Prayer Focus for April 8th
CORONA VIRUS PRAYER FOCUS
O THOSE LUMBERING LEVITICAL OFFERINGS! (Leviticus 1-7)
During these long days of the corona virus pandemic confinement, reading the lumbering passages of Leviticus might not seem like a very good antidote to being housebound. The dictionary defines “lumbering” as moving in a slow, heavy, awkward way.” Yep, that’s Leviticus all right! Or, is it? The Levitical offerings can actually be a catalyst to pray. This week we will use the offerings of Leviticus for our Wednesday prayer focus (or for your personal and/or family devotional). There are five offerings outlined in Leviticus 1-7 (Burnt offering, Grain offering, Sin offering, Trespass offering and Peace offering) and they can all be tied to Jesus Christ and His offering Himself on the cross. All the offerings are mediated by the priests. Jesus, our eternal High Priest, offered Himself on the cross. Therefore He is both the offering itself and the one making this offering! Perhaps the most surprising thing about the Levitical offerings is that it was the one bringing the offering who had to kill the offering, skin it and clean it! You may have thought that a person brought the offering and gave it to the priest and the priest did the “dirty work.” Not so! Even though Jesus Christ offered Himself to be our sacrifice for sin on the cross, it was our sin that did the “dirty work,” but it was Jesus who did the “hard work” when He died for us. We all corporately nailed Jesus to the cross, but Jesus chose to die there for the sins of the whole world. A man once part of our church, but now in heaven, Clem Strimel, used to say, “Nails may have put Jesus on the cross, but it was His love that held Him there!” As a result of Jesus’ death on the cross and His subsequent resurrection, believers in Christ are now also elevated to the status of priest (I Peter 2:9) and we can present our own bodies as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1). We can also offer our prayers that reach heaven as a sweet-smelling offering to God just like some of the Levitical offerings (Psalm 141:2; Revelation 5:8; 8:3-4; Leviticus 1:9). For our prayer focus we will be studying the Levitical Offerings in the order they are presented in the summation of the offerings in Leviticus 6:8-7:38.
We will also break down each offering into the following categories:
• The Offering
• Jesus as the Offering
• We Offer our Prayers
I. Focus on Christ
• The Offering - The Whole Burnt Offering (Leviticus 1) This offering was a voluntary offering of an unblemished male (Lev. 1:3) that involved atonement for sin (Lev. 1:4) through the shedding of its blood (Lev. 1:5) and was laid on wood on an altar (Lev. 1:8).
• Jesus as the Offering
Christ willingly offered Himself as a sinless sacrifice for an atonement for sin through the shedding of His blood on the cross (John 10:17-18; Hebrews 9:12; 10:12; 12:2).
• We Offer our Prayers
The burnt offering was a sweet-smelling aroma to God (Lev. 1:9), just as the offering of our prayers goes up to heaven as a sweet-smelling aroma to the Lord (Psalm 141:2; Revelation 5:8; 8:3-4).
Take the time to praise God for the love He has demonstrated for us in sending Jesus Christ to be the atoning sacrifice for sin. As the fire consumed the offering, so the death of Christ removes all trace of the sin that had separated us from God (Psalm 103:12)!
The corona virus has brought much of the world to its knees. Well, that’s a good place to find ourselves because now God should have our attention. Unbelieves need to turn to Christ and find new life in Him by receiving Him as Lord and Savior. Believers need to be seeking God in prayer and remembering that it is only because of His amazing love and grace that we are able to know Him and call upon Him in prayer.
Meditate on the following hymn lyrics by Charles Wesley …. And marvel! And can it be that I should gain an interest in the Savior’s blood? Died He for me, who caused His pain, for me, who Him to death pursued? Amazing love! How can it be, that Thou, my God, should’st die for me!
II. Focus on the Body of Christ (The Church)
• The Offering – The Grain Offering (Chapter 2) The grain offering is of fine flour (Leviticus 2:2), always unleavened (Leviticus 2:11), mixed with oil (Leviticus 2:1), frankincense (Leviticus 2:1), and salt (Leviticus 2:13). Part of the grain offering was burned and part of it was kept by the priests. The part that is burned is referred to as a “memorial” (Leviticus 2:2).
• Jesus as the Offering
Jesus, the Bread of Life, took the unleavened bread and declared, “This is my body,” as He instituted the Lord’s Supper (Matthew 26:26) for His church, which is also referred to as “His Body” (Colossians 1:24). He invites us to continue to observe the Lord’s Supper as a memorial, directing us to “Do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19). He sent the Holy Spirit to be the anointing oil for the church (I John 2:19, 27) for learning truth (John 16:13) and to be gifted to serve (I Corinthians 12:4-11). He intercedes for His church before the throne of the Father and has opened a new and living way for us to enter boldly into the throne room through our prayers, which is like sweet-smelling incense to the Father (Hebrews 4:16; 10:19-20).
