Praise the Lord! Enjoy His presence today. Moses is our teacher again this week as we go through the book of Leviticus.
Leviticus 1: Laws for Burnt Offerings
1 The LORD called Moses and spoke to him from the tent of meeting, saying,
2 "Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When any one of you brings an offering to the LORD, you shall bring your offering of livestock from the herd or from the flock.
3 "If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he shall offer a male without blemish. He shall bring it to the entrance of the tent of meeting, that he may be accepted before the LORD.
4 He shall lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.
5 Then he shall kill the bull before the LORD, and Aaron's sons the priests shall bring the blood and throw the blood against the sides of the altar that is at the entrance of the tent of meeting.
6 Then he shall flay the burnt offering and cut it into pieces,
7 and the sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire on the altar and arrange wood on the fire.
8 And Aaron's sons the priests shall arrange the pieces, the head, and the fat, on the wood that is on the fire on the altar;
9 but its entrails and its legs he shall wash with water. And the priest shall burn all of it on the altar, as a burnt offering, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the LORD.
10 "If his gift for a burnt offering is from the flock, from the sheep or goats, he shall bring a male without blemish,
11 and he shall kill it on the north side of the altar before the LORD, and Aaron's sons the priests shall throw its blood against the sides of the altar.
12 And he shall cut it into pieces, with its head and its fat, and the priest shall arrange them on the wood that is on the fire on the altar,
13 but the entrails and the legs he shall wash with water. And the priest shall offer all of it and burn it on the altar; it is a burnt offering, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the LORD.
14 "If his offering to the LORD is a burnt offering of birds, then he shall bring his offering of turtledoves or pigeons.
15 And the priest shall bring it to the altar and wring off its head and burn it on the altar. Its blood shall be drained out on the side of the altar.
16 He shall remove its crop with its contents and cast it beside the altar on the east side, in the place for ashes.
17 He shall tear it open by its wings, but shall not sever it completely. And the priest shall burn it on the altar, on the wood that is on the fire. It is a burnt offering, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the LORD.
Leviticus 2: Laws for Grain Offerings
1 "When anyone brings a grain offering as an offering to the LORD, his offering shall be of fine flour. He shall pour oil on it and put frankincense on it
2 and bring it to Aaron's sons the priests. And he shall take from it a handful of the fine flour and oil, with all of its frankincense, and the priest shall burn this as its memorial portion on the altar, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the LORD.
3 But the rest of the grain offering shall be for Aaron and his sons; it is a most holy part of the LORD's food offerings.
4 "When you bring a grain offering baked in the oven as an offering, it shall be unleavened loaves of fine flour mixed with oil or unleavened wafers smeared with oil.
5 And if your offering is a grain offering baked on a griddle, it shall be of fine flour unleavened, mixed with oil.
6 You shall break it in pieces and pour oil on it; it is a grain offering.
7 And if your offering is a grain offering cooked in a pan, it shall be made of fine flour with oil.
8 And you shall bring the grain offering that is made of these things to the LORD, and when it is presented to the priest, he shall bring it to the altar.
9 And the priest shall take from the grain offering its memorial portion and burn this on the altar, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the LORD.
10 But the rest of the grain offering shall be for Aaron and his sons; it is a most holy part of the LORD's food offerings.
11 "No grain offering that you bring to the LORD shall be made with leaven, for you shall burn no leaven nor any honey as a food offering to the LORD.
12 As an offering of firstfruits you may bring them to the LORD, but they shall not be offered on the altar for a pleasing aroma.
13 You shall season all your grain offerings with salt. You shall not let the salt of the covenant with your God be missing from your grain offering; with all your offerings you shall offer salt.
14 "If you offer a grain offering of firstfruits to the LORD, you shall offer for the grain offering of your firstfruits fresh ears, roasted with fire, crushed new grain.
15 And you shall put oil on it and lay frankincense on it; it is a grain offering.
16 And the priest shall burn as its memorial portion some of the crushed grain and some of the oil with all of its frankincense; it is a food offering to the LORD.
