The world is offended.  Seriously, some days I feel like everyone is offended over any given number of offenses.  Small offenses or bigger ones, it really doesn't matter.  All that seems to matter is everyone's opinions and everyone is right.  Everyone suddenly becomes an expert over any given number of topics and if anyone doesn't agree with them, then "anyone" is wrong.  But I have a confession to make.  I'm easily offended.  I'm not so much offended over differing opinions or views.  That's just life.  Everyone is unique with differing God-given skills and talents.  That's the way God created us.  I'm not offended over the uniqueness that God created in all of us.  I'm easily offended when someone criticizes ME or something I've said or done.  It has been often said that I can't take a joke.  Well, I can as long as the said joke doesn't criticize a person's character.  In my personal case, I'm easily offended when someone brings to my attention that I have acted in error or performed a task that doesn't measure up to my criticizer's standards.  I carry my heart on my sleeve.  I don't like criticism even if it is intended as constructive criticism.  This is a serious problem for me because this character flaw (one of many) causes me to react negatively instead of responding positively.  Sometimes my reactions cause rifts in my relationships with others, especially those closest to me who always endure the "privilege" of hearing my said reactions.

What does the Bible say about being easily offended.

As a result of my very recent reaction to the criticism of something I did, I did something I should have done a long time ago.  I went to God's Word to explore what the Bible says about being easily offended.  I know what God says about being easily offended in general, but I wanted a list of Bible verses to turn to when I become easily offended in the future.  It will happen again and "truth be told," it will happen to you too.  No one really likes to hear someone else bring to our attention a character flaw (we all have them) or criticize something we have said or done.  

I've been working on a prayer strategy like I learned about in the movie, War Room.  I will soon have a war room (part of a closet) in my home.  I also bought an ammo box that will become my battle box.  My prayer requests will be attached to my closet wall much like Clara's closet in War Room.  My battle box will be geared more toward my growth in my relationship with Jesus.  I've decided that these verses about being easily offended will be placed in my battle box.  Whenever I feel offended, I'll go to my battle box.  I'll go to war against Satan and his intention to destroy my relationship with my Lord and with the people around me.  

 Now, let's get to those verses.

What does the Bible say about being easily offended?

Do not take to heart all the things that people say, lest you hear your servant cursing you. Your heart knows that many times you yourself have cursed others. - Ecclesiastes 7:21-22                               (Wow, this one stepped on my toes.  How often have I been critical of others?  Probably more than I realize.)

And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil. - 2 Timothy 2:24

The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent. - Exodus 14:14

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The vexation of a fool is known at once, but the prudent ignores an insult. - Proverbs - 22:16

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. - 1 Peter 5:8

Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will despise the good sense of your words. - Proverbs 23:9 (Let's not be fools and despise the wise words of others.) 

A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back. - Proverbs 29:11

For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. - 1 John 2:16

For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. - Hebrews 12:11

But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. - 1 Corinthians 8:9

You shall be hidden from the lash of the tongue, and shall not fear destruction when it comes. - Job 5:21

A stone is heavy, and sand is weighty, but a fool's provocation is heavier than both. Wrath is cruel, anger is overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy? Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy. - Proverbs 27:3-6

Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense. - Proverbs 19:11

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger. - James 1:19

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. - James 1:12

A brother offended is more unyielding than a strong city, and quarreling is like the bars of a castle. - Proverbs 18:19

Now let's take this one step further.  When we are criticized by others, whether it was meant to be harmful or not, we have to learn to forgive others when they have committed an offense against us.  The said offense might have been words alone or perhaps the hurtful words were attached to a hurtful action.  Either way, forgiveness is a vital part of our spiritual growth.  Forgiveness is sometimes hard for me (another character flaw -  I have many), but the Bible has a lot to say about forgiveness.  Come back soon for a list of Bible verses about the topic of forgiveness.  In the meantime, consider checking out the following resources about forgiveness.

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What does the Bible say about being easily offended?

A God Centered Worldview Based on the Scriptures

A God centered worldview is centered in the person of Jesus Christ and through the scriptures.

