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

 

Class Lesson April 14, 2013

Hey Gang,



We began a new series last week entitled: HOLY GOD, HOLY PEOPLE. This study will help us understand what holiness is, why God expects holiness from us, and how we can become holy.


“If Christianity is ever to be returned to a place of power in America - then the truth of God’s Holiness must once again be lifted up to its rightful place. The average age of the world’s great civilizations has been two hundred years. These nations have progressed through the following sequence: from bondage to spiritual faith, from spiritual faith to great courage, from courage to liberty, from liberty to abundance, from abundance to selfishness, from selfishness to complacency, from complacency to apathy, from apathy to dependency, from dependency back to bondage.” - Professor Alexander Tyler (written over 200 years ago).

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 will help us develop a biblical view of what it means to be called to be a holy people, ways we can honor the holiness of God, some practical effects of holy living, and the benefits that come to those who live holy unto the Lord. 




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

BIG DEAL                 NO BIG DEAL

  So, where would these fall in your opinion?

Fudging on your taxes:

Accidentally speeding:

Calling in sick to get a day off:

Excusing yourself from an obligation:

Bringing own candy into theater:

Padding your resume:

Saying harsh words without meaning to:

Lying to keep co-worker out of trouble:

The question is not whether these issues are right or wrong - God knows that! The question is do you think it's possible to keep something secret and never get busted for it?

Galatians 6:7 "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. People reap what they sow."

 

How?

Psychiatry often takes the blame-shifting approach to guilt feelings. 

The comedian Anna Russell wrote a poem that pokes fun at this.

I went to my psychiatrist to be psychoanalyzed
To find out why I killed the cat and blacked my husband’s eyes.
He laid me on a downy couch to see what he could find
And here’s what he dredged up from my subconscious mind.

When I was one my mommy hid my dolly in a trunk
And so it follows naturally that I am always drunk.
And when I was two I saw my father kiss the maid one day
And that is why I suffer now from kleptomaniae. 

At three I had the feeling of ambivalence toward my brothers
And so it follows naturally I poison all my lovers.
But I am happy now I’ve learned a lesson this has taught
That everything I do that’s wrong is someone else’s fault.

 

Life Goal

Recognize holiness as the path to relationship and delight, not as a set of arbitrary rules. Embrace it. 

God has provided a way for people to deal with sin and to live in right relationship with Him. This happens through Jesus Christ. In the Book of Leviticus, God outlined specific sacrifices to be brought by the people and offered by the priests, the Levites, depending on the sin, intentional or unintentional. Leviticus also contains laws to guide the people in how to avoid sin and live in holiness on a daily basis. Although Christ fulfilled the sacrifice requirement, the principles of holiness found in Leviticus still apply. The reality is that God is still holy and our daily lives must meet His standard. This study should heighten our understanding of how serious sin is. We can choose holy living with God and with others. Join the adventure!

Our lesson this morning says to admit your guilt, repent, and make restitution.

 

I. ADMIT YOUR GUILT – LEVITICUS 5:1, 4

5 “When someone sins in any of these ways: If he has seen, heard, or known about something he has witnessed, and did not respond to a public call to testify, he is responsible for his sin.



4 Or if someone swears rashly to do what is good or evil—concerning anything a person may speak rashly in an oath—without being aware of it, but later recognizes it, he incurs guilt in such an instance.

When I hurt my wife’s feelings, I know I’m in the wrong. It doesn’t matter that I didn’t really mean it when I blurted a harsh comment, made a snide remark, or rolled my eyes impatiently. It doesn’t matter if my sarcasm was meant as a joke or if my tone communicated something different that what I intended. Why? Because I’ve hurt her. There may be truth in what I’m saying or wanting to communicate, but when I am rude or impatient that truth loses the power it is meant to have. She’s hurting and I am responsible.

EXCUSES, EXCUSES: Why is it easier to make excuses when we do something wrong rather than own up to it? Whom do you tend to blame besides yourself? What does it cost our relationships when we fail to admit we are guilty? How does one make amends after a wrong? Which of these actions is hardest for you to do? Why choose to do it anyway?



God’s relationship with us is even more critical than a human relationship. In addition, when we hurt a person we also hurt God. We are wrong when we offend Him, whether we mean to or not. As God outlined the way His relationship with Israel would work, H taught how to behave and why. Notice that verse 1 begins with “when” and not “if.” Even God’s people would fall short of His perfect standard. So, He described how the process would work when they sinned. Verse 6 says that admitting guilt is only one step. Making God-guided restitution heals both you and ones you’ve hurt.



