They start teaching soon after they are saved.

They become active, working, serving Christians.

On the other hand, we see some who are slow to develop or never

develop.

They do not discipline their lives for daily devotions.

They do not 'study to show themselves approved unto God..."

They never win souls to Christ.

Their lives are seemingly dominated by the flesh.

They never seem "to grow up" in the Lord ... they remain babes

They never use their talents for Christ

They are spasmodic in attendance, and do not seem to care for the

things of Christ.

They never seem to understand "tithing" and do not give.

They live defeated Christian lives.

They really never get to Canaan.

It is this WILDERNESS JOURNEY that Numbers portrays.

Here are 3 1/2 million people:

Living off of the miraculous bounty of God.

Each one has a FIXED responsibility.

Each one has a PLACE TO FILL in the organization.

God has given minute instructions for their marching from Egypt to

Canaan.

It IS NOT that they do not know what to do.

They certainly cannot do as they please.

They cannot live where they want to.

They cannot march where they want to.

They must march under the direction of God.

SO WHEN WE WERE SAVED:

It was not a question of NOT KNOWING what to do.

We had the Word of God for instruction.

We had the Holy Spirit of God for leadership.

We "were bought with a price" so we could not do as we pleased.

We could not live like "we" wanted to live.

We could not serve where "we" wanted to serve.

God had given to each of us talents, severally according to His will.

He had a place for us.-

We HAD A RESPONSIBILITY to fill that place.

OUR GOAL:

Canaan.-the heavenlies in Christ Jesus.

God divided Israel into 3 camps:

Warriors ... worshippers .... workers.

The warriors were to protect the hinder part of the camp.

The workers were to carry the Tabernacle.

The worshippers were to take care of the holy things.

EVERY CHRISTIAN is a combination of these three.

CHAPTER 5-..taught us concerning SEPARATION.

God expects His people to be a SEPARATED people.

"Come ye out from among them and be ye separate."

"Come out of her.. God said concerning religious Babylon.

"Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers"...

GOD DOES NOT LEAVE US IN DOUBT AS TO WHAT IS RIGHT AND

WHAT IS WRONG.

Right and wrong may be confused in the minds of people.

But there is no confusion with God.

He laid down strict laws of right and wrong. When there is not a law THERE IS A PRINCIPLE.

Always there are pictures and types.

GRANT YOU:

Willfully, we may be blind to God's will for our lives.

But rest assured, God has a will, and it can be known.

Rebelliously, we are blind to God's will for our lives.

Rest assured, God has a will, and usually we really know it.

We "make up our minds...... without considering the Lord.

We try to excuse ourselves by saying, "there is no definite Scripture

concerning this matter.

BUT THERE IS ALWAYS A PRINCIPLE.

And DEEP DOWN, we know what God expects

LEPROSY is a type of sin.

Lepers MUST be separated from the camp.

The leper was unclean ... he could not be in contact with any one in the nation-..family, friends, etc.

HE WAS UNCLEAN.

Those who committed fraud must make restitution ... and they must confess that sin.

Chapter 5 forbids adultery.

And there are other so-called nameless sine that defile the people of

God.

Adultery is a type of SPIRITUAL ADULTERY.

CHAPTER 6

We find here set forth the order of services:

1. SEPARATION unto the Lord. vs. 1-12

2. WORSHIP, after separation. vs. 13-21

3. BLESSING.... because of separation and worship ... vs. 22-27 4. SERVICE.... as God's people. v& 7:1-89

Chapter 6 pictures the believer FULLY separated from common persons and things, fully surrendered to the Lord.

THIS WAS THE IDEAL FOR ISRAEL.

Sad to say, they never reached that ideal.

AND SADDER STILL ... neither do we.

VERSES 1,2

"And the Lord spake unto Moses", saying,

"Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When either man or woman shall separate themselves to vow a vow of a Nazarite, to separate themselves unto the Lord."

In the vow of the Nazarite, we see the Israelite SETTING HIMSELF apart from things ... though not sinful in themselves .... were nevertheless calculated to interfere with that intense consecration of heart which is set forth in true Nazariteship.

SEPARATION:

The ordinary person thinks of separation as: Don't drink.-

Don't chew-..

Don't run around with girls that do.

We have many churches that can be classified a8 LEGALISTIC churches.

They set their own standards.

They have a prescribed standard of dress, of action, of daily activity.

If you do not measure up you are NOT SEPARATED.

USUALLY;

Such churches make much of women wearing slacks.

Such churches make much of a dress code for women.

Such churches make much of a "hair length" for men.

Such churches make much of where Christians can go.

They call that SEPARATION.

NOTE:

After more than 45 years of observation, I have two thoughts:

They "strain at a gnat and swallow a camel."

And, "O consistency, thou art a jewel."

They like the Pharisees would fight for their opinions.

They like the Pharisees make much of the external.

BUT.-they are ALWAYS .... without exception ... inconsistent.

AND.-.

They "pick and choose" certain scriptures to prove their point.

