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welcome to everyone it's good to be back in the house of our God you can turn with me in your Bibles to Psalm 84. Psalm 84 for our call to worship Psalm 84 I'll begin reading in verse 1. to the chief musician on an instrument of gath a Psalm of the sons of Korah how lovely is your Tabernacle a lord of hosts my soul Longs yes even faints for the courts of the Lord my heart and my flesh cry out for the Living God even the sparrow has found a home in the swallow and asked for herself where she may lay her young even your altars O Lord of hosts my king and my God blessed are those who dwell in your house they will still be praising you say law blessed is the man whose strength is in you whose heart is set on pilgrimage as they pass through the valley of baka they make it a spring the rain also covers it with pools they go from strength to strength each one appears before God in Zion O Lord God of hosts hear my prayer give ear o God of Jacob say law oh God Behold our shield and look upon the face of your anointed for a day in your courts is better than a thousand I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness for the Lord God is a son and shield the Lord will give Grace and Glory no good thing will he withhold from those who walk uprightly O Lord of hosts blessed is the man who trusts in you amen well you can turn in your hymn books with me to number 284 hymn number 284 will stand as we sing together thank you Jesus Christ [Music] is [Music] salvation [Music] this [Music] is our Jesus Christ [Music] and where we're inside the glory [Music] season [Music] come up [Music] let us pray our blessed God and Father we thank you for this privilege to gather together in your house again this evening and may our hearts Echo the heart of the psalmist here in Psalm 84 a day in your courts is better than uh to be a A doorkeeper in the house of God is better than to dwell in the tents of wickedness we confess that we know that to be the case the Church of Christ is that that the apple of his eye and we praise you that you've included Us in this blessedness we ask that you would be glorified tonight that as we come to the father through the Son and the power of the Holy Spirit God would be all in all in this place we pray that your spirit would guide and direct us and they aid us and assist us that we may worship you in spirit and in truth that we may see you as high and holy and lofty and glorious that God who is Holy Holy Holy and The God Who is to be feared and glorified and honored as well may you mingle with that our joyful expression of our hearts as the redeemed of God most high we bless you and we praise you for the gospel of our salvation for that finished work of the Savior on behalf of All Those whom the father had given him we rejoice in that justification by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone we praise you for the Forgiveness of sins and the imputed righteousness of Jesus and we just thank you that you have fed us and prepared us to enter into your presence one day in a special way we ask that tonight you would be pleased to encourage and strengthen our hearts as we participate in the supper may we be drawn out again to reflect upon the the death of our Lord Jesus on our behalf and God may we appreciate it may we see the the old Covenant and its emphasis on sacrifice for The Sinner to come into the presence of a holy God and may we rejoice in the anti-type even the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world we confess our sin to you now praying that you would cleanse Us in that precious blood we know that we are called to live according to your word we are to let our conduct be worthy of the gospel and yet we find in us that remaining corruption and so God wash Us afresh in the Precious Blood of the lamb and for any and all who've come here tonight that are dead in their trespasses and sins we pray that today would be the day of salvation that you would awaken them and show them their need for the Savior and show them the willingness of of Christ to save to the uttermost all who draw an eye unto God through him and cause us all to reflect upon the fact it is the he is the author of Eternal Redemption father we pray for the various needs in our congregation we know that our physical temporal and as well spiritual we remember that lady Vera we just commend her to you and to the word of your grace we know the grief involved in being a widow but the grief involved in seeing her son go off to war we just pray God that you would bless this young man that you would surround him with your protection that you would give encouragement to the this dear sister and calls her in the midst of these hardships and trials to be looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of Faith as well God we pray for those in our midst that are struggling with ongoing illnesses and and trials and disease we pray for the newfounds that you would just look with favor upon them we pray for our dear sister surely she would continue to watch over her and God bless Mrs Faber as she is going through tasks and various things to determine whether or not she has cancer we just pray God that you would undertake on her behalf as well we pray for our dear sister Linda we also pray for Cindy Simpson and just pray God in heaven that they would be still and know that you are God even in the midst of trial and hardship and affliction we rejoice in your loving kindness to us God spiritually and that you have given us every spiritual blessing in the Heavenly places in Christ temporally as well we know that you have blessed us in terms of children these young people we thank you for them we ask God that you would bless them and cause them to remember their creator in their youth and Lord look with favor upon Chloe and Stephanie as they carry these little ones and may they be born physically and according to your timing and God one day we pray they'd be born again confessing saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ we pray for your grace and mercy to be upon other churches in our community we pray that you would embolden your ministers to continually preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ the lord and help us all in this community and throughout this nation and to the uttermost parts of the earth May the people of God shine as lights in a crooked and perverse generation and may we have the boldness and the courage to hold forth the word of Truth and may you indeed be pleased to save and Conquer those who are dead in their trespasses and sins as we see the powerful voice of our Lord Jesus Christ at the tomb of Lazarus calling him to come forth and enabling him to comply with that instruction we pray for the spiritual reality we pray for that effectual calling we pray that you would make men willing in the day of your power and demonstrate your glory and your majesty in the salvation of Sinners and God bless the missionary Enterprise as it continues to go forth we thank you that there are those all over this Earth proclaiming Christ and him crucified and we pray for your blessing to be upon them and for the several places the churches the peoples that we prayed for this morning in terms of the persecuted church God we thank you on the one hand it is a grief to see the people of God persecuted for faith in Christ but on the other hand we know that Jesus Christ is building his church and the gates of Haiti shall not Prevail against it and we Rejoice to hear what you are doing in various parts of this Earth so God caused that word to go forth conquering and to conquer and be glorified and we pray these things through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen you can turn with me again in your hymn books to Psalm 67 a very Mission missionary oriented Psalm in terms of God's blessing upon the nations of the earth Psalm 67 a as in Alpha will stand as we sing together [Music] thank you Josh [Music] let's go crazy they [Music] have foreign [Music] number [Music] foreign you can turn in your Bibles to the Book of Leviticus Leviticus chapter 9. for our meditation before we participate in the Lord's Supper Leviticus chapter 9 I'll pick up reading in verse 22 and read to the end of chapter 10. Leviticus chapter 9 beginning in verse 22. then Aaron lifted his hand toward the people blessed them and came down from offering the sin offering the burnt offering and peace offerings and Moses and Aaron went into the Tabernacle of meeting and came out and blessed the people then the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people and fire came out from before the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the