PROMISES OF LEVITICUS

 

Leviticus 26:3-5 – April 21, 2013

 

Intro:Today as every Sunday, I have again supplied you with an outline and today it is the Book of Leviticus and the Names and Titles of God.  The book of Leviticus is about worship, the priesthood and the laws of God.  This morning we are looking at Leviticus 26:3-13.  This is the largest promise section of the book and we will look briefly at 7 of them. Even  though these promises are specifically for Israel, their application are for us as well.  Leviticus 17-25 are a review of the laws and statutes given by Moses and this passage is the promises given if a person obeys these laws.  You might say these promises are the incentives to keep the laws of God.

 

1.  In vs 3-5, God promises to give His people supply and safety.  Paul

     restated this promise in Phil 4:19, where he states that God will supply all

     your needs according to HIs riches in glory. In 2 Thess 3:3, Paul states

     the Lord is faithful, Heshall establish you and keep you from harm. 

 

2.  In vs 6, there is a promise of victory over fear and enemies.  Jesus

     promised in John 14:27, that He would give peace but not as the world

    gives, for it  would enable us to neither be troubled or afraid.  Paul says again

     in Phil 4:7, that the God of peace which passes all understanding shall keep

     our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

 

a. Paul also reminds us in 2 Tim 1:7, that God has not given a spirit of fear

    but love, power and a sound mind.  John reminded us in 1 John 4:18, that

    perfect love casts out all fear and the person that fears has not allowed love

    to have its perfect work. 

b. John again states in Rev 12:11, that the believer overcomes by the blood of

     the Lamb and by the word of their testimony. 

 

3.  In vs 7-8, a promise is given to be able to pursue, defeat and overcome

     overwhelming enemies with small numbers.  Jesus made this same

     promise in Matt 18:18-20.  Here we learn that we have the ability to bind and

     loose anything in heaven and earth. 

 

a.  We also discover that anything we ask in His name when asked along with 2

     or 3 others it will be given to us. 

b.  Thirdly, we learn that where 2 or 3 meet in His name He is there in the

     middle.

c.  Paul calls us in Rom 8:37, more than conquerors.  When I battle I want to

     know if I am going to win or not, or why battle.  These promises are so

     essential because when we battle it is wonderful to know we are going to win.

 

4.  In vs 9, the Lord promises to look at HIs people with favour, make them

     fruitful, increase their number and keep His agreement or covenant. 

    What a promise.  We saw this in the life of Christ, the disciples, the early

    church and we see it happening today.  It has been reported that over 100,000

    people will come to know Christ today. 

 

a.  How many believe that Christ wants to increase you and make you fruitful?

b.  God wants His people to bear much fruit.  This shows you are abiding in

     Christ.  Gal 5:22-23 tals about this fruit, it is love, joy, peace, goodness,

     kindness, faithfulness, patience, gentleness and self control.

 

5.  Vs 10, is the promise of continious prosperity.  This appeals to us but this

      promise is more than physical or material things.  True prosperity is what

      John talks about in 3 John 2 where he states that he wishes his readers

      to be in prosperity and health even as their soul's prosper.  True prosperity

      begins from the inside out. 

 

a.  David states in Ps 84:11, that God will not with hold any good thing from

     those who walk uprightly before Him.

b.  Isaiah states in Is 55:11, that the word of God would not return void but

     prosper where ever He sends it.  Today you are prospering because of this

     word.  Not because I am speaking it but because it is God's word and He

     backs every part of it.

 

6. In vs 11-12, we discover that God is our dwelling place, He will not

    dislike us, He will walk among us, He will be our God and we will be His

    people.  What a promise.  Corey Ten Boon called God her dwelling place.  A

    place to dwell when the storms of life assail us as they often do.

 

a.  Paul in 1 Cor 6:19-20, tells us that we are the temple of the Holy Spirit.  God

     dwells in us church,.  In Gal 4:4-6, Paul tells us that we are sons and

     daughters of God.  This makes us His heirs.

b.  I love this passage because it reminds me that God does not dislike, hate or

     abhor us.  He loves us, likes us and looks at us with joy and favour.  He

      is glad and happy to call us His children. 

c.  Rom 14:17 reminds us that the Kingdom of God inside us is made up of

     righteousness, peace and joy.

 

7.  In vs 13, His promise to Israel is a statement.  He is the God who brought

     them out of slavery and that they are no longer slaves.  The yoke of

     slavery has been broken and now they can walk with their heads held

     high.

 

a.  Church, Jesus Christ has set us free.  Jesus stated in John 8:36, that

     whoever the Son sets free is free indeed. 

b.  Jesus stated again in Matt 11:28-30, that if you are weary or burdened

     down, he will give you rest.  You can learn from Him, he is gentle and

      humble in heart.  HIs yoke is easy and His burden is light. 

c.  God states here that He wants His people to walk with their heads held

     high because it shows He has set them free from slavery.  Greg Johnson

     stated, "it is time the church acted like we have nothing to be ashamed of and

     ask  the world why they do what they do."

 

Conclusion

 

          I have had given you seven promises.  Each designed to release you.  All

however depend on two things.  Obedience and application.