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Dedicated

Dedicated. Numbers 6. Dedicated Introduction. The world has never been holy. It is unholy today. It will remain so in the future – till Jesus comes. Dedicated Introduction. The church is supposed to be holy.

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Dedicated

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  1. Dedicated Numbers 6

  2. DedicatedIntroduction • The world has never been holy. • It is unholy today. • It will remain so in the future – till Jesus comes.

  3. DedicatedIntroduction • The church is supposed to be holy. • The difference between the world and us should be evident to anyone watching closely. • Sometimes this is true, sometimes it’s not.

  4. DedicatedIntroduction The vow of the Nazirite. • An option for any Israelite, regardless of tribe. • A special type of separation to God. • A dedicated time of special commitment.

  5. DedicatedIntroduction • Key questions to ask: • Am I genuinely dedicated to God? • Am I kidding myself about this? • What would it mean to be totally dedicated to God in my present circumstances?

  6. Dedicated Our radical dedication to holiness should be an attractive option ina hopeless world – and a source of severe conviction to a compromised or hypocritical church.

  7. The Nature of the Vow 6:1-8 • Watch for words like holyor separate.

  8. The Nature of the Vow 6:1-8 • 6:1-2 Men and women both eligible. • The name Nazirite comes from a word meaning “to separate, consecrate or dedicate.” • Similar vows may have been practiced prior to this. • Jewish tradition tells us that they usually lasted at least 30 days. A few examples in the Bible are lifelong.

  9. The Nature of the Vow 6:1-8 • 6:1-2 None of the things mentioned in becoming a Nazirite are intrinsically right or wrong. • It was a vow in which a person set him/herself apart from everyday aspects of life in special devotion to God.

  10. The Nature of the Vow 6:1-8 Three Areas of Separation • 6:3-4 Abstinence from wine or other alcohol – and everything connected with grapes. • 6:5 Letting the hair grow long. • 6:6-8 No touching of a dead body. • None of this was especially harsh or austere, just different from other people.

  11. A Broken Vow 6:9-12

  12. A Broken Vow 6:9-12 • The Bible uses an extreme case. • Any form of breaking the vow is covered by this. • The defilement is referred to as “sin” and, after sacrifices, the vow is supposed to start over.

  13. A Completed Vow 6:13-21

  14. A Completed Vow 6:13-21 • The number and variety of sacrifices remind us that the vow was very costly. • 6:13-18The offering of the hair visually illustrates that the entire Nazirite experience was dedicated to the Lord.

  15. Nazirites in the Bible

  16. Nazirites in the Bible In the Old Testament: • Samson in Judges 13:1-7 • Samuel in 1 Samuel 1:1-11 • Both of these would have been lifelong. • In Samson’s case it didn’t work out.

  17. Nazirites in the Bible In the New Testament: • John the Baptist in Luke 1:5-17 • Paul in Acts 18:18 • Paul and others in Acts 21:17-26

  18. Nazirites in the Bible In the New Testament: • Question: Why would Paul have done this?

  19. Nazirites in the Bible In the New Testament: • Question: Why would Paul have done this? • Possible Answer: Corinth was a corrupt environment. • There was tension between the Jews and Christians. • The Jews understood the significance of uncut hair. • Paul showed visible dedication to God while simultaneously associating with Gentiles.

  20. Dedication to God Today

  21. Dedication to God Today Our radical dedication to holiness should be an attractive option ina hopeless world – and a source of severe conviction to a compromised or hypocritical church.

  22. Dedication to God Today • The world has never been holy. • It is unholy today. • It will remain so in the future – till Jesus comes.

  23. Dedication to God Today • The church is supposed to be holy. • The difference between the world and us should be evident to anyone watching closely. • Sometimes this is true, sometimes it’s not.

  24. Dedication to God Today Encouragement from the New Testament: • Romans 12:1 • 2 Corinthians 7:1 • Hebrews 12:14, 13:15-16 • 2 Peter 3:11-13

  25. Dedication to God Today • A dedicated life will bring opposition. • Prophets and Nazirites in Amos 2:11-12

  26. Dedication to God Today • Key questions to ask: • Am I genuinely dedicated to God? • Am I kidding myself about this? • What would it mean to be totally dedicated to God in my present circumstances?

  27. Dedication to God Today • Details of the Nazirite vow would communicate nothing to our culture. • We have to be very careful to think in terms of sincere, voluntary devotion – and not of acquiring religious merit.

  28. Dedication to God Today Areas in which to potentially abstain:

  29. Dedication to God Today Areas in which to potentially abstain: • Places we go. • Food and drink. • Forms of entertainment. • Vocabulary – watching our words. • Magazines, movies and other media input.

  30. Dedication to God Today Areas in which to potentially engage:

  31. Dedication to God Today Areas in which to potentially engage: • Meaningful forms of service. • Tangible expressions of love to others. • Befriending those with few friends. • Secret prayer. • Reading or study of Scripture (enhancing biblical literacy). • Spiritual activities with others.

  32. Dedicated Our radical dedication to holiness should be an attractive option ina hopeless world – and a source of severe conviction to a compromised or hypocritical church.

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