There Is A Difference

 

Text:

Leviticus 10:8-11:

8 And the LORD spake unto Aaron, saying,

9 Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations:

10 And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean;

11 And that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the LORD hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses.

 

Theme:

There Is A Difference

 

Introduction:

• Our text comes from the Book of Leviticus
  • The third book of the Old Testament and of the Pentateuch.
  • Leviticus is so named because it addresses principally to the Levites, who are from the tribe of Levi, and priests and their services..
    • These were primarily the caretakers of the Ark of the Covenant…mainly priests but also ushers and guards.
  • Why such a detailed book of Judaic law and practice?
    • The Law Contains God’s Will
    • The Law Prepares for the Understanding of Christianity
    • The Law as a Tutor unto Christ
• The primary theme of the Book of Leviticus in reference to the Tribe of Levi is SANCTIFICATION
  • To be sanctified means to be SET APART FOR A WORK
    • John 17:17 says explains sanctification in Christ, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”
      • The old gospel song says it best:
        • I’m Yours Lord
        • Everything I’ve got
        • Everything I am
        • Everything I’m not
        • I’m Yours Lord
        • Try me and see
        • See if I can be
        • Completely Yours
• The Book of Leviticus outlines SANCTIFICATION in the CALLING and WORK of the Tribe of Levi
  • CALLING — God called the Tribe of Levi out of the twelve to be His
    • Numbers 8:14, “Thus shalt thou separate the Levites from among the children of Israel: and the Levites shall be mine.”
  • WORK — God commissioned the Tribe of Levi to a special work
    • 1 Chronicles 15:2, “Then David said, None ought to carry the ark of God but the Levites: for them hath the LORD chosen to carry the ark of God, and to minister unto him for ever.”
  • In summary, God drew the Levites closer to Him through SANCTIFICATION
    • In reference to Aaron, God explains in Leviticus 11:44, “For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy”
      • SANCTIFICATION is the process to become HOLY
      • SANCTIFICATION is our process of becoming more like Him
• However, the Book of Leviticus focuses for a significant amount of verses a primary characteristic of sanctification
  • The Levites, first with Aaron, were also instructed to carry and present themselves differently than other tribes.
  • THERE IS A DIFFERENCE

 

Body:

• In our text we find where Moses is instructed by God to tell Aaron and his sons that they are to not drink wine or strong drink when they went into the Tabernacle of the Congregations
  • Social drinking was a common occurrence
    • The first miracle of Jesus was turning the water to wine at the marriage in Cana
  • Wine and/or strong drink was used in religious ceremonies and celebrations
    • On the day of Pentecost it was not outlandish for them to think that the disciples were drunk with wine when the Holy Spirit fell upon them. It was just too early in the dayJ.
  • Other may drink but they could not!
• The consumption of alcohol remains a “sensitive subject” in the church today
  • “It’s only when done in excess”
  • “It’s OK in a medicinal sense and for medicinal purposes”
  • “We are not perfect”
  • “God knows my heart”
  • “I can quit whenever I want to”
• The example of Aaron and his sons gives us clarity on this subject for TODAY
  • We are ALL called to NOT be like the world
    • Romans 12:2, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
  • The world should see a DIFFERENCE between us and them!!
    • 1 Peter 2:9, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:”
    • DON’T DRINK
      • The Church Covenant documents this point of clarity alsoJ
• Why could they not drink?
  • They were SANCTIFIED for the work of God
    • They were called from the unholy to be HOLY
    • They represented God who was HOLY
  • Others were to know it by readily noticing a difference between Aaron, his sons, and others
    • They were to be living testimonies of God’s Holiness
      • 1 Corinthians 3:16, “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?”
    • They were to teach others through Word AND deed
      • James 2:20, “But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?”
    • They were to be worthy of the vocation to which they were called
      • Ephesians 4:1, “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,”
• What are the consequences of violating the covenant of sanctification?
  • DEATH!! è Verse 9 of our text explains à “Lest ye die”
    • Physical death à We are left to an inevitable physical death
      • Romans 5:12, “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:”
    • Spiritual death à We suffer a spiritual death as a consequence of carnal endeavors
      • Ephesians 4:18, “Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:”
      • Romans 8:6, “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.”
• How long does the covenant stand?
  • Verse 9 again clarifies, “it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations”
  • No excuses…no breaks!!!
    • (Matthew 24:35, Mark 13:31, Luke 21:33), “Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.”
• THERE IS and should always be A DIFFERENCE!!

 

Conclusion:

• What causes there to be a difference?
  • There’s POWER in His Name!
    • Matthew 28:18, “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.”
    • Philippians 2:10, “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;”
  • We SUBMIT & COMMIT!
    • SUBMIT è Romans 10:2, “For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.”
    • COMMIT è Romans 10:10, “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
• A TRUE difference wrought of God is PERMANENT!
  • God won’t change it!
    • Jeremiah 24:6, “For I will set mine eyes upon them for good, and I will bring them again to this land: and I will build them, and not pull them down; and I will plant them, and not pluck them up.”
  • Other can’t change it!
    • John 10:28, “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”

The old gospel song tells MY story best!!

He touched me (That made the difference)

He touched me

And, Oh, what joy floods my soul

Something happened (There’s a difference)

And now I’m free

He touched me and made me whole

• Now THERE’S A DIFFERENCE! After Jesus touched me, I was different!
  • I looked at my hands and they looked new
  • I looked at my feet and they did too
  • I didn’t go where I used to go
  • I didn’t do what I used to do
  • I didn’t say what I used to say
  • I didn’t play like I used to play
  • I had a new walk
  • I had a new talk
  • I could love right
  • I could live right

#275