fat on the altar when all the people saw it they shouted and fell on their faces the nadab and abihu the sons of Aaron each took his sensor and put fire in it put incense on it and offered profane fire before the Lord which he had not commanded them so fire went out from the Lord and devoured them and they died before the Lord and Moses said to Aaron this is what the Lord spoke saying by those who come near me I must be regarded as holy and before all the people I must be glorified so Aaron held his peace then Moses called Michelle and Elizabeth and the sons of uziel this the uncle of Aaron and said to them come near carry your brethren from before the sanctuary out of the camp so they went near and carried them by their tunics out of the camp as Moses had said and Moses said to Aaron and eliezar and ithamar his sons do not uncover your heads nor tear your clothes lest you die and wrath come upon all the people but let your brethren the whole house of Israel bewail the burning which the Lord has kindled you shall not go out from the door of the Tabernacle of meeting lest you die for the anointing oil of the Lord is upon you and they did according to the word of Moses then the Lord spoke to Aaron saying do not drink wine or intoxicating drink you nor your sons with you when you go into the Tabernacle of meeting lest you die it shall be a statute forever throughout your Generations that you may distinguish between holy and Unholy and between unclean and clean and that you may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the Lord has spoken to them by the hand of Moses and Moses spoke to Aaron and to eliezar and ethamar his sons who were left take the grain offering that remains of the offerings made by fire to the Lord and eat it without leaven beside the Altar for it is most holy you shall eat it in a holy place because it is your do and your sons do of the sacrifices made by fire to the Lord for so I have been commanded the breast of the wave offering and the thigh of the heave offering you shall eat in a clean place you your sons and your daughters with you for they are your do and your sons do which are given from the sacrifices of Peace offerings of the children of Israel the thigh of the heave offering and the breast of the wave offering they shall bring with the offerings of fat made by fire to offer as a wave offering before the Lord and it shall be yours and your sons with you by a statute forever as the Lord has commanded then Moses made careful inquiry about the goat of the sin offering and there it was burned up and he was angry with Eleazar and nithamar the sons of Aaron who were left saying why have you not eaten the sin offering in a holy place since it is most holy and God has given it to you to Bear the guilt of the congregation to make atonement for them before the Lord see its blood was not brought inside the holy Place indeed you should have eaten it in a holy place as I command it and Aaron said to Moses look this day they have offered their sin offering and their burnt offering before the Lord and such things have befallen me if I had eaten the sin offering today would it have been accepted in the sight of the Lord so when Moses heard that he was content amen well let us pray Our Father in heaven we thank you again for the written word of the living and true God we know all scripture is given by inspiration of God it's profitable for Doctrine for reproof for correction and for instruction and righteousness as well we see that connection between the old and the new covenants we see the preparation involved in the old the typology in the old the foreshadowing the prefigurement pointing forward to the Lord Jesus Christ the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world so we consider this Priestly ministry as we see the the sacrifices offered as we see a holy God entreated may we think in terms of the blessedness that is ours with reference to our great high priest the Lord Jesus Christ do forgive us now for all sin and unrighteousness and again guide us by the presence and the power of the Holy Spirit and we pray through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen well we're actually looking at a big chunk of scripture today actually Leviticus 8 to 10. I know that's a lot I'm going to try to summarize much of it but try to glean some things that are helpful and instructive in terms of our coming to the supper tonight before we look at Leviticus chapter 8 turn back to the Book of Exodus Exodus chapter 40. Exodus chapter 40. we need to understand that Israel is at Sinai for about 11 months and of that 11 months they are gaining or rather learning much in terms of God's law they get the Ten Commandments in Exodus chapter 20. they get the judicial loss of God through Moses in Exodus 21 to 23 they ratify the old Covenant in Exodus chapter 24 and then Exodus 25 to 40 takes up the Tabernacle and the priesthood detailed legislation on how Israel is to come into the presence of God Almighty so after having received that legislation and then taking the hammer to nail and actually building the Tabernacle we see the end result here in Exodus so look at Exodus 40 at verse 34. the Tabernacle is now completed it has been fulfilled it has been realized they have been obedient it says then the cloud covered the Tabernacle of meeting and the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle and Moses was not able to enter the Tabernacle of meeting because the cloud rested above it and the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle so we see here that God's dwelling place has been realized God dwells now amongst the children of Israel you'll notice the problem that Moses himself the godliest man in Israel was not able to go into that place so the book ends on tension the book ends with a bit of a problem we now have this Tabernacle we now see the Shekinah Glory of God dwelling in the Tabernacle but none of us are fit to go in and commune with this God so that's where the Book of Leviticus comes in it's a book of resolution The Book of Leviticus prescribes how sinful man is to access the presence of a Thrice holy God and the way that sinful man accesses the presence of the Thrice holy God is through priesthood it is through sacrifice it is Through Blood atonement and so that's what they are being taught in The Book of Leviticus so basically in chapters one to seven you have the laws concerning sacrifice you have instruction for the worshiper and then instruction specifically for the priest and in terms of the sacrifice you have the burnt offering in chapter one you have the grain offering in chapter two the peace offering in chapter 3 the sin offering in chapter four and then the guilt offering in chapters 5 and 6. so God intends that the way that Israel accesses his presence to use the language of Michael Morales is through a bloody knife and a smoking altar in other words how do we breach the chasm that exists s between a holy God and sinful man now if you're thinking in a New Covenant manner which you should you ought to be appreciative of the Lord Jesus Christ Jesus fulfills all that was purposed here Jesus is the one anticipated in this sacrificial system and priesthood and Jesus comes as the high priest of a better Covenant to bring us into that access with God most high so that's the backdrop so then in chapters one to seven as I said the sacrifices are given the stipulations are made well in chapters 8 to 10 we see the the formal institution of the priesthood in Israel so in chapter 8 the ordination of the priesthood we'll look at a few things there in just a moment and then in chapter 9 the ministry of the priesthood in uh the entirety of that chapter and then in chapter 10 you see there the judgment on the priesthood at least a partial reading on the first part so we've got the ordination the ministry and the Judgment so if you look back for just a moment at chapter eight I'll just give you the summary statement concerning what's happening here first you have the command of God and it's very important that you understand that if you notice specifically in Verses 4 and 5 so Moses did as the Lord commanded him and then at the end of verse 5 this is what the Lord commanded to be done this is repeated in verses 9 13 17 21 29 34-36 so in Psalm we see that it's not man's Innovation that gets him from point A to point B it is rather Divine institution it is prescribed by God how does a sinner enter into the presence of God he comes in the manner fixed by God and that does underscore again the necessity of our Lord Jesus Christ in our New Covenant setting in John 14 6 Jesus says I am the way the truth and the life no one comes to