We have our service on Thursday at 7 p.m. This week will be on Friday at 7 p.m.
And so welcoming to bring your family friends to that all this will be decorated lots of food fun and fellowship
And of course, we'll have preaching if you have any questions about that. You can see my wife Sarah
There's more information also at the guest center
And so looking forward to seeing you all on thing for our Thanksgiving banquet our midweek service for the following week
We'll be switched to Tuesday, November 25th in light of Thanksgiving. So no service on the 27th
The service will be moved to Tuesday. And then lastly our science meetup will be on Sunday, November 23rd after the p.m
Service make sure you silence your phones during the preaching
So so as to not be a distraction during the service and that is it for our announcements 120 Jesus. Save your pilot
First verse
Oh
We're in Deuteronomy chapter number 24
Deuteronomy chapter 24 the Bible reads when a man hath taken a wife and married her to come to pass that she find no favor
In his eyes because he had found some uncleanness in her then let him write her a bill of divorcement and give it in her
Hand and send her out of his house when she has departed out of his house
She may go and be another man's wife if the latter husband hate her and write her to build a bill of divorcement
Give it in her hand and send it her out of his house where if the latter husband die which took her to be his
Wife her former husband which sent her away may not take her again to be his wife after that
She is defiled for that is abomination
But for the Lord that shall not cause the land to sin which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance
But may not taken a new wife you shall not go out to war neither shall be charged with any business
But he shall be free at home one year and shall cheer up his wife
Which he has taken no man shall take the nether of the upper millstone to pledge for he take of the man's life to pledge
If a man be found stealing any of his brethren or the children of Israel and make them and make of
Merchandise of him or selleth him then that thief shall die and thou shalt put away evil from among from among you
Take heed in the plague of leprosy
That thou observed diligently and do according to all that the priest the Levi shall teach you as I commanded them
So you shall observe to do remember what the Lord thy God did unto Miriam by the way
After that you were come forth out of Egypt when thou dost lend thy brother anything
I shall not go into his house to fetch his pledge. I shall stand abroad and the man to whom not as blend shall bring
Out the pledge abroad unto thee and if the man be poor I shall not sleep with his pledge in any case thou
Shall deliver him the pledge again when the Sun goes down
It may sleep in his own raiment and bless thee and it shall be righteousness under thee before the Lord thy God
I shall not oppress and hired servant that is poor and needy whether he be of thy brethren or of thy strangers that are
In thy land with night within thy gates at his day
Thou shall give him his hire neither shall the sun go down upon it or he is poor and said this heart upon it
Let's see cry against thee unto the Lord and it be sin unto thee the fathers should not be put to death for the children
Neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers
Every man shall be put death put to death for his own sin
I shall not pervert the judgment of the fatherless nor of the judgment of the stranger of the fatherless nor take a widow's
Raiment to pledge but thou shall remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt and the Lord that God redeemed thee thence
Therefore I command thee to do this thing when I've cut us down nine harvest in the field in my field and
Asked for God a sheaf in the field I shall not go again to fetch it
It shall be for the stranger for the fatherless and for the widow that the Lord that God may bless thee and all the work
Of thine hands when I'll beat us thine olive tree. I shall not go over the bows again
It shall be for the stranger for the fatherless and for the widow when I gather us the grapes of I've vineyard
I shall not glean it afterward
It shall be for the stranger for the fatherless and for the widow and I shall remember that that was the bondman in the land
Of Egypt therefore I command thee to do this thing pray dear Lord
God we thank you again for this opportunity to be in your house
Just ask that you would feel a passenger here with your Holy Spirit as a preacher this morning
Pray that would be edified through the preaching and in Jesus let me pray. Amen
Specific instructions on what to do regarding this particular plague now leprosy
The way we know it today is often referred to as Hansen's disease and it's basically referring to a chronic skin disease
That attacks the nerves of the body creates nerve damage. It can damage the eyes
The lining of the nose it can cause limbs to fall off and it's just a very horrific disease
Even from today's standards, but when you actually read about leprosy in the Old Testament or in the Bible
You'll notice that you know
It's a little different than the symptoms that people have today and people often wonder why is the symptoms of?
Why are the symptoms of leprosy in the Bible so different from the from Hansen's disease or the leprosy that we see in
Recent history and the reason for this because leprosy in the Bible kind of a catch-all phrase or term
To describe any type of skin disease, you know that people can contract but the principle is still the same
And in fact, it's still contagious
It still has that connotation of being infectious contagious where someone has to be quarantined and
It's very much detrimental to a society people were, you know
Isolated because of how contagious it was and so those principles are still the same now leprosy in the Bible isn't just a disease
We often see that it's a powerful comparison to the spiritual disease of sin, right?
We often see the comparison of the two that sin is very much like leprosy
Has a lot of the same properties a lot of same characteristics now go with me if you would to Leviticus chapter 13
Leviticus chapter 13 we see in Deuteronomy 24 that God is specific to telling the children of Israel
Make sure you give heed pay attention to
Make sure you pay attention to the instructions of the priests when it comes to leprosy
Why because it's contagious it can destroy a society it can spread it can cause a lot of damage
Well and like manner tough for us in the New Testament
We also need need to give diligent heed to the spiritual disease of sin right not take it lightly
But also give heed to the instructions of the Bible when it comes to that particular disease
Now when it comes to leprosy as far as the instructions are concerned in the Bible the two chapters
That focus mainly on it is Leviticus 13 and Leviticus 14 Leviticus 13
Deals with the diagnosis of leprosy whereas chapter 14 deals with the instructions as far as cleansing
Is concerned and this morning?
I have four points for you point number one is where it starts point number two is how it spreads point number three
Is how it how it separates and then point number four is how it is solved what's going on here?
Are we having issues with the I'm gonna have to raise my voice use this right here. Don't mind brother Ulysses
He's just doing stuff in the background you're in Leviticus chapter 13 point number one is that sin like leprosy?
Begins beneath the surface of the skin right sin like leprosy
Begins below the surface look at Leviticus 13 in verse number one
it says and the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron saying when a man shall have in the skin of his flesh a
Rising a scab or a bright spot and it be in the skin of his flesh like the plague of leprosy
You guys are killing me here. Is this working now?
All right, cool turn this one off then he shall be brought unto Aaron the priest or unto one of his sons the priest and
The priest shall look on the plague in the skin of the flesh and when the hair in the plague is turned white and
The plague in sight I want you to notice this be deeper than the skin of his flesh
It is the plague of leprosy and the priest shall look on him and pronounce him unclean
so it's specifically saying here that when a priest were to
Diagnose a person who potentially has leprosy he says there if it's in the site deeper than the skin
It's an indication that it's been there
It's the leprosy has been present long before it presented itself above the skin
Okay leprosy of course like beauty is skin deep in other words, right?
