Rejoice! Again I say Rejoice!

We read in Philippians 4:8, “For the rest, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is righteous, whatever is clean, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good report, if there is any uprightness and if there is any praise think on these”

The Bible verse I just read is a very popular verse that is quoted or shared quite often. I want to suggest that this verse is almost always referenced and practiced out of order, as well as lacking proper structure and ignoring God’s given pattern.

What would motivate someone to want to share this verse in Philippians 4:8 with others? What would be wrong with someone that would lead us or someone else to want to share this particular verse with them?

This is a verse that is usually focused on or shared with those struggling with worry, concerns or any negative emotions testifying to a battle ground happening in their minds and in their hearts. This spiritual battle ground that is being revealed is usually caused by a lack of faith from not trusting in God’s provisions, not being content with God’s provisions, or another issue related to someone whom is caught up in their flesh!

Our God is a God of order & structure and He always provides a perfect pattern for us to follow by and through His Word! I believe when we align ourselves with and follow His order, structure and pattern then the truth, blessings and promises of His Word are able to manifest into our lives individually and as to the body as a whole.

God’s structure has to do with authority, beginning with the authority of His Word, and the roles of authority that He has chosen according to His Word. We must submit to the authority of His Word and to the authority structure He has chosen in order to not violate His structure and to not be in rebellion against His Word!

In this message, I am not going to focus as much on the “structure” as a whole as I will on the “order” and the “pattern” revealed in God’s Word. God given authoritative roles in the individual homes as well as in the church (assembly) of God are an extremely important part of His structure, and a necessity. Properly functioning structure should follow the correct order and pattern set by God in and through His Word. I will mostly be focusing on the structure as it relates to the authority of His Word in our lives more so than the human roles of authority.

It is my hope to share and reveal a deeper and more precise understanding of God’s order and pattern given to us in the verses leading up to the aforementioned verse in Philippians 4:8. I will be primarily focusing on verses 4 through 7 in Philippians chapter 4, and we will be going verse by verse focusing on what each verse reveals to help us better understand His perfect order and pattern.

Let’s begin with Philippians 4:4, “Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice!”

What is this verse telling us or what does it mean?

When we see a specific word mentioned twice or repeated twice, especially within the same verse in Scripture, it is telling us to take serious notice and we can see that the word “rejoice” is used this way in verse 4. So then, what does “rejoice” mean? Especially when it is said and understood to be an emphatic command?

To me, to rejoice means to recall to mind and understand Who God is, what all He has done, is currently doing and will do in the future according to His loving grace and transformational work in our lives. Remembering the truth, blessings and promises spoken in His Word then exclaiming (crying out) it all from a heart overflowing!

I believe this can only be performed by a heart that contains faith and love because of all that God has been, all that He currently is and all that He will be in regards to our lives, both individually and for the body as a whole. It is a heart bursting at the seams with thankfulness and gratitude for all of the goodness and faithfulness of our Heavenly Father and Savior, which brings forth acceptable and pleasing rejoicing in His sight that we call praise! Praise helps us to bring to mind all of His goodness, faithfulness and bountiful mercies which lead us to take our eyes away from the issues and onto to Him, praise draws our hearts closer to His.

When I first began looking at Philippians 4:4-7 searching for the deeper truths contained inside I initially thought that verse 4 was step #1 in the process of following God’s order and pattern.

Does anyone have any thoughts on what would keep us from being able to accomplish the command to “rejoice in the Lord” as stated in verse 4?

I would later come to understand that the step revealed in verse 4 can’t happen if we are not in a spiritual place that is able to draw near to God and to rejoice from a genuine heart and bring forth acceptable praise in His sight! (Matthew 15:8-9 & Isaiah 29:13) We have already established that a lack of faith or not trusting in His provisions as well as not being content with what He has provided are some major causes already for not being able to rejoice in the Lord. I want to also suggest that sin in general separates us from God, and when we are in our flesh desiring the things of our flesh we are separating ourselves from Him and grieving His Holy Spirit. (See Galatians 5:19-21).

