"STRANGE FIRE"
Intro: The occasion.
I. WHY SUCH SEVERE JUDGMENT?
A. God so loved the world. He wanted world to know His love.
1. He chose a nation out of the world through which reveal Himself.
a. He gave them His law, His will for man.
b. If a man will obey and follow, he will know God's blessings upon
His life.
c. He wanted this nation as an example to the whole world.
2. Out of the nation He chose a priesthood.
a. Priest to stand before God to represent people, then he stood
before people to represent God.
b. Important that priest be right, people get wrong impression
of God.
1. Corrupted priesthood meant or corrupted people thus
corrupted witness before world.
c. We must never forget we are God's witnesses.
II. WHAT WAS THE STRANGE FIRE?
A. Fire from some other source than God's kindling.
1. Lev. 16:12, "On the occasion of the death of Aaron's sons." Fire for
incense to come from altar which God had kindled.
2. God does not want service from any fire that He has not kindled.
a. We need to examine our motivations for our work for God.
1. Our works one day will be tried by fire, what sort
they are.
2. Matt. 6:1.
b. Paul said, "for the love of Christ constrains me." That is the
true motivation for serving God.
3. There is a lot of strange fire being offered to God today.
a. Churches or para-church organizations are using all kinds of
motivational gimmicks to get people to give.
b. Intro. to spring enlargement program by supervisor.
1. How tragic, if most of our members are carnal why not
seek to make them spiritual rather than to cater to
their carnality?
B. Verse 9 hints that they may have been slightly intoxicated.
1. They were serving God under the influence of a false stimulant.
2. God wants service from a clear mind and a willing heart.
a. "That they might put the difference between the holy and unholy."
C. Verse 3 indicates they perhaps were seeking to draw attention to themselves.
1. God had just revealed His glory, people awed.
2. They were seeking to get in on the act.
a. We are gathered here to worship God and learn His word.
1. He wants nothing to distract you from Him.
a. If I should dress in such a way to distract one's
mind from God to my dress, I am wrong.
b. Should I seek in any way to draw men's attention
to me, I am wrong.
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Chuck Smith (1927 - 2013)
Pastor Chuck was used in the Jesus People revival where he was used along with others to minister to the hippy young people. They saw a work of the Spirit where many were added to the church and discipled. He has raised up many pastors who are a part of the Calvary Chapel movement now and where he pastors the large Costa Mesa church in California.The Calvary Chapel movement is based of simple principles that Chuck Smith taught over the years such as: The priority of agape love, Simple fellowship amongst the saints, the breaking of bread, the teaching of God's word chapter by chapter and verse by verse. And lastly and most importantly the principle not by might nor by power but by my spirit saith the Lord.