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Monday, April 25, 2016

Leviticus: God as Holy One

Sermon by: Kathy Larson
Date: April 24, 2016
Text: Leviticus 11
Sermon Audio (link)


The Creation of Adam, Michelangelo, Sistine Chapel, c. 1511-1512, public domain

below is the handout referenced in the sermon: 

God As Holy One
YHWH of hosts is His name, the Holy One of Israel. Isaiah 47:4

Holiness as Separation
·         Holiness as Separation (Jer 10:6-7; Psalm 89:5-15; 1 Chron 17:20-22; Lev 11:45; 18:2-5; 19:2; 20:22-24)
·         Holiness as Complete Perfection (Lev 21:18-22; 22:17-24; Psalm 18:30; 2 Sam 22:31; Deut 32:4; Matt 5:48)
·         Holiness and Impurity as Highly Contagious (Lev 11:32-38; Ezek 44:15-19; 46:19-20; Lev 5:14-16; 2 Sam 6:1-11)
·         Holiness as Proximity to God (Exod 35-40; Lev 19:1-4; 20:22-26; Deut 7:6-8)

Leviticus 20:22-26  
·         Israel is holy because of their relationship with God (see also Exod 19:4-6; Deut 7:6-8; Lev 22:32-33; 20:7-8, 21:8, 22:9 & 16)
·         What does this tell us about God?  What does it tell us about our relationship to God? 

Atonement = wiping away, washing of sin, to make clean/holy again
·         In the OT, sin was atoned for by animal sacrifice (Leviticus 4:20, 26, 31; 5:10, 13, 16, 18; 6:7 & Numbers 15:25-26, 28)
·         In the NT, Christ is our Once-For-All sacrifice (Heb 9:1-14; 10:11-18)

Matthew 5:17-20, 43-45
·         How is Jesus making the law even harder?
·         How is it even possible to be ‘perfect’? 

Me as Holy One
·         I am the Vessel; He is the Spirit (Gal 2:20; 3:27; Rom 8:1-17; Gal 5)
·         I belong to God (Titus 2:11-14; Exod 19:5; Deut 4:20; 1 Cor 6:19-20)
·         I am holy (Titus 2:11-14; Heb 10:19-25; 1 Cor 6:19-20; 1 Pet 2:9-10)
·         I can be holy because Christ lives in me (Gal 2:20; 3:27; Rom 8:1-17)
·         I have been given the Holy Spirit (Gal 3:10-14; 5:1, 13-18, 16-26; 1 Cor 6:19-20; Heb 10:26-27; Rom 7:14-25)

New Testament Sacrifices
·         Burnt/Gift Offering (Lev 1-2) = total commitment – my whole life is a sacrifice (Rom 12:1-2; 1 Thess 5:12-24)
·         Peace Offerings (Lev 3) = fellowship with God – thanks and praise, doing good and sharing (Heb 13:15-16)
·         Purification Offering (Lev 4:1-5:13) = purity – walk by the Spirit, confess to and pray for each other (Gal 5:22-26; James 5:13-16)
·         Reparation Offering (Lev 5:14-26) = reparation – confess to God, make reparation to each other, forgive each other (Matt 5:21-26; 6:1-15)

Daily Devotion Follow Up

Monday: Read Romans 11:32-12:2
·         Why did God shut people up in disobedience (allow sin)? 
·         Is there anyone who knows better than God what you should do with your life? Then shouldn’t you give it up to Him?
·         What are some ways you have conformed to the world instead of obeying God’s Word? How can you renew your mind in those areas? Are you willing to?   

Tuesday: Read 1 Thessalonians 5:12-24
·         Is it even possible to do all of these things all the time?
·         What is God’s will for us in Christ Jesus? How do you fall short of His will for you? Do you believe His will is the best thing for you?
·         Why would it be good to be preserved complete and without blame at Christ’s coming? How can you do that?

Wednesday: Read Hebrews 13:8-16
·         How is our heart strengthened? 
·         What kinds of sacrifices are we offer up to this Spiritual King of the Spiritual Kingdom of God? How often should we praise and thank Him?
·         Why do these sacrifices and not empty religious ritual please God?

Thursday: Read Galatians 5:22-26
·         What are the fruits of the Spirit? Which fruits do you think people see in your life? Which ones are not as apparent? Why?
·         Why should people be able to see all of these in every Christian’s life? Why don’t they?
·         What’s the difference between living by the Spirit and walking by the Spirit?  How can we walk by the Spirit?

Friday: James 5:13-18
·         When should we pray? Why?
·         How powerful are the prayers of a Christian? Does this mean that every time a Christian prays for someone who sick, they will be healed? If not, what does it mean? Which do you think Christ is more concerned about healing, sickness or sin?
·         Why should we confess our sins to one another? If you don’t have an accountability partner to whom you regularly confess, consider it.

Saturday: Read Matthew 5:21-26
·         Why is calling someone a fool the same as murder?
·         Why can’t you present an offering at the altar of a HOLY God when your brother has something against you? If our whole life is an offering, how long should you let a situation go unresolved?
·         Is there anyone with whom you need to be reconciled? If so, what does this passage tell you to do about it?

The video referenced in the sermon is from The Bible Project


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