When someone wrongs you, what do you want from that person, besides an apology? How well do your expectations match what the Bible demands? How do these heal both the offender and the offended: Recognize you’ve wronged someone? Admit responsibility? Make restitution? Change your ways? What else?



When someone wrongs us, we don’t want to hear them rationalize their actions. We need to hear them say their actions were hurtful and wrong. It’s a big deal to God that we recognize we are guilty. It’s the first step to healing. In this passage, God listed examples to clarify that sin can occur in seemingly insignificant ways. For example, there is no escape clause for a person not to own up to what he saw.



Think of something you did this week (on purpose or on accident) that you realize was wrong. What excuses (aloud or in your heart) did you make for your actions? Stop and pray silently. Admit to God that you weren’t the victim. Take the first step to honor God by agreeing with Him that you are guilty.



Points:

1. The words and promises a person speaks are serious matters and need to be spoken with forethought.
2. We are responsible before the Lord not only for our actions but also for what we say or don’t say.
3. Our sin makes us guilty before God, even if the action is taken toward another person.

II. DEMONSTRATE REPENTANCE – LEVITICUS 5:5, 14-16

5 If someone incurs guilt in one of these cases, he is to confess he has committed that sin.


14 Then the Lord spoke to Moses: 15 “If someone offends by sinning unintentionally in regard to any of the Lord’s holy things, he must bring his restitution offering to the Lord: an unblemished ram from the flock (based on your assessment of its value in silver shekels, according to the sanctuary shekel) as a restitution offering. 16 He must make restitution for his sin regarding any holy thing, adding a fifth of its value to it, and give it to the priest. Then the priest will make atonement on his behalf with the ram of the restitution offering, and he will be forgiven.



As I’m writing this, I am tucked away in a corner writing while my wife and daughters play in the living room. Maybe it was the silence that interrupted the typical background noise. Maybe it was the change in my wife’s voice. Either way, someone was in trouble. The crime: our five-year-old had written on the wall. It was in pencil and we have high-gloss paint on the trim, so “No Big Deal” – right? Well, not really. Our daughter had just asked if she could measure herself by writing on the wall. My wife said, “No, not on that wall” and then suggested that we find a spot that isn’t in the living room where we can measure her. Unsatisfied, our five-year-old angel promptly turned and wrote on the wall anyway. She was sent to her room while my wife and I deliberated on what to do next. At our house, writing on the wall doesn’t bother us nearly as much as willfully disobeying a parent.



What pushes you to say, “Yes I will!” when God says, “Don’t!”



According to verses 14-16, true confession was also accompanied by what? Why was this important?

• “I’m sorry” alone can’t make things better. You need to demonstrate you’ll walk a different path and not hurt others in that way again. That’s repentance. It’s a good process from our good God. After confession, what demonstrates repentance? What does God want YOU to do to repair a relationship you’ve damaged? 

RESTORED TO MINT CONDITION: If there was any classic car you would want to restore, what would it be? ‘57 Chevy? ’65 Mustang? ’71 Beetle? What costs in time and money would be involved in restoring it completely? How would these costs be worth investing in this car? Apply that to restoring a person: What are the cost to the person? To those who love that person? Why do you think there are costs in the restoration process? What are the costs to refusing to restore a person, or to be restored? 




Points:

1. Sin results in the heavy weight of guilt that ought to lead us to confess our sins before the Lord, for only then can we find relief.
2. True confession must include repentance and restitution.
3. The sacrifices described in Leviticus foreshadow Jesus Christ as the perfect sacrifice for our sin through whom there is restitution and restoration. 

III. REPAY WHAT YOU’VE TAKEN FROM OTHERS – LEVITICUS 6:1-7

6 The Lord spoke to Moses: 2 “When someone sins and offends the Lord by deceiving his neighbor in regard to a deposit, a security, or a robbery; or defrauds his neighbor; 3 or finds something lost and lies about it; or swears falsely about any of the sinful things a person may do— 4 once he has sinned and acknowledged his guilt—he must return what he stole or defrauded, or the deposit entrusted to him, or the lost item he found, 5 or anything else about which he swore falsely. He must make full restitution for it and add a fifth of its value to it. He is to pay it to its owner on the day he acknowledges his guilt. 6 Then he must bring his restitution offering to the Lord: an unblemished ram from the flock according to your assessment of its value as a restitution offering to the priest. 7 In this way the priest will make atonement on his behalf before the Lord, and he will be forgiven for anything he may have done to incur guilt.” 