FOR INSTANCE:

"Women should not wear slacks."

They use Deut 22:5..... a woman should not wear that which

pertaineth to a man.

First ... this was a regulatory law for the Jewish people.

Second.-.All, both males and females, wore flowing garments.

Third - they will not allow the other things in that chapter apply to

the Christian.

In other words, they take what they want ... and leave the rest.

LEARN:

Things that are sinful are spelled out in no uncertain terms.

We have the ten commandments.

We have the "thou shalt not's" or the "thou shalt's".

There is NO QUESTION about what is forbidden and what is allowed.

The Word of God is very plain ... very exact.

BUT ONCE WE HAVE THIS INFORMATION....

We are aware that God lays down principles to guide our lives.

Those principles, when adhered to, will help us to "grow in grace".

THEN THERE IS SEPARATION UNTO THE LORD.

Note ... this is not SEPARATION FROM.

This is SEPARATION TO.

This deals with things, that of themselves, are not SINFUL.

But they are things that would interfere with intense

CONSECRATION.

LOOK AT WHAT IS INVOLVED-.

1. He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink. He shall drink no vinegar of wine.

He shall drink no juice of grapes.

He shall not eat moist grapes or dried grapes.

These were things that the nation of Israel did as a course of life.

In their habitat, there was nothing wrong with these things.

It was a portion of their daily life.

"Wine" -.. the Juice of grapes ..- was a normal part of life.

"Eating grapes" was a normal part of life.

These WERE NOT PROHIBITED to the people of Israel.

HOWEVER:

Here is a man who wants a deeper relationship with God.

Here is a man who desires a deeper worship life. -

He wants to SEPARATE HIMSELF UNTO the Lord. These things that are not sinful within themselves would interfere

withis intense consecration....

SO, HE MAKES A VOW.... not to eat those things.

There are other things that he can eat

NOW, LET'S MAKE AN APPLICATION:

Here is a Christian that wants a DEEPER LIFE.

Here is a Christian that wants a CLOSER WALK WITH GOD.

Here is a Christian that seeks to be CONSECRATED unto the Lord.

It is "not wrong" to indulge in certain games.

It is "not wrong" to go to certain places.

It is "not wrong" to do certain things.

BUT .... here is a person who MAKES A VOW.

He will "refrain" from those things.

Not because he is self-righteous or a "holy Joe".

But because those things INTERFERE with his intense consecration.

He can do without them .... and his life will be richer for it.

IN VERSES 3-12...

The fact that no razor was to come upon his head. There is nothing wrong with getting a hair cut. There was nothing wrong with shaving.

But this was a mark of "separation".

It indicated that he had dedicated his life to Christ.

SO ... though cutting hair or not cutting hair, physically speaking, is not involved.

All of us know those who SEPARATE themselves from things that interfere with their CONSECRATION.

They are not "proud", but they are humble.

They don't tell you what they have done.

But they are a "peculiar" people .... not because of what they wear, or their outward appearance, but their mode of life.

This chapter talks about "touching a dead body."

It was NOT A SIN to touch a dead body.

Someone must do this...someone must bury the dead.

But this man was GIVING HIMSELF IN SERVICE.

This would interfere with his intense consecration.

Provision is made for accidents.

If a person dropped dead and fell over against him, and defiled his consecration, then he could renew his vow of CONSECRATION. This renewal was made through shed blood.

He was restored.

AND THIS ALSO APPLIES TO ONE WHO HAS SEPARATED HIMSELF.

Suppose he should be "defiled....... accidentally.

Something happens over which he seemingly has no control. And he is "touched by a dead body".

Provision is made for that Christian.

I John 1:9.-"If we confess our sins, he Is just to forgive us our sing and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

The SEPARATED Christians simply REDEDICATES his life to the Lord.

NOW-.REMEMBER:

This IS NOT for violation of the 10 commandments, leprosy, fraud, adultery, etc.

Such sins were forgivable .... but a different offering was needed.

Every Israelite was bound by Divine Law to love God. But the Nazarites, by their own act and deed, bound themselves to some religious observance, as fruits and expressions of that love, which other Israelites were not bound to.

Some, whose spirits God stirred, were more dedicated than others. Amos 2:11..."God raised up of their young men for Nazarites." Lam. 4:7 tells us that the Nazarites were respected as "purer thansnow, whiter than milk."

The SEPARATED BELIEVER makes no provision to gratify the old nature.

Anything carnal, whether forbidden or not, hinders the Christian life.

See Rom. 12:1

See Heb. 12:1

We are not to look to natural excitement but JOY in the Holy Ghost.

See Eph. 5:18-19

We are to "mortify" carnal desires.

Worldly pleasures cannot be dressed up in any way so as to be pleasing to God.

Cups of which others drink are not permitted to Christians.

SOMEONE HAS SAID:

Drinking "a little wine for the stomachs sake" was allowed.

Drinking much wine "for the palate's sake" was forbidden.

They were "not to drink wine"...so they could be better employed in the service of God.