the father except through me not all religions lead to God not all religions bring access to God it is only the religion of our blessed savior the Redemptive religion we call Christianity the fact that Christ lived Christ died Christ raised again on the third day for us men and for our Salvation so if Sinners are going to approach a holy God it comes as result of the activity of the holy God it comes as a result of divine initiative and not man's desire a second thing to observe here is the grace of God just in this first section here in chapter 8 specifically at verse 2. notice it says take Aaron and his sons with him this isn't the first time Aaron has been mentioned in the Book of Leviticus but it is significant that Aaron is mentioned here in the Book of Leviticus prior to this in terms of the details given in terms of the the laws of sacrifice it's Aaron and his sons why because they were the priests they were the ones who functioned in that capacity to offer sacrifice and bring the Sinners into the presence of God but remember Aaron Aaron himself specifically fell at the time of Exodus chapter 32. he did not initiate that departure from Yahweh in terms of the golden calf but he certainly facilitated it Aaron was complicit in the rebellion of Israel in dancing around the golden calf remember he says they handed me this gold I threw it into the forge and sort of out popped this calf I I didn't know what was happening well you don't throw gold into a forge and out pops a calf Aaron as I said was complicit in this so the fact that Aaron is now restored and brought to the place of Priestly Ministry underscores the grace of God there's a new testament counterpart I don't think it's a strict type and anti-type and that sort of thing but certainly an analogy certainly a parallel in the Apostle Peter remember Peter denies Jesus Christ three times in uh to a servant girl not before the emperor not before the the governor but before a servant girl Peter denies vehemently with others and curses that he does not know the Lord Jesus Christ on three separate occasions there in that interaction so what do we find on the day of Pentecost it's Peter who stands up on that day to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ what's the point there is forgiveness with thee that thou must be feared there is restoration one of the things that I think is difficult to watch in terms of our society is what people have called cancel culture there's no forgiveness There's No Redemption there's no remission if you fail you're out you're done it's over well God's not like that God knows us better than we know ourselves and God has put in place a remedy for the sin problem in other words there is a fountain open for sin and uncleanness so the fact that Aaron is restored and the fact that Aaron is going to minister before Yahweh on behalf of the people is a wonderful description or illustration rather of the grace of God so under verses one to five we have the command of God secondly you see The Obedience of Moses in verses 6 to 30. we've got the garments described that the priests are going to wear again this is not the first time you see this in the Book of Exodus you see the anointing conducted in verses 10 to 13 moving those praise from the normal status of ordinary citizen within Israel and to that place of consecrated Anointed with oil where they must now serve for a period of seven days and then the sacrifices are offered you've got the sin offering the burnt offering and then notice specifically in verse 21 of chapter 8 the approval of God with this ministry it was a burnt sacrifice the latter part of verse 21 for a sweet Aroma an offering made by fire to the Lord as the Lord had commanded Moses God is pleased with the sacrifice God shows his approval of the sacrifice God does this to show his people that he is entreated that he is accessible that he has provided a way and a remedy now that brings us to the end of chapter eight where there's a summary statement you'll notice the portion for the priests in verses 31 to 32 in fact the law of sacrifices helps us understand what's going on in Leviticus chapter 10. after God kills nadab and abihu it's not okay to just go home I mean if as I said on Wednesday night a lightning bolt came through the ceiling right now and took out I don't want to look anywhere took out a a few of the people in the congregation I suspect we'd conclude our service well I'm not suspecting I know we would conclude our service I wouldn't keep preaching just you know get their bodies out take them over to the side of the parking lot so that we can continue the sermon but that's exactly what happens after the death of nadab and abihu why is that because the worship of God most high trumps even the death of nadab and abihu and so chapter 8 verses 31 to 32 gives us the rationale for that along with the sacrifices uh spoken to in chapters one to seven the priests were to participate in eating of the sacrifices the only one that was off limits to them was the burnt sacrifice or the burnt offering all the other ones the priest had a right and Title II and in fact that was their obligation to participate as God had commanded so that's what's being dealt with there in chapter 8 verses 31 and 32 then notice as well the transition for the priests in verse 33 it says and you shall not go outside the door of the Tabernacle of meaning for seven days until the days of your consecration are ended for seven days he shall consecrate you again that's going to come up in chapter 10. why aren't they allowed to conclude this worship service nadab and abbay who just died nadab and ABI who were just dragged out by their tunics outside the camp because God is to be worshiped this priesthood was set apart or consecrated they were anointed for that specific purpose and they need to carry it out obedience to God trumps again the deaths of nadab and abayu and then notice the purpose of the priests in verse 34. this has been specified as well along the way in the the laws concerning sacrifice notice in verse 34 as he has done this day so the Lord has commanded to do to make atonement for you if you are new to our church you'll probably not know that we say atonement a lot because we know that atonement is absolutely crucial typically when we refer to atonement we mean the death of our Lord Jesus Christ it was an atoning sacrifice the older authors emphasized satisfaction the idea being is that God is Holy his law has been broken Divine Justice needs to be satisfied and the means by which God does that is the provision of the son of his love the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world he doesn't go to that cross simply as an example he doesn't go to that cross just to communicate to us the depths of our love for one another he goes to the cross to bear the Wrath and fury of God he goes to the Cross to satisfy Divine Justice he goes to the Cross to bring about atonement substitute institutionary atonement Christ stood in the place of guilty Sinners to take the punishment that we deserve so that we may indeed be forgiven and enter into heaven because of the righteousness that is imputed to us so this purpose stands behind or lay behind the very function of the priesthood to make atonement and then notice the chapter and chapter 8 the ordination of the priesthood ends with a warning in verses 35 and 36. therefore you shall stay at the door of the Tabernacle of meeting day and night for seven days and keep the charge of the Lord so that you may not die for so I have been commanded so Aaron and his sons did all the things that the Lord had commanded by the hand of Moses see it's specified you're supposed to obey it's specified that you don't have the right to Renee it's specified that it's not up to you whether or not you think you're going to continue on in your Priestly function no there's a warning that is very severe notice again so that you may not die one commentator by the name of Gordon Wenham says a warning is given about the necessity of exact obedience to Divine prescriptions for worship as I've said in many times in our Wednesday night study the Brethren that go there this ensures review for them and they're saying yep I've heard it many many times well you're going to probably hear it many many more times until such time as I'm translated like Nate had and carried out from the camp in a Tunic but the bottom line is is that when it comes to worship God commands not man man doesn't have the right the privilege in the old Covenant to say well you know what I I don't really like this emphasis on sacrifice can't can't we just have sort of an encounter group can't we just share our feelings