Today we are reading from Leviticus 18. In this chapter we read about unlawful sexual relations. “And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, I am the Lord your God. You shall not do as they do in the land of Egypt, where you lived, and you shall not do as they do in the land of Canaan, to which I am bringing you. You shall not walk in their statutes. You shall follow my rules and keep my statutes and walk in them. I am the Lord your God. You shall therefore keep my statutes and my rules; if a person does them, he shall live by them: I am the Lord.” Leviticus‬ ‭18‬:‭1‬-‭5‬ ‭ESV‬‬ This chapter is always relevant. 3500 years ago sexual immorality was a problem. God said the people who practiced this immoral behavior were vomited out of the land. Based on that, how do you think God feels about sexual immorality today? Our society condones most of what God forbids. Who is right? When I say “I identify as ________.” Who gave us the authority to make that claim? God is clear. We must obey God. Pastor Tim

Today we are reading Leviticus 17. In this chapter we read about the the life blood of animals. ““If any one of the house of Israel or of the strangers who sojourn among them eats any blood, I will set my face against that person who eats blood and will cut him off from among his people. For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life. Therefore I have said to the people of Israel, No person among you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger who sojourns among you eat blood. “Any one also of the people of Israel, or of the strangers who sojourn among them, who takes in hunting any beast or bird that may be eaten shall pour out its blood and cover it with earth. For the life of every creature is its blood: its blood is its life. Therefore I have said to the people of Israel, You shall not eat the blood of any creature, for the life of every creature is its blood. Whoever eats it shall be cut off.” Leviticus‬ ‭17‬:‭10‬-‭14‬ ‭ESV‬‬ The blood of all creatures is sacred to God. It is used to make atonement on the altar. It is the life of the creature. Pagans would drink and eat the blood and this is an abomination to God. What about transfusions? What about other medical products and procedures made from blood? Theses things are acceptable as long as they are used to protect and prolong life. May God bless and keep you with good health. Pastor Tim

Today we are reading Leviticus 16. In this chapter we read about the Day of Atonement. ““And it shall be a statute to you forever that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict yourselves and shall do no work, either the native or the stranger who sojourns among you. For on this day shall atonement be made for you to cleanse you. You shall be clean before the Lord from all your sins. It is a Sabbath of solemn rest to you, and you shall afflict yourselves; it is a statute forever. And the priest who is anointed and consecrated as priest in his father’s place shall make atonement, wearing the holy linen garments. He shall make atonement for the holy sanctuary, and he shall make atonement for the tent of meeting and for the altar, and he shall make atonement for the priests and for all the people of the assembly. And this shall be a statute forever for you, that atonement may be made for the people of Israel once in the year because of all their sins.” And Aaron did as the Lord commanded Moses.” Leviticus‬ ‭16‬:‭29‬-‭34‬ ‭ESV‬‬ This national day of repentance and forgiveness brought every Jew to their knees before God. We have national holidays but they are nothing like this. Ours are celebrations of various things and people. Our nation would benefit greatly by a day of repentance and forgiveness—each person humble before God. As believers we can doe this at any time. We can pause what we are doing and go to God on our knees. Who benefits when you repent? Pastor Tim

Today we are reading Leviticus 15. In this chapter we read about bodily discharges. ““Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When any man has a discharge from his body, his discharge is unclean. And this is the law of his uncleanness for a discharge: whether his body runs with his discharge, or his body is blocked up by his discharge, it is his uncleanness. Every bed on which the one with the discharge lies shall be unclean, and everything on which he sits shall be unclean. And anyone who touches his bed shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water and be unclean until the evening. And whoever sits on anything on which the one with the discharge has sat shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water and be unclean until the evening. And whoever touches the body of the one with the discharge shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water and be unclean until the evening.”
‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭15‬:‭2‬-‭7‬ ‭ESV‬‬ This chapter continues with basic health guidelines. How does your church give basic health information that isn’t politicized? God speaks so bluntly and clearly about these things. God cares about the whole person and all of our behaviors. Why is this a good thing? How can you care about the whole person in your ministry? Pastor Tim

Today we are reading Leviticus 14. In this chapter we read about cleansing people and houses from leprosy. “The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “This shall be the law of the leprous person for the day of his cleansing. He shall be brought to the priest, and the priest shall go out of the camp, and the priest shall look. Then, if the case of leprous disease is healed in the leprous person, the priest shall command them to take for him who is to be cleansed two live clean birds and cedarwood and scarlet yarn and hyssop. And the priest shall command them to kill one of the birds in an earthenware vessel over fresh water. He shall take the live bird with the cedarwood and the scarlet yarn and the hyssop, and dip them and the live bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the fresh water. And he shall sprinkle it seven times on him who is to be cleansed of the leprous disease. Then he shall pronounce him clean and shall let the living bird go into the open field. And he who is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes and shave off all his hair and bathe himself in water, and he shall be clean. And after that he may come into the camp, but live outside his tent seven days. And on the seventh day he shall shave off all his hair from his head, his beard, and his eyebrows. He shall shave off all his hair, and then he shall wash his clothes and bathe his body in water, and he shall be clean.”
‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭14‬:‭1‬-‭9‬ ‭ESV‬‬ God gives very detailed instructions on how to cleanse from leprosy. He incorporates the treatments for cleansing into the sacrificial system. Isn’t it interesting that priests were both spiritual leaders and medical professionals. In the case of houses, they were also construction experts. What illness do you have that you are seeking treatment for? May God supply what you need so you many enjoy good health and strong faith! Pastor Tim

