THE HERALDS DEVOTIONAL

LESSONS FROM THE TENTS OF THE RECHABITES PART 3 — WINE ON THE TABLE: THE TEST OF DISCIPLINE Jeremiah 35:5 (KJV) “And I set before the sons of the house of the Rechabites pots full of wine, and cups, and I said unto them, Drink ye wine.” In Part 2, we saw the Rechabites brought into the house of the LORD — a sacred and visible place where integrity would be observed. Now comes the moment of choice. Cups are filled. Temptation is set before them. What seemed private now becomes a test. Obedience is no longer theoretical; it is practical, immediate, and tangible. Scriptural Focus God commanded Jeremiah to offer wine to the Rechabites — something they had been instructed never to drink. This was not a mere invitation; it was a test of their faithfulness, discipline, and loyalty. The Rechabites faced a choice: yield to convenience or honor ancestral instruction. Spiritual Dimension — Faith Tested by Opportunity Temptation often comes as an opportunity, not a threat. The Rechabites teach us ...

LESSONS FROM THE TENTS OF THE RECHABITES PART 2 — BROUGHT INTO THE HOUSE OF THE LORD Jeremiah 35:3–4 (KJV) “Then I took Jaazaniah the son of Jeremiah… and the whole house of the Rechabites;  And I brought them into the house of the LORD, into the chamber of the sons of Hanan… a man of God, which was by the chamber of the princes…” In Part 1, we saw that God begins correction by pointing to an example. Now, that example is no longer hidden. The Rechabites are brought into the house of the LORD — into a respected chamber, near leaders and authority. What was private obedience is now placed in public, sacred space. Integrity is about to be observed. Scriptural Focus Jeremiah gathers the entire household of the Rechabites and brings them into God’s house. This was deliberate. Obedience was not tested in isolation but in a place of honor, visibility, and expectation. God did not expose them to embarrass them. He exposed them to reveal them. Spiritual Dimension — Faith That Survives Expo...

LESSONS FROM THE TENTS OF THE RECHABITES PART 1 — WHEN GOD CALLS FOR AN EXAMPLE Jeremiah 35:1–2 (KJV) “The word which came unto Jeremiah from the LORD in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, saying, Go unto the house of the Rechabites, and speak unto them, and bring them into the house of the LORD…” Not every correction comes as rebuke. Sometimes, God corrects a people by pointing to another people. In Jeremiah 35, Judah is deep in rebellion, idolatry, and spiritual fatigue. Yet God does not begin with thunder. He begins with contrast. He tells Jeremiah: “Go to the house of the Rechabites.” God chooses a living illustration. Scriptural Focus “ The word which came unto Jeremiah from the LORD…” (v.1) This story begins with God speaking. Judgment is never God’s first language — instruction is. Spiritual Dimension God speaks before He strikes. Silence from God is more dangerous than correction. “…in the days of Jehoiakim king of Judah…” This was a season of moral decay an...

THE FREEZER, THE FRIDGE & THE HOLY OF HOLIES PART 5: THE FINAL LAP — LIVING PRESERVED IN A SPOILING WORLD Part 1 warned us that not all preservation is protection. Things can look fine while quietly decaying. 📖 “ Be watchful .” (Rev. 3:2) Part 2 showed us the danger of staying in the Outer Court — busy, visible, but not intimate. 📖 “ These people draw near… but their hearts are far .” (Isa. 29:13) Part 3 brought us into the Holy Place — illuminated, nourished, prayerful — yet still required vigilance. 📖 “ Take heed lest you fall .” (1 Cor. 10:12) Part 4 carried us beyond the veil into the Holy of Holies — the place of full preservation. 📖 “ Abide in Me .” (John 15:4) Now comes the hardest part. The Final Lap — Carrying the Presence Out. The priest did not live in the Holy of Holies forever. He entered, encountered God, and then came out to serve. 📖 “ You shall be My witnesses .” (Acts 1:8 – key phrase) Preservation is not escape. It is empowerment. From Presence to Practice Th...

THE FREEZER, THE FRIDGE & THE HOLY OF HOLIES PART 4: THE HOLY OF HOLIES — FULLY PRESERVED IN HIS PRESENCE Hebrews 10:19-22 "  And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus.  By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place.  And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house,  let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water" . In Part 3, we entered the Holy Place and discovered a life of: Light (illumination by the Word) Bread (daily nourishment) Incense (consistent prayer) Yet we learned a sobering truth: Maturity is not immunity. 📖 “ Take heed lest you fall .” (1 Cor. 10:12) The veil still stood — meaning there was more. Beyond the Veil Behind the veil was the Holy of Holi...

THE FREEZER, THE FRIDGE & THE HOLY OF HOLIES PART 3: THE HOLY PLACE — ILLUMINATED, NOURISHED, BUT STILL GUARDING Exodus 26:33, Hebrews 9:6-8, And you shall hang the veil from the clasps, and bring the ark of the testimony in there within the veil. And the veil shall separate for you the Holy Place from the Most Holy . In Part 2, we stepped into the Outer Court and learned that: Activity is not intimacy. Visibility is not preservation. Being busy for God is not the same as being close to God. The Outer Court introduced us to God — but it was never meant to keep us there. 📖 “ Press toward the goal .” (Phil. 3:14) God always invites us deeper. Entering the Holy Place (Inner Court) Beyond the Outer Court was the Holy Place — accessible only to the priests. Inside were three sacred items: The Lampstand (light) The Table of Showbread (nourishment) The Altar of Incense (prayer) This was a place of illumination, sustenance, and communion. 📖 “ Your word is a lamp. ” (Ps. 119:105 – key phr...

THE FREEZER, THE FRIDGE & THE HOLY OF HOLIES PART 2: THE OUTER COURT — BUSY, BUT NOT PRESERVED Revelation 3:2 “Be watchful, strengthen what remains.”  In Part 1, we saw that not all preservation is protection. The freezer stops decay, but the fridge only slows it. We saw how: Things can look fine while quietly spoiling. Decay often goes unnoticed by the one who placed the food there. God uses discerning voices to alert us before breakdown becomes destruction. Part 1 warned us against settling for delayed decay instead of full preservation.  Entering the Outer Court When God instructed Moses to build the Tabernacle, He designed it in levels: The Outer Court The Inner or Holy Place The Holy of Holies The journey inward was a journey deeper into God’s presence. The Outer Court was the first place everyone encountered — busy, active, visible. 📖 “ This is the way; walk in it.” ( Isa. 30:21 – key phrase) But here’s the danger: Many people enter the Outer Court and never move be...