can't we just sort of connect and communicate and have coffee and buns and talk about how good Yahweh is no if you don't come through a bloody knife and a smoking altar you're not coming at all now lo and behold we get to the New Covenant and we think that's all done we can do whatever we want in church today we can do whatever it is that we desire in the context of worship today I don't know where we got that thought I don't know where we originated that idea I don't know who invented that mindset that New Covenant worship is a is a free-for-all I mean if you want the pastor to ride in on his Harley and tell stories and have your pastor write in on his Harley and tell stories if you want your pastor to repel with his headset on it and preach like a superhero well then you just do that you're free to do whatever it is you want no it's intriguing in Deuteronomy 4 verse 24 there is this statement underlying the severity of God relative to corporate worship and it says for our God is a consuming fire intriguingly that's repeated in the book of Hebrews huh Hebrews chapter 12 talks about acceptable worship what's acceptable worship it's not up to the sinner it's not up to the believer it's not up to the person and the Pew but acceptable Worship Is defined by by God and that is underscored again with this reference to our God is a consuming fire so back to Wenham a warning is given about the necessity of exact obedience to Divine prescription for worship keep the Lord's watch so that you do not die it was not the first time such a warning had been given Exodus 19 21 children of Israel were told don't come near the mountain or you will die he goes on to say that warning is repeated here it anticipates and explains the disaster that overtook nadab and Abigail who presumed to offer fire which he had not commanded so when you come to Leviticus 10 and you see that God kills nadab and abihu hold your tongue before you say well that's severe that seems out of line that seems untoward that seems unnecessarily harsh why they'd been warned they had been told they had been given detailed legislation concerning the sacrificial system rather than us saying well that doesn't seem right we ought to all stand in fear before the Lord God most high now notice secondly in chapter 9 the ministry of the priesthood again it begins with command Moses commands in verses one to seven but notice specifically in four be the promise of God's appearance notice in 4 verse 4 in chapter 9 also a bull and a ram as peace offerings to sacrifice before the Lord and a grain offering mixed with oil for today the Lord will appear to you now as we kind of considered on Wednesday night the anticipation has been growing going back to Exodus chapter 25 it's hard to piece together the specifics in terms of how many months but there were a few months involved between God's demand that they build a tabernacle to God's filling that Tabernacle with his glory so Exodus ends and then about eight days later they engage in this Priestly Ministry so the anticipation is built it Moses tells that the Lord is going to appear today this is what it's all for this is what it's all about this is what we're doing this is the high point this is why God brought you out of that bondage in Egypt why it was to worship him it was to be present with him it was to know his nearness as your good and so the anticipation is building with the people of God so we have the ministry of the priesthood here notice that the priests comply according to verses 8 to 21 they offer the sin offering in 8 11 and then the other offerings the burnt offering 12-14 the sin offering verses 15 to 17 and then the peace offerings in verses 18 to 21. so all the preparation all of The Obedience has now come to pass and we see God's appearance God's blessing God's nearness now in verses 22 to 24. we're going to slow down in terms of exposition and look at this a bit more carefully and then the events listed in chapter 10. so notice in terms of the Fulfillment by God it begins with this Priestly blessing in verse 22. then Aaron lifted his hand toward the people blessed them and came down from offering the sin offering the burnt offering and peace offerings this is no doubt what we see in the Book of Numbers chapter 6 The Way many churches end with the benediction the Lord bless you and keep you the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you the Lord lift up as countenance upon you and give you peace Psalm 67 we sang that during worship it begins with that benediction God be merciful to us and bless us and cause his face to shine upon us see Yahweh is not Justice God of vindictive Justice he's not just this God of terrible wrath he's not just this God who kills nadabs and abihus he is The God Who blesses he is the God who causes his face to shine he is the god who keeps us he is the god who is our portion he is the god who is our chief Delight Brethren Psalm 84 is written in an old Covenant context the psalm that we read at the beginning of worship the anticipation the eagerness and the joy with which the psalmist had in going to Old Covenant worship it does Shadow it does show it does show how how how wanting we are in the New Covenant do we have that same desire the psalm 84 design I don't want to beat anybody up I'm just you know offering this up in terms of some examination if what we have in the New Covenant is free access to the father through the mediation of the Sun by the power and presence of the Holy Spirit which we do Ephesians 2 18 and Ephesians 2 22 why aren't we the more eager to come to church why aren't we more like David in Psalm 122. I I was glad when they said unto me let us go to the house of the Lord there's an eagerness and an anticipation in meeting with the living and true God David has it in Psalm 84. David has it when he understands the blessedness of old Covenant worship we as New Covenant worshipers ought to have something of that anticipation and eagerness as well so then notice we've got verse 23 the resolution of the problem that we saw in Exodus 40. the Shekinah Glory comes down fills the Tabernacle we've got the dwelling place well now Leviticus advances that themed dwelling place to meeting place and that's precisely what you see now in verse 23 Moses and Aaron went into the Tabernacle of meeting Moses and Aaron forbidden earlier now have been brought nigh through this sacrificial blood without the remission of uh without the the without the shedding of blood there is no remission and that's precisely what they had learned this is precisely what they had felt or understood so Moses and Aaron went into the Tabernacle of meeting and came out and blessed the people and then notice the divine blessing well uh verse 23 then the glory of the of the Lord appeared to all the people and then we see this fulfillment by God fire came out from before the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the fat on the altar this is approval this is a acceptance this is God saying to them you've done it properly you've obeyed you've complied you've built the Tabernacle properly you've engaged in the sacrifices effectively so now God sends down this fire to consume those offerings now that fire is lethal if it isn't combined or if the sacrifice isn't combined with obedience we'll see that in just a moment when we get to the case of nadab and abajo but this is the Fulfillment of the promise of God turn back to Exodus chapter 25. Exodus chapter 25 where the instruction begins concerning the Tabernacle you see at least three places where God announces the reason for the Tabernacle here in Exodus 25 to 40. so Exodus 25 8 notice let them make me a sanctuary that I may dwell among them that's where Exodus is going they're delivered from bondage they're told what to do in terms of law but dwelling is the theme at the end of the book as Dale Ralph Davis points out the god of the Bush Exodus 3 the god of the mountain Exodus 19 is the god of the tent Exodus chapter 25 so the God who delivers the God who demands is The God Who dwells with his needy people and that's the announcement here in 25 8. turn over to chapter 29 a similar statement in verses 45 and 46. this is in the context of the priests notice in chapter 29 verse 45 I will dwell among the children of Israel and will be their God and they shall know that I am the Lord their God who brought them up out of the land of Egypt that I may dwell among them I am the Lord their God now I don't know that we ever really reflect on just how glorious that is and how gracious that is we just assume that God should dwell with us but why we're sinners we're vile we're law Breakers we we take the Ten Commandments and we we we