Set Apart

What It Means To Be Holy

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” – 1 Peter 2:9 Let’s talk about the word holy and what it really means. The word holy, if we’re splitting hairs, does not actually mean righteous. Did you know that? The word Kadosh is a Hebrew word that we often translate as sacred or holy. Holy also means separated or different; we could describe it as unique or even weird. You know, the scripture calls us peculiar people, right? So, holy means that you’re obviously different from everyone else. You’re cut away. People know that you are different. This is why the Jews were commanded to do certain things that made them stand out. This was God’s intent. They wore special clothing, particular hats, and unique

August 24, 2022 No Comments

The Reward in Righteousness

“There is, however, some good in you, for you have rid the land of the Asherah poles and have set your heart on seeking God.” – 2 Chronicles 19:3 Jehoshaphat is one of my favorite Old Testament characters. He was the King of Judah, which was the southern part of the Promised Land, with Israel being a separate country to the north. Though they were originally one nation, they split in two in 930 B.C. because the people wouldn’t accept Solomon’s son Rehoboam as king. After they were divided, their relationship was unpredictable — sometimes they were at peace and sometimes they were fighting. They were also in different places where it came to ridding their land of pagan practices. The Caananites in the region lived as enemies of the Lord, and they worshipped relics known as Baal statues and Asherah poles. Though such objects seem harmless enough when we

October 3, 2021 No Comments

The Anointing of Power

“Take the anointing oil and anoint him by pouring it on his head.” – Exodus 29:7 In Christianity, we talk a lot about our anointing in Christ, but few of us actually understand where the term originates. Turns out that the practice of anointing actually began with sheep. Since they were prone to the infestation of bugs in their ears, someone figured out that slathering their heads with olive oil kept insects away. Then, later on, someone else wondered if it might work for humans also. Since there was no running water in ancient times, baths were not a common thing, and people tended to smell pretty bad. Even worse, because they traveled long distances and got really dirty, they also attracted bugs. Therefore, anointing their heads was a way to lessen body odor and shield themselves from creepy crawlers. Later, it became a religious ritual that was employed in

July 22, 2021 No Comments

The Call is Not to Comfort

“The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn. Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says.’ And whether they listen or fail to listen—for they are a rebellious people—they will know that a prophet has been among them.” – Ezekiel 2:4,5 Yesterday, we saw that God met Ezekiel in the middle of a season of exile with a divine vision that led him to his call as a prophet. Because the Israelites in Babylon were blatantly rebelling against their Heavenly Father in acts of idolatry and paganism (such as child sacrifice and temple prostitution), He needed to warn them that judgment was coming if they didn’t change their ways. Always faithful and long-suffering, the Lord chose to speak through Ezekiel to give the Jews a chance to turn from evil and return to His heart. Following the Holy Spirit’s prompts, the prophet faithfully delivered

July 19, 2021 No Comments

He Has Anointed YOU!

“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.” – Isaiah 61:1 When we come to know Jesus, He imparts to us the call to proclaim good news to the poor, bind up the brokenhearted, and share freedom with captives. And while this sounds overwhelming upon first hearing, the truth is that He has chosen us specifically for the job. In fact, He has anointed and set us apart to break spiritual strongholds and pass on divine power — the key is that we must believe it! We are equipped to do everything our Savior says we can do, because our anointing has nothing to do with our talents or training, but solely with His

July 16, 2021 No Comments

Protection in God’s Presence

“But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.” – 2 Thessalonians 3:3 Yesterday, we talked about how Satan is a defeated foe, and today, I want to share an experience I had a few years back that reminded me of this powerful truth. On Fridays, I often spend time in prayer, and one of my favorite places to go is Rancho Capistrano. It’s a large retreat center that used to be owned by the Crystal Cathedral and now is part of Saddleback Church. It’s open to the public, and it’s just a really peaceful, beautiful, and quiet place to invoke God’s presence. There’s one spot I like especially well, and it’s up at the top of a hill. It’s a bit of a hike, and you go past the church and wind up the mountain, and when you get to the

July 6, 2021 No Comments

“You will become pregnant and have a son whose head is never to be touched by a razor because the boy is to be a Nazirite, dedicated to God from the womb. He will take the lead in delivering Israel from the hands of the Philistines.” – Judges 13:5 When we look at those in the Bible who adhered to the ancient Nazarite vow, there’s perhaps none as famous as Samson. This Herculean man of enormous physical strength was consecrated for the work of God when he was born, and from the time he was young, it was “drilled” into his mind that he was not to touch any dead thing, to drink any wine, or to cut his hair. While he understood that he was a warrior set apart to save the Israelites from the Philistines, he was fascinated by the culture of his enemies and found himself constantly

December 4, 2020 No Comments

Set Apart

What It Means To Be Holy

The Reward in Righteousness

The Anointing of Power

The Call is Not to Comfort

He Has Anointed YOU!

Protection in God’s Presence

Set Apart

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