Leviticus 15 - "Cleanliness & Holiness"
1. Read Leviticus 15:1-15. This is the Lord talking to Moses and Aaron about a man having a discharge or emission through his sexual organs due to a long-term illness which could include venerial diseases, skin infections, or anything that woud result in liquid coming from his body in this way. He could not come into the tabernacle and have fellowship with God until he had been cleansed (healed) from the discharge. At that time, he was to count off 7 days for his cleansing and then bathe his body in running water to become clean. What was he to do on the 8th day after his cleansing and the day after his bathing in water? vs. 14 -
2. What were they to be offered for by the priest? vs.15a - Name 2 offerings
3. What was the priest doing for the one who had the unclean discharge and then had been cleansed? vs. 15
Note: Whoever touched the person with the discharge had become unclean also and was required to wash their clothes, bathe in water, and be unclean until evening. Things that had come in contact with the person - all vessels and furniture, etc. had to be cleansed. It is God's way of keeping others protected and in good health. An unclean physical person would bring defilement to the tabernacle as well, and so the person had to be physically well, and then spiritually well through the atonement sacrifices before he could enter back into the fellowship with the Lord in His temple. Remember, everything in His temple cries, "Holy, Holy, Holy" !
4. Read Leviticus 15:16-18. God is specific about the discharge of semen from the man. Although things became unclean through this, both the man and the woman in intercourse, they only need to bathe in water and be unclean for entering the tabernacle until evening. There is no need for an atonement for this God-given gift to them. ((amen)) What does God say about the need for a man and woman to be sexually satisfied with one another in the covenant of marriage? Read the verses below and please share your thoughts about it as well.
- 1 Corinthians 7:1-5
5. Read Leviticus 15:19-30 - These verses relate to emissions that come from a woman's body in relation to her monthly feminine cycle, and long-term illness. In the same way as the man, she could not come into the tabernacle and have fellowship with God until she had been cleansed (healed) from the discharge. At that time, she was to count off 7 days for her cleansing and then bathe her body in running water to become clean. What was she to do on the 8th day after his cleansing and the day after her bathing in water? vs. 29 -
6. What were they to be offered for by the priest? vs.30a - Name 2 offerings
7. What was the priest doing for the woman who had the unclean discharge and then had been cleansed? vs. 30b
Note: It seems like this would bring the woman through this process every month if she had her regular monthly cycle. Of course, during pregnancy that cycle stops for 9 months. There are the laws of motherhood after a child is born as well (remember these from Leviticus Chapter 12) ...
8. If a woman had a discharge that was not her normal female cycle, but it lasted days beyond that, she was to remain unclean as in her cycle and stay that way until the healing came so that she could continue with ceremonial cleansing and atonement by the priest. (vs.25) - This makes us think of the woman with the hemmorage that had lasted for 12 years! Can you imagine what it was like for her to not be able to touch another person during those years and how she had used up all of her money to doctors to be healed and yet she had not been? Let's read the story and see how her faith in Jesus and touching His garment changed it all! Read Mark 5:24-34.
9. Let's look at Mark 5:24-34 for reflection. ... How long had she been hemorraging? vs. 25 .... What happened after she spent all she had on physicians to help her? vs. 26 ... What did she think when she realized Jesus was passing through her town? vs.27-28 ... When she reached out and touched the hem of His garment, what happened to her? vs.29 ... What did she sense immediately? vs. 29b ... What did Jesus perceive immediately? vs. 30 .... Jesus asked "Who touched My garments?" (vs.30) ... What did His disciples reason about? vs. 31 ... Jesus looked around to see the woman who had done this (vs.32). The woman feared and trembled, aware of what had happened to her. What was her response to Jesus? vs. 33 ... What did Jesus say that her "faith" had done for her? vs. 34a .... What was His words to her concerning this? Did she need to go through any rituals at that time? vs. 34b .... What do you think it felt like for her to finally be able to "have peace" after feeling as though her "uncleanness" had kept her from God and all she had loved? ... (Answer the questions and then share your thoughts to the final question) .....
10. Back to Leviticus 15. What was the purpose for the sexual cleanness laws? vs. 31-33
Application:
11. Do you see God's reasoning of wanting our sexual purities and how it can effect our relationship with others and with worshiping Him as well? Look up the following verses and comment:
- 1 Corinthians 6:13
- 1 Thessalonians 4:2-8
12. What is "immorality" defined as by the Lord?
- Galatians 5:19
13. If a person has an "immoral lifestyle"; if they "engage" in these things as a "habit of life", what is evident about them?
- Galatians 5:21
- 1 Corinthians 6:9
- 2 Corinthians 12:21
- Ephesians 5:3-5
14. If we are a Christian, we have died to ourselves and we are living for the Lord. What will be "evident" in a Spirit-filled believer who is walking in the Spirit and crucifying the deeds of the flesh as they try to crop up? Name 9 evidences of His Spirit living through us from the verses below:
- Galatians 5:22-23 - Name 9 -
1)2)3)4)5)6)7)8)9)
15. Did you notice the last thing listed? What was it?
16. We must realize that self-control is not something we can do in our own strength; it is a fruit of "His Spirit" living within us and working through us. What does the following verse tell us?
- Galatians 5:16
17. Will it always be easy? Can we expect a battle with our fleshly desires? Why or why not?
- Galatians 5:17
- Matthew 26:41
- Romans 8:6
- Romans 8:13
- 1 Peter 1:13-16
- 1 Peter 2:11
- 1 Peter 4:1-5
18. With the Spirit's help, we will be able to overcome the desires of the flesh and walk in cleanliness and holiness as God desires. It's not about having "self-control", but giving Him "complete control" because His Spirit will produce within you the 9 things including "self-control" - it is from Him. Be more concerned with being filled with His presence, His Word, His Spirit and you will not focus on the things of the flesh. Read and comment on these verses:
- Colossians 3:5-7 -
- 1 Corinthians 10:13
- 2 Timothy 2:21-22
- 1 Corinthians 6:18
19. What can we do to perfect (complete; bring to maturity) our holiness in the Lord (aka: sanctification) ?
I. As a Christian, realize we have already been: washed (salvation); sanctified (set apart for the Lord); and justified (legally declared not guilty).
1 Corinthians 6:11
II. Therefore, there is need only to confess to be cleansed of all unrighteousness as we get ourselves dirty (unclean) in the world.
John 13:10,11
1 John 1:9
III. Continue ongoing cleansing (sanctification process) as we mature:
2 Corinthians 7:1
2 Timothy 2:19-21
lV. Flee (Run from) Sexual Immorality - It harms your body!
1 Corinthians 6:18
V. Don't hang out with those who claim to be "believers" but continue to live "immorally" - Bad company corrupts good morals.
1 Corinthians 5:9-11
Vl. Get Dressed "in Jesus" each day.
Romans 13:13,14
Vll. Remember, we are the temple of the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 6:19
Vlll. We are not our own; we have been bought with a price!
1 Corinthians 6:20
20. Summarize this lesson and post a prayer if you would like.
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