February 6, 2010, Leviticus 1-3, Acts 13

Feb. 6, 2010, Leviticus 1-3, Acts 13
Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer.

Title: These are the rules and procedures on how to make offerings to God.
S: Lev. 2:10 “The rest of the grain offering belongs to Aaron and his sons;
It is a most holy part of the offerings made to the Lord by fire.”
O: This section goes through the different types of offerings that are made as sacrifices to God – grain offerings, animal offerings, etc. It is interesting that the ministers are not paid first but get what is left over – and yet it is the most holy part of the offering… but still the rest of what is left. Seems odd and disrespectful that those who are the ministers should get what is left over but perhaps it is like the feeding of the 5000 – there should always be more than enough left over if God is honored.

Title: Jesus the perfect sacrifice.
S: Lev. 3:1 “…….he is to present before the Lord an animal without defect..
O: We can never earn our salvation through good works and the sacrifice of deeds is just a love gift. So often we forget that are doing, doing is not for spiritual reward or to earn anything. God can do it all without our effort but he allows us to serve Him …. It is a privilege to serve – but not a need for God.
A: Always know that Jesus, the perfect gift, has made the sacrifice and all we have to do is accept it. Never feel inadequate because I think I should be doing more, or that others think I should be doing more….. I am to do everything as a gift to God and if He enables me to do more He will.
P: Thanks for doing what you did Jesus.

Title: Is God like the angels and neither male or female?
S: Leviticus 3:6 “….he is to offer a male or female without defect”
O: It is not always a male animal that was used in the offering. If these offerings are symbols of the offering of Christ who is to be the final and perfect sacrifice – how strange that either male or female is to be offered. I really don’t have an answer except that in Genesis God created man in His own image “male and female” created he them – and so my imagination of God is very inadequate – He is more than my limited construct of a God with a nice male face …. He is much more that this and I really cannot imagine His form adequately. He is a Spirit and we must worship Him with our spirits. (John 4:24)
A: Stop limiting my perspective of God.
P: That my understanding of God would grow.

Title: Don’t eat fat or blood???
S: Leviticus 3:17 “……you must not eat any fat or any blood.”
O: This is where some of the rituals for meat comes into the Jewish customs I guess and also the Jehovah Witness church rejects blood transfusions because of this verse – but it seems like this is the ritual for the sacrificed animals that they were bled and they were roasted so both blood and fat removed. This whole chapter is about how the priests were to prepare the sacrifices …. This not about our daily eating???? And since Christ is the sacrifice that ended such rituals…. Not for this day and age.

Title: Missionary workers are sent out by the church.
S Acts 13:3 “So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.”
O: So often in this day and age you can sign up for a Christian service endeavor and just go…. Not sure how many places are doing the fast, pray, lay hands on and send out.
A: To ask for this before any endeavor.
P: For such a sending out for those in service, my daughter, others….

Title: The boss believes but the servant rejects Jesus.
S: Acts 13:12 “When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord.”
O: Sergius Paulus is the proconsul of the Island of Cyprus and he believes but his attendant, Elymas, was a Jewish sorcerer who tried to convince his boss not to believe.
A: When someone finds the truth it is often the case that the vultures come out to try and dissuade the new convert from the path of finding God…. This is when the new Christian needs help to hold fast and to not allow these detractors to do their work. This is the reason for not merely sharing Christ and helping someone become a Christian but also there is the responsibility of nurturing the new convert.
P: To care for new Christians.

Title: The religious people listened every Sabbath about the coming of Jesus – but didn’t get it.
S: Acts 13:27 “The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus, yet in condemning him they fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath.”
O: How different am I? I hear the word of God every Sunday – but do I get it? Does it change me? Am I just like these people of Jerusalem and not understanding what I should do about this Jesus? How is my Christianity changing how I live my life? I would like to be different than these people of Jerusalem but what are my real actions…..
A: To move my feet.. and do something about my faith.
P: Help me to get on with it.
Title: This is from Isaiah said that “the Light” to the Gentiles would come through a Jew.
S: Acts 13:47 “For this is what the Lord has commanded us, ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”
O: This verse in the Greek the ‘you’ is singular…. Meaning a person… a light…. Jesus. This is from Isaiah 49:6 -- it would be a Jew that would bring salvation to the earth. Even today these passages are sung by a cantor in the synagogues and yet…. They are still waiting…. Just like Jesus time…. Hearing these words every Sabbath but not getting it.
A: We still have ears that do not hear…
P: To have ears that both hear and then feet that act.

Title: Women can be used to subvert the progress of the church.
S: Acts 13:50 “But the Jews incited the God-fearing women of high standing and the leading men of the city.”
O: The whole city was coming to the synagogue to hear the gospel and these jealous Jews knew how hold back this blessing coming upon this place… they would talk to the women who were God-fearing in their synagogue first – and the men would listen. Oh how important that women know the word---that we are not turned off course due to our lack of Biblical knowledge. If there is something very wrong in the church by all means we must speak however these women did not know the scriptures and their lack of knowledge was manipulated by others. Many cults seem to have a large following of women. Our emotions are out there… sometimes to our detriment.
A: To be careful not to speak against those who are doing what God wants them to do and never participate in gossip. To have an answer for the faith we believe in. (1 Peter 3:15)
P: A wise tongue.

S: Acts 13 51 “And they shook the dust from their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium.”
O: Does this mean that if people reject Christ we should just give up on them and move on? There are missionaries out there that have labored for all of their lives and have had very few converts but still soldier on. I am not sure if I understand this verse.
A: Need some help on understanding this verse.
P: Understanding of this scripture.