Nazirite
Numbers 6:1~8 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘If a man or woman wants to make a special vow, a vow of separation to the Lord as a Nazirite, he must abstain from wine and other fermented drink and must not drink vinegar made from wine or from other fermented drink. He must not drink grape juice or eat grapes or raisins” (2-3).
Hymn for scheduled worship: Korean/English Hymnal #295 Sweeter As the Years Go By (#417 in previous version)
The three feasts the Lord had the Israelites observe in the wilderness were blessings that contained important spiritual truths. It is the Passover by which they applied the blood of the young ram and escaped from disasters, the Pentecost that explains the invisible Holy Spirit who is with and guiding those who believe in God, and the Feast of the Ingathering that explains that we are living on earth with the background of heaven, which is the hometown for people of the Lord. Although we have the complete Gospel, Satan deceives us. He works without rest and plants the weeds of unbelief to make us deceived because of our environment, crumble in front of problems, and fall into worries and despair when we hit our limits. However, God has set us apart, called us, and promised to be with us, and has given us the power to solve the spiritual problems on the face of the earth.
1. We must possess the strength that is set apart.
In Hebrew, the word, ‘Nazirite,’ means ‘set apart.’ The one who has been saved by the cross and blood of Christ has been set apart from original sin, Satan, hell and disasters. God is with us who have been saved through the Holy Spirit, and we are the ones who have the background of the kingdom of heaven. When we enjoy this blessing, we receive true power that the world or people cannot give us. Just like God sent His angels in advance and protected the Israelites who went down the path of the wilderness, when we live a life set apart and centered on Christ, God will bless us so we can triumph.
2. We must save the world with spiritual strength.
After Christ resurrected and ascended, all children of God received the blessing of the Nazirite. If the Nazirite who has been set apart receives spiritual strength, they will receive the blessing to save their family line, church and age. If we believe that God has set me apart, called me, given me spiritual strength, and done His work so that I can save the age, the works arise. Because of the one person, Samuel, who believed in this fact, the field changed and the age came to life. We, who received the blessing of the Nazirite, must not be deceived by the sounds of unbelief in our midst. God is guiding us with a sure plan.
- God has set us apart and called us as the Nazirite who will save the age. Discover if you have the strength that is set apart and spiritual strength, evaluate the areas in which you have lost hold of them, and try starting anew with meditative prayer.
Immanuel Church Sunday Worship 1st Service / 2011.8.28