• We Offer our Prayers
The grain offering was a sweet-smelling aroma to God (Leviticus 2:2), just as the offering of our prayers goes up to heaven as a sweet-smelling aroma to the Lord (Psalm 141:2; Revelation 5:8; 8:3-4).
In prayer ask the Holy Spirit to unify us through revival in the church; to refine us like unleavened fine flour, to allow our light to shine as the oil of the Spirit burns brightly in our hearts and prepares us to serve our communities as the salt of the earth.
The corona virus affords the church the opportunity TO BE the church. Prayer is a wonderful reminder that we’re not bound by buildings, walls or property. We are the church wherever two or more are gathered in His name. The corona virus ought to make us realize what we have in common with other Christians and not be so easily divided by our differences.
Plan to participate in the Good Friday service streamed by the Christian and Missionary Alliance. Plan to partake of communion in your home during our live streamed service on Sunday morning. Above all continue to pray for one another, look in on one another and support one another. Pray and ask God to show us ways we can work with other churches in our community, nation and throughout the world during this pandemic.
As you meditate on the following, think of all the brothers and sisters in Christ who are right now praying along with you!
“Recipe” for Communion Bread
Fine Flour with no yeast – Pure and Holy Passover Lamb of God, purge out the sin of leaven in us (I Corinthians 5:7-8) Oil – Fill us with your Holy Spirit, let our lights so shine that others may see our good works and give glory to You! (Matthew 5:16)
Frankincense – May the words of our mouth and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in your sight (Psalm 19:14)
Salt – Let us be the salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13) and let our conversation always be seasoned with grace to please you and draw others to you (Colossians 4:6).
Help us serve often... share with others... Thank you that it never runs out… In Jesus’ name. Amen.
III. Focus on Getting Your Heart Right
• The Offering – The Sin Offering (Leviticus 4) The sin offering is quite similar to the burnt offering with a few huge differences. The animal that is sacrificed in the burnt offering is entirely consumed within the tabernacle (Leviticus 1:9), whereas, the animal that is sacrificed in the sin offering is largely carried outside the tabernacle and discarded (Leviticus 4:11-12). The burnt offering was a voluntary offering (Leviticus 1:3), whereas, the sin offering is mandatory upon being made aware of an unintentional sin of which the one committing the sin had been unaware (Leviticus 4:27-28).
• Jesus as the Offering
The burnt offering reminds us that Jesus died for our sins one time (Romans 6:10; Hebrews 7:26-27; 9:27-28). It was one and done. When we come to Christ and receive His forgiveness it results in the removal of our sins as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12). The burnt offering then symbolizes salvation. What then does the sin offering symbolize for us? Because we are not yet in heaven we continue to struggle with sin (I John 1:10-2:2). We don’t need to be saved again but we do need to be kept pure in our hearts so we can stay close to the Lord and be able to serve Him better. Just as the sin offering had to be carried outside and discarded, we need to come to Jesus in prayer, confess our sin, and ask His forgiveness so the weight of sin can be cast aside and not impede our walk and effective service for Christ (Hebrews 12:1-2).
• We Offer our Prayers One of the ways we keep ourselves strong and effective in our walk with the Lord is through the prayer of confession. If we will pray and ask God to show us our blind spots and reveal to us ways in which we have drifted from the Lord, he will make us aware of those things through the Word, other people, or the still small voice of the Spirit. If we confess those things we learn about ourselves with a sincere and contrite heart, the Lord will forgive us (I John1:9). The corona virus confinement is an opportunity for introspection and improving our spiritual walk. God has already laid on my heart some specific things I need to deal with during this time. As I said Sunday in the sermon, we shouldn’t want things to get back to normal nearly as much as we want to be stronger and better people when this is over. Let us pray to that end.
Read Psalm 139 and meditate on these words …
Search me, O God, and know my heart, try me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there be any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting (Psalm 139:23-24)
IV. Focus on Making Things Right
• The Offering – The Trespass Offering (Leviticus 5:1-6:7) What is the difference between the sin offering and the trespass offering? After some serious study I’m still not totally sure myself, because there seems to be a lot of overlap, but there are some notable differences. The Hebrew word for “sin” is chat’a which means to “err” or “miss the mark.” The Hebrew word for “trespass” is asham which means “to offend.” As mentioned above, the sin offering is never discussed with a specific sin associated with it. On the contrary the trespass offering is sometimes associated with some specific offense against God or against another person that affects them adversely. Another important distinction is that the trespass offering sometimes involves restitution (Leviticus 5:16; 6:5). In summary, the sin offering focuses on the sin nature of the heart and our inclination to sin, whereas, the trespass offering may focus on actual sins that impact other people adversely and may require restitution.
• Jesus as the Offering
Because Jesus paid the price for our sin with His precious blood completely (It’s paid in full!) there is no payment we can add to that (I Peter 1:18-19). However, because Jesus, now seated at the Father’s right hand, has chosen to be identified on earth with His people (Matthew 25:40, 45; Acts 9:4-5), it is required of us to owe a debt of love to one another (Romans 13:8).
