An Offering that Pleases the Lord
BBC LEVITICUS SERIES: LEV 1:1-9 OFFERINGS THAT PLEASE GOD FEB. 3, 2008
NKJ LEVITICUS 1:1 NOW THE LORD CALLED TO MOSES, AND SPOKE TO HIM FROM THE TABERNACLE OF MEETING, SAYING, 2 "SPEAK TO THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, AND SAY TO THEM: 'WHEN ANY ONE OF YOU BRINGS AN OFFERING TO THE LORD, YOU SHALL BRING YOUR OFFERING OF THE LIVESTOCK -- OF THE HERD AND OF THE FLOCK. 3 ' IF HIS OFFERING IS A BURNT SACRIFICE OF THE HERD, LET HIM OFFER A MALE WITHOUT BLEMISH; HE SHALL OFFER IT OF HIS OWN FREE WILL AT THE DOOR OF THE TABERNACLE OF MEETING BEFORE THE LORD. 4 'THEN HE SHALL PUT HIS HAND ON THE HEAD OF THE BURNT OFFERING, AND IT WILL BE ACCEPTED ON HIS BEHALF TO MAKE ATONEMENT FOR HIM. 5 'HE SHALL KILL THE
BULL BEFORE THE LORD; AND THE PRIESTS, AARON'S SONS, SHALL BRING THE BLOOD AND SPRINKLE THE BLOOD ALL AROUND ON THE ALTAR THAT IS BY THE DOOR OF THE TABERNACLE OF MEETING. 6 'AND HE SHALL SKIN THE BURNT OFFERING AND CUT IT INTO ITS PIECES. 7 'THE SONS OF AARON THE PRIEST SHALL PUT FIRE ON THE ALTAR, AND LAY THE WOOD IN ORDER ON THE FIRE. 8 'THEN THE PRIESTS, AARON'S SONS, SHALL LAY THE PARTS, THE HEAD, AND THE FAT IN ORDER ON THE WOOD THAT IS ON THE FIRE UPON THE ALTAR; 9 'BUT HE SHALL WASH ITS ENTRAILS AND ITS LEGS WITH WATER. AND THE PRIEST SHALL BURN ALL ON THE ALTAR AS A BURNT SACRIFICE, AN OFFERING MADE BY FIRE, A SWEET AROMA TO THE LORD.
INTRO: THE LORD’S LAMB DIED.
EXPL: HANDBOOK OF HOLINESS; OUR..
WAY 1-7
WORK – 8-15
WALK – 16-22
WORSHIP – 16-27
GENESIS THE PROBLEM OF SIN WOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF THROUGH THE SEED OF THE WOMAN;
EXODUS THE WAY OF SALVATION WOULD BE VIA THE PASCAHL LAMB;
LEVITICUS AND OUR SANCTIFICATION WOULD BE EFFECTED BY WAY OF THE ALTAR.
LEVITICUS IS THE BOOK OF BLOOD AND BLESSING; SACRIFICE AND SANCTIFICATION;
CLEANSING AND CLEAN LIVING.
TODAY WE BEGIN WERE WE LEFT OFF...WITH THE ISSUES OF OFFERINGS.
PROP: OFFERINGS PLEASE THE LORD.
INTER: WHAT ABOUT OFFERING PLEASE THE LORD.
TS: AS WE LOOK AT SERIES OF OFFERINGS, BEGINNING AT THE BURNT OFFERING WE WILL COME TO UNDERSTAND OFFERINGS PLEASE THE LORD.
MP.I VOLUNTARY OFFERINGS 1-3.
NOW THE LORD CALLED TO MOSES, AND SPOKE TO HIM FROM THE TABERNACLE OF MEETING, SAYING, 2 "SPEAK TO THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, AND SAY TO THEM: 'WHEN ANY ONE OF YOU BRINGS AN OFFERING TO THE LORD, YOU SHALL BRING YOUR OFFERING OF THE LIVESTOCK -- OF THE HERD AND OF THE FLOCK. 3
TAKE AND BRING OF YOUR OWN FLOCK, OWN RESOURCES, OWN PURSE AND GAIN.
IMP. HONEST INCOME AND INCREASE THAT COMES FROM GOD, A PORTION IS GIVEN BACK TO GOD.
NKJ 1 CHRONICLES 29:14 BUT WHO AM I, AND WHO ARE MY PEOPLE, THAT WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO OFFER SO WILLINGLY AS THIS? FOR ALL THINGS COME FROM YOU, AND OF YOUR OWN WE HAVE GIVEN YOU.