we trash them we disregard that we do what God tells us not to do and then we lack Conformity to those things that he that he tells us what to do we sin by way of omission and commission the only thing we legitimately deserve is God's Wrath and curse both in this life and that which is to come what happens to nadab and ABY who really should happen to each and every one of us God should send fire down and consume us but that's not what we find we see in the Garden of Eden when when Adam and Eve sin it's God who comes to that as I mentioned this morning after the tragedy at Babel God comes to Abram in Genesis chapter 12 to to initiate or rather announce the plan and purpose that in uh Abraham all the nations of the Earth shall be blessed it's the Seed of Abraham Galatians 3 16 the the the the Lord Jesus Christ and then you see the the Psalms and the the prophets all celebrate this reality that that God is going to be accessible by needy Sinners the fact that God dwells with Sinners is an amazing reality it is in fact Amazing Race and then again drop down to chapter 30 and verse 6 and you shall put it before the veil that is before the Ark of the testimony before the mercy seat that is over the testimony where I will meet with you so you see that realization or fulfillment here at the end of chapter nine so the ministry has been installed the ministry is now functioning and God shows his approval to this Priestly Ministry and then notice the response of the people so the fire comes out from the presence of the Lord we see that means the acceptance of the sacrifices and then we see the shout from the people verse 24 the very end notice when all the people saw it they shouted and fell on their faces so all the anticipation all the legislation all the details all of the preparations all of the building all of the Priestly Ministry all of the sacrifice and now it's come to pass now it's come to fruition and what's the response of the worshiping people they shout it's a shout for Joy they fall down before the presence of God most high in worship and in praise and in adoration this is what it looks like when the people of God meet with the god of the people they're happy they're joyful there's gratitude in their hearts again listen to Gordon Wenham on three other occasions God showed his approval of a burnt offering by sending Heavenly Fire to burn it up when the birth of Samson was announced to Manoa and his wife Judges 13 when Solomon dedicated the temple second chronicles 7 and when Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel First Kings 18. he says each time confronted by the awe-inspiring reality of God the worshipers fell to the ground and praised God see Brethren this Con this idea of Conduct in the presence of God that that is just filled with familiarity I mean on the one hand there is a familiarity God is our God and we are as people but it shouldn't be a familiarity like we have with one another God is a consuming fire god is most high God is Creator God is infinite God is Spirit God is pure act God is glorious and in the presence of God to fall on one's face is absolutely positively appropriate and fitting because he is who he is and We Are Who We Are he goes on to say Leviticus 9 24 says they shouted the word translated shout means a loud cry usually one of Joy it is often coupled with other words expressing praise and joy at God's ways and works these episodes show that the worship of God involves a total response of man to God the presence of God was greeted with a shout not silence more than that they fell on their faces God's greatness and Holiness cannot be ignored he must be acknowledged by our whole being nothing less is adequate I think that's good commentary I think that's appropriate and I think again we in the New Covenant get a little bit comfortable from time to time if we get a bit a little bit relaxed in the presence of the high and holy one remember this is the god the god that we worship is the god who came to Isaiah the prophet and when God manifests himself to Isaiah the prophet in his call to the prophetic Ministry what does Isaiah say when he saw the Lord Lord of hosts high and exalted in the train of his of his robe filling the the temple does he say boy it's just great to be here with you buddy it's nice to be here with you pal it's good to be here with you friend he says woe is me for I am undone I am a man of unclean lips and I dwell amongst the people of unclean lips why mine eyes have seen the glory of the Lord when the prophet Ezekiel gets a glimpse of a a vision of God most high what does he do he said well that's great I can keep shaving now the pastor famous in California for that very thing he would say that you know he would shave his face and Jesus would come to talk to him while he was shaving his face and John MacArthur says well what happens when when that happens well I just keep shaving my face MacArthur says you mean you don't fall down as a dead man because that's what everybody else does when they're confronted with the glory of God most high in scripture consider John on the island Pat Moss who's ex you know exiled there for the word of God and the testimony of Jesus when he sees Jesus what happens hey buddy hey friend hey pal how how's it going today I fell at his feet as a dead man of course Christ lays his hand on his shoulder and says do not be afraid I am the first and the last I am the one who has the the keys to Hades I am the one who has the power over life and death the idea of being Brethren is that when we come into the presence of God Joy gratitude happiness thankfulness are all consistent with the worshiping heart but reverence and fear and an understanding that we've come into the presence of the high and holy one I think that Leviticus helps us to appreciate that I think especially the case of nadab and abihu underscores that for us to which we turn now notice the judgment on the priesthood in chapter 10 verses 1 to 20. now look at verse 1 in chapter 10 then not five days later eight days later ten months later two years later no what's the last act what's the last scene in chapter nine they offer up the sacrifice fire from Yahweh comes down it consumes the sacrifice the people shout and they fall down then there's not a breach there's not a time there's not a you know a space of a of a period we've got the ministry of the priests we've got them functioning in their capacity consecrated Anointed with holy oil the set apart for this task for seven days most likely they worked in shifts well here specifically come nadab and Abaya and before we look at what nadabinabai who does or do we ought not to neglect what chapters one to nine say there were detailed explanations on how to sacrifice very jot and tittle-ish not left up to the imagination of the worshiper there was the burnt offering the grain offering the peace offering the sin offering and the guilt or trespass offering you're to do these in a very specific way you can't eat from the burnt offering though the priests get the skin of the burnt offering the grain offering that's how the priests lived remember they didn't get you know tribal allotments in terms of land they didn't have you know agriculture as their Forte they had Priestly service so how do they live they live based on the goodness of God in terms of his provision through his people so the priest would get a portion of grain the priest would get portions of meat from the peace offering from the sin offering and from the guilt offering after that which was given to Yahweh was burned after the awful was was put away the the parts the innards and all that sort of thing then the priests were entitled to eat so they had these detailed explanations and then we have this illustration of God's acceptance at the end of chapter 9 at verse 24. and then of course always in every crowd you've got an a dab and a Bible Well I think we're going to try it another way I think we're going to do it this way I think we're going to do it in a way that pleases us so let's look specifically at what they do notice the problem verse one then nadab and abihu the sons of veronique took his sensor and put fire in it put incense on it and offered profane fire before the Lord now commentators are divided in terms of what they did wrong a lot of them think it was because they were drunk look at chapter 10 at verse 8. then the Lord spoke to Aaron saying do not drink wine or intoxicating drink you nor your sons with you when you go into the Tabernacle of meeting wasn't a Prohibition for all time it was a Prohibition when they engaged in Ministry in terms of the Tabernacle so some with with good warrant see that their crime and sin or a