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LEVITICUS 10:1-3

"STRANGE FIRE"

Intro: There is a tendency to get angry with God when we read this account. Yet we
       must see the long term objectives. "God so loved the world," the process by
       which God intended to reveal His love began when He called Abraham out of
       Mt. Ur of the Chaldees. So the process began of building a nation; not that He
       could lavish His love on them, but through them He could show His love to the
       world.

I. WHAT WAS THEIR SIN?
        A. They offered strange fire before God.
                1. They were to take the fire from the altar of the burnt offering.
                2. They were doing a right thing in a wrong way.
        B. What caused their sin?
                1. Dark hint in vs. 9 false stimulant.
                2. It could have been carelessness.
                3. It could be it was convenience or accommodation.
                4. It may have been excitement, seeking to glorify themselves.
                5. They were acting under their own initiative. Not under the control
                   of God.
                6. Sort of the story of the history of these people. They sought the right
                   goals in the wrong way & consequently never discovered what they sought.

II. WHAT HAS THIS STORY TO SAY TO US?
        A. Right motives in themselves are not enough.
                1. God is also interested in the means by which accomplished.
                2. The end does not justify the means.
                3. We are to wait upon God for the method by which He seeks to accomplish
                   His goals.
        B. God hates strange fire.
                1. "Before all the people I will be glorified." 
                2. He desires no flesh to glory in His sight.
        C. We can be thankful that we live in the age of Grace, See so much strange fire
           being offered.
                1. Serving God under false stimulants.
                        a. Contests.
                        b. Competition.
                        c. Pressures.
                2. Careless attitudes concerning spiritual things.
                3. False fire of self glory. Woman who played piano in our church for years.
                   True motives often revealed by my attitude when I have been relieved of
                   my task for a time.
                4. False fire of animal enthusiasm.
                        a. Something that has been worked up.
                        b. Have heard some of these radio evangelists talk of the need
                           of fire.
                        c. Make certain the fire comes from God.
                5. Lest I am as Solomon defined the fool with my eyes in the end of the
                   earth. Able to see so clearly the faults of others while blind to my own.
                        a. May I examine first my true motives, certain that they are of God.
                        b. May I then seek Him daily for the methods by which He would
                           have His desires full-filled.
                6. God's true fire comes from His Holy Spirit I dare not seek to offer to
                   Him other than that.