There is a certain kind of hardened-heart condition that brings about a severe type of sin in us that will keep God from forgiving us, it is called unforgiveness! (Matthew 6:14-15) When we carry unforgiveness in our hearts we have established ourselves as the ultimate judge of right and wrong, and have judged someone unworthy to receive forgiveness according to our measure of righteousness. Unforgiveness leads to bitterness and the worst kinds of rebellion against God and His structure as witnessed in His Word. This kind of rebellion happens because we will have also “judged” that God is not able to render a righteous judgment and/or that His judgment and righteousness is somehow unfair or not loving enough towards us,  as we see fit! Therefore, we hold unforgiveness and bitterness in our hearts toward Him!

Unforgiveness can begin with something as simple negative thoughts and/or emotions about or toward someone whom does not align with “our way of thinking” or “our beliefs”! Our unforgiveness can even be based off of what we have “heard” about someone without ever confirming the validity of what we have heard because we haven’t spoken to the accused as instructed by God’s law. Even worse, our unforgiveness can lead us to share our judgment of someone to others as we would be lacking the wisdom of just having taken it all to prayer and given it to God for Him to hopefully lovingly handle, just as we would want Him to do with us if we were in the wrong!

This kind of behavior is called “lashon hara” in Hebrew, known in the English language as an “evil tongue or evil speech” that murders the character and reputation of someone. As Yeshua (Jesus) revealed to us, unforgiveness that will ultimately lead to unrighteous judgment and hate towards another begins in a wicked and defiled heart! (Mark 7:20-23)I believe “lashon hara” also known as “gossip” is the most common type of sin that causes most of the body of Christ from being able to be in God’s correct order, structure and pattern. Sadly, this keeps us, as a whole and individually, from bringing about the greater restoration of all things as we are called to do by and through the power of His Holy Spirit!

Due to all these issues we are not able to draw near to God when this exists within us, individually and as a body. Our Messiah touches on this issue in Matthew 5:21-24. In Leviticus 1:2 most English translations will reference the words “an offering” in this verse in regards to the animal & grain offerings, also known as sacrifices, that were acceptable to bring to God. The Hebrew word that is translated into the English as “an offering” is the word “korban” meaning an offering or oblation that is brought near the alter. The Hebrew word “korban” originates from the Hebrew word “karab” which literally means “to draw near”! Bringing an acceptable offering/sacrifice to God is literally “drawing near” to Him!

The root of unforgiveness and judgment is pride, which can also manifest itself as it’s evil twin known as fear, and it reveals that we are walking in our flesh and serving the wrong kingdom! When we are caught up in pride and/or fear which lead to unforgiveness and condemnation of others, and even of ourselves, we are not able to fulfill the step given in Philippians 4:4. We will also not be able to be restored to God or to experience His peace in our hearts & minds.

What must we do individually, or as a body, to correct this serious error in order to be able to follow the step given in verse 4 to bring about true rejoicing and to begin God’s correct order?

Let’s read Psalm 51 and examine it to see if there is an order and a pattern revealed therein that testifies to what we must do in order to fix that which is not right within us.

“1Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. 2Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! 3For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. 4Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. 5Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother  conceive me.

6Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. 7Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. 9Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.

10Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. 11Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. 12Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. 13Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you.

14Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness. 15O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. 16For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. 17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

18Do good to Zion in your good pleasure; build up the walls of  Jerusalem; 19then will you delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on your altar” (Hosea 14:2).

 

What order and/or pattern can we see in Psalm 51?

I believe it is the following:

A.) Humility that leads us to recognize our defiled heart & sinful behavior.

B.) Repentance from a broken & contrite heart.

C.) Rejoicing because God’s unfailing grace receives this type of repentance that brings forth His praise from the joy of our Salvation (Yeshua).

