"Fire of the Altar"

Leviticus 6:13 Remember, the fire must be kept burning on the altar at
all times. It must never go out.

Such a powerful scripture and one that is still relevant today! 

It is not a coincidence that churches build altars. The altar is not
just for the preacher to stand on to appear more dominate.  Nor for the
worship team to be staged higher than the other worshippers. The altar
is the whole reason why we call the room a sanctuary because it is at
the altar where people can find sanctity. 

Fire has so many purposes; good and destructive, yet all fashionably
joined together to fulfill God's majestic use. When pondering upon the
functions of fire we come across common conforms, such as to shed light
in dark places, to keep warm in the cold, or even to bring recognition
that someone is present.  When fire is released or not controlled it
devours, everything in it's path! 

That is the same as the Fire at the Altar! When we as worshippers,
children, servants, slaves of Christ, embrace the altar of God it sheds
light to the hidden things in our life that God wants us to give up to
Him. At the same time there is a warmth that is felt at the altar when
you allow yourself to invite the Holy Spirit to have full control.
However, when sin is realized and brought to the altar as a sacrifice of
surrendering then the uncontrolled fire of the altar devours the
evidence of the sin sacrifice! 

The result is no trace of debris. No indication of the sin.  When a
person brings sin to the altar they need to walk away knowing that sin
is evaporated as a fragrant incense offering to the Lord.  Don't try to
go back and carry your sinful ashes. Release it to God and know he has
given freedom! 

Thank you Lord for the Fire of the Altar as the affirmation of your
everlasting presence!          

"Inspection"

Exodus 39:43 "Then Moses inspected all their work. When he found it had
been done just as the Lord had commanded him, he blessed them."


Inspection. That is the word that most people dread. Wondering whether
or not they did their job right. Companies spend extra work hours, hire
more staff, spend hundreds if not thousands of dollars on making sure
they pass their inspection. Children run and hide when their parents say
they're going to inspect their room, in fear of an incomplete task.
Churches dread city inspections, contemplating whether or not all fire
codes have been covered or if there's a new code they did not know about
in which they get fined or closed down! 

God is the ultimate inspector and he inspects the hidden secrets of our
hearts. However, the relationship with the Inspector is vital in order
to receive his favor of passing the inspection. If a company knew
personally the person doing the inspection it's like a breath of fresh
air for them. They can breathe and the tension is easily released
because there is a personal relationship with them. If a child knew
exactly how their parent liked their room and met the requirements,
there would be no need to hide due to the assurance of a job fulfilled. 

The problem is many of us either don't know the inspector or they know
the requirements of passing the inspection, but take short cuts and hide
the errors. 

There is a blessing attached to an approved inspection. Obedience will
always attach a blessing. Rebellion will always attach a curse. 

Keep a relationship with the True Life Inspector.  Learn what he
requires and be obedient. Don't take the short cuts of hiding the
mistakes, but take care of them before they are found. Live in the
blessings of an Approved Inspection! 

Project Exodus

To Our Family And Friends,

As you may know Praise Chapel Hollywood recently launched "Project Exodus", a building campaign fund, 40 people at $200. "Project Exodus" began in February and is still ongoing through the month of April. Any amount is appreciated.

If you would still like to pledge to this fund you may do so through our website at www.praisechapelhollywoodfl.com

Or by mail to:

7951 NW 20^th Street 

Hollywood , FL 33024 

Checks can be made payable to: Praise Chapel/Johnny Caldera

For more info please contact me via email or by phone at 954-744-0144.

Thank you in advance for your continuous support!

"Ordination"

 Exodus 32:29

Then Moses told the Levites, "Today you have ordained yourselves for the service of the Lord, for you obeyed him even though it meant killing your own sons and brothers. Today you have earned a blessing."

 

Today you have ordained yourselves. Today you have earned a blessing. These are the  results of obeying the Lord by sacrificing all that is close to you.

 

Family is important. Parents. Siblings. Marriage. Children.  All important things are in the development and function of peoples lives. However, God wants to be first in His peoples lives. 

 

Ordination is not something that you just pick up out of seminary, nor bestowed upon you because you served your time in a local church as a congregant for a lengthy period of years. Ordination is costly and that is why few will obtain it or if by chance have obtained, may never really experience the true blessing in lue of it.

 

Though a person may be a faithful church goer, giver, and possibly even serve in a convenient ministry in favor of their schedule, without the sacrifice of things or people closes to them the blessing that comes with ordination can not be obtained.  As believers we must learn to trust in God. Put Him first. Then, and only then, will we learn true contentment.

 

Again these relationships are not at all wrong but the true influencer needs to be the Holy Spirit. Allow God to have the last word. Jesus said it best "not my will be done but thy will be done". Nobody wants to lose their security and comfort of closeness, but in the process of ordination all becomes a sacrifice, a fragrance; a fragrance before the Lord.

 

It's not easy but He never said it would be. I thank my God for supplying all my needs and showing my wife and I the true blessing of ordination.