELITES I WANT IT ALL.
  • THE PRIESTHOOD FIRE AS DESCRIBED IN LEVITICUS 6  DIDN’T JUST BURN FOR NOTHING ,  IT BURNED TO CONSUME THE SACRIFICE THAT WAS ON THE ALTAR.
  • WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE FIRE ON THE ALTAR SYMBOLIZED THE PRESENCE OF GOD AS DOES FIRE IN GENERAL IN SCRIPTURE.
  • WHEN WE SAY WE ARE ON FIRE FOR JESUS WE CAN SAY THERE IS A STRONG PRESENCE OF GOD IN MY LIFE WHICH IS THE EVIDENCE THAT GOD IS MOVING IN MY LIFE,FAMILY OR MINISTRY.
  • IS THERE A SACRIFICE OF YOUR LIFE THAT IS WORTHY TO BE CONSUMED WHOLLY BY GOD?
  • HOW WILL I REALLY DISCOVER WHAT GOD REALLY WANTS? HOW CAN I EVER SURRENDER ALL TO HIM?
  • JER 29:11-13
  • For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.12  Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
  • 13  And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
  • HOW DID JOSHUA KNOW GOD’S MIND CONCERNING JERICHO?
  • THE INSTRUCTION FOR THE INVASION OF JERICHO WAS JUST TOO STRANGE AND WOULD APPEAR FOOLISH TO THE NATURAL MAN
  • LET US STUDY THE STORY OF JERICHO IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND WHO OR WHAT A HIGH PRIEST  IS
  • WE HAVE SEEN THAT CONCERNING THE LORD JESUS CHRIST THE HIGH PRIEST MUST BE CHOSEN  FROM AMONG MEN
  • SO WHAT HAPPENED AT JERICHO?
  • JOSHUA 6
  • 1 ¶  Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in.
  • 2  And the LORD said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour.
  • 3  And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days.
  • 4  And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams’ horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets.
  • 5  And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him.
  • 6 ¶  And Joshua the son of Nun called the priests, and said unto them, Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of the LORD.
  • 7  And he said unto the people, Pass on, and compass the city, and let him that is armed pass on before the ark of the LORD.
  • 8  And it came to pass, when Joshua had spoken unto the people, that the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams’ horns passed on before the LORD, and blew with the trumpets: and the ark of the covenant of the LORD followed them.
  • 9  And the armed men went before the priests that blew with the trumpets, and the rereward came after the ark, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets.
  • 10  And Joshua had commanded the people, saying, Ye shall not shout, nor make any noise with your voice, neither shall any word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I bid you shout; then shall ye shout.
  • 11  So the ark of the LORD compassed the city, going about it once: and they came into the camp, and lodged in the camp.
  • 12  And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the LORD.
  • 13  And seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of the LORD went on continually, and blew with the trumpets: and the armed men went before them; but the rereward came after the ark of the LORD, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets.
  • 14  And the second day they compassed the city once, and returned into the camp: so they did six days.
  • 15  And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they rose early about the dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same
  • And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the LORD hath given you the city.
  • 17 ¶  And the city shall be accursed, even it, and all that are therein, to the LORD: only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent.
  • 18  And ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it.
  • 19  But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are consecrated unto the LORD: they shall come into the treasury of the LORD.
  • 20  So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.
  • 21  And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old, and ox, and sheep, and ass, with the edge of the sword.
  • 22  But Joshua had said unto the two men that had spied out the country, Go into the harlot’s house, and bring out thence the woman, and all that she hath, as ye sware unto her.
  • 23  And the young men that were spies went in, and brought out Rahab, and her father, and her mother, and her brethren, and all that she had; and they brought out all her kindred, and left them without the camp of Israel.
  • 24  And they burnt the city with fire, and all that was therein: only the silver, and the gold, and the vessels of brass and of iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the LORD.
  • 25  And Joshua saved Rahab the harlot alive, and her father’s household, and all that she had; and she dwelleth in Israel even unto this day; because she hid the messengers, which Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.
  • 26  And Joshua adjured them at that time, saying, Cursed be the man before the LORD, that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho: he shall lay the foundation thereof in his firstborn, and in his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it.
