Lesson 21
ST. PAUL SCHOOL OF LEADERSHIP
“Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ”
(I Corinthians 11:1)
(With Frank Eiklor and Walter Contreras)
WINNERS AND LOSERS - THE BOOK OF LEVITICUS
Lesson 21
INTRODUCTION
When Jesus and the apostles pointed out the Scriptures, they were referring to the 39 books of the Hebrew Scriptures that we refer to as the Old Testament. As the New Testament was being written, its writers affirmed the importance of the Old Testament examples—good and bad—and the wisdom in learning from them. Twice Paul repeats God’s warning to pay attention to those examples (I Corinthians 10:6, 11).
The first five books of Moses lay the foundation for God’s call to Israel to be a light to the nations. Now we believers in Jesus are called to be His light and salt in a dark world. This lesson will be in the third book of the Bible—Leviticus—as we study what makes a winner—or a loser.
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Leviticus |
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| 5:17 |
Example of ignorance being no excuse for breaking God’s commandments—and why this should give me fresh appreciation for the blood of God’s Lamb, Jesus Christ. |
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8:1-3, 12,
23,
33-35 |
Example—Those who minister in the Lord must deal with their own sins before daring to deal with the sins of the congregation. |
| 9:5-6 |
Example—God reserves His glory for the congregation that is obedient to Him. |
| 10:1-3 |
Nadab and Abihu an example that I dare not grow familiar or careless with the Lord. |
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IN THE WORLD—NOT OF IT |
| 11:44-47 |
Example of a holy God teaching His people to be separate from the world and not to choose the path of least resistance. |
| 13:45-46 |
Example—Jesus took on Himself my leprous sin and suffered alone—outside the camp—so that I could be cleansed and dwell in His kingdom. |
| 16:1-2 |
Example of the awesome privilege of the lowliest child of God made righteous by Jesus to enter the holy of holies and never to leave (Hebrews 10:19)—a privilege never given the high priest of Israel. |
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COST OF SEXUAL DEPRAVITY |
18:1-5,
24-28 |
God’s warning of the horrible cost in following evil examples (note an entire chapter given to exposing the sexual depravity of nations being eliminated to make room for Israel). |
| 19:1-37 |
Example of righteous behavior expected from those who walk in the presence of the “I Am” Lord of heaven and earth (note “I am the Lord” mentioned 16 times—see also 20:22-24,26). Note also in 20:26 the condition: only when Israel was “holy” and “separated” does God call them “mine.” |
| 21:6-8, 18, 22, 23 |
Example of God using externals in the Old Testament to prepare the way for the Messiah’s New Testament atonement and cleansing us from the internal blemishes of sin (note the emphasis on “holy”). See also 22:31-33—God’s call to accept His commandments and conform our lives to them (John 14:21). |
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THE FEASTS OF THE LORD |
23:4-5,
10, 16,
27, 34,
41-42 |
Example of the feasts of the Lord preparing the way for the full ministry of Messiah (Passover, Pentecost, Day of Atonement, Tabernacles, Booths). |
| 24:10-14 |
A young man bears the ultimate penalty for blaspheming the Lord’s name. |
| 26:1-46 |
Example—The definitive chapter concerning Israel that any nation wishing to survive should digest—comparing obedience and rebellion, and their results. |
Winners and Losers series continues Jesus said many would come in His name and deceive the hearts of the simple, sinful and proud. Eastern mysticism and meditation is a big thing in the gullible West. And one day a “world leader” will appear on the scene with the persuasion of a god and the heart of a devil. Jesus warns His children to know the Scriptures, live in obedience to the Father’s will, and stay alert to the signs of the times. They laugh no more. Now God’s description of how He will destroy the old earth and create a
new one makes perfect sense. The splitting of the atom turned many skeptics into believers.
After all, look what man himself is capable of doing with the atom and hydrogen bombs. Now
the fear is that nuclear weapons are being placed in the hands of madmen who wish to annihilate
their enemies. God has blessed man with incredible genius. We stand in awe as we watch men and women in a room full of computers and high-tech instruments guiding and landing spacecraft on distant planets. At that moment, we appear invincible. But then a mammoth tornado comes—or a terrifying hurricane—or rains that flood whole regions and never listen to our shouts to “Stop!”—or the shake that removes from under our feet any confidence or pride we carry, and leaves us numb with hardly enough breath to even utter the paralyzing word “EARTHQUAKE!”. And man is helpless in the face of it all! |
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