I believe our Heavenly Father’s response to following His perfect order and pattern from a right heart condition is to renew His Holy Spirit within us so that we are able to bear much fruit again! (Galatians 5:22-26 & John 15:4-6) To be “humble” means to be “made low or to become low”, and when God forgives us He “lifts us up” from that place of brokeness! The receiving of His loving forgiveness and the renewal of His Holy Spirit within us revives the joy and gladness of His Salvation (Yeshua) in our hearts and minds again that lead to great rejoicing and praise!

Let’s read James 4:6-12 and see if that same order and pattern is revealed. (*always look for 2-3 witnesses in Scripture to establish a matter! See Deuteronomy 19:15 & 2 Corinthians 13:1)

“6But He gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 7Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you. (He will lift you up!)

11Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. 12There is only one lawgiver and judge, He who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?”

What order and pattern can we see in James 4:6-12?

A.) Humility, recognizing our sin and making ourselves low.

B.) Repentance from a broken and contrite heart that turns away from the sin of being in the flesh, unforgiveness, lashon hara (gossip), acting as the ultimate judge and then turning back to God in obedience to His Word (law).

C.) Rejoicing and Praising Him after having repented and then “drawn near” (with the offering of Yeshua) to God because He is faithful to draw near to us and to lift us up out of our pit! Restoring the joy and gladness of our Salvation (Yeshua)!

 

We can see the same order and pattern revealed in both Psalm 51 and in James 4:6-12 to serve as witnesses to the correct order and pattern that we need to follow to be able to draw near to God and to rejoice in Him from a heart that has been lifted up by Him!

 

We read in 1 Thessalonians 5:12-19, ““12We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. 14And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. 15See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. 16Rejoice always, 17pray without ceasing, 18give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19Do not quench the Spirit.”

 

In 1 Thessalonians 5:12-19 we can see structure (those in authority) being talked about as well as order and a pattern. When these things are not followed we can quench the Spirit within ourselves individually and in the assembly as a whole!

Our ability to genuinely rejoice and again I say rejoice can only begin once we have humbled ourselves recognizing and repenting from the leaven (sin) in our hearts and minds that has led us into our flesh allowing us to once again draw near to God with our lips and our hearts, unlike our former state of being (*see Matthew 15:8-9). We go from grieving the Holy Spirit, or God forbid, quenching the Holy Spirit to a refreshing of His Spirit within us!

Understanding all this, we realize there is a step that has to happen first to begin God’s specific order before we are able to be in a spiritually acceptable place to rejoice “IN HIM”! We must first have the right heart condition!

So far, we can see 2 steps to get to this point, we must begin with humility and true repentance from evil and a perfect offering and then we are now able to rejoice in the Lord and again I say REJOICE! HalleluYah!

At this point, I would like to suggest that arriving at the place of acceptable rejoicing in the Lord’s eyes can be a process! It may even begin with rejoicing and praise that is not acceptable, but can lead us to bring to mind everything that we need to remember about Who our God is and what He is capable of and what He means to us in our daily life, as well as our failures in order to bring about genuine repentance!

I remember visiting a friend earlier on in my walk of faith, and upon entering their home I could hear shouting and hollering that sounded like someone was not in a good mental state of being, or at least that is what it sounded like to me at that time! I could hear a “praise the Lord!” or a “HalleluYah!” every once in a while and I remember thinking that this woman had lost her mind and may need to be admitted to the nearest mental hospital, for an evaluation at the minimum! As I stood in the middle of the living room with a clearly perplexed look on my face, the friend I went to visit came down stairs to where I was and acted as if everything was normal! So I had to ask, “what in the world is going on with your mother?!!”. My friend’s response was “oh, she just had a bad day and is praising the Lord until it sticks”! At that point in my walk of faith I didn’t understand this concept but now I do, PRAISE THE LORD!

Now let’s read Philippians 4:5, “Let your gentleness (gentle spirit) be known to all men. The Lord is near.”

What does it mean to let your gentleness or gentle spirit be known to ALL MEN? (*see Galatians 5:22-26)

It is instructing us to be bearing fruit! “Gentleness” is a fruit of the Spirit! Unless we have already performed steps 1 & 2 we are in no spiritual condition to bear the fruit of the Spirit as we would still be in our flesh! God’s order is perfect and no step can happen unless the step(s) before comes to completion in their correct order!

