Our Theme Verse for 2017 1 Peter 3:15 But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 1
Rainbow Forest Mission Statement Connecting the Disconnected to Christ, Community and the Call Our Purpose To glorify God in everything we say and do Connecting Through the Word Staying Clean in a Dirty World Numbers 5-9 John 15:3 2
Numbers 5:1-7 1 The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 Command the people of Israel that they put out of the camp everyone who is leprous or has a discharge and everyone who is unclean through contact with the dead. 3 You shall put out both male and female, putting them outside the camp, that they may not defile their camp, in the midst of which I dwell. 4 And the people of Israel did so, and put them outside the camp; as the LORD said to Moses, so the people of Israel did. 5 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 6 Speak to the people of Israel, When a man or woman commits any of the sins that people commit by breaking faith with the LORD, and that person realizes his guilt, 7 he shall confess his sin that he has committed. And he shall make full restitution for his wrong, adding a fifth to it and giving it to him to whom he did the wrong. 3
Titus 2:11-14 11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. Philippians 2:12-16 12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. 14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. 4
Remember: Genesis Beginnings - Mankind, Sin and Death Exodus Redemption Deliverance and Freedom Leviticus Worship Holiness and Serving Numbers Walking Temptations and Faith Israel was God's chosen people, separated from the other nations, and God wanted them to be different in the way they lived. What kind of people did the Lord want them to be? 5
A Clean People (Num. 5:1-31) The concepts of "clean" and "unclean" were vital to daily life in Israel. The Israelites were in the infancy of their faith, and God used familiar pictures to teach them spiritual truth. He compared sin to disease and defilement and holiness to health and cleanliness (Lev. 11-15). The word "defiled" is used nine times in Numbers 5, and three kinds of defilement are described. 1. Physical Defilement (vv. 1-4). Leprosy - "infectious skin disease. Bodily fluids being discharged Touch a dead body (person or animal) Although health and hygiene were involved in these laws, their basic purpose was to teach the Jews the meaning of separation and holiness. Israel was to be a clean people and this was accomplished by obeying God's Word in every area of life. 6
2 Corinthians 7:1 "Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God Jesus and the New Covenant When our Lord ministered on earth, He ignored the laws of uncleanness and touched lepers (Luke 5:12-15), people with issues touched Him (8:43-48), and He even touched the dead (7:11-17; 8:49-56). The touch of the Great Physician brought healing to the victims but didn't defile the Son of God. It was only when He died on the cross that He bore our defilement and the awful "disease" of our sin (1 Peter 2:24; Isa. 53:4-6). 2. Interpersonal Defilement (vv. 5-10). The person who committed a trespass against another had to confess it and make restitution. Israel was about to confront their enemies, and there could be no unity in the army if the people were in conflict with one another because of unresolved offenses. The soldiers would be alienated from each other and from the Lord, and that could lead to defeat. True unity begins with everybody being right with God and with each other. 7
3. Marital defilement (vv. 11-31) Faithfulness in marriage is a foundation stone for every society, for as goes the home, so goes the nation. In Israel, adultery not only defiled the people involved but also the land itself, and it was a sin detestable to God (Lev. 18:20, 24-29). The word "bitter," is used five times in the passage (vv. 18-19, 23-24). Broken relationships often are the result of inward unresolved bitterness in our lives from past offences. God wants purity in marriage, and husbands and wives can't escape the bitter consequences of marital unfaithfulness. What kind of people did the Lord want Israel to be? A Clean People (Num. 5:1-31) A Separated People (Num. 6:1-21) The word "Nazirite" comes from a Hebrew word that means "to set apart, to dedicate. The Separation Described (vv. 1-8). Their Drink Their Food Their Hair Don t touch a dead body 8
Their Separation Defiled (vv. 9-12) It happens in this sin filled world. Believers today need to realize that no failure need be permanent. Presbyterian pastor Alexander Whyte (1837-1921) 'The victorious Christian life is a series of new beginnings." Their Separation Fulfilled (vv. 13-21) Today nobody is saved by making and keeping a vow. Salvation is the gift of God to those who believe, not a reward to those who behave. What kind of people did the Lord want Israel to be? A Clean People (Num. 5:1-31) A Separated People (Num. 6:1-21) A Blessed People (Num. 6:22-27) 22 The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 23 Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them, 24 The LORD bless you and keep you; 25 the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; 26 the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. 27 So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them. 9
The church has been blessed with "every spiritual blessing" through the Lord Jesus Christ and we can claim this benediction through Him. Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, If ever a nation was blessed, it was the nation of Israel. God called them in His grace, rescued them from bondage, gave them His holy Word, gave them the Promised Land, and dwelt with them in the sanctuary; and He gave these blessings to no other nation. Of course, the greatest blessing of all was the sending of His Son through the nation of Israel, for "salvation is of the Jews" (John 4:22; see Rom. 9:1-5). The pronouns in this benediction are singular, meaning that God's blessings come to us personally; but there is a plural pronoun in Numbers 6:27, "I will bless them." God blesses the nation by blessing individuals, and by blessing the nation, He blesses the world. God promised Abraham, "I will bless you... and you will be a blessing" (Gen. 12:2). We bless the world by sharing God's truth, often one person at a time. 10
We need the blessings that God lists here: to be cared for by the Lord who watches over us; to have the smile of His face upon us and the riches of His grace given to us; to have Him pay attention to us when we call; to enjoy His peace in our hearts. Peace (shalom) is one of the great words in the Hebrew vocabulary, and it means much more than the absence of storm and trouble around us. It involves quietness of heart within us, spiritual health and spiritual prosperity, adequacy for the demands of life, and the kind of spiritual well-being that rises above circumstances. George Morrison defined "peace" as "the possession of adequate resources," which is what Paul had in mind when he wrote Philippians 4:6-20. A Clean People (Num. 5:1-31) A Separated People (Num. 6:1-21) A Blessed People (Num. 6:22-27) A Generous People (Num. 7:1-89) 1 On the day when Moses had finished setting up the tabernacle and had anointed and consecrated it with all its furnishings and had anointed and consecrated the altar with all its utensils, 2 the chiefs of Israel, heads of their fathers houses, who were the chiefs of the tribes, who were over those who were listed, approached 3 and brought their offerings before the LORD, six wagons and twelve oxen, a wagon for every two of the chiefs, and for each one an ox. They brought them before the tabernacle. 11
God took notice of each gift, each leader, and each tribe on each successive day. The fact that God noted and recorded each name and each gift indicates His love for and interest in the individual believer. He knows our names (John 10:3) and has recorded them individually in His heavenly register (Luke 10:20; Phil. 4:3). When we stand before the Lord, He will see us individually, "and then shall every man have praise of God" (1 Cor. 4:5) and "every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor" (3:8). Nobody will be overlooked and nobody will be lost in the crowd. Just as with His ancient people, God wants His people today to be clean and separated. James 1:27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. Campbell Morgan said that when the church was the least like the world, the church did the most for the world. We are a people blessed of the Lord, and with these blessings comes the obligation to be a blessing to others. God wants us to be a generous people, supporting the local church and helping the work of the Lord around the world as He directs us. Can God count on us? 12
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