03-15-2020 - Strange Fire: Listening to God CAREFULLY

Leviticus 10:1–7 ESV

Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it and laid incense on it and offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, which he had not commanded them. And fire came out from before the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord. Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord has said: ‘Among those who are near me I will be sanctified, and before all the people I will be glorified.’ ” And Aaron held his peace. And Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Uzziel the uncle of Aaron, and said to them, “Come near; carry your brothers away from the front of the sanctuary and out of the camp.” So they came near and carried them in their coats out of the camp, as Moses had said. And Moses said to Aaron and to Eleazar and Ithamar his sons, “Do not let the hair of your heads hang loose, and do not tear your clothes, lest you die, and wrath come upon all the congregation; but let your brothers, the whole house of Israel, bewail the burning that the Lord has kindled. And do not go outside the entrance of the tent of meeting, lest you die, for the anointing oil of the Lord is upon you.” And they did according to the word of Moses.

Heed What You Have Heard...

We read in Exodus 30:7-10; Exodus 40:9 and Leviticus 16:1 some of the requirements that God put in motion regarding the morning obligation of the incense...

The Brothers were the WRONG PEOPLE (Exodus 30:7-10)

++The Brothers utilized the WRONG VESSELS (Exodus 40:9)

++The Brothers came into the WRONG PLACE (Lev. 16:1)

++The Brothers came at the WRONG TIME (Lev. 16:1)

++The Brothers heeded the WRONG AUTHORITY

++The Brothers kindled the WRONG FIRE (Lev. 16:12)

++The Brothers acted with the WRONG MOTIVATION (Lev. 10:3)

++ The Brothers were filled with the WRONG SPIRIT(s) (Lev. 10:9-10) - Also see Ephesians 5:18

Be Holy 3. Accepting God’s Discipline (Lev. 10:1–20)

A.W. Tozer once said, “If God were to take His Holy Spirit out of this world, much of what the church is doing would go right on; and nobody would know the difference.”

2 Timothy 2:1–2 NLT

Timothy, my dear son, be strong through the grace that God gives you in Christ Jesus. You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others.

2 Timothy 2:10–13 NLT

So I am willing to endure anything if it will bring salvation and eternal glory in Christ Jesus to those God has chosen. This is a trustworthy saying: If we die with him, we will also live with him. If we endure hardship, we will reign with him. If we deny him, he will deny us. If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is.

TRUE TRUST in What God has said ALWAYS EXHIBITS THROUGH OBEDIENCE

Why Was God so Harsh?

God Often Used Severe Punishment at the Beginning of New Revelation and Era’s to Remind People of His Holiness

++Achan (Joshua 7) When the People entered the Promised Land

++Uzza (2 Samuel 6:1-7) When the Ark was moved to Jerusalem Future area of the 1st Temple

++Ananias & Sapphira (Acts 5) When the Church Age is beginning

Holiness is Always Our Concern

Hebrews 12:28–29 ESV

Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.