What Does Holiness Look Like?

Introduction:

Read Leviticus 19:1-2.  “And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them:  ‘You shall be holy, for I the  Lord your God am holy.” NKJV  The title “Holy One of Israel” emphasizes God’s uniqueness and separation from all that is evil.  From the beginning, Jehovah has called His people to become holy as He is holy.  Because we are made in His image, we are to  follow in His steps.  We are to reflect the divine likeness.  (I Peter 1:15-16) “but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy.’ ” NKJV  (I Peter 2:9) “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;” NKJV  In our text, God gives instructions on how to remain pure clean and undefiled by sin.  Why is this so important?  Listen to the words of the historian, Will Durant:  “There is no significant example of a society successfully maintaining moral life without the aid of religion.”  So as a nation, we must return to God or perish.  So what does a holy, moral life look like?  Let’s examine  Leviticus 19:3-18.  [Our text] 

Body:

I.            Regarding Parents  Leviticus 19:3 “Every one of you shall revere his mother and his father, and keep My Sabbaths:  I am the Lord your God. NKJV

·        The home is the basic unit of all civilized order.  Honoring parents is essential for the stability and health of all societies.  This is seen in the Ten Commandments given by God to Moses.  (Exodus 20:12) “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.” NKJV

·        Its importance is emphasized in the New Testament.  (Ephesians 6:1-3) “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.  ‘Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with promise:  that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.’ ” NKJV

·       The neglect of parents is an abomination in God’s sight.  (Proverbs 30:17) “The eye that mocks his father, And scorns obedience to his mother, The ravens of the valley will pick it out, And the young eagles will eat it.” NKJV

·       Reverence for parents is tied to reverence for Jehovah.  Submitting to one’s parents is learned before submitting to God.  The lack of reverence can lead to a neglect of public worship. 

II.          Regarding God  Leviticus 19:4-8 “Do not turn to idols, nor make for yourselves molded gods:  I am the Lord your God.  And if you offer a sacrifice of a peace offering to the Lord, you shall offer it of your own free will.  It shall be eaten the same day you offer it, and on the next day.  And if any remains until the third day, it shall be burned in the fire.  And if it is eaten at all on the third day, it is an abomination.  It shall not be accepted.  Therefore everyone who eats it shall bear his iniquity, because he has profaned the hallowed offering of the Lord; and that person shall be cut off from his people.” NKJV 

·       The word “idols” basically means “nothings”, things that are worthless.  (I Chronicles 16:26-27) “For all the gods of the peoples are idols, But the Lord made the heavens. Honor and majesty are before Him; Strength and gladness are in His place.” NKJV  They are not real; they are pretenders, imposters.  (Psalm 97:7) “Let all be put to shame who serve carved images, Who boast of idols.  Worship Him, all you gods.” NKJV  (Habakkuk 2:18-19) “What profit is the image, that its maker should carve it, The molded image, a teacher of lies, That the maker of its mold should trust in it, To make mute idols?  Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Awake!’  To silent stone, ‘Arise!  It shall teach!’  Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver; Yet in it there is no breath at all.” NKJV

·       Peace offerings signified the joys and peace of mind from knowing that God is at peace with you.  It was to be offered by one’s own free will.  Jesus is the one who has made peace with God possible.  (Ephesians 2:13-18) “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.  For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.  And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near.  For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.” NKJV

·       Our country needs to return to respecting God and His Word. 

III.        Regarding Neighbors  Leviticus 19:9-18  Leviticus 19:9-10 “When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not wholly reap the corners of your field, nor shall you gather the gleanings of your harvest.  And you shall not glean your vineyard, nor shall you gather every grape of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and the stranger:  I am the Lord your God.” NKJV  

·       These verses tell about providing for the poor.  God has always had a special concern for the poor.  He instructs the farmers to not completely harvest their fields so the poor and needy could come and glean the remains for themselves.  (Deuteronomy 24:19-21) “When you reap your harvest in your field, and forget a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it; it shall be for the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.  When you beat your olive trees, you shall not go over the boughs again; it shall be for the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow.  When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, you shall not glean it afterward; it shall be for the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow.”  NKJV  This was a wonderful way to help the poor.  It helped them provide for their needs with dignity.  This is a lesson for our country.   

Leviticus 19:11-13 “You shall not steal, nor deal falsely, nor lie to one another.  And you shall not swear by My name falsely, nor shall you profane the name of your God:  I am the Lord.  You shall not cheat your neighbor, nor rob him.  The wages of him who is hired shall not remain with you all night until morning.” NKJV

·       One must be honest in all things.  There must be no stealing, no lying, no deceiving.  Listen to the words of Leviticus 6:1-5. “And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: ‘If a person sins and commits a trespass against the Lord by lying to his neighbor about what was delivered to him for safekeeping, or about a pledge, or about a robbery, or if he has extorted from his neighbor, or if he has found what was lost and lies concerning it, and swears falsely – in any one of these things that a man may do in which he sins:  then it shall be, because he has sinned and is guilty, that he shall restore what he has stolen, or the thing which he has extorted, or what was delivered to him for safekeeping, or the lost thing which he found, or all that about which he has sworn falsely.  He shall restore its full value, add one-fifth more to it, and give it to whomever it belongs, on the day of his trespass offering.’ ” NKJV  Imagine what our country would be like if this was followed!

(Jeremiah 4:1-2) “ ‘If you will return, O Israel,’ says the Lord, ‘Return to Me;  And if you will put away your abominations out of My sight, Then you shall not be moved.’  And you shall swear, ‘The Lord lives,’ In truth, in judgment, and in righteousness; The nations shall bless themselves in Him, And in Him they shall glory.’ ” NKJV   

Leviticus 19:14-18 “You shall not curse the deaf, nor put a stumbling block before the blind, but shall fear your God:  I am the Lord.  You shall do no injustice in judgment.  You shall not be partial to the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty.  In righteousness you shall judge your neighbor.  You shall not go about as a talebearer among your people; nor shall you take a stand against the life of your neighbor:  I am the Lord.  You shall not hate your brother in your heart.  You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him.  You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself:  I am the Lord.” NKJV

·       One must be both just and compassionate.  Do not mistreat those who are less fortunate.  An accurate measure of a nation is how it treats the weak.  Note Nehemiah 5:15. “But the former governors who were before me laid burdens on the people, and took from them bread and wine, besides forty shekels of silver.  Yes, even their servants bore rule over the people, but I did  not do so, because of the fear of God.” NKJV  All should be treated justly.  (Exodus 23:2-3, 6-7) “You shall not follow a crowd to do evil; nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after many to pervert justice.  You shall not show partiality to a poor man in his dispute. 6 You shall not pervert the judgment of your poor in his dispute.  Keep yourself far from a false matter; do not kill the innocent and righteous.  For I will not justify the wicked.” NKJV  There should be no slander or gossip.  (Proverbs 20:19) “He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets;  Therefore do not associate with one who flatters with his lips.” NKJV  Love your neighbor  (James 2:8-9) “If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture,  ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself,’ you do well; but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors.” NKJV 

Conclusion:

We are called to be holy, as God is holy.  He has instructed us on what that looks like.  Are changes in order for us and our country? 

Bobby Stafford 

September 11, 2016 [Evening]