They must not drink ... lest they forget the law. They must not drink, lest they err through wine.

FOR THE CHRISTIAN:

I Thes. 5:23-.."Abstain from all appearance of evil."

This Is not talking about that which in itself is sinful.

We are talking about that which we SHOULD and MUST lay aside, if we are to be completely devoted to God.

This is not a matter of "quitting harmful sins."

This is a matter of "setting our affection on things above." See Col. 3:10

We are not to be distracted by the ordinary.

It may be but a trifle, but if it robs us of our soul's communion with God..... then we should SEPARATE ourselves from it.

SEPARATION UNTO THE LORD involves a willingness to bear shame.

That is what we read about Jesus, "He made himself of no reputation."

He surrendered His rights.

He emptied Himself.

He took the lowest place, "washing the disciples feet."

He "ministered to others" and not to Himself.

SEPARATED CHRISTIANS are NOT ordinary people.

It is of little import to "split hairs" about the harm of this or that particular thing....

The purpose of heart is what really counts.

Do we merely want to continue our lives as men.

OR.-do we want A DEDICATED LIFE to Christ.

It is useless to spend our time arguing points which would never be raised at all IF OUR SOULS WERE IN THE RIGHT TEMPER AND ATTITUDE.

What is right and natural and consistent for the men of this world is wrong, unnatural, and inconsistent for the DEDICATED CHRISTIAN ... the NAZARITE.

His priorities are different from ordinary men.

His goals are different from ordinary men.

LEARN:

This is not a question of a man's salvation.

This is not a question of a man's assurance of salvation.

This is not a question of man's security in Christ.

Nazariteship has nothing to do with salvation.

If a man defiled his Nazariteship ... It did not affect him as a member of the nation of Israel.

By the same token, if a Christian sins, it does not affect him as a member of the family of God.

THIS HAS TO DO ... wholly and solely ... with a MAN'S RELATIONSHIP TO GOD.

There were many good Israelites that never took the vow of a Nazarite. They were successful, and useful in their responsibilities.

So ... a man can be a Christian and enjoy his life without taking a vow of COMPLETE DEDICATION.

However, he will lose rewards.

And .... that does not exempt him from all of his responsibilities as a

Christian.

He is still responsible to do what Christ said to do.

He is still responsible for the talents God gives him.

He is still responsible to "be in his place."

He is still responsible to win souls.

He is still responsible to be faithful.

He is still responsible to tithe and give to Christ.

In other words, LACK OF DEDICATION OF LIFE, does not exempt us in any way from the things laid down in the Word of God.

DEDICATION OF LIFE IS AN UPWARD STEP:

Beyond the ordinary.

Beyond the things that are laid down in the Word.

Illus.:

Samson is a good illustration of a man who took the Nazarite

Vow..-and defiled his head.

There were others who took such vows ... some for a limited time, and

others for a lifetime.

Samson took the vow ... seemingly for a lifetime.

He defiled himself...

Not once, but many times.

In fact, he seems to have made it a habit of life.

RESULT: He lost his power.

There were times that he regained that power.

We are not told whether he renewed his vows at these times or not.

But we do know that the Spirit of God empowered him again and

again.

But when his power was gone ... he was not aware of it.

But the enemy was aware of it

He was captured ... his eyes put out...made to grind at the mill as sport for the Philistines".

NOTE:

Think of how much sport has been made of "fallen preachers".

Think of how much sport is made of "fallen deacons".

Think of how much sport is made of "fallen Christians."

Believe me ... the world has a hey-day.

The make slide remarks.

They draw cartons, use them as examples ... hold them up as a reason

for their own sinful life.

I wonder how many neighbors of Christians say, "Well, his

Christianity .... his church doesn't mean anything to him, he never goes."

"Well, if I could be a Christian and not do anymore than he does, I

would be one."

"Well, if I could act like he does and still be a Christian, I wouldn't mind being one."

Samson never regained his liberty. He regained his strength.

He lost his testimony.

He lost his eyesight.

He lost his strength-.until that last moment before death.

SO A CHRISTIAN:

Can lose their testimony.

Can lose their vision.

Can lose their strength .... maybe make a comeback just before death.

WHERE DO WE START ALL OVER?

At the cross.

Confessing sins and allowing God to forgive.

Abram had to go back to Bethel where he first started.

The time he spent in Egypt was wasted.

LEARN:

All the time Christians spend in Egypt is wasted.

All the years out of the will of God are wasted years.

Any service, out of the will of God, loses its rewards.

"Wasted years, wasted years, oh, how foolish ..... to win souls.

He is still responsible to be faithful.

He is still responsible to tithe and give to Christ.

In other words, LACK OF DEDICATION OF LIFE, does not exempt us in any way from the things laid down in the Word of God.

DEDICATION OF LIFE IS AN UPWARD STEP:

Beyond the ordinary.

Beyond the things that are laid down in the Word.

Illus.:

Samson is a good illustration of a man who took the Nazarite

Vow..-and defiled his head.