Auckland, New Zealand

January 1, 1973 Genesis 1,2, Luke 1

God was very pleased with His creation, so it must have been something else! One thing that stands out to me here is the position of man; we are made in God’s image (Gen. 1:26,27). He loves us so much and honored us so much to make us like Him.

Probably because of my age and current desires, Genesis 2 excites me—that God has a “helper” suitable for me (v. 18) picked out to give my life to. I love these verses: “For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother and shall cleave to his wife and they shall become one flesh.” “And the man and the woman were both naked and not ashamed” (Gen. 2:24,25).

They were not ashamed. Godly marriage is beautiful. I can’t help but think of C.

Here in Luke, Luke is vividly setting the scene for the birth of Christ. He tells the story of Zacharias and Elizabeth and their promised son, John, and then Gabriel the angel comes to Mary to tell of Jesus. “Nothing is impossible with God” (Luke 1:37).

January 2, 1973 Genesis 3-5, Luke 2

Sin’s first fruit is embarrassment or “nakedness” (Genesis 3:7). Cain built the first city on earth, a product of rebellion (Genesis 4:17). Enoch must have been a heck of a guy. “Enoch walked with God” (Gen. 5:22-24).

*May I be like Enoch! Walk daily with God and He will take me to be with Him.

Jesus was a perfect child as well as a Perfect Man. Though He was God Himself, he obeyed his parents and “continued in subjection to them” (Luke 2:51). 

And Jesus was a learned: Verse for the day: “And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and men” (Luke 2:52). 

*We as Christians should not make worldly enemies either but be examples of faith working through love” (Galatians 5:6).

January 3, 1973 Genesis 6-8, Luke 3

It grieves God to see sin and to have his creation turn from Him—It hurts Him. He is so personal a God (Genesis 6:5,6). These great men of God followed Him minute by minute. “If we live by the Spirit, let us walk by the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25).

The Story of the Flood – The Holy Remnant.

Luke 3 – John the Baptist came preaching a “baptism of repentance for sins” (Luke 3:3). Jesus Himself was baptized by John when He was about 30. Luke traces Jesus’ ancestry all the way back to Adam (through Shem, Judah, David etc. – Luke 3:23-38).

Walk with God — Stop running or looking ahead – walk with Him.

January 4, 1973 Genesis 9-11, Luke 4

Genesis 9:13 – The rainbow is a sign between God and man that God will never again destroy the earth by water. Genesis 11:7-9 – Out of pride men built the tower of Babel, so God came and destroyed it and confused their tongues and scattered them.

Abram enters the scene with Sarai his wife—6000 years have passed [Adam 8000? Abraham – 2000 B.C.?]

After Jesus baptism and filling of the Holy Spirit, Satan comes to tempt Him. *Jesus used the Word of God to keep Satan away—He quoted Scripture!! This is what we should do.

*Memory verse: Luke 4:18,19 – The Message, MY Message. Jesus begins his ministry healing the sick and casting out demons in the power of the Holy Spirit.

January 5, 1973 Genesis 12-14, Luke 5

*Genesis 12:1-3 – God’s blessing to Abraham is a call to discipleship and a glimpse of Jesus. For some reason these verses kind of inspire me today.

Abraham is like everybody else – He messes up – and did it royally in Egypt. “No one is righteous, not one…”

It would have been neat to have been Peter when the Lord introduced Himself by going into the boat and then making a gigantic catch (Luke 5:1-9). “And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him” (Luke 5:11).

Jesus slipped away alone to pray (Luke 5:16.

Luke 5:35 – Here Jesus says that it is good for us to fast since He is away from us.

+ I always thought it was being “religious” to fast—but I see now that it is very worthwhile and meaningful.

January 6, 1973 Genesis 15-17, Luke 6

Genesis 15:6 – The he believed in the Lord and He reckoned it to him as righteousness. 

*Justification by faith – I really like this chapter—seems so personal and hopeful.

Genesis 16:13 – And “angel of the Lord” speaks to Hagar, saying that He will multiply her descendants and she calls him God. This must have been Jesus.

Chapter 17 – The Covenant of Circumcision. The covenant says that Abraham shall be the father of a “multitude of nations (v. 5) and that this covenant is an everlasting one. This shows that the Jewish people are not an exclusive people today, as the promise said (and before in chapter 12) that the whole world will be blessed. That’s us!

Luke 6:12 – Before choosing his disciples, Jesu spent a whole night in prayer. When I have big decisions to make, I should do the same.