NKJ 2 CORINTHIANS 3:5 NOT THAT WE ARE SUFFICIENT OF OURSELVES TO THINK OF ANYTHING AS BEING FROM OURSELVES, BUT OUR SUFFICIENCY IS FROM GOD,
2 CORINTHIANS 12:9 AND HE SAID TO ME, "MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR YOU, FOR MY STRENGTH IS MADE PERFECT IN WEAKNESS." THEREFORE MOST GLADLY I WILL RATHER BOAST IN MY INFIRMITIES, THAT THE POWER OF CHRIST MAY REST UPON ME. 10 THEREFORE I TAKE PLEASURE IN INFIRMITIES, IN REPROACHES, IN NEEDS, IN PERSECUTIONS, IN DISTRESSES, FOR CHRIST'S SAKE. FOR WHEN I AM WEAK, THEN I AM STRONG. 11 I HAVE BECOME A FOOL IN BOASTING; YOU HAVE COMPELLED ME. FOR I OUGHT TO HAVE BEEN COMMENDED BY YOU; FOR IN NOTHING WAS I BEHIND THE MOST EMINENT APOSTLES, THOUGH I AM NOTHING.
APP: WORSHIP IS AN ACT OF THE WILL; WE PRESENT A PRESENT TO GOD SO THAT WE MAY DRAW NEAR TO HIM IN WORSHIP. WE GIVE OURSELVES IN THE ACT OF WORSHIP.
ILL: LET US DRAW NEAR TO GOD WITH A SINCERE HEART IN FULL ASSURANCE OF FAITH. (HEBREWS 10:22)
EACH NEW DAY REQUIRES A FRESH RENEWAL OF OUR DEDICATION TO THE LORD. THE STRONGEST OF CHRISTIANS CAN BE DRAWN AWAY BY THE PRESSURES OF DAILY LIVING. AND WE ARE VULNERABLE TO THE LUSTS OF THE FLESH AND THE EYES AS WELL AS THE SUBTLE TEMPTATIONS THAT CONSTITUTE THE “PRIDE OF LIFE” (1 JOHN 2:16). THE WARNING OF SCRIPTURE IS CLEAR: “LET HIM THAT THINKETH HE STANDETH TAKE HEED LEST HE FALL” (1 CORINTHIANS 10:12). GOD MUST ALWAYS HAVE HIS RIGHTFUL PLACE ON THE THRONE OF THE HEART. NOTHING IN LIFE—NOT JOB, NOT RECREATION, NOT EVEN FAMILY—SHOULD HAVE THE TOP PRIORITY OF OUR DAILY CONCERNS. ANYTHING THAT REPLACES THE LORDSHIP OF CHRIST CAN BECOME IDOLATROUS AND CAUSE US TO BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO A SPIRITUAL DISASTER. WE MUST EACH DAY SAY, “I AM THINE, O LORD.”
FANNY CROSBY WROTE THIS CONSECRATION HYMN WHILE VISITING IN THE HOME OF THE COMPOSER OF THE MUSIC, WILLIAM H. DOANE, IN CINCINNATI. THE FAMILY’S CONVERSATION THAT NIGHT CENTERED AROUND THE BLESSEDNESS OF ENJOYING THE NEARNESS OF GOD. SUDDENLY IN A MOMENT OF INSPIRATION, FANNY STARTED GIVING THE WORDS OF THE HYMN—LINE BY LINE, VERSE BY VERSE, AND THEN THE CHORUS. SOON AFTER DOANE SUPPLIED THE MUSIC, AND ANOTHER OF THE MORE THAN 8,000 FANNY CROSBY HYMNS WAS BORN. SINCE THAT DAY IN 1875, THESE MOVING LINES HAVE MINISTERED TO AND CHALLENGED COUNTLESS NUMBERS OF GOD’S PEOPLE TO KEEP THEIR LIVES DEDICATED TO THEIR LORD:
I AM THINE, O LORD—I HAVE HEARD THY VOICE, AND IT TOLD THY LOVE TO ME; BUT I LONG TO RISE IN THE ARMS OF FAITH AND BE CLOSER DRAWN TO THEE.
CONSECRATE ME NOW TO THY SERVICE, LORD, BY THE POW’R OF GRACE DIVINE; LET MY SOUL LOOK UP WITH A STEADFAST HOPE AND MY WILL BE LOST IN THINE.
O THE PURE DELIGHT OF A SINGLE HOUR THAT BEFORE THY THRONE I SPEND, WHEN I KNEEL IN PRAY’R AND WITH THEE, MY GOD, I COMMUNE AS FRIEND WITH FRIEND.
THERE ARE DEPTHS OF LOVE THAT I CANNOT KNOW TILL I CROSS THE NARROW SEA; THERE ARE HEIGHTS OF JOY THAT I MAY NOT REACH TILL I REST IN PEACE WITH THEE.
CHORUS: DRAW ME NEARER, NEARER, BLESSED LORD, TO THE CROSS WHERE THOU HAST DIED; DRAW ME NEARER, NEARER, NEARER, BLESSED LORD, TO THY PRECIOUS, BLEEDING SIDE.
