Sermon Tone Analysis

1) 5-8-11…SBC…AM     2)

Intro:                           “Playing by the Rules”

Ø      there is quite a diversity among people in this world, but none more then when it comes to the subject of spiders

Ø      some people don’t mind them and have them for pets, others tolerate them, and others, well you know who you are

·         You are the ones that respond the same way if it is a spider or a lady bug

·         Squealing, screaming and climbing up on things to get away from something that is just a wee bit smaller than you are

·         You are the ones that really hope it isn’t true that we eat 8 spiders a year in our sleep

·         *Illustration:  *Morgan and Kayla encountering a bug in the bath tub—just about climbed on my back

·         Some would say…boil me oil, torture me, dismember me limb by limb but not spiders

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Ø      the way that many people feel about spiders is how many Christians feel about the book of Leviticus

 

·         give me Revelation, Job, Jude, Song of Solomon…but whatever you do don’t make me read Leviticus

·         it is one of a few books when reading through the Bible in a year that we think, “Why am I doing this again?”

Ø      Why is the study of Leviticus so neglected?

·         Leviticus seems dull due to its lack of action and plot

·         Leviticus contains detailed “antiquated” rule and regulations with much confusing and uninteresting repetition

·         Leviticus describes a world of sacrificial worship and legal regulation which seems very far removed from the religious practices of today

 

Ø      What makes the book of Leviticus so important?

·         Leviticus reveals the sacrificial basis for salvation and for fellowship with God

·         Leviticus foreshadows the work of Christ as Savior

·         Leviticus places an emphasis on the holiness of God—in contrast to the exceeding sinfulness of man (estranged)

 

Ø      The Liberty bell even has an inscription on it from Leviticus 25:10

 

Ancient Near Eastern Covenants

1.      Leviticus describes the covenant relationship that Israel has with God from Israel’s side of the covenant

 

·         It is a bi-lateral contract between God and Israel and L. focuses on Israel’s responsibilities

·         focus of the covenant is on the nations staying in right relationship with their Sovereign

·         Covenants with Abraham, Noah, David were more focuses on the sovereign and his blessing upon the vassal

 

2.

The sacrifices and offerings were designed to demonstrate the subservience of Israel, to atone for her offenses against her Sovereign, Yahweh, and to reflect the harmoniousness and peaceableness of the relationship being established or reestablished.[1]

3.      In this specific covenant with Israel what is being communicated on the whole is the definition of holiness and unholiness

 

·         With God being the standard of holiness, human character and behavior must, if it is to be called “holy,” reflect the character and behavior of God Himself.[2]

·         *He is the standard of holiness by which all else must be measured,*[3]**

·         Those whom He calls to servanthood must therefore understand their holiness not primarily as some kind of “spirituality” but as their uniqueness and separateness as the elect and called of God.

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·         But holiness must also find expression in life by adhering to ethical principles and practices that demonstrate godlikeness.[5]

·         *This is the underlying meaning of being the “image of God.”*[6]**

4.      Salvation in the OT

 

·         salvation was always by faith in the revelation that God had given to them—Abraham, Noah, David

·         Salvation is typically defined as what must be done in order to get to heaven after you die

·         Faith in the One that would come after them—the Messiah—Jesus Christ

·         It was never in something they could do to earn God’s favor, but in what God had done for them

·         God’s abiding favor with man was, is and always will begin by man placing His faith in God

 

Ø      Leviticus is written after Israel is already God’s chosen people—they were divinely elected to that position

Ø      This covenant is the vehicle by which Israel, the chosen seed of Abraham, obligated herself to be Yahweh’s servant people[7]

Ø      The degree of favor that rested upon Israel as God’s people depended on their faithful adherence to this covenant

 

Transition:  In this first section of Leviticus 26 that we are looking at this morning, we will see that…

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*Proposition:  *Holy living brings the favor of God.

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*Prayer*

* *

Transition:  v1-2 explains for us what the favor of God is…

1)   The Favor of God is Known          v1-2

 

A-    The major theme of the book of Leviticus is found back in 11:44 and it lays out for us a foundation of worship

B-    Both of the laws presented in *v1-2* have to do with the proper worship of God.

