My daughter called me up this week to tell me about a deeply moving film she had just watched. It was “The Passion of Christ.” She shared with me how both her and her boyfriend had been moved to tears. Watching what Yeshua had to bear as the sacrificial Lamb for our sins was hard to watch, but at the same time extremely convicting, which makes me ask, “When was the last time, the Spirit of the Holy One moved you to tears?
So often, we believe our viewpoint is correct. Even the Apostles of Yeshua struggled in this area. Our lives are many times affected by the customs and beliefs we grow up with. In this week’s study, we see the Apostle Peter being taught to reconsider his opinions. For, even after all he saw with Yeshua, he still had issues understanding clean and unclean, specifically when it came to who he could eat with.
In the Book of Acts chapter 10, we see Peter coming to terms with the power of the Holy Spirit when he sees a group of Gentiles speaking in the Spirit and his heart is moved.
“Opening his mouth, Peter said: “I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, 35 but in every nation the one who fears Him and does what is right is acceptable to Him.” Acts 10:34-35
The ability for the heart to be changed by the Spirit is not just a New Testament notion. King David came to this realization after sinning greatly against his people and Yahweh by stealing another man’s wife. The customary command was to offer a fleshly sacrifice, but He wrote:
“For You don’t delight in sacrifice, or else I would give it. You have no pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” Ps. 51:16-17
John the Baptist was highly concerned about the hearts of the Jewish leadership as they came to the river for baptism. Though I believe their initial intentions were not centered around a heart change. In their minds, a baptism may have affirmed their salvation strictly due to their position and genetic lines. Sensing this, the Baptist calls them out:
7 But when he (John the Baptist) saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore produce fruit consistent with repentance;9 and do not assume that you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father’; for I tell you that God is able, from these stones, to raise up children for Abraham. 10 And the axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore, every tree that does not bear good fruit is being cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 “As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. Matt 3:11-17
Note how John calls them out for their arrogance and their need to repent for their lack of “fruit.” He also directs them to the insignificance of “title” when in the presence of the Holy One.
So, is it possible for us to miss out on The Spirit when we exalt custom over Spirit?
Many of us just finished the Passover/unleavened season. When celebrating did you find yourself more concerned about the tradition of the event or being open to the moving of the Spirit? Did you find yourself searching your heart when accepting the Lamb? Did you find yourself rejoicing out loud for being rescued? If Passover was just a formal get-together what did you (we) miss?
The concept of “Hebrewness” is a change of direction or a crossing over. Abraham’s heart was moved, so he left idol worship to seek truth. Many others in Scripture followed this type of truth seeking. And the pictures created throughout lead us to the Messiah. . . the Truth, the Light, the Way.
The season of Passover, Unleavened Bread and yes, even Easter is about The Lamb who died in order to impart to us life changing action. How do customs get in the way of this important time?
Well, when I grew up celebrating Easter, my thoughts were centered around finding an egg. It was fun. When I operated as a pastor and educator within an organization, the Lord’s Passover consisted of a wafer and a small one-ounce drink. It was formal. Now as a Hebrew, I have to ask, “What have I added as a custom to the Lord’s Passover.” Can you think of any?
I’m not knocking traditions. They can hold families and communities together. But, if it is a man made custom, let’s at least call it by its rightful name and not condemn others who do not follow them.
Like with Peter, David and the Pharisees we all need a change of heart. One that seeks the Lord and His ways with our entire being. Consider the sin offerings found in this week’s Leviticus chapter nine and start to apply them to Messiah as our High Priest:
1. The Priest (now Messiah) offers a Sin offering for himself and puts the blood (with his fingers) on the horns of the altar and poured out the rest of the blood on the base of the altar.
2. The Burnt offering or atonement, meant as an apology or compensation is given, with blood sprinkled around the altar.
3. The Sin offering specific to the deed committed is given for the people is put forth.
4. The grain offering representing fleshly needs are given back to Yahweh.
5. The Peace offering of a renewed covenant of relationship is shared.
6. The people are blessed.
Why were the priests Nadab and Abihu struck down by the Lord? I think we can find the answers in the following verse:
He (the priest) shall take a firepan full of coals of fire from upon the altar before the Lord and two handfuls of finely ground sweet incense, and bring it inside the veil.” Lev. 16: 12
When we read about Nadab and Abihu in Leviticus 10, we see that they “put fire in their pan.” It does not say they put “fire from the altar of sacrifice” in their pans. Instead, they brought “strange fire” their own fire. Why did they do this? I believe it was done out of recklessness due to drinking the wrong type of liquid. For Yahweh gives another command to Moses just after the incident.
“Drink no wine nor strong drink, you, nor your sons with you, when you go into the tent of meeting, that you don’t die. It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations.” Lev. 10:8-9
I know this is a hard one to swallow, but do we get careless when we come before the Lord today? Do we forget the importance of Yeshua’s sacrifice? Do we bring a strange fire? Our own coals do not offer a sweet aroma. Let’s begin the journey by asking for a heart change over our own beliefs so we are not drunken fools coming carelessly before Him.
“Moreover, the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the hearts of your descendants, to love the LORD your God with all your heart and all your soul, so that you may live. Deut. 30:6
Be blessed this Sabbath,
Rollyn