The following are my Bible study notes based on my pastor's sermon titled A God Centered Worldview.  You are invited to watch, listen, and worship with us here.

The Scripture. | August 25, 2019 | Pastor Jeff Crook from Christ Place Church on Vimeo.

A God Centered Worldview

We must be confident in the scriptures for our worldview to be right.  Scripture is self authenticating by history, geography, and the spiritual fruit in life when scriptural truths are applied.

Scripture is self testifying.

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness. - 2 Timothy 3:16

The scriptures are breathed out by God.

So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. - 2 Peter 1:19-21

  The Scripture is God's Word to us.  It must meet certain criteria.  It must be:

*divinely inspired.
*infallible.
*authoritative.
*truthful.
*foundational to right belief.

Did Jesus believe all Scripture was divinely inspired?  Jesus quoted scripture Matthew 22.

He said to them, “Then how does David in the Spirit call Him ‘Lord,’ saying, 

‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at My right hand,
Until I put Your enemies beneath Your feet”’? - Matthew 22:43-44

Did Jesus believe Scripture was infallible?

Jesus answered them, “Has it not been written in your Law, ‘I said, you are gods’? - John 10:34

Did Jesus believe Scripture was authoritative?

But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’” - Matthew 4:4

Jesus said to him, “On the other hand, it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” - Matthew 4:7

Then Jesus said to him, “Go, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’” - Matthew 4:10

Did Jesus believe Scripture was truthful?

Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. - John 17:17

Did Jesus believe Scripture was foundational? 

And you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life. - John 5:40

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. - John 14:26

But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you.  All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you. - John 16:13-15

Why do we have the Holy Spirit?  The Holy Spirit:

*reminds us of the things God tells us.
*teaches us.
*tells us what is yet to come.

When we can see how the Old Testament and the New Testament compliment each other, we see the credibility of Scripture and we begin to see the world through the Master's view.

For our worldview to be right, we must stay in Scripture. 

Don't let a personal situation be the foundation for your worldview.  For example, don't let the fact that you have a homosexual loved one be the foundation for what you believe about homosexuality.  Our worldview must be rooted and grounded in the truth of Scripture, not our personal circumstances.

We must not compromise.

What we are exposed to affects our worldview.  As a people, we are addicted to the media.  We tend to blame young teens for spending too much time on their electronic devices.  However, people between the ages of 25-60 are the most frequent checkers of media devices. 

Our pastor notes John Piper's 6 Reasons We Check Media More Than Scripture:

1.  Novel candy.  We love to see what's new.
2.  Ego candy.  We like to know what people are saying about us (likes, shares, etc.)
3.  Entertainment.  We like cute quotes, etc.
4.  Boredom.
5.  Responsibility avoidance.  Spending more time on our phones means we spend less time in our real world circumstances.
6.  Hardship avoidance.

We get into mega-trouble when we seek to avoid our responsibilities and hardships.  This is one reason so many believers are caving.

People who are not reading Scripture are reading YOU.

Be confident in your Bible.



Regarding Scripture, be careful saying it if you are not staying in it.

Read all posts in this View-master Series here.

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 The following are my notes taken during my pastor's sermon.

Our mothers influence us all our lives.  Exodus 2:1-10 tells us the characteristics of an influential mother.

The Birth of Moses

Now a man from the house of Levi went and married a daughter of Levi. The woman conceived and bore a son; and when she saw that he was beautiful, she hid him for three months.  But when she could hide him no longer, she got him a wicker basket and covered it over with tar and pitch. Then she put the child into it and set it among the reeds by the bank of the Nile.  His sister stood at a distance to find out what would happen to him.

The daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the Nile, with her maidens walking alongside the Nile; and she saw the basket among the reeds and sent her maid, and she brought it to her.  When she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the boy was crying. And she had pity on him and said, “This is one of the Hebrews’ children.”  Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and call a nurse for you from the Hebrew women that she may nurse the child for you?”  Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Go ahead.” So the girl went and called the child’s mother.  Then Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this child away and nurse him for me and I will give you your wages.” So the woman took the child and nursed him.  The child grew, and she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter and he became her son. And she named him Moses, and said, “Because I drew him out of the water.” - Exodus 2:1-10

 Characteristics of an Influential Mother

An influential mother will be:

1.  Courageously Protective

2.  Ingeniously Creative

But when she could hide him no longer, she got him a wicker basket and covered it over with tar and pitch. Then she put the child into it and set it among the reeds by the bank of the Nile. - Exodus 2:3

3.  Strategically Effective  

His sister stood at a distance to find out what would happen to him. - Exodus 2:4

 An influential mother is hope filled, faith centered, and future focused.