Today we are reading Leviticus 13. In this chapter we read about various skin diseases. “The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, “When a person has on the skin of his body a swelling or an eruption or a spot, and it turns into a case of leprous disease on the skin of his body, then he shall be brought to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons the priests, and the priest shall examine the diseased area on the skin of his body. And if the hair in the diseased area has turned white and the disease appears to be deeper than the skin of his body, it is a case of leprous disease. When the priest has examined him, he shall pronounce him unclean. But if the spot is white in the skin of his body and appears no deeper than the skin, and the hair in it has not turned white, the priest shall shut up the diseased person for seven days.”
‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭13‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭ESV‬‬ If you are like me, you were looking at your skin as you were reading this chapter! I bet Moses and Aaron were doing the same thing!! Isn’t it interesting that God was so concerned about His people that He wanted them to have good health and be careful about contagious skin diseases? Today our modern medical specialists are highly educated but can they do any better than God’s simple methods to keep people healthy? The best medical work is simply reverse engineering. God is the original designer and engineer. God can help you with your physical needs. Pastor Tim

Today we are reading Leviticus 12. In this chapter we read about purification for a woman who has just given birth. “The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, If a woman conceives and bears a male child, then she shall be unclean seven days. As at the time of her menstruation, she shall be unclean. And on the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. Then she shall continue for thirty-three days in the blood of her purifying. She shall not touch anything holy, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying are completed. But if she bears a female child, then she shall be unclean two weeks, as in her menstruation. And she shall continue in the blood of her purifying for sixty-six days.”
‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬-‭5‬ ‭ESV‬‬ These simple instructions bring with them many questions. Why was there a sin offering? The answer is because the child is not born under the Covenant and this offering and circumcision for boys accomplishes that. What did the woman and child need to be purified from? Blood born pathogens and other health and spiritual concerns related to the flow of blood and fluids from childbirth. The isolation was to protect mother, child and community. How do we practice similar health restrictions around childbirth? What do we do spiritually for mother and child? May God bless you to celebrate every addition to His family! Pastor Tim

Today we are reading Leviticus 11. In this chapter we read about clean and unclean animals. “And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying to them, “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, These are the living things that you may eat among all the animals that are on the earth. “All winged insects that go on all fours are detestable to you. Yet among the winged insects that go on all fours you may eat those that have jointed legs above their feet, with which to hop on the ground. Of them you may eat: the locust of any kind, the bald locust of any kind, the cricket of any kind, and the grasshopper of any kind. But all other winged insects that have four feet are detestable to you.”
‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭11‬:‭1‬-‭2‬, ‭20‬-‭23‬ ‭ESV‬‬ As I was reading these instructions I wondered about the peculiar diet of John the Baptist. Verse 20-23 cover the locusts! I can’t imagine having a diet restricted to eating locusts. God gives many very detailed directions about which animals to avoid etc. Why do you think God cares about what His people eat? As you go about your routine eating habits see if you can identify clean and unclean things that you eat. Pastor Tim

Today we are reading Leviticus 10. In this chapter we read about the unauthorized fire of Nadab and Abihu. “Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it and laid incense on it and offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, which he had not commanded them. And fire came out from before the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord. Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord has said: ‘Among those who are near me I will be sanctified, and before all the people I will be glorified.’” And Aaron held his peace.” ‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭10‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭ESV‬‬ The sons of God’s great priest Aaron manipulated the burnt offerings in an unauthorized and pagan way. They tried to use the priesthood for their own benefit. Whenever we use our religious practice as a way to get worldly gain we incur the wrath of God. We of all people should use the gifts of God in a Holy way. May God guide you as you live out your faith to please Him in all your ways. Pastor Tim

Today we are reading Leviticus 9. In this chapter we read about Aaron’s first offering which God accepted. “Then Aaron lifted up his hands toward the people and blessed them, and he came down from offering the sin offering and the burnt offering and the peace offerings. And Moses and Aaron went into the tent of meeting, and when they came out they blessed the people, and the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people. And fire came out from before the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the pieces of fat on the altar, and when all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces.”
‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭9‬:‭22‬-‭24‬ ‭ESV‬‬ Wow! Gods sent fire to burn up the offerings! This was a powerful response to the offering of Aaron. God approves! Wouldn’t you like to hear the story from Aaron!? We serve an awesome God! With fear and trembling we serve in Jesus’ name. May God give you the amazing experience of His approval. Pastor Tim