You can have a deep devotional life with Christ! 180 Days behind the Curtain provides an opportunity to make a complete "180-degree" turnaround in your devotional life. 180 Days behind the Curtain serves as a magnifying glass for examining the Word of God, as well as a daily vehicle to transport you into that Most Holy Place behind the curtain. This interactive devotional is both inspiring and challenging, and is excellent for individual study, Sunday School classes, and home groups. You will find a rich mine overflowing with the deep truths of God and the greatest of all treasures-Christ Himself. Hearts that are dwelling in heavenly devotion to Him change lives that are dwelling on earth. "David Frazier will take you on a spiritual journey that will challenge and deepen your faith" Kyle Idleman Author of Not a Fan; Associate Minister for Southeast Christian Church, Louisville, KY "In a world where truth has taken a backseat to pleasure, and depth of spiritual meaning has become an abandoned child, 180 Days behind the Curtain is a breath of fresh air; a journey to be experienced by every Christian" Dr. Ron Frazier, DBS, DD, ThD, Professor of Theology, Master's International School of Divinity "With the skill of a spiritual surgeon, David Frazier uses the scalpel of God's Word to cut precisely where it is needed most: into our (often stubborn) hearts" Luke Gilkerson Community Manager, Covenant Eyes
180 Days behind the Curtain
A Deeper Life Daily Devotional
By DAVID FRAZIERiUniverse LLC
Copyright © 2014 David Frazier
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4917-2933-5Contents
Day 1. The Beginning and the End, 1,
Day 2. The Curtain of Intercession; Not Separation, 3,
Day 3. Repair the Altar First (Part 1), 5,
Day 4. Repair the Altar First (Part 2), 7,
Day 5. The Man behind the Curtain, 9,
Day 6. Hired and Qualified, 11,
Day 7. Have You Entered?, 13,
Day 8. Teach Us to Pray Like That!, 15,
Day 9. Cleansing the Temple, 17,
Day 10. Heart Melting Mercy, 19,
Day 11. A Life Hidden in Christ (Part 1), 21,
Day 12. A Life Hidden in Christ (Part 2), 23,
Day 13. Have You Been with Jesus?, 25,
Day 14. Christ-like or Anti Christ-like?, 27,
Day 15. Jesus Stopped!, 29,
Day 16. Justice in Who's Hands? (Part 1), 32,
Day 17. Justice in Who's Hands? (Part 2), 34,
Day 18. Like His Unlikeness (Part 1), 36,
Day 19. Like His Unlikeness? (Part 2), 39,
Day 20. Loving Jesus Produces Hatred for Evil, 42,
Day 21. Mocker or Beggar?, 44,
Day 22. Caught off Guard, 47,
Day 23. The Balanced Walk of the Saint, 49,
Day 24. The Crest and the Trough, 52,
Day 25. The Winds and Fires of God, 54,
Day 26. The Discipline of Listening, 57,
Day 27. The Joy of Suffering, 59,
Day 28. Trading Worthy For Worthless, 61,
Day 29. Show Me the Coin, 63,
Day 30. What Makes You Unique? (Part 1), 65,
Day 31. What Makes You Unique? (Part 2), 67,
Day 32. What Makes You Unique? (Part 3), 70,
Day 33. Love without Hypocrisy, 72,
Day 34. Clinging is Two-Handed, 74,
Day 35. Godly Relief or Ungodly Release?, 76,
Day 36. Merciful Contempt, 78,
Day 37. Staying in Light or Playing with Wax?, 80,
Day 38. Sacrificing Idols or Isaacs?, 82,
Day 39. Make the Eternal Exchange, 84,
Day 40. The White Squirrel, 86,
Day 41. A Worship-full Heart is not Noisy to God, 89,
Day 42. Victory is Losing (Part 1), 91,
Day 43. Victory is Losing (Part 2), 93,
Day 44. What is Your Recharging Base?, 95,