• We Offer our Prayers
Pray that God will enable you to repair damaged relationships, especially with other believes! The Bible makes it clear that your relationship with God in worship and prayer is adversely affected when your relationships are not right. You should do your part to repair strained relationships prior to your approaching God in worship (Matthew 5:23-24). Even when things are not right with your spouse it can hinder your prayers (I Peter 3:7). Do you have something against a brother or sister in Christ? Pray that God will help you to forgive them or that you will be able to ask for their forgiveness.
During this pandemic you may now have time to do take that important first step in relationship repair. Pick up the phone and make that call you have been putting off. Write that letter. Do an act of kindness for someone you have viewed negatively. It may change how you view that person. If you owe someone money send them a payment. If someone owes you and it’s not an essential amount forgive the debt. If your perception is that another person is 99% wrong and you are only 1% wrong, own your 1%! Or are you perfect? I didn’t think so. Do your part to keep the “Body of Christ” healthy and free from the viral pandemic of bitterness, unforgiveness and foolish pride.
Meditation
The congregational meeting was tense as the rumors had brought temperaments to the boiling point. The respected old elder arouse to address the meeting after a heated exchange. Each side was hoping he would back their position. Instead he removed a hatchet he had kept hidden under a long London Fog trench coat. The stunned congregation watched a he swung the hatchet into the beautiful oaken golden brown altar rail. “Thud,” a second chop left another unsightly scar in the expensive woodwork. Two men now jumped up and restrained the old man as he raised the hatchet for a third strike. “What are you doing? We’ve never seen you behave like this? Are you okay? Why are you doing this?” the men asked with anxious, incredulous tone. The old elder relaxed and said he was fine, handed them the hatchet and then scanned the congregation eyeing each individual as they stared in disbelief, yet in anxious anticipation of what he might say. Then he addressed them with these words: “You were correct in restraining me from further destroying God’s property. It is not something that should be done. Yet, you are doing far more damage to God’s property than a hatchet marring an altar rail could ever do. Your gossiping, backbiting and insistence on your own way is threatening to do irreparable harm to the Body of Christ …
V. Focus on Blessing Others
• The Offering – The Peace Offering (Leviticus 3) The Peace offering, also known as the Fellowship offering, has many similar characteristics of the other offerings. What makes it unique is that it is the only offering where the presenter of the offering gets to eat some of it! (Leviticus 3:11; 7:15).
• Jesus as the Offering
After Jesus offered Himself for our salvation, the ultimate blessing, He didn’t stop there, but continues to pour out blessings on us today. One of the results of Jesus’ offering Himself as a sacrifice for our salvation and justification is the peace we have with Him (Romans 5:1). He has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 1:3). We who were once far away from God have now been brought near to Him (Acts 2:39). We who were estranged from Him have now been reconciled to Him (II Corinthians 5:18-19). We who were formerly dead in trespasses and sin have now been made alive through Christ by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 2:4-6). We present our bodies as living sacrifices to Him and now we have the privilege by how we live our lives of showing others the goodness of God, how they can be acceptable to God and how to know God’s will (Romans 12:1-2). Wow! Can you think of anything any better than that!
• We Offer our Prayers
One of the greatest blessings we have from God Is our access to Him through prayer. One of the greatest blessings we can give to someone is to pray for them. During this time of corona virus confinement, the power of prayer is not confined. We can still be in that hospital room where visitors are not permitted …. through prayer! We can be in on the next closed door meeting at the White House … through prayers for wisdom for our President! We can bring comfort to the shut-in the currently inaccessible nursing home… through prayer! We can fellowship with one another even if we can’t be together physically… through prayer! We can also discover creative ways we can still minister within the church and in our communities as we ask God to guide us… through prayer. Use the prayer lists provided to pray for the needs of our local body, to pray for health care workers, to pray for those who have lost jobs and to pray for businesses who are hurting as a result of the corona virus shut downs. Finally pray for God to show you how you can still minister in creative ways as He lays ideas on your heart and opens doors for you.
Meditate on this prayer attributed to Francis of Assisi …
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me bring love. Where there is offense, let me bring pardon. Where there is discord, let me bring union. Where there is error, let me bring truth. Where there is doubt, let me bring faith. Where there is despair, let me bring hope. Where there is darkness, let me bring your light. Where there is sadness, let me bring joy. O Master, let me not seek as much to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love, for it is in giving that one receives, it is in self-forgetting that one finds, it is in pardoning that one is pardoned, it is in dying that one is raised to eternal life. Amen.
Conclusion – Read Leviticus 9:22-24
When the initial offerings in Leviticus were finished, the Lord accepted the offerings with approval, as indicated by appearing in His glory and sending forth fire to consume the burnt offering. Then all the people shouted and fell on their faces. Please resist the very normal tendency to pray for things to get back to normal. Pray instead for revival in the church. Pray that we will become better people, bolder Christians and more in tune with what it means to anticipate Christ’s return and “love His appearing” (II Timothy 4:8).