Leviticus

Holy Life

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Leviticus 10:9-10
“It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations, that you may distinguish between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean”

IMG_1487Perhaps, the clearest message from the Book of Leviticus is, God is Holy and requires holiness from His people. Rather than leaving it to us to determine what is holy and what is not, God has given us His Word. In the pages of Scripture, we will learn how to “distinguish between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean.” Holiness was first achieved through the Old Testament sacrifices. God established a system by which sin could be forgiven through the shedding of blood. These sacrifices are no longer required because Jesus Christ, the Son of God, paid the penalty for all sin, when He died on the cross. We are made holy when we receive Christ, and our sins are forever washed away. Those who have been made holy are required to live holy. Holiness carries the idea of being set apart. A person who is holy is a person who has set themselves apart from others, by determining that he/she wants to live to please the Lord. It is the holy person who is looking into the pages of their Bible to determine the meaning of life and how to live. It is the holy person who, when faced with a decision, will seek answers from the Word of God, or when facing conflict will seek to solve it through the Wisdom of the Word. Holiness is achieved when we set ourselves apart to the Lord, and live out His Word.

Pastor Jim

 

Let’s Worship

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Leviticus 9:23-24
“Then the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people, and fire came out from before the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the fat on the altar. When all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces.”

IMG_1485Worship is important in the life of the believer, and in the function of the church. When we gather, we should have an atmosphere where people can encounter the Lord. While there are a variety of worship styles, the heart of worship is to encounter the Lord, offering praise, and surrendering all. I think there are a few things we can learn about corporate worship from Israel’s example, on the day of a dedication.

First, notice that the people gathered in accordance with the Word of God. It is clear, their time was not a free-for-all. The Word of God determined how the people would gather, and what was to be done at their gathering. God has always revealed Himself through His Word. When we keep the teaching of the Word at the center of our worship, we will encounter the God of the Word.

Second, the people did not come empty-handed. They brought offerings to present to the Lord. Worship, to them, was not a spectator sport where the priests worshipped and the people watched. Too often, when we gather for worship, we spend our time watching the worship team worship. We enjoy the music, but fail to use the time to enter into the presence of the Lord, and encounter Him.

Third, they bowed down before God. Their bowing was symbolic of what was taking place within them. They saw the glory of God; that is, they more fully understood who He is. They realized that He was a holy, righteous, majestic God who loved them, and was establishing a relationship with them. It was in response to realizing who God is, that they bowed themselves before Him in surrender. This really is the goal of worship. That our lives would be consecrated to the Lord.

When we gather for worship, we should come with expectant hearts. Expecting that we will offer ourselves and our praise to God, and expecting that He will reveal Himself to us as we seek His face.

Pastor Jim

 

Always Burning

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Leviticus 6:13
“A fire shall always be burning on the altar; it shall never go out.”

IMG_1482The Old Testament offerings served a duel purpose. First, they were designed to provide a way for man to have relationship with God. Second, they were designed as types or illustrations of a relationship between man and God through Christ. Paul wrote that these things were written for our “example” (Romans 15:4). An understanding of the Old Testament offerings, helps to illustrate the similarity of those offerings to a healthy relationship with Christ. The burnt offering is a picture of a life fully devoted to the Lord. This offering was brought to the priest morning and night, and completely consumed upon the altar.

Jesus explained, if we want to experience abundant life, it is not found in attempting to save our lives, by holding things back from the Lord. It is in the complete surrender of all to God. The Rich Young Ruler went away sad because he was unwilling to give all to Christ (Mark 10:17-22). By contrast, Paul celebrated that his life was being poured out as an offering on the altar of the Lord (Philippians 2:17).

It interests me that the flames of the altar were always lit, and the burnt offerings were sacrificed twice daily. Every morning and every evening, the air would be filled with the sweet aroma of the burnt offering. One way to ensure you have a healthy and growing relationship with God, is to offer yourself to Him daily. As the morning awakens, it is a good thing to get alone with the Lord and His Word. Start with prayer, and offer yourself to Him for the day. Take your schedule and lay it at His feet, asking for His guiding hand, and leave enough room for Him to redirect, as He sees fit; to use you to impact others for Christ.

When the day comes to an end, it is a good idea to lay the events of the day back on the altar. We often begin our day with great expectations, only to find that we have failed in one way or another. Take the time to confess sin, cry out for His merciful pardon, and sustaining grace.

Pastor Jim