problem in chapter 10 verse 1 was probably they were drunk but others suggest no it was the mingling of the incense and the way they went about it there were strict rules concerning that according to Leviticus chapter 16 and verse 12. then he shall take a sensor full of burning coals of fire from the altar before the Lord with his hands full of sweet incense beaten fine and bring it inside the veil so some suggest that it was that process the the means by which they they they did this that that was problematic I take the position of chapter 16 verses 1 and 2. chapter 16 verses 1 and 2. now the Lord spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron there's a lot that comes between chapters 10 and 16. it's the laws of cleanliness and uncleanness and the animals that you could eat the animals you couldn't eat and the the scabs that you had to go see the the priest over and the various sores that affected one and different things concerning emissions and and cleanliness and all that that sort of thing but it's intriguing that on the day of atonement what the the backdrop is is God's wrath upon nadab and abihu when they offered up Strange Fire and then if you go on notice what it says it says now the Lord spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron when they offered profane fire before the Lord and died and the Lord said to Moses tell Aaron your brother not to come at just any time into the holy place inside the veil before the mercy seat which is on the ark lest he die for I will appear in the cloud above The Mercy Seat some suggest in this the position I would default toward is that nadab and ABI who tried to go into the holy of holies that was a no no you are not supposed to do that one day out of the year and that's the high priest he takes off all of his glorious robes and he wears linen alone he probably goes in about three or four times to bring blood Pour It On The Mercy Seat and then he comes out they take a goat they confess her he confesses the sins of Israel and then he drives that goat out into the Wilderness so perhaps that's the issue that affected nadab and abihu they went into that holy of holies but whether it's the intoxication whether it's the way they presented it the last part of verse 1 tells us the problem problem it says which he had not commanded them which he had not commanded them stands in sharp contrast to the many emphases on that which the Lord had commanded them throughout the context and the book they disobeyed so when you obey God according to chapter 9 and you offer up the sacrifices through a properly functioning priesthood God sends fire down and consumes the sacrifices you see it you shout you fall on your face and you are in the presence of God most high but if you alter the rules if you mess with the commands if you depart from What the Lord Has stipulated that fire becomes lethal now notice fire comes down at the end of chapter nine to consume the sacrifice fire comes down again at the beginning of chapter 10 but to consume the sacrificers why because they disobeyed God they disobeyed the Lord the determining factor is obedience or Disobedience to the Lord most high so notice in verse 2 so fire went out from the Lord and devoured them and they died before the Lord again Brethren if we saw that in a worship service it might rise up in us to say well that doesn't seem right I mean why don't you send a lightning bolt or a jet onto some you know group of pervert a perverted person somewhere why would you take out a church it might be in us to to to to to rise up in our hearts with some sort of a so some sort of a a a bit of a complaint but notice that Moses is quick with the theology Moses is quick with the lesson Moses is quick with the Mandate given to the priests notice in verse 3 Moses said to Aaron this is what the Lord spoke saying by those who come near me now notice the next bit I must be regarded as holy so I was saying earlier we don't come into the presence of God as if he's a fellow we don't come into the presence of God as if he's a creature we don't come into the presence of God as if he's one of us he's not one of us Brethren the sooner we get that in our six goals the better off we're going to be there is a great Chasm that exists between the Creator and the creature we are not Creator and he is not creature so there is this Kaza and the way that we approach is to understand that he is in fact Holy by those who come near me I must be regarded as holy subsequent history of Israel reveals that what happens to the man of Beth Shemesh when they think they're going to open up the Ark of the Covenant and just see what's inside there does God say a good on you that's a fine task that's a good thing he wipes them out Brethren again the prophet Isaiah woe is me for I am undone you know that in the prophet is Isaiah one of the favorite titles for Yahweh that Isaiah uses more so way way proportionally more so than every other Prophet even combined I think is the Holy One of Israel Isaiah understood something about God's holiness Isaiah understood that God is other God is Not Like Us God is different God is in a different category or a different chain of being so by those who come near me I must be regarded as holy and then notice and before all the people I must be glorified in other words the priest functioning in his proper manner brings glory to God not Innovation to the worship of God not Comfort to himself not benefit a Prestige for himself that's the task of a functioning priesthood and before all the people I must be glorified will notice what happens there Aaron held his peace what's he going to say well no I don't think that's right well no I don't think that's fair again God has commanded what is right God has commanded what the children of Israel are supposed to do and God is to be regarded in the way that Moses reminds them and then notice the command of the priests on the heels of this in Verses 4 to 7. it's not conclude the worship service dismiss everybody give them the benediction and send them home turn them to number 16 number six turn them to Second Corinthians 13 14. read that benediction and tell everybody to go home and we'll see you next week that's not what happens the worship continues the service goes on the people of God remain assemble the priests are on duty and so the instructions that follow again may seem to us a bit harsh because we don't reflect upon how holy God is we don't reflect upon how sinful we are we don't reflect upon the fact that he makes the way for Access and when we have that access he doesn't suspend it in the execution of his judgment no rather that's part of his his presence among his people for good or ill you get the blessing and you get the curses and again it's predicated on obedience or disobedience in terms of God's law so notice in Verses 4 to 5 the bodies were ordered to be removed the priests were prohibited from contact with dead bodies according to Leviticus 21 unless they were close relatives I think the high priest could never touch or contact a dead body the not high priest the other priests could if they were close near relatives so that's verses four and five Moses called Michelle and El zafan the sons of luciel the uncle of Aaron and said to them come here Carrie uh Carey your brethren from before the sanctuary out of the camp so they went near and carried and buy their tunics out of the camp as Moses had said probably laid them on the tunic grabbed the tunic and then drag them outside the camp that's what God commanded that's what God stipulated get the dead bodies out of here we're still engaged in this meeting together we are still engaged in this worship of God we're not going to suspend this because of nadab and abihu and then notice specifically in verse 6 the the priests are forbidden to mourn not because God is calloused or God is Harsh or God is vicious or he lacks Compassion or kindness or goodness the priests are on duty the Judgment of God is not to stop you from functioning according to your your command so that's verse six Moses said to Aaron unto Eleazar and itham are his sons do not uncover your heads nor tear your clothes lest you die and wrath come upon all the people but let your brethren the whole house of Israel bewail the burning which the Lord has Kendall it's okay for them to mourn it's okay for them to weep it's okay for them to carry on but not the priests Robert alter says that is you are not to perform any any of the conventional gestures of mourning for your sons had perished in violating the very Trust of the sanctuary that has been given to you and your descendants instead you may allow the people as a whole to take up the burden of