C-    The placing of these laws on the proper worship of God at the beginning of the section on blessings and cursings indicates that the issue of blessings and cursings is intrinsically related to one’s relationship and response to God.[8]

 

*/Idols/*: the root of the word is translated “worthless; insufficient; inadequate.”[9]

D-    Instead of just telling them to go and be holy God gave them a standard to shoot for - Himself

(*Ill.**

– *Gatorade commercial – Be like Mike (Jordan) – the standard of basketball prowess)

 

Ø      Holy living demands avoidance of all forms of idolatry and false worship

Ø      Worshipping idols instead of the one true God is like trying to play a major piano concerto by downloading the piano app on your favorite device

Ø      The idols that can consume our lives are worthless, empty and insufficient when compared to true worship of God

 

*Application*:

1-      God’s favor bestowed upon your life is not like a Indiana Jones type of archeological expedition--hidden

2-      The first step towards gaining God’s favor is found in proper worship of God

3-      Proper worship of God is not a twice a year thing, when I’m in town kind of thing, or even once a week thing

4-      It is an every day, every hour, every minute type of endeavor—it is a reordering of life around worship of God

5-      If we are not striving to worship God during the week we might as well stay home on Sunday because our worship will be hypocritical and in vain

6-      The favor of God upon your life can only commence when we begin to break down the idols that have been erected in our lives—peace, comfort, fame, academics, image, money, possessions

7-      Living for these idols and not in holy living before God only results in the disfavor of God upon your life

 

Transition:  v3-10 explain for us what the favor of God looks like…

2) The Favor of God is Tangible                 v3-10

 

A-    The first major section of *Leviticus 26* delineates the blessings the nation will experience if the Israelites remain faithful to the Lord’s commands.[10]

1-      The section begins with the phrase, “If you follow my decrees,” lit., “walk in my statutes” (26:3).[11]

2-      The free will of man is recognized equally here with God’s controlling power

3-      Obedience to God is compared to walking in his laws all throughout the OT.

In the NT the equivalent is seen in obedience to the admonition “walk in the Spirit” (Gal 5:16).[12]

B-    These blessings include agricultural prosperity (26:3–5, 10), victory in battle (26:6–8), and population expansion (26:9a).[13]

Ø      God’s intention and desire to bless humanity is a central focus of his covenant relationships.

For this reason, the concept of blessing pervades the biblical record.

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Ø      The parallels between the OT and NT usages of blessing are striking.

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Ø      To be blessed is to be granted special favor by God with resulting joy and prosperity.

[16]

Ø      The blessing of God is not just some euphoric feeling—for the one who sees through eyes of faith they can see God’s tangible hand of blessing upon their lives

Ø      I’m not saying we will have a life free of hardship and abounding in riches and never sick – false gospel

Ø      In the NT the emphasis is more on spiritual blessings but not to the exclusion of material blessings.[17]

·         Matthew 6:33, Philippians 4 –  if our spiritual blessings weren’t enough—we are promised the provisions we need

·         Mt 6:33 reflects the same formula as Lev 26 – a God who showers favor upon his people is worthy of worship

 

*Application:*

1-      Let us not forget that the same words spoken to Israel were spoken to us as NT Christians – Hebrews 13:5

2-      Holy living seen in our obedience to God’s way of living life will result in God’s favor upon us

3-      That is not to say that we obey God with selfish motives salivating over the tangible blessings

4-      We strive to live holy lives properly motivated by God’s glory and in gratitude for the blessings we have received

 

 

*Transition:  *Lastly, *v11-13* explains where the favor of God is…

3) The Favor of God is abiding          v11-13

 

A-    *v11–13* reiterate the essential nature of Israel’s relationship with God.

This special relationship with God is the goal of the covenant[18]

B-    This special relationship with God is the goal of the covenant, for the Lord takes up residence among the Israelites in the same way he does in the tabernacle.[19]

C-    The blessing of God’s walking among the people (26:12) reflects a return to conditions before the Fall (Gen 3:8).[20]—*same

form of the word used to describe God walking w~/ Adam in the garden*

D-    The apostle Paul cites the language of *26:12* to describe what it means for believers in the church to be marked as the temple of the living God (2 Cor 6:16).

[21]

*E-    **This intimate relationship with God is the primary blessing of life (Pss 4:8; 16:2, 5; 63:3).*[22]**

*Application:*

1-      Christians today do not possess God’s favor as if they are some sort of new replacement of Israel

2-      We possess God’s favor as Israel in the sense that we are God’s chosen people the way I. was God’s chosen people

3-      What we see in all of this how a faithful God acts towards his people who strive to live holy lives