Luke 6:38 – “Give and it shall be given unto you.” Luke 6:46 – “Any why do you call me Lord and do not do what I say?” 

+ I am guilty of this. Jesus, I want you to be my Lord.

January 7, 1972 Gen. 18,19, Ps. 3, Luke 7

For today: Genesis 18:14 – “Is anything too difficult for the Lord?” 

God is very merciful and just. He would spare both the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah for ten righteous people. 

*Sexual sin and perversity are the obvious, shabbiest by-product of sin. The people of Sodom and Gomorrah were judged because of it, and Lot’s daughters lay with their dad after making him drunk.

Psalm 3 – Lord, be a shield to me against the lusts, especially sexual lusts of this world. Yesterday on the beach was agony—temptation is my enemy.

Luke 7 – Jesus begins to show that He is God. First, He heals the centurion’s slave because of his great faith, and then raises the boy from Nain from the dead. And then the beautiful story of the woman who cleans Jesus’ feet with her tears and anoints them with oil (perfume). Jesus said to her, “Your faith has saved you” (Luke 7:50). Verse 47?

January 8, 1973 Genesis 20-22, Luke 8

Genesis 20:17 – Abraham was a man of prayer.

The child of promise is born–Isaac. Genesis 22 is the great chapter on Abraham’s faith in God in being willing to offer up his “promised child” at God’s command.

*Because of Abraham’s FAITH and OBEDIENCE, God promised that all the nations of the earth world be blessed.

Luke 8:1-5 – The parable of the sower—this seems to indicate that a person can lose their salvation (Luke 8:13) with verse 15 being the Christian—one who keeps the faith with diligence.

Jesus casts demons out and a woman is healed by touching his coat. Then he raises a second person from the dead—Jairus’ daughter. Jesu had so much power! And we can have the same.

January 9, 1973 Genesis 23-24, Luke 9

*When I get back to Auckland I’m going to start using memory cards.

Sarah dies, and Abraham buys a burial site. Genesis 24 – the story of the choosing of Isaac’s wife, Rebekah.

Genesis 24:14 – The servant gives the Lord some stipulations and he meets them. I can do the same.

This is a beautiful allegory of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Luke 9:23 – “If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.”  Discipleship – Jesus calls us to be men! To go out and proclaim the gospel not looking back and making excuses. Luke 9:56-62.

+ Luke 9 – Discipleship – my word for the day.

January 10, 1973 Gen. 25-26, Ps. 6, Luke 10

Abraham died having been satisfied with life. I believe God wants all of us to be satisfied in our work here.

The birth of Esau and Jacob—symbolic. A little of the wanderings of Isaac. God was blessing him—as he followed God.

Psalm 6 is kind of how I feel about C. “Every night I make my bed swim.” + Psalm 6:9 – “The Lord has heard my supplication–the Lord receives my prayer.

Luke 10:2 – Matt. 9:38 – Jesus sent his “seventy” disciples out in two’s—door-to-door evangelism. They had great power—But Jesus told them not to rejoice in their gifts, but in their salvation (Luke 10:20).

Jesus was happy! (Luke 10:21). We should be too.

January 11, 1973 Gen. 27-28, Ps. 4, Luke 11

Gen. 27 – Jacob steals Esau’s blessing. God’s sovereignty.

*Gen. 28:20-22 – Jacob’s vow to God after meeting him in a dream at Bethel. I have made a similar vow to God on this trip. When I go home, I’m going to sell all I have which cannot be used for God’s glory and give the money away for His work.

Psalm 4:4 – “Meditate in your heart upon your bed and be still.”

Luke 11:1-13 – Lessons in prayer. Prayer is personal, persistent and powerful.

Jesus strongly condemned the religious leaders of His day. “Woe to you” was his theme. Jesus hated religious hypocrisy worse than anything. Reminds me of Hosea 6:6 – “I don’t want your sacrifices. I want your love. I don’t want your offerings. I want you to know Me.”

January 12, 1973 Genesis 29-30, Luke 12

Talk about love! Jacob was willing to work for Rachel for 7 years (Gen. 29:18-20). Jacob is tricked and marries Leah and then works seven more years for Rachel. Then he starts to have his sons by four wives (Leah, Rachel, Bilhah, and Zilpah).

Luke 12 – Jesus wants us to publicly confess Him (Luke 12:8). 

Puzzling verse? Luke 12:10 – “And everyone who will speak a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him. But he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him.”