Just Trust God (Faith Stories Series)

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 Scripture Passage:  Hebrews 11:29, Exodus 13 and 14

 The following are my notes taken during my pastor's sermon.

Just Trust God

By faith they passed through the Red Sea as though they were passing through dry land; and the Egyptians, when they attempted it, were drowned. - Hebrews 11:29

When you are trusting God: 

 

1.  Follow God's leading.

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. - Psalm 23:1

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. - John 14:26

God led the people through the Red Sea.  it was part of His plan.

2.  Obey God's Voice.

God's will is perfect.

God's will always has God's power, provision, and timing.  God requires obedience and faith. Obedience and faith always honors God.

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. - Romans 12:2

 3.  Believe God's promises!

Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face continually. - 1 Chronicles 16:11

Washing Hands and Feet (Study of the Tabernacle)

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 Washing Hands and Feet

In today’s lesson in A Woman’s Heart:  God’s Dwelling Place by Beth Moore, we studied the significance of washing hands and feet before entering the tabernacle.  Inside the tabernacle court, between the altar of sacrifice and the tabernacle, was a bronze basin for washing hands and feet.

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “You shall also make a laver of bronze, with its base of bronze, for washing; and you shall put it between the tent of meeting and the altar, and you shall put water in it. Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet from it; when they enter the tent of meeting, they shall wash with water, so that they will not die; or when they approach the altar to minister, by offering up in smoke a fire sacrifice to the Lord. So they shall wash their hands and their feet, so that they will not die; and it shall be a perpetual statute for them, for Aaron and his descendants throughout their generations.” – Exodus 30:17-21

 God’s demanded cleanliness upon entering the tent of meeting.  The basin was made from mirrors.  Beth suggests that the women offered the mirrors as something that represented vanity.  It was an expression of dying to self.  This contributes to a beautiful picture of true repentance.  The washing of hands and feet cleansed the body, but God is also delighted by a clean heart.

Godly repentance is always accompanied by godly sorrow . . . we must begin by asking Him to give us godly sorrow for our sin so that we can know true repentance, which guarantees forgiveness. – Beth Moore, A Woman’s Heart:  God’s Dwelling Place.

Beth Moore is a gifted Bible study teacher.  She goes into so much more detail in her Bible studies.  I recommend that you complete the entire Bible study, A Woman’s Heart:  God’s Dwelling Place.  You can get your copy here.

Read all posts in this series here.

The leader kit which includes the videos is available here.

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The Blood of the Lamb (Faith Stories Series)

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 Scripture Passage:  Hebrews 11:28, Exodus 12

 The following are my notes taken during my pastor's sermon.

By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that he who destroyed the firstborn would not touch them. - Hebrews 11:28

The Blood of the Lamb

1.  There was a new beginning.

Read Exodus 12 here.

2.  The lamb was spotless.

3.  The lamb was to be slain.

And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. - Hebrews 9:22

Knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers. - 1 Peter 1:18

For this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins. - Matthew 26:28

4.  The blood had to be applied.

Moreover, they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses in which they eat it. - Exodus 12:7

But if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.  If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. - 1 John 1:7-9

And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death. - Revelation 12:11

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In today’s Viewer Guide lesson, Beth spoke to us about God’s affectability, friendship, presence, and glory.  The lesson is based on Exodus 33.

At this point, the Israelites have reached a breaking point.  Their behavior has been less than appreciative.  In fact, they’ve been a stubborn people.  Their relationship with God, even after all He has provided them, is all but broken.  Remember, God was about to completely destroy them, but Moses changed God’s mind.

 Here are a few notes I made during today’s lesson.

