When the children of Israel chose to go in a direction that was other than serving the Lord; the first thing that went was the Burnt Offering!
The Burt Offering was to be offered at nine in the morning and at three in the afternoon, everyday.
The Burnt offering was the means by which Israel received the Righteousness of God (in a type; for Righteousness could ultimately only come through Jesus Christ: who became our Burnt Offering, and also our Sin Offering).
However, when they left this type (the Burnt Offering), they also left what it represented, which was the Righteousness of God. We must understand that without the Righteousness of God, they could neither receive the Blessings of God.
The reason I say the Burnt Offering was the first thing that went is because it was, “what must be done continually.” Therefore when any movement was made to go in a direction which was not, “trust in the Lord,” the first service of the Lord to suffer was the Burnt offering(at least it was one of the first more noticeable things to go).
Of course, all other service to the Lord would immediately follow, but the Burnt Offering would certainly be neglected first.
I believe this a picture of our present Church.
Remember, the Children of Israel received Righteousness from God on a daily basis; through the Burnt Offering which represented what Christ would give them through His work on the Cross.
When any individual does not trust exclusively in Christ, everyday, they have in effect stopped the effect of the Burnt Offering (Heb. 3:12), “The Righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.”
Without the Righteousness of God, the Israelites were soon over run with idolatry; and after that the enemy many times moved into their country and enslaved them.
As sad as it is to say, “the Believer of today who leaves the trusting in Christ, on a daily basis,” will soon find themselves in the same condition as the Israelites found themselves. Such a Believer will soon set up their own little idols, and the enemy will soon be camping in their own back yard. And after the backyard, the enemy will move right into the house.
Jesus said in Luke 9:23, “if any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily…”
When we do not take up the Cross of Christ daily, we will find that the Spirit of Life which is in Christ Jesus (Rom. 8:2), will not move to do much in our life. And why is that? Simply because the “Spirit of Life” is in “Christ Jesus.” When we leave off from a daily Faith in Christ Jesus, the Holy Spirit will leave off from giving you daily Life: because that Life is, “In Christ Jesus.” This does not mean you are going to die. The Israelites did not die either. However, when they left the Burnt Offering, they also left the Blessing of God. And without the Blessing of God, the Israelites soon found themselves in some type of bondage, and so will we.
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