Here is the parallel of Matthew 6 on discipleship. Praise the Lord! I was worrying about finances and a job yesterday. I have vowed to God to sell all my things at home which could not be used for His glory, and here are the verses!! (Luke 12:33) – MEMORIZE! We must live every day as if Jesus were coming (Luke 12:40).

January 13, 1973 Genesis 31-33, Luke 13

After leaving Laban’s household rather mischievously, Jacob wrestles with a “man” (Gen. 32:24) and then receives a blessing and name change after his hip is dislocated. Now he is Israel (“one who strives with God) – Gen. 32:28.

Jacob meets Esau, and all is well. He arrives in the Promised Land.

Luke 13:6-9. Parable of the fig tree. Reminds me of Hosea—God is so patient with us.  In heaven we will see people and, I suppose, recognize them – Luke 13:28).

Jesus wants people who will repent. People who will “turn from” their pride and miserableness and have faith in Him.

*The gospel is a word of repentance (Luke 13:3,5). 

January 14, 1973 Genesis 34-36, Luke 14

There is a good principle here. Just as Jacob refused to give Dinah in marriage before the other men were circumcised, so a Christian shouldn’t marry a non-Christian. 

Jacob and his sons were anything but godly people—they did all kinds of horrible things.

+ Luke 14: 11 – “For anyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and everyone who humbles himself will be exalted.” The parable of the banquet always makes me think of church.

Jesus wants us to “calculate the cost” of following Him. He is not a fad or a passing fancy—but an eternal God who is demanding our all (Luke 14:33).  Luke 14:34 – I think Jesus is saying here that acquiring goods and possessions tends to make us more apathetic or “tasteless” in our work for Him. And I can see why. “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Luke 12:34).

January 15, 1973 Genesis 37-38, Psalm 7, Luke 15

Gen. 37 – The story of Joseph being sold into slavery in Egypt. Joseph is a “type” of Christ. There sure was a lot of immorality in the Old testament before the giving of the Law. I can really see the reason for sending it.

Luke 15 is a beautiful chapter – the three parables about the compassion and grace of God in seeing one of His creations repent and come back to Him. There is the story of the one lost sheep, the one lost coin, and the prodigal son.

Luke 15:7,10 – “I tell you that in the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous persons who need no repentance. “There is joy in the presence of God over one sinner who repents.”

Repentance – it is the message. This is the missing concept to me—how a person is “born again.”

January 16, 1973 Genesis 39-41, Luke 16

“The Lord was with him.” Joseph was really blessed. God really watched out for him. 

Joseph’s ability to interpret dreams was God’s Spirit in him (Genesis 41:38). Joseph was filled with the Spirit. Joseph’s sons: Manasseh and Ephraim . Joseph becomes second to Pharaoh in all Egypt.

Luke 16:13 – “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other or else he will hold to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and Mammon.”

The parable of the rich man and Lazarus. A lot of neat things: 1) The great chasm between heaven and hell, 2) The awfulness of hell, 3) The Word of God is man’s warning and salvation, 4) If men don’t listen to it, no sign will convince them.

January 17, 1973 Genesis 42-43, Ps. 5, Luke 17

Joseph’s story continues. (Interesting, when they take Benjamin to Egypt, Judah protects him – symbolic?) Southern kingdom = Judah and Benjamin. Joseph was a very emotional person—wept over seeing his brother. 

*A type of the Lord’s Supper? Joseph and his brothers eat together.

Memorize: Psalm 5:2,3. This morning I “ordered my prayer” about going to Basic Youth, and now I am watching. Great psalm.

Luke 17 – It is faith that makes us well physically and spiritually. Jesus heals the ten lepers here. Jesus talks about his second coming. There are allusions to the Rapture (vs. 34, 35). Noah was a “type” of the second coming and so was the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Luke 17:26-32).

Interesting verse: Luke 17:32 – “Remember Lot’s wife.”

January 18, 1973 Gen. 44-46, Luke 18

Gen. 44:7-9 – Joseph attributes his childhood capture and now lofty position to God. God orders our lives. Life is not chance. 

God speaks to Jacob—he is to go to Egypt. There is some prophecy here. God says, “I will surely bring you up again.” This suggests the exodus later to come and be fulfilled in Christ. *Genesis 46:15) Jacob had 33 daughters! The flight to Egypt.

Luke 18:1-8 – Beautiful passage on prayer. God wants us to be persistent (Luke 11, Matthew 6, 7). Luke 18:17 – Verse they [Lutherans] use to justify infant baptism.