What does Paul mean when he writes that the Lord is near? (*see James 4:8)

I believe Paul is revealing to us that after having completed the first 2 steps that allows us to arrive at a place of much rejoicing in the Lord that we have effectively drawn near to God and He has drawn near to us in response. The Lord’s Presence is actually physically near (within) at this point. It is also possibly referring to having the mindset that we need to think and behave as if Yeshua (Jesus) is returning today! Amen!

At this point we will have completed step 3!

 

Let’s read Philippians 4:6, “Do not worry at all (be anxious for nothing), but in every matter, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God”

Do not worry or be anxious for nothing? What is being said and why?

We are not to carry the concerns or worries of this world and we are to trust God in all matters!

By prayer and petition? Why doesn’t Paul just write “by prayer” only?

We use the English word “petition” a lot in a political sense, especially when political candidates have people go out door to door to “petition” for their votes.

What does “petition” mean to us in this context? In other words, what is the purpose and the function of the word “petition” used here?

I believe it means we are to plead, to strongly seek after, to entreat that which is desperately desired or needed.

We also have another word that we use in the English that is closely related to the word “petition”, that word being “repetition”.

Is a more precise picture or understanding being painted now in your minds in regards to the application of petitioning God with our prayers? I sure hope so!

I believe this picture reflects that as many prayers as are necessary and needed are to be sent up to God in order for us not to carry worry or anxiety. Our prayers are to be shared from a heart that is pleading with Him and entreating Him to take care of our concerns, needs, desires and anything that is weighing heaving on our hearts and minds! There have been days and even weeks when I had to stop and cry out my prayers and petitions hourly, minute by minute and sometimes moment by moment until I would arrive at a place that I could finally give it over to Him fully and not try to take it back and carry it all again! It is a process! In other words, I need to pray and petition Him as many times as necessary until it sticks!

According to verse 6, we are to offer up our prayers and petitions “with thanksgiving”. Why? And what exactly should we be thankful for since our prayers have barely left our lips and/or our minds?

I believe we should be thankful knowing that we can trust God to handle whatever it is that is weighing us down or afflicting us. Knowing that whatever He does will be perfect and done in His time and not ours. Not my will Lord, but Your will be done! We can be thankful because He will always faithfully take our burdens upon Himself so that we do not have to! After all this, our prayers can be like incense going up to our Heavenly Father so that we can be like the “aroma of Christ” to Him. (2 Corinthians 2:15)!

Philippians 4:6 ends with the words “be made known to God”, for what purpose? Doesn’t He already know everything that is in our hearts and minds when we pray? 

Yes, He already knows all but I believe this instruction is more for us, to remind us Who it is that is in control and Who it is that cares and is perfectly faithful and reliable to receive our prayers and petitions!

At this point, we will have accomplished step “4”!

 

Let’s read Philippians 4:7, “And the peace of God, that surpasses all understanding, shall guard your hearts and minds through (IN!) Messiah Yeshua”

After following God’s perfect order of steps 1 through 4 then the promise and the truth of verse 7 can be realized in our hearts and minds! We will now experience the peace (shalom) of God that surpasses all understanding! The Hebrew word “shalom” means much more than the English word “peace.” Shalom also means completion, fulfillment, fullness, soundness, healthiness, wholeness, prosperity, well-being and joy!

Arriving at this place of shalom our hearts and minds will be guarded “IN” Messiah Yeshua (Jesus Christ). If you didn’t catch the small change I just made I used the word “in” Messiah Yeshua instead of “through” Messiah Yeshua as normally translated in verse 7! The Greek word that is normally translated as “through” can also be translated as “in”, which I believe to be the more precise choice! We are to walk IN the LIFE (life is in the blood Leviticus 17:11) of Yeshua and therefore we will lack nothing! Just as the walls of the Tabernacle protects everything and everyone that are inside, when we are truly “in” Messiah Yeshua He will guard our hearts and minds against the attack of the enemy and the things of this world!

