A PLEASING AROMA

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

The Lord said to Moses, "Give this command to the Israelites and say to them: 'See that you present to Me at the appointed time the food for My offerings made by fire, as an aroma pleasing to Me.' Say to them: 'This is the offering made by fire that you are to present to the Lord: two lambs a year old without defect, as a regular burnt offering each day. Prepare one lamb in the morning and the other at twilight, together with a grain offering of a tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with a quarter of a hin of oil from pressed olives. This is the regular burnt offering instituted at Mount Sinai as a pleasing aroma, an offering made to the Lord by fire. The accompanying drink offering is to be a quarter of a hin of fermented drink with each lamb. Pour out the drink offering to the Lord at the sanctuary. Prepare the second lamb at twilight, along with the same kind of grain offering and drink offering that you prepare in the morning. This is an offering made by fire, an aroma pleasing to the Lord.’”

'On the Sabbath day, make an offering of two lambs a year old without defect, together with its drink offering and a grain offering of two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil. This is the burnt offering for every Sabbath, in addition to the regular burnt offering and its drink offering.’

'On the first of every month, present to the Lord a burnt offering of two young bulls, one ram, and seven male lambs a year old, all without defect. With each bull there is to be a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil; with the ram, a grain offering of two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil; and with each lamb, a grain offering of a tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil. This is for a burnt offering, a pleasing aroma, an offering made to the Lord by fire. With each bull there is to be a drink offering of half a hin of wine; with the ram, a third of a hin; and with each lamb, a quarter of a hin. This is the monthly burnt offering to be made at each new moon during the year. Besides the regular burnt offering with its drink offering, one male goat is to be presented to the Lord as a sin offering.’

'On the fourteenth day of the first month, the Lord's Passover is to be held. On the fifteenth day of this month there is to be a festival; for seven days eat bread made without yeast. On the first day hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work. Present to the Lord an offering made by fire, a burnt offering of two young bulls, one ram, and seven male lambs a year old, all without defect. With each bull prepare a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil; with the ram, two-tenths; and with each of the seven lambs, one-tenth. Include one male goat as a sin offering to make atonement for you. Prepare these in addition to the regular morning burnt offering. In this way prepare the food for the offering made by fire every day for seven days as an aroma pleasing to the Lord; it is to be prepared in addition to the regular burnt offering and its drink offering. On the seventh day hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work.’

'On the day of firstfruits, when you present to the Lord an offering of new grain during the Feast of Weeks, hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work. Present a burnt offering of two young bulls, one ram, and seven male lambs a year old as an aroma pleasing to the Lord. With each bull there is to be a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil; with the ram, two-tenths; and with each of the seven lambs, one-tenth. Include one male goat to make atonement for you. Prepare these together with their drink offerings, in addition to the regular burnt offering and its grain offering. Be sure the animals are without defect.’

'On the first day of the seventh month hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work. It is a day for you to sound the trumpets. As an aroma pleasing to the Lord, prepare a burnt offering of one young bull, one ram, and seven male lambs a year old, all without defect. With the bull prepare a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil; with the ram, two-tenths; and with each of the seven lambs, one-tenth. Include one male goat as a sin offering to make atonement for you. These are in addition to the monthly and daily burnt offerings with their grain offerings and drink offerings as specified. They are offerings made to the Lord by fire—a pleasing aroma.

'On the tenth day of this seventh month hold a sacred assembly. You must deny yourselves and do no work. Present as an aroma pleasing to the Lord a burnt offering of one young bull, one ram, and seven male lambs a year old, all without defect. With the bull prepare a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil; with the ram, two-tenths; and with each of the seven lambs, one-tenth. Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the sin offering for atonement and the regular burnt offering with its grain offering, and their drink offerings.’

'On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work. Celebrate a festival to the Lord for seven days. Present an offering made by fire as an aroma pleasing to the Lord, a burnt offering of thirteen young bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. With each of the thirteen bulls prepare a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil; with each of the two rams, two-tenths; and with each of the fourteen lambs, one-tenth. Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.’

'On the second day prepare twelve young bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. With the bulls, rams and lambs, prepare their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering, and their drink offerings.’

'On the third day prepare eleven bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. With the bulls, rams, and lambs, prepare their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.’

'On the fourth day prepare ten bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. With the bulls, rams, and lambs, prepare their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.’

'On the fifth day prepare nine bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. With the bulls, rams, and lambs, prepare their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.”

'On the sixth day prepare eight bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. With the bulls, rams, and lambs, prepare their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.’

'On the seventh day prepare seven bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. With the bulls, rams, and lambs, prepare their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.’

'On the eighth day hold an assembly and do no regular work. Present an offering made by fire as an aroma pleasing to the Lord, a burnt offering of one bull, one ram, and seven male lambs a year old, all without defect. With the bull, the ram, and the lambs, prepare their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.’

'In addition to what you vow and your freewill offerings, prepare these for the Lord at your appointed feasts: your burnt offerings, grain offerings, drink offerings and fellowship offerings.'"

Moses told the Israelites all that the Lord commanded him.