Meaning that the disease with present was present within the body long before the rising of the skin long before the bright spots and
The discoloration of the hair on the skin now turn with me if you would to Matthew chapter 15
Hold your place there in Leviticus chapter 13 go to Matthew 15 if you would Matthew chapter 15 point number one
Is that sin like leprosy?
Excuse me begins beneath the surface of the skin the Bible says in Romans 7 and verse number 5 for when we were in
The flesh the motions of sin which were by the law
Did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death
Romans 7 verse 18 says this for I know that that in me that is in my flesh
Dwelleth no good thing for to will is present with me by how to perform that which is good
I find not you know long before
Someone gets involved in drunkenness in fornication in all various types of sin it begins in the heart
It begins skin deep it starts underneath the surface in the heart
You know long before someone gets out of church they get involved in sin they get involved in fornication
They get involved in all manner of evil and wickedness
I'm gonna tell you right now it began while they're in church in the heart
They turn back to Egypt in the heart why because sin like leprosy begins underneath the skin
First Matthew chapter 15 and verse 17 says this do you not yet understand that?
Whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly and is cast down into the draft
But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart and they
Defile the man for out of the heart proceed evil thoughts
murders
adulteries fornications thefts false witness
Blasphemies these are the things which defile a man but to eat with unwashed in hands
Defileth not a man the Bible is telling us here that we don't necessarily have to worry about
Being defiled by the things that we eat things that we're allowing into our mouths, you know, obviously
It's good to have a healthy diet. It's good to eat a lot of protein
But me commended us not to God right whether you eat doesn't make you worse whether you don't eat doesn't make you the better
You know, obviously whatever it is the eat doesn't make you less spiritual or more spiritual because according to Jesus Christ
It's what comes out of the mouth. Why because it proceeds forth from the heart and the Bible is saying here that sin
Begins in the heart and this is why it's important folks that you know
We check our sin that we are making sure that we're confessing our sin and we're making sure that we're cleansing our hearts from all
Unwickedness because of the fact that the Bible tells us that the heart is deceitful above all things
Desperately wicked who can know it? You know, one of the greatest enemies that we have isn't necessarily Satan
It's not necessarily the world. Sometimes it's our own heart because our heart desires that which is wicked and sinful
Therefore we need to keep our hearts with all diligence
And I want you to notice this for out of it are the issues of life, right?
And so things can spring forth out of our hearts and this is why it's important that you put the Bible in your heart
But it's important that you read the Word of God
It's why it's important that you put Bible content within your mind and in your heart to cleanse it on a daily basis
Why because if not leprosy can spread leprosy can take over your flesh
The Bible says in Matthew chapter 5 and verse 27
You have heard that it was said of them by old by them of old-time thou shalt not commit adultery
But I say unto you that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart
This is telling us that adultery
Begins in the heart folks fornication begins in the heart
Drunkenness begins in the heart all manner of sin
Begins in the heart and you know it is a full-time job to keep your heart right with God
It is you know and it's important for us as Christians to be vigilant to be sober
To make sure that we are checking our hearts lest we should go astray in our hearts
and then it turns into leprosy begins to spread and
Destroy our lives the Bible says in Galatians chapter 5 verse 19 now the works of the flesh are manifests
He says which are these adultery fornication uncleanness lasciviousness
idolatry witchcraft hatred variance emulations wrath strife seditions
heresies envyings murders drunkenness revelings and such like of the which I tell you before as I have told you in time past
That they would do such things and not inherit the kingdom of God and this is why the Bible instructs us to walk in the spirit
And he shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh, you know as we walk in the spirit the spirit cleanses us from sin
It provokes us to read the word of God
It causes us to walk in the light of the Lord so that the leprosy the sin of leprosy does not spread within us
Okay point that I'm making here is that leprosy or sin like leprosy begins underneath the skin
And look folks this is why it's important for us to cast down
Imaginations and every high thing that exalted itself against the knowledge of God and bring into captivity
Every thought to the obedience of Christ, you know
One of the greatest wars that we will experience is the war of the mind
Why because the mind begins to entertain thoughts of sin entertain thoughts of iniquity?
And if you regard iniquity in your heart the Lord will not hear you like the Bible says
But it will also germinate it can spread it can cause you to change your decisions to change your viewpoints to change your
Biblical worldview right but also it can cause you to entertain sin and give in to sin and
Essentially destroy your life the point that I'm making here is that sin like leprosy does begin underneath the skin and
You may think to yourself man this person got out of church man
This person got involved in this extremely wicked sin. How did that happen overnight? Well, it didn't happen overnight
You know, it was in that person's heart for months on end. We only see the leprosy
We only see the rising of the skin. We only see the blisters
We see the discoloration of the hair so to speak long afterwards, you know
We as the priesthood we view and say oh man, this is adultery. Oh, man. This is fornication
Oh, man, this is evil. But here's the thing folks is that that leprosy was underneath the skin skin long before we actually diagnosed it
Okay, that's where it begins now the rising and the bright spots when the priests would
Diagnose this would actually indicate that it was fairly new and so it could indicate that it was he was either stable or
Healing. Okay, but the same cannot be stated of what the Bible refers to as raw flesh
Okay, look at Leviticus 13 in verse number 9
Leviticus 13 9 says this when the plague of leprosy is in a man
then he shall be brought into the priests and the priest shall see him and behold if the
Rising be white in the skin and it have turned a hair white and there be quick raw flesh in the rising
What is quick means alive? This is essentially referring to the fact that the disease is active. It's living. It's active
Therefore it's contagious, right? He says quick raw flesh in the rising it is I want you to notice this old
Leprosy in the skin of his flesh and the priest shall pronounce him unclean and shall shut him up for he is
Unclean so the Bible is saying here that if it's blistering it's active. It's pussy
It's raw. It's basically an indication that this leprosy has been there for quite some time
It's old it isn't new and quite frankly
There's a potential that is just essentially going to cover the entire body and there's not much that the priest can do for this person
okay, so this is referring to old leprosy and
again quick raw flesh is referring to that blistering and
Here it basically explains that if this priest views this individual with old leprosy. There is no reassessment
There is no hey just sit here for about seven days until we figure out if it is leprosy or not
It's just like no, this is fornication. No, this is you know adultery. No, this is drunkenness. No, this is railing
It's basically there's no doubt in the mind of the priests that this is a disease. It's gonna spread
Okay, it's advanced in other words