Looking back over all that we have covered beginning with verse 4 and leading to verse 7 in Philippians chapter 4, I see “4” steps that God has ordered and revealed to us a specific pattern to bring about experiencing the fullness of what is written to us in verse 7 about receiving His perfect shalom (peace). What is interesting to me is that the number “4” in Scripture means “the door or entry way” as we also see in the meaning of the Hebrew letter “dalet” which just happens to be the 4^th letter of the Hebrew alphabet. I personally believe that Yeshua’s death, burial and resurrection happened in the 4^th millennia of creation pointing to Him as the door or the gate into sheepfold or in other words our entry into the His Kingdom, into the Tabernacle of our God.

Looking at Philippians 4:7 again, if we follow the order and pattern of these 4 steps that we have spoken about in verses 4 through 6 then we are able to “enter in” to the shalom (peace) that surpasses all understanding through Yeshua (the door/the way/truth/life), the Prince of Peace. Only after following His perfect order and pattern that is set before us are we truly able to enter in to His shalom, His peace, His joy and the completeness that only He can give!

A perfect peace that cannot be shaken, even if we find ourselves sitting in a cold, dark, and damp prison, or a deep pit in the ground. Even if we are lacking food and water at times and dealing with unimaginable smells and sounds of torment and dispair while being treated harshly by guards and possibly by other prisoners. Even if we have been forsaken by brothers and sisters in various assemblies that we had served faithfully, sacrificially and without asking for anything monetarily in return, just as Apostle Paul was experiencing as he wrote this letter to the Philippians! Yet his heart did not become hardened, he did not harbor feelings of unforgiveness and bitterness, nor did he commit lashon hara (evil speech) against anyone! And most of all his heart remained true to his God and Savior through it all, rejoicing in the Lord, in His perfect shalom!

Let’s go back and look at the verse that we began this talk with in Philippians 4:8, “For the rest, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is righteous, whatever is clean, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good report, if there is any uprightness and if there is any praise think on these”.

Now I want to suggest that this verse represents the next step in God’s perfect order in how we are to guard against losing the “shalom” (peace) we have just acquired through following the 4 previous steps. This is how we “resist the enemy” as stated in James 4:7, as he tries to attack our minds with evil thoughts and feelings about ourselves, about others and about God!

What a beautiful pattern our God’s lays out for us when we have eyes to see, ears to hear and hearts to follow!

I would like to point out something that we all must guard against happening in our hearts, minds and manifesting into our words and behavior toward those around us and especially toward our God! We must serve our God and Savior with joy and gladness of heart for the abundance of all things, especially for the provision of Yeshua, the greatest love and provision of all! The Bibles testifies that the curses come upon God’s people because they stop serving Him with joy and gladness of heart for the abundance of all things! (Deuteronomy 28:45-48 & Joel 1:9-12) This is how we are to know when we have gone astray, when we are no longer able to worship (serve) Him with a heart that is able to rejoice and bring forth His praise and follow (obey) His Word!

Our Heavenly Father is not demanding perfection from us as we define it, He is looking for personal intimate relationship with us! A genuine, daily, right relationship, where we keep our eyes and hearts focused on Him! And when we lose that focus we are to follow His order, structure and pattern to restore it!

What has been revealed in this message is an understanding that is greatly needed for us all to help us to fight and win our daily battle of spiritual warfare, as Yeshua (Jesus) is always our victory!

We can also see a clear order, structure and pattern laid out in the creation of the Tabernacle in the wilderness, as well as the service thereof. The building and the pattern of the Tabernacle was specifically and precisely instructed by God to Moses when he was up on Mt. Sinai. The purpose and function of the Tabernacle was so that God could dwell in the midst of His people, to be able to draw near to them! The Tabernacle also allowed for His people to receive atonement (grace!) for their sins and to be able to draw near to Him in worship. God had an order and structure (priesthood) that had to be followed before anyone was able to draw near to Him!