God's Affectability, Friendship, Presence, and Glory 

God’s affectability:  God could have created the universe to function any way He wanted.  He chose love.

When you sign up for love, you sign up for pain.

God’s friendship:  Friends usually share secrets.  Friends share things with one another that noone else gets to know.

Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. – John 15:13-15

Jesus answered them, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted. For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him. – Matthew 13:11-12

Friends share small talk.  Two things that make one friend closer than others is secrets and small talk.

God’s Presence:  When we “stand in the gap” for others, God is with us.  He is present.

*What if “standing in the gap” not only means standing between someone who needs God and God, but also in the space between the petition and the Revelation.  Moses stood in that space when he changed God’s mind about destroying the Israelites.

God’s Glory:  Sometimes glory is painful but it is always good.

Then Moses said, “I pray You, show me Your glory!” And He said, “I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the Lord before you; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion.” But He said, “You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!”  Then the Lord said, “Behold, there is a place by Me, and you shall stand there on the rock; and it will come about, while My glory is passing by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by.  Then I will take My hand away and you shall see My back, but My face shall not be seen.” – Exodus 33:18-23

A Woman’s Heart:  God’s Dwelling Place by Beth Moore is a powerful Bible study.  To gain wisdom and knowledge from Beth’s study, I recommend you complete the entire study either on your own or in a group. 

If you would like to complete the entire Bible study, A Woman’s Heart:  God’s Dwelling Place, you can get your copy here. 

Read all posts in this series here.

If you need the leader's kit, you can get that here. 

 

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Standing in the Gap:  Waiting on God

Today’s lesson in A Woman’s Heart:  God’s Dwelling Place focuses on “standing in the gap” while waiting  on God.  Moses was on the mountain with God for forty days and forty nights.  Aaron was in charge of the children of Israel while Moses was away.  In Moses’ absence, the Israelites became impatient and stubborn.  Even though God had shown his presence to them over and over again, the Israelites still wanted to worship something they could see and touch.  They became weary while waiting on Moses to return.  They wondered if Moses would ever return.  In the absence of their leader, they asked Aaron to make them a god who could lead them.  Aaron did.

The Israelites had taken jewelry from the Egyptians before they left Egypt.  They were supposed to offer the valuables as a gift to God for the tabernacle.  Instead, Aaron instructed the Israelites to bring him the jewelry.  With the jewelry, Aaron made the Israelites a golden calf for them to worship.  God became angry with the Israelites, so much that He wanted to destroy them.  Moses, “standing in the gap” between the Israelites and God, actually talked God out of destroying the Israelites.  Moses, standing in the gap, actually changed God’s mind.

Now then let Me alone, that My anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them; and I will make of you a great nation. – Exodus 32:10

Moses:  Standing in the Gap

Then Moses entreated the Lord his God, and said, “O Lord, why does Your anger burn against Your people whom You have brought out from the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? Why should the Egyptians speak, saying, ‘With evil intent He brought them out to kill them in the mountains and to destroy them from the face of the earth’? Turn from Your burning anger and change Your mind about doing harm to Your people. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, Your servants to whom You swore by Yourself, and said to them, ‘I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heavens, and all this land of which I have spoken I will give to your descendants, and they shall inherit it forever.’”  So the Lord changed His mind about the harm which He said He would do to His people. – Exodus 32:11-14

Standing in the gap is intercessory prayer.

God values intercessory prayer.  He looks for those who are standing in the gap!  I have always known the value of intercessory prayer, but I never realized that God actually looks for intercessors!

I searched for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, so that I would not destroy it; but I found no one. – Ezekiel 22:30

It’s amazing to me to know that I have a just God who disciplines His children in order to protect us, but that He is also a loving and forgiving God who listens to those who might intercede for me and to me as I intercede for others.

To benefit from the full blessings from Beth Moore’s Bible study, A Woman’s Heart:  God’s Dwelling Place, considering completing her entire study on your own or with a group.  You can get your copy of A Woman’s Heart:  God’s Dwelling Place here.

 Read all posts in this series here.

If you need the leader's kit, you can get that here.

