Class Lesson April 21, 2013

Hey Gang,



We continue this week in our series entitled: HOLY GOD, HOLY PEOPLE. What is holiness? Why does God expects holiness from us? How can we become holy? Our series answers these very questions.
 


With the rapid spread of impurity in our culture rising by the day, we are close to losing our nation! With homosexuality being encouraged from the schoolroom to the courtroom, and with the rise of promiscuity in all ages, we stand at a dangerous crossroads. According to Barna Research, 60% of Americans believe that living together without marriage is acceptable behavior; 59% believe that it’s ok to enjoy sexual thoughts or fantasies about someone; 45% believe that abortion is acceptable; 42% condone adultery; 38% believe that viewing pornography is morally acceptable; 30% believe that homosexuality is morally acceptable.

At the same time, we have churches on just about every street corner throughout the nation! So what’s the problem? As a whole, those who say they are Christians have forsaken the Holiness of their God! We as the church are responsible for the ills of our nation! And its time for us to accept the responsibility for changing it! 



These lessons are designed to help us develop a biblical view of what it means to be called to be a holy people. Here are the 4 lessons in this series:




1. April 7 Called to Holiness - Exodus 19:1-6, 10-14, 16-19

2. April 14 Honoring God’s Holiness – Leviticus 5:1, 4-5, 14-16; 6:1-7

3. April 21 Living in Holiness – Leviticus 18:1-5, 20-26; 20:6-8

4. April 28 Blessings of Holiness – Leviticus 26:3-13, 40-42, 45

 

God sets us apart for holy living, so we should reject unbiblical aspects of our culture.

Like us, Israel was tempted to blend in when God wanted them to stand out. It’s important to realize that mixing in unholy standards and practices doesn’t just water-down the gospel; it compromises truth and reality. In Leviticus, we see that Israel was at a crossroads. Months removed from captivity in Egypt and still miles away from Canaan, the people were torn between living according to the pagan culture they were familiar with and embracing the new standards God was placing in front of them. Now headed into Canaan, the epicenter of self-indulgence, the people would be tempted in entirely new ways to follow something other than God’s design. Knowing the struggle the people would face, God provided Moses with specific instructions on how the people were to live separate and holy lives. The Israelites had decisions to make about the immoral standards, unholy practices, and false spiritualism of the surrounding cultures. In our everything-goes culture, we find ourselves at a similar crossroads every day. We are pressed to catch up with the times and embrace updated ways of thinking. But some of those are simply sin, no matter what we call them.


Today’s lesson not only clarifies the right path for us to take, but it gives us the right rationale for our decision to pursue holiness: “I am the Lord who sets you apart” (Lev.20:8).


R. C. Sproul makes this insightful statement about his divine attribute from Isaiah 6: “The Bible says that God is holy, holy, holy. Not that He is merely holy, or even holy, holy. He is holy, holy, holy. The Bible never says that God is love, love, love, or mercy, mercy, mercy, or wrath, wrath, wrath, or justice, justice, justice. It does say that He is holy, holy, holy, the whole earth is full of His glory.”

TO BE HOLY IS TO BE DISTINCT, SEPARATE, IN A CLASS BY ONESELF.

  

 

Life Goal

Separate yourself from anything unbiblical; choose only the holy.

I. SEPARATE FROM HURTFUL STANDARDS – LEVITICUS 18:1-5

18 Yahweh spoke to Moses: 2 “Speak to the Israelites and tell them: I am Yahweh your God. 3 Do not follow the practices of the land of Egypt, where you used to live, or follow the practices of the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you. You must not follow their customs. 4 You are to practice My ordinances and you are to keep My statutes by following them; I am Yahweh your God. 5 Keep My statutes and ordinances; a person will live if he does them. I am Yahweh. 



Holiness happens day-to-day, moment-by-moment. It’s a conscious commitment, not a one-time, walk-the-aisle, I-think-I’m-interested sort of thing. Without a daily commitment to recognize where we’re tempted and how we hurt others, we’re destined to get mixed up in the standards of the one who presses hardest. If we don’t stand out as “the salt of the earth” (Matt. 5:13), we’ll get blended in with the rest of the culture until you really can’t tell a difference between us and them. Not a pretty picture, huh?


In what areas of your life are you most tempted to blend your standards in with our culture’s standards? God isn’t trying to make odd-balls out of us, but following Him can put us at odds with our culture. What do you need to do to protect yourself from the distaste of unholy living?




Which do you think is easier: to revert back to old ways (Egypt) or to give in to a new culture (Canaan)? How are we haunted by past struggles? How are we haunted by new temptations? How does God help? How do other believers help?

• Human nature has always been depraved. We need God’s Spirit to succeed at lovely living.
• People have long been tempted by gross sins.
• Debunk the myth that holiness is easier as we age. Talk about specific ways we struggle with holiness now that we didn’t years ago.