  • JERICHO WAS A VERY POWERFULLY FORTIFIED CITY WITH STRONG THICK WALLS THAT COULD ACCOMODATE FIVE CHARIOTS RUNNING ON THEM AT THE SAME TIME
  • THE PEOPLE OF JERICHO WERE TIGHTLY SHUT IN FOR FEAR OF THE JEWS
  • NO ONE CAME IN AND NONE WENT OUT
  • RAHAB SAID “ unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you.
  • 10  For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed.
  • 11  And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.
  • 12  Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the LORD, since I have shewed you kindness, that ye will also shew kindness unto my father’s house, and give me a true token:
  • 13  And that ye will save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death. JOSHUA 2:9-13
  • THE PEOPLE OF JERICHO WERE ALREADY DEFEATED BY THE FEAR OF THE JEWS
  • THEY KNEW WHAT WAS COMING YET THE LORD DID NOT ALLOW THE JEWS TO FIGHT WITH THEIR OWN STRENGTH
  • THE ARK WHICH REPRESENTED THE PRESENCE OF GOD WAS TO GO BEFORE THEM WITH THE PRIESTS BLOWING THE TRUMPET BEFORE THE ARK
  • SOME OF THE ARMED MEN WERE IN THE FRONT OF THE ARK AND THE REST WERE BEHIND THE ARK
  • THEY ALL MARCHED AROUND THE WALL ONCE EVERYDAY IN ABSOLUTE SILENCE WHILE THE SEVEN PRIESTS WERE BLOWING THE TRUMPET
  • ONLY ON THE SEVENTH DAY WERE THEY ALLOWED TO MARCH SEVENTIMES WITH A VERY LOUD BLAST OF THE TRUMPETS
  • THEN JOSHUA ORDERED THEM ALL TO SHOUT AND THE WALL FELL DOWN FLAT
  • THEN  THE ARMED MEN WENT IN AND UTTERLY DESTROYED THE CITY AND BURNT IT WITH FIRE
  • THEY WERE NOT ALLOWED TO TAKE ANYTHING EXCEPT SOME VESSELS OF SILVER AND GOLD THAT WERE DEDICATED TO THE LORD
  • THE SPOILS OF JERICHO WERE OBVIOUSLY DEDICATED TO THEIR TERRIBLE GODS WHO WERE RESIDING ON THE CITY WALLS
  • THOSE GODS WERE SO TERRIBLE THAT GOD HIMSELF HAD TO TAKE THE CITY THROUGH THE MINSTRY OF THE PRIESTS BEFORE THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL COULD GO IN
  • WE SEE HERE THAT THE ROLE OF THE PRIESTS WAS TO BRING DOWN THE PRESENCE OF GOD
  • WHAT SHOULD THE PRIESTS BE LIKE TO BE ABLE TO BRING GOD ‘S PRESENCE DOWN INTO SUCH A SERIOUS BATTLE?
  • 1 PETER 2 :6-21
  • Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
  • 7  Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
  • 8  And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
  • 9  But 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:
  • 10  Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
  • 11  Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
  • 12  Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
  • 13 ¶  Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
  • 14  Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.
  • 15  For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
  • 16  As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
  • 17  Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.
  • 18  Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.
  • 19  For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
  • 20  For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
  • 21  For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
  • THE SECRET TO THE ANOINTING FOR THE HIGH PRIESTHOOD IS NOT JUST HOW MANY SCRIPTURES WE CAN QUOTE
  • OR HOW MUCH TONGUES WE  CAN YELL OUT OR HOW COMMITTED WE TO THE WORKS OF THE KINGDOM
  • ALL THAT IS GOOD BUT THE ULTIMATE QUALIFIER IS THE LOVE OF GOD AND THE CHARACTER OF CHRIST BECAUSE OBEDIENCE IS BETTER THAN SACRIFICE
  • THIS GENERATION SIMPLY LACKS THE CHARACTER OF CHRIST
  • WE MUST FOLLOW IN HIS STEPS IN ALL THINGS

LET US JUST PRAY IN TONGUES WITHOUT ANY PRAYER POINTS TONIGHT

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