Okay old leprosy is referring to the fact that the disease had already advanced is noted by the fact that it's quick raw flesh
It's consumed the entire body. No quarantine needed. No waiting period. No reexamination
And what this could represent is the fact that you know sin has been long-standing in this person
It's not just something that's been taking place for a couple of months, but even for a couple of years
Okay, and it's consumed that individual and essentially left that person
Permanently scarred and there's two ways to apply the principle of old leprosy
One would be you know
Sometimes people if they don't check their sin that they've been struggling with for years on end
It can just end up destroying that person right it could just completely destroy that person some pet sin that a person has
You know some gambling addiction some alcohol addiction some drug addiction that they're just keeping under wraps
You know be sure your sin will find you out
But even on top of that it could eventually just consume just like the old leprosy the entire body
And it could actually destroy there is a sin unto death the Bible says I do not say that you shall pray for it
That's what the Bible tells us right so there's sins that can be forgiven
There's sins that can be that can consume a person that can they can be restored
But there's instances where old leprosy old habits old sinful habits that a person can
Develop that goes unchecked. You know what happens ends up destroying that person in the long run
There's nothing that we can do for that person, and I've told this story before but it's worth telling again
This reminds me of my cousin
years ago, he was a lot younger than me years ago, and they're finding out that he became a Christian he got saved and
Unfortunately prior to that he had just completely destroyed his body with drug abuse and all manner of drugs to the point where it was
Literally literally killing him and the doctor basically gave him only a few months to live eventually became only a few weeks to live
and he used he ended up dying at the age of like 21 or 22 and
I remember calling him and just kind of saying my goodbyes because it was just
Confirmed that he was gonna die and he's in you know, I and I also wanted to check on his salvation
So I was just like hey, you know, are you 100% sure you're gonna go to heaven? He's like, oh no
I'm 100% sure I'm saved. I believed on Jesus Christ. I've trusted him as my Savior
I said you think you could lose your salvation. He says no, I don't believe I could lose my salvation
I've been forgiven of all my sins and he gave me the just a great answer and I said well
I'm happy to hear that and he said and I believe God's gonna deliver me from this disease too from this particular thing
You know and in my mind
I knew that wasn't true not because I don't believe God can do it
But because of the fact that the wages of sin is death and there are instances where you can just go too far
And you know, you'll suffer the consequences of your actions and you know when he told me that I just told me
I said, you know, I'll see you on the other side one day
I said cuz I'm saved too, you know
I'm a believer and he's like I have faith that God's gonna just save me that he's gonna deliver my body and quite frankly
One day he will deliver that body, right? He will be resurrected, but in the short term that wasn't true
Why because the leprosy had spread already it already consumed his entire body. He had already destroyed himself beyond recognition
There's no coming back from that and you know what the Bible tells us that it says there's certain sins
You just can't pray for it's a sin unto death. You know, I'm here standing up today as your pastor
Warning you regarding whatever sin that you're struggling with behind closed doors that you think is not gonna affect you in the long run
But eventually it will kill you
You know if it doesn't kill you it'll destroy your children
It'll destroy those around you you need to take into consideration that if you're dealing with old leprosy
It's gonna eventually consume the entire body and there's nothing that we can do for you
There's nothing that I can do for you. And you know what? It's not that God can't do anything for you
But there's consequences to sin my friends deal with the leprosy when it's a rising skin deal with the leprosy
When there's discoloration deal with the leprosy before it spreads because it could consume the whole body and end up destroying you now
Another way that we can apply this is in regards to reprobates if you think about it
because what it's saying here is that a person can have old leprosy and
Essentially cover the entire body where nothing could be done for them. They can't be cleansed
You know in like manner the Bible talks about people who are beyond the hope of salvation
Meaning that they've rejected Christ so much that they become adversarial towards Jesus Christ
They hate the Lord Jesus Christ and God gives them over to a reprobate mind to do those things which are not convenient
Now as Janice and Jambres whisked Moses, so do these also resist the truth men of corrupt minds
Reprobate concerning what the faith and what is faith believing?
And so, you know, this is why it's important for us to evangelize
To go out and preach the gospel to prevent people from ever going to that point, right?
Because once a person gets saved it can never become reprobate. However
Society out there is still susceptible to that if they're not saved
People are susceptible to the leprosy spreading throughout their whole entire body to the point where they can never be saved
They can never be cleansed. That's important
You know, the Bible talks about people who are past feeling and isn't that what leprosy does to you even in modern days?
It can destroy the nerves to the point where they don't feel anything, which is why they're like in certain
Parts of the world they're sleeping and rats are just eating away at their limbs because they can't feel it because they have nerve damage
They're past feeling right and so the Bible says let me read to you from Isaiah chapter 1 verse 4 all sinful nation a
People laden with iniquity a seed of evildoers
Children that are corruptors they have forsaken the Lord. They have provoked the Holy One of Israel into anger
They are gone away backward. Why should you be stricken anymore?
Ye will revolt more and more the whole head is sick and the whole heart faint from the sole of the foot
Even unto the head there is no soundness in it
But the wounds and bruises and putrefying sores they have not been closed neither bound up neither
Molified with ointment. What is the saying? It's reprobate the nation has become reprobate and in like manner a person
Can reach a point. I'm not referring to Christians
I'm referring to unsafe people can get to a point where they've rejected the truth so much they go apostate
Which is synonymous with reprobate meaning God removes their ability to ever believe and be saved and obviously that's not
The entire population as a small segment of the population, but that's still a danger that people face
This is why it's important folks that if you're presented with the gospel just accept it just get saved. It's free
Why not Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay for your sins. He resurrected on the third day
Why continue to resist the free gift that's offered to you through Jesus Christ?
You're basically spitting in the face of God when you do so
Disrespecting the gift saying no, I have to do works. No, I don't want that gift
I don't know what there comes a point where God says, okay, then it's no longer offered to you and some people think to themselves
Well, why would God do that? Well, here's a better question
Why would someone reject it people are always like I just can't believe God would do that to someone
Well, here's another unbelievable thing is that some will reject the free gift of eternal life
that's far more unbelievable, especially considering the fact that the Word of God was made flesh and
Sacrificed himself to give you eternal life and then you just reject it or think you can make it to heaven on your own
Postures is insane point that I'm making here. Is that sin like leprosy?