The story of the rich young ruler—bummed out because he wasn’t willing to be a disciple. Luke 18:30 – There are rewards for discipleship.

Jesus begins to head to his death. His disciples don’t understand. Do I understand today about his second coming?

January 19, 1973 Gen. 47-48, Psalm 10, Luke 19

I’m noticing “types” a lot more now. Here in Gen. 47, Joseph is a “type” of the Holy Spirit buying all the people’s things for Pharaoh (Jesus). They are becoming slaves willingly (Genesis 47:25) as we should to Christ. Gen. 48:15,16 – an allusion to the Triune God.

Israel blesses Ephraim and Manasseh, Joseph’s sons—and typically gives the greater blessing to the younger son, Ephraim.

*Psalm 10:4 

*The story of Zacchaeus – Luke 19:1-10. Parable: This thought has been bothering me lately and this parable (Luke 19:11-27) is exactly it. If I don’t use the faith and vision that God has given me, He will take it away. * Luke 19:26. I must use what He has entrusted to me for His glory.

Jesus triumphal entry into Jerusalem on a colt. He is saddened by what He sees and throws the money changers out of the Temple.

January 20, 1973 Gen. 49-50, Ps. 8, Luke 20

The blessings of Jacob (Israel). Genesis 49:10 – Jesus is foreseen in the line of Judah.

Genesis 50:20 – “And as for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about the present result and to preserve many people alive.” (Shades of Romans 8:28). 

+ [Good verse for my dad – I thought of him]

The Beginning ends with the death of Joseph.

Psalm 8 – one of my favorites. “What is man that Thou dost take thought of him?” (vs.4). “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Thy name in all the earth” (v. 1 and v. 9).

Luke 20 – There will be no marriage in heaven (Luke 20:35,36). The religious leaders try to trap Jesus in this chapter and can’t do it.

*Memorize 1 Corinthians 10:31

January 21, 1973 Exodus 1-2, Ps. 88, Luke 21

The Hebrews become enslaved in Egypt and God remembers his promise to their forefathers. The scene is set for God’s great deliverance through Moses.

Psalm 88 is very morbid—makes it very real. Verse 10 hints of a resurrection from the dead.

Luke 21 – God really made me think as I read this chapter which is a prophecy of the end times mainly and the coming of Christ. I believe that I am going to be privileged to suffer for Christ—for His Name (Luke 21:12, 16-17). But God wants me to stand firm and testify for Him and says, “by your perseverance you will win your souls” (Luke 21:19).

Jesus tells us not to prepare our testimonies before our enemies, but that He will give us infallible inspiration as we speak (Luke 21:14,15).

The end is coming. To sum up: “But keep on the alert at all times praying in order that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place and to stand before the Son of Man” (Luke 21:36). I think this “end” is only a matter of years away. *Anyway, I’m going to be ready.

January 22, 1973 Exodus 3-5, Luke 22

Moses meets “the angel of the Lord,” Jesus, in the burning bush and He tells Moses of his upcoming deliverance. His Name? “I am who I am” (Exodus 3:14—se John 8:58).

Moses gives a typical human excuse when God tells him what he must do. (Exodus 4:10-12). Moses was human! But God made him strong.

Wow, we think BELIEF is a N.T. exclusive, but it has always been God’s means of justification (Ex. 4:31). 

+ “So. the people believed; and when they heard that the Lord was concerned about the sons of Israel and that He had seen their affliction, then they bowed low and worshipped.”

Moses goes to Pharaoh and he makes it tougher in the Israelites. 

Luke 22 – The Last Supper and Jesus’ Betrayal. The twelve disciples of Jesus (except Judas) will reign somehow in heaven (Luke 22:30).

*Luke 22:32, and 32 are neat!! Jesus prayed for Peter, for his faith. And He is praying for me now! 

And then another symbolic passage on prayer—Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22:39-44). Like Master like servant. Jesus is then betrayed and denied. It is really ugly what they did to him.

*KNEEL IN PRAYER

January 23, 1973 Exodus 6-8, Luke 23

God hardened Pharaoh’s heart, so He could show his awesome power to the people of Egypt (Ex. 7:3). Evil powers are awesome too! Pharaoh’s magicians could do work with magic in much the same way as Aaron did.

*I’m having a hard time getting into the Word today. Maybe it’s because I missed my unusual quiet time this morning because of the camp here (Arapahue).

+ Lord, I need strength and inspiration!

