DEEPER LIF SEARCH THE SCRIPTURE
SEARCH THE SCRIPTURE by Pastor Kumuyi of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry for today is here. Digest the word of the lord and pray believing.
Youth Search The Scripture Lesson: 79
TOPIC: THE CALL TO HOLINESS
Text: Leviticus 20:1-27; 21:1-24; 22:1-33
Memory Verse: "And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the LORD am holy, and have severed you from other people, that should be mine" (Leviticus 20:26).
In the previous lessons, God gave a detailed list of
Prohibitions and practical duties which the children of Israel were expected to
comply with. But in our present study, He stated the penalties that would be
applied to those who flout those commandments. These penalties were intended to
serve as deterrent to the offenders. God is merciful. Though He forgives a
penitent sinner who truly turns away from his
iniquity, He punishes those who sin with impunity and
fail to repent. Furthermore, the house of Aaron was appointed by God to the
office of Priesthood. In carrying out their duties, they were to do it in
holiness. This study deals with the laws concerning the priest's social
relationships, the laws of personal
disqualification from serving in the Tabernacle and the laws concerning defective animals which must not be offered upon the altar of the Lord. In other words, they must be separated from all forms of defilement.
ABOMINABLE SINFULNESS AND THEIR PUNISHMENTS (Leviticus
20:1-27: Deuteronomy 17:2-5; 1 Chronicles 10:13, 14; Exodus 20:12;
Deuteronomy 22:22-24; 27:15-26; Proverbs 20:20; 30:17; Ephesians 5:3)
God stipulated
capital punishment (death) for idolatry and occultism. Idolaters are those who
serve other gods, which is against the law of God. "Thou shalt have no
other gads before me" (Exodus 20:3). As believers, we must not be involved
in any form of idolatry "Little children, keep yourselves from idols,
Amen" (1 John 5:21).
Question 1: Why are idolatry and occultism considered
a very serious sin punishable by death?
Occultism is inseparably linked with idolatry and the
punishment for both is death. The act of consulting with familiar spirits and
involvement in witchcraft are grievous sins in the sight of God because it
diminishes His glory. People get involved in those practices when they go to
those who use diabolical means to get information about lost items or about the
dead. These include the use of talisman, consulting horoscopes, astrology,
crystal bull, tarot cards, astral projection, fortune telling, star gazing,
divination, etc. As believers, we must avoid these und several other
traditional practices that may link a person to Satan and his kingdom. Saul the
king of f Israel was judged by God because he dabbled into spiritism (1
Chronicles 10:13, 14). Other sins listed are cursing of one's parent(s),
adultery, incest, homosexuality, bestiality, etc. The person who curses his
father or mother is guilty of the fifth commandment. Cursing or abusing one's
parents include physical or verbal abuse, contempt, disrespect, evil speaking
and slandering of parents. God has appointed that "the eye that mocketh at
his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall
pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it" (Proverbs 30: 17).
Question 2: What is the punishment for those who
indulge in immorality?
For sexual
perversions, God commanded that the culprits should be stoned to death. Sexual
immorality has become so prevalent that most people no longer consider it an
abomination (E.g. gay marriages and ordaining gay ministers). As a matter of
fact, some nations and even church denominations now approve what God
categorically calls an abomination. Yet, if
people do not immoral person, God does. There is repercussion for judge
or discipline the immorality which include Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)
such as gonorrhea, syphilis, HIV/ AIDS and the likes. Those who engage in
immorality reap the fruit of marital sorrow, broken homes, guilty conscience
and untimely death. They also stand the r e risk of spending eternity in the
lake of fire if they fail to repent before they die. Believers’ must avoid all
shades of immorality. There should be no Mention of such sin in our midst. The
immoral person has no part in the kingdom of God because even if he had a
genuine experience of salvation before going into immorality, he is counted as
unclean. He is cut off from the Lord and needs to be reconciled to Christ again
(Romans 11:21-23). The only option left for those who have fallen into
immorality is to confess their sin and sincerely repent. God promises to pardon
the penitent but for those who cover their sin, it is written that "they
shall not prosper (Proverbs 28: 13).
ACCEPTABLE SERVICES BY THE PRIEST (Leviticus 21:1- 24;
22:1-16; Mark 7:20-23; Malachi 2:14-16; 1 Samuel 2:12, 22-24; 4:14-18; 1
Timothy 3:4,5; Ephesians 4:7; Proverbs 18:16)
"And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto the priest
the sons of Aaron, and say unto them, There shall none be defiled for the dead
among his people" (Leviticus 21:1). God instructed the priests through
Moses that they should not defile themselves either for the dead or in anything
that would disqualify them from performing their duties. "They shall be
holy unto their God, and not profane the name of their God for the offerings of
the LORD made by fire, and the bread of their God, they do offer: therefore
they shall be holy" (Leviticus 21:6). The above verse tells us why God
demands holiness, One, the personality and nature of God is holy. Two, to
prevent profaning of the name of God. Three, for the purpose of carrying on the
daily sacrifice fur the people of God. Similarly. God demands holiness und
righteousness from Christian youths.