Begins underneath the skin and in some instances is old leprosy go back to Leviticus chapter 13
Leviticus chapter 13 point number two is that sin like leprosy always spreads when left unchecked
Always spreads there's no leprosy that is not contagious and there's no sin that is not contagious either a little leaven
Leaven it the whole lump right look at Leviticus 13 verse 21
It says but if the priest look on it and behold there be no white hairs
They're in and if it be not lower than the skin
But be somewhat dark then the priest shall shut him up seven days and if it's spread much abroad in the skin
Then the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is a plague
So another instance is we see here that the priest when he's diagnosing a person who potentially has
The disease of leprosy he notices that there's no white hairs, you know the
The it's it's somewhat dark. He's kind of uncertain whether it's leprosy or not
He's gonna shut him up seven days quarantining for seven days just to make sure and at the end of those seven days if it
Hasn't spread then he's like, okay this person's clean. He's good to go. But if it has spread it's an indication
Okay, this is legitimately leprosy because leprosy is contagious leprosy will continue to spread
Look at verse 50 if you wouldn't verse 50
It says in the priest shall look upon the plague and shut up it that hath the plague seven days
This is to assess whether this person legitimately has leprosy or not and he shall look in the plague on the seventh day and if the
Plague be spread in the garment
Either in the warp or in the wolf or in the skin or in any work that is made of skin the plague is a fretting
leprosy it is
Unclean so I was telling us here that leprosy will not only spread to your skin in your body
But it also spreads to the things that you have and we're gonna see later on that it could even infect the house the walls
Of the house the stones of the house. Okay, he says in verse 52
He shall therefore burn that garment whether warp or wolf in woolen or in linen or in anything of skin
Where in the plague is for it is a fretting leprosy
It shall be burned in the fire and if the priest shall look and behold the plague be not spread in the garment
Either in the warp or in the wolf or in anything of the skin
Then the priest shall command that they wash the thing wherein the plague is and he shall shut it up seven days
More now, what do we see here? What are some of the parallels that we could draw?
Well sin like leprosy basically nothing can escape it
nothing can escape the corrupting effects of sin and this is what's important folks that when we
Recognize that we've sinned against God or we recognize that we've sinned against each other just deal with it right away
Why allow it to spread? Why would you allow the root of bitterness to spring up troubling others, right?
Why would you allow just?
Unconfessed sin you say well, I'm involved in this particular relationship. I'm fornicating
I'm doing wrong, but I just can't seem to stop well
Here's the thing folks you need to take into consideration that he eventually is gonna destroy your life
You're gonna get thrown out of church. You're gonna end up possibly fathering a bastard child. You're gonna destroy that girl's life
It's important for us to realize that eventually it's gonna spread. It's gonna get worse
Unchecked leprosy does not get better. It always gets worse and it'll spread and sometimes people think yeah
But I'm only hurting myself. That's not the way leprosy works
It'll affect anybody you come in contact with now
Maybe not to the same severe extent that it's affecting you but it will affect others
Look at Leviticus 13 and verse 45 Leviticus 13 verse 45
It says here in the leper in whom the plague is his clothes shall be rent and his head bare
And he shall put a covering upon his upper lip and shall cry unclean unclean now before I move on here
Let me also mention this is that when it comes to the previous point the way that they dealt with leprosy is they just burned everything
So it's just like if a guy had leprosy obviously he wouldn't be burned but his things were burned, right?
You know his clothes were burned whatever he came into contact with burn. That was the only way to
Essentially confirmed that leprosy would not spread is just completely consuming in fire. Well, how do we spiritually apply that?
Well, one of the best ways for you to deal with your sin is just to come under the preaching of God's Word
Why is because it's not my word like as a fire, right?
And what is the preaching do it just inflames if fires it completely consumes
It preaches against your sin and this is why it's important for you to be in a church where they preach against your sin
Where they highlight your deficiencies your sin and they preach hard against it
Why because hard preaching works it shames the person it causes people to get right with God, you know
I'm all for encouraging sermons and exhortative sermons
But those aren't necessarily the best ones to get you cleaned up that won't necessarily get rid of the leprosy, you know
Like oh, you know, it's okay. We're all we're all little leprosy. We're all little lepers here, you know
No one's perfect. We all got a little leprosy here now and that's okay
You know keep that wool keep that clothing. It's alright
No, you need to hear hard preaching that condemns that sin that condemns divorce that condemns
Adultery that condemns drunkenness that condemns railing it specifically highlights sins and it helps people get get right with God
Obviously, there's only so much I can do through the preaching right eventually you have to change and if you don't change after you hear preaching
It's only an indication that you've closed your eyes shut your ears and you're just kind of going through the motions while you're here
But I'm assuming if you're here is because you want to continue to grow in your faith
You want to continue to learn you want to clean up your life?
Well, then let the preaching do what it does best, which is burn the false ideologies
Burn the bad habits and sin that you've accumulated and help you to get right with God
And you know, I know I keep talking about adultery and fornication
But let me just say this is that that's a major thing today among, you know
Amongst the the young younger generation committing fornication. What is fornication?
It's basically having sexual relations before marriage, you know taking the test drive before marriage or whatever. That's wicked
It's evil. It's wicked
It's not biblical and quite frankly the Bible tells us that if you commit fornication and you're unrepentant of it
Then you should be thrown out of this church out of any church now churches don't practice that but we do
Why because we don't want leprosy spreading in the church, you know
Adultery is also wicked and you know, unfortunately society today. It's kind of lenient on this, you know
Churches have become lenient on this. Hey railing is a sin that merits excommunication from a church
What is that speaking evil of someone else just lying about other people just seeking to mar their reputation
That is considered railing and it's basically
Conflicts for being thrown out of a church. Why because if we allow railing to just continue to exist in a church
It's gonna spread and then we're gonna have division in the church
Unity will no longer be a thing in order to destroy the church and so it's important for us to talk about these things
It's important for us to name these things now some of the sins that you know
Our society isn't necessarily struggle with but who knows maybe it might be a thing later on is
Idolatry for example, right? I don't know of any churches that really struggle with idolatry
But I will say this this could be a thing in the coming years though. Let me explain to you
why because of the fact that there's become this
Amalgamation between Christianity and Catholicism and orthodoxy. Okay, even to the point where so-called
Protestants are kind of sympathizing with Catholics
They kind of like the Catholic movement the trad cath movement
And so they kind of end up adopting some of their practices such as having a cross with the dead Christ on the cross
That's idolatry now. We obviously can't say that having a cross is idolatry because a cross is a cross
Okay, and that's not according to biblical standards that would not be considered idolatry
But you put a crucified Christ on that cross. It's now become an idol according to Exodus chapter 20
Okay, and so, you know you may not know that but it's because you've been watching so many reels of these so-called
Catholics and Christians and Protestants who just you know have this permissive attitude towards these things and you know what?
You just never heard that it's idolatry because no one's ever shown you but Leviticus or Exodus chapter 20 clearly says
They're placing a Christ on your wall having a Christ of any form a dead Christ or risen Christ is considered idolatry
Because you're creating an image where the Bible specifically forbids you not to do so and again
This has become permissible amongst Protestants and I'm not a Protestant just to let you know. I'm a rejectionist
I don't protest the Catholic Church. I just completely reject it, you know Protestants are just like, oh they got some things, right?
I'm like, no, they got nothing right and whatever right thing that people may think they have they got from us
They got from the Bible because the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God
Neither can you know them for their spiritually discerned Catholics aren't saved and so therefore they got it from someone else
Okay, you know, well didn't they weren't they the ones that gave us the Bible?