Luke 23 – Pilate had a horrible conscience ion sentencing our Lord to death. You can sense the spiritual battle.

What a beautiful thing! Luke 23:43: “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with me in paradise.” *Back to paradise with Jesus. Back to the Garden—Heaven. 

Jesus TRIUMPHS in agony on the cross, splitting the veil “in two” in the Temple, giving man direct access to God via his blood.

A lot of people watched the whole thing including a lot of women, disciples and followers. Joseph of Arimathea requests the body and puts it int eh tomb (Luke 23:50-53).

January 24, 1973 Exodus 9-11, Luke 24

It’s early for a quiet time! 5:15 am. It’s not a “quiet time” in Egypt—God is really putting on a display of power. We’re leading up to the Passover.

Luke 24:6 – “He is not here but He has risen.” This is the gospel!

On the road to Emmaus. How privileged were Cleopas and his friend to hear Jesus explain His coming from Scripture (Luke 24:27). And, again with his disciples “He opened their minds to understand the scriptures.” 

The Message. Luke 24:46,47 – “Thus it is written that the Christ should suffer and rise from the dead the third day and that repentance for forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.”

Luke 24:48 – You are witnesses of these things.

I am a witness! I must tell the Good News—beginning at this camp and then Port Orchard.

*[Because of this strenuous camp, I missed my time yesterday, and so I’ll do two-in-one today—in this beautiful pine forest setting.]

January 25-26, 1973 Ex. 12-16, Ps. 21, Acts 1,2

Ex. 12:1-14 – God is very particular about the details of His Passover—so many “types if Christ.” (Lamb, unblemished, killed at twilight etc.)

Exodus 12:29? The Lord struck at midnight. Is that a sign?

+The children of Israel leave Egypt. The Exodus. God leads them in a cloud by day and fire by night (Ex. 13:21).

Ex. 14: The miracle of the parting of the Red Sea. Verse 15 seemed to stand out to me: “Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Why are you crying out to me? Tell the sons of Israel to go forward.’” 

*God wants us to step out in faith.

Chapter 15 is a beautiful song of praise to the Lord. After the Lord does mighty things, He deserves our praise.

+ People sure forget fast! After all God had done, they grumbled about food (Ex. 16:3). Manna from heaven—says a lot to me about the importance of feeding on God’s Word “morning by morning, every man, as much as he should eat” (Ex. 16:21).

Acts. A thought just struck me. The “40 days” mentioned in 1:3—Now I’m confused.

Acts 1:14 & Luke 24:53 – before the “baptism of the Spirit” the disciples were praising God and were “of one mind in prayer.” The gift of tongues brought forth at Pentecost were for preaching purposes to the many visitors from foreign lands that were in Jerusalem.

I was looking for a special word on the Holy Spirit, and really didn’t get it. I just can’t see here how the Pentecostal Church separates belief and salvation from the gift of the Spirit (Acts 2:38).

*Lord, give me peace about my best friend…

Arapahue, New Zealand

January 27, 1973 Ex. 17-20 (the Law), Acts 3

Arapahue Bush Camp

I think the Lord likes to be tested sometimes to show his power and strengthening the faith of his people. Exodus 19:5,6 – God wants our allegiance. The promise He gives here to Israel is the same one given in 1 Peter 2. We are God’s people, “a kingdom of priests, a holy nation.”

+ Obedience again. God wants obedience. Funny how this is the theme at Valley Road this year (Ex. 20:6).

Exodus 20 – The 10 commands of God, summed up by Jesus in Matthew 22:37-40. Why the law? Galatians 3:19. To restrain sin.

Acts 3:6 – There’s power in the Name of Jesus. Peter heals a man, and then he tells the crowd that it was faith that worked the miracle. He preaches a beautiful to-the-point sermon.

Acts 3:19 – “Repent therefore and return that your sins may be wiped away in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord. Times of refreshing. How? Through REPENTANCE. It is so crucial.

January 28, 1973 Exodus 21-22, Ps. 12, Acts 4

Boy, the strictness, severity and justice of God’s law given here is staggering (Exodus 21). [life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth – Ex. 21:15] Is this the same God of love? This seems to perfect justice with no compassion.

But here—look at Exodus 22:27 – God says, “for I am gracious” about hearing a prayer from this man. God IS love, but He gave Israel a perfect law to show their sin. His Law is very practical.

*Praise God that I live under the law of love and life in the Spirit.