mourning so God is serious here with reference to worship just working through this again the reason why I'm preaching this again it it's in me this this Wednesday night bible study pondering these things and the implications for New Covenant worship I mean the appreciation for New Covenant worship isn't it wonderful that we don't have all these laws in terms of the various sacrifices we bring that on on Sunday and we lay fire to it and we hope that Yahweh approves and if we get a little bit out of lining he strikes the pastor Dead with fire I mean on the one hand there ought to be great appreciation that we live in those days of the anti-typical reality that Christ fulfills all that was specified here but if we go back in time and consider this old Covenant setting it it should produce in our hearts of reverence for God again the god of Heaven and Earth has not changed positive law dictates in terms of Covenant how we approach him it's not a different God though it's not a different requirement though in terms of worship it's just a different prescribed system of worship that the same God who is to be worshiped so notice in verse 7 they're reminded of what we saw at the end of the summary in chapter eight you shall not go out from the door of the Tabernacle of meeting lest you die for the anointing oil of the Lord is upon you and they did according to the word of Moses and then the chapter ends basically with instructions to the priests to make sure that these sorts of things don't happen in the future it's good isn't it God's gracious we've had a bit of an a a bump in the road there with nadab and abihil we you know had a little hitch there in terms of the the corporate worship of the living and true God so in order to avoid such things in the future make sure the priests don't get hammered before they go into the Tabernacle and engage in their Priestly activities that's the the focus there in verses eight to ten and notice that Yahweh Speaks now to Aaron it's always been to Moses but now Aaron is the high priest he is formally functioning in that capacity so according to chapter 10 verse 8 God speaks to Aaron and basically God says to Aaron get your priests in line get these men in line do not allow them to cut Corners do not allow them to shave off edges do not allow them to not obey God most high so that's the nature of the instruction in verses specifically eight to eleven prohibition against intoxication and then the reason for that so that they might have have the ability to distinguish between the holy and Unholy verse 10 and so that they might instruct children verse 11. all of this was not done in a corner or hidden it was for all the assembly now there were requirements and boundaries and stipulations in terms of how far the worshiper went with reference to the holy place and the holy of holies but all Israel was there they were gathered either outside or in the court of the Tabernacle to witness the worship of God Almighty and then notice the instruction to eat the priest portion in verses 12 to 15. again I'm just going to summarize here you know what Moses says to them eat the Grain and eat the meat that probably wasn't intuitive on their part if perhaps the stench of nadab and a boy whose burnt bodies is still filling the air you want us to eat yes because that's stipulated in the sacrifice if you don't eat it's not obeying you need to eat the Grain and you need to eat the meat that is set apart for the priests relative to this sacrificial system and then the passage ends with Moses noticing that the sin offering was not eaten the sin offering was burned that was a No-No the priests were supposed to eat part of the sin offering so that's kind of the tension here in verses 16 to 20. look at what we find in verse 16 then Moses made careful inquiry about the goat of the sin offering and there it was burned up and he was angry with Eleazar and ithamar the sons of Aaron who were left saying why have you not eaten the sin offering in a holy place since it is most holy and God is given it to you to Bear the guilt of the congregation to make atonement for them before the Lord see its blood was not brought inside the holy Place indeed you should have eaten it in a holy place as I command it see as far as Moses is concerned this is not good this ain't Bueno Brothers you need to eat Aaron you need to get those priests eating there is this sin offering that's been set apart God demands that you participate in it what do you have to say for yourself now notice in verses 19 to 20. basically Aaron says I didn't know if God would accept this remember and I didn't try to get too emotional on Wednesday night or too therapeutic or too familiar uh familial but these were his signs he watched nadab and a boy who grow up he played ball with them he took them to little e he watched them swing the the bat at the t-ball and just putting it in the modern parlance but he was there to add and now they're gone they offered Strange Fire before the Lord that which Yahweh had not commanded so God sends fire down not to consume their sacrifice but to consume that nadab and abihu are gone so perhaps we caught Aaron a little slack because Moses does listen to Aaron's response according to verse 19. Aaron said to Moses look this day they have offered their sin offering and their burnt offering before the Lord see when it came to these offerings it wasn't just for the Israelite worshiper it was for the priest as well that's a significant contrast with the New Covenant the Lord Jesus as high priest doesn't first offer us uh sacrifice for his sin he's unique he's wholly harmless and undefiled but these old Covenant priests they had to offer up sacrifice for their own sin and so what Aaron says is they offered up this sacrifice for their sin to avert the wrath of God to make atonement with the Lord to satisfy Divine Justice and yet the fire came down and and consumed them so Aaron's basically saying I wasn't sure if I should eat or not I wasn't sure if I should participate look this day they have offered their sin offering and their burnt offering before the Lord and such things have befallen me what the death of my two sons such things have befallen remain if I had eaten the sin offering today would it have been accepted in the sight of the Lord great question great observation great conduct in a particularly difficult setting it satisfies Moses it should satisfy us so when Moses heard that he was content so in conclusion in terms of Leviticus chapter 8 you've got the installation or the ordination of the priesthood the ministry of the priesthood and then this judgment on the priesthood and I think there's several lessons we won't go too far or too deep but the doctrine of man is everywhere assumed here the sinfulness of man we are connected to Adam covenantally we have a vile nature we have a sin nature we have original sin and it's from that vantage point that that all our actual transgressions do proceed the sin offering in this list of offerings deals with unintentional sins have you ever come to that realization in your Christian Life to the point where you think you know just about everything I think say do and and touch that I'm sinning it's almost somewhat perplexing at times I mean do we ever just love God with all our heart soul mind and strength do we ever just love our neighbor as ourselves is that you know the symptomatic of our day in and day out you know the moment that we wake up do we do with the the supposedly righteous Jews did in the old Covenant and rehearse the Shema you know hear o Israel the Lord Our God the Lord is one you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart soul mind and strength do we do that do we have that in us to worship God constantly to word uh love our man fellow man no we don't we're Sinners we're connected covenantally to Adam in Adam all die and we have that actual transgressions that proceed the guilt offering was for those sins that we do that we do intentionally So within the sacrificial system you had built in provision for the unintentional provision for the intentional again the grace of God meets man depraved man where he stands in need the depravity of man as seen all ultimately in the sacrificial system if man was not sinful we would not need blood atonement secondly we see the doctrine of theology proper or who God is he is holy God is Holy by those who come to me I I must be regarded as holy that's not up for debate that's not up for dispute that's not up to well you know we're going to negotiate here we don't really want that that concept of God's holiness in our church we just like joy and peace and happiness what's joy and peace and happiness