Day 45. Whose are You?, 97,
Day 46. The Day the Earth Swallowed the Son (Part 1), 99,
Day 47. The Day the Earth Swallowed the Son (Part 2), 101,
Day 48. The Day the Earth Swallowed the Son (Part 3), 103,
Day 49. The Day the Earth Swallowed the Son (Part 4), 104,
Day 50. The Only Eyewitness on Earth, 106,
Day 51. Walking Forward Backwards, 108,
Day 52. Be Careful What You Love, 110,
Day 53. Righteous or Rebellious?, 112,
Day 54. Beware what Makes a Lot of Sense!, 114,
Day 55. "Abba, Father" Not Abracadabra (Part 1), 117,
Day 56. "Abba, Father" Not Abracadabra (Part 2), 119,
Day 57. Seeing is Not Necessarily Believing, 121,
Day 58. Fire of Redeeming Love, 123,
Day 59. "But" Does Not Follow God, 125,
Day 60. Tear Down the Wall!, 127,
Day 61. The Fullness of Forsaking Sin, 129,
Day 62. When You See War, 131,
Day 63. When God Stops Paying, 133,
Day 64. Come to Jesus Like a Dead Person, 135,
Day 65. The Evil of Motivational Manipulation, 137,
Day 66. The Futility of Solomon's Futility, 139,
Day 67. How Could a Good God Allow Evil?, 141,
Day 68. Spirit-Filled Equals Sin-Restrained, 144,
Day 69. The Smiling Scowl, 146,
Day 70. Turn Cope into Hope, 148,
Day 71. Seek and Find, Not Hide and Seek, 150,
Day 72. Don't Settle for `Only Human' (Part 1), 152,
Day 73. Don't Settle for `Only Human' (Part 2), 154,
Day 74. Would You Be Blessed?, 156,
Day 75. A Baptism of Prayer and Faith, 158,
Day 76. A Large Heart Means a Little You, 160,
Day 77. The Hand and the Glove (Part 1), 162,
Day 78. The Hand and the Glove (Part 2), 164,
Day 79. Self-Love Multiplies Sorrows, 166,
Day 80. The Way Out, 168,
Day 81. God's Dwelling Place, 170,
Day 82. Prayer-paration, 172,
Day 83. Fearful and Amazed, 174,
Day 84. Disillusioned but Not Disappointed, 176,
Day 85. Disillusioning Your Thoughts, 178,
Day 86. The Source of Life, Not its Decoration, 180,
Day 87. The Agoraphobic Hoarder, 182,
Day 88. Timely Words are Tidy Words, 184,
Day 89. Don't Remember what God Forgets, 186,
Day 90. Give it All or Keep it All, 188,
Day 91. God Counts it as "Done", 190,
Day 92. Others-Supplying is Self-Denying, 192,
Day 93. I'm Still the Chief!, 194,
Day 94. Falling is Rising, 196,
Day 95. The Weight of Guilt (Part 1), 198,
Day 96. The Weight of Guilt (Part 2), 200,
Day 97. The Weight of Guilt (Part 3), 202,
Day 98. The Weight of Guilt (Part 4), 204,
Day 99. Compassion Versus Pity, 206,
Day 100. Lifted by Love into Holiness, 208,
Day 101. The Dirtiest Becomes the Cleanest, 210,
Day 102. Two Steps Too Far!, 212,
Day 103. Just Keep Walking!, 214,
Day 104. Our "Dash in the Middle" (Part 1), 216,
Day 105. Our "Dash in the Middle" (Part 2), 218,
Day 106. Expense is Immaterial, 220,
Day 107. The Goodness of Loneliness, 222,
Day 108. When Our Answer is "No!", 224,
Day 109. Branches are Not Fruit, 226,
Day 110. Nothing but the Present (Part 1), 228,
Day 111. Nothing but the Present (Part 2), 230,
Day 112. Who's Touching My Bride?, 233,
Day 113. The Authority of a "Never" Promise, 235,
Day 114. He Reigns! (Part 1), 237,
Day 115. He Reigns! (Part 2), 239,
Day 116. Do You Really Know Him?, 241,
Day 117. The Spring in the Desert, 243,
Day 118. Becoming the Message, 245,
Day 119. Obeying the Message, 247,
Day 120. Hating or Loving the Message, 250,
Day 121. It's a Worship Problem, 253,
Day 122. The Standard Transcendent, 255,
Day 123. The Standard Despised, 257,
Day 124. Not Boxing the Air, 259,