Acts 4 – Jesus gives the gospel to the Jewish religious leaders (v. 11). Christ, “the rejected cornerstone.” Is the same scripture he uses in his letter, 1 Peter 2:7. Acts 4:12 – There is no other name other than Jesus by which anyone can be saved. These religious leaders couldn’t reply to Peter—being filled with the Holy Spirit.

Reminds me of Bruce Smith before the Church of Christ leaders before leaving—quiet confidence in the Spirit.

Acts 4:24-31 – *The believers praised God “with one accord” and asked for confidence to speak the word, and God filled them with the Holy Spirit, and they received it. “And with great power the apostles were giving witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 4:33).

*The Spirit gives POWER to our life. I noticed here too that all these apostles have already been “baptized” in the Spirit at Pentecost, but here it says they were all filled again.

Power from God’s Spirit is a constant renewal in a Christian’s life. Earnest prayer for a specific task here in Acts brought God’s equipment to them, the filling of His Spirit. They had not asked for great gifts and signs, but “confidence to speak the word (v. 29). And they were given great power.

+ I am convinced now that a church’s foundation must be PRAYER and the requests—ability to spread the gospel. Then the Holy Spirit begins to work.

January 29, 1972 Ex. 23-24, Ps. 14, Acts 5

God’s law here was the same one Jesus came proclaiming. Ex. 23:5 is a commandment having to do with loving those who hate you, God’s Law is unchanging.

*Ex. 23:12 – Sunday should be a day of refreshment and rest from work. I think I’ve seen that more and more here, especially at Valley Road.

Three Jewish Feasts: Unleavened Bread, Harvest, and Ingathering (Ex. 23:15,16). At the end of the chapter God tells how beautifully He will provide for His people in coming into the land He promised them. (Why didn’t they believe Him?!)

Moses goes up to Sinai to receive God’s Law (Ch.24). What a picture of God’s glory and holiness!

Ps. 14 – We are all sinners. “The fool has said in his heart, there is no God” (Psalm 14:1).

Acts 5:29 – “We must obey God rather than men.” The disciples were beaten and rejoiced in suffering and continued to speak out boldly for Christ. They preached “Jesus as the Christ” (Acts 5:42).

January 30, 1973 Ex. 25-27, Acts 6

Ex. 25:2 – Good principles of giving, not because we must, but what we are “moved” to give.

The Tabernacle. “And let them construct a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell among them” (Ex. 25:8). Three whole chapters are devoted to the exact, explicit description of the tabernacle, and all that is in it. 

*Someday I may understand how the tabernacle, in detail, is God’s plan of salvation, but right now I don’t. Right now, though, it hit me very clearly how back then God was separated from His people by the veil, between the holy place and holy of holies, because of sin.  But now through the blood of Jesus, the veil has been “torn in two” and we have direct access to God through Him. Praise His Name!!!!!!!

Acts 6 – Speaking God’s Word requires much prayer, like the disciples saw. * (Acts 6:4). I don’t pray enough for the speaking I do. 

Disciples choose seven men to look after the “administrative” affairs of the growing fellowship. They prayed over them and laid on hands.

+ This verse has been popping into my mind: “For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for I am under compulsion, for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel. (1 Cor. 9:16).

January 31, 1973 Ex. 28, 29, Acts 7

Chapter 28, God calls Aaron and his sons to be the “priestly class” of the Jewish people. Their clothing is very symbolic. Praise the Lord that we are all members of the holy priesthood today (1 Peter 2:5).

Look at this comparison—To ordain Aaron he had to be washed with water (*baptism), put on new clothes (clothe ourselves with Christ), be anointed with oil (the filling of the Holy Spirit) and have a blood sacrifice sprinkled on him (the blood of Jesus – 1 Peter 1:2). That’s so  neat!

Ex. 29:42-46 – Through the priest and the tabernacle ritual, God would meet with His people. I’m glad I can just talk to Him today.

Acts 7 – Stephen, “full of the Spirit,” gives a beautiful recount of the history of the Jewish people, ending with how they killed the prophets and then Jesu as well. He said in verse 51 that they are always “resisting the Holy Spirit.”

*I did this for quite a while.

Then before he was stoned, Stephen saw right into heaven by the Spirit, and Jesus at the Right Hand of God, and as he died, he asked the Lord Jesus to receive his spirit. 

+ When we did, our spirits must go directly to heaven (Acts 7:59).

Standing by the crowd was a man named Saul watching the whole thing. My how God used this event to transform history. I can just imagine what was going on in Saul’s head.