No, they got the canonization of the Bible from Christians because folks the Bible existed in the first century AD
The canonization of the Catholics took place in 300 AD
So you expect me to believe that for two three hundred years Christians just did not know what was supposed to be in the Bible
That's nonsense. Okay, even in the Bible itself people have the scriptures
Okay
and I'm not gonna get into that the point that I'm making here is that
Idolatry could be a thing in the next couple years where people are wearing crosses with the you know
crucified Christ on it and they think nothing of it and by the way most of the
Idols and images of Jesus Christ today is unbiblical anyways never a an actual rendition of what the Bible actually says about Jesus Christ
I'll tell you why because there is no description of what Jesus Christ looked like in the Bible
It doesn't exist the only you know detailed description that we have in the Bible of Jesus Christ is of his resurrected form, right?
That's all the hair of wool the feet of brass
Okay, but even then we don't see images like that. We often see some six foot long-haired
You know Caucasian dude with blue eyes in a dress
That's often what we see and you know what that's not found in the Bible that actually contradicts the nature of God in the Bible
What that I'm making here is that we need to start making a bigger deal about?
Idolatry and help people to realize that I don't worship whether you worship that thing or not
Whether you buy yourself to it or not is still idolatry according to biblical standard now
I can't do anything about the Virgin Mary that you tattooed on your back
You know, there's nothing really much we can do about that can't really do anything about the the Christ that you put on your chest
Or whatever, you know, just cover it up though. Okay, and so let's not flaunt sin. Amen
You're like, oh, it's easy for you to say, you know, you're a bad though
Who's to say that? I don't have some artwork on me either. You know, you know, why you don't know is because I keep it covered
That's why point that I'm making here is that we need to make sure that sin does not spread because like leprosy it does
And this is why sermons on sin have to be continuously preached. We have to highlight alcohol consumption
Well, and let me just say this. Let me just remind everyone that alcohol consumption is simple
I don't really care what the you know reform
Baptist out there says about alcohol and how oh Jesus turned the water into wine
Oh, that's funny, you know Jesus turned the water into wine all the while throughout the Bible
Alcohol consumption is condemned wine in the Bible is used interchangeably to describe both alcohol and non-alcoholic beverages
That's a fact Jews didn't exist in the Bible read the Song of Solomon juice is literally used there
You know people who are constantly justifying alcohol consumption. It's not because they believe it's scriptural
It's because they have an alcoholic problem. They want to justify it and look even from a medical perspective
Every doctor will tell you there's absolutely there's zero benefits to drinking any amount of alcohol. It's all poisonous
Science is just caught up to what the bible has always told you because the bible has always said that it literally calls it
The the poison of asps right it calls it poison. It's toxic. It's destructive to your body
But yeah, you have these baptists. Oh, yeah, what do you use for communion? Uh juice?
Oh, really? You're really going to use juice for your communion?
Yeah, because it's unleavened because leaven pictures sin and guess what the blood of jesus christ had no sin checkmate
And it's funny. It's interesting that people will use unleavened bread in their communion, right?
And then you know couple that with wine that has leaven. How do you explain that you don't they obviously understand
You're not supposed to have leaven within the bread and communion because it pictures the the body of jesus. That's without sin
Well, guess what his blood is without sin, too
And luckily we are going into an era where the younger generation is rejecting alcohol consumption to realize it's nonsense. It's stupid
It's mostly these older
30 to 40 year old reformers who keep wanting to drink, you know, they got their beer belly
They got the alcoholic nose, you know, and they don't want to let go of their alcohol
Well, let it go because it's sin drunkenness is a sin. Well
Drunkenness is a sin. You know drinking isn't a sin. It's just drunkenness is a sin
Well, if you've never drank alcohol before in your life, if you have a little bit you're going to get drunk
So how do you how do you how do we do that? Right? It's just like well alcohol consumption is not a sin
It's just that if you get drunk
Well anybody who drinks alcohol for the very first time is going to get drunk
No, they get buzzed buzz is not a thing in the bible buzz in the bible is is drunk, you know
Oh, you know bible says that god, you know gave uh alcohol to man and wine to man to make the heart glad
Yeah, juice makes you glad sugar makes you glad for sure
I'm 100 in agreement with that and here's the thing folks, you know to think about this think about the the nonsensical
Attitude when it comes to alcohol and trying to use jesus christ to justify it
They say that jesus turned the water into wine
But when you read the story, you obviously see that jesus christ gave more wine in the wedding
After they had well drunk so they they had already killed all the kegs. They're all gone
Obviously, I don't believe it's kegs or actual alcohol. I'm just using their interpretation
You know all the alcohol is gone and then he provides what is it six more water pots of alcohol?
So it's just like well drinking is in the sin is drunkenness. So according to your standard
Jesus made everyone drunk because he's giving them six
Water pots filled with alcohol after they had well drunk. It falls apart in light of the scriptures my friend
The concept of people claiming that the bible teaches alcohol consumption is permissible
Collapses under the weight of scripture wine is a marker strong drink is raging
Whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise and you know what it means to not be wise
It means you're a fool and why is it that i'm always seeing people online. There's just obese
overweight
Reformers teaching you can drink alcohol. Oh, you're gonna teach me gluttony is okay, too
You know, what else are we going to justify here?
And you know, it's interesting is like well, you know, you could drink a little bit. Just not a lot
Well, does that go across the board for every sin? Is it okay to commit a little fornication?
Just not a lot is a little adultery. Okay, just not a lot
What other sin does god permit for you to do a little bit just not a whole lot not a single one
All right
I spent a long time on that but we have new people in our church and they need to hear that alcohol
Is sinful fornication is sinful adultery is sinful because quite frankly a lot of churches don't tell you these things
I'll tell you why because the pastor was you know, do a wine-bibber himself and I am not a wine-bibber
I don't drink alcohol. I don't touch the stuff. I hate alcohol. It destroys families. It destroys homes
It destroys marriages. It kills people we had a godly man in a in a uh,
My friend's church a righteous godly man who's a brand new father
He was a a passionate soul winner
Did missions was changing the world and was killed by a drunk driver this year
Go ahead and upload your stupid video justifying alcohol consumption in light of that
Oh, it looks like it's you know alcohol like leprosy spreads and it affects other people, right?
And so point number three is this sin like leprosy can separate you from god and his people
Look what it says in verse 45 the leper in whom the plague is his clothes shall be rent
And his beard bare and he shall put a covering upon his upper lip and shall cry unclean unclean
All the days wherein the plague shall be in him. He shall be defiled. He is unclean
He shall dwell alone the bible says without the camp shall his habitation be and you know within recent history
They used to have these things called leper colonies now leprosy is now treatable
But before that they would have leper colonies where everyone was just kind of
You know gathered together whoever was a leper. They just kind of have to live together
But here in this instance, they would just dwell alone without the camp in other words if someone was infected with the disease of leprosy
They could not be with god's people. They couldn't be with anybody. Why because it was contagious, right?
