Laws concerning sacrifices to the Lord (4 offerings)…

• 1^st – Burnt offering… Read: Leviticus 1:3-9

• The offering of submission – surrendering yourself totally to God…
  • A free will offering – no one was required to offer the burnt offering…
    • God is a gentleman – He will not force us to do anything we don’t want to…
    • God does not make anyone go to heaven – He just provides the way…
    • God does not make us surrender our lives to Him – we have to choose to give it…
    • To often we cling onto our life – thinking we cannot afford to give it away to God…
    • But when we give our life away – when we live for Jesus – we find true life!
    • A seed is not good by itself – if you take a seed and hold onto it – nothing happens…
    • If you let it go – if you bury it – if it dies – then it becomes what God intended!
    • * John 12:24-25 – “I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.  He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.”
    • Only when we are willing to let our life go – do we truly find life in Jesus!
    • Then we will find the ultimate reward – not only eternal life with Jesus…
    • But a fruitful, full, and fulfilling life while we wait for His soon return!
  • Offer a male animal (sheep/goat/cow/ or birds) – without any defect – perfect…
  • The person laid their hand on the bull’s head – surrendering their will to God…
  • The blood of the animal would be sprinkled all around the bronze Altar…
• The whole animal would be burnt on the bronze Alter – completely consumed by fire…
  • God doesn’t just want part of our lives – He wants us to be completely sold out to Him!
  • Hebrews 12:29 – “For our God is a consuming fire.”
  • A tool is only effective when it submits itself to the master’s commands….
  • If we only follow the Lord when we want to – we are not much use to the Lord…
  • If we are to be effective for the Lord – we must submit ourselves to the Lord…

• 2^nd – Grain offering… Read: Leviticus 2:8-13

• The offering of thankfulness – for all the Lord has provided…
  • So often in life – we forget to be thankful for all God has done for us – given to us…
  • We tend to think about all we don’t have we think we still need – but really just ‘want’…
  • If it was a need God would provide – Luke 12:31 – if we don’t have it – don’t need it!
  • A new motor / a new dress / a new cell phone – things we want – but don’t need…
  • We overlook the simple things – food / clothing / family / a home / our health…
  • God calls us to be thankful for all things – for all God has done for us – every day!
  • Looking at what He has giving us – not what we think we still need…
  • * I Thessalonians 5:18 – “No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”
• The grain offering – flour/baked/fried – however you wanted to prepare it…
  • A memorial portion burnt on the bronze Altar to the Lord – the rest for the priests…
  • Had to be covered with olive oil…
    • In the Bible oil is used as a ‘picture’ of the Holy Spirit – I Samuel 16:13
    • There are many Christians who know Jesus – but depend on their own strength…
    • So they become weary and tired as they strive to try and serve the Lord…
    • To be really effective for the Lord – we need to be overflowing with the Holy Spirit…
    • The more we are full of the Holy Spirit – the more powerful for God we are!
    • The more we will see that God takes care of us – the more thankful we become!
  • It MUST NOT contain any leaven…

• Leaven – also called yeast – the main ingredient that causes bread to rise…
• Yeast is a micro-organism – plant – begins to decay when it touches flour…
• The gas given off by the process causes bread to puff up and rise…
• A little leaven is all that is needed to saturate a whole batch of bread dough…
• Often used in the Bible as a picture of sin – imitating the ability to spread – to decay 
• If we are caught up in sin – which can quickly spread and influence others…
• We will not be thankful to the Lord – we will find we are distant – not content
• It MUST have salt…
  • The salt is a picture of the effect we have on the world – as we are thankful to God…
  • Salt is a preserving agent – if you don’t want something to spoil – add salt
  • The world around us is dying – God has us in this world to preserve it…
  • Salt is a healing and purifying agent – it cleans wounds (though it is irritating)
  • The Lord gave us the Gospel that we might purify & bring life to a dying world
  • Though we are also an irritation to an impure and corrupt world
  • Salt makes you thirsty – it causes you to crave water
  • The world is thirsty – but they continually drink from the wrong well…
  • As we live for Jesus – thankful in all things – it creates a desire for Jesus!

• 3^rd – Peace offering… Read: Leviticus 3:1, 12-17

• The offering of fellowship – having a meal with the Lord…
  • Offer a male or female animal (sheep/goat/cow) – without any defect…
  • Lay his hand on the offering – to share with the Lord…
  • The blood would be sprinkled by the priests on the bronze Altar…
• The fat of the animal was burnt on the Altar…
  • All the fat of the bull – along with its liver and kidneys – was to be burnt on the alter
  • “Remember, all the fat belongs to the LORD.  You must never eat any fat or blood.”
  • The best part of an animal is the fat – tastes the best – the best was given to the Lord…
  • We should give the best part of ourselves to God – our gifts / talents / abilities…
  • Yet often we find people use the best on themselves – and give the leftovers to God
• A meal with God…
  • The fat of the animal was burnt on the bronze Altar – but the rest was to share…
  • The ‘picture’ – having a meal with God – He got part / you got part…
  • By having fellowship daily with the Lord – you grow to know the Lord…
  • Instead of hanging out with the world – spend time with the Jesus!
  • How can we tell others / teach others / lead others to someone we don’t even know…
  • The more we read our Bibles – the more we spend time in fellowship with believers….
  • The more we take time to pray and hear from the Lord – the better we will know Him!
  • As we completely surrender ourselves to the Lord – give thanks to Him for all things…
  • People will follow our example – and we will lead them to Jesus – I Corinthians 11:1
• A sweat aroma to the Lord…
  • The smell must have been amazing – BBQ at God’s house – twice a day!
  • Often when we think of animal sacrifices – we get a negative picture in our mind…
  • But in truth God was inviting His people to share a meal with Him…

• 4^th – Sin offering… Read: Leviticus 4:13-21

We only need to run to Him – to find grace and help – a relationship with our God!