Day 125. Minor Corrections, 261,
Day 126. Humbled or Stumbled?, 263,
Day 127. Thief or Sheep?, 265,
Day 128. Don't Be a Right-Fighter!, 267,
Day 129. Killed with Kindness, 269,
Day 130. Who is My Neighbor? (Part 1), 271,
Day 131. Who is My Neighbor? (Part 2), 273,
Day 132. Who is My Neighbor? (Part 3), 275,
Day 133. Who is My Neighbor? (Part 4), 277,
Day 134. When Instruments Conquered Instruction, 279,
Day 135. Choose Your Table Wisely, 281,
Day 136. They Abandoned their Idols, 283,
Day 137. Don't Be a Stranger, 285,
Day 138. Strangers in God's House, 287,
Day 139. Bark, For Heaven's Sake!, 289,
Day 140. The Bread that Ends All Bread, 291,
Day 141. Love is Always Crucified!, 293,
Day 142. Fearers of Mirrors see Clearer, 295,
Day 143. See God, Not Rome!, 297,
Day 144. The Word Versus the World, 299,
Day 145. If the World's Appealing, Heaven's Appalling, 301,
Day 146. You are Treasure Too, 303,
Day 147. What's in Your Temple?, 305,
Day 148. Much in Prayer, 307,
Day 149. No "If" About It, 309,
Day 150. 150 Days Behind the Wooden Door, 311,
Day 151. When Peter Demanded Hell, 313,
Day 152. Let's Go to Judea Again, 315,
Day 153. It Must Be Broken, 317,
Day 154. The Basket that Never Empties, 319,
Day 155. The Habit of Listening and Responding, 321,
Day 156. Are You a Burning Bush? (Part 1), 323,
Day 157. Are You a Burning Bush? (Part 2), 325,
Day 158. What is My Strength?, 327,
Day 159. When Jesus Stood Up, 329,
Day 160. The Good Soldier, 331,
Day 161. The Value of Living for Jesus, 333,
Day 162. The Grasping Hands of Faith, 335,
Day 163. All Alone and No One To Hide, 338,
Day 164. Do You Have the Passion?, 340,
Day 165. Raised to Make a Difference, 342,
Day 166. The Peril of Backsliding, 344,
Day 167. Hindered Prayer is Hazardous, 346,
Day 168. The Removal of Achan, 348,
Day 169. The Eternity of Abiding, 350,
Day 170. The Loyalty of Abiding, 352,
Day 171. God's Number One Hit Song, 354,
Day 172. Getting Alone with God, 356,
Day 173. Henotheism in God's House, 358,
Day 174. Self-Sufficiency Strikes Jesus Twice, 360,
Day 175. Are You Hungry?, 362,
Day 176. Revelation without Gethsemane Corrupts, 364,
Day 177. Washing Your Hands in Pilate's Sink, 366,
Day 178. Seeking God's Wisdom, 368,
Day 179. Is There Death in the Pot?, 370,
Day 180. Jesus, The Purpose of Life, 372,
CHAPTER 1
Day 1
The Beginning and the End
"May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice" (Psalm 141:2).
* * *
Do you have an evening offering of praise and prayer? Is the end of your day any less important or praiseworthy than the beginning? Should it not be all the more worthy of praise that God has sustained you with provision and all that is pertaining to life and godliness yet another day? What if there is un-confessed and un-repentant sin in your heart? Does not another evening represent yet another daylong opportunity granted for repentance and restoration by God in His mercy and long-suffering?
Jesus is the pre-existing God of creation. Since all things have their beginning in Him, then all things should equally have their end in Him as well (and they ultimately will one way or another). In the book of Revelation, Jesus said that He is "the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end" (21:6). In Hebrews, He is the "author and finisher of our faith" (12:2, KJV). With these truths understood, should we not also begin and end every day with devotion to Him?
