Sat.’s Devo - The Final Sacrifice

Read: Leviticus 6:1-7:27; mark 3:7-30; Psalm 37:1-11; Proverbs 10:3-4 God gave them laws concerning securities, theft and fraud. If you find that you were guilty of any of them, you were to give back what you stole plus 20%. Then you were to offer a guilt offering and repent to God. This would purify you before the Lord and you would be forgiven. *** The BURNT offering was an offering that ascended in smoke up to heaven. It was to be left on the altar burning all night long and in the morning the priest was to put on his linen garments and clean out the ashes and put them beside the altar. Then he was to put back on his regular clothes and carry the ashes outside the camp to a place that was ceremonially clean. *** This was what happened to Jesus’ body. He died and was left on the cross until Joseph of Arimathea went and asked Pilate for his body. He was taken off the cross and carried to Joseph’s grave that had never been used making it ceremonially clean. (Matthew 27:57-60; Mark 15:42-46; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:38-42) All four gospels told the story of his body, so it was significant. *** Every morning fresh wood was to be put on the altar so the fire would never go out. What Jesus did for us on the cross is eternal. *** The GRAIN offering was a donation, present or tribute to the Lord that was bloodless and voluntary. It was to be mixed with oil and frankincense and offered by the hand of the priest. Some was to be burned on the altar and some was to be baked and eaten by the priest. This grain represented Jesus as our daily bread. It could be eaten only by the sons of Aaron just as his Word can only be nourishment to those who are the sons of God. It is spiritual death to those who do not believe. *** The SIN offering was an offering made because of an offense or for habitual sinfulness and its penalty. It was to be offered at the place where the burnt offering was made (the cross) and the priest that offered it must eat his portion in a sacred place within the courtyard of the Tabernacle. Anyone who the blood accidentally splatters on must wash his garment with water. Even the vessel that the blood is used to hold the blood must be rinsed with water and cleansed. *** This offering is the one we are constantly faced with. It is the sins that so easily beset us (Hebrews 12:1). We are to lay them aside because they weigh us down and keep us from running the race we are to run. The blood that must not be left on us or the vessel (person) has to do with unforgiveness. If we don’t forgive the sins of the people who offend and hurt us we carry their blood on our hearts and we will be weighed down. We have to completely forgive that person or God can not accept our offering. *** The GUILT offering was offered to cleanse us from guilt when the sin is our fault and we trespassed. God compared the guilt offering to the burnt and sin offering because they are presented the same…at the cross and the work was done by the priest. All our sins were brought to the cross and Jesus took them upon himself. That is why we can offer the next offering which is the peace offering. *** The PEACE offering is a requital or what we give to the Lord in return for what he did for us. It is our thanksgiving for taking our sins. If we continually wallow in our sins and think God cannot forgive us or we don’t deserve it we are rejecting the work Jesus did for us on the cross. He wants us to accept the peace that comes from being forgiven and be thankful. They would offer unleavened bread to the Lord because leaven means ‘sin’ and by offering unleavened bread means that they have accepted his forgiveness and offer themselves and holy and sinless because he took away their sins. *** The sacrifice would not be clean if offered on the third day. If it was eaten after the third day, then that soul would be cut off from his people. Jesus rose on the third day sealing our salvation and our resurrection. No more sacrifices have to be made after that. To still be looking for redemption elsewhere will be eternally damning for that person. There is no other way by which a man might be saved. *** In Mark, we learn about Satan and his tactics. The demons couldn’t overpower Jesus so they tried to distract and shoot their arrows at him. They did this by shrieking, “you are the son of God.” Jesus didn’t want to reveal this, he wanted the Holy Spirit to reveal it to their hearts. That is why Jesus said that anyone who blasphemed the Holy Spirit would never be forgiven. The Holy Spirit is the one of the trinity that has to do with drawing, convicting, and revealing truth to a person’s heart. We cannot accept God or Jesus without the Holy Spirit. He is the gate keeper. *** Jesus gave his twelve disciples authority to cast out demons and enter the house of Satan and plunder his goods. The ‘house’ was the person controlled by Satan and ‘his goods’ were Satan’s plans for that man. God has given us authority to do the same. *** Lord, may we use the authority you purchased for us at Calvary and enter into Satan’s houses and plunder his goods. May we bring salvation and hope and peace.