Wed.’s Devo - The Thanksgiving Offering 2-18-26

Read: Leviticus 6:1-7:27; Mark 3:7-30; Psalm 37:1-11; Proverbs 10:3-4 If anyone deceives his neighbor in any way - lying, slander, etc., causes a breach of God’s trust in that person. What we do to others, we are doing to God. When the man realizes what he did was wrong and wants to repent, he must restore what it cost his neighbor and add a fifth to it. Then he is to offer the Lord a ram as a guilt offering to atone for his sin. *** Whenever a burnt offering was to be made, it was to be kept burning all night. The priest would put on his linen garment to shovel the ashes beside the altar. Then he was to change clothes and carry the ashes outside the camp to a clean place. This was to show that he was cleansed at the altar to go out in his everyday life. *** The grain offering was a handful of fine flour mixed with oil and frankincense. It was to be burned as a pleasing aroma to the Lord. The rest of the flour would be give to the priest to make into unlearned bread to eat in the Holy Place. It was not to have leaven. *** On the day that Aaron and his sons were anointed, they were to offer a tenth of an ephor of fine flour as a grain offering - half in the morning and the other half at night. The priests were to eat the sin offering because Christ became sin for us. If it was boiled in a clay pot, the pot was then to be broken. When we partake of Christ’s salvation, we must be broken. If it is boiled in a bronze vessel, that pot would be scoured and rinse with water. *** All sin offerings were to be burnt with fire. God wanted them to know that there was a way to totally get rid of their sin. *** If a peace offering is offered for a thanksgiving offering then he was to offer with his sacrifice: loaves of leavened bread along with unleavened loaves mixed with oil and unleavened wafers smeared with oil. The sacrifice would be eaten the day it was offered but if it is a vow or freewill offering, it could be eaten on the next day and what was left on the third day would be burned with fire. I think this has to do with your offerings and prayers you pray before you are saved. The leavened bread is the person’s sin that still remains. God still hears the prayer. The third day is the day of a person’s “week” that he is saved and becomes a new person. It is his resurrection from death to life. *** The people were to eat no fat or blood from any of the sacrifices. The blood stood for Jesus and the fat was the oil of the Holy Spirit. Those were the Lord’s and they forever remain. *** In Mark, Jesus had become famous wherever he went because he healed and delivered them from their demons. The demons identified him as the Son of God. *** Jesus would go up on the mountain to be alone with the Lord. He showed Jesus who his twelve disciples should be. Jesus sent them out to preach and gave them authority to cast out demons and preach the good news. The disciples were Peter, James, John, Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James, Thaddaeus, Simon, and Judas Iscariot who would betray him. *** When Jesus went home, the crowds gathered so that he couldn’t even eat. His family took him and though he was out of his mind. The scribes agreed saying he was possessed by Beelzebub, the prince of demons. They claimed that that was how he could cast out demons. *** Jesus countered them with “How can Satan cast out Satan?” He explained that a kingdom would not stand if it was divided against itself. No one can enter into a house and rob it unless he first binds the man of the house. Then he can plunder him. *** Then Jesus told them that all sins would be forgiven except what they say against God’s Spirit. They were accusing Jesus of having an unclean spirit, thus they were blaspheming the Holy Spirit. *** The scribes and Pharisees who spoke against Jesus were the house that was divided against itself. They were choosing their sides, and they were choosing to be on Satan’s side. *** Lord, may we be united with you. Thank you for choosing us, forgiving us and giving us new life. May we take the authority you have given us and cast out demons and heal the sick.