Things to think about…
1. There must be an offering for sin. The atonement is described in, 1:1-7. Note that the offering had to be brought to the tent of meeting and cut up by the priests and then burned. Like us as we come to church under the banner of Christ we bring our worship and praise and offer ourselves as living sacrifices, Rom 12:1. Even as Christ is our perfect sacrifice and was also flayed, Lev 1:6. As Aaron and the priests arranged the altar, we need to arrange our lives as we are a royal priesthood in Christ, 1Pet 2:9 as we die daily to sin, 1Cor 15:31.
2. The goat or sheep had to be without blemish, Lev 1:10. Christ is the perfect Lamb of God, John 1:29, without blemish to pay for our sin, 1Pet 1:19. He allows us to be set apart - “sanctified” before the Lord.
3. The grain offering was to be mixed with flour, oil and frankincense, Lev 2:1-8. This offering was to be without leaven. We are not to have any leaven of the world in our lives, as represented by Egypt when the Israelites fled quickly. We are to flee from the lusts and desires of the world. The oil represents the anointing and blessing of the Holy Spirit. The frankincense, like our prayers, represents a sweet smelling aroma to the Lord. Our trust and dependence must be completely in Him in everything we do.
4. No grain offering is to be made with leaven, but rather seasoned with salt, Lev 2:13. Our lives of course must be seasoned with the salt of grace and truth in Christ, Col 4:6. Note that crushed grain was used. In order to be used by the Lord we need to be broken from sin and pride. This is an ongoing work. Let’s encourage each other in this. Have a look at how many times “to the Lord” is used. Remember our service is about what we give ‘to the Lord’ and not what we receive in material blessings. Even though we are promised that we will “lack no good thing”, Ps 34:10.
5. We are the “firstfruits”, Lev 2:14. We have the “oil” – of the Holy Spirit, Lev 2:15 and our lives and service are pleasing and a sweet smelling aroma “frankincense”, Lev 2:15 to the Lord. All of these combine as we are remembered as a “memorial portion” before the Lord, Lev 2:16. He will never leave us or forsake us, Dt 31:6, Heb 13:5.
Vision Point for Cell groups
CBC's Vision "To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission".
Cell group questions from Sunday morning’s sermon “An object lesson” Romans 9.
1. We generally have a good understanding of God’s sovereignty, but what do you think about some of the things mentioned in this chapter? How do you explain them? Eg “The Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart”; “Jacob I loved and Esau I hated”; and regarding people who reject Christ “God prepared beforehand for destruction”. Does this then make God the Author of sin? Does he predestine some people for heaven and some for hell? What are your thoughts? Not easy questions I know.
2. The Lord also says that He desires all men to be saved 1Tim 2:4. How is this possible if He alone calls and has an elect that will be saved?
3. Romans 1 says that everyone is without excuse because of what has been made. How do you reconcile that with the fact that we are dead in trespasses and sins’ Eph 2:1, Col 2:13 and that only the Lord can open your eyes?
4. What encouragement do you get from Romans 9 that Graham also brought out in Sunday’s message?
Prayer Points
1. CBC Carols and Christmas Day. Pray for advertising and that these events bring many visitors to celebrate the Saviour. Rod and the worship team as they practise.
New folk coming to church, pray they are loved and looked after.
2. America still considering who will be their president. Pray for the US supreme court challenges. Pray for truth, grace and peace.
3. Keep praying for Zac’s dad, Mark Torrington not out of the woods yet.
4. Sunday’s message. This week – “What can I offer” Lev 1-7, Jay.
7. Church finances to meet our expenses and to put a roof over our café.
8. Our City and Country – Pray for revival over our city and the leadership of our country even through these challenging times.
Praise Points.
1. The worship team and streaming on Sunday. Great job folks.
2. Grahm’s message and all those serving in ministry at CBC.
3. All those who served on Sunday with Music, audio, words and streaming.
4. Angelo, Helen, Doug, Maddison, Yuki thankyou for your efforts every week.
5. Unity, peace and grace at CBC.
6. Finances have been blessed. Thankyou.
Announcements
1. Carols Sun 20th Dec 6pm. Start with a meal. Carols to start after the meal around 7pm.
2. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
4. Christmas Day service – 9:00am, Friday 25th December. 1 hour service.
