God Doesn’t Grade on a Curve

 

Grade

 

Wednesday 08/22/18 

Message – God doesn’t grade on a curve

Series: Thru the Bible


***Video is HERE***

 

Leviticus 21-22

Main Points:

Lev. 21

Vs. 1-4 – Not be become ceremonially unclean except for immediate relatives and a single sister

Vs. 5 –  The superstitious marks of sorrow, (baldness and cuttings) as well as the violent excesses in which the heathen indulged at the death of their friends, were forbidden by a general law to the Hebrew people (Lev. 19:28). But the priests were to be laid under a special injunction, not only that they might exhibit examples of piety in the moderation of their grief, but also by the restraint of their passions, be the better qualified to administer the consolations of religion to others, and show, by their faith in a blessed resurrection, the reasons for sorrowing not as those who have no hope.

Vs. 6 –  I am uncertain at the point if the priests had to be MORE holy than the people, or just conform to additional rules due to their position – as standing before the people, relative to the holy things and such.

Such as ONLY marrying a virgin

This was intended to cause a type of revering of the Priest because of his calling and work.

Vs. 9 – The actions of the family reflect on the head of the family – the father.

Vs. 10-12 – If it is his turn to be in the tabernacle with the oil of God upon Him (representing the Spirit of God and the calling of God and the delegated authority of God) he cannot defile himself by becoming ceremonially unclean – because it would serve to desecrate the tabernacle.

No defects – no aberration from what God created as normal. Some of these issues were from birth and some were temporary (like a broken bone) – only while there was something abnormal were they forbidden to minister the holy things of the food or offerings by fire – BUT he was still a priest and therefore was allowed to eat of the holy things.

 

Lev. 22

Vs. 12 – Transfer of authority when married from father to husband.

Vs. 17-33 – A defect would be a misrepresentation of Christ WHO which these sacrifices are all but a shadow.

Vs. 23 – Freewill offerings may have a short or elongated leg since they are of the will of man – he may offer it if that is what he has – but a vow must be fulfilled with an offering acceptable to God as representing Christ.

Vs. 24 – It would be a sign of the sacrifice being unfruitful – sterile and that would misrepresent Christ and His sacrifice of Himself.

Vs. 27 – May have to do with a symbol of “perfection” since it would die before it a Sabbath had passed over it – pointing back to creation.

Vs. 28 – Jewish thought on this is that it discourages cruelty and hardness of heart.

There is more information in the audio/video of the actual message. I hope you listen, learn and enjoy!

Blessings! 

 

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Blessings!

 

Hi my name is Mark and though I am opposed to titles, I am currently the only Pastor (shepherd/elder) serving our assembly right now.

I have been Pastoring in one capacity or another for nearly 30 years now, though never quite like I am today.

Early in 2009 the Lord revealed to me that the way we had structured our assembly (church) was not scriptural in that it was out of sync with what Paul modeled for us in the New Testament. In truth, I (like many pastors I am sure) never even gave this fundamental issue of church structure the first thought. I had always assumed that church structure was largely the same everywhere and had been so from the beginning. While I knew Paul had some very stringent things to say about the local assembly of believers, the point of our gatherings together and who may or may not lead, I never even considered studying these issues but assumed we were all pretty much doing it right...safety in numbers right?! Boy, I couldn't have been more wrong!

So needless to say, my discovery that we had been doing it wrong for nearly two decades was a bit of a shock to me! Now, this "revelation" did not come about all at once but over the course of a few weeks. We were a traditional single pastor led congregation. It was a top-bottom model of ministry which is in part biblical, but not in the form of a monarchy.

The needed change did not come into focus until following 9 very intense months of study and discussions with those who were leaders in our church at the time.

We now understand and believe that the Bible teaches co-leadership with equal authority in each local assembly. Having multiple shepherds with God's heart and equal authority protects both Shepherds and sheep. Equal accountability keeps authority and doctrine in check. Multiple shepherds also provide teaching with various styles and giftings with leadership skills which are both different and complementary.

For a while we had two co-pastors (elders) (myself and one other man) who led the church with equal authority, but different giftings. We both taught in our own ways and styles, and our leadership skills were quite different, but complimentary. We were in complete submission to each other and worked side-by-side in the labor of shepherding the flock.

Our other Pastor has since moved on to other ministry which has left us with just myself. While we currently only have one Pastor/Elder, it is our desire that God, in His faithfulness and timing, may bring us more as we grow in maturity and even in numbers.

As to my home, I have been married since 1995 to my wonderful wife Terissa Woodson who is my closest friend and most trusted ally.

As far as my education goes, I grew up in a Christian home, but questioned everything I was ever taught.

I graduated from Bible college in 1990 and continued to question everything I was ever taught (I do not mention my college in order to avoid being labeled).

Perhaps my greatest preparation for ministry has been life and ministry itself. To quote an author I have come to enjoy namely Fredrick Buechner in his writing entitled, Now and Then, "If God speaks to us at all other than through such official channels as the Bible and the church, then I think that He speaks to us largely through what happens to us...if we keep our hearts open as well as our ears, if we listen with patience and hope, if we remember at all deeply and honestly, then I think we come to recognize beyond all doubt, that, however faintly we may hear Him, He is indeed speaking to us, and that, however little we may understand of it, His word to each of us is both recoverable and precious beyond telling." ~ Fredrick Buechner

Well that is about all there is of interest to tell you about me.

I hope our ministry here is a blessing to you and your family. I also hope that it is only a supplement to a local church where you are committed to other believers in a community of grace.

~God Bless!