 

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Freewill Offerings (Bible Study by Beth Moore)

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Freewill Offerings to God:  Building the Tabernacle

We’re now in week 3 of A Woman’s Heart:  God’s Dwelling Place by Beth Moore.  Today, we studied freewill offerings.  God told Moses to tell the Israelites to bring him offerings of gold; silver; bronze; blue, purple, and scarlet material; fine linen; goat hair; ram’s skins died red; porpoise skins; acacia wood; oil for lighting; spices for anointing oil; fragrant incense; onyx stones; and setting stones.

In this lesson, we are reminded that God had given and given and given to the Israelites.  He continued to provide all their needs in spite of their grumbling and complaining.  Now, God asked the Israelites to give freely, as their hearts desired, to present a freewill offering to Him.

We learn in Exodus 36 that the Israelites responded well to God’s call to give a freewill offering.  In fact, they responded so well, that they gave above and beyond what was needed.

So Moses issued a command, and a proclamation was circulated throughout the camp, saying, “Let no man or woman any longer perform work for the contributions of the sanctuary.” Thus the people were restrained from bringing any more. For the material they had was sufficient and more than enough for all the work, to perform it. – Exodus 36:6-7

They children of Israel gave so much that Moses had to tell them to stop giving!  The purpose of the freewill offering was to collect materials to build the tabernacle.  They had more than they needed, more than enough, to complete the work.

Our freewill offering today is given in service to the Lord.  This lesson in our Bible study prompted me to think about my service.  Do I do it without complaining?  Always?  Do I serve freely, as a freewill offering, or do I serve out of a sense of obligation?  My heart’s desire is to serve freely, but sometimes we get so caught up in the busyness of doing church, that we serve out of habit or even out of a sense of obligation.  My heart’s desire is that my service to the Lord be given in freedom, a freewill offering, to further the Kingdom of Heaven.

Service under compulsion or from a sense of obligation is not a freewill offering.  The only motivation for an earnest freewill offering is the joy of giving.  Just as surely as God was building His tabernacle through the Israelites thousands of years ago, Christ is building His kingdom through us today. – Beth Moore, A Woman’s Heart:  God’s Dwelling Place 

 Read all posts in this series here.

Want to complete this study?  You'll find all the materials you need here.

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Reflecting on the Manna (Beth Moore Bible Study)

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Reflecting on the Manna:  God's Provision

As we begin week 3 of our Bible study, A Woman’s Heart:  God's Dwelling Place by Beth Moore, Beth wants us to reflect back on what we learned about God’s provision of manna in the wilderness.  We learned that God provided physical food for the children of Israel as they journeyed through the wilderness.  Today, God provides spiritual food and Jesus is our “manna from Heaven.”

So they said to Him, “What then do You do for a sign, so that we may see, and believe You? What work do You perform? Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread out of heaven to eat.’” Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world.” Then they said to Him, “Lord, always give us this bread.”

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst. – John 6:30-35

God always gives us everything we need.

If we look back at previous lesson about manna in the wilderness, we will be reminded that manna was always provided in the mornings.  It came daily.  However, for the children of Israel to be nourished by the manna, they had to go out, early, and gather it.  In the same way, we must develop a relationship with Jesus.  We must reach out to Him daily and gather all He has to offer and all  He has to offer us is sufficient for each of us according to our individual needs.

When they measured it with an omer, he who had gathered much had no excess, and he who had gathered little had no lack; every man gathered as much as he should eat. – Exodus 16:18

Until this study, I never thought of the provision of manna as an humbling process.

You shall remember all the way which the Lord your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years, that He might humble you, testing you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord. – Deuteronomy 8:2-3 

 A few notes I wrote in the margin of my workbook:

*Not only the hunger, but also the feeding with manna was part of the humbling process because humans want to be self sufficient.  Manna only comes from God.  We can’t grow it.  We have to depend on God alone for it.

*When you cease having problems common to man, you cease being effective.

To benefit from Beth Moore’s full study, consider ordering your own workbook and completing the entire study on your own or with a group.

Get your copy of A Woman’s Heart:  God’s Dwelling Place here.

You can also download video sessions here.

 Read all posts in this series here.

