Today’s Scripture ReadingToday’s Scripture Reading

Leviticus 10:3Leviticus 10:3

I Must I Must Honor Honor GodGod

If I could learn just one If I could learn just one thing from:thing from:

Nadab and AbihuNadab and Abihu

Leviticus 10:3Leviticus 10:3

Disrespecting GodDisrespecting God

There are those in this world who There are those in this world who completely disrespect Almighty Godcompletely disrespect Almighty God By the language they useBy the language they use By their attitudes toward GodBy their attitudes toward God By the lifestyles they leadBy the lifestyles they lead

They prove they have no respect for They prove they have no respect for God or for His willGod or for His will

Christians Must Not Live That WayChristians Must Not Live That Way

We must embrace and do our best to emulate We must embrace and do our best to emulate the holiness of our God.the holiness of our God.

We are made in God’s image.We are made in God’s image. To what degree must we honor God?To what degree must we honor God?

Let’s consider Nadab and Abihu and seek Let’s consider Nadab and Abihu and seek answers to that question.answers to that question.

Encountering the Holiness of GodEncountering the Holiness of God

•Events of Leviticus 9 help us appreciate a direct encounter with Almighty God.

•Special preparations necessary before the glory of God would descend into their presence.

Sin OfferingSin Offering

•Priests approached God first with a sin offering•A bull calf offered for the sin offering.•A ram for the burnt offering•Both without defect•Then a male goat for a sin offering for the people, followed by a calf and a lamb without defect for the burnt offering for the people.

Fellowship OfferingFellowship Offering

•Priests then approached God with a fellowship offering of an ox and a ram

•Offered with grain mixed with oil.

•“FOR TODAY THE LORD WILL APPEAR TO YOU”

The Glory (Shekinah) The Glory (Shekinah) of the Lord Appearsof the Lord Appears

•The Lord God lit the fire on the altar and accepted the first sacrifices offered thereon.

•God’s glory entered the tabernacle and appeared to all the people.

Ignoring The Holiness of GodIgnoring The Holiness of God

• Nadab and Abihu react to the situation and make some very wrong decisions:

•They offer UNAUTHORIZED worship.

•What, exactly, did they do?

The Possible Sins of Nadab and AbihuThe Possible Sins of Nadab and Abihu

•“Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to his command.”

•They offered “strange” fire – unauthorized by God.

•They acted “contrary” to God’s command

Instantaneous JudgmentInstantaneous Judgment

•God does not even give them a chance to repent.•They are immediately destroyed by God for the nature of their sin.•Why was the Lord God so harsh?

Explanation For God’s JudgmentExplanation For God’s Judgment

Leviticus 10:3

Moses then said to Aaron, "This is what the LORD spoke of when he said:        " 'Among those who approach me        I will show myself holy;        in the sight of all the people        I will be honored.' "       Aaron remained silent.

•There was no excuse for their behavior

Other explanations for judgment:Other explanations for judgment:

•Leviticus 10:8-11

•Do not drink wine or fermented drink

•Distinguish between the holy and the common

•Distinguish between clean and unclean

•Teach the Israelites the decrees of the Lord

Maintaining Holiness At All CostsMaintaining Holiness At All Costs

•Leviticus 10:6-7

•Do not let your hair become unkempt

•Do not tear your clothes in mourning or you will die

•Do not leave the entrance to the tent of meeting or you will die (because the Lord’s anointing oil is upon you)

Grace Rather Than Judgment?Grace Rather Than Judgment?

•Leviticus 10:16-20

•Moses discovers Aaron has not eaten the goat of the sin offering

•Instead it was burned up – which should not have happened.

•Involved in removing sin from the camp

•Yet God did not strike them dead. Why?

Embracing The Holiness of GodEmbracing The Holiness of God

Misappropriations of the Nadab and Abihu Misappropriations of the Nadab and Abihu account for modern churchesaccount for modern churches To preach against kitchens in the church To preach against kitchens in the church

building.building. To preach against church buildings.To preach against church buildings. To preach against choruses or choirs.To preach against choruses or choirs. To preach against Sunday school (Bible To preach against Sunday school (Bible

classes)classes) To preach against multiple communion cupsTo preach against multiple communion cups

Grinding Axes!Grinding Axes!

•All kinds of people with an ax to grind use Nadab and Abihu to “prove” their point.

Differences in OT and NT WorshipDifferences in OT and NT Worship

OT worship was visual, precise, legalistic and OT worship was visual, precise, legalistic and specifically commanded in each and every specifically commanded in each and every aspect.aspect.

NT worship is spiritual, less precisely NT worship is spiritual, less precisely commanded, lacking in legalistic observance. commanded, lacking in legalistic observance. Jesus nailed that legalistic worship style to the Jesus nailed that legalistic worship style to the cross.cross.

Nowhere in the New Testament does God lay Nowhere in the New Testament does God lay down a specific, point-by-point worship down a specific, point-by-point worship assembly plan as He did in the Old Testament.assembly plan as He did in the Old Testament.

The Real Message: God must be The Real Message: God must be treated as Holytreated as Holy

1 Peter 1:13-16 -- 1 Peter 1:13-16 -- Therefore, prepare your Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."

The holiness of God demands holy living from meThe holiness of God demands holy living from me

Isaiah 6:5 -- Isaiah 6:5 -- "Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! "Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.“have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.“

We must understand the holiness of God, We must understand the holiness of God, who…who…

1 Timothy 6:161 Timothy 6:16 -- who alone is immortal and -- who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.might forever. Amen.

Revelation 4:7-8Revelation 4:7-8

In the center, around the throne, were four In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. 7The first living eyes, in front and in back. 7The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. 8Each of the four living was like a flying eagle. 8Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying: "Holy, holy, holy is night they never stop saying: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come." to come."

We must defend the holiness of God.We must defend the holiness of God.

How do I honor the holiness of God?How do I honor the holiness of God?

By my reverence: By my reverence: 2 Corinthians 7:12 Corinthians 7:1

“ “Since we have these promises, dear friends, let Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.” holiness out of reverence for God.”

By my obedience: By my obedience: Philippians 2:12-13Philippians 2:12-13

“ “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13for out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13for it is God who works in you to will and to act it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.according to his good purpose.

By my humility: By my humility: James 1:21James 1:21

Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. planted in you, which can save you.