The bible tells us in isaiah 59 you don't have to turn there verse 2 says but your iniquities
Have separated between you and your god and your sins have hit his face from you that he will not hear
Now this is not to say that you lose your salvation when you're involved in unrepentant sin
Okay, you can't lose your salvation for any reason. Nothing can separate us from the love of god
And eternal life is a gift that's given to us not based upon what sins we commit or don't commit
It's just freely given to us by his grace for by grace
Are you safe through faith in that not of yourselves, right?
But sin can separate you from god's hand of blessing you can't expect for god to bless your family
Your job your finances your health your relationships if you're involved in sin
Why because it separates you from that but even on a practical level according to the bible
People who are involved in unrepentant sin need to be excommunicated from the congregation now look at leviticus 14
Let's look at an example of this even in the old testament leviticus 14 verse 38
It says here then the priest shall go out of the house to the door of the house and shut up the house seven days
And the priest shall come again the seventh day and shall look and behold if the plague be spread in the walls of the house
Then the priest shall command that they take away the stones in which the plague is and they shall cast them into an unclean place
without the city
He shall cause the house to be scraped within roundabout and they shall pour out the dust that they scrape off without the city
Into an unclean place. So basically if a person was diagnosed with leprosy
The priest would go into the house where that person was dwelling and he can tell if there were
You know if there was leprosy infecting the walls of the house made of stone now
Luckily if there was a house made of stone and there was only one stone that had that leprosy
He just has to remove that particular stone and then we'll see later on just replace it
Okay, look what it goes on to say in verse number
42 says and they shall take other stones and put them in the place of those stones
And he shall take other mortar and shall plaster the house and if the plague come again and break out into the house
After that he has taken away the stones and after he has scraped the house and after it is plastered
Then the priest shall come and look and behold that the plague be spread in the house
It is affording leprosy in the house. It is unclean. What do we see here?
We see that within a house if leprosy was in it
The solution would be remove the stones in which the leprosy is found. You don't have to destroy the entire house
You just got to remove the stone that's within that house that is infected with leprosy
And what does the bible say in the new testament regarding christians ye also as lively stones
Are built up a spiritual house. So the new testament god views
Believers as being the stones that make up the local new testament church
This is why john the baptist said, you know, god is able of himself to raise up these stones unto abraham, right?
Say now within yourselves
We have abraham to our father god is able of these stones to raise up children unto abraham
He's referring to gentile believers and we are the stones that make up the house of god
But here's the thing if there's a stone in here that has leprosy
We don't get rid of the house
We get rid of the stone and this is a picture of what we see in the new testament that believers are to be removed
From a congregation, right?
Either they need to remove themselves or we'll remove them
Why because if not, it's going to destroy the house go with me if you would to first corinthians chapter 5 first corinthians 5
First corinthians chapter 5 first corinthians 5 look at verse number 6 now in first corinthians 5
We have the list or the what the apostle paul is addressing here fornication in the church
And he's trying to instruct the church at corinth that what to do in this regard
He says in verse number 6 your glorying is not good
Knowing not that a little leaven leaven at the whole lump purge out there for the old leaven
That you may be a new lump as you are unleavened for even christ our Passover sacrifice for us
Now the problem here is that fornication was taking place in the church
And it seems as though the leaders in this church were kind of bragging about the fact that they weren't removing this person
This is what the apostle paul means by your glorying is not good
You know, they're kind of like yeah the apostle paul strict, but we we just we just love people here
We just want we're just trying to give people a chance here. Well, your glorying is not good
Let me just remind you that it's always right to do right
Regardless of the consequences or regardless of people's perception of you, right? People are like, well, I don't think that's right
Well, let's just look to see what God thinks though, right?
If God says the person should be removed the person needs to be removed regardless of what happened
even if that person gets offended and in fact that the person gets offended just just remind them you've offended us by bringing sin into
This church he says in verse 7 or verse 8 therefore
Let us keep the feast not with old leaven neither with the leaven of mouths and wickedness
But with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. I wrote into you in an epistle not to company with fornicators
So previous to this letter there was a letter the Apostle Paul wrote to the church at Corinth and he specifically instructed them
Hey, don't be hanging around with fornicators. Okay, obviously
There's not much we can do regarding the world, but in general you shouldn't keep company with other fornicators
Why because fornication like leaven can spread to you and when you hang around fornicators
You will eventually justify fornication. You're hanging around the boys that are constantly sleeping around and they're bragging about it
It will eventually infect you. This is what the Bible saying here, right?
Don't company with fornicators and don't company with anybody who has sinful habits period. Well, then who should I company with right here?
No fornicators here. No winebibbers here might have a you know, a little
Apple cider tonight might get a little wild tonight bring a little cinnamon little marshmallows
Who knows if I get a little crazy tonight, I don't know but you know what at least you know
That the only hangover you'll have tomorrow is from sugar not from alcohol. Amen. Oh, that's geeky. Oh, yeah, that's that's true
I guess we should just wake up tomorrow just throwing up our guts from alcohol
Potentially contracted some disease because you slept with some person you didn't know. Oh, yeah great idea, man
You're a little rough about this
Yeah
Because people's lives are destroyed what because of this stuff because you know the pastors aren't getting up saying this and you know
I'd rather offend you and you never come back
But at least you know, this is what the Bible says at least you know
There was a prophet among you that actually told you the truth and I'm sorry if I'm trying to keep you away from fornication
I'm sorry that I'm just trying to keep away from all the fun of fornication folks fornication isn't fun
Adultery isn't fun. You know afterwards thy mouth shall be filled with gravel the Bible says he says in verse 10 yet
Not all together with the fornicators of this world or with the covetous or extortioners or idolaters for them
You must need to go out of the world
So he's saying, you know, don't take what I'm telling you to the extreme where I'm saying like you just can't be around any
Fornicator because you're gonna work for a fornicator. You're gonna have you know people in your
School and your place of work that are committing these sins, you know, we're not Amish here
We're not sure to go into the middle of nowhere and create a compound
Because we just want to be we want to be so separated from the world or whatever
That's not biblical either
In other words, you can't really do anything about the environment that you're kind of forced into your job your school
Whatever may be but you know
You don't have to hang out with the people at your job
Like your job should be just work right unless you're trying to win that person to Christ
We have plenty of people here that have won their co-workers to Christ even their bosses to Christ. That's the way to go
So he's saying don't take this command to the extreme where I'm telling you
You should be just completely separated from anybody who's a fornicator, you know
Well at that point you need to like go dwell on the moon or something like that
You must need to go out of the world because the world is just filled with fornicators. It's filled with idolaters
It's filled with adulterers and drunkards and so forth. Look at verse 11, but now I have written unto you
So he gives clarification not to keep company if any man that is called listen to this a brother
So what does it say if you know someone who's committing fornication and they call themselves a Christian then at that point
You shouldn't have company with this person. He says if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator or
Covetous or a dollar to a railer or drunk or extortioner with such a one know not to eat. So that's pretty extreme
But he's trying to give us here
An explanation of how severe the separation should be and we would say communing with someone eating with someone is like one of the best
Ways to fellowship with someone right you're eating some with someone you're you're hanging out with them
Well here saying don't even share a meal with them. Well, I don't know that just seems a little extreme
Yeah, the the reason you think it's extreme. It's because you've been inoculated with this limp wristed Christianity
Promoted by pastors that wants to make any kind of sin permissible the Bible saying don't do it
If you got an issue with it, you got to take it up with God
He's the one who wrote it well the cultural context of the day
This is the cultural context cultural context of the Bible and since when do we allow our ideologies to be molded by the culture?