If a priest / or all of Israel – unintentionally – broke God’s Law – sinned against the Lord…

Offer a bull – without defect – perfect…

The offerings presented to God always had to be ‘perfect’ – without defect…

The idea was the animal had done nothing wrong – it was blameless…

It was not going to die for its flaws – but because of your sins!

Ultimately it looked forward to THE perfect sacrifice – Jesus Christ!

I Peter 1:19 – “The precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish…”

The priest/or elders would lay hand(s) on the bull – transfer of guilt and sin…

The blood was sprinkled 7 times in front of the veil – before the Altar of incense…

Pour out the rest of the blood of the bull at the bronze Altar…

The blood represents life – without blood no one can live…

By pouring out the blood it symbolized the price of sin – death – had been paid

All men are sinners – Romans 3:23 – and sin separates us from God…

The dilemma is the price – penalty for sin is death – Romans 6:23

Either we have to pay for our sin with our life – or someone has to die in our place…

That is why under the Old Covenant – the Law of Moses – they sacrificed animals…

The animal would die in their place – pay the penalty / the price for their sin…

Hebrews 9:22 – “Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins.”

The problem with animal sacrifices is they could only cover sin – not take it away…

Hebrews 10:4 – “It isn’t possible the blood of bulls & goats could take away sins.”

Every time you made a mistake – you had to go to the temple and offer a sacrifice…

That covered your sin – no longer guilty – but it did not change your heart!

The sacrifices under the Law had no power to change the person to not want to sin!

The fat of the animal would be burnt on the bonze Altar…

But the rest of the animal was to be taken outside the camp and burnt…

The picture – sin causes separation – isolation – from fellowship with God…

No longer in the Tabernacle – no longer in the presence of the Lord…

When we have unrepentant sin in our heart we are far from God – outside the camp

So Jesus suffered and died in our place – He went outside the camp to get us back…

* Hebrews 13:12-13 – “Jesus suffered and died outside the city gates in order to make his people holy by shedding his own blood…”

Jesus gave us a better covenant – He took away our sin – and gave us a new heart!

He restored our relationship to God – brought us back into the presence of the Lord

If a ruler or person in Israel – unintentionally – breaks God’s Law – Leviticus 4:22-35…

Offer a male goat (ruler) or female goat (person) without defect…

The blood of the animal is poured out at the base of the bronze Altar…

All of the fat was be burnt on the bronze Altar – and the sin was forgiven!

Examples and exceptions… Read: Leviticus 5:17-19

Examples of ‘unintentional’ sin…

Something you did – but didn’t know was wrong – but was still sin… 

If you are a witness to a sin – and are called to testify – but refuse…

Sometimes we might think it’s better – simpler to ‘not to get involved’…

Thinking we did not do anything wrong – we just did not want to ‘cause problems’

But if we can help – if we know what is right – but don’t do it – it’s sin…

* James 4:17 – “To him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.”

If you touch something ‘unclean’ – dead animal – human ‘defilement’…

If you make a rash vow – for good or for bad – but do not follow through…

We need to be very careful what we say – in anger or carelessly…

We may think its funny – or just not think – but it can cause a lot of damage!

Bones set – cuts mend – but the wounds from words often never heal…

* James 1:19 – “Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.”

If you defile the property of the Lord – you must restore it – plus 20%…

The bottom line – we are accountable for ALL of our actions!

Ignorance is not an excuse with God – God knows the hearts of all men…

Proverbs 24:12 – “Don’t try to avoid responsibility by saying you didn’t know about it. For God knows all hearts, and he sees you. He keeps watch over your soul, and he knows you knew… will judge all people according to what they have done.”

Every thing we do – every word we say – every thought we think…

Will one day have to answer for before the judgment seat of God – Matthew 12:36

Unless we are covered by the forgiveness of the cross – saved by faith in Jesus!

Exceptions for the poor – Leviticus 5:7-13

If a person could not afford the goat/lamb – they could bring two birds…

If a person could not afford two birds – they could bring 2 quarts of flour…

(But the flour was NOT to be mixed with oil (Holy Spirit) – because it was a sin offering)…

Luke 2:24 – “To offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, ‘A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.’”

Mary and Joseph – were very poor – they offered 2 birds at the dedication of Jesus…

I think there are many times when we wonder if Jesus really understands us…

Does He know how hard life is – how difficult it is to surrender ourselves to God…

How difficult it is to be thankful in EVERYTHING – trusting in God to provide for our needs

How difficult it is to have a daily fellowship with God – be in the Word and in prayer…

How hard it is to avoid the daily temptation of sin in our lives…

Jesus was raised in a VERY poor home – He did not have an easy life – He understands!

* Hebrews 4:15-16 – “[Jesus] understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same temptations we do, yet he did not sin.  So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it.”