If you are doing the Bible study by yourself or if you wish to host the study, you'll need the leader kit which includes the DVDs.  You can get that here.

Broken Hearts, Broken Ties (Bible Study by Beth Moore)

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If you have purchased your own copy of A Woman’s Heart: God’s Dwelling Place, you know that between each week’s “homework,” there is a viewer’s guide.  Each week, when we meet with our ladies Bible study group at church, we watch a Beth Moore video.  In each video, Beth leads us through sort of an overview of the study material.  This past Wednesday night, we completed the viewer’s guide titled Broken Hearts, Broken Ties.  Beth is passionate about this particular Bible study.  Once again, she reinforces what we’ve learned about the connection between God’s Heavenly Dwelling, The Garden of Eden, and The Tabernacle.

Broken Hearts, Broken Ties

*Note:  At first I wondered why Beth titled this study “Broken Hearts, Broken Ties” but remember that this is sort of an introduction to this week’s lessons.  It will all come together during our daily Bible study lessons.  God always works his miracles through our broken hearts.  I look forward to studying how He works through broken hearts this week and how Beth will connect broken hearts and broken ties with this historical study, connecting the Garden of Eden to the building of the Tabernacle.

Who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, just as Moses was warned by God when he was about to erect the tabernacle; for, “See,” He says, “that you make all things according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain. – Hebrews 8:5

We learned that the word “serve” in Hebrew means “worship.”  When we serve God, we are performing an act of worship. 

We revisited the time when God walked in the garden with Adam and Eve.  He was present on this Earth.  His desire was and still is to walk and dwell with us here.

Read the following Bible passages and then the excerpt from this lesson.

Then the Lord God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it. – Genesis 2:15

They shall perform the duties for him and for the whole congregation before the tent of meeting, to do the service of the tabernacle. They shall also keep all the furnishings of the tent of meeting, along with the duties of the sons of Israel, to do the service of the tabernacle. – Numbers 3:7-8

But you and your sons with you shall attend to your priesthood for everything concerning the altar and inside the veil, and you are to perform service. I am giving you the priesthood as a bestowed service, but the outsider who comes near shall be put to death.”

Here’s an excerpt from this lesson in A Woman’s Heart:  God’s Dwelling Place.

 
Man’s primary commission was to work and take care of his garden home (Genesis 2:15).  Compare Numbers 3:7-8.  “Both terms occur together to describe the charge of the Levites for the tabernacle (Numbers 3:7-8, 18:7), thus again suggesting a relationship between Eden and the tabernacle.  Connect the wording back to Exodus 7:16.

You shall say to him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, sent me to you, saying, “Let My people go, that they may serve Me in the wilderness. But behold, you have not listened until now. – Exodus 7:16

He walks among us.  He walks with me.

The following quote from Beth shows us how to apply the history we’re studying to our current lives, tot he conditions of our hearts.

You may not be in the same place, but I am still your same God. – Beth Moore

Genesis 3:21 tells us that when Adam and Eve disobeyed God and realized they were naked, God made coverings for them.  God made a covering for our sin too.  His name is Jesus.

How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered! – Psalm 32:1

The enemy says, “Cover up!” But God says, “I’ve got you covered.”

We are here because He was determined to have us here.  I am here because HE was determined to have me here.  YOU are here because HE was determined to have you here.

Your lovingkindness, O Lord, extends to the heavens, Your faithfulness reaches to the skies. Your righteousness is like the mountains of God; Your judgments are like a great deep. O Lord, You preserve man and beast. How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! And the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings. They drink their fill of the abundance of Your house; And You give them to drink of the river of Your delights. – Psalm 36:5-8

Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool. Where then is a house you could build for Me? And where is a place that I may rest? – Isaiah 66:1

Beth reminds us, “Of all the planets in the universe, ours is under His feet.”

Still need your own copy of A Woman’s Heart:  God’s Dwelling Place?  You need your own copy to go through the complete study and soak in all the wisdom God offers through Beth Moore’s study.  

Get it here.  

Read all posts in this series here.

If you are doing this study on your own, you will need the leader kit which contains the DVDs.  You can get that here.

 

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