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MPII. VALUABLE OFFERING V. 4-FF
. 3 ' IF HIS OFFERING IS A BURNT SACRIFICE OF THE HERD, LET HIM OFFER A MALE WITHOUT BLEMISH; HE SHALL OFFER IT OF HIS OWN FREE WILL AT THE DOOR OF THE TABERNACLE OF MEETING BEFORE THE LORD. 4 'THEN HE SHALL PUT HIS HAND ON THE HEAD OF THE BURNT OFFERING, AND IT WILL BE ACCEPTED ON HIS BEHALF TO MAKE ATONEMENT FOR HIM. 5 'HE SHALL KILL THE BULL BEFORE THE LORD; AND THE PRIESTS, AARON'S SONS, SHALL BRING THE BLOOD AND SPRINKLE THE BLOOD ALL AROUND ON THE ALTAR THAT IS BY THE DOOR OF THE TABERNACLE OF MEETING. 6 'AND HE SHALL SKIN THE BURNT OFFERING AND CUT IT INTO ITS PIECES. 7 'THE SONS OF AARON THE PRIEST SHALL PUT FIRE ON THE ALTAR, AND LAY THE WOOD IN ORDER ON THE FIRE. 8 'THEN THE PRIESTS, AARON'S SONS, SHALL LAY THE PARTS, THE HEAD, AND THE FAT IN ORDER ON THE WOOD THAT IS ON THE FIRE UPON THE ALTAR; 9 'BUT HE SHALL WASH ITS ENTRAILS AND ITS LEGS WITH WATER.
TAKE AND BRING YOUR BEST, NO BLEMISH OR DEFECT, NO DISEASE OR DEFILEMENT; BRING A RAM- DEVOTED SERVICE; SHEEP I.E. SUBMISSION; GOAT I.E. SIN; DOVE I.E. OUR POVERTY.
THE PERSON BRINGING THE OFFERING HAD RESPONSIBILITIES: TAKE AND BRING, LAY AND WASH YOUR SACRIFICE...TO MAKE ATONEMENT ....KAPHAR...COVER, RECONCILE
IMP. THE OFFERING POINTS TO OUR PERSON, I.E. OUR SIN – WE IDENTIFY WITH THE SACRIFICE...IT IS OUR SUBSTITUTE. THE OFFERING POINTS TO OUR PRIEST – WHO DIDN’T TOUCH TOOK THE BLOOD AND BURNED THE AMINAL. AND THE PRIEST RECEIVED THE SKIN.
AND ALL OF IT WAS BURNED...TO GOD.
2 CORINTHIANS 2:15 FOR WE ARE TO GOD THE FRAGRANCE OF CHRIST AMONG THOSE WHO ARE BEING SAVED AND AMONG THOSE WHO ARE PERISHING.
APP; BRING THE BEST OF OUR RESOURCES, GIVE THE BEST TO GOD AND IT PLEASES HIM.
ILL: God Values Our Gifts
God seeks and values the gifts we bring Him—gifts of praise, thanksgiving, service, and material offerings. In all such giving at the altar we enter into the highest experiences of fellowship. But the gift is acceptable to God in the measure to which the one who offers it is in fellowship with Him in character and conduct; and the test of this is in our relationships with our fellow men. We are thus charged to postpone giving to God until right relationships are established with others. Could the neglect of this be the explanation of the barrenness of our worship?
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MPII. VICTORIOUS OFFERING. SWEET AROMA THAT PLEASES GOD.
OFFERINGS CAN GET YOU IN TO TROUBLE...CAN AND ABLE.
GOD WAS PLEASED WITH ABLES OFFERING BUT NOT CAIN...AND SIN HARDENED HIS HEART.
IMP. GOD WANTS A BROKEN AND CONTRITE HEART PS 51. WHEN THAT TAKES PLACE AND WE SURRENDER ALL....VICTORY....DETACHMENT IS VICTORY...
APP: WORSHIP IS A MATTER OF THE HEART; ROOTED IN GOD’S GREAT LOVE. LOVE FOR HIS AND HIS LOVE FOR US..
CLOSE: WHAT IT SIG...OF THE BURNT OFFERING... Take This Poor Indian Too
An incident is related of a missionary who came into contact with a proud and powerful Indian chief. The chief, trembling under conviction of sin, approached the missionary and offered his belt of wampum as atonement. “No!” said the missionary, “Christ cannot accept a sacrifice like that.” The Indian departed, but soon returned offering his valuable rifle and the most beautiful skins he had taken in hunting. “No!” was the reply, “Christ cannot accept those either.” Again the Indian went away, only to return with a conscience more troubled than ever. This time he offered his wigwam, together with his wife and child—everything for peace and pardon. “No,” was the reply even to this, “Christ cannot accept such a sacrifice.” At this the chief seemed utterly oppressed; but suddenly he somehow sensed the deficiency, for, lifting up tearful eyes, he cried out, “Here, Lord, take this poor Indian too!” That is the only condition for fellowship with Christ.
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[1]Osbeck, Kenneth W.: Amazing Grace : 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions. Grand Rapids, Mich. : Kregel Publications, 1990, S. 232
[2]Galaxie Software: 10,000 Sermon Illustrations. Biblical Studies Press, 2002; 2002
[3] AMG Bible Illustrations. electronic ed. Chattanooga : AMG Publishers, 2000 (Logos Library System; Bible Illustrations Series)