Numbers 28 and 29

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Up to this point, the matter of offerings and the proper conducting of them have been prevalent through our study of the Old Testament. However, what we haven’t seen until now is a comprehensive listing of all required offerings with very specific guidance as to when and how they were to be conducted.

So as we look at chapters 28 and 29 of the Book of Numbers, we find God providing what is essentially a one stop shopping guide for information on all His required sacrifices.

These sacrifices were an important part of Old Testament worship and were typically carried out for the following purposes:

1. To serve a particular purpose such as to worship, to seek peace or forgiveness or atonement, to give thanks, or to ask for God’s blessing.

2. To commemorate a particular special event such as Passover, the Sabbath, the Feast of Weeks, the Feast of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, or the Feast of the Tabernacles or Booths.

No matter the occasion, two things are certain regarding the rendering of offerings:

1. God definitely expected His people to carry them out as He prescribed.

2. The offerings were satisfying to God when they were done obediently according to His guidance. By His own words, each was a pleasing aroma to Him.

This fundamental idea still holds true today, even though the Old Covenant and its system of sacrifices ended with the death and resurrection of Jesus and the sure, permanent atonement that He brings to anyone who simply believes in Him as Savior.

So what does God require of us as believers? What does He expect us to do so that our lives become a pleasing aroma to Him?

Let’s go to the scriptures for the answers.

1. God requires all that we are.

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—His good, pleasing, and perfect will.” Romans 12:1-2

“Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to Him as instruments of righteousness. For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.” Romans 6:12-14

We can’t possibly understand and know all the things that God has purposed us for unless we commit and submit ourselves fully to Him – body, mind, and soul – for this is what it means to be a living sacrifice.

2. God requires that we love Him and one another.

“One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked Him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?"

"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."

"Well said, Teacher," the man replied. "You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but Him. To love Him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."

When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”  Mark 12:28-33

The teacher of the law didn’t try to correct or argue with Jesus in regard to what He said were the two greatest commandments. Rather, He was in complete agreement with Him, seeing that loving God and others was more important than any offerings or sacrifices that were so prevalent under the old covenant. Now, Jesus had come and made it clear that the most important command was the one from the Book of Deuteronomy (6:4-5), a command that required every believer to first devote themselves completely to God. When they did, then His love would become theirs as they were in unadulterated communion with Him and this love would be what they could extend to their neighbors.

This is the love God still demands from us as believers today and it’s the only loving spirit that will be a pleasing aroma to Him.  

3. God requires that we provide for any brother or sister in need.

“What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, ‘Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” James 2:14-17

“And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” Hebrews 13:16

“Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 4:9-11

When we get to the core essence of Jesus’ ministry, we find it was defined by utter self sacrificial service. He even said as much Himself:

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45

If we claim to be Christians, then our lives need to reflect the life of Christ and that means we need to be willing to lay ourselves aside for the good of others, no matter the cost. It’s this willingness to put one’s life, possessions, and desires aside so to put our focus on those in need that pleases God.

4. God requires that we pray in faith for one another.

“Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” James 5:13-16

What can be more incredible in our earthly existence than having the privilege every day to personally communicate with the Lord God Almighty, the Maker and Master of all created things?

We have immediate access to a power that is unmatched and able to do anything. All we need to do is pray for ourselves and others. When we do, let’s make sure we give thanks to God for who He is and the blessed love and caring He shows us.

5. God requires that we give Him our praise.

“Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess His name.” Hebrews 13:15

Think of where we were before Jesus. All people were sinners who fell short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23) and were destined for an eternity in Hell. But God so loved the world that He gave His only Son Jesus so that those who would believe in Him wouldn’t perish but gain eternal life (John 3:16). Out of His deep love, God sent us a Savior and delivered us from eternal torment to everlasting life, from damnation to salvation.

Why would we ever go through any day without offering Him the sacrifice of our praise through Jesus, the Lamb of God who took away our sin (John 1:29) and saved us.

6. God requires sacrificial giving of what He provides.

"Will a man rob God? Yet you rob Me. But you ask, 'How do we rob You?' In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing Me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house. Test Me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of Heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.” Malachi 3:8-10

As He looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. "I tell you the truth," He said, "this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on." Luke 21:1-4

All that we have is provided to us by God. That’s the truth of the matter.

Here’s something else that’s true. Too many people think that what they have is of their own doing and they possess it as such.

At our church, our senior pastor is always compelling us to excel in the ministry of giving, whether that be to the church, to other Christian ministry efforts, or to those in need. For the Lord is clear in His Word in communicating His desire that His people give back what He has given them, all to His honor and glory. For when we are obedient to His commands to give, He will ensure we have just what we need to live this life in service to Him and others.

Friends, certainly, the Bible has much to say about what God expects from us, far more than will fit in today’s message. The important thing is that we realize and recognize that He wants us to give freely of our time, talent, and treasure to serve Him and others. We’ll do just that as long as we continually seek His will and way every day in prayer and communion with the Holy Spirit, then carrying out His purposes in obedience.

This is the life that sends a pleasing aroma to our God, a life that is fully dedicated and grounded in Him and His Word.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it. Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.