Our God teaches His people about the spiritual realm by using things that we can experience with our senses in the physical realm, whether good or bad. God told us through His Word that the Earthly “physical” Tabernacle was patterned after the Heavenly “Spiritual” Tabernacle (Hebrews 8:4-5).

What we hopefully have understood from the order, structure and pattern revealed in Philippians 4:4-7 is that the same that can be seen in the Tabernacle and it’s service, as we are to first recognize that we are outside of God’s Tabernacle of protection, blessings, healing, forgiveness and then humble ourselves with a broken and contrite heart leading us to submit to God’s instructions (His law) to receive His grace by accepting and believing in the blood of the spotless Lamb, to apply it to the door post of our heart and the lintel of our mind as we raise Him up as an acceptable and pleasing offering. We are then to extend that same grace to others as we bear much fruit of the Spirit and reflect the Light of His face to those still in darkness. We rejoice always with a thankful and grateful heart of immense gratitude that is at peace and content in all situations which the world is not able to comprehend, and those of the world will therefore be drawn to Him and glorify Him.

May we have hearts bursting with love for Him moving us to lift up our voices to sing His marvelous praises because of the strength that our Lord & Savior provides us from within Himself, the Fountain of Living Water that cleanses us and brings forth eternal life as He leads us to walk in greater truth, comforts us and empowers us to offer ourselves up as living sacrificial offering. May we value others above ourselves and strive to bear one another’s burdens out of love and hearts of compassion, thus fulfilling the law of our God!

Rejoice my brothers and sisters of our awesome God! And Again I say Rejoice! Amen! Amen!

Until next time, the Lord bless you and guard you!

 

 

 

Scripture references:

“8“‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; 9in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’” (Matthew 15:8-9)

 

“13And the Lord said: “Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men” (Isaiah 29:13)

 

“19Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Galatians 5:19-21)

 

“14For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (Matthew 6:14-15)

 

“20And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. 21For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. 23All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”’ (Mark 7:20-23)

 

“21“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 22But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. 23So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” (Matthew 5:21-24)

 

“2“Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When any one of you brings an offering (korban) to the Lord, you shall bring your offering of livestock from the herd or from the flock.” (Leviticus 1:2)

 

“2Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips.” (Hosea 14:2)

 

“22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 26Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.” (Galatians 5:22-26)

 

“4Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.” (John 15:4-6)

 

“15“A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established.” (Deuteronomy 19:15)

 

“1This is the third time I am coming to you. Every charge must be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.” (2 Corinthians 13:1)

 

“15For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing” (2 Corinthians 2:15)

 

“11For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life.” (Leviticus 17:11)

 

“45“All these curses shall come upon you and pursue you and overtake you till you are destroyed, because you did not obey the voice of the Lord your God, to keep his commandments and his statutes that he commanded you. 46They shall be a sign and a wonder against you and your offspring forever. 47Because you did not serve the Lord your God with joyfulness and gladness of heart, because of the abundance of all things, 48therefore you shall serve your enemies whom the Lord will send against you, in hunger and thirst, in nakedness, and lacking everything. And he will put a yoke of iron on your neck until he has destroyed you.” (Deuteronomy 28:45-48)

 

“9The meat offering and the drink offering is cut off from the house of the LORD; the priests, the LORD’S ministers, mourn. 10The field is wasted, the land mourneth; for the corn is wasted: the new wine is dried up, the oil languisheth. 11Be ye ashamed, O ye husbandmen; howl, O ye vinedressers, for the wheat and for the barley; because the harvest of the field is perished. 12The vine is dried up, and the fig tree languisheth; the pomegranate tree, the palm tree also, and the apple tree, even all the trees of the field, are withered: because joy is withered away from the sons of men.” (Joel 1:9-12)

 

“4Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, since there are priests who offer gifts according to the law. 5They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, “See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.”’ (Hebrews 8:4-5)