not tempered by God's holiness we need to be a holy people we need to recognize that we in fact serve a holy God but in the midst of this we see the graciousness of God the very provision of the sacrificial system makes a way for Sinners to meet with God and to maintain Covenant status and then the glory of God manifested in his presence among his people in Exodus 40 it's this Cloud Shekinah Glory Cloud that fills the Tabernacle here we see this fire proceed from the presence of the Lord at the end of chapter 9 and verse 24 we see that God is in the midst of his people and his presence is in fact glorious thirdly the typological significance when you read through the Book of Leviticus there are some sections Brethren that are a bit challenging 11 to 14 or 15. those are some you know tough chapters in terms of Wednesday night bible study we're not going to go jot and Tittle through every hair and scab and every sore and every you know a mission that comes out of a man or a woman and the laws of cleanness and uncleanness and and all that sort of thing when you read The Book of Leviticus Think Jesus think Christ most high think about the word became flesh and dwelt Among Us think about John 1 29 Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world Leviticus is about Jesus Leviticus points us to Jesus Leviticus is typical of Jesus Leviticus is prefiguring Jesus us Leviticus is all about blood atonement through the Savior King who left Heaven above who for us men and for our Salvation took on our Humanity to live to die and to rise again and then finally the emphasis emphasis on worship the emphasis on worship Brethren I think this is a place where the Christian church today and I'm right there included we need to ponder God we need to ponder what we're doing in terms of meeting together on Sunday yes it's beneficial to catch up with Brethren yes it's encouraging to see the people of God yes it's encouraging to enjoy that that horizontal element in terms of fellowship with the Saints but we're here to meet with God almighty we're here to enter into the presence of the most high we're here to to have truck with the living and the true God and our God is in fact a consuming fire and that ought to affect the way that we come it ought to affect the way that we approach coach it ought to affect the way that we think about Christian worship in this new covenant setting so all that to say it's good to be in the house of God on this Lord's day and to participate in this bread and in this wine these emblems or symbols that that that point us back to our blessed savior Leviticus points us to him the elements point us back at least in terms of History to ponder his broken body on behalf of Sinners and his shed blood and if you don't have a saving interest in the Lord Jesus Christ it's not sacrificial systems through an ordained priesthood it isn't Roman Catholicism and their priesthood it isn't the Mormon priesthood it's the high Priestly office of our Lord Jesus Christ it is him who gave himself on behalf of Sinners to satisfy Divine justice so that all who look to him in faith will have everlasting life well let us pray Our Father in heaven we thank you for your word and we thank you for the consistency between the covenants in terms of our holy and glorious and Majestic God as well we see the consistency between the covenants in terms of the way of approach through a bloody knife and a smoking Altar and we praise you that Christ has satisfied Christ has accomplished and Christ has brought nigh those Redemptive benefits through his own life death and Ministry God as we eat tonight as we drink tonight let us Ponder these things and may our hearts be drawn out in love and worship and adoration to our great high priest and we pray in Jesus name amen we can turn in your Bibles to Matthew chapter 26 the section that we'll read as we take the supper Matthew chapter 26 just a few reminders before we read the text or the brothers come and pass out the bread the ordinances for believers only it's not for unbelievers if you're not a believer in Christ we would simply ask that you not partake tonight as well what we gleaned from First Corinthians 11 is that it's an ordinance for those believers who are dealing rightly with their sin doesn't mean their sin less doesn't mean they're perfect because this ordinance would never be practiced but it means they are seeking by God's grace to maintain a conscience void of offense toward God and toward man Paul condemns the church in Corinth and says what they're doing is not eating the Lord's so they're not participating in the Lord's table there they had a meal and at that meal they were excluding the the haves were excluding the have-nots the rich were excluding the poor and Paul says that is not an expression of the one body of our Lord Jesus Christ so it's for believers who are dealing with their sin as well the ordinance is a means of Grace but it's not Roman Catholicism it's not Lutheran we don't practice transubstantiation we don't practice consubstantiation it is a memory time for sure do this in remembrance of me but God in the midst of this confirms and strengthens our faith and builds us up and helps us but the bread remains bread and the wine remains wine and ultimately the ordinance points us to our blessed savior just the way this sacrificial system pointed them forward to the Messiah to come this this ordinance points us to that same Messiah who has come and will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead well you can turn there to Matthew 26 I'll ask the brothers to pass out the bread while the brothers pass out the bread we will sing A Hymn 338. after they pass out the bread and we finish the hymn I'll pray and then we'll take the bread together after reading the section so three three eight please remain seated As we sing praise to our blessed God foreign [Music] I am [Music] here Lord ship [Music] s that's [Music] on my side [Music] is me foreign okay Jesus [Music] good night [Applause] promises [Music] foreign Matthew 26 at verse 26 we read and as they were eating Jesus Took bread blessed and broke it and gave it to the disciples and said take eat this is my body well let us pray our great God and Father we thank you so very much for the provision of the son of Your Love The Apostle says in the fullness of time God sent forth his son born of a woman born under the law to redeem those under the law and we know how that was achieved and we stand in awe at your goodness and at your graciousness and that your kindness to us God bless and encourage our hearts now as we remember the death of our savior on our behalf and we pray in Jesus name amen will take together we remain seated and will sing number 345 while the brothers pass out the wine if you're inclined to have juice it's in the outer ring and the wine is in the inner part of the plate so number 345 to a familiar tune foreign [Music] God is my God [Music] all hours [Music] still in my ten times [Music] God is all right [Music] yes [Music] be your eyes [Music] [Applause] foreign [Music] um continuing on in verse 27 then he took the cup and gave thanks and gave it to them saying drink from it all of you for this is my blood of the New Covenant which is shed for many for the remission of sins but I say to you I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when the when I drink it new with you in my father's Kingdom and when they had sung at him they went out to the Mount of Olives let us pray father we thank you for the the blood of the New Covenant that shed by our blessed savior on behalf of Sinners we know the blood of the bulls and goats where the the ratification and that old Covenant setting we know that ultimately they that never took away sin but it did point forward to the one in whom there is forgiveness and we Rejoice that Christ is ours and we are christs and may you again strengthen and encourage us now as we drink this together and we pray in Jesus name amen well you can turn in your hymn books to number 352 352 that wonderful summary of gospel truth put into him form 352 will stand as we sing together [Music] Hallelujah [Music] very strange in my place [Music] Hallelujah [Music] it is foreign [Music] the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all amen God we thank you for this Lord's day we thank you for the wonderful time spent in the presence of God most high with the people of God we pray that you would go with us now that you would indeed cause your face to shine upon us may you keep us may you bless us and may we know your grace and we pray through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen you may be seated for a brief time of meditation