Do we allow the culture to interpret the Bible for us? Where is the wisdom of this world?
We don't we don't consider the wisdom of this world to interpret the Bible. We have the spirit of God
We know what the Bible standing here and we don't even have to go into the Greek for this
What does the Greek say exactly what the English says?
He says for what have I to do to judge them with the also that are without do you not judge them that are within?
But then that are without God judges therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person
So what is the same this is saying that in the context of a local New Testament church if a person is committing fornication
Any of the sins that we looked here extortion idolatry railing, you know
Any of these and by the way by proxy if it's talking about fornication
It's also referring to an adultery right like adultery is worse than fornication
So if it's saying fornication, it's safe to assume that it's also referred to adultery right same thing with drunkenness
If it says drunkenness is safe to assume that it's also referring to smoking marijuana or doing crack cocaine or something
You know just you put you can insert any kind of drug into that little slot there and it would apply
Okay, and it's saying here for persons guilty of these sins and when confronted according to Matthew chapter 18
They refuse to get it right then the Bible says you have to put that person away meaning they have to be thrown out
Of the church why because that stone has some
Leprosy that they're not willing to get rid of so the stone has to be removed
Cast out and a new stone has to be put in and I love the fact that Leviticus 14 says
That it will be replaced with the new stone why because sometimes we were like well, you know
If you do that if you throw people out of the church, how are you gonna go to the church like that?
You know, you're gonna scare people away
Well, that's funny because the Bible says that we would just replace it with the new stone new members come right new people get saved
New people get joined the church new stones get in and here's the great thing
It has no Lepsi and look folks just to clarify
This is not referring to the fact that if you're committing fornication
You just automatically get thrown out, especially if you don't know any better you just get thrown out
If you just refuse to repent of that like if I can friend you're just like well, let me think about it
Okay
Well you have until next week to think about it because here are your options
You could either break up or you could get married and what's the problem with getting married?
Amen gay marriage the best option she saved you're saved
You know get married and if that is not a viable option for you
And you just rather continue in fornication than you are a wicked person and you need to be thrown out of the church
And so this is referring to unrepentant sin right and look let me also say this is that sometimes the stones take themselves out
Sometimes they just take themselves out here sermon like this and they're like I'm never coming back and and it's just like bye Felicia
Yeah, how are you gonna grow the church like that new stones come in? You know I rather a stone
Leave our church because they're unrepentant. They're not willing to get something right then to them just remain in church
Unrepentant just spreading leprosy in our church. I am not afraid to lose members of our church not afraid at all of that
In fact, I encourage you especially if you're unrepentant of your sin because you can destroy this church
You can destroy the people around you, but you know I'm rather prefer you just get right with God
I rather you prefer you just not be a drunkard
Whether you just spend your Sundays in the house of God singing the hymns here in the preaching of God's Word living a holy
Life not fornicating not involved in drunkenness not being a railer just living a life
That's pleasing unto the Lord and you just get blessed by God. That's preferable rather than you just destroying your life
But you know if you don't like that then this you know this hey stones
You guys can just get you could walk up walk out right now
Right in the middle my preacher you just get up and walk out and I won't be offended
Because of the I am offended if you stay here
And you're not willing to get right with God that offends me that offends our church that offends the children in our church
You have no regard for the house of God for the rules and the institution that God has set forth in this church
I was walking out. All right, good. Yeah, I mean everyone's good to go. Amen. It happens sometimes
It's happened many times actually where I'm preaching people just get up and just walk out
I remember the first time someone walked out of my sermon was in El Monte and it was a visitor and
I wasn't even preaching hard against the Jews. You know, I mean like it wasn't you it was like a passing thought
I might have just mentioned like synagogue of say, I don't know. I just you know, just the Spirit of God came upon me
You know, I mean, it's just like I just said something about the Jews and then the person was just like got up
It was like no, no, no, no and just walked out and I'm just like, what did I do?
And I realized that all it's because of the Jews. Oh
She's a Zionist, you know, and then I realized like all people just walk and they just get offended at this pretty hard
You know and since then people have walked out of my services, but I have no issue with that
I you know, I rather the stones show themselves out why because it's more important to please God and to keep a holy church
Than to allow leprosy to continue to spread. Okay, and look folks
I'm not talking about you struggle in your thought life. You struggle in your character. You're struggling in this area
I'm talking about the fact that you just are just a wicked person and in spite of the fact that the Bible says that you're
Just like no, I'm not talking about a person who's struggling with sin
You understand like a person is just like I'm struggling. I need help and I'm struggling with this. Help me with this
That's different than a person who's just like no, I'm gonna keep fornicating. You're like, is there really people out there like that?
Yeah, there is so now you understand why it's important to throw that person out because if they're just like, no, I love her
So we're just gonna keep on I don't agree with you
I think God is okay with this type of union then go take that to the non-denom church down the street where they'll accept that
All right. Look at Leviticus 14 Leviticus chapter 14. Oh, wait a little bit
Ecclesiastes 3 verse 5 says this there's a time to cast away stones and a time to gather stones
There comes a time when you have to throw some stones out and guess what?