Question 3 : Mention things that can defile Christians
youths.
In practical terms, cheating in examinations, immoral Relationships,
stealing, pride, evil thoughts, wickedness, Backbiting, disobedience are some
of those things that defile Christian youths and disqualify them from God’s
service. Besides, the life of a Christian youth affects the ministry of his
Parents. “And the daughter of any priest, if she profane Herself
by playing the whore, she profaneth her father: she Shall be burnt with fire”
(Leviticus 21:9). God expects that the „.children of ministers should be good
examples and models for Others in the society. Children of Christian leaders
should not
Do anything that can diminish the image of their parents’
Ministry or bring a reproach to God. All Christian youths Should emulate
Philip’s daughters. “And the same nan had Four daughters, virgins, which did
prophesy” (Acts 21:9). Therefore, to live a holy life in this present evil
world, we must
Be converted, consecrated, commune with the Lord
regularly, Cultivate the habit of reading and meditating on God’s word and Carefully
“abstain from all appearance of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:22).
Question 4: Mention some physically deformed people
That were not allowed to offer sacrifices unto God.
Apart from discouraging moral defilement in His house,
God Also disqualified people with some form of physical deformity. The
following were disqualified from making sacrifices on the Altar: (1) the blind
(2) lame (3) a person with flat nose (4) Someone who had extra fingers or toes
(5) a man with broken
Foot or hand (6) a humped back (7) a dwarf (8) a person
with Defective eye (9) someone with skin disease (10) a person whose testicles
are damaged. They were only permitted to eat the holy
Things but not to minister at the altar.
Question 5: In the light of the Scripture, should
physically Challenged youths be prevented from serving the Lord, Today?
From the scriptural point of view, physically challenged Youths
are not restricted from fellowship and intimacy with God. For instance, Moses
was a stammerer yet he was the Prophet to the nation. Elisha, though
bald-headed, possessed a Double portion of Elijah’s anointing and did exploits
for the
Lord. Fanny J. Crosby (1820-1915) was blind. Yet, she
wrote Over 8,000 hymns in her lifetime. They include songs such as “Blessed
Assurance”, “All the Way My Saviour Leads Me”, “Rescue the Perishing” and
“Saved by Grace”. Physically Challenged Christian youths are encouraged to be
involved in The service of the Lord according to their abilities.
APPROPRIATE SACRIFICES BY THE PEOPLE (Leviticus 22:17-33;
Deuteronomy 17:1; Malachi 1:6-8,13,14; 1Chronicles 28:9; 29:5;2 Corinthians
9:6,7; Hebrews 9:14)
“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto Aaron,
and to his sons, and unto all the children of Israel, And say unto them,
Whatsoever he be of the house of Israel, Or of the strangers in Israel, that
will offer his oblation for All his vows, and for all his freewill offerings,
which they will Offer unto the LORD for a burnt offering; Ye shall offer at Your
own will a male without blemish, of the beeves, of the Sheep, or of the goats.
But whatsoever hath a blemish, that Shall ye not offer: for it shall not be
acceptable for you” (Leviticus 22:17-20). God commanded that the sacrifices
which The people offered on the altar must be perfect. The animals for The
sacrifice must have no wound, disease, defect or any
Missing part. It must also be of the right age. To make the Sacrifice acceptable, it must also be offered willingly and not Reluctantly. “But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall Reap also sparingly: and He which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth In his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:6,7).
Question 6: What is the first thing we should give to God?
For our giving to be acceptable and rewarding, the giver must First give himself to God. “My
son, give ne thine heart, and let Thine eyes observe my ways. And this they
did, not as we Hope, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto Us
by the will of God” (Proverbs 23:26: 2 Corinthians 8:5). As
Part of our worship and service to God, we should
willingly offer Our tithes and offerings, talents, treasures and time for Him.
God expects Christian youths to offer
the best to Him. “Ye offer
Polluted bread upon mine altar: and ye say, Wherein have
We polluted thee? In that ye say, The
table of the Lord is Contemptible. And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is
it not Evil? And if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? Offer it Now
unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or Accept thy person? Saith
the LORD of hosts” (Malachi 1:7,8). However, we should not offer money given to
us for a
Specific purpose such as school fees, examination fees,
text-Books’ money as offering. The main emphasis of this study is: “Therefore,
shall ye Keep my commandments, and do them: I am the LORD”
(Leviticus 22:31). Obedience to the word of God is the
secret of Blessings. “If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do Them”
(John 13:17).