You say you have morning devotions, but what about in the evening? Is the time you now devote about as hurried and unfulfilling as the task of brushing your teeth? How loved would our spouses feel if we were always hurrying to leave their presence? David's prayers went up before God as a sweet smelling aroma (incense). The faith, love, and obedience that his prayers symbolized followed with sincerity. David was in awe of the Shekinah glory of God that filled the temple and longed to continually be in His presence.
There is no such thing as "your" time. All that you claim ownership of you will selfishly fight to maintain. However, once you realize the absolute truth that "your" day (and everything else) truly had its beginning in and through Jesus, you will find it easier to devote not only a small portion of it to Him, but also the entire portion as a living sacrifice. Then you should begin to see your need to lift up your hands to Him in worthy praise at the close of every day because you see it as nothing less than undeserved mercy. Let this be your evening sacrifice of prayer, as you also let everything else (every thought, deed, and word) have its beginning and end with Jesus.
For Thought:
What would be the significance of Jesus being the beginning and the end of everything you do? What would be the outcome in your actions, thoughts, and words? What about in your church?
CHAPTER 2
Day 2
The Curtain of Intercession; Not Separation
"Hang the curtain from the clasps and place the Ark of the Covenant law behind the curtain. The curtain will separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place" (Exodus 26:33, NIV).
* * *
If you were to hang a curtain or a veil in the entryway of another room, you could rightly say that the curtain is actually in both rooms at the same time. Although it separates both rooms, one side of it is in one room, and the other side in the other. We learn in the book of Hebrews that Jesus became the curtain/veil upon the cross: "We have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus by a new and living way, which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh" (Hebrews 10:19-20). That means only Jesus can simultaneously be in both the Holy of holies where only God's perfect and holy presence can dwell, and the outer room where sinful man dwells. This is crucial to note, because it proclaims Christ's dual nature of being both God and man (a.k.a. "hypostatic union").
One side of Jesus (His divinity) is always in the Most Holy place, and the other side (His humanity) is always dwelling with us. Because of Him "a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God" (Hebrews 7:18). And because He and His Priesthood are eternal, He is always able to save all who come to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for us (see Hebrews 7:24, 25). Although we cannot plug directly into God because He is too holy and infinite, we can plug into Jesus who alone connects us to the Father; that is why Jesus said He is the Gate for the sheep (John 10:7, 9). We plug into His human nature, while His divinity is in the Father.
We also read that the literal curtain was torn the moment Jesus breathed His last (Matthew 27:50-51). "Behind the curtain" was the room called the Most Holy Place (Exodus 26:34; Hebrews 9:3). That room was opened up for us by faith in Jesus' death on the cross. While His body was torn upon the cross, He became sin's substitute, and the curtain of separation (sin) was forever vanquished and removed. This declares that presently He is not a veil of separation, but rather a veil of intercession. He is only a veil of separation for those who stumble over this truth. Paul called it attempting to remove the "stumbling block of the cross" (Galatians 5:11). The Old Testament curtain was hung from clasps to separate; Jesus our Curtain of intercession was hung from the clasps of a cross to remove what separated us from God. Today the cross is increasingly being cleaned up, censored, watered-down, obscured, and removed (literally from the church, and spiritually from its members). People find it repulsive so they attempt to censor it. Do you know why the uncensored cross is so repulsive? You are seeing your sin up there!
For Thought:
Don't cover up what covers you. The cross changes everything! Look at it wide eyed in all its glorious vileness and it will change you.
CHAPTER 3
Day 3
Repair the Altar First (Part 1)
"Elijah said to all the people, `Come near to me.' And all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down" (1 Kings 18:30).
* * *
Elijah had previously admonished the apostate people of Israel, "How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him." Needless to say, a showdown was necessary to determine the truth between the two. Both sides would put a bull on an altar, but the fire had to come down from the deity worshiped, which would prove who was true. In vain, the prophets of Baal had labored in ritual all day. When it came turn for Elijah, he told all the people to draw near, so they did. However, the Lord's altar was broken—in ruins—and needed repaired before Elijah could make a sacrifice.