Jesus said all the Law is summed up in two commands: Love the Lord thoroughly and love others as you love yourself (Matt. 22:38-40). Some actions that do these are in Leviticus 5 and 6. In Leviticus 5:14-16, God made it clear that it was a big deal to damage one of the furnishings in the tabernacle. It’s an even bigger deal to damage a person. In Leviticus 6:1-7, the process for making things right when an Israelite wronged his neighbor was very similar to what had to be done when the sin had been against God alone.


What does your treatment (or mistreatment) of others reveal about your relationship with God? When do you assume the two can be separated? How would you summarize what to do to make amends with God and a neighbor from the verses we just read? How can you pay plus a fifth if you’re wrong had nothing to do with money?



The similarities between consequences leave little question that sinning against a neighbor sins against God, too. Notice that the first step a person took to make things right is the same as at the beginning of Leviticus 5: the offender must first acknowledge guilt (6:4). Then as a means of confession, the offending party must pay back the value of the item. If a neighbor somehow stole $100 from me, but later apologized and gave me $120 back, I’d be happy.



Think back to Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:23-26. God isn’t interested in reconciling accounts with us until we have made things right with others we have offended. The instructions in this passage are the minimum requirement. Compare with Zacchaeus’ actions in Luke 19:8.  

GUESS WHO? Imagine yourself standing before God, seeking His forgiveness for something you’ve done. He stops you mid-confession and says, “Wait. Before we can discuss this, there is a matter you need to settle with someone else. Go and settle it, then come back.” Who do you think you’d need to go talk to?



What would you need to say or do to make things right? 




Whether you mean to do it or not, sin makes you guilty. It doesn’t matter if it’s a big deal in your book or not; sin is always a big deal to Holy God. Follow the pattern set in these verses (admit your guilt, demonstrate repentance, repay what’s been lost by others). Follow Jesus’ instructions in Matthew 5 and settle the matter quickly. Delaying won’t make it go away. From the beginning, God has stressed that He sees our sins against others as sins against Him. Therefore you, the other person, and God all benefit.



Avoid sin like the plague. It messes up you, messes up relationships, and messes up work.





How can we use these verses as a pattern for restoration when we do sin? How does seeking restoration honor God’s holiness? How does it love people?

1. We recognize our sin and admit we’re guilty.
2. We then seek to repay what we owe. God will show us how to heal things: what words to say, what actions to take, what lies to heal, what items to fix, what trust to cultivate.
3. We live in peace that when God offers forgiveness, we do not have to stay in guilt.

Points:

1. We offend God by mistreating others.
2. When we become aware of sin in our lives, we need to move immediately to make amends with those we have offended and with God.
3. We cannot expect God’s forgiveness if we are unwilling to make things right with those we have offended.

This lesson is a reminder that we can dishonor the Lord’s holiness by the way we act toward Him and others. By our sin we suffer loss of fellowship with Him. That does not mean we lose our salvation. However, a truly saved person cannot be content to be out of fellowship with the Lord. When we sin as God’s people, we should seek forgiveness and restoration of fellowship. God has made both possible through Jesus Christ. We honor God and His call to holiness through faith in Him and by deciding to live for Him.



Based on this lesson, what sin comes to mind that you will acknowledge and repent of to God?



What broken relationship do you have with someone that needs to be addressed for you to bring honor to the holiness of God?

Prayer of Commitment

Dear Lord, so help me to live my life before You and toward others that I honor Your holiness and give testimony to Jesus through whom all may be cleansed from all their unrighteousness. Amen.

God revealed Himself to Isaiah in a vision in Isaiah 6:1-8. Isaiah saw God in all His glory, and heard the angels cry out, HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, as they bowed before His throne (vs. 3)!

Isaiah’s first response to the holiness of God was that of conviction of sin. “Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips; And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips.” (Isaiah 6: 5). And God’s response to his confession of sinfulness was to cleanse him from the sin. “Your iniquity is taken away, and your sin is purged” (Isaiah 6:8). When the presence of God manifests, it brings with it a holiness that produces a deep conviction of sin! And the end result of this conviction is so that we can be cleansed and made HOLY!

We will continue this week in our series: Holy God Holy People. I pray that we all seek to be obedient to God's command.

See you this Sunday!

In His Love,

David & Susan