Points:

1. We are faced with the choice of whether to live by the standards of our society or by the commands of the Lord.
2. The Lord expects His people to be obedient to Him by following His commandments.
3. The promise of life is given to those who obey the Lord’s word.

 II. SEPARATE FROM SINFUL PRACTICES – LEVITICUS 18:20-26

20 You are not to have sexual intercourse with your neighbor’s wife, defiling yourself with her. 21 “You are not to make any of your children pass through the fire to Molech. Do not profane the name of your God; I am Yahweh. 22 You are not to sleep with a man as with a woman; it is detestable. 23 You are not to have sexual intercourse with any animal, defiling yourself with it; a woman is not to present herself to an animal to mate with it; it is a perversion. 24 “Do not defile yourselves by any of these practices, for the nations I am driving out before you have defiled themselves by all these things. 25 The land has become defiled, so I am punishing it for its sin, and the land will vomit out its inhabitants. 26 But you are to keep My statutes and ordinances. You must not commit any of these detestable things—not the native or the foreigner who lives among you.

BLENDING IN: A recent research study shows that there is not a statistically significant behavioral difference between Christians and non-Christians, the churched and the un-churched. What evidence do you see of this in your life? Does this happen gradually or abruptly or both? When and how? What do you think causes people in the church to blend in more and stand out less? What will you personally do about this?


What sexual behaviors does culture call right that it once called wrong? How do you suppose these messages became accepted? Why show love to ones who don’t follow God’s ways?

• Embracing God’s plan for sexuality brings freedom, not limitation.
• Talk about what makes relationships with homosexual friends challenging, but vital.
• Jesus is our model for striking the balance between holding firm to God’s standard of holiness, but doing so in a loving, relational way. (See also Matt. 9:13; Luke 15:7; Rom. 5:8; and 1 Tim. 1:15-16).

In what ways does our culture tempt us to sacrifice our children?

• Abortion, workaholism, selfishness, using them for competition.
• Talk about how godly relationships with our children (even when they’re adults) helpfully separates God’s people from the sinful culture.

Points:

1. The Lord expects His people to live morally pure lives in the area of sexual intimacy.
2. The standard for behavior ought to be God’s Word not societal practices, no matter how prevalent or how widely accepted.
3. Our sexual behavior ought to be in the interest of the sanctity of marriage and the family.
4. Defying the commands of the Lord will lead to His visitation in judgment and it threatens the stability of the nation.

III. SEPARATE FROM FALSE SPIRITUALITY – LEVITICUS 20:6-8

6 “Whoever turns to mediums or spiritists and prostitutes himself with them, I will turn against that person and cut him off from his people. 7 Consecrate yourselves and be holy, for I am Yahweh your God. 8 Keep My statutes and do them; I am Yahweh who sets you apart.

MEDIA & MEDIUMS: You don’t have to be playing around with a Ouija board to be influenced by the occult or other forms of counterfeit spirituality. Think about philosophies, TV shows, books, movies, music, or other aspects of pop culture that peddle false guidance that claims to be spiritual. What excuses might Christians use to convince themselves that there’s nothing wrong about these influences? What is wrong about them? 




Points:

1. Being holy includes refraining from looking to popular culture for wisdom, guidance, or truth.
2. God’s judgment and punishment come on those who reject Him in favor of any other gods or standards of life.
3. The Lord responds to our willingness to be separated unto Him by setting us aside for His purpose.

Many studies have shown there is little measurable difference between the behavior of Christians and non-Christians or the churched and the un-churched. Many Christians and church-goers have so blended into the society and culture in which they live that no appreciable difference can be seen. That is not at all what the Lord expects of His people. He calls for His people to stand out from the world by living holy lives.

 

1. Know that all Christians struggle with sin. The way to manage it is to keep on separating ourselves from old and new sinful habits. (18:3)

2. Decide that our lives are not built around everyone liking us, but around our obedience to God. (18:5)

3. Believe that God honors how we model His love for our children. We must determine not to neglect or overlook their needs, even as adults. (18:21)

4. Accept that God calls homosexual behavior a sin. All of us are sinners, so we share the same gospel that saved us because it has the power to save our gay friends as well. (18:22)

5. Begin or continue a pursuit of holiness. (20:8)






 

Prayer of Commitment

Dear Lord, I commit to separating myself from the standards, sins, and false spirituality so prevalent in my culture. Yet, I know I cannot do this without Your work in my life. I give myself to You so You can make me holy in Your sight. Amen.

Well, this week is another great lesson on the holiness that God expects each of us to pursue! Be in prayer this week as we continue on this journey of God's command.

See you on Sunday!

In His Love,

David & Susan