The worship of God had so long been abandoned because of idolatry and sin that the altar was left in ruins. This nuance teaches a great spiritual truth once you know what the altar is. Your altar is not your church building, the steps in front of the podium, or a little Jesus shrine in your house. Dear saint, your altar is your heart. That is where you worship God. Notice the great commandment, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart" (Luke 10:27). However, you cannot sacrifice anything to God until your heart (your altar) has been repaired, which only the Lord can do. David said in his Psalm, "The LORD is near the brokenhearted" (34:18). Here the meaning of "broken heart" is a fragmented heart. It is fragmented because it has been divided by its worship of idols, just like the people of Israel. In other words, sin and idolatry break your altar, your heart. The "brokenhearted" are those who see and acknowledge this heart condition and cry out for mercy. The Lord is drawn like a magnet to the cry of sinners acknowledging their broken heart. Why? Because He knows it needs repaired and grieves over what sin and idolatry have done to it. But He also knows that once He repairs it you will give Him your life as a sacrifice out of thanksgiving rather than duty.
Let the Lord repair your altar; let Him mend your broken heart. Let Him wash your feet with His loving-kindness and tender mercies. This whole business about "having" to sacrifice everything to God in order to be a "true Christian" is hideously backwards. But once Jesus comes and makes your heart whole again by His saving grace and mercy, you will want to be a living sacrifice. That's why Paul said, "By the mercies of God" first, before he said be "a living sacrifice" (see Romans 12:1).
For Thought:
Elijah told the people to "come close." James said, Draw near to the Lord and He will draw near to you" (4:8). Draw near by crying out and Jesus will draw near in His mercy to repair what is broken. Have you ever acknowledged the ruinous, broken down condition of your heart and cried out to the Lord for His mercy? Has He repaired it?
CHAPTER 4
Day 4
Repair the Altar First (Part 2)
"And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down" (1 Kings 18:30).
* * *
How does the Lord repair the broken altar of your heart? Getting revelation from the law of first mention (see Day 7 for more on this), Jesus' first miracle was turning water into wine. Wine always symbolized "joy." The opposite of joy is sorrow, which is generally expressed in tears. What are tears made of but water? Put it all together and see that Christ's first miracle preaches His ultimate mission. The Lord came to turn tears of sorrow (water) into joy (wine).
Only a miracle can turn sorrow into lasting joy. Not one earthly comfort or sinful vice can offer lasting joy and eliminate grief. No, the root cause must be removed, otherwise sorrow will always return after the party and vacation is over. Since sin is the root cause of all grief and sorrow throughout all history, sin must be eliminated to bring lasting joy, and that took the greatest miracle in history, Calvary! Jesus' first miracle testifies to the first miracle He desires to work in the human heart, forgiveness and cleansing of sin. This repairs the human heart to a right relationship with the Lord, bringing wonderful relief, peace, and gratitude.
The first mention of an altar in the Bible was in Genesis 8:20. Without being told, Noah built an altar after he safely got out of the Ark that saved him from the floods of destruction. Receive the wonderful saving mercies of God first; sacrifice will naturally follow.
Abraham built the second altar in the Bible after God made him a promise concerning the land. Then Abraham leaves and goes to a mountain. Why? Perhaps to see the land he was promised. There, he observes and realizes what God has done for him by bringing him into His fold. The third altar mentioned in the Bible was built when Abraham was between Bethel the "house of God" and Hai, which at its root means, "Ruin, as if overturned." Here we see Abraham reminded of what his life could have been like without God. His life would have been an overturned heap of ruin. On the contrary, in the house of God, there is peace, mercy, grace, and blessings.
In our land, the land of our heart, we could have been Hai, but are instead Bethel. When we realize what ruinous end could have been ours, we will fall down in gratefulness first, and then build an altar to sacrifice our thanksgiving before God. We first receive His awesome mercy, and then we will thank him with our life for saving us from ruin, grafting us into Jesus the Vine, and making us into "The House of God."