There's also comes a time where we go gather some stones, right? Gather them to the preaching of God's Word
We gather them through social media. We gather them by evangelizing and soul winning
But we also cast them out when they have a fretting leprosy that they're not willing to get right and again
This is important especially for this younger generation
Get off of tinder or tender or whatever that's called get off of chicken tender
No, these these fornicating apps that are out there. I'm just trying to meet someone
Yeah, but most of the time that's for fornication though. I've heard correctly. That's mainly for fornication
Why don't you just like actually talk to someone face to face? I'll get on that later on look at Leviticus 14
Here's my last point is that sin like leprosy can only be declared clean by blood
okay, look at verse 4 it says then shall the priest command to take for him that is to be cleansed two birds alive and clean and
Cedar wood and scarlet and hyssop and the priest shall command that one of the birds be killed in an earthen vessel
Over running water ask for the living bird
He shall take it and the cedar wood and the scarlet and the hyssop and shall dip them and the living bird in the blood
Of the bird that was killed over the running water
and he shall sprinkle upon it upon him that is to be cleansed from the leprosy seven times and shall pronounce him clean and
Shall let the living bird loose into the open field now
Let me briefly explain these last couple minutes why this was used in order to
Declare a leper clean by using two birds and these Old Testament rights
We see the bird obviously symbolizes the Lord Jesus Christ
Okay, because of the fact that birds are creatures that come from above right they come down from above
They're not necessarily they don't come from the earth. They come from above
That's the kind of the the figurative language that we see here
Jesus said he that coming from above or John the Baptist said he that coming from above is above all
he that is of the earth is earthly and
Speaketh of the earth he that coming from heaven is above all John 6 38 says I came down from heaven
Not to do mine own will but the will of him that sent me so a bird
Of course when it flies it ascends upward like Christ at his ascension
Now the question is why is it that two birds were used in this particular religious, right?
Well, one bird is killed over what running water Bible says in verse 5 that the priest shall command that one of the birds be
Killed in an earthen vessel over running water. This obviously pictures Christ
Institutionary death right and notice that it says here that the bird is killed in an earthen vessel
Well, the Word of God has made flesh, right?
He's essentially placed into an earthen vessel known as a body and it's in that body that he was put to death
Okay
Crucified on across the earthen vessel picturing Jesus being made flesh being made in the likeness of sinful flesh
And of course his blood was shed the second bird was actually permitted to live
It was dipped in the blood of the slain bird and then released look at verse 6 asked for the living bird
he shall take it and the cedar wood of course picturing the cross and
The scarlet and the hyssop and shall dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running
Water so we see here that it's released alive into the open field and it's of my
Interpretation that this is essentially picturing the death and the resurrection of Jesus Christ
the death of Jesus Christ is pictured by the bird by the bird that was killed and
Then the resurrection of Jesus Christ being pictured by the blood that is dipped in the blood and released into heaven
So what happened with Jesus Christ when he resurrected and ascended when he resurrected?
He went to the mercy seat which is in heaven and placed his blood on the mercy seat
So that second bird was dipped in blood and then was released into the wilderness
picturing liberation that resurrection and I believe what this is saying is that the only way a
Person can be cleansed of their leprosy of their sin is through the death bearer and resurrection of Jesus Christ the gospel
It's basically a picture of the gospel. Okay Christ carrying his own blood to the mercy seat
Go to Hebrews chapter 9 if you would Hebrews chapter 9 Hebrews chapter 9
It's a beautiful picture here of the gospel his death and of course his resurrection
The second bird is dipped in the blood of the first and then released look at Hebrews 9 verse 12
It says neither by the blood of goats and calves
But by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place
Having obtained eternal redemption for us for if the blood of bulls and of goats and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean
sanctify it to the purifying of the flesh
How much more shall the blood of Christ who through the eternal spirit offered himself without spot to God and by the way
Oil was also involved in this particular religious, right?
Which pictures the Holy Spirit and here it says that he through the eternal spirit offered himself without spot to God
Purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God
So the liberty and life that flows from his resurrection is what saves us
And this is what the Bible says in Romans chapter 4 that he was delivered for our offenses that first bird and was raised again for our
Sanification signifying that second bird there one bird could not be killed
But excuse one bird could not be both killed and released alive
You needed to in order to picture and represent the gospel of Jesus Christ
And once that was done the blood was sprinkled on the leper seven times and seven of course is the number of perfection completion
Signifying that this person was cleansed. What do we see here?
We see that leprosy is a major problem sin is a major problem
And we need to take into account that just as the Israelites needed to give heed to the instructions of the priesthood regarding leprosy
We need to give that much more heed to the danger of sin
Okay, point number one is what you need to recognize that sin begins skin deep
It's why it's great that we have church three times a week Sunday morning Sunday night Thursday
Of course this week Friday why because it's kind of a reminder to us to get right with God
All right, we need to get right with the Lord because throughout the week we accumulate sins
Maybe we have bad thoughts. Maybe we say things that we shouldn't say we accumulate bad habits
We come to the house of God. We hear the preaching of God's Word. And what does it do?
It recalibrates us to get right with the Lord and recognize like, you know
I might have some leprosy that is starting to develop and we also see that if you don't take care of that leprosy
It'll become old leprosy eventually consuming the whole body and destroying and that is a legitimate thing
I've seen people in our church who are no longer here and from a spiritual perspective
I can say that person had old leprosy person was consumed by sin never got a cleanse
Now never got it right never asked for help never sought counsel
Never gave heed to the preaching of God's Word
They thought that they were fine and they would come to church and go through the motions
And they're not here today. You know why it because the leprosy consumed their whole body
They end up suffering the consequences of their actions
Okay, and of course we need to recognize that leprosy spreads
You should get your leprosy right just because it's gonna destroy you but also recognize it'll destroy the people around you and look folks
The answer for you should not be this. Well, if that's the case, I'm just gonna get out of church
Why don't you just get right a better option? Well, I'm just gonna give up be weenie
Just just get right with God read the Bible ask God for help be strong in the Lord and then the power of his might
Ask your pastor for help ask those who are older than the Lord for help stay in the fight fight the flesh
Don't just give in don't just say well
I'm just gonna throw out my hands and look
I don't think anybody here has a has old leprosy because you're in the house of God still you're listening to the preaching of God's word
Maybe this is your
Sign from God to get it right before it's too late and of course if you're not saved
And you need the complete cleansing of leprosy through the ritual of two birds which pictures the death bear and resurrection of Jesus Christ
And so you know leprosy can destroy a person's life
And so we need to give heed to the instructions of the Bible on how to deal with it. Let's pray father
We thank you so much for your word
Thank you for the admonitions of the Bible of the Old Testament that gives us so many principles on how to deal with sin
Lord, we need cleansing on a day-to-day basis
Help us to take heed lest we fall and recognize that but but by the grace of God
We would be in that situation
But we obviously understand that you have given us the commands to put in the effort to endeavor
To live a holy life and maybe this year wasn't the best year for some of us
well, a new year is right around the corner we can develop new habits and
Live righteous lives Lord and shed away some of the habits of the old man help us to get right with you on a weekly basis
Lord and recognize that you don't necessarily require us to give us to give you our lives once
You want us to live a self-sacrificial life every single day to be a living sacrifice
Holy acceptable unto you and I pray that we will renew that each and every day. We love you
We thank you for this things in Jesus name. Amen
Song number 145 "It is well with my soul"
As always on the chorus for that first is well
That will be sung by the ladies and the second will be sung by the men
Altogether nice and strong on that first verse