For Thought:
Has the Lord destroyed the altar of idolatry and repaired His altar in your heart that once lay in ruins? Your unprovoked life of worship is the proof!
When the good news of the Gospel repairs your altar, sacrifices become thanksgiving, not duty!
CHAPTER 5
Day 5
The Man behind the Curtain
"We have this hope as an anchor for our lives, safe and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain" (Hebrews 6:19).
* * *
One of the most famous lines from The Wizard of Oz is, "Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!" Oz was just a little feeble man, all smoke and mirrors, and rightly deserved no attention. A sad truth today is that many believers treat God the same way. With shallow faith they view God as little and even feeble, and His biblical miracles are just smoke and mirrors. With love of this world and for themselves, they really do pay no attention to "The Man" behind the curtain.
If we truly understood who dwells behind that veil, we would surely not deem Him something in which to pay no attention. In fact, all our attention would be endlessly captivated because He is infinite in power, holiness, and glory. In the Old Testament, only the high priest could enter it once a year but not without blood. The dreadful outcome of Nadab and Abihu tells us that great attention and great care should be taken when entering behind the curtain: "They offered strange fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them. And fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD" (Leviticus 10:1-2).
The Presence of the Lord is too holy for our unveiled exposure or for irreverent contempt. In the Old Testament, the Holy of holies was filled with the smoke of incense, which acted as a sort of veil within the veil. The Bible likens our prayers to be incense before God, so when we pray we enter that Most Holy Place to meet, fellowship, and communicate with God. Because Jesus intercedes for us, we can enter safely and boldly and make our petitions. "For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us" (Hebrews 9:24).
Are you paying attention to The Man behind the curtain? Do you take into account that when you pray it is only the precious blood of Jesus the Lamb that provides your access into the throne room of grace? This should begin to solve any problem of passionless prayer. When you pray, be conscious of the fact that you are in the Holy of Holies, and only by the slain Lamb of God. Be stirred, not deterred. Pay the closest attention to the Man behind the curtain; He is holy! He is worthy! And He died to give you all of His attention.
For Thought:
Read Amos 5:18-24. Israel's worship had deteriorated to ritual formalism. Today, machine-gun-like prayers are very prevalent in churches. Why? Do you think God is pleased with passionless praying?
CHAPTER 6
Day 6
Hired and Qualified
"Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship" (Romans 12:1-2).
* * *
As purchased property of God, all who call themselves "Christian" are by title and declaration ministers. The word minister in the Greek is latrúo, which means, "I serve" or "I worship." It comes from the root word latris—"someone hired to accomplish a technical task because qualified." Without a proper understanding of this definition, believers can fall prey to believing one of the most poisonous lies affronting evangelism ever spewed from the serpent's fangs. Under the delirious effects from the adversary's venomous bite they say, "I am neither hired nor qualified to minister; that is the task of the preacher, evangelist, or pastor!"
Dear believer, you most certainly have been hired, and that at the highest price—the precious blood of the worthy Lamb of God. "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price" (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
Do you call yourself Christian? If so, then know with faith that inseparable from that title is also the qualification. "And these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified" (Romans 8:30).
The questions are: Who is it that hires you? What is it that qualifies you? Are we only hired and qualified as ministers by man, the church, or the seminary? By the light of God's Word, I submit that we are not.
Therefore, if you are struggling with whether or not you are hired and qualified to do the worshipful work of minister, might I suggest that the problem you are facing may be that you have been looking to the wrong thing (or the wrong Person) that hires and qualifies you.
The same God that purchased (hires) us is the same God that qualifies us. When you see the blood of Christ Jesus you see the payment that hired you and the pardon that qualified you. When God sees the blood (Exodus 12:13), He passes over all that you say would be grounds to be fired and disqualified. What keeps us from ministering now? Excuses are skins of a reason stuffed with a lie! Jesus imperatively says to all His disciples 'Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation'" (Mark 16:15).
Excerpted from 180 Days behind the Curtain by DAVID FRAZIER. Copyright © 2014 David Frazier. Excerpted by permission of iUniverse LLC.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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